• Second quarter of 2022 net sales increased 11% versus the second quarter of 2021, with physical case volume growth of 1.0%^(a).
• Gross profit in the second quarter of 2022 was $551 million, an increase of 11% versus the second quarter of 2021. Gross margin remained flat at 34.5%, while adjusted^(b) gross margin improved by 90 basis points to 35.4%.
• Income from operations for the first half of 2022 was $278 million, up $63 million, or 29%, versus the first half of 2021.

Key Results

Second Quarter and First Half 2022 Review

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coca‑Cola Consolidated, Inc. (NASDAQ: COKE) today reported operating results for the second quarter ended July 1, 2022 and the first half of fiscal 2022.

“Our strong operating performance this quarter reflects solid execution across all aspects of our business. While supply chain challenges and cost inflation continue to impact our business, our team is successfully executing pricing and packaging strategies that are driving profitable growth,” said J. Frank Harrison, III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “I am thankful for all of our teammates who live out Our Purpose every day as they serve our communities, customers and consumers with excellence.”

Net sales increased 11% to $1.60 billion in the second quarter of 2022, while physical case volume increased 1.0%. The increase in net sales was driven primarily by price increases taken on most of our Sparkling and Still beverages over the last year. Sparkling beverage volume increased 1.8% in the quarter, as consumer demand remained strong, especially for our multi-serve can packages. Sales of Sparkling single-serve products sold in immediate consumption channels also continued to perform well, with volume increasing 1.9% in the quarter. Still beverage volume decreased 0.6% in the quarter, as certain brands within this category were impacted by supply chain issues. We continue to see strong sales momentum in several key brands within the Still category, including Monster, smartwater and BODYARMOR. Net sales increased 11% and physical case volume increased 0.3% in the first half of 2022.

Gross profit in the second quarter of 2022 increased $55.7 million, or 11%, while gross margin remained flat at 34.5%. Adjusted^(b) gross profit in the second quarter of 2022 was $564.4 million, which represented an increase of $69.8 million, or 14%. Adjusted^(b) gross margin was 35.4%, an increase of 90 basis points compared to the second quarter of 2021. The improvement in gross profit resulted from strong price realization and solid volume growth in our Sparkling beverages, which enabled higher gross margins during this period of rising input and production costs. Gross profit in the first half of 2022 increased $114.6 million, or 12%.

“We are pleased with our strong second quarter performance, especially considering the challenging operating environment we faced. While we experienced numerous supply chain challenges during the quarter, our team effectively overcame them to post strong growth in volume, pricing and operating income,” said Dave Katz, President and Chief Operating Officer. “We are making operational and infrastructure investments to alleviate these short-term disruptions, and we believe we will emerge with an even stronger, more flexible manufacturing and distribution network for the long term.”

Selling, delivery and administrative (“SD&A”) expenses in the second quarter of 2022 increased $29.3 million, or 8%. SD&A expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased 80 basis points to 25.3% in the second quarter of 2022. The increase in SD&A expenses related primarily to an increase in labor costs as compared to the second quarter of 2021. Over the last year, we have made compensation adjustments across our workforce to remain competitive in a tight labor market. In addition, SD&A expenses across a number of categories increased during the quarter as a result of the current, high inflationary environment. SD&A expenses in the first half of 2022 increased $51.4 million, or 7%. SD&A expenses as a percentage of net sales in the first half of 2022 decreased 100 basis points to 26.0% as compared to the first half of 2021.

“Consumer demand for our products has remained strong, despite price increases to overcome high commodity and operating cost inflation,” continued Mr. Katz. “We will continue to expand the number of affordable packaging solutions across our brand portfolio as we believe these offerings are a key factor in the continued steady consumer demand for our products. As we take additional pricing in the second half of this year, we will carefully monitor consumer response and remain agile in this evolving operating environment.”

Income from operations in the second quarter of 2022 was $147.3 million, compared to $120.9 million in the second quarter of 2021, an increase of $26.4 million, or 22%. On an adjusted^(b) basis, income from operations in the second quarter of 2022 was $160.1 million, an increase of 33%. For the first half of 2022, income from operations increased $63.2 million to $278.3 million.

Net income in the second quarter of 2022 was $99.6 million, compared to $48.2 million in the second quarter of 2021, an improvement of $51.4 million. Net income increased $91.4 million in the first half of 2022 to $193.0 million as compared to the first half of 2021.

Cash flows provided by operations for the first half of 2022 were $243.5 million, compared to $271.4 million for the first half of 2021. Our strong operating performance, led by our top‑line growth and effective management of operating expenses, drove cash flows from operations during the period. Cash flows from operations were impacted by changes in working capital, which reflect seasonality and the timing of certain cash payments and receipts. We continue to invest in long‑term strategic projects to optimize our supply chain and broaden our brand portfolio.

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 120 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 Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties which we expect will or may occur in the future and may impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “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 (including due to inflation), 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, 2021. 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 may be required by applicable law.

A PDF accompanying this release is available at: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/36af37b9-f964-41f9-a38b-45b46cb2f2d1

Source: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.