UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )

 


 

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Check the appropriate box:

 

 

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

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Definitive Proxy Statement

 

Definitive Additional Materials

 

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

Innovative Food Holdings, Inc., Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

                                                                                                         

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

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(1)

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(2)

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(3)

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ivfh_logo1.jpg

April 24, 2024

Dear fellow shareholders,

What a year it’s been! I recently re-read my letter from last year, which I wrote when I’d been with the company for only a few weeks. It’s incredible to see how we have delivered on the objectives I laid out, made important strategic pivots, and begun to stabilize the company. Here’s a recap of some of the most important accomplishments this team and the board of directors have achieved over the past year:

Returned the company to consistent adjusted EBITDA for the first time in several years

Re-established quarterly investor earnings calls after a multi-year hiatus

Implemented a margin management plan, re-establishing pre-inflation margin levels

Embarked on a cost-cutting initiative, removing unnecessary management layers and right-sizing team resourcing

Recapitalized the company under a loan guaranteed by the USDA, enabling a multi-million-dollar improvement to working capital

Established and began implementing a three-phase “100/10 plan” to return the Company to a dynamic, growing, and profitable entity

Announced and began executing a large capital reallocation plan, including the February sale of the Company’s Florida headquarters building, and listing for sale its Pennsylvania direct-to-consumer fulfillment center, which will ultimately result in the payoff of all of the Company’s long-term debt

Began the search for strategic alternatives for the Company’s direct-to-consumer e-commerce business, while also downsizing the team size, marketing spend, and assortment offered

Sold off other non-core, loss-making businesses including Oasis Sales Corp, Organic Food Brokers, and Haley Food Group

Exited unprofitable consumer marketplace businesses across several partnerships

Hired a strong management team with a broad experience set from some of America’s largest companies

Refreshed the board and named a new chairman of the board

Onboarded a new law firm and audit firm

I’m extremely proud of the progress our team has made in just twelve short months. We are working as one team, with the right leaders in the right chairs, with aligned incentives, and with a unified vision of what IVFH can become. More than anything, I’m excited that we’re just getting started on our strategic “100/10” plan, to deliver the company’s first $100 million in revenue and $10 million in adjusted EBITDA. As we continue to progress toward stabilizing the Company, we are paying off our debt, and generating cash to invest in our profitable foodservice businesses. These actions, combined with our stronger margins, improved operating performance, and lower interest expense are setting us up to be a significantly stronger and more profitable company.

 


During our earnings calls, I’ve referenced the three phases of our 100/10 plan a few times: 1) Stabilize the company, 2) Lay the Foundation for Growth, and 3) Build and Scale. While we’ve made tremendous progress on gross margins, expenses, and cash flow, I’m still looking for two more elements of progress before we complete the Stabilization phase: a return to revenue growth for our Professional Chef business, and the sale of the Pennsylvania building. In Q1 of 2024, our Professional Chef business finally turned the corner and moved back into slight growth. We have high expectations for continuing to build on this momentum.

While we still have some additional pieces to fall into place as we finish stabilizing the company, we are already looking to our Phase 2, Laying the Foundation for Growth. During this phase, we will be exploring several different business models that we need to prove out to ensure we have the right strategy to eventually help us become a $1 billion company.

With the ramp down of our direct-to-consumer business largely behind us, we have two core businesses that we are focused on going forward: first, our drop ship business, which made up about $40 million of our revenue in 2023. In this business, we largely don’t take ownership of the inventory, but instead work with a network of vendors to drop ship their products directly to the end restaurant customer. Second is our food distribution business, which made up about $30 million of our revenue in 2023, where we physically deliver foodservice items to our customers (largely in Chicago through our Artisan Specialty Foods subsidiary, and shipped out nationally to Gate Gourmet’s kitchens).

Our future strategy will fall somewhere on a spectrum between these two core businesses. At one extreme, we may find we have ample growth opportunity in the capital-light drop ship business, and will focus our go-forward strategy there. At the other extreme, we may find there’s more opportunity in rolling up regional specialty foodservice distributors. Our hypothesis, however, is that there’s an exciting middle ground where these two businesses can synergistically support one another, with newly acquired distributors having the opportunity to cross-list their assortment in our drop ship business, while also cross-selling the drop ship assortment to their existing customers. We will be pushing on all of these business models over the next 1-2 years to better identify IVFH’s long term strategy.

Most importantly, I want to thank you for coming along on the ride with us as we chart a new course for Innovative Food Holdings. We have an exciting future ahead!

Sincerely,

bb_1.jpg

Bill Bennett

Chief Executive Officer

Innovative Food Holdings

 

ivfh_logo1.jpg

April 24, 2024         

To the shareholders of IVFH,

I can guarantee you will only hear from me on three occasions: (1) the annual meeting, (2) if something really great happens, or (3) if something really bad happens.

Our job as a Board is to be a fiduciary to you, our stockholders. Within that duty is a focus on making sure we have the right management team, monitoring the profitability of the company, and maintaining and supporting our capital structure as we look to grow (leverage and dilution, both of which I am not a fan of).

At IVFH, our goal is to provide an awesome and differentiated product to our customers at a sensible price. Restaurants (and others) are constantly looking for this. There is no end to this opportunity. If we can execute on this simple, but hard opportunity, we hope to produce significant value for shareholders. This will ideally be achieved by generating substantial returns on capital, thus resulting in favorable cash flow per share to all of us. I don’t expect every year to have growth in cash flow per share. I want to be clear. I am perfectly fine with that number going down in any one year (as I am sure it will), if we are investing for growth in future years.

Last year was a pivotal year of “fixing the engine”. Bill and his team have spent and continue to spend a tremendous amount of time working on this. But hopefully this year the engine will start to work as it should.

Lastly, my hope is that next year this letter will be structured slightly differently. However, I felt it was necessary for you to understand how I think about our responsibilities as a Board. Next year, you will also know if I thought the year was good or bad, regardless of the year’s results (but they will have some bearing). With no fluff.

Sincerely,

/s/ James Pappas                  

James Pappas

Chairman of the Board


 

INNOVATIVE FOOD HOLDINGS, INC.

28411 RACE TRACK RD.9696 BONITA BEACH RD, SUITE 208

BONITA SPRINGS, FLORIDA 34135

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 11, 2022MAY 15, 2024

 

We are pleased to invite you to attend the 20212024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. to be heldat Springhill Suites, 25 West 37th St, New York, New York on Tuesday, January 11, 2022Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 12:303:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

 

The Annual Meeting will be a virtual stockholder meeting through which you can listen to the meeting live, submit questions and vote online. There is no physical location for the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting can be accessed by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IVFH2021. The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to consider and act upon the following matters:

 

(1)

To elect eight (8) directors to serve for the ensuing year.year,

 

(2)

To approve and authorize our Board of Directors to implement a reverse split of our outstanding Common Stock, at its discretion, in a ratio ranging from 1:2 to 1:15.

(3)

To ratify the selection by the Board of Directors of the firm of Liggett & Webb P.A.Assurance Dimensions, Inc., as the Company’s independent auditors for the current fiscal year.year,

 

(4)

(3)

To conduct an advisory vote on executive compensation.compensation,

 

 

(4)

To determine the frequency of such non-binding advisory votes regarding the executive compensation of named executive officers every one (1), two (2) or three (3) years, and

(5)

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

Stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 15, 2021April 17, 2024 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. The stock transfer books of the Company will remain open.

 

After careful consideration, our Board of Directors has approved each of the Proposals and has determined that each Proposal is advisable, fair and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Accordingly, our Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the approval of each of the proposals set forthdirector nominees in this proxy statement andProposal 1, vote “FOR” each of the nomineesProposal 2 and Proposal 3, and vote “FOR” 1 year for director.Proposal 4.

 

For the ten days prior to the Annual Meeting, a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for examination by any stockholder of record for purposes germane to the Annual Meeting. You may make a request by calling our corporate headquarters at (239) 596-0204 during regular business hours. If we determine that a physical in-person inspection is not practicable, such list of stockholders may be made available electronically, upon request. In addition, during the Annual Meeting, a live secure link will be provided to any stockholder of record virtually attending the Annual Meeting which will provide access to that list of stockholders.

 

Details regarding admission to the Annual Meeting and the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting are described in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy statement.

 

More information about the Company and the Proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting are contained in this proxy statement. The Company urges you to read this proxy statement carefully and in its entirety.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

Sam KlepfishBill Bennett

Bonita Springs, Florida

December 13, 2021April 24, 2024

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO VIRTUALLY ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE IN ORDER TO ENSURE REPRESENTATION OF YOUR SHARES. IF YOU HAVE TELEPHONE OR INTERNET ACCESS, YOU MAY SUBMIT YOUR PROXY BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. YOU MAY REVOKE THE PROXY AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE AUTHORITY GRANTED THEREIN IS EXERCISED.

 

 

 

 

INNOVATIVE FOOD HOLDINGS, INC.

28411 RACE TRACK RD.9696 Bonita Beach Rd, Suite 208

BONITA SPRINGS, FLORIDA 34135

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 20212024 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 11, 2022MAY 15, 2024

 

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) for use at the 20212024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on January 11, 2022,May 15, 2024 at Springhill Suites, 25 West 37th St, New York, New York, and at any adjournment of that meeting (the “Annual Meeting”). Throughout this Proxy Statement, “we,” “us” and “our” are used to refer to the Company.

 

We have decided to hold a virtual meeting in light of concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and because it improves stockholder access, encourages greater global participation, lowers costs compared to an in-person event, and aligns with our broader sustainability goals. Stockholders attending the virtual meeting will be afforded the same rights and opportunities to participate as they would at an in-person meeting. Information on how to vote online while attending the Annual Meeting is discussed below.

The Annual Meeting will be conducted completely online via the internet and there is no physical location for the Annual Meeting. Stockholders may attend and participate in the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IVFH2021 to log on. If you are a registered holder or if your shares are held beneficially through a bank or broker, you must log on using the 16 digit Virtual Control Number included on your Notice, proxy card and/or email. Instructions on how to connect and participate via the Internet are posted at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IVFH2021. Please allow ample time for online check-in, which will begin at 12:15 p.m. Eastern Time, on January 11, 2022.

Voting Securities and Votes Required

 

At the close of business on November 15, 2021,April 17, 2024, the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, there were outstanding and entitled to vote an aggregate of 45,747,39749,714,929 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share. All holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share.

 

A majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock represented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting will constitute a quorum at the meeting for all matters to be voted on by the holders of our common stock. All shares of our common stock represented in person or by proxy (including shares which abstain or do not vote for any reason with respect to one or more of the matters presented for stockholder approval) will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the number of shares present and entitled to vote with respect to any particular matter but will not be counted as a vote in favor of such matter.

 

Proposal No. 1 (directors) - With respect to the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of our common stock present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required for election of directors.

 

Proposal No. 2 (reverse stock split) - With respect to the approval of the reverse stock split, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote as of the record date for the Annual Meeting is required for approval.

Proposal No. 3 (auditors) – With respect to the approval of the auditors, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast onshares of stock having voting power present in person or represented by proxy at the mattermeeting is required for approval.

 

Proposal No. 43 (executive compensation) - With respect to the approval of our executive compensation, while our Board and its Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) will carefully consider the outcome of the vote expressed by our stockholders when making future executive compensation decisions, the vote will not be binding upon them. The Company will deem the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of stock having voting power present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting to be approved.

Proposal No. 4 (say-on-pay frequency) – With respect to the frequency of which we include in our proxy statement, an advisory vote, to approve or not approve the compensation of our named executive officers. By voting on this proposal, stockholders may indicate whether they prefer that we seek such an advisory vote every one (1), two (2), or three (3) years. The Company will deem the frequency that receives the largest number of votes cast to be approval.frequency selected by the Shareholders.

 

Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

 

Abstentions will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the number of shares present and entitled to vote with respect to any particular matter but will not be counted as a vote in favor of such matter. Accordingly, an abstention from voting will have nothe effect on any of a vote against the Proposals.Proposal.


 

If you hold shares beneficially in street name and do not provide your broker with voting instructions, your shares may constitute “broker non-votes.” Broker non-votes occur on a matter when a broker is not permitted to vote on that matter without instructions from the beneficial owner and instructions are not given. These matters are referred to as “non-routine” matters. Each of Proposal No. 1 (election of directors), Proposal No. 3 (advisory vote on executive compensation), and Proposal No. 4 (advisory vote on executive competition)(say-on-pay frequency) is a “non-routine” matter. A “broker non-vote” will have no effect on the same effect as an abstention as described above. vote on the proposal. Proposal No. 2 (the ratification of our auditors) is a “routine” matter on which your broker can exercise voting discretion.

 


Virtual Meeting Protocols

 

How to Vote

 

If you are a stockholder of the Company and your shares of our common stock are registered directly in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you are considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record, and the proxy materials and proxy card are being sent directly to you by the Company. If you are a stockholder of record of the Company, you may virtually attend the Annual Meeting and vote your shares in person, rather than signing and returning your proxy. Similarly, if your shares of our common stock are held by a bank, broker or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” and the proxy materials are being forwarded to you, together with a voting instruction card, by such bank, broker or other nominee. As the beneficial owner, you are also invited to virtually attend the Annual Meeting and you may vote these shares in person at the Annual Meeting.

 

If on the record date you are a stockholder with shares registered in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., or if you are a beneficial owner of shares of the Company’ common stock, you may vote online while virtually attendingin person at the Annual Meeting or vote by proxy, by telephone, by internet or by mail. Whether or not you plan to virtually attend the Annual Meeting, please vote as soon as possible to ensure your vote is counted. You may still virtually attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person even if you have already voted by proxy.

 

ToIn Person. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote onlinein person at the AnnualMeeting. The Company will give you a ballot when you arrive. If you are a beneficial owner of shares of Common Stock held in street name and you wish to vote in person at the Meeting,. To vote online during you must obtain a legal proxy from the Annual Meeting, join the virtual Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IVFH2021. You will then be prompted to enterbrokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other similar organization that holds your 16 digit Virtual Control Number which is included on the Notice, Proxy Card and/or email, and then follow theshares. Please contact that organization for instructions in the Annual Meeting portal.regarding obtaining a legal proxy.

 

To vote by proxy by telephoneVia the Internet. To vote over the telephone, dial toll-free 1-800-690-6903 using a touch-tone phone and follow the recorded instructions. You will be asked to provide the company number and control number from the Notice. Your telephone vote must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time on January 10, 2022 to be counted.

To vote online not at the Annual Meeting. To vote throughvia the Internet without attending the Annual Meeting, go to www.proxyvote.com to complete an electronic proxy card. You will be asked to provide the company number and control number from the Proxy Card. Your Internet vote must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time on January 10, 2022May 14, 2024 to be counted.

 

Via Telephone. To vote over the telephone, dial toll-free 1-800-690-6903 using a touch-tone phone and follow the recorded instructions. You will be asked to provide the company number and control number from the Notice. Your telephone vote must be received by proxy by mail11:59 p.m., Eastern Time on May 14, 2024 to be counted.

By Mail. You may submit your proxy by mail by completing and signing the enclosed proxy card and mailing it in the enclosed envelope. Provided your proxy card is received prior to the Annual Meeting your shares will be voted as you have instructed.

 

We provide Internet proxy voting to allow you to vote your shares online via proxy prior to the Annual Meeting and Internet voting to allow you to vote your shares during the Annual Meeting, with procedures designed to ensure the authenticity and correctness of your proxy vote instructions. However, please be aware that you must bear any costs associated with your Internet access, such as usage charges from Internet access providers and telephone companies.

 


Generally, if shares are held in street name, the beneficial owner of the shares is entitled to give voting instructions to the broker or nominee holding the shares. Since Proposal No. 1 (election of directors), Proposal No. 3 (advisory vote on executive compensation), and Proposal No. 4 (advisory vote on executive compensation)(say-on-frequency) are each considered “non-routine” matters, your broker will not be able to vote your shares of our common stock without specific instructions from you. Proposal 2 (the ratification of our auditors) is a “routine” matter on which your broker can exercise voting discretion.

 

If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank, dealer or other similar organization, you should have received a proxy card and voting instructions with these proxy materials from that organization rather than from the Company. Simply complete and mail the proxy card to ensure that your vote is counted. Alternatively, you may vote by telephone or over the internet as instructed by your broker or other agent.

 

Any stockholder of record voting by proxy has the right to revoke his, her or its proxy at any time before the polls close at the Annual Meeting by sending a written notice stating that he, she or it would like to revoke his, her or its proxy to the Corporate Secretary of the Company, by providing a duly executed proxy card bearing a later date than the proxy being revoked, or by virtually attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance (virtually) alone at the Annual Meeting will not revoke a proxy. If a stockholder of the Company has instructed a broker to vote his, her or its shares of our common stock that are held in “street name,” the stockholder must follow directions received from his, her or its broker to change those instructions.

 


Participation

In order to virtually attend the Annual Meeting, if you are a registered shareholder (i.e., you hold your shares through our transfer agent, Computershare) or if you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you can virtually attend the Annual Meeting on the Internet by going to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IVFH2021 and following the instructions.

Only stockholders of record as of the record date for the Annual Meeting and their proxy holders may submit questions or comments at the Annual Meeting. If you would like to submit a question, you may do so by joining the virtual Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IVFH2021, entering your unique 16 digit control number (included on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, on the Proxy Card and/or on the email), and typing your question in the box in the Annual Meeting portal

To help ensure that we have a productive and efficient meeting, and in fairness to all stockholders in attendance, you will also find posted our rules of conduct for the Annual Meeting when you log in prior to its start. In accordance with the rules of conduct, we ask that you limit your remarks to one brief question or comment that is relevant to the Annual Meeting or our business and that remarks are respectful of your fellow stockholders and meeting participants. Questions may be grouped by topic by our management with a representative question read aloud and answered. In addition, questions may be ruled as out of order if they are, among other things, irrelevant to our business, related to legal matters, ongoing negotiations or potential transactions, or other matters which the Company does not comment on, disorderly, repetitious of statements already made, or in furtherance of the speaker’s own personal, political or business interests. Questions will be addressed in the Q&A portion of the Annual Meeting.

If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual Annual Meeting during the check-in or meeting time, you can request assistance by calling 1-800-586-1548 (US) or 303-562-9288 (International). Technical support will be available starting at 12:15 p.m. Eastern Time on January 11, 2022.

General Information

 

If you return a signed and dated proxy card or otherwise vote without marking voting selections, your shares will be voted, as applicable, "FOR"“FOR” the electionapproval of the nominees to the Board and "FOR" each of the other proposals.director nominees in Proposal 1, “FOR” each of Proposal 2 and Proposal 3, and “FOR” 1 year for Proposal 4. If any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, your proxyholder (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares using his best judgment.

 

We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to these proxy materials, our directors and employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. Directors and employees will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.

 

A proxy may be revoked by the stockholder at any time before it is exercised by delivery of written revocation or a subsequently dated proxy to our corporate Secretary or by voting online during the Annual Meeting.

 

We are complying with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rules with respect to required information about the Company. As a result, accompanying this proxy statement is a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.2023. We are mailing these proxy materials on or about December 13, 2021.April 24, 2024.

 

For the ten days prior to the Annual Meeting, a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for examination by any stockholder of record for purposes germane to the Annual Meeting. You may make a request by calling our corporate headquarters at (239) 596-0204 during regular business hours or go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IVFH2021.hours. If we determine that a physical in-person inspection is not practicable, such list of stockholders may be made available electronically, upon request. In addition, during the Annual Meeting, that list of stockholders will be available for examination by any stockholder of record virtually attending the Annual Meeting via a live secure link.in attendance.

 


 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The following table sets forth certain information as of November 15, 2021April 19, 2024 with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock by (1) each person known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, (2) each of our directors, (3) each of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table set forth under the caption “Executive Compensation”, below, and (4) all our directors and executive officers as a group. Pursuant to SEC rules, includes shares that the person has the right to receive within 60 days from November 15, 2021.April 19, 2024.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owners

   

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned

 

Percent of Class

 

 

 

 

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned

 

Percent of Class

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James C. Pappas (Director)

 

(1)

 

7,849,935

 

17.1

%

 

(1)

 

8,134,425

 

15.5

%

Hank Cohn (Director)

 

(2)

 

4,362,464

 

9.4

%

 

(2)

 

4,397,831

 

8.4

%

Jefferson Gramm (Director)

 

(3)

 

3,137,500

 

6.9

%

 

(3)

 

3,485,000

 

6.6

%

Joel Gold (Director)

 

(4)

 

1,042,602

 

2.3

%

David Polinsky (Director)

 

(5)

 

699,650

 

1.5

%

Mark Schmulen (Director)

 

(6)

 

50,000

 

0.1

%

 

 

 

-

 

0.0

%

Sam Klepfish (Officer, Director)

 

(7)

 

4,410,053

 

9.5

%

Justin Wiernasz (Officer, Director)

 

(8)

 

2,175,126

 

4.7

%

Richard Tang (Officer)

 

(9)

 

12,500

 

0.1

%

Inlight Wealth

 

(10)

 

2,913,021

 

6.4

%

Sam Klepfish (Director)

 

 

 

3,736,671

 

7.1

%

Bill Bennett (Officer, Director)

 

(4)

 

1,659,092

 

3.1

%

Brady Smallwood (Officer, Director)

 

 (9)

 

207,627

 

0.4

%

Denver J. Smith (Director)

 

(5)

 

3,957,325

 

7.5

%

Gary Schubert

 

 

 

-

 

0.0

%

Inlight Wealth Management

 

(6)

 

3,556,426

 

6.8

%

A group consisting of Denver J. Smith, CRC Founders Fund, LP, Donald E. Smith, Richard G. Hill, Samuel N. Jurrens, 73114 Investments, LLC, Youth Properties, LLC, and Paratus Capital, LLC

 

(11)

 

2,545,657

 

5.6

%

 

(7)

 

4,046,789

 

7.7

%

All officers and directors as a whole (9 persons)

 

(12)

 

23,739,830

 

49.7

%

 

(8)

 

25,577,971

 

47.8

%

 

(1)

Includes 7,686,4438,247,917 shares held by JCP Investment Partnership, LP (“JCP Partnership”) and 113,492 shares held in an account managed by JCP Investment Management, LLC both(“JCP Management”). JCP Investment Partners, LP (“JCP Partners”) is the general partner of JCP Partnership and JCP Investment Holdings, LLC (“JCP Holdings”) is the general partner of JCP Partners. Mr. Pappas is the managing member of JCP Management and sole member of JCP Holdings. The address of Mr. Pappas, JCP Partnership and JCP Management, LLC is 1177 West Loop South, Suite 1320, Houston, TX 77027. Information gathered from a Form 4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 15, 2023.

(2)

Includes 3,125,000 shares which are affiliated entities. Thisheld indirectly through SV Asset Management LLC. Includes information gathered from a Schedule 13D/AForm 4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 30, 2021. Also includes options to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock exercisable at January 14,31, 2022. The address of JCP Investment Partnership, LP and JCP Investment Management, LLC is 1177 West Loop South, suite 1320, Houston, TX 77027.

(2)

Includes 593,916 shares purchased in the open market and options to purchase 450,000 shares of common stock exercisable at January 14, 2022. Also includes 3,125,000 restricted shares purchased by SV Management LLC, an affiliated entity.

(3)

Includes 3,125,000 shares held by Bandera Master Fund LP,L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (“Bandera Master Fund”), is the record holder of which3,485,000 shares of Common Stock. Bandera Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Bandera Partners”), is the investment manager of Bandera Master Fund. Mr. Gramm is the Managing Director. Also includes options to purchase 12,500 shares of common stock exercisable at January 14, 2022. The addressPartner, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of Bandera Master Fund LP is 50 Broad Street, Suite 1820, New York, New York 10004. This informationPartners. Information gathered from a Schedule 13DForm 4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2021.February 10, 2023.

(4)

Includes options to purchase 450,000 shares of common stock exercisable at January 14, 2022. Also includes 18,400 shares of common stock held by Mr. Gold’s spouse.

(5)

Includes options to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock exercisable at January 14, 2022.

(6)

Includes options to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock exercisable at January 14, 2022.

(7)

Includes options to purchase 450,000 shares of common stock exercisable at January 14, 2022. Also includes 16,250104,910 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Klepfish'sBennett's spouse, ownership of which is disclaimed by Mr. Klepfish.

(8)

Includes options to purchase 450,000Bennett; also includes 731,350 shares of common stock exercisable at January 14, 2022.issuable to Mr. Bennett pursuant to his compensation plan, a portion of which are expected to be withheld for the payment of income taxes.

(9)

Includes options to purchase 12,500 shares of common stock exercisable at January 14, 2022.

(10)(5)

Consists of 1,233,273703,851 shares owned by Mr. Smith and 3,253,474 shares owned by various funds or businesses for which he provides investment advice. Includes all but 89,464 shares described in note (7).

(6)

Pursuant to a Schedule 13G filed on January 9, 2024 with sole voting and dispositive power, and 1,679,748 shares with shared dispositive power. Of the 2,913,021 shares beneficially owned,Securities Exchange Commission, the issuer retains sole voting power for 1,679,748 shares. The address of Inlight Wealth Management is 1175 Peachtree St NE Suite 350, Atlanta, GA 30361. This information gathered from a Schedule 13G filed on February 8, 2021Amount consists of 2,208,069 shares with the Securities Exchange Commission.sole voting and dispositive power, and 1,348,357 shares with shared dispositive power.

(11)(7)

Pursuant to a Schedule 13D/A filed on September 7, 2021March 13, 2024 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for a group of investors which includes Mr. Denver Smith is part(see footnote 6). Mr. Smith disclaims beneficial interest over 89,464 shares owned by certain members of athe group for which reports beneficially owninghe has no voting power. The group uses an aggregateaddress of 2,545,657, although Mr. Denver Smith only has sole voting and dispositive power over 674,471 of such shares. Mr. Smith’s address is 350 S Race Street, Denver, ColoradoCO, 80209.

(12)(8)

Consists of 21,764,83024,650,994 shares of common stock held by officers and directors. Also includes optionsdirectors,731,350 shares issuable to purchase 1,975,000Mr. Bennett under his compensation plan, and 196,627 issuable to Mr. Smallwood under his compensation plan.

(9)

Includes 196,627 shares issuable to Mr. Smallwood under his compensation plan, a portion of common stock exercisable at January 14, 2022.which are expected to be withheld for payment of income taxes.

 


 

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

(Proposal No. 1)

 

The persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote to elect as directors the eight nominees named below, unless authority to vote for the election of any or all of the nominees is withheld by marking the proxy to that effect. All of the nominees have indicated their willingness to serve, if elected, but if any nominee should be unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the proxies may be voted for a substitute nominee designated by management. Each director will be elected to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until his successor is elected and qualified. There are no family relationships between or among any of our executive officers or directors. Management recommends a vote “FOR” each of the director nominees.

 

Nominees

 

Set forth below for each nominee as director is the nominee’s name, age, and position with us, the Committee of the Board upon which he currently sits, his principal occupation and business experience during at least the past five years and the date of the commencement of his term as a director.

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position with the Company

 

Director Since

Bill Bennett

 

42

 

Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

2023

Brady Smallwood

 

39

 

Chief Operating Officer and Director

 

2023

Sam Klepfish

 

49

 

Director

 

2005

Hank Cohn

 

54

 

Director

 

2010

James C. Pappas

 

42

 

Chairman

 

2020

Mark Schmulen

 

43

 

Director

 

2020

Jefferson Gramm

 

48

 

Director

 

2021

Denver J. Smith

 

36

 

Director

 

2023

The following table sets forth the current composition of the three standing committees of our Board:

Name

AgeBoard

Audit

Compensation

Nominating and

Governance

Mr. Bennett

X

Mr. Smallwood

X

Mr. Klepfish

X

X

 

Position with the CompanyX

Mr. Cohn

X

 

Board Committee MembershipX

Chair

Mr. Pappas

X

 

X

X

Mr. Schmulen

X

X

Chair

Mr. Gramm (audit committee financial expert)

X

X

     

Sam KlepfishMr. Smith (audit committee financial expert)

 

47X

 

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and DirectorChair

 

-

Justin WiernaszX

 

53X

 

Director of Strategic Acquisitions and Director

-

Joel Gold

77

Director

Audit, Nominating/Corporate Governance, Compensation

Hank Cohn

49

Director

Audit, Nominating/ Corporate Governance, Compensation

David Polinsky

50

Director

Audit, Nominating/ Corporate Governance, Compensation

James C. Pappas

40

Director

Nominating/Corporate Governance, Compensation

Mark Schmulen

40

Director

Audit, Nominating/Corporate Governance, Compensation

Jefferson Gramm

46

Director

Audit, Nominating/Corporate Governance, Compensation

 

Bill Bennett, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Robert William (Bill) Bennett has been a director and our CEO since February 28, 2023. Prior thereto, Mr. Bennett was most recently Vice President of eCommerce for The Kroger Co. from 2020 until 2023. In this role, he was responsible for the company’s $10 billion eCommerce business, leading cross-functional partners in marketing, merchandising, product management, supply chain, technology, and analytics to develop and lead a robust eCommerce go-to-market and growth strategy across the enterprise. Mr. Bennett joined Kroger from Walmart where he served for seven years, from 2013 to 2020, in a variety of eCommerce and store leadership roles, including finance, merchandising, strategy, analytics, and product management. Prior to Walmart, from 2011 to 2013, Mr. Bennett led the pricing strategy team at S.C. Johnson and served in a variety of leadership roles at General Mills from 2006 to 2011. Mr. Bennett received a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Finance from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.


Brady Smallwood, Chief Operating Officer and Director

Mr. Smallwood has been our Chief Operating Officer since May 15, 2023, and he has been a Director since May 17, 2023. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Smallwood was most recently Senior Director - eCommerce Strategy, Planning and Operations for The Kroger Company, the largest supermarket operator by revenue in the U.S., from 2020 until 2023. In this role, he launched a new, profitable rapid grocery delivery business, implemented new management systems, and directed strategy development, pilot execution, and scaling for dozens of innovative initiatives. Prior thereto, Mr. Smallwood was Director - Omni Merchandising Planning & Analytics at Walmart from 2019 to 2020, and he served as the head of eCommerce Insights and Analytics at Younique Products, an Online beauty and personal care products company which was a subsidiary of Coty, Inc., from 2017 to 2019. Prior to these positions. Mr. Smallwood held various managerial roles at Walmart, Yum! Brands (Pizza Hut U.S.), and he held analyst roles at American Capital, LLC and at The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, commonly known as Freddie Mac. Mr. Smallwood received a bachelor’s degree in business management from Brigham Young University and an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he was an honors graduate, and a Marketing scholarship recipient.

Mr. Smallwood was appointed as the director designee of Mr. Bennett, the CEO and a director of the Company, pursuant to the employment agreement, dated January 30, 2023, between the Company and Mr. Bennett (the “Employment Agreement”). Under the Employment Agreement, the Board or its nominating committee must nominate to the Board an individual designated by Mr. Bennett in good faith, subject to the Board’s fiduciary judgement and applicable legal or regulatory requirements and limitations. Under the terms of the Employment Agreement, as Mr. Bennett’s director designee, Mr. Smallwood may be removed or be asked to resign from his position on the Board in the event that Mr. Bennett’s employment with the Company is terminated.

Sam Klepfish, Director

 

Mr. Klepfish has been a director since December 1, 2005. From November 2007 to presentFebruary 28, 2023 Mr. Klepfish iswas the CEO of Innovative Food Holdings and its subsidiaries. From March 2006 to November 2007 Mr. Klepfish was the interim president of the Company and its subsidiary. Since February 2005 Mr. Klepfish was also a Managing Partner at ISG Capital, a merchant bank. From May 2004 through February 2005 Mr. Klepfish served as a Managing Director of Technoprises, Ltd. From January 2001 to May 2004 he was a corporate finance analyst and consultant at Phillips Nizer, a New York law firm. Since January 2001 Mr. Klepfish has been a member of the steering committee of Tri-State Ventures, a New York investment group. From 1998 to December 2000, Mr. Klepfish was an asset manager for several investors in small-cap entities.

 

Joel Gold

Mr. Gold has been a director since January 2005. Mr. Gold is currently a partner in a merchant banking firm, and has served on the board and committees of numerous companies. Prior to that, he was an investment banker at Buckman, Buckman and Reid located in New Jersey, a position he held since May 2010. Prior there to, from October 2004, he was head of investment banking of Andrew Garrett, Inc. From January 2000 until September 2004, he served as Executive Vice President of Investment Banking of Berry Shino Securities, Inc., an investment banking firm also located in New York City. From January 1999 until December 1999, he was an Executive Vice President of Solid Capital Markets, an investment-banking firm also located in New York City. From September 1997 to January 1999, he served as a Senior Managing Director of Interbank Capital Group, LLC, an investment banking firm also located in New York City. From April 1996 to September 1997, Mr. Gold was an Executive Vice President of LT Lawrence & Co., and from March 1995 to April 1996, a Managing Director of Fechtor Detwiler & Co., Inc., a representative of the underwriters for the Company’s initial public offering. Mr. Gold was a Managing Director of Furman Selz Incorporated from January 1992 until March 1995. From April 1990 until January 1992, Mr. Gold was a Managing Director of Bear Stearns and Co., Inc. (“Bear Stearns”). For approximately 20 years before he became affiliated with Bear Stearns, he held various positions with Drexel Burnham Lambert, Inc.


Hank Cohn, Director

 

Mr. Cohn has been a director since October 29, 2010. Hank Cohn is currently CEO of P1 Billing, LLC, a revenue cycle management services provider to ambulatory medical clinics. P1 Billing is a spinoff of PracticeOne Inc., (formerly PracticeXpert, Inc., an OTCBB traded company), an integrated PMS and EMR software and services company for physicians. Mr. Cohn served as President and Chief Executive Officer of PracticeOne from December 2009 until December 2009, at which time he sold the company to Francison Partners, one of the largest, global technology focused, private equity firms in Silicon Valley. Prior to that, Mr. Cohn worked with a number of public companies. A partial list of his past and present board memberships include: Analytical Surveys, Inc., Kaching, Inc., and International Food and Wine, Inc., currently Evolution Resources Inc. Mr. Cohn also served as the executive vice president of Galaxy Ventures, LLC a closely-held investment fund concentrating in the areas of bond trading and early stage technology investments, where he acted as portfolio manager for investments.

 

Justin Wiernasz

Mr. Wiernasz has been a director since November 1, 2013. Effective on May 11, 2018, Mr. Justin Wiernasz resigned his position of President of Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. which he held since July 31, 2008 and assumed the position of Director of Strategic Acquisitions. Prior thereto he was the Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales and Chief Marketing Officer of our operating subsidiary, Food Innovations, Inc. since May 2007 and the President of Food Innovations and our Chief Marketing Officer since December 2007. Prior thereto, he was at USF, our largest customer, for 13 years. From 2005 to 2007 he was the Vice President of Sales & Marketing, USF, Boston, and prior thereto, from 2003 to 2005 he was a National Sales Trainer at USF, Charleston SC, from 1996 to 2003 he was the District Sales Manager at USF, Western Massachusetts and from 1993 to 1996 he was Territory Manager, USF, Northampton, Easthampton & Amherst, MA. Prior to that from 1989 to 1993 he was the owner and operator of J.J.’s food and spirit, a 110 seat restaurant.

David Polinsky

David A. Polinsky has been a director since July 24, 2019. Mr. Polinsky has served as Chief Financial Officer of Rafael Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: RFL) since December 2017. Mr. Polinsky co-founded Rafael Pharmaceuticals and served as its Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary from 2002 and as President, General Counsel and Secretary from 2016 through March 2018. He also served on Rafael Pharmaceutical’s Board from 2002 until 2014. Prior to joining Rafael Pharmaceuticals, from 1996 to 2002, he served as Vice President and General Counsel for a New York-based real estate focused investment and management company, Square Management Corp., leading the investment analysis in and management of residential, office, retail and development properties. Previously and in partnership with the Honorable Edward I. Koch, former Mayor of New York City, Mr. Polinsky founded in 1999 and served as CEO of a company that licensed and developed TheLaw.com as a leading consumer focused legal information site. Mr. Polinsky earned his Juris Doctorate from Fordham University School of Law in 1996 and his Bachelor of Arts from Yeshiva University in 1993. Mr. Polinsky also earned the CFA Institute’s Investment Foundations certificate.


 

James C. Pappas, Chairman

 

James C. Pappas has been a director since January 30, 2020. Mr. Pappas has served as the Managing Member of JCP Investment Management, LLC (“JCP Management”), an investment firm, and the sole member of JCP Investment Holdings, LLC (“JCP Holdings”), since June 2009. Mr. Pappas has also served as a director of Tandy Leather Factory, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLF), a retailer and wholesale distributor of a broad line of leather and related products, since June 2016. Mr. Pappas previously served as a director of each of Jamba, Inc. (formerly NASDAQ:JMBA), a leading health and wellness brand and the leading retailer of freshly squeezed juice, from January 2015 until the completion of its sale in September 2018, U.S. Geothermal Inc. (formerly NYSEMKT:HTM), a leading geothermal energy company, from September 2016 until the completion of its sale in April 2018, and The Pantry, Inc. (formerly NASDAQ:PTRY), a leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States and one of the largest independently operated convenience store chains in the country, from March 2014 until the completion of its sale in March 2015. He also previously served as Chairman of the board of directors of Morgan’s Foods, Inc. (formerly OTC:MRFD), a then publicly traded company, from January 2013 until May 2014, when the company was acquired by Apex Restaurant Management, Inc., after originally joining its board as a director in February 2012. From 2005 until 2007, Mr. Pappas worked for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) (“Goldman Sachs”), a multinational investment banking and securities firm, in its Investment Banking / Leveraged Finance Division. As part of the Goldman Sachs Leveraged Finance Group, Mr. Pappas advised private equity groups and corporations on appropriate leveraged buyout, recapitalization and refinancing alternatives. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Mr. Pappas worked at Banc of America Securities, the investment banking arm of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC), a multinational banking and financial services corporation, where he focused on Consumer and Retail Investment Banking, providing advice on a wide range of transactions including mergers and acquisitions, financings, restructurings and buy-side engagements. Mr. Pappas received a BBA and a Masters in Finance from Texas A&M University.

 


Mark Schmulen, Director

 

Mark Schmulen has been a directorDirector since January 30, 2020. Mr. Schmulen is a co-founder and has served as CEO of Chirp Systems, Inc., a venture-backed smart access solution for multifamily property owners, and has served as its CEO since October 2019. Mr. Schmulen has also served as the managing director of Jelly Capital, LLC, a private investment fund focused on early stageearly-stage technology and real estate investments, since May 2015, and as an investment advisor representative for Forum Financial, LP, an independent investment advisor, since November 2016. Previously, he served as the General Manager of Social Media for Constant Contact, Inc. (formerly NASDAQ:CTCT), a provider of digital marketing solutions, from May 2010 until May 2014. Prior to that,this, he was a co-founder and served as the CEO of Nutshell Mail, Inc., a social media marketing solution, from 2008 until its acquisitionit was acquired by Constant Contact, Inc. in 2010. Mr. Schmulen began his career as an investment banking analyst with JPMorgan Chase Bank. Currently, he servesHe has served on the board of directors for the Shlenker School since August 2017 and ishas been a Director of the HHF Foundation, benefitingwhich benefits early childhood education since December 2014. Mr. Schmulen holds a B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.S. in Management from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

 

Jefferson Gramm, Director

 

Jefferson Gramm has been a directorDirector since September 10, 2021. Mr. Gramm is a co-founder, partner and portfolio manager at Bandera Partners LLC (“Bandera”), a New York based investment fund founded in 2006. Prior to founding Bandera in 2006, he served as Managing Director of Arklow Capital, LLC, a hedge fund focused on distressed and value investments. Mr. Gramm has extensive board experience and currently serves as the Chairman of the Boardboard of directors of Tandy Leather Factory, Inc. and ashe is a director of Rubicon Technology Inc. Mr. Gramm previously served on the Boardboard of Directorsdirectors of Ambassadors Group Inc., Morgan’s Foods Inc., and Peerless Systems Corp. He received an M.B.A. from Columbia University in 2003 and a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Chicago in 1996.

 


Denver Smith, Director

Denver Smith has been a Director since March 13, 2023. Mr. Smith is the Co-Founder and a managing member of Carlson Ridge Capital (“Carlson Ridge”), a hedge fund manager, which was founded in 2015. He is also the Co-CIO of Carlson Ridge and acts as the lead manager for the CRC Founders Fund, LP. Additionally, Mr. Smith advises the Aspen Family Trust on its asset allocation and strategic level decisions for various entities it owns. He was previously a portfolio manager and the Chief Investment Officer for 73114 Investments, LLC, for a period of 9 years. In 2015, he prompted and helped negotiate the sale of 73114 Investments’ parent company, a government contracting company, to a multi-billion dollar publicly traded REIT for over $150 million. Mr. Smith serves on the board of trustees of Lifestyle Management Inc, a non-profit organization. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BBA in Finance and Economics. He also earned an MBA from the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Smith is a CFA Charterholder.

Qualifications for All Directors

 

In considering potential candidates for election to the Board the Nominating Committee observes the following guidelines, among other considerations: (i) the Board must include a majority of independent directors; (ii) each candidate shall be selected without regard todiscrimination against age, sex, race, religion or national origin; (iii) each candidate should have the highest level of personal and professional ethics and integrity and have the ability to work well with others; (iv) each candidate should only be involved in activities or interests that do not conflict or interfere with the proper performance of the responsibilities of a director; (v) each candidate should possess substantial and significant experience that would be of particular importance to the Company in the performance of the duties of a director; and (vi) each candidate should have sufficient time available, and a willingness to devote the necessary time, to the affairs of the Company in order to carry out the responsibilities of a director, including, without limitation, consistent attendance at board and committee meetings and advance review of board and committee materials. The Chief Executive Officer will then interview such candidate. The Nominating Committee then determines whether to recommend to the Board that a candidate be nominated for approval by the Company’s stockholders. The manner in which the Nominating Committee evaluates a potential candidate does not differ based on whether the candidate is recommended by a stockholder of the Company. With respect to nominating existing directors, the Nominating Committee reviews relevant information available to it, including the most recent individual director evaluations for such candidates, the number of meetings attended, his or her level of participation, biographical information, professional qualifications and overall contributions to the Company.

 

The Board has identified the following qualifications, attributes, experience and skills that are important to be represented on the Board as a whole: (i) management, leadership and strategic vision; (ii) financial expertise; (iii) marketing and consumer experience; and (iv) capital management.

 

We believe that all of our directors are qualified for their positions, and that each brings a benefit to the board. Messrs. Kelpfish and Wiernasz,Mr. Bennett, as our officers, arean executive officer, is uniquely qualified to bring management’s perspective to the board’s deliberations. Mr. Gold,Smallwood, with his lengthy career working for broker/dealers, bring a “Wall Street” perspectiveexperience with The Kroger Company and Messrs.Walmart, Mr. Schmulen, and Gramm, with theirhis private equity experience, and Messrs.Mr. Cohn, and Polinsky, with their priorhis history of being executivesan executive and directorsdirector of other companies, bring a well-rounded background and wealth of general business experience to our board. Mr. Pappas brings both his investment and corporate finance background and food industry experience to the board. Mr. Klepfish, as a former executive officer, continues to bring his knowledge of the food industry as well as detailed knowledge of the Company to the board. Messrs. Gramm and Smith bring extensive experience in business strategy and capital markets.

 

The Board does not have a specific diversity policy, but considers diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, age, cultural background and professional experiences in evaluating candidates for board membership.

 


 

The Board has determined that sixfive of the eight directors who serve on the Board as of the date of this Proxy Statement and who are standing for nomination (Messrs. Gold, Cohn, Polinsky, Pappas, Schmulen, Gramm and Gramm)Smith) are “independent,” as defined under the rules of Nasdaq (although the Company is not subject to such standards). Only Mr. Klepfish, by virtue of being a former officer of the Company, and Messrs. Bennett and Smallwood, by virtue of being an officer of the Company, are not independent. Messrs. Bennett and Smallwood do not participate in board discussions concerning their compensation. In making thisthe determination of independence, the Board or the Nominating Committee, as applicable, considered all relevant facts and circumstances (including, without limitation, commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and familial relationships) to ascertain whether any such person had a relationship that, in its opinion, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.

 

Board Leadership Structure; Executive Sessions

 

Our board structure features (i) a combinedseparate Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer plus another management level director and (ii) non-management, active and effective directors of equal importance and with an equal vote. The board intends having non-management Board members meet without management present at least twice a year.

 

Agreements with Directors

 

Prior to Mr. Pappas’ appointment to the Board, as described in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 30, 2020 (the “January 8-K”), the Company and Mr. Pappas entered into ana two year Agreement dated as of January 28, 2020 (the “Agreement”“Pappas Agreement”) which, among other things, provided that (i) the Company (x) will support the continued directorships of the New Directors (as defined in the Pappas Agreement) at the next two annual meetings and (y) after 18 months will appoint another nominee of JCP (as defined in the Pappas Agreement”) to the Board and support such nominee at the next annual meeting, provided that such nominee shall be subject to the approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board and the Board after exercising their good faith customary due diligence process and fiduciary duties; and (ii) JCP and the Company agreed to certain standstill provisions, as more fully described in the Pappas Agreement. As of the date hereof, the New Directors referred to in the Pappas Agreement are Messrs. Pappas and SchmulenSchmulen.

Effective November 28, 2022 the Company entered into a Board Observer Agreement with Denver J. Smith (the “Smith Agreement”). Mr. Smith is part of a Schedule 13D group (the “Group”) which holds approximately 8.3% of our outstanding common stock. The Group had threatened a proxy contest, and to avoid expense and disruption associated with a proxy contest the JCP nomineecompany has signed the Smith Agreement with the Group. The Smith Agreement provides, among other things, that for up to six (6) months, with certain minor limitations, Mr. Smith will have observer status at all meetings held by our Board of Directors as well as meetings held by the various Committees of our Board of Directors. In addition, the Smith Agreement provides for Mr. Smith to become a member of our Board of Directors on or before the six (6) month anniversary of the Smith Agreement subject to fulfillment of the Board’s fiduciary responsibilities. The Smith Agreement contains certain “standstill” provisions regarding proxy contests, Board membership and joining certain ownership groups. The Smith Agreement is conditional upon the Group maintaining certain minimum ownership of our common stock as well as imposing duties of confidentiality and securities law compliance. Effective March 13, 2023, our board determined to appoint Mr. Gramm.Smith to our board.

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors currently has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The members of the Compensation Committee and of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Gold, Cohn, Pappas, Polinsky, Schmulen and Gramm and the members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Gold, Cohn, Polinsky, Schmulen and Gramm with Mr. Cohn designated as the Audit Committee Financial Expert. All of the members of each committee have been determined by the Board of Directors to be independent.

 

Audit Committee.

The primary functions of the Audit Committee are to select or to recommend to our Board the selection of outside auditors; to monitor our relationships with our outside auditors and their interaction with our management in order to ensure their independence and objectivity; to review, and to assess the scope and quality of, our outside auditor’s services, including the audit of our annual financial statements; to review our financial management and accounting procedures; to review our financial statements with our management and outside auditors; and to review the adequacy of our system of internal accounting controls.

9

Messrs. Gold, Cohn, Polinsky, SchmulenGramm, and Gramm, with Mr. Cohn designated as the Audit Committee Financial Expert,Smith (Chairman) are the current members of the Audit Committee and are each “independent” (as that term is defined in NASD Rule 4200(a)(14)) and are each able to read and understand fundamental financial statements. Mr. Cohn, our Audit Committee Financial Expert, possessesMessrs. Smith and Gramm, are “audit committee financial experts,” and possess the financial expertise required under Rule 401(h) of Regulation S-K of the Act and NASD Rule 4350(d)(2). HeEach is further “independent”, as that term is defined under Item 7(d)(3)(iv) of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act. Our Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee and the Audit Committee reviews and reassesses the adequacy of that charter on an annual basis. The full text of the charter is available on our website at www.ivfh.com.

 

Compensation Committee.

The functions of the Compensation Committee are to make recommendations to the Board regarding compensation of management employees and to administer plans and programs relating to employee benefits, incentives, compensation and awards under our 2011 Stock Option Plan.

Messrs. Gold, Cohn Pappas, Polinsky,(Chairman), Smith, Klepfish, Schmulen and GrammPappas are the current members of the Compensation Committee. The Board has determined that each of themmember, except from Mr. Klepfish, is “independent,” as defined under the applicable rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market.Market (although the Company is not currently subject to such rules). A copy of the Compensation Committee’s Charter is available on our website at www.ivfh.com. Executive officers that are members of our Board make recommendations to the Compensation Committee with respect to the compensation of other executive officers who are not on the Board. Except as otherwise prohibited, the Committee may delegate its responsibilities to subcommittees or individuals. The Compensation Committee has the authority, in its sole discretion, to retain or obtain advice from a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor and is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of such persons. The Company will provide the appropriate funding to such persons as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee also annually reviews the overall compensation of our executive officers for the purpose of determining whether discretionary bonuses should be granted.

 


Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

The functions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are to develop our corporate governance system and to review proposed new members of our Board of Directors, including those recommended by our stockholders.

Messrs. Gold, Cohn,Schmulen (Chairman), Klepfish, Smith, and Pappas Polinsky, Schmulen and Gramm are the current members of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board. The full text of the charter is available on our website at www.ivfh.com. The Board has determined that each member of this Committee, except for Mr. Klepfish, is “independent,” as defined under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market (although the Company is not currently subject to such rules). The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will review, on an annual basis, the composition of our Board of Directors and the ability of its current members to continue effectively as directors for the upcoming fiscal year. In the ordinary course, absent special circumstances or a change in the criteria for Board membership, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will renominateconsider renominating incumbent directors who continue to be qualified for Board service and who are willing to continue as directors.directors if it determines that such renomination is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. If that Committee decides it is in our best interests to nominate a new individual as a director in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders, or if a vacancy on the Board occurs between annual stockholder meetings or an incumbent director chooses not to run, the nominating committee will seek out potential candidates for Board appointment who meet the criteria for selection as a nominee and have the specific qualities or skills being sought. Director candidates will be selected based on input from members of the Board, our senior management and, if the Committee deems appropriate, a third-party search firm. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate each candidate’s qualifications and check relevant references and each candidate will be interviewed by at least one member of that Committee. Candidates meriting serious consideration will meet with all members of the Board. Based on this input, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate whether a prospective candidate is qualified to serve as a director and whether the Committee should recommend to the Board that this candidate be appointed to fill a current vacancy on the Board, or presented for the approval of the stockholders, as appropriate.

 

10

Meetings of the Board of Directors and Board Member Attendance at Annual Stockholder Meeting

 

From January 1, 20202023 through December 31, 2020,2023, the Board of Directors met orfour times and acted without a formal meeting pursuant to unanimous written consent at least 5twelve times. All directors attended at least 75%80% of all board meetings. From January 1, 20202023 through December 31, 2020,2023, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met or acted without a formal meeting pursuant to unanimous written consent at least four, twicefive, two, and onetwo times, respectivelyrespectively.

 

We do not have a formal written policy with respect to board members’ attendance at annual stockholder meetings, although we do encourage each of them to attend. All of the directors then serving and nominated for re-election attended our last Annual Stockholder Meeting held on August 18, 2020.May 17, 2023.

 

Stockholder Communications

 

Stockholders interested in communicating with the Board may do so by writing to any or all directors, care of our Secretary, at our principal executive offices. Our Secretary will log in all stockholder correspondence and forward to the director addressee(s) all communications that, in her judgment, are appropriate for consideration by the directors. Any director may review the correspondence log and request copies of any correspondence. Examples of communications that would be considered inappropriate for consideration by the directors include, but are not limited to, commercial solicitations, trivial, obscene, or profane items, administrative matters, ordinary business matters, or personal grievances. Correspondence that is not appropriate for Board review will be handled by our Secretary. All appropriate matters pertaining to accounting or internal controls will be brought promptly to the attention of our Audit Committee Chair.

 

Stockholder recommendations for director nominees are welcome and should be sent to our Secretary, who will forward such recommendations to the Nominating Committee, and should include the following information: (a) all information relating to each nominee that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (b) the names and addresses of the stockholders making the nomination and the number of shares of Common Stock which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholders; and (c) appropriate biographical information and a statement as to the qualification of each nominee, and must be submitted in the time frame described under the caption, “Stockholder Proposals for 20222024 Annual Meeting” below. The Nominating Committee will evaluate candidates recommended by stockholders in the same manner as candidates recommended by other sources, using additional criteria, if any, approved by the Board from time to time. Our stockholder communication policy may be amended at any time with the consent of the Nominating Committee.

 

Code of Ethics

 

We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to each of our directors, officers and employees, including our CEO, ourprincipal executive officer, principal financial officer, as well as members of our Board of Directors.principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of such Codethe code is available on our website, www.ivfh.com, and it has been publicly filed with, and is available for free from the Securities and Exchange Commission.


 

Pursuant to our Code of Ethics, all of our employees (including officers and executives) and directors are required to disclose to the Board or any committee established by the Board to receive such information, any material transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to actual or apparent conflicts of interest between any of them, personally, and the Company. Our Code of Ethics also directs all employees and directors to avoid any self-interested transactions without full disclosure.

 

11

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

 

During 2020, Messrs. Gold, Klepfish, WiernaszSection 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that our executive officers and Cohn did notdirectors, and persons who own more than ten percent of our common stock, file a Form 4reports of ownership and changes in connectionownership with the receiptSEC. Executive officers, directors and greater-than-ten percent stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on our review of sharesthe copies of the forms received by us and Messrs. Pappas, Schmulen and Tang did not file a Form 4 in connectionwritten representations from certain reporting persons that they have complied with the receiptrelevant filing requirements, we believe that, during the year ended December 31, 2023, all of optionsour executive officers, directors and Mr. Tang did not file a Form 3. None ofgreater-than-ten percent stockholders complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements, except that, due to administrative errors, the unfiled Forms 4 related to the public sale of securities.following forms were filed late:

 

Key Employee

 

Richard Tang, CFO

Richard Tang, age 57, has been CFO at IVFH since December 29, 2020. Mr. Tang, has more than 25 years of experience in senior leadership roles, working in media, e-commerce, CPG and food-based sectors, most recently as CFO for Van Leeuwen Ice Cream LLC, a nationwide manufacturer of ultra-premium dairy and vegan ice cream distributed and sold through 2,000 supermarket and independent chain doors nationwide and multi-state brick and mortar locations. Prior thereto, from 2017 to 2019, Mr. Tang was CFO at Nutraceutical Wellness, Inc., a global subscription-based CPG e-commerce and business-to-business wellness vitamin and supplements consumer business. Prior thereto, from 2012-2016, Tang was Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at Fareportal, the third largest Online Travel Agency in North America. Mr. Tang has also held senior financial roles at The Condé Nast Publications, Time Warner, and Walt Disney Corporation. Mr. Tang holds a Master of Business Administration from Boston University Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science from Boston College.

Samuel Klepfish filed a Form 4 on February 22, 2023 to report a transaction that occurred on February 17, 2023.

James Pappas filed a Form 4 on November 17, 2023 to report a transaction that occurred on November 14, 2023.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

Effective July 23, 2019, the Company acquired, through P Innovations LLC, a newly-formed subsidiary, certain assetsHiring of GBC Sub, Inc. (d/b/a The GiftBox) (“GiftBox”) (the “GiftBox Asset Purchase Agreement”). GiftBox, a privately held Nevada corporation controlled by David Polinsky, a director of the Company, was in the business of subscription-based ecommerce. The consideration for the assets purchased was a nominal amount of cash. The GiftBox Asset Purchase Agreement also provides the sellers the option to acquire 30% of P Innovations LLC subject to dilution for a period of thirty-six months following the date of the Giftbox Asset Purchase Agreement; the option will only be exercisable if there is a spinoff of P Innovations LLC to the Company’s shareholders.CEO

 

On July 23, 2019,February 3, 2023, the Company entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Robert W. (Bill) Bennett, our Chief Executive Officer (the “RWB Employment Agreement”). The RWB Agreement provides, among other things, for Mr. Bennett to become the Company’s Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Bennett, and one designee, to be nominated to the Company’s Board of Directors during his tenure as CEO; employment at-will with an initial term of employment from February 28, 2023 through December 31, 2025 with 12 months of Base Salary as severance payments if terminated without cause or resignation with Good Reason; an annual Base Salary of $375,000 with at least 3% annual increases with additional annual increases of 20% if certain cash flow metrics are met; a subscription agreement$50,000 signing bonus; an additional Bonus, triggered based on certain conditions being met, of up to sell 349,650 restricted$300,000 payable over time; annual incentive bonus equal to at least 50% of Base Salary; reimbursement of legal fees up to $10,000; and participation in the Company’s benefit plans. Mr. Bennett is also subject to the Company’s clawback policies and certain restrictive covenants including confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation. Mr. Bennett is also eligible for stock grants based upon the market price of the Company’s common stock; see Employment Agreements below.

Hiring of COO

On April 14, 2023, the Company entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Brady Smallwood, our Chief Operating Officer and a director of our Board (the “Smallwood Agreement”). The Smallwood Agreement provides, among other things, for Mr. Smallwood to become the Company’s Chief Operating Officer; employment at-will with an initial term of employment from May 15, 2023 through December 31, 2025 with 9 months of Base Salary as severance payments if terminated without cause or resignation with Good Reason; an annual Base Salary of $300,000 with at least 3% annual increases with additional annual increases; a $29,370 signing bonus; an annual incentive bonus equal to at least $80,000 prorated for partial years; and reimbursement of legal fees up to $5,000. In addition, Mr. Smallwood was initially granted 1,500,000 stock options; on June 8, 2023, this stock option grant was changed to a one-time grant of 1.5 million stock appreciation rights, with 750,000 SARs priced at $1.50 and 750,000 SARs priced at $2.00; and participation in the Company’s benefit plans. Mr. Smallwood is also subject to the Company’s clawback policies and certain restrictive covenants including confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation. Mr. Smallwood is also eligible for stock grants based upon the market price of the Company’s common stock; see Employment Agreements below.

12

Hiring of CFO

On December 22, 2023, the board of directors of the Company appointed Mr. Gary Schubert to the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective January 1, 2024 and on December 29, 2023 the Company entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Mr. Schubert (the “Schubert Agreement”). The Schubert Agreement provides, among other things, for Mr. Schubert to become the Company’s Chief Financial Officer; employment at-will with an initial term of employment from January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026 with 9 months of Base Salary as severance payments if terminated without cause or resignation with Good Reason; an annual Base Salary of $280,000 with at least 3% annual increases with additional annual increases; a $30,000 signing bonus; an annual incentive bonus equal to at least $60,000 prorated for partial years; and reimbursement of legal fees up to $5,000. Mr. Schubert is also subject to the Company’s clawback policies and certain restrictive covenants including confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation. Mr. Schubert is also eligible for stock grants based upon the market price of the Company’s common stock; see Employment Agreements below.

Separation of Prior CEO And of a Board Member

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company made the following payments in connection with separation agreements with Sam Klepfish, its prior CEO and current board member, and Justin Weirnasz, its prior Director of Strategic Acquisitions and board member.

The Company paid cash in the amount of $525,643 to Mr. Klepfish. The Company also issued 400,000 shares of common stock to Pet Box LLC,with a company controlled by David Polinsky, a directorfair value of the Company. The purchase price was $0.715 per share for a total of $250,000.$168,000.

 

On August 26, 2021,The Company paid cash in the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) with eachamount of JCP Investment Partnership LP (an entity affiliate with James C. Pappas), Bandera Master Fund LP (an entity affiliated with Jefferson Gramm)$100,000 to Mr. Weirnasz and SV Asset Management LLC (an entity affiliated with Hank Cohn) (collectively,made Cobra payments on behalf of Mr. Weirnasz in the “Investors”). Pursuant to the SPA, each Investor purchased 3,125,000 sharesamount of the Company’s common stock for an aggregate of 9,375,000 shares (the “Shares”) from the Company at a price of $0.40 per share. The SPA contained customary representations and warranties by the Company and the Investors and certain additional covenants by the Company.$25,484.

 

Limitation of Directors Liability and Indemnification

 

Our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, provide to the fullest extent permitted by Florida law, that our directors or officers shall not be personally liable to us or our shareholders for damages for breach of such director's or officer's fiduciary duty. The effect of this provision of our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, is to eliminate our right and the rights of our shareholders (through shareholders' derivative suits on behalf of our company) to recover damages against a director or officer for breach of such director or officer’s fiduciary duty of care as a director or officer (including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior), except under certain situations defined by statute. We believe that the indemnification provisions in our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.

 

The Company maintains a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy covering certain liabilities that may be incurred by any director or officer in connection with the performance of his or her duties and certain liabilities that may be incurred by the Company, including the indemnification payable to any director or officer. This policy provides for $10 million in maximum aggregate coverage, including defense costs. The entire premium for such insurance is paid by the Company.

 


There is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers, employees or agents in which indemnification will be required or permitted. We are not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding that may result in a claim for such indemnification.

 

13

Legal Proceedings

 

On September 16, 2019, an action (the “PA Action”) was filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Trial Division, against, among others, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Innovative Gourmet LLCigourmet and Food Innovations, Inc. Since that time, other parties involved in the incident have joined as plaintiffs in the PA Action. The complaint in the PA Action alleges, inter alia, wrongful death and negligence by a driver employed by Innovative Gourmetigourmet and indicates a demand and offer to settle for fifty million dollars. We expect that shouldOn January 5, 2024, all parties to the PA Action came to an agreement at Mediation on the material terms of settlement and on January 22, 2024, a settlement occurwas agreed upon in an action filed in the amount to resolveCourt of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Trial Division against, among others, the Action would be substantially lower.Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, igourmet and Food Innovations, Inc. On Monday, January 29, 2024, the Company received a settlement and release agreement from certain plaintiffs in the PA Action. The Company and its subsidiaries had auto and umbrellaresolved all liabilities within the coverages of their insurance policies, among others, that were in effect for the relevant period. The Company and its subsidiaries’ insurers have agreed to defend the Company and its subsidiaries in the PA Action (and the related action), subject to a reservation of rights. The Company believes that the likely outcome would result in the liabilities being covered by its insurance carriers. However, if the Company was found responsible for damages in excess of its available insurance coverage, such damages in excess of the coverage could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations. On July 16, 2020, the court granted the Company's motion to stay the case through the final adjudication of an additional pending legal proceeding against the driver in connection with the events related to the case. It is not anticipated that the Company and its subsidiaries will be a party to any other legal proceedings in connection with this matter. Because the statute of limitations on the incident has now run, it is not anticipated that any new plaintiffs involved in the incident will come forward against the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

From time to time, the Company has become and may become involved in certain lawsuits and legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary course of business, or as the result of current or previous investments, or current or previous subsidiaries, or current or previous employees, or current or previous directors, or as a result of acquisitions and dispositions or other corporate activities. The Company intends to vigorously defend its positions. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm our financial position or our business, and the outcome of these matters cannot be ultimately predicted.

 

Executive Compensation

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation for services rendered to us for the two years ended December 31, 2020,2023, of our Chief Executive Officer and our other named executive officers, determined in accordance with SEC rules applicable to smaller reporting companies, our principal financial officer and our highest compensated officer whose annual compensation exceeded $100,000 in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020,2023, if any. We refer to the Chief Executive Officer and these other officers as the named executive officers.

 


 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name and

Principal

Position

 

Year

  

Salary

($)

  

Bonus

($)

   

Stock

Awards

($)

   

Option

Awards

($)

  

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)

  

Nonqualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings

($)

  

All Other

Compensation

($)

   

Total

($)

 

Sam Klepfish

 

2020

  

$

406,320

  

$

-

   

$

276,387

 

(a)

 

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

3,406

 

(b)

 

$

686,113

 

CEO

 

2019

  

$

341,646

  

$

-

   

$

150,000

 

(a)

 

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

2,493

 

(b)

 

$

494,139

 
                                       
                                       

Justin Wiernasz

 

2020

  

$

392,638

  

$

10,000

 

(c)

 

$

17,116

 

(a)

 

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

26,086

 

(b)

 

$

445,840

 

Director of Strategic Acquisitions

 

2019

  

$

376,955

  

$

25,000

 

(c)

 

$

16,398

 

(a)

 

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

15,619

 

(b)

 

$

433,972

 
                                       
                                       

Richard Tang

 

2020

(d)

 

$

-

  

$

-

   

$

-

   

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

-

   

$

-

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

2019

  

$

-

  

$

-

   

$

-

   

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

-

          
                                       
                                       

Norma Vila,

 

2020

(d)

 

$

157,884

  

$

-

   

$

-

   

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

3,241

 

(b)

 

$

161,125

 

Principal Accounting Officer (e)

 

2019

  

$

-

  

$

-

   

$

-

   

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

-

          
                                       
                                       

John McDonald,

 

2020

(d)

 

$

192,358

  

$

-

   

$

-

   

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

6,592

 

(b)

 

$

198,950

 

Principal Accounting Officer (f)

 

2019

  

$

210,477

  

$

-

   

$

-

   

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

8,405

 

(b)

 

$

218,882

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonqualified

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Equity

 

 

Deferred

 

 

All

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock

 

 

 

Options

 

 

 

Incentive Plan

 

 

Compensation

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal

 

 

 

Salary

 

 

Bonus

 

 

Awards

 

 

 

Awards

 

 

 

Compensation

 

 

Earnings

 

 

Compensation

 

 

 

Total

 

Position

 

Year

 

($)

 

 

($)

 

 

($)

 

 

 

($)

 

 

 

($)

 

 

($)

 

 

($)

 

 

 

($)

 

Robert W Bennett, CEO

 

2023

 

 

344,712

 

 

 

410,128

 

 

 

660,541

 

(a)

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

199,791

 

(b)

 

 

1,615,172

 

 

 

2022

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brady L Smallwood, COO

 

2023

 

 

184,615

 

 

 

117,369

 

 

 

199,951

 

(a)

 

 

9,794

 

(c)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

25,461

 

(d)

 

 

537,190

 

 

 

2022

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary Schubert, CFO

 

2023

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

36,000

 

(e)

 

 

36,000

 

 

 

2022

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sam Klepfish, former CEO

 

2023

 

 

128,426

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,819,784

 

(f)

 

 

1,988,891

 

 

 

2022

 

 

513,491

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

466,186

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

98,939

 

 

 

 

1,078,616

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Justin Wiernasz, former Director of Strategic Operations

 

2023

 

 

100,103

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

131,009

 

(g)

 

 

231,112

 

 

 

2022

 

 

404,118

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

17,116

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

26,951

 

 

 

 

448,185

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Tang, former CFO

 

2023

 

 

269,423

 

 

 

130,188

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

146,832

 

(h)

 

 

546,443

 

 

 

2022

 

 

239,231

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

7,034

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

17,992

 

 

 

 

264,257

 

 

(a) Consists of the portion of restricted stock awards which were recognized as a period cost during the year for services as an executive officer.

(b) Consists of cash payments for health care benefits.

(c) Consists of a cash bonus paid during the year for services performed in the previous year.

(d) Mr. Tang’s employment with the Company was effective December 29, 2020.

(e) Ms. Vila assumed the rule of Principal Accounting Officer effective November 12, 2020.

(f) Mr. McDonald’s employment with the Company ended effective November 18, 2020.

(a) Amount reflects the full grant-date fair value of restricted stock granted during 2023 computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, rather than the amounts paid to or realized by the named executive officer. The award is subject to a market performance condition and, as such, the grant date fair value of the award is the full grant date fair value, as adjusted to reflect any reduction that is appropriate for the probability that the market condition might not be met.

(b) Amount reflects the cost of health insurance premiums paid in the amount of $32,491 and $167,300 paid to taxing authorities for withholding taxes on stock issued to Mr. Bennett during the period.

(c) Amount reflects the fair value of stock appreciation rights granted during 2023 computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, rather than the amounts paid to or realized by the named executive officer. The award is subject to a market performance condition and, as such, the grant date fair value of the award is the full grant date fair value, as adjusted to reflect any reduction that is appropriate for the probability that the market condition might not be met

(d) Amount reflects the cost of health insurance premiums paid

(e) Amount reflects payments to Mr. Schubert as a consultant to the Company prior to his hiring.

(f) Amount reflects the period cost of separation charges in the amount of $1,819,199 to be paid to Mr. Klepfish and health insurance premiums in the amount of $585

(g)Amount reflects the period cost of separation charges in the amount of $126,451 to be paid to Mr. Weirnasz and health insurance premiums in the amount of $4,558.

(h) Amount consists of the period cost of separation charges in the amount of $128,413 to be paid to Mr. Tang and health insurance premiums in the amount of $18,419.

 


 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End as of December 31, 20202023

 

 

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

 

 

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

 

Name

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised

Options (#)

Exercisable

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options(#) Unexercisable

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options(#)

 

Option Exercise Price ($)

 

Option Expiration Date

 

Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested

(#)

 

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested

($)

 

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised

Options (#)

Exercisable

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options(#) Unexercisable

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options(#)

 

Option Exercise Price ($)

 

Option Expiration Date

 

Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested

(#)

 

 

 

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)

 

 

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested

($)

 

                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Bennett

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,594,712

(a,d)

 

$1,920,087

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brady Smallwood

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,020,724

(b,d)

 

$400,136

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sam Klepfish

           

300,000

 

(a)

 

$

87,000

 

(b)

     

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

300,000

(c)

 

$222,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Tang

 

100,000

 

-

 

-

 

(e)

 

December 28, 2025

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

(a) Stock awards vest upon the market price of the Company’s common stock meeting certain price points at various 60-day volume weighted prices through December 31, 2025 according to the following schedule: 707,649 shares at $0.80 per share; 471,766 shares at a price of $1.00 per share; 353,824 shares at a price of $1.20 per share; 353,824 shares at a price of $1.40 per share; 235,883 shares at a price of $1.60 per share; 235,883 shares at a price of $1.80 per share; and 235,883 shares at a price of $2.00 per share.

(b) Consists of 520,724 stock awards and 1,500,000 stock appreciation rights. The stock awards vest upon the market price of the Company’s common stock meeting certain price points at various 60-day volume weighted prices through December 31, 2025 according to the following schedule: 196,627 shares at $0.87 per share; 147,470 shares at a price of $1.16 per share; 98,313 shares at a price of $1.45 per share; 73,735 shares at a price of $1.74 per share; 75,735 shares at a price of $2.03 per share; 49,157 shares at a price of $2.32 per share; 49,157 shares at a price of $2.61 per share. and 49,157 shares at a price of $2.90 per share. The stock appreciation rights consist of 750,000 shares priced at $1,50 per share and 750,000 shares priced at $2.00 per share.

(c) Restricted stock awards vest according to the following schedule: An additional 125,000 restricted stock awards will vest contingent upon the attainment of a stock price of $2.00 per share for 20 consecutive trading days, and an additional 175,000 restricted stock awards will vest contingent upon the attainment of a stock price of $3.00 per share for 20 consecutive trading days.

 

(b) (d) The stock awards are contingent on the executive (A) remaining employed by the Company through the applicable grant date, (B) continuing to comply with all of the terms and conditions of his employment agreement and the restrictive covenants agreement through the applicable grant date, and (C) making or entering into arrangements satisfactory to the Company, prior to each applicable grant date, to comply with all applicable tax withholding obligations.

(e) 50,000 options are exercisable at $0.60 per share and 50,000 options are exercisable at $1.00 per share.

Amounts are calculated by multiplying the number of shares shown in the table by $ 0.290.74 per share, which is the closing price of common stock on December 31, 202030, 2023 (the last trading day of the 20192023 fiscal year).

 


 

Director Compensation

 

Name

 

Fees

Earned

or Paid

in Cash ($)

  

Stock

Awards

($)

   

Option

Awards

($)

   

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)

  

Nonqualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings

($)

  

All Other

Compensation

($)

  

Total

($)

 

Joel Gold

  

30,000

   

35,000

 

(a)

  

34,120

 

(b)

  

-

   

-

   

-

   

99,120

 

Sam Klepfish

  

-

   

-

    

34,120

 

(b)

  

-

   

-

   

-

   

34,120

 

Hank Cohn

  

30,000

   

35,000

 

(a)

  

34,120

 

(b)

  

-

   

-

   

-

   

99,120

 

Justin Wiernasz

  

-

   

-

    

34,120

 

(b)

  

-

   

-

   

-

   

34,120

 

David Polinsky

  

-

   

-

    

3,802

 

(c)

  

-

   

-

   

-

   

3,802

 

James C. Pappas

  

-

   

-

    

1,115

 

(d)

  

-

   

-

   

-

   

1,115

 

Mark Schmulen

  

-

   

-

    

1,115

 

(d)

  

-

   

-

   

-

   

1,115

 

Jefferson Gramm

  

-

   

-

    

-

 

(e)

  

-

   

-

   

-

   

-

 

(a) Represents the amount charged to operations during the year ended December 31, 2020 for 90,000 shares of theThe Company’s common stock with a fair value of $45,000; 55,545 shares of the Company’s common stock with a fair value of $18,515 vesting over a three-year period; and 64,240 shares of the Company’s common stock with a fair value of $30,000 vesting over a three-year period.Directors serve without compensation.

 

(b) Represents the amount charged to operations during the year ended December 31, 2020 for the following: (i) five-year options to purchase 90,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $0.62 per share, vesting over three years; (ii) five-year options to purchase 135,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $0.85 per share, vesting over three years; and (iii) five year options to purchase 225,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $1.20 per share, vesting over three years.

(c) Represents the amount charged to operations during the year ended December 31, 2020 for three-year options to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $1.20 per share, vesting over one year.

(d) Represents the amount charged to operations during the year ended December 31, 2020 for two-year options to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $1.20 per share, vesting over one year.

(e) Mr. Gramm was not a director during 2020 and received no compensation. However, upon his appointment as a director in September 2021 he received two-year options to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $1.20 per share, vesting over one year.

Employment Agreements

 

Our subsidiary, Food Innovations, has employment agreements with certain officers and certain employees. The employment agreements provide for salaries and benefits, including stock grants and extend up to fivethree years. In addition to salary and benefit provisions, the agreements include defined commitments should the employer terminate the employee with or without cause.

 

SAM KLEPFISHBill Bennett

 

EffectiveOn February 3, 2023, we entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Robert William Bennett (the “RWB Agreement”). Defined terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned them in the RWB Agreement.

On February 3, 2023, we entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Robert William Bennett (the “RWB Agreement”). The RWB Agreement provides, among other things, for Mr. Bennett to become our Company’s Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Bennett, and one designee, to be nominated to the Company’s Board of Directors during his tenure as CEO; employment at-will with an initial term of employment from February 28, 2023 through December 31, 2025 with 12 months of Base Salary as severance payments if terminated without cause or resignation with Good Reason; an annual Base Salary of $375,000 with at least 3% annual increases with additional annual increases of 20% if certain cash flow metrics are met; a $50,000 signing bonus; an additional Bonus, triggered based on certain conditions being met, of up to $300,000 payable over time; annual incentive bonus equal to at least 50% of Base Salary; reimbursement of legal fees up to $10,000; and participation in the Company’s benefit plans. Mr. Bennett is also subject to the Company’s clawback policies and certain restrictive covenants including confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation.

On November 3, 2023, we entered into an amendment to the RWB Agreement (the “RWB Amendment”). The RWB Amendment modifies Section 3(c) of the agreement, which provides for certain equity grants, referred to as “Value Achievement Awards,” under which Mr. Bennett, upon the achievement of certain goals, is able to earn grants of Company Shares, as defined in the RWB Agreement, based on a percentage of the Company’s Shares issued and outstanding as of a given date. The Company recognizes that the hiring of Mr. Bennett was protracted, and that the original RWB Agreement calculated the number of Shares to be granted in connection with the Value Achievement Awards on the basis of the number of Shares outstanding as of October 2022 (47,176,550 shares). This number does not account for additional shares that were issued to a departing executive and to certain other employees of the Company thereafter. As such, the agreement was modified to ensure that the equity grants contained within the RWB Agreement are based upon that 48,756,694 Shares outstanding as of March 29, 2017,28, 2023. All other terms of the RWB Agreement remained unchanged.


Pursuant to the RWB Amendment, Mr. Bennett is eligible for stock grants based upon the market price of the Company’s common stock meeting certain price points at various 60-day volume weighted prices, as described in the chart below:

Stock Threshold Target

Number of Shares Granted

$0.60

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 2.00% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 975,133

$0.80

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 1.50% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 731,350

$1.00

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 1.00% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 487,567

$1.20

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 0.75% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 365,675

$1.40

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 0.75% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 243,783

$1.60

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 0.50% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 243,783

$1.80

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 0.50% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 243,783

$2.00

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 0.50% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 243,783

Brady Smallwood

On April 14, 2023, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Sam Klepfish, our CEO. This agreement, which ranBrady Smallwood in connection with his appointment to the position of Chief Operating Officer (the “Smallwood Employment Agreement”). Defined terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned them in the Smallwood Employment Agreement.

The Smallwood Employment Agreement provides, among other things, for Mr. Smallwood to become the Company’s Chief Operating Officer; employment at-will with an initial term of employment from May 15, 2023 through December 31, 2019, maintained the then-current base salary and provided for all bonuses and salary increases to be approved by the compensation committee.

As2025 with nine months of January 28, 2019, upon approval by the Company’s compensation committee comprised solely of independent directors, we entered into a new employment agreementBase Salary as severance payments if terminated without cause or resignation with Mr. Sam Klepfish havingGood Reason; an effective date of January 28, 2019 and terminating three years thereafter with up to two two-year extension periods. The first two-year extension period was exercised in 2021. The agreement provides a base salary in the amountannual Base Salary of $300,000 with annual increases of at least $25,000 and3% annual stock compensationincreases; a $29,370 signing bonus; an annual incentive bonus equal to at least $80,000 (prorated for partial years); reimbursement of 50% of the base salary. The agreement also provides for additional bonuses oflegal fees up to 25%$5,000; a one-time option grant of base compensation, based on increases in EBITDA (as defined1.5 million stock options with half exercisable at a price of $1.50 per share and half exercisable at a price pf $2.00 per share (the “Stock Options”); and participation in the agreement)Company’s benefit plans. Mr. Smallwood is also subject to the Company’s clawback policies and increases in our stock price as reflected in our market capitalization and other perquisites and benefits as detailed therein. The agreement also contains change of control,certain restrictive covenants including confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation provisions.non-solicitation.

On July 7, 2023, the Board approved a grant of stock appreciation rights (the “Smallwood SARs”) in lieu of the Stock Options on the same economic terms, pursuant to a non-plan stock appreciation right award grant notice and award agreement (the “SAR Award Agreement”). Pursuant to the SAR Award Agreement, the Company agreed to grant to Mr. Smallwood 1,500,000 stock appreciation rights. The Smallwood SARs vest upon issuance, and expire on December 31, 2026; 750,000 of the Smallwood SARs are priced at $1.50 per share, and 750,000 are priced at $2.00 per share. It is the Company’s intention to settle the Smallwood SARs in cash.

 


 

JUSTIN WIERNASZIn addition, Mr. Smallwood is eligible for stock grants based upon the market price of the Company’s common stock meeting certain price points at various 60-day volume weighted prices, as described in the chart below:

    

Number of Shares Granted - Lower of:

 

Stock

  

Number of Shares Issued

  

Maximum

 

Price

  

and Outstanding on

  

Number of

 

Target

  

Grant Date Multiplied by:

  

Shares

 
$0.87   0.40%  196,627 
$1.16   0.30%  147,470 
$1.45   0.20%  98,313 
$1.74   0.15%  73,735 
$2.03   0.15%  73,735 
$2.32   0.10%  49,157 
$2.61   0.10%  49,157 
$2.90   0.10%  49,157 

Gary Schubert

 

Effective March 29, 2017, weOn December 22, 2023, our board of directors appointed Mr. Gary Schubert to the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective January 1, 2024. Defined terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned them in the Schubert Employment Agreement.

In connection with his appointment, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Wiernasz, our Director of Strategic Acquisitions. This agreement, which ran throughSchubert on December 31, 2019, maintained29, 2023 (the “Schubert Employment Agreement”). Defined terms used and not defined herein shall have the current base salary and provided for all bonuses and salary increases to be approved bymeanings assigned them in the compensation committee.Schubert Employment Agreement.

 

As of January 28, 2019, upon approval byThe Schubert Employment Agreement provides, among other things, for Mr. Schubert to become the Company’s compensation committee, we entered into a newChief Financial Officer; at-will employment agreement with Mr. Justin Wiernasz, having an effective dateinitial term of employment from January 28, 2019 and terminating three years thereafter1, 2024 through June 30, 2026 with up to two extension periods; one for two years and one for one year. The agreement provides a base salary in the amountnine months of $326,000Base Salary as severance payments if terminated without cause or resignation with Good Reason; an annual increasesBase Salary of $280,000 with at least 5% and3% annual stock compensation of 5% of the base salary. This agreement was further modified toincreases; a base salary of $350,000 in 2019. The agreement also provides for additional bonuses of up to 35% of base compensation and based upon increases in our stock price as reflected in our market capitalization and other perquisites and benefits as detailed therein. The agreement also contains change of control, confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation provisions.

RICHARD TANG

Effective December 29, 2020, we entered into a letter agreement with Mr. Richard Tang to become our CFO. The agreement provides a base salary in the amount of $200,000 for 2021 and base compensation for 2022 to target$30,000 signing bonus; an increase of 20%-25% with a targeted 15-20% bonus structure based on milestones to be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors in its sole discretion. For 2021, Mr. Tang will have the opportunity to earn a performance stock bonus of $40,000 and a cash bonus of $25,000 based upon satisfying certain specified milestones and an additionalannual incentive bonus equal to at least $60,000 (prorated for partial years); and reimbursement of legal fees up to 10% of combined base salary and bonus based upon criteria to be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. The agreement$5,000. Mr. Schubert is also provided for a one-time stock option grant in the amount of 100,000 shares (half of which is exercisable $0.60 and half at $1.00), which vests in two years. Similar to our other employees, Mr. Tang’s employment is at-will and he is subject to the Company’s rules, regulationsclawback policies and policies,certain restrictive covenants including specificallyconfidentiality, non-compete and without limitation, confidentiality and provisions.non-solicitation.

 


 

TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE A REVERSE SPLIT OF OUR COMMON STOCK

IN A RATIO RANGING FROM 1:2 TO 1:15 AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD

(Proposal No. 2)

Overview of the Reverse Stock Split

The proposed Reverse Stock SplitIn addition, Mr. Schubert is intended to raiseeligible for stock grants based upon the market price of ourthe Company’s common stock to qualify to have our common stock listed on NASDAQ,meeting certain price points at various 60-day volume weighted prices, as described in the New York Stock Exchange or on another stock exchange. The Company is currently considering listing its common stock on NASDAQ, the New York Stock Exchange or on another stock exchange and the Reverse Stock Split is intended to provide the Company the flexibility it may need as it relates to its stock price to qualify for such a listing.chart below:

Stock Threshold Target

Number of Shares Granted

$1.23

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 0.40% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 131,085

$1.63

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 0.30% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 98,313

$2.04

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 0.20% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 65,542

$2.45

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 0.15% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 49,157

$2.86

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 0.15% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 49,157

$3.27

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 0.10% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 32,771

$3.68

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 0.10% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 32,771

$4.08

The lower of (x) the number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) representing 0.10% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on the Grant Date of this Value Achievement Award or (y) 32,771

20

PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE

 

Under economic theory,As required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and as experience shows,Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the market pricefollowing information about the relationship between executive compensation of our common stock should rise in an inverse amount to the ratioNamed Executive Officers (“NEOs”) including our Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”) and certain financial performance measures of the Reverse Stock Split. However, the market price of our common stock is also based on factors that may be unrelated to the number of shares outstanding. These factors include our performance, general economic and market conditions and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, following the initial expected rise following the implementation of the Reverse Stock Split, the market price of our stock may fall resulting in a loss of net value to your portfolio.Company.

 

The Reverse Stock Split will affect alltable below presents information on the compensation of our shareholders uniformly. We will not issue fractional shares, but rather will round up any fractional sharesPEO and our other NEOs in comparison to certain performance metrics for 2023 and 2022. The use of the term “compensation actually paid” (“CAP”) is required by the SEC’s rules. Neither CAP nor the total amount reported in the Summary Compensation Table reflect the amount of compensation actually paid, earned or received during the applicable year. Per SEC rules, CAP was calculated by adjusting the Summary Compensation Table Total values for the applicable year as described in the footnotes to the next highest full share as a consequence of the Reverse Stock Split.table.

 

After the effective date of the Reverse Stock Split (as will be determined in the discretion of our Board, but no later than the record date of our next annual meeting of stockholders), regardless of the exact ration of the Reverse Stock Split determined by the Board within the approved range, each stockholder will own a reduced number of shares of our common stock, but will hold the same percentage of the outstanding shares as such stockholder held prior to the effective date. The number of shares of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of outstanding rights to receive shares of our common stock or conversion of an outstanding convertible note and the per share conversion prices thereof, will be adjusted appropriately to give effect to the Reverse Stock Split as of the effective date.Pay Versus Performance Table for 2023

 

It is not possible for the Board to predict at this time the appropriate size of any reverse split that might be necessary to consummate a potential future listing on NASDAQ or another other stock exchange should the Company decide to pursue a listing. Accordingly, we are asking for approval to give our Board discretion to implement a reverse split within the range of 1:2 to 1:15 based upon the determination by our Board of the appropriate ratio based upon the relevant factors at such time. Management recommends a vote “FOR” this proposal.

Year

 

Summary

Compensation

Table Total for

PEO

Bill Bennett (1)(2)

  

Compensation

Actually Paid to

PEO

Bill Bennett (1)(3)

  

Summary

Compensation

Table Total for

PEO

Sam Klepfish (1)(2)

  

Compensation

Actually Paid to

PEO

Sam Klepfish (1)(3)

  

Average

Summary

Compensation

Table Total for

Non-PEO NEOs (1)(2)

  

Average

Compensation

Actually Paid to

Non-PEO NEOs (1)(3)

  

Value of Initial

Fixed $100

Investment

Based On

Total

Shareholder

Return

  

Net

Income (loss)

(millions)

 
                                 

2023

 $1,615,172  $3,213,953  $1,988,891  $1,988,891  $337,686  $466,805  $254  $(4.4)

2022

 $-  $-  $1,078,616  $1,078,616  $296,267  $291,067  $73  $(1.4)

2021

 $-  $-  $845,300  $845,300  $286,217  $290,977  $112  $(0.7)

 

Potential Consequences of the Reverse Stock Split

(1)

In 2023, we had two CEOs:  Bill Bennett and Sam Klepfish; the non-PEO NEOs were Justin Wiernasz, Richard Tang, Brady Smallwood, and Gary Schubert. In 2022 and 2021, our CEO was Sam Klepfish and the non-PEO NEOs were Justin Wiernasz, Richard Tang, and Norma Vila.

(2)

Amounts represent the “Total” column as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table on page 15 of this proxy statement.

(3)

Amounts represent the “compensation actually paid” as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

The liquiditytable below reconciles the amount of compensation reported for our common stock may be adversely affected byPEO Bill Bennett to the reduced numberamount of freely trading shares outstanding after the Reverse Stock Split. In addition, the split will increase the number of shareholders who own odd-lots. An odd-lot is fewer than 100 shares. Such shareholders may experience an increase in the cost of selling their shares and may have greater difficulty in making sales.compensation actually paid:

Year

 

Reported
Summary
Compensation
Table Total for
PEO

  

Reported Value
of Equity
Awards (4)

  

Equity
Award
Adjustments (5)

  

Reported
Change in the
Actuarial
Present Value
of Pension
Benefits

  

Pension
Benefit
Adjustments

  

Compensation
Actually Paid to
PEO

 
                         

2023

 $1,615,172  $(660,541) $2,259,322  $-  $-  $3,213,953 

2022

 $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $- 

2021

 $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $- 

21

 

The Reverse Stock Split will not affect the par value of our common stock. As a result, on the effective date of any such implementation, the stated capital on our balance sheet attributable to our common stock will be reduced in proportion with the exchange ratio for the Reverse Stock Split (as will be determined in the discretion of our Board, but no later than the record date of our next annual meeting of shareholders) and our additional paid-in capital account will be credited withtable below reconciles the amount by whichof compensation reported for our PEO Sam Klepfish to the stated capital is reduced. These accounting entries will have no impact on total shareholders' equity. All share and per share information will be retroactively adjusted following the effective date to reflect the Reverse Stock Split for all periods presented in future filings.amount of compensation actually paid:

 

              

Reported

         
  

Reported

          

Change in

         
  

Summary

          

the Actuarial

         
  

Compensation

  

Reported

      

Present

      

Compensation

 
  

Table Total

  

Value of

  

Equity

  

Value of

  

Pension

  

Actually Paid

 
  

for PEO

  

Equity

  

Award

  

Pension

  

Benefit

  

to PEO

 

Year

 

Sam Klepfish

  

Awards(4)

  

Adjustments (5)

  

Benefits

  

Adjustments

  

Sam Klepfish

 
                         

2023

 $1,988,891  $(40,681) $40,681  $-  $-  $1,988,891 

2022

 $1,078,616  $(466,186) $466,186  $-  $-  $1,078,616 

2021

 $845,300  $(385,000) $397,540  $-  $-  $857,840 

Determination of the Timing and Ratio of the Reverse Stock Split

(4)

The grant date fair value of equity awards represents the total of the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year.

(5)

The equity award adjustments for each applicable year include the addition (or subtraction, as applicable) of the following: (i) the year-end fair value of any equity awards granted in the applicable year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the year; (ii) the amount of change as of the end of the applicable year (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value of any awards granted in prior years that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the applicable year; (iii) for awards that are granted and vest in the same applicable year, the fair value as of the vesting date; (iv) for awards granted in prior years that vest in the applicable year, the amount equal to the change as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value; (v) for awards granted in prior years that are determined to fail to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the applicable year, a deduction for the amount equal to the fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year; and (vi) the dollar value of any dividends or other earnings paid on stock in the applicable year prior to the vesting date that are not otherwise reflected in the fair value of such award or included in any other component of total compensation for the applicable year. The valuation assumptions used to calculate fair values did not materially differ from those disclosed at the time of grant.

 

The formamounts deducted or added in calculating the equity award adjustments for our PEO Bill Bennett are as follows:

Year

 

Year End Fair
Value of Equity
Awards Granted

During Applicable

Fiscal Year that

Remain Unvested

as of Applicable

Fiscal Year End

  

Year Over Year
Change in Fair
Value of
Outstanding
and Unvested
Equity Awards

That Were Granted

in a Prior Fiscal Year

  

Fair Value as of
Vesting Date of
Equity Awards
Granted and
Vested in the
Year

  

Year Over
Year Change
in Fair Value
of Equity
Awards
Granted in
Prior Years
that Vested in
the Year

  

Fair Value at
the End of the
Prior Year of
Equity
Awards that
Failed to Meet
Vesting
Conditions in
the Year

  

Value of
Dividends or
other Earnings
Paid on Stock
or Option
Awards not
Otherwise
Reflected in
Fair Value or
Total
Compensation

  

Total Equity
Award
Adjustments

 
                             

2023

 $1,631,824  $-  $627,498  $-  $-  $-  $2,259,322 

2022

 $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $- 

2021

 $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $- 

22

The amounts deducted or added in calculating the equity award adjustments for our PEO Sam Klepfish are as follows:

Year 

Year End

Fair

Value of

Equity

Awards

  

Year over

Year

Change in

Fair

Value of

Outstanding

and Unvested

Equity

Awards

  

Fair Value

as of

Vesting Date

of Equity

Awards

Granted and

Vested in the

Year

  

Year Over

Year Change

in Fair Value

of Equity

Awards Granted

in Prior Years

that Vested

in the Year

  

Fair Value

at the End

of the Prior

Year of Equity

Awards that

Failed to Meet

Vesting

Conditions

in the Year

  

Value of

Dividends or

other

Earnings

Paid on

Stock or

Option Awards

not Otherwise

Reflected in

Fair Value

or Total

Compensation

  

Total Equity

Awards

Adjustments

 
                             

2023

 $-  $-  $40,681  $-  $-  $-  $40,681 

2022

 $-  $-  $466,186  $-  $-  $-  $466,186 

2021

 $-  $-  $385,000  $12,540  $-  $-  $397,540 

The table below reconciles the average amount of the amendment tocompensation reported for our Certificate of Incorporation to effect the Reverse Stock Split is set forth on Appendix A hereto. Approval of the proposal would permit (but not require) the Board to effect the Reverse Stock Split, provided that the Board must determine to effect the Reverse Stock Split and the ratio of the Reverse Stock Split and such amendment must be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Florida no later than the record date of the Company’s next Annual Meeting. As explained above, inasmuch as the primary reason for implementing the Reverse Stock Split is to meet a listing requirement of Nasdaq, should the listing condition be met, waived or otherwise resolved without resortingnon-PEO NEOs to the Reverse Stock Split,average amount of compensation actually paid:

Year

 

Average
Reported
Summary
Compensation
Table Total for
Non-PEO
NEOs

  

Average
Reported
Value of Equity
Awards

  

Average Equity
Award
Adjustments

  

Average Reported
Change in the
Actuarial Present
Value of Pension
Benefits

  

Average Pension
Benefit
Adjustments

  

Average
Compensation
Actually Paid to
Non-PEO NEOs

 
                         

2023

 $337,686  $(52,437) $181,566  $-  $-  $466,805 

2022

 $296,267  $(2,345) $(2,855) $-  $-  $291,067 

2021

 $286,217  $(8,049) $12,809  $-  $-  $290,977 

The amounts deducted or added in calculating the Board may determine not to implement the Reverse Stock Split. We believe that enabling the Board to determine if it should implement the Reverse Stock Split and the appropriate ratio, will provide us with the flexibility to maximize the anticipated benefits for our stockholders.total average equity award adjustments are as follows:

 

Year

 

Average Year End

Fair Value of

Equity Awards

Granted During

Applicable Fiscal

Year that Remain

Unvested as of

Applicable Fiscal

Year End

 

 

Year Over
Year Average
Change in Fair
Value of
Outstanding
and Unvested
Equity Awards That Were Granted In a Prior Fiscal Year

 

 

Average Fair
Value as of
Vesting Date of
Equity Awards
Granted and
Vested in the
Year

 

 

Year Over Year
Average Change in
Fair Value of Equity
Awards Granted in
Prior Years that
Vested in the Year

 

 

Average Fair
Value at the End
of the Prior Year
of Equity
Awards that
Failed to Meet
Vesting
Conditions in the
Year

 

 

Average Value of
Dividends or other
Earnings Paid on
Stock or Option
Awards not
Otherwise
Reflected in Fair
Value or Total
Compensation

 

 

Total Average
Equity Award
Adjustments

 

                             

2023

 

$

181,556

  

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

-

  

$

-  

$

-  

$

181,556

 

2022

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

(2.855

)

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

(2,855

)

2021

 

$

-

 

 

$

771

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

12,038

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

12,809

 

 


 

RegardlessAnalysis of the satisfactionInformation Presented in the Pay versus Performance Table

As described in more detail in the section captioned “Executive Compensation” beginning on page 14 of this proxy statement, during the periods presented in the tables above the Company’s executive compensation program included cash compensation and equity-based incentive awards in the form of stock options, stock grants, and stock appreciation rights. While the Company utilizes several performance measures to align executive compensation with Company performance, not all of those Company measures are presented in the “Pay Versus Performance Table for 2023”. The Company seeks to incentivize both short-term and long-term performance, and therefore does not specifically align the Company’s performance measures with compensation that is actually paid (as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K) for a particular year. In accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the Company is providing the following descriptions of the Nasdaq listing requirement, the Board reserves the right to not effect a Reverse Stock Split if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the Reverse Stock Split is no longerrelationships between information presented in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.“Pay Versus Performance Table for 2023”.

 

In addition to satisfaction of the Nasdaq listing requirement, we believe that the Reverse Stock Split, by increasing our stock price, will make our common stock more attractive to a broader range of institutionalCompensation Actually Paid and other investors, as we have been advised that the current market price of our common stock may affect its acceptability to certain institutional investors, professional investors and other members of the investing public. Many brokerage houses and institutional investors have internal policies and practices that either prohibit them from investing in low-priced stocks or tend to discourage individual brokers from recommending low-priced stocks to their customers. In addition, some of those policies and practices may function to make the processing of trades in low-priced stocks economically unattractive to brokers. Moreover, because brokers’ commissions on low-priced stocks generally represent a higher percentage of the stock price than commissions on higher-priced stocks, the current average price per share of common stock can result in individual stockholders paying transaction costs representing a higher percentage of their total share value than would be the case if the share price were substantially higher. Accordingly, we believe that the Reverse Stock Split could make our common stock a more attractive and cost effective investment for investors.Cumulative Total Shareholder Return (TSR)

 

Certain Risks AssociatedAs demonstrated by the following graph, the amount of total compensation actually paid to our CEOs and the average amount of compensation actually paid to the Company’s NEOs as a group (excluding our CEOs) is generally aligned with the Reverse Stock SplitCompany’s cumulative TSR over the three years presented in the “Pay Versus Performance Table for 2023”. For additional information, see the section captioned “Executive Compensation” beginning on page 14 of this proxy statement.

 

There can be no assurance that the total market capitalization of our common stock after the implementation of the Reverse Stock Split will be equal to or greater than the total market capitalization before the Reverse Stock Split or that the per share market price of our common stock following the Reverse Stock Split will increase in proportion to the reduction in the number of shares of our common stock outstanding in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Also, we cannot assure you that the Reverse Stock Split would lead to a sustained increase in the trading price of our common stock. The trading price of our common stock may change due to a variety of other factors, including our ability to successfully accomplish our business goals, market conditions and the market perception of our business, all of which are currently being negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. You should also keep in mind that the implementation of the Reverse Stock Split does not have an effect on the actual or intrinsic value of our business or a stockholder's proportional ownership in the Company (subject to the treatment of fractional shares). However, should the overall value of our common stock decline after the proposed Reverse Stock Split, then the actual or intrinsic value of the shares of our common stock held by you will also proportionately decrease as a result of the overall decline in value.

graph_1.jpg

 

Further, the liquidity of our common stock may be harmed by the proposed Reverse Stock Split given the reduced number of shares that would be outstanding after the Reverse Stock Split, particularly if the expected increase in stock price as a result of the Reverse Stock Split is not sustained. For instance, the proposed Reverse Stock Split may increase the number of stockholders who own odd lots (less than 100 shares) of our common stock, creating the potential for such stockholders to experience an increase in the cost of selling their shares and greater difficulty effecting sales. If we implement the Reverse Stock Split, the resulting per-share stock price may nevertheless fail to attract institutional investors and may not satisfy the investing guidelines of such investors and consequently, the trading liquidity of our common stock may not improve.

Because the Reverse Stock Split will result in an increased number of authorized but unissued shares of our common stock, it may be construed as having an anti-takeover effect. Although the Reverse Stock Split is not being proposed by the Board for this purpose, in the future the Board of Directors could, subject to its fiduciary duties and applicable law, use the increased number of authorized but unissued shares to frustrate persons seeking to take over or otherwise gain control of the Company, for example, by privately placing shares with purchasers who might side with the Board in opposing a hostile takeover bid. Shares of common stock could also be issued to a holder who would thereafter have sufficient voting power to assure that any proposal to amend or repeal our Bylaws or certain provisions of our Articles of Incorporation would not receive the requisite vote. Such uses of our common stock could render more difficult, or discourage, an attempt to acquire control of our Company if the Board opposed such transactions.

The Reverse Stock Split may result in some stockholders owning “odd lots” of less than 100 shares of common stock. Odd lot shares may be more difficult to sell, and brokerage commissions and other costs of transactions in odd lots may be higher than the costs of transactions in “round lots” of even multiples of 100 shares.

a.

The 2023 PEO bar includes the combined compensation of the Company’s two CEOs who served during the year.

 


 

The Reverse Stock Split will have the following effects upon our common stock:

☐ The number of shares owned by each holder of common stock on the record date of a reverse split will be proportionally reduced by a factor between 50%Compensation Actually Paid and approximately 93.33%, but the shareholder’s percentage ownership of the Company will remain unchanged;

☐ The number of shares of common stock we are authorized to issue will remain at 500,000,000;

☐ The par value of our common stock will remain the same; and

☐ Shares of our common stock underlying our outstanding convertible notes, options, warrants restricted stock units will be reduced proportionally and the conversion and exercise prices increased proportionally.

The shares of our common stock to be issued following the Reverse Stock Split will be fully paid and non-assessable. The Reverse Stock Split will not change any of the rights of the shareholders of our common stock. The new shares will have the same voting rights and rights to dividends and distributions and will be identical in all other respects to the shares of our common stock that were issued prior to the Reverse Stock Split. Each shareholder's percentage ownership will not be altered as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, but each shareholder could incur dilution, which could be substantial, as a result of additional corporate issuances of extra available shares as a result of the Reverse Stock Split.

The Reverse Stock Split will affect all holders of our common stock uniformly and will not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership interest in the Company, except that record holders of common stock otherwise entitled to a fractional share as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will have such fractional share rounded up to the next highest whole number. In addition, the Reverse Stock Split will not affect any stockholder’s proportionate voting power (subject to the treatment of fractional shares). For example, a holder of 2% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of common stock immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split would continue to hold 2% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of common stock immediately after the Reverse Stock Split (subject to adjustment for treating fractional shares, but such adjustment is expected to be statistically insignificant).

The number of stockholders of record will not be affected by the Reverse Stock Split.

On the record date of November 15, 2021 described above, there were 45,747,397 shares of our common stock issued and validly outstanding and an additional 2,225,000 shares underlying outstanding options.

The following table sets forth the number of Common Shares issued and outstanding as of the record date of this Proxy Statement and upon implementation of a Reverse Split at a ratio of 1:2, 1:5, 1:10 and 1:15. Inasmuch as we cannot predict at this time the actual ratio that our Board will select, these examples will provide information with respect to the highest, lowest and mid-range of the possible ratios. We currently have 500 million authorized shares of common stock. The numbers in the chart below are subject to adjustment due to rounding involved in addressing fractional shares.

  

1:2

 

1:5

 

1:10

 

1:15

Number of outstanding shares

 

22,873,699

 

9,149,480

 

4,574,740

 

3,049,827

Number of authorized but unissued shares

 

477,126,301

 

490,850,520

 

495,425,260

 

496,950,173

Number of outstanding shares – fully diluted

 

23,986,199

 

9,594,480

 

4,797,240

 

3,198,160

Number of authorized but unissued shares - fully diluted

 

476,013,801

 

490,405,520

 

495,202,760

 

496,801,840

Reservation of Right to Abandon Reverse Stock Split

The Board reserves the right, notwithstanding stockholder approval of this Proposal No. 2 and without further action by the stockholders, to elect not to proceed with the Reverse Stock Split if, at any time prior to filing the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to effect the Reverse Stock Split, or, in the event that the amendment is not effective until a later time, such later time, the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that it is no longer in the Company’s best interests and the best interests of our stockholders to proceed with the Reverse Stock Split. Such determination will be based upon factors the Board deems appropriate, including the Company’s then current stock price, the existing and expected marketability and liquidity of our Common Stock, prevailing market conditions, satisfaction of Nasdaq’s listing requirements or determination by the Board to abandon the Nasdaq listing and the likely effect on the market price of our Common Stock. If a certificate of amendment effecting the Reverse Stock Split has not been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Florida on or before the record date of the Company’s next Annual Meeting, the Board will be deemed to have abandoned the Reverse Stock Split.


Implementation of Reverse Stock split

If and when the Board chooses to implement the Reverse Stock Split, it will also determine the exact ratio of the Reverse Stock Split and the determination of both will be based primarily on the price level of our common stock immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split, the expected stability of the price level of our common stock going forward and our need to satisfy Nasdaq’s listing requirement. We believe that granting the Board the authority to determine when, and at what ratio, to implement the Reverse Stock Split is essential because it provides the Board with the maximum flexibility to react to changing market conditions and to therefore act in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. If the Board implements the Reverse Stock Split, the Company will make a public announcement regarding the determination to proceed.

The effective date of the Reverse Stock Split will be the date on which the certificate of amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to effect the amendment contemplated by this proposal is accepted and recorded by the Florida Secretary of State (subject to any specific future time of effectiveness stated therein) in accordance with the Florida Business Corporation Act. The exact timing of the filing of the amendment will be determined by the Board based on its determination that such action will be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders as described herein. Except as explained herein with respect to fractional shares, on the effective date of the amendment to effect the Reverse Stock Split, shares of our common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior thereto will be combined and converted, automatically, based upon the ratio selected by the Board, and without any action on the part of the stockholders, into new shares of our common stock in accordance with the reverse stock split ratio determined by the Board.

After the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split, our common stock will have a new Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures (CUSIP) number, which is a number used to identify our equity securities, and stock certificates with the older CUSIP numbers will need to be exchanged for stock certificates with the new CUSIP numbers by following the procedures described below. After the Reverse Stock Split, we will continue to be subject to the periodic reporting and other requirements of the Exchange Act.

Exchange of Stock Certificates

If the Reverse Stock Split is effected, stockholders holding certificated shares (i.e., shares represented by one or more physical stock certificates) will be requested to exchange their old stock certificate(s) (“Old Certificate(s)”) for shares held electronically in book-entry form through the Depository Trust Company’s Direct Registration System representing the appropriate number of whole shares of our common stock resulting from the Reverse Stock Split. This means that, instead of receiving a new stock certificate, stockholders holding certificated shares prior to the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split will receive a statement of holding indicating the number of shares held by them electronically in book-entry form after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders of record upon the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split will be furnished the necessary materials and instructions for the surrender and exchange of their Old Certificate(s) at the appropriate time by our Transfer Agent. Stockholders will not have to pay any transfer fee or other fee in connection with such exchange. As soon as practicable after the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split, our Transfer Agent will send a transmittal letter to each stockholder advising such holder of the procedure for surrendering Old Certificate(s) in exchange for new shares held in book-entry form. Your Old Certificate(s) representing pre-split shares cannot be used for either transfers or deliveries. Accordingly, you must exchange your Old Certificate(s) in order to effect transfers or deliveries of your shares.

YOU SHOULD NOT SEND YOUR OLD CERTIFICATES NOW. YOU SHOULD SEND THEM ONLY AFTER YOU RECEIVE THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL FROM OUR TRANSFER AGENT.Net Income

 

As soon as practicable afterdemonstrated by the surrenderfollowing graph, the amount of total compensation actually paid to our Transfer AgentCEOs and the average amount of any Old Certificate(s), togethercompensation actually paid to the Company’s NEOs as a group (excluding our CEOs) is generally not aligned with a properly completed and duly executed transmittal letter and any other documents our Transfer Agent may specify, our Transfer Agent will have its records adjusted to reflect that the shares represented by such Old Certificate(s) are held in book-entry formCompany’s net income over the three years presented in the name of such person.

Until surrendered“Pay Versus Performance Table for 2023”. The Company uses net income as contemplated herein, a stockholder’s Old Certificate(s) shall be deemed at and afterspecific performance measure in the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split to represent the number of whole shares of our Common Stock resulting from the Reverse Stock Split.

Any stockholder whose Old Certificate(s) have been lost, destroyed or stolen will be entitled to new shares in book-entry form only after complyingoverall executive compensation program along with the requirements that we and our Transfer Agent customarily apply in connection with lost, stolen or destroyed certificates.

No service charges, brokerage commissions or transfer taxes shall be payable by any holder of any Old Certificate, except that if any book-entry shares are to be issued in a name other than that ingross margin levels, which the Old Certificate(s) are registered, it will beCompany considers a conditionleading indicator of such issuance that (1)profitability over the person requesting such issuance must paylong term. For additional information regarding the performance measures used to us any applicable transfer taxes or establish to our satisfaction that such taxes have been paid or are not payable, (2) the transfer complies with all applicable federaldetermine cash- and state securities laws, and (3) the surrendered certificate is properly endorsed and otherwise in proper formequity-based incentive compensation for transfer.


Any stockholder who wants to continue holding certificated shares may request new certificate(s) from our Transfer Agent.

Stockholders who hold only uncertificated shares, either as direct or beneficial owners, will have their holdings electronically adjusted by our Transfer Agent and, for beneficial owners, by their brokers or banks which hold in “street name” for their benefit, as the case may be to give effect to the Reverse Stock Split.

Fractional Shares

Fractional shares will not be issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders who would otherwise hold fractional shares of our common stock as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will be rounded up to the next highest whole number.

No Appraisal Rights

No action is proposed herein for which the laws of the State of Florida or our Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws provide a right to our stockholders to dissent and obtain appraisal of, or payment for, such stockholders' common stock.

Interests of Certain Persons in the Proposal

Certain of the Company’s officers and directors have an interest in this proposal as a result of their ownership of shares of stock of the Company, as set forth inNEOs, see the section entitled “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” herein. However, the Company does not believe that its officers or directors have interests in the Reverse Stock Split that are different from or greater than those of any other stockholder of the Company.

Accounting Matters

The amendment to our certificate of incorporation will not affect the par value of our common stock per share, which will remain $0.0001 per share. As a result, as of the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split, the stated capital attributable to common stock and the additional paid-in capitalcaptioned “Executive Compensation” beginning on our balance sheet will, in total, not change due to the Reverse Stock Split. However, the allocation between the stated capital attributable to common stock and the additional paid-in capital on our balance sheet will change because there will be fewer shares of common stock outstanding. The stated capital attributable to common stock will decrease, and in turn, the stated capital attributable to the additional paid-in capital will increase. Further, reported per share net income or loss will be higher because there will be fewer shares of common stock outstanding.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reverse Stock Split

The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the proposed Reverse Stock Split to U.S. Holders (as defined below) of our common stock. This discussion is based on the Tax Code, U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) in each case in effect as of the datepage 14 of this proxy statement. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a U.S. Holder and affect the accuracy of this discussion.

 

We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS or an opinion from legal or tax counsel regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax consequences of the proposed Reverse Stock Split.

For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of our common stock that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as:

•an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

•a corporation (or any other entity or arrangement treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

•an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

•a trust if (1) its administration is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and all of its substantial decisions are subject to the control of one or more “United States person” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Tax Code) or (2) it has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

 


graph_2.jpg

 

This discussion is limited to U.S. Holders who hold our common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Tax Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to the particular circumstances of a U.S. Holder, including the impact of the alternative minimum tax or the Medicare contribution surtax on net investment income. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to U.S. Holders that are subject to special rules, including banks and other financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, partnerships, S corporations, and other pass-through entities (and investors in such pass-through entities), insurance companies, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, mutual funds, dealers, brokers, or traders in securities, commodities, or currencies, traders in securities that elect a mark-to-market method of accounting, holders subject to the alternative minimum tax, holders who acquired common stock pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options, through a qualified retirement plan, or otherwise as compensation, holders that actually or constructively own more than 5% of our outstanding stock, holders that hold common stock as part of a straddle, hedge, constructive sale, conversion, or integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holders that are not U.S. Holders, and U.S. Holders that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar.

If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of common stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partner and the partnership, and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships (and other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holding common stock and the partners in such entities should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the proposed Reverse Stock Split to them.

In addition, the following discussion does not address the U.S. federal estate and gift tax, or state, local and non-U.S. tax law consequences of the proposed Reverse Stock Split. Furthermore, the following discussion does not address any tax consequences of transactions effectuated before, after or at the same time as the proposed Reverse Stock Split, whether or not they are in connection with the proposed Reverse Stock Split.

ALL HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROPOSED REVERSE STOCK SPLIT ARISING UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.

The proposed Reverse Stock Split should constitute a “recapitalization” for U.S. federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 368(a)(1)(E) of the Tax Code. As a result, a U.S. Holder generally should not recognize gain or loss upon the proposed Reverse Stock Split for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. Holder’s aggregate adjusted tax basis in the shares of common stock held immediately after the proposed Reverse Stock Split should equal the aggregate adjusted tax basis of the shares of common stock held immediately before the Reverse Stock Split (reduced by the amount of such basis that is allocated to any fractional share of our common stock). The U.S. Holder’s holding period in the shares of common stock held immediately after the Reverse Stock Split should include the holding period in the shares of common stock held immediately before the Reverse Stock Split. U.S. Treasury regulations provide detailed rules for allocating the tax basis and holding period among shares of common stock which were acquired by a shareholder on different dates and at different prices. U.S. Holders of shares of our common stock acquired on different dates and at different prices should consult their tax advisors regarding the allocation of the tax basis and holding period among such shares.

Vote Required

Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote, either in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock eligible to vote. Abstentions or failing to vote will have the same effect as voting “AGAINST” the adoption of this proposal because the required vote is based on the number of shares outstanding rather than the number of votes cast.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote FOR the approval of the Reverse Stock Split.

a.

The 2023 PEO bar includes the combined compensation of the Company’s two CEOs who served during the year.

 


25

 

RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF

INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

(Proposal No. 3)2)

 

Upon the recommendation of our Audit Committee, our Board of Directors has appointed the firm of Liggett & Webb P.A.engaged Assurance Dimensions Inc. (“Assurance Dimensions”) as our principal independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, subject to ratification by the stockholders. Liggett & Webb P.A.2024. Assurance Dimensions has been our independent auditors since November 9, 2012.10, 2022.

 

Management recommends a vote “FOR” this proposal.

 

If the appointment of Liggett & Webb P.A.Assurance Dimensions is not ratified or if it declines to act or their engagement is otherwise discontinued, the Board of Directors will take into consideration the voting results of this proposal and may appoint other independent auditors. Representatives of Liggett & Webb P.A. are expected to be present virtually at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement at the Annual Meeting, if they so desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

 

Before our principal accountant is engaged by us to render audit or non-audit services, as required by the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or Nasdaq, such engagement is approved by the Audit Committee.

 

Audit Fees

 

The Company engaged Assurance Dimensions as our independent registered public accounting firm effective November 10, 2022. Total engagement fees of Assurance Dimensions covering the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were approximately $210,000.

The Company engaged Liggett & Webb P.A. (“LW”) as our independent registered public accounting firm sincefrom November 9, 2012.2012 through November 9, 2022. During the yearyears ended December 31, 20202023 and 2019,2022, LW billed us audit fees of approximately $192,000$0 and $152,000,$174,000, respectively.

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by Assurance Dimensions and by LW that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our consolidated financial statements including our quarterly interim reviews on Form 10-Q and are reported under Audit Fees above.

 

Tax Fees

 

LWAssurance Dimensions tax fees were $20,000$0 and $20,000$0 for the years ended December 31, 20202023 and 2019,2022, respectively.

 

All Other Fees

 

LWAssurance Dimensions has not billed us any other fees since their engagement on November 9, 2012.10, 2022.

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 20202023 and 20192022 the board of directorsBoard considered the audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees and other fees paid to our accountants, as disclosed above, and determined that the payment of such fees was compatible with maintaining the independence of the accountants. Our board of directors pre-approves all auditing services and all permitted non-auditing services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm, except for de minimis non-audit services that are approved by the board of directors prior to the completion of the audit.

 


26

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

 

The following Report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission nor shall this information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into a filing.

 

Management is responsible for our system of internal control over financial reporting. Our independent registered public accounting firm, Liggett & Webb P.A.,Assurance Dimensions, is responsible for performing an independent audit of our consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), and to issue a report thereon. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing management's conduct of the financial reporting process and our system of internal control over financial reporting.

 

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with both management and our independent registered public accounting firm all annual financial statements prior to their issuance. In connection with these reviews, management advised the Audit Committee that each set of financial statements reviewed had been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and reviewed significant accounting and disclosure issues with the Audit Committee. These reviews included discussion with the independent registered public accounting firm of matters required to be discussed pursuant to Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”)PCAOB auditing standard AS 1301 Communications with Audit Committee, including the quality of our accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosure in the financial statements. The Audit Committee also discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm matters relating to such firm's independence, including a review of audit and non-audit fees and the written disclosures and letter from Liggett & Webb P.A.Assurance Dimensions to the Audit Committee as required by applicable requirements of PCAOB Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence.

 

Taking all of these reviews and discussions into account, all of the Audit Committee members, whose names are listed below, recommended to our Board that it approve the inclusion of our audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 20202023 for filing with the SEC.

 

Members of the Audit Committee

 

Joel Gold,Denver J. Smith, Hank Cohn, David Polinsky, Mark SchmulenJefferson Gramm


 

ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPANY'S EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

(Proposal No. 4)3)

 

Our stockholders are being provided the opportunity to cast a non-binding, advisory vote (commonly known as "say“say on pay"pay”) on the compensation of the executive officers named in the "Summary“Summary Compensation Table"Table” above (collectively, the "named“named executive officers"officers”). This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the executive compensation policies and practices described in this proxy statement, through consideration of the following non-binding advisory resolution:

 

“Resolved, that the stockholders advise that they approve the compensation of the Company's named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the compensation tables and related narrative discussion.”

 

Our executive compensation program is designed to attract, reward and retain talented executives to lead our company in a highly competitive market, while maximizing shareholder returns. We believe that our compensation program, which ties a significant portion of pay to performance, provides competitive compensation to our executives and utilizes components that align the interests of our executives with shareholders. We believe this approach helps make our management team a key driver in the company’s market leadership and financial performance. Please see the compensation tables and related narrative discussion relating to compensation paid to our named executive officers.

 

Management recommends a vote “FOR” this resolution as it believes that our executive compensation is fair and reasonable and allows us to attract and retain qualified executives.

��

27

STOCKHOLDERSNON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON FREQUENCY OF SAY-ON-PAY VOTES

(Proposal No. 4)

We are providing our stockholders with the opportunity to vote, on an advisory basis, on the frequency with which we include in our proxy statement an advisory vote, similar to Proposal No. 3 above, to approve or not approve the compensation of our named executive officers. By voting on this proposal, stockholders may indicate whether they prefer that we seek such an advisory vote every one (1), two (2), or three (3) years.

After careful consideration of this proposal, the Board has unanimously determined that an advisory vote on executive compensation that occurs every one (1) year is the most appropriate alternative for us and therefore unanimously recommends a vote for a 1-year interval for future advisory voting on named executive officer compensation.

We believe that an annual advisory vote on executive compensation is consistent with our practice of seeking input and engaging in dialogue with our shareholders on corporate governance matters (including the Company's practice of having all directors elected annually) and our executive compensation philosophy, policies and practices. However, shareholders should note that, because the advisory vote on executive compensation occurs well after the beginning of the compensation year, and because we have a multi-year employment agreement with our chief executive officer which specifies many of the elements of his compensation, in many cases it may not be appropriate or feasible to change our executive compensation programs in consideration of any one year’s advisory vote on executive compensation by the time of the following year’s annual meeting of shareholders.

We understand that our stockholders may have different views as to what is the best approach, and we look forward to hearing from our stockholders on this proposal.

Pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, this vote will not be binding on the Board or the Compensation Committee and may not be construed as overruling a decision by the Board or the Compensation Committee, creating or implying any change to the fiduciary duties of the Board or the Compensation Committee or any additional fiduciary duty by the Board or the Compensation Committee or restricting or limiting the ability of stockholders to make proposals for inclusion in proxy materials related to executive compensation. The Board and the Compensation Committee, however, may in their discretion take into account the outcome of the vote when considering the frequency of future advisory votes.

You may vote on your preferred voting frequency by selecting the option of holding an advisory vote on executive compensation “EVERY THREE YEARS,” “EVERY TWO YEARS” or “EVERY ONE YEAR,” or you may “ABSTAIN.” Approval requires that the choice of every one (1), two (2) or three (3) years receiving the highest number of votes at the 2024 Annual Meeting will be the frequency selected by the stockholders. Your vote is not intended to approve or disapprove the recommendation of the Board. Rather, we will consider the stockholders to have expressed a preference for the option that receives the most votes.

Management recommends that stockholders vote for the proposal to hold an advisory vote to approve the compensation for our named executive officers every 1 year.

28

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 20222025 ANNUAL MEETING

 

We must receive a stockholder proposal (and any supporting statement) to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and proxy for our annual meeting in 2022for 2025 at our principal executive offices on or before August 14, 2022.December 23, 2024. Any other proposal that a stockholder intends to present at that meeting may be deemed untimely unless we have received written notice of such proposal on or before October 29, 2022.March 8, 2025. Stockholders should send proposals and notices addressed to Innovative Food Holdings, Inc., 28411 Race Track Road,9696 Bonita Beach Rd, Suite 208, Bonita Springs, FL 34135, Attention: Secretary.Secretary

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

We have not received any other proposal or notice of any stockholder’s intention to present any proposal at our annual meeting, and we are not aware of any matter, other than those discussed above in this Proxy Statement, to be presented at the meeting. If any other matter is properly brought before the annual meeting, the persons named in the attached proxy intend to vote on such matter as directed by our Board of Directors.

 

We will provide, without charge, upon the written request of any person from whom proxies for this meeting were solicited, a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020,2023, including the financial statements and financial statement schedules. Anyone requesting such documents shall submit the request in writing to: Innovative Food Holdings, Inc., 28411 Race Track Road,9696 Bonita Beach Rd, Suite 208, Bonita Springs, FL 34135, Attention: Secretary.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Sam KlepfishBill Bennett

December 13, 2021

April 24, 2024

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HOPES THAT STOCKHOLDERS WILL

VIRTUALLY ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO

ATTEND, YOU ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND

RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE OR VOTE ONLINE OR BY TELEPHONE.

STOCKHOLDERS WHO ATTEND THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING MAY VOTE THEIR

SHARES PERSONALLY, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE SENT IN THEIR PROXIES.

 

2329

 

INNOVATIVE FOOD HOLDINGS, INC.

PROXY DEPARTMENT

28411 RACE TRACK RD.9696 BONITA BEACH RD, SUITE 208

BONITA SPRINGS, FLORIDA 34135

VOTE BY INTERNET

Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

 

During The Meeting - GoELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS

If you would like to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IVFH2021

You may attendreduce the meetingcosts incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, vote during the meeting. Have the informationwhen prompted, indicate that is printedyou agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in the box marked by the arrow available and follow the instructions.future years.

 

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

 

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it  to  Vote  Processing,  c/o  Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

 

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:

D63019-P64282V48057-P11962

KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

 

DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

 

INNOVATIVE FOOD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FORthe following:

ForFor

All

Withhold

All

For All

Except

To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark "For All Except" and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.

 

1. To elect eight (8) directors to serve for the ensuing year.

Nominees:

    

01) Sam Klepfish

02) Justin Wiernasz

03) Joel Gold

04) Hank Cohn

05) David Polinsky

06) James C. Pappas

07) Mark Schmulen

08) Jefferson Gramm

Nominees:
       

01) Robert W. (Bill) Bennett

02) Sam Klepfish

03) Hank Cohn

04) James C. Pappas

05) Mark Schmulen

06) Jefferson Gramm

07) Denver J. Smith

08) Brady Smallwood

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposals:

For

Against

Abstain

2. To ratify the selection by the Board of Directors of the firm of Assurance Dimensions, Inc. as the Company’s independent auditors for the current fiscal year.

3. To approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the executive compensation of our named executive officers.

   
     

For

 

Against

Abstain

 

2.    To approve and authorize ourThe Board of Directors to implement a reverse splitrecommends you vote for ONE (1) YEAR on the following proposal:

1 Year2 Years3 YearsAbstain
4. To determine the frequency of our outstanding Common Stock, at its discretion, in a ratio ranging from 1:2 to 1:15.

such non-binding advisory votes regarding the executive compensation of named executive officers every one (1), two (2) or three (3) years.

3.    To ratify the selection by the Board of Directors of the firm of Liggett & Webb P.A., as the Company’s independent auditors for the current fiscal year.

4.    To conduct an advisory vote on executive compensation.

5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

        
        

Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.

     
        
 

     

  

Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]

Date

 

Signature (Joint Owners)

Date

        

 


 

 

 

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

The Notice and Proxy Statement, and Form 10-K and CEO Letter are available at www.proxyvote.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

D63020-P64282V48058-P11962

 

 

 

 

 

INNOVATIVE FOOD HOLDINGS, INC.

28411 RACE TRACK RD.9696 BONITA BEACH RD, SUITE 208

BONITA SPRINGS, FLORIDAFL 34135

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 11, 2022MAY 15, 2024

 

 

The stockholder(s) hereby appoint(s) Sam Klepfish,each of Messrs. Robert W. Bennett and Gary Schubert, as proxy,proxies, with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorize(s) himeach of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of common stock of INNOVATIVE FOOD HOLDINGS, INC. that the stockholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 12:303:00 PM, Eastern Time, on January 11, 2022, the meeting can be accessed by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IVFH2021,May 15, 2024, and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors' recommendations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continued and to be signed on reverse side