| • | | Net loss decreased by 37% compared to $(13,330,908) in Q4, 2021. |
| • | | Adjusted EBITDA3 was a loss of $(8,462,899) in Q1 2022 compared to $(5,391,936) in Q1 2021, and $(5,014,266) in Q4 2021. |
Cash and Liquidity Update
The Company has incurred losses since inception and expects to incur further losses in the development of its business. Whether the Company can generate sufficient operating cash flows to pay for its expenditures and settle its obligations as they fall due is uncertain. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on its ability to manage costs, raise additional equity or debt on reasonable terms and/or commence profitable operations in the future. While the Company has been successful in the past in obtaining debt and equity financings, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to do so going forward. The existence of these conditions indicates that there are material uncertainties which may cast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
As of March 31, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $6,382,705, a reduction of $15,592,948 from $21,975,653 as of December 31, 2021. This decrease is primarily related to the Company’s greater than expected cash burn during the quarter. The Company’s current cash balance is approximately $3.3 million to settle current accounts payable and accrued liabilities of approximately $6.7 million. Management believes that the Company will need to seek additional financing within the next 30 days in order to fulfil its outstanding obligations and fund ongoing operations and will likely need to obtain subsequent financings in future periods. In order to address its lack of necessary liquidity, the Company has reduced its cash outflow related to paying trade payables while it evaluates its financing options. The Company is evaluating other alternatives of generating cash in the short term such as disposing of non-core equipment and certain raw material inventory to extend the current cash runway. There can be no assurance that disposing of non-core equipment and certain raw material inventory will be successful. While there is no assurance on the availability of the Company’s future financings, on acceptable terms, or at all, the Company believes it is able to raise capital through financing in the near term to support its new refocused strategy.
Q1 2022 Operational and Corporate Strategy Update
During the three-month period ended March 31, 2022, VERY GOOD made the strategic shift to focus on sustainable growth and a path to profitability as opposed to solely focusing on top line growth. As part of this shift, VERY GOOD consciously decided to limit its eCommerce sales due to high digital marketing costs to acquire new customers, lowered production throughput and headcount at some locations to manage inventory levels, implemented initiatives such as pausing non-critical capital expenditures and lowering general and administrative expenses.
VERY GOOD intends to continue to focus on the wholesale and food service channels, particularly in the United States, which it views as critical to realizing its vision to scale the Company.
On May 16, 2022, the Company made a strategic decision to cease regular operations at the Victoria Facility, Fairview Facility, and Patterson Facility and consolidate operations into the Rupert Facility. The Company has also decided to close the Victoria Flagship Store in Q2 2022 and no longer plans to open the Mount Pleasant Flagship Store. The Company made these decisions in an effort to create production efficiencies and reduce overhead. The Company is evaluating a few strategies as to how it can utilize these facilities going forward.
VERY GOOD expects to further right-size its workforce across its corporate business functions as it streamlines operations. It is worth mentioning that the Company has experienced higher than normal turnover over the last quarter and there is a risk of losing some critical talent. The Company is evaluating options as to how it can improve employee retention.
“We started to see the results of our refocused strategy start to materialize in the Q1 2022 financial results: while the overall sales are down as a result of our conscious decision to decrease eCommerce sales, wholesale revenue shows strong triple digit growth,” said Matthew Hall, Interim Chief Executive Office.
“During the very short period of time that I have been with the Company, I have made great strides in identifying the problem areas and have developed a strategy to put the Company back on the right track. My strategy focuses on stabilizing, right-sizing, and optimizing the business. While it will take some time for the financial results to catch up with the progress we are making, I am confident that we will start to see great improvements in future quarters. We have a great brand, fantastic products, engaged customers, and some very dedicated and talented people. We can leverage these strengths to rebuild this Company and start executing on the promise of delivering shareholder value. I believe strongly in the plant-based food sector and the approach VERY GOOD has started with. I believe we have a good shot at being the category thought leader.”
Management Changes
On April 25, 2022, VERY GOOD announced the appointment of a new Interim Chief Executive Officer and director, Matthew Hall. Matthew was a 31-year global senior executive with Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage manufacturer. The Company further announced accepting the resignation of Ms. Ana Silva, both from the Board of Directors and her position as President, Interim Chief Financial Officer, and Interim Corporate secretary.
On April 14, 2022, VERY GOOD announced the appointment of three of its functional leaders to executive positions within the Company.
| • | | Jordan Rogers, formerly the head of Canadian retail sales, who joined VERY GOOD as part of its acquisition of the Lloyd-James Marketing Group Inc., was appointed as the Company’s Chief Commercial Officer. |
| • | | Kevin Callaghan, previously head of US retail sales, was appointed as Vice President of Sales –North America. |
| • | | Parimal Rana, formerly Director of Food Safety & Regulatory and Interim Director of Supply Chain, assumed the role of Vice President of Operations. |
3 | Management defines adjusted EBITDA as net loss before finance expense, tax, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, and other non-cash items, including impairment of goodwill, loss on disposal of equipment, loss on termination of leases, and shares, units and warrants issued for services. |