First Quarter Results
Net Sales
Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2023 increased 11.6% to $252.6 million due to a 9.6% increase in the weighted average sales price per pound and a 1.8% increase in sales volume, which is defined as pounds sold to customers. The increase in the weighted average selling price mainly resulted from higher commodity acquisition costs for all major tree nuts and peanuts.
Sales Volume
Consumer Distribution Channel (0.6)%
The sales volume decrease was primarily driven by the lost distribution with a private brand grocery customer that occurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. This decrease was substantially offset by increased distribution and a new product offering at a mass merchandising retailer.
The sales volume increase was mainly attributable to a 20.0% increase in the sales volume of Fisher recipe nuts, which was due to increased distribution at a mass merchandising retailer and at two grocery store customers. Additionally, sales volume for Orchard Valley Harvest increased 15.7% from increased distribution at a major customer in the non-food sector, as this retailer continues to recover from COVID-19 restrictions, and increased distribution at an existing customer in the club channel.
Commercial Ingredients Distribution Channel + 2.4%
The sales volume increase was primarily due to a 15.0% increase in sales volume to foodservice customers related to new distribution at existing customers and the overall continued recovery in the restaurant industry from the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions.
Contract Packaging Distribution Channel + 19.3%
The sales volume increase was due to timing of promotional activity by a major customer and business with a new customer.
Gross Profit
Gross profit margin decreased to 20.0% of net sales from 22.9% of net sales in the prior comparable quarter, primarily due to higher acquisition costs for all major tree nuts and peanuts and other inflationary cost increases, including labor and manufacturing supplies. Gross profit decreased $1.2 million in the quarterly comparison, driven by the reasons noted above, which were substantially offset by an increase in the weighted average selling price per pound and increased sales volume.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses increased $3.8 million in the quarterly comparison due to a non-recurring gain of approximately $2.3 million from the sale of the Garysburg, North Carolina facility, which occurred in the first quarter of fiscal 2022. In addition, an increase in base and incentive compensation, which was partially offset by lower freight expense, contributed to the overall increase. Total operating expenses, as a percentage of net sales, increased to 11.2% from 10.8% in the prior comparable quarter due to the reasons noted above, which were mainly offset by a higher net sales base.
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