Flowers Foods Announces Second Quarter Results; Adjusts 2012 Guidance

THOMASVILLE, Ga., Aug. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE: FLO), today reported results for its 12 and 28 weeks ended July 14, 2012. Sales were $681,561,000 compared with $642,596,000 for the second quarter of 2011. Net income was $28,380,000, or $0.21 per share-diluted, compared with $28,210,000, or $0.21 per share-diluted, in last year's second quarter.  Adjusted for one-time acquisition-related costs, earnings per share were $0.22 for the quarter compared to adjusted earnings per share of $0.23 reported for last year's second quarter.  

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George E. Deese, Flowers Foods' chairman and chief executive officer, said, "We are pleased to deliver sales growth in the second quarter in the face of heightened promotional activity and a highly competitive marketplace. Last year's Tasty acquisition and the continued growth of our Nature's Own and Tastykake brands drove our sales up 6.1% compared to last year. Even so, ongoing pressure on consumers has affected our industry much as it has other food categories, and softer volumes in the fresh breads, buns, and rolls category is driving more competitive activity in the near-term. Our team continues to work on improving efficiencies and cost controls in the face of high input cost inflation, and we achieved higher operating income in the quarter.

"The acquisition of Lepage Bakeries (completed July 21, 2012) brings us additional market presence in the Northeast, sales of about $170 million, and robust operating margins, which will strengthen our business. The opportunities presented by the Lepage acquisition, last year's Tasty Baking acquisition, and further industry consolidation, strengthen my confidence in our team's ability to achieve our long-term growth objectives for 5% to 10% annual sales growth, double-digit earnings growth, and reaching 75% of the U.S. population with our direct-store-delivery segment by 2016."    

Second Quarter 2012 Results
For the 12-week second quarter of 2012, sales were $681.6 million, a 6.1% increase from the $642.6 million in last year's second quarter. This increase was attributable to favorable net price/mix of 2.3%, contributions from the Tasty acquisition (acquired May 20, 2011) of 4.5%, partially offset by volume declines of 0.7%. Dollar sales increased across all channels, while volume decreases in the branded retail channel led to the overall volume decline. Lower volume in the white bread and buns and rolls categories was the primary driver in the branded retail volume decline. These declines in branded retail were partially offset by increased volumes in branded soft variety. Volume increases in the foodservice channel partially offset the decreased volume in branded retail.

Net income for the quarter was $28.4 million compared to $28.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011. For the quarter, diluted earnings per share were $0.21, flat as compared to $0.21 in last year's second quarter. During the second quarter this year, we incurred one-time acquisition-related costs of $1.4 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per diluted share and, in last year's second quarter, we incurred one-time costs related to the Tasty acquisition of $3.2 million, net of tax, or $0.02 per diluted share.

Gross margin as a percentage of sales for the quarter was 46.3%, down 50 basis points from 46.8% in the second quarter of 2011. This decrease was due primarily to increased ingredient and packaging costs as a percent of sales. The increase in ingredient costs was primarily attributable to flour and sweeteners. The increase in ingredient and packaging costs was partially offset by price increases, lower energy costs as a percent of sales and improved manufacturing efficiencies.

Selling, distribution, and administrative costs as a percent of sales for the quarter were 36.1%, down 70 basis points from 36.8% of sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Lower workforce-related costs as a percent of sales and decreased acquisition-related costs were the main drivers of the decrease. One-time acquisition-related costs were $2.3 million, or 30 basis points as a percent of sales during the second quarter this year and $4.5 million, or 70 basis points as a percent of sales in last year's second quarter.

Depreciation and amortization expenses for the quarter remained relatively stable as a percent of sales compared to last year's second quarter. We incurred net interest expense during the quarter due to the issuance of $400.0 million of senior notes in advance of the Lepage transaction resulting in a negative impact of approximately $0.02 per diluted share to second quarter results. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 36.2% as compared to 35.5% in last year's second quarter. This increase was primarily due to certain temporary differences that reduced the Section 199 deduction, and the expiration of certain tax benefits.

Operating income, defined as earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), for the second quarter was $47.4 million, or 7.0% of sales as compared to $43.1 million, or 6.7% of sales in last year's second quarter. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for the second quarter was $69.7 million, or 10.2% of sales compared to $64.0 million, or 10.0% of sales for the second quarter of 2011. One-time acquisition-related costs negatively affected EBIT and EBITDA by $2.3 million, or 30 basis points as a percent of sales in this year's second quarter and by $4.5 million, or 70 basis points as a percent of sales in last year's second quarter.

Segment Results
DSD (83% of sales): During the quarter, the company's direct store delivery (DSD) sales increased 7.6%, reflecting positive net price/mix of 1.5%, contribution from the Tasty acquisition (until cycled) of 5.5% and volume increases of 0.6%. Dollar sales increased across all channels. The volume increases were primarily due to increases in the store brand, primarily buns and rolls, and non-retail channels, primarily foodservice, partially offset by decreased volume in the branded retail channel. Decreases in branded retail volume were primarily driven by declines in the white bread and buns and rolls categories, partially offset by volume increases in the soft variety and cake categories.

Operating income for the DSD segment was $51.6 million, or 9.1% of sales for the second quarter compared to $51.3 million, or 9.8% of sales in last year's second quarter. This modest increase was attributable to higher sales, partially offset by increases in input costs, primarily flour.

Warehouse (17% of sales): Sales through warehouse delivery decreased 0.7%, reflecting volume decreases of 4.5%, partially offset by positive net price/mix of 3.8%. The volume decrease was primarily attributable to decreases in store brand cake and contract manufacturing in the non-retail channel, partially offset by volume increases in foodservice. Store brand cake and contract manufacturing showed positive net price/mix.

Operating income for the warehouse segment was $6.3 million, or 5.4% of sales for the second quarter compared to $5.1 million, or 4.3% of sales in last year's second quarter. Higher ingredient, packaging, and distribution costs were more than offset by lower energy costs and improved manufacturing efficiencies.

Cash Flow
During the second quarter, cash flow from operating activities was $66.7 million. The company invested $14.9 million in capital improvements and paid dividends of $21.8 million to shareholders. The company did not acquire any of its common stock under its share repurchase plan during the second quarter. Since the inception of the plan, the company has acquired 37.9 million shares for $432.2 million, an average of $11.41 per share.  

Outlook for 2012
Including Lepage, we expect 2012 sales to increase 7.0% to 9.0% over 2011 with Lepage accounting for approximately 2.5% of the increase. Including Lepage, earnings per share are now forecast to increase 3.5% to 8.0%, excluding one-time costs, over the 2011 adjusted earnings per share of $0.96.  Lepage is expected to be accretive approximately $0.02 to $0.04 in the second half, net of financing costs. Excluding Lepage, Flowers' earnings per share are now expected to be flat to slightly up. Our guidance takes into consideration the heightened marketplace competitiveness and overall challenging business environment. Capital expenditures for 2012 are expected to be $75.0 million to $85.0 million.

Dividend
The board of directors will consider the dividend at its regularly scheduled meeting. Any action taken will be announced following that meeting.

Conference Call
Flowers Foods will broadcast its second quarter 2012 conference call over the Internet at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern) on August 14, 2012. The call will be broadcast live on Flowers' Web site, www.flowersfoods.com, and can be accessed by clicking on the webcast link on the home page. The call also will be archived on the company's Web site.

About Flowers Foods
Headquartered in Thomasville, Ga., Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE: FLO) is the second-largest producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods for retail and foodservice customers in the United States with 2011 sales of $2.8 billion. Flowers operates 44 bakeries that produce a wide range of bakery products. These products are sold through a direct-store-delivery network with access to approximately 70% of the U.S. population in the East, South, and Southwest as well as in certain markets in California. Select Flowers products are sold nationwide through customers' delivery systems. Among the company's top brands are Nature's Own, Tastykake, and Mrs. Freshley's. For more information, visit www.flowersfoods.com.

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those projected. Other factors that may cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements contained in this release and that may affect the company's prospects in general include, but are not limited to, (a) competitive conditions in the baked foods industry, including promotional and price competition, (b) changes in consumer demand for our products, (c) the success of productivity improvements and new product introductions, (d) a significant reduction in business with any of our major customers including a reduction from adverse developments in any of our customer's business, (e) fluctuations in commodity pricing, (f) our ability to fully integrate recent acquisitions into our business,  and (g) our ability to achieve cash flow from capital expenditures and acquisitions and the availability of new acquisitions that build shareholder value.  In addition, our results may also be affected by general factors such as economic and business conditions (including the baked foods markets), interest and inflation rates and such other factors as are described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). However, from time to time, the company may present in its public statements, press releases and SEC filings, non-gaap financial measures such as, EBITDA and gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization to measure the performance of the company and its operating divisions. EBITDA is used as the primary performance measure in the company's Annual Executive Bonus Plan. The company defines EBITDA as earnings from continuing operations before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and income attributable to non-controlling interest. The company believes that EBITDA is a useful tool for managing the operations of its business and is an indicator of the company's ability to incur and service indebtedness and generate free cash flow. Furthermore, pursuant to the terms of our credit facility, EBITDA is used to determine the company's compliance with certain financial covenants. The company also believes that EBITDA measures are commonly reported and widely used by investors and other interested parties as measures of a company's operating performance and debt servicing ability because EBITDA measures assist in comparing performance on a consistent basis without regard to depreciation or amortization, which can vary significantly depending upon accounting methods and non-operating factors (such as historical cost). EBITDA is also a widely-accepted financial indicator of a company's ability to incur and service indebtedness. Adjusted EBITDA excludes additional costs that we consider important to present to investors. These include, but are not limited to, the costs of closing a plant or costs associated with merger-related activities. We believe that financial information excluding certain transactions not considered to be part of the ongoing business improves the comparability of earnings results. We believe investors will be able to better understand our earnings results if these transactions are excluded from the results. These non-gaap financial measures are measures of performance not defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the Unites States and should be considered in addition to, not in lieu of, GAAP reported measures. EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to (a) income from operations or net income (loss) as a measure of operating performance; (b) cash flows provided by operating, investing and financing activities (as determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of the company's ability to meet its cash needs; or (c) any other indicator of performance or liquidity that has been determined in accordance with GAAP. Our method of calculating EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA may differ from the methods used by other companies, and, accordingly, our measures of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization is used as a performance measure to provide additional transparent information regarding our results of operations on a consolidated and segment basis. Changes in depreciation and amortization are separately discussed and include depreciation and amortization for materials, supplies, labor and other production costs and operating activities. Presentation of gross margin includes depreciation and amortization in the materials, supplies, labor and other production costs according to GAAP. Our method of presenting gross margin excludes the depreciation and amortization components, as discussed above. This presentation may differ from the methods used by other companies and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The reconciliations attached provide a reconciliation of our net income, the most comparable GAAP financial measure to adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations, a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to cash flow from operations, a reconciliation of our gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization to GAAP gross margin and a reconciliation of adjusted earnings per share.

SOURCE Flowers Foods, Inc.