Craft Brew Alliance Announces 9% Depletions Growth for Kona Brewing Co. in the Second Quarter

From Craft Brew Alliance:

PORTLAND, OR .--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Craft Brew Alliance, Inc. (“CBA”) (Nasdaq: BREW), a leading craft brewing company, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017, highlighting continued strong depletions growth for Kona and the successful completion of several key initiatives that will drive substantial operational efficiencies and cost savings in the second half of the year.

Delivering Steady Growth for Kona Amidst Increasing Competition

Despite anticipated increasing market pressure that contributed to substantially slower growth for the craft beer industry overall, CBA increased depletions for Kona Brewing Co. by 9% in the second quarter and 11% for the first six months of the year. As the cornerstone of CBA’s distinctive portfolio strategy, Kona represents more than 50% of our total portfolio volume. Kona flagship Big Wave Golden Ale posted a 17% increase in depletions in the second quarter, and the newest national brand, Hanalei Island IPA, remains in the top 10 of all craft beer launches nationally as measured in grocery sales by Nielsen.

Tapping into a Strengthened AB Relationship

We continued to unlock value from our enhanced agreements with Anheuser-Busch (“AB”). As part of our brewing agreement, we began the first shipments of CBA beers from AB’s Fort Collins, Colo. brewery in the second quarter, positioning us to realize the full benefits of this arrangement in the second half of the year. We also continued to leverage our extended commercial agreement, with CBA brands participating in wholesaler volume incentive targets and building on the success we’ve realized through joint marketing and sampling programs. With the international agreement, we continue to be optimistic and deliberate in developing our long-term international strategy with AB to build on our success growing Kona around the world.

Advancing our Strategy for Improved Gross Margins

In the second quarter, we accomplished several key milestones as part of our strategy to increase efficiency, reduce overhead costs, and improve gross margins. We completed the closure of our Woodinville facility, ended our brewing partnership in Memphis, and shifted all remaining production out of those facilities, while continuing to keep wholesaler inventory levels 30% lower compared to 2016. In line with expectations and in completing these projects on schedule, CBA is positioned to realize substantial cost savings and improved utilization in the second half of the year.

Accelerating our Strategic Partnerships

CBA’s strategic craft brewery partnerships complement our diverse portfolio, anchored by Kona, with strong local brands in key beer markets. During the second quarter, we continued to expand Appalachian Mountain Brewery (AMB) across North Carolina; AMB is now the seventh largest local craft brewery in its home state. With Cisco Brewers, we remained focused on strengthening the Nantucket Island brand in New England and grew depletions by 8% over the second quarter in 2016. In July, we completed the acquisition of a 24.5% minority stake in Wynwood Brewing Company, an award-winning craft brewery based in the heart of Miami’s vibrant Wynwood Art District. Since announcing our strategic partnership in December 2016, CBA and Wynwood Brewing have been focused on growing distribution across the brewery’s home state of Florida, which is the third largest beer market in the U.S.

Second quarter and year-to-date 2017 financial highlights:

• Overall depletions decreased 2% for the quarter and 1% year to date, compared to the same periods last year, while depletions for Kona increased 9% in the second quarter and 11% year to date.
• Shipments decreased 8% in the second quarter and 4% year to date, compared to the same periods last year.
  • As anticipated, second quarter shipments reflect a challenging comparison to the prior-year period, as we had increased shipments in the second quarter of 2016 following the temporary closure of our Portland brewery in the first quarter of 2016.
  • The second quarter and year-to-date shipment decreases reflect the impact of ongoing work to reduce inventory levels by one third compared to 2016 levels.
• Net sales decreased 3% to $60.6 million in the second quarter, and increased 3% to $104.9 million year to date, over the comparable periods in 2016.
  • The second quarter decrease is primarily attributed to a decline in overall shipment volume, partially offset by volume growth for Kona and our partner brands, our alternating proprietorship business, and a 1.5% increase in average unit pricing.
  • The year-to-date net sales increase is primarily due to shipment growth for Kona and our partner brands, our alternating proprietorship business, contract brewing shortfall fees, AB international distribution fees, and a 1.5% increase in average unit pricing. Our net sales increase also reflects the improvement over the first quarter in 2016, as shipments were impacted by the temporary closure of our Portland brewery.
    • Partially offsetting the first half increases were the impact of reducing days of inventory below 2016 levels and the challenging comparison to second quarter 2016 shipments as described above.

• Second quarter gross profit decreased by 11%, to $18.3 million, while year-to-date gross profit increased by 6%, to $31.0 million, compared to the same periods last year.
  • Our second quarter gross margin decreased by 260 basis points to 30.3% compared to the second quarter of 2016, reflecting lower cost absorption due to lower shipment volumes as explained above, shifting production to Fort Collins, and lower foot traffic in the pubs, partially offset by a reduction in brewery labor costs and improved logistics operations.
  • Gross margin for the first six months increased by 80 basis points to 29.6% compared to the first half of 2016, reflecting improved brewery cost structure, partially offset by lower cost absorption and a decrease in pub foot traffic.

• Selling, general and administrative expense (“SG&A”) for the second quarter was $15.6 million, a 6% decrease over the second quarter of 2016, and $31.0 million year to date, a 2% increase over the same period last year.
  • The second quarter decrease primarily reflects lower media and promotional costs due to timing, as well as lower labor costs, partially offset by an increase in professional fees.
  • The increase in year-to-date SG&A expense is primarily due to increases in employee related costs and professional fees, partially offset by the timing of media and promotional spend.
• Diluted net income per share was $0.09 for the second quarter, a decline of $0.03 over the second quarter diluted net income per share of $0.12 in 2016. For the year to date, diluted net loss per share was $0.00, an improvement of $0.05 over the same period last year.

“In my nearly 25 years in the beer business, I have seen the industry evolve and adapt countless times but nothing has come close to the competition, complexity and consumer-driven change facing our market today,” said Andy Thomas, chief executive officer, CBA. “Against this backdrop, CBA’s ability to sustain robust growth for Kona, accelerate our partnership strategy, and make significant progress evolving our brewing footprint while stabilizing inventory levels is not just impressive, but highly encouraging as well.”

Reconfirmed financial guidance for full-year 2017:

• Total CBA depletion change of flat to growth of 6%.
• Shipments ranging between a decrease of 1% and an increase of 4%.
• Average price increases of 1% to 2%.
• Total gross margin rate of 30.5% to 32.5%.
• SG&A ranging from $61 million to $63 million, including an increase in marketing spend and SG&A cost optimization, as we leverage investments made in prior years and seek to improve efficiencies.
• Capital expenditures of approximately $16 million to $20 million, reflecting continued work on previously disclosed projects, including the new Kona brewery and Redhook brewpub in Seattle.

“Our year-to-date performance is largely in line with expectations. We believe our plans for the balance of the year ensure CBA is well positioned to deliver on our objectives for 2017, particularly as it relates to continuing to advance our Kona Plus strategy and unlock the value of our AB agreements, while reducing brewing costs and improving overall efficiencies,” said Joe Vanderstelt, chief financial officer, CBA.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release that state the Company’s or management’s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future, including depletions, shipments and sales growth, price increases, lower inventory levels, and gross margin rate improvement, the level and effect of SG&A expense and business development, anticipated capital spending, and the benefits or improvements to be realized from strategic initiatives and capital projects, are forward-looking statements. It is important to note that the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Copies of these documents may be found on the Company’s website, www.craftbrew.com, or obtained by contacting the Company or the SEC.

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