• Fourth quarter of 2021 net sales increased 10% versus the fourth quarter of 2020. The fourth quarter of 2020 included four additional selling days compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.  On a comparable^(a) basis, net sales increased 15%^(b).
• Net sales for fiscal year 2021 were $5.6 billion, up 11% versus fiscal year 2020. Fiscal year 2020 included three additional selling days compared to fiscal year 2021.  On an adjusted^(a) basis, net sales for the full year increased 12%.
• Income from operations for fiscal year 2021 was $439 million, up $126 million, or 40%, versus fiscal year 2020.   On an adjusted^(a) basis, income from operations increased $133 million, or 43%.

Key Results

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2021 Review

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (NASDAQ: COKE) today reported operating results for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

“2021 was a tremendous year for our Company as we achieved record revenue, income from operations and operating cash flow.   I am thankful for our teammates who did an outstanding job overcoming numerous supply chain disruptions and working through the many operating challenges brought on by the pandemic,” said J. Frank Harrison, III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.   “These strong results enabled us to continue to make strategic investments in our business like our automated warehouse in Whitestown, Indiana and a new production line in Richmond, Virginia, which adds PET bottle capacity. Our recent purchase of the distribution rights for Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Washington, North Carolina further reflects our long-term commitment to growth across our territory.”

Physical case volume decreased 1.7% in the fourth quarter of 2021. On a comparable^(a) selling day basis, physical case volume increased 3.6%, which included Sparkling and Still category volume growth of 2.8% and 5.5%, respectively.   The strong growth in Still beverages was driven primarily by BODYARMOR, smartwater and Monster. Sparkling volume growth related to continued strong demand for multi-serve can packages sold in larger retail stores. Additionally, sales of single-serve products sold in small stores and other immediate consumption channels contributed to growth in our Sparkling category.   Physical case volume increased 2.0% in fiscal year 2021, and rose 3.0% when adjusted for comparable^(a) selling days.

Net sales increased 10% to $1.40 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021, with adjusted^(a) net sales up 15% versus the fourth quarter of 2020.   The increase in net sales was driven by the strong volume growth referenced above and by pricing actions taken during 2021.   Price increases were taken to offset inflation on our major cost inputs, including aluminum, PET resin and transportation costs. Net sales increased 11% to $5.56 billion in fiscal year 2021.

Gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2021 increased $31.0 million, or 7%, while gross margin decreased 100 basis points to 35.1%. Adjusted^(a) gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $496.7 million, which represented an increase of $57.0 million or 13%. The improvement in gross profit was primarily due to the continued strong demand for our products and the pricing actions taken during 2021 to offset cost increases. The decline in gross margin was driven primarily by the increased mix of Still beverages, which generally carry lower gross margins than Sparkling packages. Gross profit in fiscal year 2021 increased $185.3 million, or 11%.

“Our 2021 results demonstrated a strong mix of price realization, volume growth and operating expense management as we navigated a year of rising commodity costs, numerous supply chain disruptions and labor shortages for many front-line positions,” said Dave Katz, President and Chief Operating Officer. “We are managing through this period of historically high cost inflation by increasing unit pricing across our brand portfolio.   As a result, we achieved adjusted^(a) sales growth of 12% for the year. Consumer demand for our products remains extremely strong as we continue to execute local market strategies in close partnership with The Coca-Cola Company and other key brand partners.”

Selling, delivery and administrative (“SD&A”) expenses in the fourth quarter of 2021 increased $37.5 million, or 10%. SD&A expenses as a percentage of net sales increased 10 basis points to 28.9% in the fourth quarter of 2021. The increase in SD&A expenses related primarily to an increase in payroll expenses as we made adjustments to remain competitive in a challenging labor market. SD&A expenses in fiscal year 2021 increased $59.5 million, or 4%. SD&A expenses as a percentage of net sales in fiscal year 2021 decreased 190 basis points to 27.2% as compared to fiscal year 2020.

“We made a series of investments in our teammates throughout 2021 to reward performance and adjust our labor rates to drive recruitment, retention and engagement. This work will continue in 2022, as will our commitment to strategic reinvestment in our operations,” Mr. Katz continued.   “Our recent capital investments have strengthened our supply chain and our $220 million capital plan for 2022 will advance our manufacturing capacity and warehouse capability. We are optimistic about the year ahead and the opportunities it presents for us to grow profitably, while supporting our customers in this volatile, high-cost environment.”

Income from operations in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $87.1 million, compared to $93.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, a decrease of 7%. On an adjusted^(a) basis, income from operations in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $90.8 million, an increase of 8%. For fiscal year 2021, income from operations increased $125.8 million to $439.2 million.

Net income in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $19.1 million, compared to $66.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, a decline of $47.3 million. Net income in the fourth quarter of 2021 was adversely impacted by fair value adjustments to our acquisition related contingent consideration liability, driven primarily by changes in future cash flow projections. Fair value adjustments to this liability are routine and non-cash in nature. Net income increased $17.1 million in fiscal year 2021 to $189.6 million as compared to fiscal year 2020.

Cash flows provided by operations for fiscal year 2021 were $521.8 million, compared to $494.5 million for fiscal year 2020. The Company reduced outstanding indebtedness by $217.0 million during fiscal year 2021.

About Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.

Coca-Cola Consolidated is the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Our Purpose is to honor God in all we do, serve others, pursue excellence and grow profitably. For over 119 years, we have been deeply committed to the consumers, customers and communities we serve and passionate about the broad portfolio of beverages and services we offer. We make, sell and distribute beverages of The Coca-Cola Company and other partner companies in more than 300 brands and flavors across 14 states and the District of Columbia to approximately 60 million consumers.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Coca-Cola Consolidated is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol COKE. More information about the Company is available at www.cokeconsolidated.com. Follow Coca‑Cola Consolidated on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could” and similar expressions are intended to identify those forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s best judgment based on current information, and, although we base these statements on circumstances that we believe to be reasonable when made, there can be no assurance that future events will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking information. As such, the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may vary materially from the projected results and expectations discussed in this news release. Factors that might cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: increased costs, disruption of supply or unavailability or shortages of raw materials, fuel and other supplies; the inability to attract and retain front-line employees in a tight labor market; the reliance on purchased finished products from external sources; changes in public and consumer perception and preferences, including concerns related to product safety and sustainability, artificial ingredients, brand reputation and obesity; the COVID-19 pandemic and other pandemic outbreaks in the future; changes in government regulations related to nonalcoholic beverages, including regulations related to obesity, public health, artificial ingredients and product safety and sustainability; decreases from historic levels of marketing funding support provided to us by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies; material changes in the performance requirements for marketing funding support or our inability to meet such requirements; decreases from historic levels of advertising, marketing and product innovation spending by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies, or advertising campaigns that are negatively perceived by the public; any failure of the several Coca‑Cola system governance entities of which we are a participant to function efficiently or on our best behalf and any failure or delay of ours to receive anticipated benefits from these governance entities; provisions in our beverage distribution and manufacturing agreements with The Coca‑Cola Company that could delay or prevent a change in control of us or a sale of our Coca‑Cola distribution or manufacturing businesses; the concentration of our capital stock ownership; our inability to meet requirements under our beverage distribution and manufacturing agreements; changes in the inputs used to calculate our acquisition related contingent consideration liability; technology failures or cyberattacks on our technology systems or our effective response to technology failures or cyberattacks on our customers’, suppliers’ or other third parties’ technology systems; unfavorable changes in the general economy; changes in our top customer relationships and marketing strategies; lower than expected net pricing of our products resulting from continued and increased customer and competitor consolidations and marketplace competition; the effect of changes in our level of debt, borrowing costs and credit ratings on our access to capital and credit markets, operating flexibility and ability to obtain additional financing to fund future needs; the failure to attract, train and retain qualified employees while controlling labor costs, and other labor issues; the failure to maintain productive relationships with our employees covered by collective bargaining agreements, including failing to renegotiate collective bargaining agreements; changes in accounting standards; our use of estimates and assumptions; changes in tax laws, disagreements with tax authorities or additional tax liabilities; changes in legal contingencies; natural disasters, changing weather patterns and unfavorable weather; and climate change or legislative or regulatory responses to such change. These and other factors are discussed in the Company’s regulatory filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including those in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of this date, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update them, except as required by applicable law.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES^(c) The following tables reconcile reported results (GAAP) to adjusted results (non-GAAP):

Results for the fourth quarter of 2020 include four additional selling days compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.   Results for fiscal year 2020 include three additional selling days compared to fiscal year 2021. For comparison purposes, the estimated impact of the additional selling days in the prior year has been excluded from our comparable^(a) and adjusted^(a) results.

A PDF accompanying this release is available at:
http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/3e255053-9e8f-4131-ad9d-a1211906faa0

Source: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.