BBQ Holdings, Inc. Reports Results for Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2020


MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BBQ Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBQ) (the “Company”), an innovating global owner and operator of restaurants, today reported financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2020. Note: The third quarter results were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as federal and state level mandates requiring restaurants to limit or eliminate in-store dining.

Third Quarter 2020 Highlights:

  • Net income of $328,000, driven in part by a gain on a renegotiated leased asset of $630,000.
  • Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure was $2.0 million which includes a $1.1 million COVID-related expense addback.
  • Company-owned Famous Dave’s third quarter same store net sales decreased 4.6% compared to third quarter 2019.
  • Franchise-operated same store net sales decreased 10.0%.
  • Granite City third quarter same store net sales decreased 25.9% compared to third quarter 2019.
  • Same store sales at our Famous Dave’s restaurants increased 2.0% while same store sales at our Granite City restaurants decreased 23.8% during the four weeks ended October 25, 2020 compared to the same four-week period in 2019.
  • Entered into a 25-unit development agreement with Bluestone Hospitality Group to open Famous Dave’s ghost kitchens and dual restaurant concepts with the Johnny Carino’s Italian brand.

Executive Comments

Jeff Crivello, CEO, commented, “We continue to allocate much of our time and resources to COVID-19 related regulations. With restaurants in 19 states, this is not an easy task. Nonetheless, we are pleased to return to positive EBITDA during the quarter. The team captured many wins during the quarter including signing of a 25-unit ghost kitchen development agreement with Bluestone Hospitality Group. Additionally, we are seeing success in the recent opening of a Famous Dave’s ghost kitchen within the St. Cloud Granite City Food & Brewery. To drive add-on revenues, we will be repeating this process in six more Granite City locations by the end of the first quarter 2021. The recent opening of the Texas T-Bone and Famous Dave’s dual concept has been very successful, and we hope to expand that concept as well. On the technical side, we launched our new website to make the ordering process even more seamless to our patrons. Finally, we our beginning the roll-out of our Symphony POS system which we feel will enhance the customer experience of our loyalty promotions as well as simplify our overall internal operating systems. It has been a busy quarter, but we feel the entrepreneurial spirit of BBQ Holdings is hitting on all cylinders, and we expect to continue driving sales in a variety of ways as we adapt to the ever-changing consumer.”


Key Operating Metrics

               
  Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
  September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019  September 27, 2020
  September 29, 2019
Restaurant count:              
Franchise-operated  95   96   95   96 
Company-owned  49   32   49   32 
Total  144   128   144   128 
Same store net restaurant sales %:              
Franchise-operated  (10.0)%  2.1%  (18.3)%  1.2%
Company-owned  (4.6)%  0.4%  (9.9)%  1.0%
Total  (30.0)%  1.9%  (20.6)%  1.2%
               
(in thousands, expect per share data)              
               
System-wide restaurant sales(1) $82,482  $75,907  $214,803  $215,386 
               
Net income attributable to shareholders $328  $17  $7,783  $1,139 
Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders(2)  480   166   (4,039)  2,874 
               
Net income attributable to shareholders, per diluted share $0.04  $0.00  $0.85  $0.13 
Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders, per diluted share(2)  0.05   0.02   (0.44)  0.31 
               
Adjusted EBITDA(2) $1,995  $1,028  $2,915  $4,505 


(1) System-wide restaurant sales include sales for all Company-owned and franchise-operated restaurants, as reported by franchisees. Restaurant sales for franchise-operated restaurants are not revenues of the Company and are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
(2) Adjusted net income (loss) from continuing operations and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is included in the accompanying financial tables. See “Non-GAAP Reconciliation.”


Third Quarter 2020 Review

Total revenue for the third quarter of 2020 was $35.5 million, up 47.9% from the third quarter of 2019. The increase in year-over-year restaurant net sales for the quarter ended September 27, 2020 was driven primarily by the addition of 18 Granite City restaurants, a Clark Crew BBQ and a Real Urban Barbecue restaurant. 

On a weighted basis, Company-owned Famous Dave’s same-store net sales for our to-go line of business increased 73.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 as compared to the prior year period, offset by a decrease of 55.0% in net catering sales and 33.4% in dine-in sales due to federal, state and local mandates prohibiting large group gatherings and in-store dining in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

Restaurant-level operating margin, as a percentage of restaurant net sales, for Company-owned restaurants was 3.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 compared to 0.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2019. This increase in restaurant-level operating margin was primarily a result of the reduction of labor and food costs as our restaurant operators adjusted to the increase in to-go sales and reduction of dine-in customers as a result of COVID-19 concerns.

General and administrative expenses for the quarter ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 represented approximately 8.8% and 11.0% of total revenues, respectively. The decrease in general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue in the third quarter of 2020 was due in part to the increase in the revenue base with the addition of 20 locations during 2020.

Net income attributable to shareholders was approximately $328,000, or $0.04 per share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 compared to net income of $17,000, or $0.00 per share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2019. Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders, a non-GAAP measure, was approximately $480,000, or $0.05 per share, compared to adjusted net income attributable to shareholders of approximately $166,000, or $0.02 per share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2019. A reconciliation between adjusted net income attributable to shareholders and its most directly comparable GAAP measure is included in the accompanying financial tables.

About BBQ Holdings

BBQ Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBQ) BBQ Holdings is a national restaurant company engaged in the ownership and operation of casual and fast dining restaurants. As of November 10, 2020, BBQ Holdings had four brands with 146 overall locations in 31 states and three countries, including 48 company-owned and 98 franchise-operated restaurants. While BBQ Holdings continues to diversify its ownership in the restaurant community, it was founded with the principle of combining the “art and science” of barbecue to serve up the very best of the best to barbecue lovers everywhere. BBQ Holdings, through partnerships, has extended Travis Clark’s award-winning line of barbecue sauces, rubs and seasonings into the retail market. Along with a wide variety of BBQ favorites served at their BBQ restaurants, BBQ Holdings newest addition, Granite City Food and Brewery, offers award winning craft beer and a made-from-scratch, chef driven menu featuring contemporary American cuisine. 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), the Company uses non-GAAP measures including those indicated below. These non-GAAP measures exclude significant expenses and income that are required by GAAP to be recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and are subject to inherent limitations. By providing non-GAAP measures, together with a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure, the Company believes that it is enhancing investors’ understanding of the Company’s business and results of operations. These measures are not intended to be considered in isolation of, as substitutes for, or superior to, financial measures prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP measures presented may be different from the measures used by other companies. The Company urges investors to review the reconciliation of its non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, included in the accompanying financial tables.

Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders is net income attributable to shareholders, plus asset impairment, estimated lease termination charges and other closing costs, settlement agreements, net (loss) gain on disposal of equipment, stock-based compensation, severance, acquisition costs, and the related tax impact. This number is divided by the weighted-average number of diluted shares of common stock outstanding during each period presented to arrive at adjusted net income, per share. Adjusted EBITDA is net income (loss), plus asset impairment, estimated lease termination charges and other closing costs, settlement agreements, depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net, net (loss) gain on disposal of equipment, stock-based compensation, severance, acquisition costs and provision (benefit) for income taxes.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical, including but not limited to statements regarding the timing of the Company’s restaurant openings, the timing of refreshes and the timing or success of refranchising plans, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from expected results. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectation will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectation include the impact of the COVID-19 virus pandemic, financial performance, restaurant industry conditions, execution of restaurant development and construction programs, franchisee performance, changes in local or national economic conditions, availability of financing, governmental approvals and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports.

Contact: Jeff Crivello – Chief Executive Officer
  952-294-1300
   
  Darrow Associates, Inc.
  Peter Seltzberg – Managing Director
  516-419-9915
  pseltzberg@darrowir.com




BBQ HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 (in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

             
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 
 September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019 
Revenue:            
Restaurant sales, net$32,559  $20,451  $78,251  $48,267  
Franchise royalty and fee revenue 2,153   2,909   6,628   9,560  
Franchisee national advertising fund contributions 302   395   826   1,275  
Licensing and other revenue 497   261   1,423   839  
Total revenue 35,511   24,016   87,128   59,941  
             
Costs and expenses:            
Food and beverage costs 9,735   6,383   24,206   15,068  
Labor and benefits costs 11,189   7,477   26,976   17,253  
Operating expenses 10,521   6,470   26,251   15,430  
Depreciation and amortization expenses 1,397   576   3,820   1,355  
General and administrative expenses 3,138   2,653   9,973   7,547  
National advertising fund expenses 302   395   826   1,275  
Asset impairment, estimated lease termination charges and other closing costs, net (138)  214   4,814   718  
Pre-opening expenses (120)  94   (93)  94  
Gain on disposal of property, net (530)  (28)  (1,107)  (174) 
Total costs and expenses 35,494   24,234   95,666   58,566  
             
Income (loss) from operations 17   (218)  (8,538)  1,375  
             
Other income (expense):            
Interest expense (326)  (33)  (866)  (392) 
Interest income 94   27   380   114  
Gain on bargain purchase       13,675     
Total other (expense) income (232)  (6)  13,189   (278) 
             
(Loss) income before income taxes (215)  (224)  4,651   1,097  
             
Income tax benefit (expense) 273   174   2,519   (25) 
             
Net income (loss) 58   (50)  7,170   1,072  
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest 270   67   613   67  
Net income attributable to shareholders$328  $17  $7,783  $1,139  
             
             
Income per common share:            
Basic net income per share attributable to shareholders$0.04  $0.00  $0.85  $0.13  
Diluted net income per share attributable to shareholders$0.04  $0.00  $0.85  $0.12  
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 9,151   9,105   9,138   9,095  
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 9,158   9,279   9,145   9,193  




BBQ HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
OPERATING RESULTS
(unaudited)

           
  Three Months Ended
  Nine Months Ended 
  September 27, 2020  September 29, 2019  September 27, 2020  September 29, 2019 
             
Food and beverage costs(1) 29.9% 31.2 % 30.9 % 31.2%
Labor and benefits costs(1) 34.4% 36.6 % 34.5 % 35.7%
Operating expenses(1) 32.3% 31.6 % 33.5 % 32.0%
Restaurant level operating margin(1)(3) 3.4% 0.6 % 1.0 % 1.1%
Depreciation and amortization expenses(2) 3.9% 2.4 % 4.4 % 2.3%
General and administrative expenses(2) 8.8% 11.0 % 11.4 % 12.6%
(Loss) income from operations(2) 0.0% (0.9)% (9.8)% 2.3%


(1) As a percentage of restaurant sales, net
(2) As a percentage of total revenue
(3) Restaurant level margins are equal to restaurant sales, net, less restaurant level food and beverage costs, labor and benefit costs, and operating expenses.




BBQ HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 (in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

       
ASSETS      
Current assets:  September 27, 2020 December 29, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents $19,551  $5,325 
Restricted cash  959   761 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $176,000 and $132,000, respectively  3,885   4,379 
Inventories  2,490   1,346 
Prepaid income taxes and income taxes receivable  285   264 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  638   1,356 
Assets held for sale  3,911   2,842 
Total current assets   31,719   16,273 
       
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net  33,131   19,756 
       
Other assets:      
Operating lease right-of-use assets  64,833   25,962 
Goodwill  651   640 
Intangible assets, net  10,117   2,213 
Deferred tax asset, net  4,264   6,646 
Other assets  1,691   1,591 
  $146,406  $73,081 
       
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY      
       
Current liabilities:       
Accounts payable $4,952  $3,967 
Current portion of lease liabilities  6,459   4,230 
Current portion of long-term debt  2,749   616 
Accrued compensation and benefits  2,225   2,694 
Other current liabilities  8,467   4,975 
Total current liabilities  24,852   16,482 
       
Long-term liabilities:      
Lease liabilities, less current portion  65,319   26,957 
Long-term debt, less current portion  25,483   6,258 
Other liabilities  1,386   1,610 
Total liabilities  117,040   51,307 
       
Shareholders’ equity:       
Common stock, $.01 par value, 100,000 shares authorized, 9,284 and 9,272 shares issued and outstanding at September 27, 2020 and December 29, 2019, respectively  93   93 
Additional paid-in capital  8,278   7,856 
Retained earnings  22,206   14,423 
Total shareholders’ equity  30,577   22,372 
Non-controlling interest  (1,211)  (598)
Total equity  29,366   21,774 
  $146,406  $73,081 



BBQ HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 (in thousands)
(unaudited)

       
  Nine Months Ended
  September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net income $7,170  $1,072 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows provided by operations:      
Depreciation and amortization  3,820   1,355 
Stock-based compensation  422   354 
Net gain on disposal  (1,080)  (174)
Asset impairment, estimated lease termination charges and other closing costs, net  4,788   660 
Gain on bargain purchase  (13,675)   
Deferred income taxes  (2,569)  36 
Other non-cash items  488   213 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
Accounts receivable, net  494   (495)
Other assets  (867)  (580)
Accounts payable  985   1,371 
Accrued and other liabilities  671   (356)
Cash flows provided by operating activities  647   3,456 
       
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Proceeds from the sale of assets  27   33 
Purchases of property, equipment and leasehold improvements  (2,671)  (3,792)
Payments for acquired restaurants  (4,952)  (6,188)
Advances on notes receivable     (150)
Payments received on note receivable  24   20 
Cash flows used for investing activities  (7,572)  (10,077)
       
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Proceeds from long-term debt  22,058    
Payments for debt issuance costs  (45)  (54)
Payments on long-term debt  (664)  (176)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities  21,349   (230)
       
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash  14,424   (6,851)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period  6,086   12,440 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $20,510  $5,589 



BBQ HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

             
  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
(dollars in thousands) September 27, 2020 September 29, 2019  September 27, 2020  September 29, 2019
Net income attributable to shareholders $328  $17   7,783   1,139 
Asset impairment and estimated lease termination charges and other closing costs  (138)  214   4,814   718 
Net gain on disposal of equipment  (530)  (28)  (1,107)  (174)
Stock-based compensation  174   131   422   354 
Acquisition costs  29   249   (46)  770 
Pre-opening costs  (120)  94   (93)  94 
Severance  21   10   52   13 
Gain on bargain purchase        (13,675)   
Tax adjustment  716   (521)  (2,189)  (40)
Adjusted net income (loss) $480  $166  $(4,039) $2,874 
Basic adjusted net income (loss) per common share $0.05  $0.02  $(0.44) $0.32 
Diluted adjusted net income (loss) per common share $0.05  $0.02  $(0.44) $0.31 
             
Weighted average common share outstanding - basic  9,151   9,105   9,138   9,095 
Weighted average common share outstanding - diluted  9,158   9,279   9,145   9,193 
             
Net income (loss) $58  $(50) $7,170  $1,072 
Asset impairment and estimated lease termination charges and other closing costs  (138)  214   4,814   718 
Depreciation and amortization  1,397   576   3,820   1,355 
Interest expense, net  232   6   486   278 
Net gain on disposal of equipment  (530)  (28)  (1,107)  (174)
Stock-based compensation  174   131   422   354 
Acquisition costs  29   249   (46)  770 
Pre-opening costs  (120)  94   (93)  94 
Severance  21   10   52   13 
Gain on bargain purchase        (13,675)   
Provision for income taxes  (273)  (174)  (2,519)  25 
COVID-19-related expense  1,145      3,591    
Adjusted EBITDA $1,995  $1,028  $2,915  $4,505