Zevia Announces Third Quarter 2021 Results

Achieves Record Net Sales of $39 Million

Zevia PBC (“Zevia” or the “Company”) (NYSE: ZVIA), the company disrupting the liquid refreshment beverage industry with great tasting, zero sugar beverages made with simple, plant-based ingredients, today reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021.

Third Quarter 2021 Highlights

• Net sales grew to $39.0 million, a 22% increase versus Q3 2020
• Year-to-date net sales grew to $104.0 million, a 27% increase versus the same period in 2020
• Unit volume was 3.5 million equivalized cases, up 26% from Q3 2020
• Gross profit increased to $17.0 million, or 44% of net sales
• Net loss was $49.8 million and $0.75 loss per share, including $45.7 million of non-cash equity-based compensation expense
• Adjusted EBITDA loss was $3.5 million⁽¹⁾

“We delivered strong double-digit growth in the third quarter reporting record net sales of $39.0 million, up 22% versus a year ago, up 13% versus the second quarter of 2021 and up 88% on a 2-year growth basis. Moreover, to date, trends have accelerated early in the fourth quarter as we continued gaining momentum across a range of channels, reflecting ongoing increases in household penetration and spending driven by our leading repurchase and loyalty metrics,” said Paddy Spence, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Zevia. “Our team is executing well against core strategic priorities around channel expansion, innovation and supply chain efficiency. The recent launch of our Creamy Root Beer flavor provides a great example as rapid acceptance by consumers is driving higher velocities and distribution gains, and this product is highly incremental, as 31% of our Creamy Root Beer purchasers are new to the Zevia brand. We continue scaling our business aggressively to meet the growing demand for Zevia products and mitigation efforts are helping address cost pressures broadly affecting our industry. We believe our growth algorithm is firmly on track and we are making significant progress on ESG initiatives aimed at improving global public health by reducing sugar intake as well as replacing single-use plastics with sustainable alternatives.”

Third Quarter Results

Net sales increased 22% to $39.0 million in the third quarter of 2021 compared to $32.0 million in the third quarter of 2020. The growth in net sales was primarily attributable to 26% volume growth partially offset by a 4% decrease in average price per case due to higher trade promotions to drive consumer trial and repeat purchase in the third quarter of 2021.

Gross profit improved to $17.0 million for the third quarter, a 14% increase compared to $14.9 million in the prior year period. As a percentage of net sales, gross margin was 44% in the third quarter of 2021 compared to 47% in the third quarter of 2020. The decline in gross margin resulted from higher trade promotions.

Selling and marketing expense was $12.8 million compared to $7.0 million for the third quarter of 2020, primarily due to higher freight volumes and rates and increased marketing spend in 2021 to continue to invest in and grow the Zevia brand.

General and administrative expense was $7.7 million compared to $4.9 million for the third quarter of 2020, primarily due to public company costs and increased employee headcount to support growth.

Equity-based compensation, a non-cash expense, was $45.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to $28,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The increase of $45.7 million was primarily driven by expense recognition associated with restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards and phantom stock awards that generally vest as a result of the expiration of the Initial Public Offering lock-up period in January 2022.

Net loss for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $49.8 million, or $0.75 of diluted loss per share to Zevia’s common class A Common Stockholders.

Adjusted EBITDA loss was $3.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to Adjusted EBITDA income of $3.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the supplementary schedules in this press release for a discussion of how we define and calculate this measure and a reconciliation thereof to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

ESG Metrics and developments

In addition to financial metrics, the Company also reports ESG metrics regarding sugar reduction, plastic packaging reduction, and affordability. In the third quarter, Zevia estimates it eliminated approximately three thousand metric tons of sugar from consumers’ diets by selling its zero sugar, naturally sweetened products and replacing legacy sugary sodas.

The Company also estimates that it eliminated approximately 50 million plastic bottles from littering roadways, waterways, and communities by selling beverages only in aluminum packaging.

Regarding affordability, the Company’s products are priced at an average retail price per ounce of $0.07, representing the 36th percentile within all non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink beverages, excluding dairy and non-dairy protein. Among non-alcoholic beverages offered by companies that are certified B Corps, like Zevia, the Company’s products are at the 36th percentile on price, meaning that 64% of these products are more expensive than Zevia on a price per ounce basis.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flows

As of September 30, 2021, the Company had $78.7 million in cash and no outstanding debt. During the first nine months of fiscal 2021, cash used in operating activities was $13.1 million compared to cash used in operating activities of $2.1 million during the first nine months of 2020. The Company spent $2.3 million on capital expenditures during the first nine months of fiscal 2021 to support its growth initiatives compared to capital expenditures of $0.8 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2020.

Webcast

The Company will host a conference call today at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss this earnings release. Investors and other interested parties may listen to the webcast of the conference call by logging on via the Investor Relations section of Zevia’s website at https://investors.zevia.com/ or directly here. A replay of the webcast will be available for approximately thirty (30) days following the call.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project,” “plan,” or words or phrases with similar meaning. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release relate to, among other things, statements regarding the anticipated growth, distribution and velocity. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the ability to develop and maintain our brand, change in consumer preferences, and other economic, competitive and governmental factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. We do not intend and undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law. Investors are referred to our filings with the SEC for additional information regarding the risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

⁽¹⁾ Adjusted net loss and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. See the supplementary schedules in this press release for a discussion of how we define and calculate these measures and a reconciliation thereof to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

About Zevia

Zevia PBC, a public benefit corporation designated as a “Certified B Corporation,” is focused on addressing the global health challenges resulting from excess sugar consumption by offering a broad portfolio of zero sugar, zero calorie, naturally sweetened beverages. All Zevia beverages are made with a handful of simple, plant-based ingredients, contain no artificial sweeteners, and are Non-GMO Project verified, gluten-free, Kosher, vegan and zero sodium. As of 2020, Zevia is distributed in more than 25,000 retail locations in the U.S. and Canada through a diverse network of major retailers in the food, drug, mass, natural and ecommerce channels.

(ZEVIA-F)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211112005315/en/