Blue Apron Holdings, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Results
Blue Apron Holdings (NYSE: APRN) reported 4Q21 financial results with a net revenue of $107 million, a 13% increase from 4Q19, but a 7% decline year-over-year. Marketing expenses surged 68% to $21 million as part of a growth strategy funded by a $78 million equity capital raise. Key metrics showed growth in Average Order Value, which rose 10% from 4Q19 to $63.78. However, the net loss widened to $26.4 million compared to $11.9 million in 4Q20. The company anticipates mid-teens revenue growth in FY22, supported by increased marketing investments and customer acquisition efforts.
- Net revenue grew 13% from pre-pandemic 4Q19 levels, reaching $107 million.
- Average Order Value increased 10% from 4Q19 to $63.78, the highest since tracking began in 2015.
- Orders per Customer rose 9% from 4Q19 to 5.0.
- Successful completion of a $78 million equity capital raise to fund growth initiatives.
- Net revenue declined 7% year-over-year due to reduced customer orders.
- Net loss increased to $26.4 million, compared to $11.9 million in 4Q20.
- Cost of goods sold as a percentage of revenue increased 410 basis points year-over-year.
Fourth Quarter Equity Capital Raise Provides Funding to Accelerate Growth Strategy in 2022
Fourth Quarter 2021 Highlights and Outlook
-
Net revenue increased
13% from the pre-pandemic fourth quarter of 2019 (4Q19)(1) to .$107 million -
Key customer engagement metrics performed well, reflecting continued traction of the company’s growth strategy.
-
Average Order Value reached
, up$63.78 10% from 4Q19 and the highest level since the company started tracking the metric in 2015. -
Orders per Customer increased
9% from 4Q19 to 5.0. -
Average Revenue per Customer increased
19% from 4Q19 to .$319
-
Average Order Value reached
-
Marketing expenses rose
68% year-over-year to as the company looks to drive growth in FY2022.$21 million -
Cash and cash equivalents were
following completion of the equity capital raise in 4Q21.$82 million -
The company continued to build upon its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives, including the increase of starting wages to
per hour.$18 - Full year 2022 net revenue is expected to increase to at least the mid-teens percentage range from 2021 as the significant marketing investments made in 4Q21 and 1Q22 start to bear fruit.
(1) The company believes that using the pre-pandemic fourth quarter of 2019 as a benchmark is an appropriate way to evaluate the company’s fourth quarter 2021 performance. The company believes that the patterns and customer behaviors in the fourth quarter of 2021 reflect a higher correlation to more normalized periods, which were last seen in 2019 versus the pandemic-impacted periods of 2020. For a discussion of the company’s performance compared to 2020, see “Fourth Quarter Financial Results” below.
“We are also innovating and executing across the business. By leveraging proceeds from the capital raise in the fourth quarter, we have been moving aggressively to scale our marketing infrastructure, raise brand awareness, and improve targeting efficiency. As a result, marketing spend increased
"On the product innovation front, we are seeing a strong response from customers on new products such as Heat & Eat, partnerships with brands such as Calm and Panasonic, and seasonal and special occasion offerings that can be purchased with or without a
Key Customer Metrics
Key customer metrics in the chart below reflect the company’s product initiatives and targeted marketing investments, as well as, to some degree, the benefit of changes in consumer behavior related to the pandemic in the fourth quarter of 2020, the return of more normal seasonality on the company’s business and the return of more normalized consumer behaviors in the fourth quarter of 2021, and other operating trends.
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Three Months Ended, |
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Orders (in thousands) |
1,678 |
1,760 |
1,879 |
1,622 |
Customers (in thousands) |
336 |
350 |
353 |
351 |
Average Order Value |
|
|
|
|
Orders per Customer |
5.0 |
5.0 |
5.3 |
4.6 |
Average Revenue per Customer |
|
|
|
|
For a description of how
Fourth Quarter 2021 Financial Results
-
Net revenue decreased approximately
7% year-over-year to . The higher revenue in the fourth quarter of 2020 reflected heightened demand due to the various pandemic restrictions that continued to be in effect, to varying levels, across$107.0 million the United States . The decrease in net revenue was primarily due to a decrease in Customers and Orders, and was partially offset by an increase in Average Order Value, which reflects continued advancements in product innovation and variety, as well as the pricing increase that was in effect for all of the fourth quarter. Net revenue declined2% sequentially quarter over quarter, mainly due to typical seasonal trends in the business. -
Cost of goods sold, excluding depreciation and amortization (COGS), as a percentage of net revenue, rose 410 basis points year-over-year from
60.6% to64.7% . The increase was primarily driven by an increase in labor costs due to minimum wage increases for the company’s hourly employees, as well as increased shipping costs driven by fuel surcharges. COGS as a percentage of net revenue improved by 220 basis points sequentially, mainly due to seasonal trends in the business. -
Marketing expenses were
, or$21.0 million 19.6% as a percentage of net revenue, a68% increase from , or$12.5 million 10.8% as a percentage of net revenue, in the fourth quarter of 2020. The significant increase, which was funded with proceeds from the equity capital raise completed during the quarter, was heavily weighted to the last few weeks of December. -
Product, technology, general and administrative (PTG&A) expenses remained flat year-over-year at
. As a percentage of net revenue, PTG&A increased 250 basis points year-over-year from$36.9 million 31.9% to34.4% . -
Other income (expense), net, was
, which was driven by a non-cash fair value adjustment related to the$0.9 million May 2021 amendment to the company’s financing agreement. Since the amendment, the company has been obligated to issue warrants to its lenders on a quarterly basis, which began onJuly 1, 2021 , as long as the debt remains outstanding. -
Net loss was
, and diluted loss per share was$26.4 million , based on 28.5 million weighted-average common shares outstanding, compared with net loss of$0.93 , and diluted loss per share of$11.9 million , in the fourth quarter of 2020 based on 17.8 million weighted-average common shares outstanding.$0.67 -
Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of
, compared with an adjusted EBITDA loss of$17.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.$1.7 million
Full Year 2021 Financial Results
-
Net revenue increased
2% year-over-year to from$470.4 million in 2020, primarily due to improvements in key customer metrics such as Average Order Value and Average Revenue per Customer, which reflect the continued execution of the company’s growth strategy, including through product innovation and variety.$460.6 million -
Net loss was
and diluted loss per share was$88.4 million , based on 22.3 million weighted-average common shares outstanding, compared with net loss of$3.97 and diluted loss per share of$46.2 million , based on 15.1 million weighted-average shares outstanding for full year 2020.$3.06 -
Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of
, compared with a loss of$39.2 million for 2020. The higher loss reflects the company’s accelerated investments in the fourth quarter as it steps up the execution of its growth strategy.$1.0 million
Liquidity and Capital Resources
-
Cash and cash equivalents were
as of$82.2 million December 31, 2021 . -
Cash used in operating activities totaled
for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with cash used of$21.6 million in the fourth quarter of the prior year. Cash used in operating activities totaled$1.3 million in 2021, compared with cash used in operating activities of$49.0 million in the prior year. The increases in operating cash usage in the fourth quarter and for the full year were primarily related to accelerated marketing investments, along with higher wages and shipping expenses.$5.4 million -
Capital expenditures totaled
for the fourth quarter of 2021 , representing a reduction of$1.0 million from the fourth quarter of 2020. Capital expenditures in 2021 totaled$0.2 million , compared with$5.1 million in the prior year.$6.0 million -
Free cash flow for the fourth quarter of 2021 was
, compared with$(22.6) million in the fourth quarter of the prior year. The change was driven by increased operating cash outflow, and was partially offset by slightly reduced capital expenditures. Free cash flow for 2021 totaled$(2.5) million , representing an increase of$(54.0) million from the prior year.$42.7 million -
In the fourth quarter of 2021, the company completed an equity capital raise. On
November 4, 2021 :-
The fully backstopped rights offering and the private placement with
RJB Partners LLC , an affiliate ofJoseph N. Sanberg , an existing stockholder, closed, resulting in of proceeds, net of issuance costs. The total net proceeds of the capital raise, including net proceeds received from the private placement in the third quarter, were$70.3 million .$73.1 million - The company plans to use the net proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes, including to accelerate its growth strategy to drive revenue and customer growth, and expand upon its ESG initiatives.
-
The fully backstopped rights offering and the private placement with
ESG Initiatives
-
The company remains on pace to meet its goal of being carbon neutral by
March 31, 2022 . The company expects that this will initially be accomplished through the purchase of carbon offsets based on its initial estimated carbon footprint. -
In the fourth quarter, the company implemented a wage increase to a minimum of
per hour for all hourly employees. The company views its employees as a vital asset, and believes that investing in the workforce will help improve employee morale, and reduce hiring costs and turnover over the longer term.$18 - The company continues to work towards its previously announced racial and gender Board diversity goals following its 2022 annual stockholders meeting.
Full Year 2022 Outlook
The outlook for certain financial metrics below and elsewhere in this press release, reflect assumptions regarding the company’s business, including the anticipated consistent benefit to the company’s business from the execution and acceleration of the company’s strategic growth initiatives, and including the impact of the planned use of proceeds from the recent equity capital raise to increase investments in marketing and technology initiatives and infrastructure, as well as continued operational improvements. The following guidance also assumes that the company will not experience any unforeseen significant disruptions in its fulfillment operations or supply chain.
The company expects:
- Marketing expenditures to continue to ramp up through 2022 to support higher levels of expected top line revenue growth for the full year. Promotional spending for customer acquisition is expected to accelerate, and be at higher levels than in the past three years. Total marketing spend for full year 2022 is expected to be around double what was spent in the full year 2019.
- Top line revenue growth to be in at least the mid-teens percentage range compared with full year 2021, and more than 20 percentage points higher than the pre-pandemic full year 2019. Based on the current investments in marketing, the company expects to return to positive year-over-year revenue growth starting in the second quarter of 2022 and for the rest of 2022.
Conference Call and Webcast
About
Blue Apron’s vision is Better Living Through Better Food™. Launched in 2012,
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements concerning
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
This press release includes non-GAAP financial measures, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, that are not prepared in accordance with, nor an alternative to, financial measures prepared in accordance with
The company defines adjusted EBITDA as net earnings (loss) before interest income (expense), net, other operating expense, gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, other income (expense) net, benefit (provision) for income taxes and depreciation and amortization, adjusted to eliminate share-based compensation expense. The company presents adjusted EBITDA because it is a key measure used by the company’s management and board of directors to understand and evaluate the company’s operating performance, generate future operating plans and make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital. In particular, the company believes that the exclusion of certain items in calculating adjusted EBITDA can produce a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of the company’s business. Further,
There are a number of limitations related to the use of adjusted EBITDA rather than net income (loss), which is the most directly comparable GAAP equivalent. Some of these limitations are:
- adjusted EBITDA excludes share-based compensation expense, as share-based compensation expense has recently been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense for the company’s business and an important part of its compensation strategy;
- adjusted EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization expense and, although these are non-cash expenses, the assets being depreciated may have to be replaced in the future;
- adjusted EBITDA excludes other operating expense, as other operating expense represents non-cash impairment charges on long-lived assets, a non-cash gain, net of termination fee, on lease termination, and restructuring costs;
- adjusted EBITDA excludes loss on extinguishment of debt as this represents a non-cash charge;
- adjusted EBITDA does not reflect other (income) expense net, as this represents changes in the fair value of the liability-classified warrant obligation as of each reporting period;
- adjusted EBITDA does not reflect interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest, which reduces cash available to us;
- adjusted EBITDA does not reflect income tax payments that reduce cash available to us; and
- other companies, including companies in the company’s industry, may calculate adjusted EBITDA differently, which reduces its usefulness as a comparative measure.
The company defines free cash flow as net cash from (used in) operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. The company presents free cash flow because it is used by the company’s management and board of directors as an indicator of the amount of cash the company generates or uses and to evaluate the company’s ability to satisfy current and future obligations and to fund future business opportunities. Accordingly,
There are a number of limitations related to the use of free cash flow rather than net cash from (used in) operating activities, which is the most directly comparable GAAP equivalent. Some of these limitations are:
- free cash flow is not a measure of cash available for discretionary expenditures since the company has certain non-discretionary obligations such as debt repayments or capital lease obligations that are not deducted from the measure; and
- other companies, including companies in the company’s industry, may calculate free cash flow differently, which reduces its usefulness as a comparative measure.
Because of these limitations, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow should be considered together with other financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable measures calculated in accordance with GAAP is set forth below under the heading “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
Use of Key Customer Metrics
This press release includes various key customer metrics that the company uses to evaluate our business and operations, measure its performance, identify trends affecting its business, project its future performance, and make strategic decisions. You should read these metrics in conjunction with the company’s financial statements. The company defines and determines its key customer metrics as follows:
Orders
The company defines Orders as the number of paid orders by Customers across the company’s meal, wine and market products sold on its e-commerce platforms in any reporting period, inclusive of orders that may have eventually been refunded or credited to customers.
Customers
The company determines its number of Customers by counting the total number of individual customers who have paid for at least one Order from
Average Order Value
The company defines Average Order Value as the company’s net revenue from its meal, wine and market products sold on its e-commerce platforms in a given reporting period divided by the number of Orders in that period.
Orders per Customer
The company defines Orders per Customer as the number of Orders in a given reporting period divided by the number of Customers in that period.
Average Revenue per Customer
The company defines Average Revenue per Customer as the company’s net revenue from its meal, wine and market products sold on the company’s e-commerce platforms in a given reporting period divided by the number of Customers in that period.
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ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT ASSETS: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
82,160 |
|
$ |
44,122 |
Accounts receivable, net |
|
|
234 |
|
|
116 |
Inventories, net |
|
|
24,989 |
|
|
18,185 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
12,249 |
|
|
23,651 |
Total current assets |
|
|
119,632 |
|
|
86,074 |
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
108,355 |
|
|
125,208 |
Other noncurrent assets |
|
|
3,719 |
|
|
4,053 |
TOTAL ASSETS |
|
$ |
231,706 |
|
$ |
215,335 |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT LIABILITIES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
27,962 |
|
$ |
23,691 |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
31,951 |
|
|
41,632 |
Current portion of long-term debt |
|
|
3,500 |
|
|
3,500 |
Deferred revenue |
|
|
7,958 |
|
|
6,269 |
Warrant obligation |
|
|
8,001 |
|
|
— |
Total current liabilities |
|
|
79,372 |
|
|
75,092 |
Long-term debt |
|
|
25,886 |
|
|
28,747 |
Facility financing obligation |
|
|
35,886 |
|
|
35,957 |
Other noncurrent liabilities |
|
|
10,509 |
|
|
11,564 |
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
|
|
151,653 |
|
|
151,360 |
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
|
80,053 |
|
|
63,975 |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
$ |
231,706 |
|
$ |
215,335 |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||
Net revenue |
|
$ |
107,007 |
|
$ |
115,458 |
|
$ |
470,377 |
|
$ |
460,608 |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold, excluding depreciation and amortization |
|
|
69,189 |
|
|
69,919 |
|
|
301,763 |
|
|
282,924 |
Marketing |
|
|
20,978 |
|
|
12,479 |
|
|
72,086 |
|
|
49,934 |
Product, technology, general, and administrative |
|
|
36,852 |
|
|
36,847 |
|
|
145,442 |
|
|
137,244 |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
5,464 |
|
|
5,704 |
|
|
22,203 |
|
|
24,503 |
Other operating expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
4,567 |
Total operating expenses |
|
|
132,483 |
|
|
124,949 |
|
|
541,494 |
|
|
499,172 |
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
(25,476) |
|
|
(9,491) |
|
|
(71,117) |
|
|
(38,564) |
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(4,089) |
|
|
— |
Interest income (expense), net |
|
|
(1,828) |
|
|
(2,370) |
|
|
(8,131) |
|
|
(7,548) |
Other income (expense), net |
|
|
863 |
|
|
— |
|
|
(5,021) |
|
|
— |
Income (loss) before income taxes |
|
|
(26,441) |
|
|
(11,861) |
|
|
(88,358) |
|
|
(46,112) |
Benefit (provision) for income taxes |
|
|
4 |
|
|
— |
|
|
(23) |
|
|
(42) |
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
(26,437) |
|
$ |
(11,861) |
|
$ |
(88,381) |
|
$ |
(46,154) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) per share – basic |
|
$ |
(0.93) |
|
$ |
(0.67) |
|
$ |
(3.97) |
|
$ |
(3.06) |
Net income (loss) per share – diluted |
|
$ |
(0.93) |
|
$ |
(0.67) |
|
$ |
(3.97) |
|
$ |
(3.06) |
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic |
|
|
28,501,623 |
|
|
17,755,643 |
|
|
22,289,803 |
|
|
15,098,783 |
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted |
|
|
28,501,623 |
|
|
17,755,643 |
|
|
22,289,803 |
|
|
15,098,783 |
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|||||
|
|||||
|
Year Ended
|
||||
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
$ |
(88,381) |
|
$ |
(46,154) |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash from (used in) operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment |
|
22,203 |
|
|
24,503 |
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment |
|
(987) |
|
|
17 |
Loss (gain) on build-to-suit accounting derecognition |
|
— |
|
|
(4,936) |
Loss on impairment |
|
— |
|
|
7,585 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
|
4,089 |
|
|
— |
Change in fair value of warrant obligation |
|
5,021 |
|
|
— |
Changes in reserves and allowances |
|
(254) |
|
|
(807) |
Share-based compensation |
|
9,699 |
|
|
8,457 |
Non-cash interest expense |
|
1,365 |
|
|
1,452 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities |
|
(1,717) |
|
|
4,511 |
Net cash from (used in) operating activities |
|
(48,962) |
|
|
(5,372) |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment |
|
(5,077) |
|
|
(5,997) |
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment |
|
1,411 |
|
|
220 |
Net cash from (used in) investing activities |
|
(3,666) |
|
|
(5,777) |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of offering costs |
|
21,144 |
|
|
32,867 |
Proceeds from the Salzberg Private Placement, net of issuance costs |
|
2,799 |
|
|
— |
Proceeds from the |
|
70,289 |
|
|
— |
Net proceeds from debt issuance |
|
— |
|
|
34,028 |
Receipt of funds held in escrow |
|
5,000 |
|
|
— |
Release of funds held in escrow |
|
(5,000) |
|
|
— |
Repayments of debt |
|
(3,500) |
|
|
(55,553) |
Payments of debt issuance costs |
|
(214) |
|
|
(1,076) |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options |
|
— |
|
|
487 |
Principal payments on capital lease obligations |
|
(135) |
|
|
(205) |
Net cash from (used in) financing activities |
|
90,383 |
|
|
10,548 |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH |
|
37,755 |
|
|
(601) |
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH — Beginning of period |
|
45,842 |
|
|
46,443 |
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH — End of period |
$ |
83,597 |
|
$ |
45,842 |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
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Three Months Ended |
|
Year Ended |
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
(26,437) |
|
$ |
(27,636) |
|
$ |
(11,861) |
|
$ |
(88,381) |
|
$ |
(46,154) |
Share-based compensation |
|
|
2,068 |
|
|
2,166 |
|
|
2,119 |
|
|
9,699 |
|
|
8,457 |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
5,464 |
|
|
5,507 |
|
|
5,704 |
|
|
22,203 |
|
|
24,503 |
Other operating expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
4,567 |
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
4,089 |
|
|
— |
Interest (income) expense, net |
|
|
1,828 |
|
|
1,864 |
|
|
2,370 |
|
|
8,131 |
|
|
7,548 |
Other (income) expense, net |
|
|
(863) |
|
|
6,432 |
|
|
— |
|
|
5,021 |
|
|
— |
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |
|
|
(4) |
|
|
1 |
|
|
— |
|
|
23 |
|
|
42 |
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
(17,944) |
|
$ |
(11,666) |
|
$ |
(1,668) |
|
$ |
(39,215) |
|
$ |
(1,037) |
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||
Reconciliation of net cash from (used in) operating activities to free cash flow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash from (used in) operating activities |
|
$ |
(21,566) |
|
$ |
(1,320) |
|
$ |
(48,962) |
|
$ |
(5,372) |
Purchases of property and equipment |
|
|
(993) |
|
|
(1,220) |
|
|
(5,077) |
|
|
(5,997) |
Free cash flow |
|
$ |
(22,559) |
|
$ |
(2,540) |
|
$ |
(54,039) |
|
$ |
(11,369) |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220209006212/en/
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Investor Contact
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