“We also made progress toward unifying procurement, freight and back-office activities across our business segments. In addition, we completed the first round of SKU rationalization, eliminating approximately 5% of total SKUs. I am pleased with our progress to date and am optimistic that we will see improved profitability in 2022.
“I believe that by filling two key leadership roles with Mariela Matute as CFO and Graciela Montgomery as CHRO, we are well on our way to building a strong leadership team. We have made progress in our search for a permanent CEO, and we are in final rounds of interviews with several outstanding candidates. I am confident we will be selecting a new CEO soon who will lead Calavo’s growth for years to come.”
Fourth Quarter 2021 Consolidated Financial Review
Total revenue for the fourth quarter 2021 was $273.4 million, compared to $234.4 million for the fourth quarter 2020, an increase of 17%. Fresh segment sales increased 26%, and the RFG and Foods business segments generated sales growth of 7% and 6%, respectively. The average selling price of avocados in the Company’s Fresh segment was higher by 37% while volumes were 7% lower than the prior-year period due to sub-optimal sizes in August in both California and Mexico.
Gross profit for the fourth quarter was $9.1 million, or 3.3% of revenue, compared to $21.2 million, or 9.0% of revenue, for the same period last year. The decrease in gross profit margin reflected inflationary pressures on labor, raw materials and freight, volume declines in the Fresh segment as a result of the product and size mix in late summer and increased fruit costs in the Foods segment.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense for the fourth quarter totaled $16.3 million, or 6.0% of revenue, compared to $13.7 million, or 5.9% of revenue, for the same period last year. The year-over-year increase in SG&A expense primarily was related to increases in outside services and insurance expenses.
Net loss, including a $9.7 million impairment from our Florida operations, for the fourth quarter was $(13.0) million, or $(0.73) per share. This compares with net income of $6.2 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, for the same period last year.
Adjusted net loss was $(1.4) million, or $(0.08) per share, for the fourth quarter, compared to adjusted net income of $6.0 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, for the same period last year.
Adjusted EBITDA was $1.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to $13.4 million for the same period last year.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $2.9 million as of October 31, 2021. Total liquidity at quarter end was approximately $141.2 million, including unrestricted cash, investments and borrowings available under a line of credit.
The Company ended the quarter with $44.8 million of total debt, which included $37.7 million of borrowings under its line of credit and $7.1 million of long-term obligations and finance leases.
Fourth Quarter Business Segment Performance
Fresh
Fourth quarter 2021 sales in Calavo’s Fresh business segment were $149.8 million, up from $118.9 million for the same period last year. Avocado prices were 37% higher year-over-year, partially offset by 7% lower volume due to sub-optimal fruit sizes and mix from Mexico and California in the late summer. Fresh segment gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $7.4 million, or 5.0% of segment sales, compared to $8.8 million, or 7.4% of segment sales, for the same period last year. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to the lower volume at gross margin per carton below historical averages.
Renaissance Food Group (RFG)
RFG business segment sales in the fourth quarter of 2021 were $106.1 million, up 7% from $99.3 million in the same period last year reflecting a volume increase of 2% year-over-year, favorable product mix and price increases. Segment gross profit was a loss of $0.2 million, down from gross profit of $7.7 million for the same period last year. Gross margin was adversely affected by market-wide factors such as higher labor, material and freight costs. We have begun to implement price increases to offset these increased costs.