In the first
twenty-six
weeks of fiscal 2022, net sales in the contract packaging distribution channel decreased 3.2% in dollars and sales volume increased 3.8% compared to the first
twenty-six
weeks of fiscal 2021. The increase in sales volume occurred for the same reasons cited in the quarterly comparison, which was partially offset by promotional activity by the same customer that did not recur in the current year first quarter.
Gross profit decreased by $0.6 million, or 1.1%, to $52.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2021. Our gross profit margin, as a percentage of net sales, decreased to 20.6% for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 compared to 22.6% for the second quarter of fiscal 2021. The decreases in gross profit and gross profit margin were mainly attributable to manufacturing scheduling inefficiencies due to supply chain issues, and inflationary cost increases including labor, freight and manufacturing supplies, which were partially offset by increased sales volume.
Gross profit was $104.0 million for the first
twenty-six
weeks of fiscal 2022 compared to $92.1 million for the first
twenty-six
weeks of fiscal 2021. Our gross profit margin, as a percentage of sales, increased to 21.7% for the first
twenty-six
weeks of fiscal 2022 compared to 20.8% for the first
twenty-six
weeks of fiscal 2021. The increases in gross profit and gross profit margin in the year to date comparison were primarily attributable to lower commodity acquisition costs for all major tree nuts except cashews and increased sales volume, which were partially offset by the manufacturing inefficiencies and inflationary cost increases cited in the quarterly comparison.
Total operating expenses for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 increased by $9.0 million, or 35.9%, to $34.0 million. Operating expenses increased to 13.4% of net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 compared to 10.7% of net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2021.
Selling expenses for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 were $23.6 million, an increase of $5.9 million, or 33.2%, from the second quarter of fiscal 2021. The increase was driven primarily by a $3.0 million increase in advertising, consumer insight research and related consulting expenses, a $1.9 million increase in freight expense due to higher rates and an increase in sales pounds shipped, a $0.3 million increase in commissions expense and a $0.3 million increase in payroll and payroll-related expenses.
Administrative expenses for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 were $10.4 million compared to $7.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2021. The increase was due to a $2.8 million decrease in the gain on asset disposals, primarily driven by an insurance settlement gain of $2.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 related to the fire that occurred in our Garysburg, North Carolina facility that did not reoccur in the current quarter.
Total operating expenses for the first
twenty-six
weeks of fiscal 2022 increased by $13.0 million, or 28.5%, to $58.4 million. Operating expenses increased to 12.2% of net sales for the first half of fiscal 2022 compared to 10.2% of net sales for the first half of fiscal 2021.
Selling expenses for the first
twenty-six
weeks of fiscal 2022 were $41.3 million, an increase of $11.5 million, or 38.7%, from the amount recorded for the first
twenty-six
weeks of fiscal 2021. The increase was driven primarily by a $5.3 million increase in advertising, consumer insight research and related consulting expenses, a $4.3 million increase in freight expense for the same reasons cited in the quarterly comparison, a $0.8 million increase in payroll and payroll related expenses and a $0.5 million increase in commissions expense.
Administrative expenses for the first
twenty-six
weeks of fiscal 2022 were $19.5 million, an increase of $3.8 million, or 24.2%, compared to the same period of fiscal 2021. The increase was primarily due to a $3.1 million decrease in the gain on asset disposals, mainly resulting from the insurance settlement discussed above combined with losses on current year disposals. A $0.3 million increase in payroll and payroll-related expenses also contributed to the increase.
The $2.3 million gain on sale of facility, net is the result of the sale of our Garysburg, North Carolina facility that occurred in the first quarter of fiscal 2022.