Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Reports Fiscal Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (RMCF) reported financial results for fiscal Q3 2025 ended November 30, 2024. Total revenue increased to $7.9 million from $7.7 million year-over-year. The company reported a net loss of $0.8 million, or $(0.11) per share, unchanged from the previous year's loss.

Key developments include securing a three-year $6 million credit agreement, plans for two new stores and a kiosk location across three U.S. markets, and the launch of a new ERP system in January. Gross margin slightly decreased to 10.0% from 10.2% due to higher supply and labor costs. Total costs and expenses increased to $8.6 million from $8.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA improved to $41,000 compared to $(0.3) million in the year-ago period.

Positive

• Revenue increased to $7.9 million from $7.7 million YoY
• Secured new $6 million credit facility
• Adjusted EBITDA improved to $41,000 from $(0.3) million loss
• Expansion plans for two new stores and a kiosk location

Negative

• Net loss of $0.8 million in Q3
• Gross margin declined to 10.0% from 10.2%
• Total costs increased to $8.6 million from $8.5 million
• Higher supply and labor costs affecting margins

Insights

Financial Analyst

The fiscal Q3 2025 results paint a concerning picture for RMCF. The marginal revenue increase to $7.9 million from $7.7 million represents minimal growth, while the gross margin compression to 10.0% from 10.2% indicates ongoing operational challenges. Most worrying is the net loss of $0.8 million ($0.11 per share), matching last year's loss despite higher revenue.

The new $6 million credit facility provides important liquidity but also adds debt burden to an already struggling operation. While the ERP implementation could improve efficiency, the immediate term shows persistent profitability issues with costs outpacing revenue growth. The total costs increase to $8.6 million against $7.9 million revenue creates an unsustainable negative operating margin.

For a company with just $21.3 million market cap, these results suggest fundamental business model challenges that management's initiatives haven't yet addressed effectively. The modest improvement in Adjusted EBITDA to positive $41,000 offers little comfort given the significant operating losses.

Business Operations Analyst

The operational metrics reveal systemic inefficiencies in RMCF's business model. Despite management's focus on "strengthening foundations," the core issues of high supply and labor costs continue to erode margins. The new ERP system implementation, while promising for long-term operational visibility, represents a significant investment at a time when the company is struggling with profitability.

The franchise expansion strategy with two new stores and a kiosk appears modest given the scale needed to achieve meaningful growth. The successful holiday season fulfillment mentioned is a basic operational expectation rather than a strategic achievement. The emphasis on rebuilding the executive team and board additions suggests ongoing organizational instability that needs to be addressed before sustainable operational improvements can be realized.

- Company to Host Conference Call Today at 5:00 p.m. ET -

DURANGO, Colo., Jan. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Inc. (Nasdaq: RMCF) (the “Company”, “we”, or “RMCF”), an international franchisor and producer of premium chocolates and other confectionery products including gourmet caramel apples, is reporting financial and operating results for its fiscal third quarter ended November 30, 2024.

“We continue to make progress in strengthening RMCF’s foundation for long-term success,” said Jeff Geygan, Interim CEO of RMCF. “We have been focused on improving the Company’s liquidity, rebuilding a strong executive team, expanding our franchise network, and returning RMCF to sustainable growth and profitability. While there is more to do, I am pleased to report that we are executing across multiple fronts.

“During the quarter, we secured a three-year $6 million credit agreement to replace our prior facility, invest further in equipment and machinery, and fund growth initiatives. We also made key hires in franchise support and marketing while adding two prominent executives to our Board. Further, in November we announced plans for two new stores and a kiosk location across three U.S. markets.

“After quarter-end, we had a strong holiday season where we effectively fulfilled all franchisee and specialty market demand. And in January, we launched our new ERP system, which is an important investment to enhance operational visibility and decision making across the organization. We believe this new system will drive efficiencies over time, particularly in managing supply and labor costs that affected margins during our fiscal third quarter.”

Geygan added, “Looking ahead to calendar 2025, we are taking decisive action to address inefficiencies in our business and position RMCF for growth and profitability. With a stronger balance sheet, a growing franchise pipeline, and investments in our operating infrastructure, we are laying the groundwork to execute our strategic initiatives with discipline and focus. We believe these efforts will position RMCF to deliver long-term value for our franchisees, customers and shareholders.”

Fiscal Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results vs. Year-Ago Quarter

• Total revenue for the third quarter of 2025 increased to $7.9 million compared to $7.7 million in the year-ago quarter.
• Total product and retail gross profit was essentially flat at $0.7 million for the third quarter of 2025 compared to the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 10.0% for the third quarter of 2025 compared to 10.2% for the year-ago quarter. The decrease in gross margin was primarily driven by higher supply and labor costs.
• Total Costs and Expenses increased to $8.6 million compared to $8.5 million in the year-ago quarter.
• Net loss for the third quarter 2025 was $0.8 million or $(0.11) per share, compared to net loss of $0.8 million or $(0.12) per share in the year-ago quarter.
• Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure defined below) improved to $41,000 compared to $(0.3) million in the year-ago period.
  

Conference Call Information

The Company will conduct a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results. A question-and-answer session will follow management’s opening remarks. The conference call details are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Dial-in registration link: here
Live webcast registration link: here

Please dial into the conference call 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact the Company’s investor relations team at RMCF@elevate-ir.com.

The conference call will also be broadcast live and available for replay in the investor relations section of the Company’s website at https://ir.rmcf.com/.

About Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. is an international franchiser of premium chocolate and confection stores, and a producer of an extensive line of premium chocolates and other confectionery products, including gourmet caramel apples. Headquartered in Durango, Colorado, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is ranked among Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500^® and Franchise Times’ Franchise 400^® for 2024. The Company and its franchisees and licensees operate nearly 260 Rocky Mountain Chocolate stores across the United States, with several international locations. The Company's common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "RMCF."

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company provides investors with certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

This non-GAAP financial measure may have limitations as an analytical tool, and this measure should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of results as reported under GAAP. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA because it believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides additional analytical information on the nature of ongoing operations excluding expenses not expected to recur in future periods, non-cash charges and variations in the effective tax rate among periods. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors because it provides a measure of operating performance and its ability to generate cash that is unaffected by non-cash accounting measures and non-recurring expenses. However, due to these limitations, management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of performance only in conjunction with GAAP measures of performance such as income/loss from continuing operations and net income.

The Company is not providing a reconciliation for future expectations of Adjusted EBITDA due to the volatility of certain required inputs that are not available without unreasonable efforts.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements of our expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are intended to come within the safe harbor protection provided by those sections. These forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. The statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this document may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "will," "intend," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "plan," "estimate," "potential," or similar expressions. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future - including statements expressing general views about future operational performance, financial results and execution of the Company’s strategic plan - are forward-looking statements. Management of the Company believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our Company’s actual results to differ materially from historical experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: inflationary impacts, changes in the confectionery business environment, seasonality, consumer interest in our products, receptiveness of our products internationally, consumer and retail trends, costs and availability of raw materials, competition, the success of our co-branding strategy, the success of international expansion efforts and the effect of government regulations. For a detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements contained herein, please see the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, each filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor Contact

Sean Mansouri, CFA
Elevate IR
720-330-2829
RMCF@elevate-ir.com

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands, except share and per share amounts) (Unaudited)
	November 30, 2024 (unaudited)				February 29, 2024
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,089			$	2,082
Accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses of $383 and $332, respectively		4,100				2,184
Notes receivable, current portion, less current portion of the allowance for credit losses of $2 and $30, respectively		40				489
Refundable income taxes		63				46
Inventories		5,722				4,358
Other		256				443
Total current assets		11,270				9,602
Property and Equipment, Net		8,071				7,758
Other Assets
Notes receivable, less current portion and allowance for credit losses of $28 and $0, respectively		51				695
Goodwill		576				576
Intangible assets, net		215				238
Lease right of use asset		1,352				1,694
Other		99				14
Total other assets		2,293				3,217
Total Assets	$	21,634			$	20,577
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable	$	2,083			$	3,411
Line of credit		-				1,250
Accrued salaries and wages		811				1,833
Gift card liabilities		628				624
Other accrued expenses		183				301
Contract liabilities		140				150
Lease liability		494				503
Total current liabilities		4,339				8,072
Note payable		6,000				-
Lease Liability, Less Current Portion		861				1,191
Contract Liabilities, Less Current Portion		600				678
Total Liabilities		11,800				9,941
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred stock, $.001 par value per share; 250,000 authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding		-				-
Common stock, $.001 par value, 46,000,000 shares authorized, 7,667,264 shares and 6,306,027 shares issued and outstanding, respectively		8				6
Additional paid-in capital		12,319				9,896
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)		(2,493	)			734
Total stockholders' equity		9,834				10,636
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$	21,634			$	20,577

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	November 30,								November 30,
	2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenues
Sales	$	6,719			$	6,421			$	16,916			$	16,453
Franchise and royalty fees		1,174				1,276				3,764				4,238
Total Revenue		7,893				7,697				20,680				20,691
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales		6,044				5,769				15,980				15,159
Franchise costs		616				577				2,109				1,870
Sales and marketing		272				572				840				1,487
General and administrative		1,427				1,333				4,288				4,952
Retail operating		171				186				564				451
Depreciation and amortization, exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense of $211, $188, $598 and $541, respectively, included in cost of sales		63				36				143				99
Total costs and expenses		8,593				8,473				23,924				24,018
Loss from Operations		(700	)			(776	)			(3,244	)			(3,327	)
Other Income (Expense)
Interest expense		(160	)			(11	)			(258	)			(24	)
Interest income		7				30				21				68
Gain on disposal of assets		6				-				254				-
Other income (expense), net		(147	)			19				17				44
Loss Before Income Taxes		(847	)			(757	)			(3,227	)			(3,283	)
Income Tax Provision (Benefit)		-			-					-			-
Loss from Continuing Operations		(847	)			(757	)			(3,227	)			(3,283	)
Discontinued Operations
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	-				-				-				69
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax	-				-				-					635
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	-				-				-				704
Net Loss	$	(847	)		$	(757	)		$	(3,227	)		$	(2,579	)
Basic Loss per Common Share
Loss from continuing operations	$	(0.11	)		$	(0.12	)		$	(0.47	)		$	(0.51	)
Earnings from discontinued operations		-			-					-				0.11
Net loss	$	(0.11	)		$	(0.12	)		$	(0.47	)		$	(0.40	)
Diluted Loss per Common Share
Loss from continuing operations	$	(0.11	)		$	(0.12	)		$	(0.47	)		$	(0.51	)
Earnings from discontinued operations		-			-					-				0.11
Net loss	$	(0.11	)		$	(0.12	)		$	(0.47	)		$	(0.40	)
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding - Basic		7,643,690				6,302,159				6,883,263				6,290,575
Dilutive Effect of Employee Stock Awards		-			-					-			-
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted		7,643,690				6,302,159				6,883,263				6,290,575

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. and Subsidiaries GAAP Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended November 30,
		2024				2023
GAAP Income (Loss) from Operations	$	(700	)		$	(775	)
Depreciation and Amortization		274				223
Stock-based Compensation		237				166
Costs Associated with Non-recurring Expenses		230				91
Adjusted EBITDA	$	41			$	(295	)

FAQ

What was RMCF's revenue in Q3 fiscal 2025?

RMCF reported total revenue of $7.9 million for Q3 fiscal 2025, an increase from $7.7 million in the year-ago quarter.

How much was RMCF's net loss per share in Q3 2025?

RMCF reported a net loss of $(0.11) per share in Q3 2025, compared to $(0.12) per share in the year-ago quarter.

What is the size of RMCF's new credit agreement?

RMCF secured a three-year $6 million credit agreement to replace their prior facility, invest in equipment and machinery, and fund growth initiatives.

How many new locations is RMCF planning to open?

RMCF announced plans for two new stores and a kiosk location across three U.S. markets.

What affected RMCF's gross margins in Q3 2025?

RMCF's gross margins were negatively affected by higher supply and labor costs, decreasing to 10.0% from 10.2% in the year-ago quarter.