United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE: UNFI) (the “Company” or “UNFI”) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter (13 weeks) and fiscal year (52 weeks) ended July 29, 2023.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2023 Performance

• Net sales increased 2.0% to $7.4 billion
• Net loss of $68 million; Loss per diluted share (EPS) of $(1.15)
• Adjusted EBITDA decreased 56.3% to $93 million
• Adjusted EPS decreased to $(0.25)

Recent Financial and Operational Summary

• Fiscal 2023 sales in-line with most recent outlook; adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS at high-end of most recent outlook
• Year-end net debt reduced to a new post-Supervalu low of $1.95 billion; decline of $1.40 billion since 2018 close
• Actioned nearly $100 million of cost savings from previously disclosed near-term value creation initiatives
• Progressing on key transformation initiatives
  • Optimizing and automating supply chain; broke ground on Sarasota distribution center
  • Accelerating and expanding transformation initiative, including the addition of three new board members
  • Conducting board-led finance review to drive shareholder value creation

“Our fourth quarter concluded a challenging year in which we continued to emphasize serving customers and suppliers, and we also worked diligently to improve operating effectiveness, efficiency and our technological capabilities. While we grew sales across all of our customer channels, profitability declined primarily due to a decrease in inflation driven procurement gains and elevated shrink. We expect further headwinds as we continue to cycle elevated inflationary benefits during the first half of fiscal 2024,” said Sandy Douglas, UNFI Chief Executive Officer.

“As we look to the new fiscal year, we’re focused on addressing near-term profitability while creating a structurally more efficient technology-enabled food retail services company that can better serve our customers and capitalize on the significant growth opportunities we see ahead. To that end, we’ve already captured nearly $100 million of near-term value creation initiatives, and we now expect to drive full year operating margin benefits in fiscal 2024 of nearly $150 million from these actions. We’re continuing to invest in our supply chain and technology infrastructure to improve our cost structure and enhance the customer and supplier experience. We’re confident that combining our industry leading position with a more dynamic and nimble UNFI under the guidance of our newly refreshed board puts us on a strong path to drive meaningful and sustainable long-term shareholder value creation.”

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2023 Summary

Net sales increased 2.0% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the same period last year, primarily driven by inflation and new business. This new business resulted from selling new or expanded categories to existing customers and adding new customers from our robust pipeline. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in total units sold. While unit volumes continued to decline, there was 100 basis points of sequential improvement from levels in the third quarter of fiscal 2023.

Gross profit in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 was $1.0 billion, a decrease of $87 million, or 8.3%, compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. Excluding the non-cash LIFO charge in both periods, gross profit decreased $107 million, or 9.6%. The gross profit rate in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 was 13.0% of net sales, including a $36 million LIFO charge, compared to 14.5% of net sales with a $56 million LIFO charge in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. Excluding this non-cash charge, gross profit rate was 13.5% of net sales compared to a gross profit rate of 15.2% of net sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. The decrease in gross profit rate, excluding the LIFO charge, was primarily driven by lower levels of procurement gains, reduced benefits from inflation and higher levels of shrink.

Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 were $1,004 million, or 13.5% of net sales, compared to $980 million, or 13.5% of net sales, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 benefited from lower transportation and distribution center labor costs due to a decrease in volume, and lower incentive compensation expense driven by underperformance compared to targets, offset by investments in our transformation initiatives which led to higher costs in this year’s fourth quarter, and higher occupancy-related costs. Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 included approximately $14 million in higher incentive compensation expense compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023.

Interest expense, net for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 was $35 million, compared to $34 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. The increase in interest expense, net was primarily driven by higher interest rates, partially offset by lower outstanding debt balances.

Effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 was a benefit of 35.0% of a pre-tax loss compared to an expense of 6.8% of pre-tax income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 included benefits from a favorable state audit settlement and the reduction in pre-tax income during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 was reduced by discrete tax benefits related to employee stock awards.

Net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 was $68 million. Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 was $39 million.

Net loss per diluted share (EPS) was $(1.15) for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to net income per diluted share of $0.63 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. Adjusted EPS was $(0.25) for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, compared to adjusted EPS of $1.27 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 was $93 million, compared to $213 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022.

Capital Allocation and Financing Overview

• Free Cash Flow – During the fourth quarter of 2023, free cash flow was $117 million, compared to $269 million in last year’s fourth quarter. This quarter’s results reflect net cash provided by operating activities of $222 million less payments for capital expenditures of $105 million.
• Leverage – Total outstanding debt, net of cash, ended the quarter at $1.95 billion, reflecting a decrease of $166 million during fiscal 2023. The net debt to adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio was 3.0x as of July 29, 2023.
• Liquidity – As of July 29, 2023, total liquidity was approximately $1.52 billion, consisting of approximately $37 million in cash, plus the unused capacity of approximately $1.48 billion under the Company’s asset-based lending facility.
• Repurchase program – During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company repurchased approximately 791,000 shares at an average price of $26.49 for an aggregate cost of approximately $21 million.

Fiscal 2024 Outlook ⁽¹⁾

The Company is providing the following outlook for fiscal 2024, a 53-week year. This outlook reflects lower levels of anticipated procurement gains, driven by moderating levels of inflation, as well as the restoration of performance-based incentive cash compensation in fiscal 2024.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company’s fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2023 conference call and audio webcast will be held today, Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. ET. A webcast of the conference call (and supplemental materials) will be available to the public, on a listen only basis, via the internet at the Investors section of the Company’s website www.unfi.com. The call can also be accessed at (888) 660 - 6768 (conference ID 1099581). An online archive of the webcast (and supplemental materials) will be available for 120 days.

About United Natural Foods

UNFI is North America’s premier grocery wholesaler delivering the widest variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to more than 30,000 locations throughout North America, including natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional supermarket chains, eCommerce providers, and foodservice customers. UNFI also provides a broad range of value-added services and segmented marketing expertise, including proprietary technology, data, market insights, and shelf management to help customers and suppliers build their businesses and brands. As the largest full-service grocery partner in North America, UNFI is committed to building a food system that is better for all and is uniquely positioned to deliver great food, more choices, and fresh thinking to customers. To learn more about how UNFI is Fueling the Future of Food, visit www.unfi.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding the Company’s business that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and management estimates; actual results may differ materially. The risks and uncertainties which could impact these statements are described in the Company’s filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 30, 2022 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 27, 2022 and other filings the Company makes with the SEC, and include, but are not limited to, our dependence on principal customers; the relatively low margins of our business, which are sensitive to inflationary and deflationary pressures and intense competition, including as a result of the continuing consolidation of retailers and the growth of consumer choices for grocery and consumable purchases; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of our transformation initiatives; changes in relationships with our suppliers; our ability to operate, and rely on third parties to operate, reliable and secure technology systems; labor and other workforce shortages and challenges; the addition or loss of significant customers or material changes to our relationships with these customers; our ability to realize anticipated benefits of our acquisitions; our ability to continue to grow sales, including of our higher margin natural and organic foods and non-food products, and to manage that growth; our ability to maintain sufficient volume in our wholesale segment to support our operating infrastructure; the impact and duration of any pandemics or disease outbreaks; our ability to access additional capital; increases in healthcare, pension and other costs under our and multiemployer benefit plans; the potential for additional asset impairment charges; our sensitivity to general economic conditions including inflation, changes in disposable income levels and consumer purchasing habits; our ability to timely and successfully deploy our warehouse management system throughout our distribution centers and our transportation management system across the Company and to achieve efficiencies and cost savings from these efforts; the potential for disruptions in our supply chain or our distribution capabilities from circumstances beyond our control, including due to lack of long-term contracts, severe weather, labor shortages or work stoppages or otherwise; moderated supplier promotional activity, including decreased forward buying opportunities; union-organizing activities that could cause labor relations difficulties and increased costs; our ability to maintain food quality and safety; and volatility in fuel costs. Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, speak only as of the date made. The Company is not undertaking to update any information in the foregoing reports until the effective date of its future reports required by applicable laws. Any estimates of future results of operations are based on a number of assumptions, many of which are outside the Company’s control and should not be construed in any manner as a guarantee that such results will in fact occur. These estimates are subject to change and could differ materially from final reported results. The Company may from time to time update these publicly announced estimates, but it is not obligated to do so.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures: To supplement the financial information presented on a U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) basis, the Company has included in this press release the non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per diluted common share (“Adjusted EPS”), adjusted effective tax rate, free cash flow and net debt to Adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio. Adjusted EPS is a consolidated measure, which the Company reconciles by adding Net income attributable to UNFI plus the LIFO charge or benefit, Goodwill impairment benefits and charges, Restructuring, acquisition, and integration related expenses, gains and losses on sales of assets, certain legal charges and gains, surplus property depreciation and interest expense, losses on debt extinguishment, the impact of diluted shares when GAAP earnings is presented as a loss and non-GAAP earnings represent income, and the tax impact of adjustments and the adjusted effective tax rate, which tax impact is calculated using the adjusted effective tax rate, and certain other non-cash charges or items, as determined by management. The non-GAAP adjusted effective tax rate excludes the potential impact of changes to various uncertain tax positions and valuation allowances, as well as tax impacts related to the vesting of share-based compensation awards. The non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA measure is a consolidated measure inclusive of continuing and discontinued operations results, which the Company reconciles by adding Net income (loss) from continuing operations, less Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, plus Non-operating income and expenses, including Net periodic benefit income, excluding service cost, Interest expense, net and Other (income) expense, net, plus Provision (benefit) for income taxes and Depreciation and amortization all calculated in accordance with GAAP, plus adjustments for Share-based compensation, non-cash LIFO charge or benefit, Restructuring, acquisition and integration related expenses, Goodwill impairment charges, Loss (gain) on sale of assets and other asset charges, certain legal charges and gains, certain other non-cash charges or other items, as determined by management, plus Adjusted EBITDA of discontinued operations calculated in a manner consistent with the results of continuing operations, outlined above. The changes to the definition of Adjusted EBITDA from prior periods reflect changes to line item references in our Consolidated Financial Statements, which do not impact the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA. The non-GAAP free cash flow measure is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less payments for capital expenditures. The non-GAAP net debt to Adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio is defined as the total carrying value of the Company’s outstanding short- and long-term debt and finance lease liabilities less net cash and cash equivalents, the sum of which is divided by the trailing four quarters Adjusted EBITDA.

The reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their comparable GAAP financial measures and the calculation of net debt to Adjusted EBITDA leverage are presented in the tables appearing below. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes that presenting the non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS aids in making period-to-period comparisons, assessing the performance of our business and understanding the underlying operating performance and core business trends by excluding certain adjustments not expected to recur in the normal course of business or that are not meaningful indicators of actual and estimated operating performance. The inclusion of free cash flow assists investors in understanding the cash generating ability of the Company separate from cash generated by the sale of assets. Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio is a commonly used metric that assists investors in understanding and evaluating the Company’s capital structure and changes to its capital structure over time. The Company currently expects to continue to exclude the items listed above from non-GAAP financial measures. Management utilizes and plans to utilize these non-GAAP financial measures to compare the Company’s operating performance during the 2024 fiscal year to the comparable periods in the 2023 fiscal year and to internally prepared projections. These non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similarly titled measures of other companies.

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