iFresh, Inc. Reports Fiscal 2018 Third Quarter Financial Results


NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iFresh, Inc. (“iFresh” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ:IFMK), a leading Asian American grocery supermarket chain and online grocer, today reported unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2017.

Fiscal 2018 Third Quarter Highlights:

  • Total net sales increased $0.9 million, or 3% to $35.9 million, from $34.9 million in the prior year period.
     
  • Gross profit for the third quarter ended December 31, 2017 increased by 2%, to $7.5 million, compared to $7.4 million in the prior year period.

Mr. Long Deng, Chairman of the board of directors and CEO of iFresh, commented, “We are pleased to see an increase in total net sales in the quarter ended December 31, 2017. We reported a net loss this quarter mainly due to the impact of Hurricane Irma and the additional expenses related to four newly acquired stores, three of which are in the process of being renovated and are not yet generating revenue. In addition, due to the warehouse dispute with the landlord of our Ming’s warehouse, sales have been limited due to the lack of warehouse space.

The rent dispute with the landlord of Ming’s warehouse went to trial and concluded on August 29, 2017 with a jury verdict in favor of the Company. The verdict awarded Ming's damages of almost 2 million dollars, with another $2,250 each month.  The verdict is subject to appeal.

We remain committed to driving sales within existing stores and actively pursuing expansion opportunities in strategic geographies. In the quarter ended December 31, 2017, we acquired two new stores, New York Mart CT, Inc. and New York Mart N. Miami Inc. The two stores are expected to open in the first quarter of 2018 after renovation. Once finished, NYM N. Miami will become one of the largest Asian supermarkets in South Florida.

For the coming Chinese New Year, we are ready to capture opportunities with iFresh’s unique products and integrated supply chain. We look forward to updating you on our performance in the near future,” concluded Mr. Deng.

Third Quarter 2018 Results

Net Sales

For the three months ended December 31, 2017, net sales were $35.9 million, an increase of $0.9 million, or 3%, from $34.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. This was driven by a retail segment net sales increase of 1%, to $28.2 million, from $27.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2017, and a wholesale segment net sales increase of $0.7 million, to $7.7 million, from $7.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the third quarter ended December 31, 2017 increased by 2%, to $7.5 million, compared to $7.4 million in the prior year period. Gross margin was 21.0% and 21.2% for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expense was $7.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, compared to $6.5 million in the same period of the last fiscal year, which was mainly attributable to increased payroll expenses and the additional expenses related to four stores acquired in July and October, 2017, three of which are in the process of being renovated and are not yet generating revenue.

Net Income (loss)

Net loss was $0.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, a decrease of $0.9 million, or 146%, from $0.6 million of net income for the three months ended December 31, 2016, mainly attributable to impact of Hurricane Irma, increased general and administrative expenses and higher interest expenses.

Cash, Liquidity and Financial Position

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $0.9 million, compared to $2.5 million as of March 31, 2017. Working capital was $8.4 million as of December 31, 2017, compared to $13.4 million as of March 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $1.2 million of bank loans due within one year.

For the nine months ended December 31, 2017, net cash used in operating activities was approximately $ 0.6 million. Net cash used in investing activities was $3.8 million. Net cash provided by financing activities was $2.8 million.

About iFresh, Inc.

iFresh Inc., headquartered in Long Island City, New York, is a leading Asian American grocery supermarket chain and online grocer. With nine retail supermarkets along the US eastern seaboard (with additional stores in Glen Cove, Miami and Connecticut opening soon), two in-house wholesale businesses strategically located in cities with a highly concentrated Asian population, and six iFresh-managed stores, iFresh aims to satisfy the increasing demands of Asian Americans (whose purchasing power has been growing rapidly) for fresh and culturally unique produce, seafood and other groceries that are not found in mainstream supermarkets. With an in-house proprietary delivery network, online sales channel and strong relations with farms that produce Chinese specialty vegetables and fruits, iFresh is able to offer fresh, high-quality specialty produce at competitive prices to a growing base of customers. For more information, please visit: http://www.ifreshmarket.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements provide our current expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements include statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions, assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. Words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “will” or similar words or phrases, or the negatives of those words or phrases, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Examples of forward-looking statements in this announcement include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our disclosure concerning the Company’s operations, cash flows, financial position and dividend policy.

 
 
 
iFRESH INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
 
  December 31,
2017
  March 31,
2017
 
ASSETS      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $902,823  $2,508,362 
Accounts receivable, net  4,898,740   2,272,011 
Inventories, net  11,519,616   9,796,984 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  2,439,880   981,017 
Advances to related parties  9,552,534   14,852,083 
Total current assets  29,313,593   30,410,457 
Property and equipment, net  16,874,362   9,290,674 
Intangible assets, net  1,200,002   1,300,001 
Security deposits  1,232,506   912,346 
Deferred income taxes  389,435   86,799 
Total assets $49,009,898  $42,000,277 
         
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable $16,470,850   12,364,071 
Deferred revenue  139,029   206,737 
Borrowings against lines of credit - current, net  1,191,224   1,144,568 
Notes payable, current  143,056   262,578 
Capital lease obligations - current  60,498   51,376 
Accrued expenses  875,943   730,392 
Taxes payable  1,395,717   1,769,398 
Other payables - current  605,098   501,213 
Total current liabilities  20,881,415   17,030,333 
Borrowings against lines of credit & term loan - non-current, net  16,126,222   12,779,838 
Notes payable - non-current  269,228   379,376 
Capital lease obligations - non-current  83,410   59,907 
Deferred rent  6,286,568   5,424,134 
Other payables - non-current  67,800   34,800 
Total liabilities  43,714,643   35,708,388 
         
Commitments and contingencies        
         
Shareholders’ equity        
Preferred shares, $.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued.  -   - 
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized,
14,220,548 and 14,103,033 shares issued and outstanding as of
December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively
  1,422   1,410 
Additional paid-in capital  8,602,729   9,075,025 
Accumulated deficit  (3,308,896)  (2,784,546)
Total shareholders’ equity  5,295,255   6,291,889 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $49,009,898   42,000,277 
         


 
 
iFRESH INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
 
  For the three
months ended
  For the nine
months ended
 
  December 31,
2017
  December 31,
2016
    December 31,
2017
  December 31,
2016
 
             
Net sales $33,702,943  $32,327,248  $94,595,598  $90,874,879 
Net sales-related parties  2,160,248   2,589,866   7,136,011   6,219,027 
Total net sales  35,863,191   34,917,114   101,731,609   97,093,906 
Cost of sales  24,696,520   23,805,176   69,164,715   66,960,139 
Cost of sales-related parties  1,811,041   1,916,501   5,763,537   4,602,080 
Occupancy costs  1,834,247   1,791,325   5,670,852   5,396,778 
Gross profit  7,521,383   7,404,112   21,132,505   20,134,909 
                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses             7,760,568   6,485,191   22,721,595   18,841,217 
Income (Loss) from operations  (239,185)  918,921   (1,589,090)  1,293,692 
Interest expense, net  (214,452)  (62,260)  (590,835)  (152,551)
Other income  133,526   249,834   1,352,941   758,274 
Income (Loss) before income taxes  (320,111)  1,106,495   (826,984)  1,899,415 
Income tax provision (benefit)  (39,061)  497,929   (302,635)  854,743 
Net income (Loss) $(281,050) $608,566  $(524,349) $1,044,672 
                 
Net income (loss) per share:                
Basic $(0.02) $0.05  $(0.04) $0.09 
Diluted $(0.02) $0.05  $(0.04) $0.09 
Weighted average shares outstanding:                
Basic  14,219,132   12,000,000   14,167,599   12,000,000 
Diluted  14,219,132   12,000,000   14,167,599   12,000,000 
                 


 
 
iFRESH INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
 
  For the Nine months Ended 
  December 31,
2017
  December 31,
2016
 
Cash flows from operating activities      
Net income (loss) $(524,349) $1,044,672 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation expense  1,277,863   1,165,643 
Amortization expense  236,874   99,999 
Share based compensation  297,536   - 
Deferred income taxes  (302,636)  312,360 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable  (2,626,729)  (741,643)
Inventories  (1,722,632)  (1,321,821)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  (1,548,863)  (142,192)
Security deposits  (140,744)  159,240 
Accounts payable  4,053,328   4,194,650 
Deferred revenue  (67,708)  55,040 
Accrued expenses  145,551   (28,263)
Taxes payable  (373,681)  (461,390)
Deferred rent  522,546   403,644 
Other liabilities  136,883   635 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  (636,761)    4,740,574 
Cash flows from investing activities        
Advances to related parties  (2,127,694)  (5,820,890)
Acquisition of property and equipment  (1,664,630)  (732,329)
Cash proceeds from acquisitions  13,836   - 
Net cash used in investing activities  (3,778,488)  (6,553,219)
Cash flows from financing activities        
Borrowings against lines of credit  3,200,000   200,000 
Borrowings against term loan  1,050,000   - 
Proceeds from borrowings against term loan  -   15,000,000 
Repayments on lines of credit borrowings  (993,835)  (3,791,794)
Proceeds from borrowings on notes payable  -   288,129 
Repayments on notes payable  (397,335)  (175,465)
Payments on capital lease obligations  (49,120)  (38,024)
Deferred financing cost  -   (162,500)
Change in restricted cash  -   (1,030,000)
Net cash provided by financing activities  2,809,710   10,290,346 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  (1,605,539)  8,477,701 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period  2,508,362   551,782 
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period $902,823  $9,029,483 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information        
Cash paid for interest $541,134  $150,314 
Cash paid for income taxes $-  $1,316,133 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities        
Capital expenditures funded by capital lease obligations and notes payable $249,411  $288,129 
Stock issued for Glen Cove acquisition $645,500  $- 
Accrual of deferred financing costs $-  $750,000 
         

Contact:
Dragon Gate Investment Partners LLC
Tel: +1(646)-801-2803
Email: ifmk@dgipl.com