Sales and Earnings Reported by J & J Snack Foods

PENNSAUKEN, N.J., Nov. 6, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- J & J Snack Foods Corp. (Nasdaq:JJSF) today announced sales and earnings for its fourth quarter and year ended September 27, 2014.

Sales for the fourth quarter increased 7% to $253.5 million from $237.9 million in last year's fourth quarter. For the year ended September 27, 2014, sales increased 6% to $919.5 million from $867.7 million last year. Net earnings increased 9% to $22.2 million ($1.18 per diluted share) in this year's fourth quarter compared to $20.3 million ($1.08 per diluted share) last year and for the year earnings increased 12% to $71.8 million ($3.82 per diluted share) from $64.4 million ($3.41 per diluted share).

Operating income increased 7% to $32.9 million this year from $30.8 million in the year ago period for the fourth quarter. For the year, operating income increased 10% to $106.8 million from $97.4 million last year.

Gerald B. Shreiber, J & J's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Once again I am proud to say that all of our business groups contributed to our record quarter and year! We had continued sales growth in the overall soft pretzel category led by newer products such as pretzel rolls and sticks and improved profitability in our retail supermarket business.  Our ICEE business continues to grow its managed service revenue posting another double digit sales gain."

J&J Snack Foods Corp. is a leader and innovator in the snack food industry, providing nutritional and affordable branded niche snack foods and beverages to foodservice and retail supermarket outlets.  Manufactured and distributed nationwide, our principal products include SUPERPRETZEL, BAVARIAN BAKERY and other soft pretzels, ICEE and SLUSH PUPPIE frozen beverages, LUIGI'S, PHILLY SWIRL, MINUTE MAID* frozen juice bars and ices, WHOLE FRUIT sorbet and frozen fruit bars, MARY B'S biscuits and dumplings, DADDY RAY'S fig and fruit bars, CALIFORNIA CHURROS and TIO PEPE'S churros, PATIO Burritos and other handheld sandwiches, THE FUNNEL CAKE FACTORY funnel cakes, and several cookie brands within COUNTRY HOME BAKERS.  For more information, please visit us at www.jjsnack.com.

*MINUTE MAID is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Fiscal 2014 (52 weeks) Compared to Fiscal 2013 (52 weeks)

Net sales increased $51,768,000, or 6%, to $919,451,000 in fiscal 2014 from $867,683,000 in fiscal 2013.

Excluding sales from the acquisition of New York Pretzel in October 2013 and PHILLY SWIRL in May 2014, sales increased approximately 4% for the year.

FOOD SERVICE

Sales to food service customers increased $31,139,000 or 6%, to $591,898,000 in fiscal 2014. Excluding New York Pretzel sales, sales increased approximately 5% for the year. Soft pretzel sales to the food service market increased 14% to $164,680,000 for the year aided by increased sales to restaurant chains, warehouse club stores, school food service and throughout our customer base. Increased sales to one customer accounted for approximately 1/4 of the pretzel sales increase. Excluding New York Pretzel sales, food service soft pretzel sales increased 11% for the year. Frozen juice bar and ices sales increased $5,057,000 or 10%, to $53,888,000 for the year primarily as the result of higher sales to warehouse club stores, school food service accounts and throughout our customer base. Increased sales to one customer accounted for approximately 50% of the frozen juice bar and ices sales increase. Churro sales to food service customers were essentially unchanged at $55,929,000 for the year with sales to one restaurant chain down $4,063,000 for the year. Excluding the decrease in sales to that restaurant chain, which were $6.8 million for the year and to which we expect no sales in 2015, sales were up $3.9 million, or 9%. Sales of bakery products increased $6,773,000, or 2%, for the year as sales increases and decreases were spread throughout our customer base. Handheld sales to food service customers were down 8% to $24,248,000 in 2014 as two customers accounted for all of the decrease in sales. Sales of new products in the first twelve months since their introduction were approximately $10 million for the year. Price increases accounted for approximately $7 million of sales for the year and net volume increases, including new product sales as defined above and sales resulting from the acquisition of New York Pretzel, accounted for approximately $24 million of sales for the year. Operating income in our Food Service segment increased from $65,907,000 in 2013 to $73,731,000 in 2014. Operating income benefited from increased sales volume, price increases and lower ingredient and packaging costs. Additionally, liability insurance costs were about $1.5 million lower this year; last year's costs were higher than usual because of increases in insurance company estimates for actual claims incurred but not paid. Operating income was impacted in 2014 by $913,000 of shutdown costs of our Norwalk, CA manufacturing facility. 

RETAIL SUPERMARKETS

Sales of products to retail supermarkets increased $10,305,000 or 10% to $112,644,000 in fiscal year 2014.    Excluding PHILLY SWIRL sales, sales decreased approximately 2% for the year. Soft pretzel sales to retail supermarkets were $34,830,000 compared to $34,597,000 in 2013 on a unit volume increase of 1%. Sales of frozen juices and ices increased $11,327,000 or 24% to $59,404,000. Without PHILLY SWIRL sales, sales of frozen juices and ices were down $1,967,000, or 4%, on flat volume with sales increases and decreases spread across our customer base. Coupon redemption costs, a reduction of sales, increased 3% or about $126,000 for the year. Handheld sales to retail supermarket customers decreased 5% to $21,354,000 in 2014 as two customers accounted for all of the decrease in sales. Sales of products in the first twelve months since their introduction were approximately $700,000 in fiscal year 2014. Price increases accounted for approximately $1.2 million of sales for the year and net volume increases, including new product sales as defined above and PHILLY SWIRL's sales and net of increased coupon costs, accounted for approximately $9 million in sales for the year. Operating income in our Retail Supermarkets segment increased from $8,594,000 in 2013 to $11,201,000 in 2014 due primarily to lower trade spending, manufacturing cost savings and lower coupon expense excluding PHILLY SWIRL.

FROZEN BEVERAGES

Frozen beverage and related product sales increased 5% to $214,909,000 in fiscal 2014. Beverage sales alone increased 1% to $133,283,000 for the year with increases and decreases throughout our customer base. Gallon sales were down 1% in our base ICEE business, but excluding significant decreases at three customers, gallon sales were up 3%. Service revenue increased 13% to $59,805,000 for the year with two customers accounting for the entire increase. Sales of beverage machines, which tend to fluctuate from year to year while following no specific trend, increased from $17,376,000 in 2013 to $20,224,000 in 2014. The estimated number of Company owned frozen beverage dispensers was 48,000 and 44,700 at September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively. Operating income in our Frozen Beverage segment decreased from $22,903,000 in 2013 to $21,916,000 in 2014 as a result of decreased gallon sales and higher than usual group medical and insurance liability costs of about $670,000.

CONSOLIDATED

Other than as commented upon above by segment, there are no material specific reasons for the reported sales increases or decreases. Sales levels can be impacted by the appeal of our products to our customers and consumers and their changing tastes, competitive and pricing pressures, sales execution, marketing programs, seasonal weather, customer stability and general economic conditions.

Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased to 31.28% in 2014 from 30.35% in 2013 primarily due to higher volume in our food service segment, lower trade spending and manufacturing cost savings in our retail supermarkets segment and lower ingredients costs. Additionally, this year benefited from lower liability insurance costs of about $1.5 million compared to last year. 

Total operating expenses increased $14,831,000 to $180,729,000 in fiscal 2014 and as a percentage of sales increased .54 percentage points to 19.66% of sales. Marketing expenses were 8.55% and 8.54% of sales in 2014 and 2013, respectively. Distribution expenses as a percent of sales increased to 7.74% from 7.49% in 2013. Administrative expenses were 3.24% and 3.16% of sales in 2014 and 2013, respectively. Other general expense of $1,154,000 this year compared to other general income of $651,000 in 2013. Included in other general income in 2013 is $805,000 of settlement income related to prior acquisitions. Included in other general expense in 2014 is $973,000 of shutdown costs of our Norwalk, CA manufacturing facility.

Operating income increased $9,444,000 or 10% to $106,848,000 in fiscal year 2014 as a result of the aforementioned items. 

Investment income increased by $981,000 to $4,473,000 due to increased investments in marketable securities. We invested an additional $20 million in the second quarter in mutual funds that seek current income with an emphasis on maintaining low volatility and overall moderate duration. At September 27, 2014, we had $128 million invested in these funds.   We estimate the annual yield from these funds to approximate 3.5 – 3.75%. 

The effective income tax rate decreased to 35.4% from 36.1% last year because actual liability for last year's taxes was less than estimated and the estimate for this year's taxes has been lowered accordingly. We expect the effective income tax rate for 2015 to be between 36% and 36.5%.    

Net earnings increased $7,433,000 or 12%, in fiscal 2014 to $71,814,000, or $3.82 per diluted share as a result of the aforementioned items.

There are many factors which can impact our net earnings from year to year and in the long run, among which are the supply and cost of raw materials and labor, insurance costs, factors impacting sales as noted above, the continuing consolidation of our customers, our ability to manage our manufacturing, marketing and distribution activities, our ability to make and integrate acquisitions and changes in tax laws and interest rates.