UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 2, 1998
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 000-24124
FRESH AMERICA CORP.
6600 LBJ FREEWAY, SUITE 180
DALLAS, TX 75240
(972)774-0575
INCORPORATED IN:
TEXAS IRS EMPLOYER
IDENTIFICATION NO.: 76-0281274
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act::
NONE
NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED
Nasdaq Stock Market
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
TITLE OF EACH CLASS
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(D) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the proceeding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained to the best
of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
form 10-K. [ ]
Based on the closing price reported on the Nasdaq National Market on March 9,
1998, the aggregate market value of common stock held by nonaffiliates of the
registrant was approximately $97 million.
The number of common shares outstanding of the registrant was 4,771,420
as of March 9, 1998.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCES:
Proxy statement for 1998 annual meeting of shareholders tentatively scheduled
for June 18, 1998. Part III
<PAGE>
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
GENERAL
Fresh America Corp. ("Fresh America" or the "Company") is a provider of
integrated food distribution management services for fresh produce and other
refrigerated perishable products. These services include regional/centralized
purchasing; warehousing; distribution; logistics; systems; and customer support.
The Company serves over 2,000 customers and operates in 43 states and Canada
through twenty-two distribution and processing facilities located in Texas,
Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada,
California and Ontario, Canada. Throughout its history, the Company has
developed the expertise, infrastructure and systems to offer both buyers and
sellers of fresh produce a broad menu of services. Because of its perishable
nature, fresh produce presents challenges in procurement and distribution and is
generally handled by specialized distributors.
The Company was founded in 1989 and commenced operations by delivering
produce to one Sam's Club ("Sam's"), a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
("Wal-Mart"). The success of the initial venture in Houston, Texas allowed the
Company to rapidly expand its relationship with Sam's. From 1989 to 1994, the
Company increased its service to 190 Sam's units, primarily in the northeast,
southeast and southwest United States. Initially, Fresh America maintained
ownership of the fixtures in each Sam's, and provided Fresh America employees to
physically control the inventory in each store. In late 1995, the Sam's contract
was restructured to a more traditional supplier arrangement with Fresh America
providing procurement, warehousing and distribution of fresh produce and other
perishable products to Sam's. As of January 2, 1998, the Company serviced 342
Sam's under a five-year exclusive agreement which expires in November 2000. Over
the past two years, Fresh America has grown significantly through twelve
acquisitions and development of distribution and outsourcing programs with
several new customers.
STRATEGY
The Company is focused on strategically leveraging its infrastructure and cash
flow associated with its existing businesses in order to diversify and broaden
its customer base, geographic coverage, market penetration and service offering.
Embedded in this strategy is the Company's continued pursuit of strategic
acquisitions. In order to meet these objectives, management has developed a
number of important strategies considered key to the success of the business:
(i) adhere to its proven operating model; (ii) pursue selected acquisitions and
internal growth opportunities; (iii) diversify its customer base, service
offerings and geographic locations; (iv) maintain and enhance customer
relationships; (v) pursue new opportunities; and (vi) remain a high quality,
high value provider of food distribution management services.
Over the past two and half years, the Company has executed a growth
strategy driven by acquisition and internal expansion. The Company intends to
continue to seek acquisition targets, as well as expand its existing operations
in various locations. Fresh America seeks acquisitions and alliances that offer
synergy with its existing operations, maximize utilization of its distribution
network and capabilities, and represent both efficient use of its capital and
profitable growth potential. The diversification of its business base is
embedded into the benefits associated with such expansion. Further, Fresh
America believes there will continue to be numerous acquisition opportunities
for several reasons including acquisition targets being subject to (i)
generational turnover, (ii) lack of sufficient capital to grow and invest in
systems and facilities and (iii) insufficient buying power to receive
competitive prices from suppliers.
ACQUISITIONS
Since late 1995, the Company has completed twelve acquisitions. The
table below sets forth a schedule of the Company's acquisitions:
DATE COMPANY LOCATION SERVICES*
---- ------- -------- ---------
September 1995 Lone Star Produce, Inc. Austin, TX 1
November 1996 Produce Plus, Inc. Houston, TX 1
2
<PAGE>
(ACQUISITIONS CONTINUED)
DATE COMPANY LOCATION SERVICES*
---- ------- -------- ---------
January 1997 Chef's Produce Team Los Angeles, CA 1
March 1997 One More Tomato, Inc. Houston, TX 3
May 1997 Pittman Produce of Orlando,
Inc. Orlando, FL 1
August 1997 C. Kalil Fruit & Vegetable,
Inc. Houston, TX 1,2,3
September 1997 Bano Quality Produce, Inc. Baton Rouge, LA 1,3
December 1997 Premier Produce, Inc. San Antonio, TX 1
December 1997 Tomahawk Produce, Inc. Atlanta, GA 1,2,3
January 1998 Hereford Haven, Inc.
d/b/a Martin Bros. Dallas, TX 2,3
February 1998 Francisco Distributing Co. Norwalk, CA 2
March 1998 Ontario Tree Fruits Ltd.
and Affiliates Toronto, Ontario 2
*Services:
1. Specialty Food Service; 2. Retail/Wholesale; 3. Value-Added.
On February 2, 1998, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of
Francisco Distributing Company ("Francisco"), a food marketing, distribution and
repackaging company headquartered in Norwalk, California. Francisco repacks
produce under its own brand names as well as national labels and sells to
grocery chains, produce brokers and wholesalers on a nationwide basis.
On March 4, 1998, the Company acquired all of the capital stock of Ontario Tree
Fruits Ltd. and Affiliates ("OTF"), a produce distribution company based in
Toronto, Ontario. OTF imports and distributes fresh produce to large retail
chains and hundreds of independent grocers and wholesalers in Canada and the
Northeastern United States.
For more information, see Notes 3 and 12 to the accompanying
consolidated financial statements.
SERVICES
The Company organizes itself by four primary service areas: program
distribution; specialty food service; retail accounts; and value-added. Within
each area, the Company provides a broad array of services, which may include
regional/centralized purchasing; warehousing; distribution; logistics; systems;
and customer support. Below is a description of each of the Company's four
primary service areas.
PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION. As part of its integrated distribution service
offering, Fresh America seeks to offer an array of outsourcing services. These
services allow customers, such as Sam's Club, Alliant Food Service ("Alliant"),
Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. ("Dole"), and Fast Food Merchandiser's, Inc.
("FFM"), to outsource certain aspects of their fresh produce distribution
function to Fresh America primarily for the purpose of eliminating the
infrastructure required to perform those activities.
In its program distribution business, the Company is typically
compensated on a fee for service or a pre-determined margin basis. For example,
with respect to the Sam's Club program, the Company coordinates the purchase,
transportation and consolidation of produce based on the requirements of each
Sam's location. Fresh America purchases the produce and coordinates the shipment
to one of its six distribution centers where it is combined with other produce
and shipped to the Sam's location by the Company's trucks or third-party
carriers. For its services, the Company earns a pre-determined margin. With
respect to Alliant, the Company coordinates the shipment directly to an Alliant
facility and earns a fee per case.
SPECIALTY FOOD SERVICE. Over the past two and a half years, the Company
has placed major emphasis on growth in specialty food service, which produces
higher gross margins. Food service customers include restaurants, hotels,
schools, hospitals and other institutions. Produce is purchased by the Company
and shipped to a number of customers. Distribution of produce to food service
accounts generally requires a higher level of service, entailing as many as six
deliveries a week.
3
<PAGE>
RETAIL/WHOLESALE. The Company sells produce and provides distribution
services to national and regional retail accounts which include supermarkets,
independent grocers and other purchasers of fresh produce and other food
products. Fresh America provides a variety of services, which include procuring,
repacking, warehousing and distributing of fresh produce for these customers.
Produce is generally distributed to central warehouses or directly to grocery
store locations.
VALUE-ADDED CAPABILITIES. The Company performs certain value-added
functions for customers, including produce ripening and repacking activities,
the assembly and preparation of fruit baskets and party trays of pre-cut
vegetables and the processing and packing of various produce items. In early
1997, the Company established its value-added capabilities through the purchase
of a processing facility in Richmond, Indiana and the acquisition of One More
Tomato, Inc. ("OMT") in Houston, Texas. The Richmond facility primarily
processes and packages fresh vegetables. The facility also employs ripening,
sorting and packing equipment for tomatoes. OMT ripens, sorts and repackages
tomatoes. Recently, the Company added value-added operations in Dallas, Texas
with the purchase of Hereford Haven, Inc. d/b/a Martin Bros. ("Martin") and in
Atlanta, Georgia with the purchase of Tomahawk Produce, Inc. ("Tomahawk").
PRODUCTS
The Company provides and procures approximately 500 items in several
product categories, including fresh produce, refrigerated pre-packed produce,
and processed foods. Fresh produce includes staple items such as apples, lemons,
lettuce, bananas, oranges, grapefruit, onions, tomatoes, potatoes and garlic,
and seasonal items such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, grapes, peaches,
plums, avocados and watermelons. Refrigerated pre-packed produce includes
chopped lettuce and pre-sliced fruits and vegetables, including party trays of
fresh, pre-cut vegetables. Processed foods include prepackaged salads, prepared
salads and a limited selection of salad dressings. The Company also provides
certain specialty types of produce. For example, Francisco ships and repackages
mangos, peppers and honey dew melons in the United States, while OTF imports
various specialty items such as chestnuts and clementines.
OPERATIONS
WAREHOUSE AND DISTRIBUTION. Fresh America conducts its operations out of
twenty-two operating facilities. Six of these facilities are distribution
centers that primarily serve Sam's Club and are located in Dallas and Houston,
Texas; Atlanta ,Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Wilkes-Barre,
Pennsylvania. The other operating facilities are located in Texas, California,
Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, Indiana and Ontario, Canada and
primarily serve the customers of the acquired operations discussed previously.
In addition, the Company maintains executive offices in Dallas, Texas where its
senior management is based and an administrative and accounting office in
Houston, Texas.
Each distribution center employs between 20 and 100 employees, most of
whom are involved in receiving and shipping, as well as driving the Company's
transportation fleet. The distribution centers are designed for receiving, cold
storage, sorting and shipping, and are located to allow the Company to
distribute perishable products by truck to its customers throughout the
respective regional geographical area. Fresh America has over one million square
feet of warehousing and processing space.
Fresh America's products are delivered from its distribution centers to
customers utilizing Fresh America's fleet of leased and owned tractors,
refrigerated trailers and refrigerated trucks, as well as third party trucking
companies.
PURCHASING. Fresh America employs purchasing agents in most of its
operating locations who purchase produce directly from growers and shippers and
cooperatives representing growers.
The Company selects its suppliers carefully and regularly monitors their
ability to provide quality products at competitive prices. As a result of its
substantial volume of purchases, the Company is able to obtain fresh produce of
premium size, quality and appearance at very competitive costs. In many cases,
the Company purchases produce only from selected warehouses within a supplier's
system, based on management's assessment of the quality provided by the
particular warehouses. Produce is usually acquired for delivery within four
days, and the Company generally does not operate under contractual supply
agreements for its produce. Although purchases by Fresh America frequently
constitute a significant portion of a particular supplier's sales, no single
supplier accounts for more than ten percent of Fresh America's costs of goods
sold. Management believes that all of the items stocked in its inventory are
available from numerous suppliers at competitive prices.
4
<PAGE>
In addition, the Company has a central buying department located in
Dallas to handle the particular requirements of much of its program business, to
purchase certain staple items common to all business units and to enhance its
buying power.
QUALITY CONTROL. The Company focuses on quality and freshness at each
step of the receipt, processing and distribution process. Because the products
delivered by the Company are perishable, proper handling, including maintenance
of constant temperature and humidity, is critical to the control of product
spoilage. Equally important is the Company's ability to accurately order the
correct quantity of each product to meet the demands of its customers. Although
the nature of the Company's business is such that some amount of its inventory
will be lost through spoilage, management attempts to minimize this expense.
Produce is transported to and from the Company's operating locations in
refrigerated, temperature monitored trucks. When produce is to be received, the
Company's personnel inspect the products to ensure that quality specifications
have been satisfied. Accepted items are immediately stored in product specific,
temperature controlled environments. Purchased product typically spends no more
than three days in the Company's facilities before delivery to a specific
customer.
PERSONNEL. Fresh America refers to its employees as "associates" and
attempts to maintain a team spirit among all of its associates. Management
believes that the Company's relations with its associates are good. Only
Francisco has associates who are represented by a labor union. As of March 9,
1998 the Company employed a total of approximately 1,126 full-time associates
and 32 part-time associates, including approximately 67 corporate associates and
1,091 regional associates.
COMPETITION. The Company operates in highly competitive markets, and its
success will be largely dependent on its ability to provide quality products at
the lowest possible prices. The produce industry is highly fragmented and is
primarily comprised of smaller, family-owned operations serving local and
regional markets. The Company also competes with national food service and
wholesale food distribution companies, some of which have substantially greater
financial resources than the Company.
YEAR 2000. In 1997, the Company developed a plan to implement a new
enterprise-wide management information system, which better meets the Company's
diverse and long-term needs. Implementation of the new system commenced in March
1998 and is planned to be completed by the end of 1999. It is also expected to
ensure that the Company's computer systems and applications will function
properly beyond 1999 in all material respects. The Company believes that it has
allocated adequate resources for this purpose and expects its year 2000 date
conversion program to be successfully completed on a timely basis. There can,
however, be no assurance that this will be the case. The Company has not
separately estimated the expenditures expected to address the Year 2000 issue,
as such expenditures were originally incorporated in the planned expenditures
for the new management information project prior to the widespread recognition
of the Year 2000 issue. The ability of third parties with which the Company
transacts business to adequately address their Year 2000 issues is outside of
the Company's control. There can be no assurance that the failure of the Company
or such third parties to adequately address their respective Year 2000 issues
will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition, cash flows and results of operations.
SAM'S CLUB
The Company's relationship with Sam's is governed by the terms and
conditions of a five year agreement (the "Agreement") which became effective
December 1, 1995 and expires on November 30, 2000. The agreement replaced the
Company's pre-existing license agreement that expired on November 30, 1995.
The Agreement gives Fresh America the exclusive right to distribute
fresh fruit and vegetables, refrigerated pre-packed produce and produce-related
refrigerated processed foods to Sam's Clubs located within the area served by
the Company's six regional distribution centers. Under the Agreement, Sam's Club
takes ownership of the product as it enters the clubs and resells to it Sam's
Club members. Sam's has complete operational authority within the produce
department in each club. Accordingly, Sam's has assumed all costs and
liabilities related to the operation of the departments, including all
merchandising and product shrink responsibilities. Fresh America electronically
invoices Sam's Club based on deliveries to each club and payment is due
electronically from Sam's Club nineteen days after receipt of invoice. Under the
prior license agreement, the Company was responsible for such costs and
maintained ownership of the product until it was sold directly to Sam's Club
members. Thus, the Company bore the merchandising and product shrink risks under
such agreement.
5
<PAGE>
The Agreement may be terminated for cause if the Company commits a
material breach under the Agreement or there are material documented problems
with the distribution of products by the Company (after notice from Sam's and a
30 day opportunity to cure), if the Company loses its permit to operate under
the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, or if the Company becomes bankrupt
or insolvent or fails to pay its suppliers. Further, upon prior notice, Sam's
may terminate the Agreement with respect to no more than 40 clubs per year
within the Company's exclusive territory if a Wal-Mart or Sam's Club
distribution center that is opened to service Wal-Mart Supercenters and/or Sam's
Club elects to distribute produce to such clubs and is capable of doing so in
the ordinary course of its business. During the third, fourth and fifth years of
the term, the limit of 40 clubs per year will apply on a cumulative basis.
Management believes that the Company is in compliance with all of the terms of
the Agreement. The Agreement is generally not assignable by the Company without
the consent of Sam's Club.
In February 1997, Sam's advised the Company that as a result of the
opening of its new Wal-Mart Supercenter Distribution Center in Winterhaven,
Florida, it elected to exercise the existing option under the Agreement to
distribute produce directly with respect to 40 clubs from such new location. The
Company has conducted its operations assuming that Sam's will continue to
withdraw 40 clubs per year for each of the remaining years of the Agreement.
Accordingly, in March 1998, Sam's has begun the expected transfer of an
additional 40 clubs. The lost revenue attributable to such clubs in fiscal 1998
is estimated to be less than 3 percent of the Company's total fiscal 1998
revenues. See Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis - Outlook and
Uncertainties.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
The Company's headquarters and executive offices occupy 8,238 square
feet of leased space in an office building in Dallas, Texas. Its administrative
and accounting office is located within its owned distribution center at Cutten
Road in Houston. As of March 9, 1998, the Company conducts its operations from
the following facilities:
SQUARE EXPIRATION
LOCATION FOOTAGE OWNED/LEASED DATE
-------- ------- ------------ ----
Arlington, TX 105,000 Leased 03/31/01
Austin, TX 10,000 Owned -
Baton Rouge, LA 14,483 Leased 09/26/01
Chicago, IL 145,289 Leased 07/31/07
Cincinnati, OH 47,000 Leased 12/31/05
Dallas, TX - Good Latimer Pkwy 32,000 Leased 01/31/99
Forest Park, GA 10,000 Leased 09/30/99
Houston, TX - Cutten Road 50,000 Owned -
Houston, TX - West Loop 80,496 Leased 04/30/08
Las Vegas, NV 2,000 Leased Monthly
Lawrenceville, GA 64,000 Leased 01/18/02
Los Angeles, CA 13,510 Leased 09/30/02
Milton, Ontario 50,000 Owned -
Norwalk, CA - Blackburn Street 60,000 Leased 11/30/98
Norwalk, CA - Leyva Street 110,000 Leased 5/30/03
Orlando, FL 20,000 Leased 03/31/06
Richmond, IN 37,000 Owned -
Rio Rico, AZ 16,000 Leased Monthly
San Antonio, TX 5,000 Leased 08/01/98
San Diego, CA 2,000 Leased Monthly
San Francisco, CA 13,200 Leased 02/28/03
Toronto, Ontario 23,000 Leased Perpetual
leasehold
Wilkes-Barre, PA 50,000 Leased 11/30/99
Management believes that its existing facilities are adequate for the
Company's present level of operations and are generally capable of
accommodating growth within each existing geographic territory. Expansion into a
new geographic territory would require the Company to open one or more
additional operating facilities.
6
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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Company is party to, from time to time, various claims, disputes,
legal actions and other proceedings involving product liability, contracts,
equal employment opportunity, occupational safety and various other matters. In
the opinion of management, the outcome of any pending matters should not have a
material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
None.
PART III
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS.
The Company's Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Stock Market under
the symbol FRES. As of March 9, 1998 the Company had 72 holders of record for
its common stock. The Company estimates that there were in excess of 1,000
beneficial owners of its common stock as of that date. The high and low sales
prices for the common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market for each quarter of
fiscal 1996 and 1997 are shown below:
COMMON STOCK PRICE RANGE
High Low
------ -----
1996
First Quarter 15 9 1/2
Second Quarter 16 3/8 12 3/4
Third Quarter 21 10 1/2
Fourth Quarter 22 3/4 16
1997
First Quarter 22 1/2 12 3/4
Second Quarter 18 3/4 10 5/8
Third Quarter 21 1/2 16 1/4
Fourth Quarter 27 7/8 17 1/8
The Company has never declared or paid cash dividends on its common
stock. The Company currently intends to retain any earnings to support
operations and to finance expansion, and therefore, does not anticipate paying
cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The payment of cash dividends in the
future will depend upon such factors as the Company's earnings, capital
requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors
deemed relevant by the Board of Directors. In addition, the Company's current
senior credit facility prohibits the payment of cash dividends by the Company.
RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
On December 5, 1997, the Company acquired substantially all of the
business and net operating assets of Premier Produce, Inc. ("Premier"), a
privately owned food service distribution company based in San Antonio, Texas.
Consideration for the net assets received consisted of $115,000 in cash, the
assumption of $92,000 in liabilities and 4,669 shares of Company common stock
valued at $23.56 per share. The Company issued the common stock in reliance on
the exemption provided in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1993, as amended
(the "Securities Act").
On January 2, 1998, the Company acquired all of the capital stock of
privately owned Martin. Martin, based in Dallas, Texas, is a tomato repacker and
provider of other produce distribution services. Consideration for the
acquisition consisted of $500,000 in cash, payoff of $107,000 in notes payable
and 37,500 shares of Company common stock valued at $20.00 per share. The
Company issued the common stock in reliance on the exemption in Section 4(2) of
the Securities Act.
On February 2, 1998, the Company acquired substantially all of the net
operating assets and the business of Francisco for $5,575,000 in cash, 285,437
shares of Company common stock valued at $19.27 per
7
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share and contingent consideration subject to a minimum of $2.5 million based on
the pre-tax and pre-bonus earnings of Francisco for the 1998 and 1999 fiscal
years. Such contingent payments are payable, at the Company's option, in cash or
a combination of cash and common stock. The Company issued the common stock in
reliance on the exemption in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
On March 4, 1998, the Company acquired all of the capital stock of OTF
for 609,713 shares of the Company's common stock valued at $19.07 per share. The
Company issued the common stock in reliance on the exemption in Section 4(2) of
the Securities Act.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA.
The following selected consolidated financial and operating data should
be read in conjunction with Item 7-Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Item 8-Financial Statements
and Supplementary Data contained herein. The statement of operations and balance
sheet data for each of the five fiscal years ended January 2, 1998 are derived
from the audited financial statements of the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR ENDED (1)
---------------------------------------------------------------
JAN. 2, JAN. 3, JAN. 5, JAN.1, JAN.2,
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA (2):
Net sales ........................................ $349,304 $239,177 $124,837 $115,927 $ 89,433
Cost of goods sold ............................... 312,444 215,927 103,118 95,366 73,655
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit ..................................... 36,860 23,250 21,719 20,561 15,778
Selling, general and administrative .............. 29,457 17,254 18,711 17,645 14,361
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating income (loss) .......................... 7,403 5,996 3,008 2,916 1,417
Other income (expense) ........................... 184 361 427 282 (166)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income (loss) before taxes ....................... 7,587 6,357 3,435 3,198 1,251
Provision for income taxes ....................... 2,874 2,314 1,135 1,125 200
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net income (loss) ................................ $ 4,713 $ 4,043 $ 2,300 $ 2,073 $ 1,051
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Earnings per share - basic ....................... $ 1.25 $ 1.11 $ 0.65 $ 0.69 $ 0.47(3)
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Earnings per share - diluted ..................... $ 1.17 $ 1.04 $ 0.63 $ 0.65
======== ======== ======== ========
Pro forma earnings per share - diluted ........... $0.43(3)
========
BALANCE SHEET DATA: .............................. (in thousands)
Working capital (deficit) ........................ $ 13,318 $ 14,171 $ 11,490 $ 10,661 (756)
Property, plant and equipment, net ............... 10,749 5,920 4,795 3,385 2,379
Total assets ..................................... 60,131 35,207 29,832 22,958 9,336
Long-term debt and capital leases,
less current portion ......................... 6,193 547 610 213 1,150
Convertible preferred stock ...................... -- -- -- -- 2,500
Shareholders' equity (deficit) ................... 27,619 21,252 16,497 14,195 (1,700)
</TABLE>
(1) In fiscal years 1993-1994, the Company's fiscal year was a 52 or 53 week
period ending on the first Sunday in January. Beginning with fiscal 1995
the Company's fiscal year is a 52 week or 53 week period ending on the
first Friday in January. Consequently, 1995 is a 52 week and 5 day
period.
(2) As discussed in Item 1 - Business and in Note 3 to the accompanying
financial statements, the Company has made several acquisitions in the
last two years that affect the comparability of information reflected in
the selected financial data.
(3) Due to the significant change in capitalization on and prior to closing
of the Company's initial public offering, historical earnings per share
have not been presented for fiscal 1993. Pro forma earnings per share
for fiscal 1993 have been calculated as if all dilutive securities
(including options and warrants) were converted to common stock (subject
to the use of the treasury stock method) at January 4, 1993. For
purposes of this pro forma presentation, it was assumed that the Common
Stock had a fair value of $9.00 per share, its initial public offering
price.
8
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the
components of the consolidated statements of income as a percentage of net
sales.
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
----------------------------
January 2, January 3, January 5,
1998 1997 1996
------- ------- --------
Net sales .................................... 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Cost of goods sold ........................... 89.4 90.3 82.6
------- ------- --------
Gross profit ................................. 10.6 9.7 17.4
Selling, general and administrative expenses . 8.5 7.2 15.0
------- ------- --------
Operating income ............................. 2.1 2.5 2.4
Other income (expense) ....................... -- 0.2 0.4
------- ------- --------
Income before taxes .......................... 2.1 2.7 2.8
Provision for income taxes ................... 0.8 1.0 1.0
------- ------- --------
Net income ................................... 1.3% 1.7% 1.8%
======= ======= ========
GENERAL
Commencing with fiscal 1995, the Company's fiscal year is a 52 week or
53 week period ending on the first Friday in January. Consequently, fiscal 1995
is a 52 week and five day period ended January 5, 1996 as a result of this
change. The 1996 and 1997 fiscal years are 52 week periods.
As discussed in Item 1 - Business, the Company has acquired Francisco
and OTF in early fiscal 1998 and, accordingly, the following discussion does not
include the results for such operations. See Note 12 to the accompanying
financial statements.
COMPARISON OF FISCAL 1997 TO FISCAL 1996
NET SALES. Net sales increased $110.1 million, or 46.0%, from $239.2
million in fiscal 1996 to $349.3 million in fiscal 1997. The increase was
primarily due to: a) acquisitions made in late 1996 and during 1997 which
represented $48.0 million of the sales increase, b) expansion and increase in
sales of several distribution programs amounting to $37.4 million, and c) a
$20.8 million increase in Sam's revenues between the two comparable periods. As
a percentage of total net sales, Sam's represented of 67.3% in fiscal 1997
compared with 89.7% in fiscal 1996.
COST OF GOODS SOLD. Cost of goods sold increased by $96.5 million, or
44.7%, from $215.9 million in fiscal 1996 to $312.4 million in fiscal 1997,
primarily reflecting the increase in net sales explained above. As a percentage
of net sales, cost of goods sold decreased from 90.3% to 89.4% due primarily to
an increase in revenue from specialty food service and value-added businesses,
which generally have higher gross margins than the margins derived from the
Sam's Club agreement and certain other programs. Revenues from these businesses
were 18.2% of total revenue in fiscal 1997 compared to 5.0% in fiscal 1996.
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. Selling, general and
administrative ("SG&A") expenses increased by $12.2 million or 70.7%, from $17.3
million in fiscal 1996 to $29.5 million in fiscal 1997. As a percentage of net
sales, SG&A expenses increased from 7.2% to 8.5%. The increase is due primarily
to $8.2 million in SG&A expenses related to new businesses, and to a lesser
extent, increased headcount and other costs required to support increased
acquisition and operating activity.
9
<PAGE>
OPERATING INCOME. As a result of the foregoing factors, operating income
increased by $1.4 million from $6.0 million in fiscal 1996 to $7.4 million
fiscal 1997. Operating income, as a percentage of net sales, decreased from 2.5%
in fiscal 1996 to 2.1% in fiscal 1997.
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES. The increase in the effective tax rate from
36.4% in fiscal 1996 to 37.9% in fiscal 1997 is due to 1996 including a benefit
from the elimination of a valuation allowance related to a net operating loss
carryforward.
NET INCOME. As a result of the foregoing factors, net income increased
by $0.7 million from $4.0 million in fiscal 1996 to $4.7 million in fiscal 1997.
As a percentage of net sales, net income decreased from 1.7% in fiscal 1996 to
1.3% in fiscal 1997.
COMPARISON OF FISCAL 1996 TO FISCAL 1995
As discussed in Item 1 - Business, the Agreement with Sam's resulted in
a revised revenue and cost structure for the Company which is not directly
comparable with periods prior to November 1995. The following discussion
identifies the major categories of costs which are affected by the transition to
the current Agreement.
NET SALES. Net sales increased $114.3 million, or 91.6%, from $124.8
million in fiscal 1995 to $239.2 million in fiscal 1996. The increase in net
sales was the result of several factors, including (a) the expansion of the
Company's operating territory under the Agreement, which resulted in the
addition of 184 Sam's clubs within the Company's operating territory subsequent
to November of 1995 (b) the acquisitions of Lone Star Produce and Produce Plus
and (c) the commencement of contracts with Alliant and Dole in January 1996.
These increases were partially offset by the revised revenue structure under the
Agreement and the decrease in the number of operating days in fiscal 1996
compared to fiscal 1995. Under the Agreement, the Company became a wholesale
distributor whereas under the previous agreement with Sam's Club, the Company
was selling at retail to the Sam's Club members. As a consequence, the 97%
increase in the number of Sam's clubs serviced by the Company in fiscal 1996 as
compared to fiscal 1995 was the primary contributor to the increase in revenues.
The acquisitions of Lone Star Produce in September 1995 and Produce Plus in
November of 1996, and additional business opportunities with Alliant Food
service and Dole Fresh Vegetables, increased revenues by approximately $21.2
million from fiscal 1995 compared to fiscal 1996. Partially offsetting these
increases was a decrease in net sales of approximately $3.9 million attributable
to the five less days of operation in fiscal 1996.
COST OF GOODS SOLD. Cost of goods sold increased by $112.8 million, or
109.4% from $103.1 million in fiscal 1995 to $215.9 million in fiscal 1996,
primarily reflecting the increase in net sales and the change in the Company's
cost structure under the Agreement. As a percentage of net sales, cost of goods
sold increased from 82.6% to 90.3%.
As mentioned in Item 1 - Business, under the Agreement, Sam's Club takes
ownership of the product as it enters the clubs and resells the product to Sam's
Club members. Accordingly, Sam's Club has assumed all costs and liabilities
related to the operation of the departments, including all in-club personnel
costs, merchandising and sales costs, customer returns and credits, and product
shrink. Under the prior license agreement, Fresh America was responsible for
such costs and maintained ownership of the product until it was sold directly to
Sam's Club members. The elimination of these costs and related risks to Fresh
America is the principal factor explaining the Company's lower gross profit
margins under the Agreement.
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. Selling, general and
administrative ("SG&A") expenses decreased by $1.5 million or 7.8% from $18.7
million in fiscal 1995 to $17.3 million in fiscal 1996. As a percentage of net
sales, SG&A expenses decreased from 15.0% to 7.2%. The major decline in SG&A
expenses was attributable to salaries and related costs, which decreased $3.5
million, or 26.0% from $13.4 million in fiscal 1995 to $9.9 million in fiscal
1996. The decrease in salaries and related costs was directly related to the
reduction in labor at the club and club management levels attributable to the
Agreement. Under the Agreement, the Company no longer operates the produce
departments in the Sam's Clubs and the Company reduced personnel associated with
these operations in the fourth quarter of 1995. Offsetting these reductions in
SG&A expense was an increase in rent, maintenance and related costs of $1.7
million, or 104.6% from $1.7 million in fiscal 1995 to $3.4 million in fiscal
1996. This increase is primarily attributable to the addition of two new
distribution centers in Chicago and Cincinnati which are operating out of leased
facilities.
10
<PAGE>
OPERATING INCOME. As a result of the foregoing factors, operating income
increased by $3.0 million from $3.0 million in fiscal 1995 to $6.0 million in
fiscal 1996. As a percentage of net sales, operating income increased from 2.4%
in fiscal 1995 to 2.5% in fiscal 1996.
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES. In each of the fiscal years 1995 and 1996,
the provisions for income taxes reflect the full utilization of $193,000 of the
Company's available net operating loss carryforward. At the end of fiscal 1996,
the Company had approximately $677,000 of net operating loss carryforward
available to reduce future income taxes. However, because an "ownership change"
occurred for federal income tax purposes in 1992, the Company may use no more
than $193,000 of its net operating loss carryforwards during fiscal 1996 and
each year in the future until fully utilized.
NET INCOME. As a result of the foregoing factors, net income increased
by $1.7 million from $2.3 million in fiscal 1995 to $4.0 million in fiscal 1996.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash provided by operating activities was $2.2 million for 1997 compared
to $5.6 million in 1996. The difference is primarily due to increased use of
working capital to support the growth in the business.
Cash used in investing activities increased $8.9 million from $2.5
million in 1996 to $11.4 million in 1997. The increase is primarily due to the
purchase of a processing and distribution center in Richmond, Indiana and the
acquisition of other businesses.
Cash provided by financing activities was $5.8 million in 1997 compared
to cash used in financing activities of $635,000 in 1996. At January 2, 1998,
the Company had net borrowings of $5.5 million under its revolving line of
credit, which were used to finance acquisitions and for working capital
purposes. In the corresponding period in 1996, cash of $1.0 million was used to
repay the revolving line of credit.
At January 2, 1998, the Company had working capital of $13.3 million
compared to $14.2 million at January 3, 1997. The decrease is primarily due to
cash used for acquisitions made during 1997. On February 2, 1998, the Company
entered into a new $17 million revolving line of credit and bridge loan bank
facility which can be used for general corporate purposes, including
acquisitions. As of March 9, 1998, there was an outstanding balance of $12.8
million under such facility, of which the $5 million bridge loan is due on
September 30, 1998. See Note 12 to the accompanying financial statements for
further information.
Management believes that the combination of cash generated from
operating activities, availability under its new bank line of credit and the use
of operating leases where appropriate is sufficient to meet its operating
requirements, normal capital expenditure needs and near-term debt service
requirements. The Company intends to continue its expansion activities and will
require additional debt or equity capital to meet such requirements. The Company
believes it has access to the capital markets and can also obtain additional
credit from financial institutions in order to raise the capital necessary to
fund such expansion activities. See "Outlook and Uncertainties" below.
QUARTERLY RESULTS AND SEASONALITY
The Company's business is seasonal, with its greatest quarterly sales
volume occurring in the fourth quarter. A substantial portion of the Company's
produce sales consists of staple items such as apples, oranges, grapefruit,
potatoes and onions, which are strongest during the fall, winter and spring. The
supply and quality of these items declines during the summer, although lost
sales are replaced to some extent by more seasonal products such as peaches,
plums, nectarines, strawberries and melons. Sales of refrigerated, pre-packed
products, such as vegetable trays, are strongest during the fourth quarter
holiday season. Because the Company's results of operations depend significantly
on sales generated during the fourth quarter, any adverse development affecting
the Company's operations during this period, such as the unavailability of high
quality produce, harsh weather conditions, or product costs, could have a
disproportionate impact on the Company's results of operations for the full
year. Management believes the Company's quarterly net sales will continue to be
impacted by a similar pattern of seasonality. See Note 11 to the accompanying
financial statements for certain quarterly information for the Company's two
most recent fiscal years.
OUTLOOK AND UNCERTAINTIES
Certain information in this Annual Report may contain "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. In some cases, forward-looking
11
<PAGE>
statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "may," "will,"
"expects," "plans," "anticipates," "estimates," "potential" or "continue," or
the negative thereof, and other variations thereon or comparable terminology.
Such statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, including the
following risk factors:
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. Management of the
Company has stated its intention to diversify the Company's customer base
through the development of new business opportunities and through selected
acquisitions. The pursuit of such opportunities will require a significant
investment of funds and management attention by the Company. Any such
opportunities will be subject to all of the risks inherent in the establishment
of a new product or service offering, including competition, lack of sufficient
customer demand, unavailability of experienced management and unforeseen
complications, delays and cost increases. The Company may also incur costs in
connection with pursuing new growth opportunities that it cannot recover. There
can be no assurance that the Company will find suitable acquisition candidates
at acceptable prices or succeed in integrating any acquired business into the
Company's existing business or in retaining key customers and management of such
acquired businesses.
ACCESS TO CAPITAL MARKETS. In order to fulfill its intention to
diversify its customer base and make selected acquisitions, the Company will
need to raise additional debt or equity capital funds. There can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to access the debt or equity capital markets or
obtain credit from financial institutions when such a need arises. Changes in
interest rates, market liquidity, stock prices and general market conditions may
all affect the Company's ability to raise funds.
DEPENDENCE ON SAM'S CLUB. Sam's Club is the Company's primary customer
and accounted for approximately 67%, 90% and 98% of the Company's sales for
fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively, and is expected to continue to
decrease as a percentage of total sales. Sam's is not required to purchase any
particular quantity of produce from the Company under the Agreement. Any adverse
development affecting Sam's or any decision by Sam's to close existing clubs,
reduce the number of new clubs that it opens or reduce the number of clubs that
offer fresh produce and related products could have a material adverse effect on
the Company. The Company's current Agreement with Sam's terminates on November
30, 2000, and may be terminated by Sam's prior to such time under certain
circumstances, for example, if the Company commits a material breach under the
Agreement or there are material documented problems that continue unresolved
with the distribution of products by the Company.
The Agreement initially covered 375 Sam's Clubs. As discussed in Item 1
- - Business, Sam's has the right to terminate the Agreement to the extent of 40
Clubs each year, which right was fully exercised by Sam's in 1997. The Company
expects Sam's to also exercise such right as to 40 more Sam's Clubs in 1998 and
realizes that such trend may continue in 1999 and 2000. The Company's growth
strategy is designed in part to reduce the Company's dependence on Sam 's over
the five-year term of the Agreement through strategic acquisitions as well as
the expansion of existing relationships with its other customers. As a result of
the Company's strategy efforts, the percentage of the Company's revenues derived
from Sam's has decreased from 98% at the start of the Agreement to 67% for
fiscal 1997. The Company currently expects revenues from Sam's to constitute not
more than 33% of fiscal 1998 sales on a pro forma basis giving effect to the
acquisitions which have already been completed this year and assuming that an
additional 40 Sam's Clubs are terminated during fiscal 1998. The Company's
objective is for Sam's revenues to constitute no more than 20% of its annualized
revenues by the end of fiscal 1999.
Sam's has no obligation to extend or renew the Agreement or have any
other vendor relationship with the Company after December 1, 2000. The Company
believes that the distribution experience and systems it has developed from its
relationships with Sam's and its other customers, as well as from its
acquisitions, will enable it to successfully diversify its business. However,
there is substantial risk that the Agreement will not be extended or renewed,
and there can be no assurance that the Company's diversification efforts will be
successful. To the extent the Company is not able to successfully generate
additional profitable replacement business from its internal and external
expansion programs by December 1, 2000, the loss of the Sam's business could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's revenues and net income.
VOLATILITY OF PRICES AND QUALITY. Prices of high quality fresh produce
are extremely volatile based on available supply, which can be significantly
affected by factors such as weather, disease and level of agricultural
production. Both sales and profitability could be negatively affected during
periods of exceptionally high, low or volatile prices.
COMPETITION. The Company operates in highly competitive markets, and its
success will be largely dependent on its ability to provide quality products at
the lowest possible prices. The Company competes with food service companies,
produce distribution companies and wholesale food distribution companies, some
of
12
<PAGE>
which have substantially greater financial resources than the Company. There
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully with
current or future competitors.
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL. The future success of the Company will
depend to a significant extent on the efforts and abilities of its senior
management. The loss of the services of one or more of the Company's senior
management personnel could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
SEASONALITY. The Company's business is seasonal, with its highest sales
and net income historically occurring during the fourth quarter. Any adverse
development affecting the Company's operations during this period, such as the
unavailability of high quality produce or harsh weather conditions could have a
disproportionate impact on the Company's results of operations for the full
year.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules
Page
Independent Auditors' Report ........................................ F1
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 2, 1998 and
January 3, 1997 ................................................... F2
Consolidated Statements of Income for fiscal years
ended January 2, 1998, January 3, 1997 and January 5, 1996 ........ F3
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for fiscal
years ended January 2, 1998, January 3, 1997 and January
5, 1996 ........................................................... F4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for fiscal years ended
January 2, 1998, January 3, 1997 and January 5, 1996 .............. F5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements .......................... F6
Financial Statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the
required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements or
related notes.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.
Information relating to the directors and executive officers of the
Company is set forth under the caption "Executive Officers and Directors" in the
Company's definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
tentatively scheduled for June 1 8, 1998 (the "Proxy Statement"). Such
information is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
Information relating to executive compensation is set forth under the
caption "Executive Compensation and Other Information" in the Company's Proxy
Statement. Such information is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.
Information relating to ownership of equity securities of the Company by
certain beneficial owners and management is set forth under the caption
"Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" in the
Company's Proxy Statement. Such information is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
Information relating to certain relationships and related transactions
is set forth under the caption "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions"
in the Company's Proxy Statement. Such information is incorporated herein by
reference.
13
<PAGE>
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORT ON FORM 8-K.
A. Documents filed as a part of this report.
1. Financial Statements
2. Financial Statement Schedules - None.
3. Exhibits - The exhibits listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed
or incorporated by reference as part of this report.
B. Reports on Form 8-K
No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the fourth quarter of 1997, which
ended on January 2, 1998.
14
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- ------ -----------
3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation of Fresh America (Incorporated by
reference exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 [Commission File Number 33-77620]).
3.2 Restated Bylaws of Fresh America Corp. (Incorporated by reference to
exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
[Commission File Number 33-77620]).
*4.1 Specimen of Common Stock Certificate. (Incorporated by reference to
exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
[Commission File Number 33-77620]).
10.1 Fresh America Corp. 1993 Stock Option Award Plan (Incorporated by
reference to exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 [Commission File Number 33-77620]).
10.2 Form of Option Agreement entered into pursuant to the Stock Option Plan
(Incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 [Commission File Number 33-77620]).
10.3 Fresh America Corp. 1996 Stock Option and Award Plan (Incorporated by
reference to exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly
period ended September 27, 1996).
10.4 First Amendment to Fresh America Corp. 1996 Stock Option and Award Plan
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Form S-8
[Commission File Number 333-35019 dated September 5, 1997]).
10.5 Lease between Fresh America Corp. and Gwinnett 316 Associates, dated as
of December 22, 1993 (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.6 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 [Commission File Number
33-77620]).
10.6 Agreement Regarding Tenant Improvements between Fresh America Corp. and
Gwinnett 316 Associates, dated as of December 22, 1993 (Incorporated by
reference to exhibit 10.7 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 [Commission File Number 33-77620]).
10.7 Lease between Fresh America Corp. and The Trustees of the Estate of
James Campbell, dated as of March 17, 1991 (Incorporated by reference to
exhibit 10.8 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
[Commission File Number 33-77620]).
10.8 Industrial Lease Agreement between Fresh America Corp. and Keyco
Distributors, Inc., dated as of December 1, 1992 (Incorporated by
reference to exhibit 10.9 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 [Commission File Number 33-77620]).
10.9 Warranty Deed between Fresh America Corp. and Thomas M. Hubbard dated as
of April 8, 1992 (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.10 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 [Commission File Number
33-77620]).
10.10 Agreement, dated as of August 28, 1995 between Sam's Club, a division of
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Fresh America Corp. (Incorporated by reference
to exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ended September 29, 1995).
10.11 Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 8, 1995, among Lone Star
Produce Acquisition Corp., Fresh America Corp., Lone Star Produce Inc.,
and William P. Boone (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.2 to the
Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September
29, 1995).
10.12 Form of Agreement dated as of April 30, 1995 between Fresh America Corp.
and David I. Sheinfeld, Steve R. Grinstead and Marc K. Rieke
(Incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 29, 1995).
15
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- ------ -----------
10.13 Industrial Lease Agreement between Fresh America Corp. and Industrial
Developments International, Inc., dated as of November 15, 1995
(Incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.14 to the Company's Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended January 5, 1996).
10.14 Industrial Lease Agreement between Fresh America Corp. and Industrial
Developments International, Inc., dated as of December 27, 1995
(Incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.15 to the Company's Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended January 5, 1996).
10.15 Restated Business Loan Agreement between Fresh America Corp. and Bank of
America Texas, N.A. dated February 2, 1998. (Incorporated by reference
to exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Form 8-K dated February 17, 1998).
10.16 Extension and Modification of Lease between the Estate of James Campbell
and Fresh Ame rica Corp. (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.2 to
the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 28, 1996).
10.17 Fresh America Corp. 1996 Stock Option Award Plan (Incorporated by
reference to exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly
period ended September 27, 1996).
10.18 Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 2, 1998, by and among
Francisco Acquisition Corp., Fresh America Corp , Francisco Distributing
Company, LLC, and the owners named therein. (Incorporated by reference
to exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Form 8-K dated February 17, 1998).
21.1 List of Subsidiary Corporations.
23.1 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
27.1 Financial Data Schedule.
27.2 Financial Data Schedule.
27.3 Financial Data Schedule.
* Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii), the Company has not filed as exhibits
instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt where the
total amount of the securities authorized thereunder do not exceed 10%
of the Company's and its subsidiaries' total assets on a consolidated
basis. The Company agrees to furnish a copy of such instruments to the
Commission upon request.
16
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
FRESH AMERICA CORP.
(Registrant)
Date: MARCH 24, 1998 By /s/ DAVID I. SHEINFELD
Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ STEVE R. GRINSTEAD Date: MARCH 24, 1998
Steve R. Grinstead
President, Chief Operating Officer and Director
/s/ THOMAS M. HUBBARD Date: MARCH 24, 1998
Thomas M. Hubbard
Director
/s/ LAWRENCE V. JACKSON Date: MARCH 24, 1998
Lawrence V. Jackson
Director
/s/ SHELDON I. STEIN Date: MARCH 24, 1998
Sheldon I. Stein
Director
/s/ COLON WASHBURN Date: MARCH 24, 1998
Colon Washburn,
Director
/s/ ROBERT C. KIEHNLE Date: MARCH 24, 1998
Robert C. Kiehnle
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
/s/ ROGER S. HUNTINGTON Date: MARCH 24, 1998
Roger S. Huntington
Principal Accounting Officer
17
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Fresh America Corp.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Fresh America
Corp. and subsidiaries as of January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997, and the
related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows
for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 2, 1998. These
consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Fresh America Corp.
and subsidiaries as of January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997, and the results of
their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended January 2, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Dallas, Texas
March 5, 1998
F1
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
JANUARY 2, JANUARY 3,
1998 1997
------- -------
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents ................................ $ 936 $ 4,297
Accounts receivable, net ................................. 33,197 20,951
Inventories .............................................. 3,536 1,940
Prepaid expenses ......................................... 1,309 391
Deferred income taxes .................................... 362 --
------- -------
Total current assets ................................. 39,340 27,579
Property, plant and equipment, net ......................... 10,749 5,920
Notes receivable from shareholders ......................... 166 155
Goodwill, net of amortization of $261 and $53,
respectively ............................................. 9,138 1,021
Deferred income taxes ...................................... -- 149
Other assets ............................................... 738 383
------- -------
$60,131 $35,207
======= =======
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt ........................ $ 1,642 $ 105
Accounts payable ......................................... 22,546 11,598
Accrued salaries and wages ............................... 609 311
Other accrued expenses ................................... 893 1,039
Income taxes payable ..................................... 332 355
------- -------
Total current liabilities ............................ 26,022 13,408
Long-term debt, less current portion ....................... 6,193 547
Deferred income taxes ...................................... 198 --
Other liabilities .......................................... 99 --
------- -------
Total liabilities .................................... 32,512 13,955
------- -------
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock $.01 par value. Authorized 10,000,000
shares; issued 3,874,270 and 3,711,795, respectively ... 39 37
Additional paid-in capital ............................. 16,345 14,693
Retained earnings ...................................... 11,235 6,522
------- -------
Total shareholders' equity ........................... 27,619 21,252
------- -------
Commitments and contingencies .............................. _______ _______
$60,131 $35,207
======= =======
The notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these
statements.
F2
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
-----------------------------------------------------
JANUARY 2, JANUARY 3, JANUARY 5,
1998 1997 1996
--------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales ........................................................ $ 349,304 $ 239,177 $ 124,837
Cost of goods sold ............................................... 312,444 215,927 103,118
--------- --------- ---------
Gross profit ......................................... 36,860 23,250 21,719
--------- --------- ---------
Selling, general and administrative expenses:
Salaries and related costs ................................... 17,581 9,913 13,404
Rent, maintenance and related costs .......................... 5,622 3,384 1,645
Insurance expense ............................................ 1,003 845 1,120
Automobile, travel and related costs ......................... 990 547 728
Communication expense ........................................ 1,026 518 510
Depreciation and amortization ................................ 1,657 1,332 675
Other ........................................................ 1,578 715 620
--------- --------- ---------
29,457 17,254 18,711
--------- --------- ---------
Operating income ...................................... 7,403 5,996 3,008
--------- --------- ---------
Other income (expense):
Interest expense ............................................. (233) (89) (54)
Interest income .............................................. 225 265 454
Other, net ................................................... 192 185 27
--------- --------- ---------
184 361 427
--------- --------- ---------
Income before income taxes ....................................... 7,587 6,357 3,435
Provision for income taxes ....................................... 2,874 2,314 1,135
========= ========= =========
Net income ............................................. $ 4,713 $ 4,043 $ 2,300
========= ========= =========
Earnings per share:
Basic ........................................................ $ 1.25 $ 1.11 $ 0.65
========= ========= =========
Diluted ...................................................... $ 1.17 $ 1.04 $ 0.63
========= ========= =========
</TABLE>
The notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of
these statements.
F3
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(In thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RETAINED TOTAL
ADDITIONAL EARNINGS SHAREHOLDERS'
COMMON PAID-IN (ACCUMULATED EQUITY
STOCK CAPITAL DEFICIT) (DEFICIT)
------- ---------- ------------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balances at January 1, 1995 .................... $35 $13,981 $ 179 $14,195
Exercise of employee stock options ............. -- 2 -- 2
Net income ..................................... -- -- 2,300 2,300
------- ---------- ------------- ---------
Balances at January 5, 1996 .................... 35 13,983 2,479 16,497
Exercise of warrants ........................... 1 -- -- 1
Acquisitions ................................... -- 266 -- 266
Exercise of employee stock options ............. 1 444 -- 445
Net income ..................................... -- -- 4,043 4,043
------- ---------- ------------- ---------
Balances at January 3, 1997 .................... 37 14,693 6,522 21,252
Acquisitions ................................... 1 1,110 -- 1,111
Exercise of employee stock options ............. 1 542 -- 543
Net income ..................................... -- -- 4,713 4,713
------- ---------- ------------- ---------
Balances at January 2, 1998 .................... $39 $16,345 $11,235 $27,619
======= ========== ============= =========
</TABLE>
The notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of
these statements.
F4
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
-------------------------------------
JANUARY 2, JANUARY 3, JANUARY 5,
1998 1997 1996
-------- ------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income ......................................................................... $ 4,713 $ 4,043 $ 2,300
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
(used in) operating activities, excluding the effects of acquisitions:
Depreciation and amortization ................................................ 1,657 1,332 675
Deferred income taxes ........................................................ (15) (149) --
Other ........................................................................ 110 41 90
Change in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable ...................................................... (6,994) (369) (14,707)
Inventories .............................................................. (527) 134 1,268
Prepaid expenses ......................................................... (731) (43) (555)
Other assets ............................................................. (330) (325) (42)
Accounts payable ......................................................... 4,737 318 2,765
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ........................... (410) 639 (354)
-------- ------- --------
Total adjustments ................................................... (2,503) 1,578 (10,860)
-------- ------- --------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities ................. 2,210 5,621 (8,560)
-------- ------- --------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment, net .................................... (4,699) (1,728) (1,276)
Cost of acquisitions, exclusive of cash acquired ................................... (6,672) (829) (498)
Proceeds from sale of equipment .................................................... -- 17 141
-------- ------- --------
Net cash used in investing activities ............................... (11,371) (2,540) (1,633)
-------- ------- --------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving line of credit ............................................. 15,323 -- 1,000
Repayments of revolving line of credit ............................................. (9,805) (1,000)
Additions to long-term indebtedness ................................................ 112 -- --
Payments of long-term indebtedness ................................................. (373) (80) (500)
Net proceeds from exercise of employee stock options ............................... 543 445 2
-------- ------- --------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities ................. 5,800 (635) 502
-------- ------- --------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents ................ (3,361) 2,446 (9,691)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year ......................................... 4,297 1,851 11,542
-------- ------- --------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year ............................................... $ 936 $ 4,297 $ 1,851
======== ======= ========
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest ............................................................. $ 180 $ 58 $ 54
Cash paid for income taxes ......................................................... $ 2,806 $ 2,233 $ 1,483
</TABLE>
The notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of
these statements.
F5
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JANUARY 2, 1998 AND JANUARY 3, 1997
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES.
Fresh America Corp. and subsidiaries ("Fresh America" or the "Company")
is a provider of integrated food distribution management services for fresh
produce and other refrigerated perishable products. These services include
regional/centralized purchasing; warehousing; distribution; logistics; systems;
and customer support. The Company serves over 2,000 customers and operates in 43
states and Canada through twenty-two distribution and processing facilities
located in Texas, Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois,
Louisiana, Nevada, California and Ontario, Canada. Throughout its history, the
Company has developed the expertise, infrastructure and systems to offer both
buyers and sellers of fresh produce a broad menu of services. Because of its
perishable nature, fresh produce presents challenges in procurement and
distribution and is generally handled by specialized distributors.
The Company was founded in 1989 and commenced operations by delivering
produce to one Sam's Club ("Sam's"), a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
("Wal-Mart"). The success of the initial venture in Houston, Texas allowed the
Company to rapidly expand its relationship with Sam's. From 1989 to 1994, the
Company increased its service to 190 Sam's units, primarily in the northeast,
southeast and southwest United States. Initially, Fresh America maintained
ownership of the fixtures in each Sam's, and provided Fresh America employees to
physically control the inventory in each store. In late 1995, the Sam's contract
was restructured to a more traditional supplier arrangement with Fresh America
providing procurement, warehousing and distribution of fresh produce and other
perishable products to Sam's. As of January 2, 1998 the Company serviced 342
Sam's under a five-year exclusive agreement, which expires in November 2000.
Over the past two years, Fresh America has grown significantly through twelve
acquisitions and development of distribution and outsourcing programs with
several new customers.
The following are the significant accounting policies followed by Fresh
America in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION - The consolidated financial statements
include the accounts of Fresh America Corp. and its subsidiaries. All
significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation.
FISCAL YEAR - Prior to fiscal 1995, the Company's fiscal year was a 52
or 53 week period ending on the first Sunday in January. Commencing with fiscal
1995, the Company's fiscal year is a 52-week or 53 week period ending on the
first Friday in January. Consequently, fiscal 1995 is a 52 week and five day
period ended January 5, 1996 as a result of this change. The fiscal years ended
January 3, 1997 and January 2, 1998 were 52-week periods.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - For purposes of the statements of cash
flows, the Company considers all highly liquid cash or equivalent assets with
original maturities of less than three months to be cash and cash equivalents.
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - The Company defines the fair value
of a financial instrument as the amount at which the instrument could be
exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties. Financial
instruments included in the Company's financial statements include cash and cash
equivalents, accounts receivable, notes receivable from shareholders, other
assets and long-term debt. Unless otherwise disclosed in the notes to the
consolidated financial statements, the carrying value of financial instruments
is considered to approximate fair value due to the short maturity and
characteristics of those instruments. The carrying value of long-term debt
approximates fair value as terms approximate those currently available for
similar debt instruments.
INVENTORIES - Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market on a
first-in, first-out basis.
PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT - Depreciation on plant and equipment is
calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the
assets (from 5 to 40 years). Plant and equipment held under
F6
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
capital leases and leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line
method over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset.
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS - Effective January 6, 1996, the Company
adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 121,
"Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to
be Disposed of." Accordingly, in the event that facts and circumstances indicate
that long-lived assets may be impaired, an evaluation of recoverability is
performed by comparing the estimated future cash flows associated with the asset
to the asset's carrying amount to determine if a write-down is necessary. If
such asset is considered impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured
by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value
of the asset. Adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the
financial position or results of operations of the Company.
GOODWILL - Goodwill, which represents the excess of purchase price over
fair value of net assets acquired, is amortized on a straight-line basis over
the expected periods to be benefited, generally 15 years. The Company assesses
the recoverability of this intangible asset by determining whether the
amortization of the goodwill balance over its remaining life can be recovered
through undiscounted future operating cash flows of the acquired operation. The
amount of goodwill impairment, if any, is measured based on projected discounted
future operating cash flows using a discount rate reflecting the Company's
average cost of funds. The assessment of the recoverability of goodwill will be
impacted if estimated future operating cash flows are not achieved.
STOCK OPTION PLAN - Prior to January 6, 1996, the Company accounted for
its stock option plan in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Principles
Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and
related interpretations. As such, compensation expense would be recorded on the
date of grant only if the current market price of the underlying stock exceeded
the exercise price. On January 6, 1996, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123,
"Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", which permits entities to recognize
as expense over the vesting period the fair value of all stock-based awards on
the date of grant. Alternatively, SFAS No. 123 allows entities to continue to
apply the provisions of APB Opinion No. 25 and provide certain pro forma
disclosures for employee stock option grants made in 1995 and future years as if
the fair-value-based method defined in SFAS No. 123 had been applied. The
Company has elected to continue to apply the provisions of APB Opinion No. 25
and provide the pro forma disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123.
REVENUE RECOGNITION - Prior to November 1995, and under its license
agreement with Sam's, the Company retained ownership of all fresh produce and
related products until it passed through Sam's point-of-sale registers at which
time revenue was recognized. During November 1995, the Company commenced
operations under its current Agreement with Sam's and, as a consequence,
recognizes revenue upon delivery of product. For all other customers, revenue is
recognized at such time as the product has been delivered or the service has
been rendered.
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - The Company has not been involved in
the use of derivative financial instruments and does not use them for trading
purposes.
INCOME TAXES - Deferred tax assets and liabilities are established for
the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax
basis of the Company's assets and liabilities, and for operating loss and tax
credit carryforwards, at enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such
amounts are realized or settled. See Note 6 - Income Taxes for additional
information.
EARNINGS PER SHARE - The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 128,
"Earnings per Share", during 1997 and retroactively restated all per share
amounts. SFAS No. 128 reporting requirements replace primary and fully-diluted
earnings per share (EPS) with basic and diluted EPS. Basic EPS is calculated by
dividing net income (available to common shareholders) by the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the
potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue
common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.
F7
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Shares used in calculating basic and diluted income per share are as follows:
1997 1996 1995
----- ----- -----
(In thousands)
Weighted average common shares
outstanding - basic ............................. 3,766 3,628 3,518
Dilutive securities:
Common stock options ............................ 190 250 152
Contingent shares related to acquisitions ....... 73 -- --
----- ----- -----
Weighted average shares common outstanding -
diluted basis ................................... 4,029 3,878 3,670
===== ===== =====
USE OF ESTIMATES - The preparation of financial statements in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.
RECLASSIFICATIONS - Certain amounts previously reported have been
reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
YEAR 2000 - In 1997, the Company developed a plan to implement a new
enterprise-wide management information system, which better meets the Company's
diverse and long-term needs. Implementation of the new system commenced in March
1998 and is planned to be completed by the end of 1999. It is also expected to
ensure that the Company's computer systems and applications will function
properly beyond 1999 in all material respects. The Company believes that it has
allocated adequate resources for this purpose and expects its Year 2000 date
conversion program to be successfully completed on a timely basis.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS - In June 1997, the Financial Accounting
Standards Board issued SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income and SFAS No.
131, Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information. SFAS
No. 130 requires that an enterprise report, by major components and as a single
total, the change in its net assets during the period from nonowner sources.
SFAS No. 131 establishes annual and interim reporting standards for an
enterprise's operating segments and related disclosures about its products,
services, geographic areas and major customers. Adoption of these statements
will not impact the Company's consolidated financial position, results of
operations or cash flows, and any effect will be limited to the form and content
of its disclosures. Both statements are effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 1997.
NOTE 2. AGREEMENT WITH SAM'S CLUB.
In August 1995, the Company entered into a five-year distribution
Agreement with Sam's Club. This Agreement, which began on December 1, 1995,
replaced the Company's previously existing license agreement
F8
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
with Sam's Club, which expired on November 30, 1995. Under terms of the
Agreement, the Company expanded its distribution arrangement with Sam's into
specified exclusive new territories approximately doubling the number of Sam's
clubs serviced by Fresh America. As a result of this expansion, the Company
commenced operations from two new distribution centers in Chicago, Illinois and
Cincinnati, Ohio on January 2, 1996. The Company and Sam's mutually agreed to
begin the transition to the new Agreement during November 1995. Expansion under
the Agreement was effected on January 2, 1996. The Company serviced 190 Sam's
clubs before expansion and as of January 2, 1998 services 342 clubs.
The Agreement transfers ownership of the product to Sam's as it enters
the clubs and complete operational authority within the produce departments of
each club. Accordingly, Sam's assumed all costs and liabilities related to the
operation of the departments, including all in-club personnel costs,
merchandising and sales costs, customer returns and credits, and product shrink.
Under the Agreement, the Company invoices Sam's for product delivered to the
clubs in accordance with purchase orders issued by Sam's. The Agreement also
provides Sam's the option to reduce the number of clubs within the Company's
exclusive territory by forty per year under certain circumstances and to
discontinue service for clubs in which Sam's elects not to offer produce, if
any.
In February 1997, Sam's advised the Company that as a result of the
opening of its new Wal-Mart Supercenter Distribution Center in Winterhaven,
Florida, it elected to exercise the existing option under the Agreement to
distribute produce directly with respect to 40 clubs from such new location. The
Company has conducted its operations assuming that Sam's will continue to
withdraw 40 clubs per year for each of the remaining years of the Agreement.
Accordingly, in March 1998, Sam's has begun the expected transfer of an
additional 40 clubs. The lost revenue attributable to such clubs in fiscal 1998
is estimated to be less than 3 percent of the Company's total fiscal 1998
revenues.
Sam's Club is the Company's largest customer, and accounted for
approximately 67%, 90% and 98% of the Company's sales for fiscal years 1997,
1996 and 1995, respectively. Receivables from Sam's, included in trade accounts
receivable, as of January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997 totaled $15,096,000 and
$15,584,000 respectively.
NOTE 3. ACQUISITIONS AND INVESTMENTS.
On September 8, 1995, the Company acquired substantially all of the
business and assets of Lone Star Produce, Inc. ("Lone Star Produce"), a
privately owned food service distribution company based in Austin, Texas. As
consideration for the assets received, the Company paid $498,000 in cash,
assumed liabilities of approximately $1,566,000 and issued a convertible
promissory note. The principal of the convertible promissory note was
established as 2.5 times fiscal 1997 net income of Lone Star Produce adjusted
for certain items defined in the acquisition agreement (approximately $472,000).
Further, the convertible promissory note will be convertible at the Seller's
option into the Company's common stock at the rate of $6.49 per share. The note
was recorded at the fair value of the Company's common stock at January 2, 1998,
which amounted to approximately $1,459,000. Such amount was recognized as
additional cost of acquiring Lone Star Produce and was allocated to goodwill. If
the convertible promissory note is not converted into the Company's common stock
by March 31, 1998, the established principal will bear interest from March 31,
1998 at the rate of 10% per annum and will be due together with accrued interest
on December 31, 1999.
On November 4, 1996, the Company acquired substantially all of the
business and net operating assets of Produce Plus, Inc. ("Produce Plus"), a
privately owned specialty food service distribution company based in Houston,
Texas. Consideration for the net assets received consisted of $829,000 in cash,
14,118 shares of Company stock valued at $18.88 per share and a contingent
convertible promissory note to be valued at an amount no greater than $600,000.
In August 1997, the Company negotiated an early payment of the contingent note
at a value of $500,000, and such amount was recognized as additional cost of
acquiring Produce Plus and was allocated to goodwill.
F9
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
On January 22, 1997, the Company acquired substantially all of the net
assets and the business of CPT Enterprises, Inc. doing business as Chef's
Produce Team ("CPT"), a Los Angeles-based food service company providing
specialty produce to upscale restaurants and hotels throughout California and
Nevada. As consideration for the assets received, the Company assumed
liabilities of approximately $1.5 million, with future additional consideration
depending on the achievement of certain levels of pretax earnings over three
years through fiscal 1999.
On March 7, 1997, the Company acquired the business and substantially
all of the operating assets of One More Tomato, Inc. ("OMT") for $573,000 in
cash and the assumption of certain liabilities. OMT is a value-added tomato
repackaging and distribution company located in Houston, Texas.
On May 22, 1997, the Company acquired the business and substantially all
of the operating assets of Pitman Produce of Orlando, Inc., a privately owned
specialty food service distribution company based in Orlando, Florida for
$243,000 in cash.
On August 27, 1997, the Company acquired all of the capital stock of
privately owned C. Kalil Fruit and Vegetable, Inc. ("Kalil") for $1,955,000 in
cash. Kalil is a produce distribution and value-added processing company based
in Houston, Texas.
On September 29, 1997, the Company acquired substantially all of the
business and net assets of Bano Quality Produce, Inc. ("Bano"), a privately
owned produce distribution and value-added processing company based in Baton
Rouge, Louisiana. Consideration for the net assets received consisted of
$850,000 in cash, 12,107 shares of Company stock valued at $20.65 per share and
a contingent convertible promissory note to be valued at an amount no greater
than $180,000, such future value being determined by certain agreed upon levels
of pretax earnings of Bano for the three years ending January 6, 2001.
On December 5, 1997, the Company acquired the business and substantially
all of the operating assets of Premier Produce, Inc., a privately-held produce
distribution company based in San Antonio, Texas, for $115,000 in cash and 4,669
shares of the Company's common stock valued at $23.56 per share and the
assumption of $92,000 in liabilities.
On December 15, 1997, the Company acquired the business and
substantially all of the operating assets of Tomahawk Produce, Inc., an Atlanta,
Georgia based produce distribution and value added tomato ripening and repacking
company which sells to customers in Atlanta and other Southeastern cities. As
consideration for the assets received, the Company assumed debt and other
liabilities of approximately $3.2 million and paid cash of $140,000.
On January 2, 1998, the Company acquired all of the capital stock of
privately-owned Hereford Haven, Inc. doing business as Martin Bros., a Dallas,
Texas based company that provides tomato repacking and other produce
distribution services to customers located in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and
Arkansas. Consideration included $500,000 in cash, 37,500 shares of the
Company's common stock valued at $20 per share, contingent payments of $125,000
due at the end of fiscal 1998 and 1999 based on the achievement of certain
minimum levels of pre-tax income, and an amount equal to four times the average
pre-tax income over three years through fiscal 2000 if the average pre-tax
income exceeds certain levels. Such contingent payments are payable in cash,
common stock or a combination of both at the Company's option.
The above acquisitions were accounted for using the purchase method of
accounting; accordingly, only the results of operations of the acquired
companies subsequent to their respective acquisition dates are included in the
consolidated statements of the Company. At the acquisition dates, the purchase
price was allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their
relative fair market values. The excess of total purchase price over fair values
of the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill, which is being amortized
over a 15-year period. The 1997 and 1996 acquisitions resulted in $8,325,000 and
$476,000 of goodwill, respectively.
The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents the
combined results of operations of the Company and the acquired businesses
("Acquisitions") discussed above as if the acquisitions occurred as of the
beginning of 1996, after giving effect to certain adjustments, including
amortization of goodwill, decreased interest income, increased interest expense
and related income tax effects. The pro forma financial
F10
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
information does not necessarily reflect the results of operations that would
have occurred had the Company and Acquisitions constituted a single entity
during such periods.
FISCAL YEAR
(UNAUDITED)
(In thousands) Jan. 2, 1998 Jan. 3, 1997
------------ -------------
Net sales .................... $405,610 $324,398
============ =============
Net income ................... 4,695 3,759
============ =============
Earnings per share - diluted 1.15 0.95
============ =============
On February 28, 1997, the Company entered into a five-year agreement
with Fast Food Merchandiser's, Inc. ("FFM"), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Hardee's Food Systems, Inc., to source and distribute produce products to all
FFM distribution centers nationwide. Coinciding with the distribution agreement,
the Company acquired the value-added produce processing center in Richmond,
Indiana from FFM for approximately $2.9 million.
NOTE 4. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.
Accounts receivable consist of (in thousands):
January 2, 1998 January 3, 1997
---------------- ---------------
Accounts receivable .................... $34,121 $20,986
Less allowance for doubtful accounts ... 924 35
---------------- ----------------
$33,197 $20,951
================ ================
During the fiscal year ended January 2, 1998, the Company recorded bad
debt expense of $70, incurred writeoffs of $45 and increased its allowance for
doubtful accounts by $864 as the result of acquired companies, which carried an
aggregate balance of $864 as of their respective acquisition dates.
NOTE 5. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT.
Property, plant and equipment consist of (in thousands):
January 2, January 3,
1998 1997
------- ------
Land ............................................. $ 455 $ 363
Buildings ........................................ 2,669 1,151
Machinery, furniture, fixtures and equipment ..... 7,349 3,595
Trucks and trailers .............................. 1,063 307
Leasehold improvements ........................... 2,792 2,589
------- ------
14,328 8,005
Less accumulated depreciation and
amortization ..................................... 3,579 2,085
------- ------
Property, plant and equipment, net ............... $10,749 $5,920
======= ======
F11
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 6. DEBT.
Debt consists of the following (in thousands):
January 2, January 3,
1998 1997
------ ---------
Senior credit facility ............................ $5,518 $ --
Convertible promissory note (see Note 3) .......... 1,459 --
Mortgage note payable, prime plus 1/4% principal
payable based on a 10-year amortization schedule
due in monthly payments through March 2000;
secured by land and building .................... 374 385
Other ............................................. 484 267
------ ----
Total debt ........................................ 7,835 652
Current portion ................................... 1,642 105
------ ----
Long-term portion ................................. $6,193 $ 547
====== ====
The aggregate maturities of long-term debt for the five fiscal years
subsequent to January 2, 1998 are as follows: 1998 - $1,642; 1999 - $5,670; 2001
- - $400; 2001 - $53; 2002 - $64 and $6 thereafter.
In July 1997, the Company entered into a new bank credit facility with
Bank of America (the "Senior Credit Facility") which provided for a $10 million
revolving line of credit and a $4 million term loan commitment. The term loan
could be drawn upon through December 31, 1997 and the revolving loan commitment
had a termination date of December 1999. As of January 2, 1998, there were no
amounts outstanding with respect to the term loan and $5.5 million outstanding
under the revolving loan.
On February 2, 1998 the Senior Credit Facility was amended. See Note 12
- - Subsequent Events for further discussion.
NOTE 7. INCOME TAXES
The components of the provision for income taxes consisted of (in thousands):
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
------------------------------------------
JANUARY 2, JANUARY 3, JANUARY 5,
1998 1997 1996
------ ------- ------
Current:
Federal .................. $2,455 $ 2,103 $ 960
State .................... 374 360 175
Deferred benefit ............. 45 (149) --
------ ------- ------
$2,874 $ 2,314 $1,135
====== ======= ======
F12
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Income tax expense differed from the amount computed by applying the
U.S. federal income tax rate income as a result of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
--------------------------------------------------------
JANUARY 2, 1998 JANUARY 3, 1997 JANUARY 5, 1996
--------------- --------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Federal income taxes at statutory rates ........................ $ 2,580 $ 2,161 $ 1,168
Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from:
Change in the beginning-of-the-year balance of
the valuation allowance for deferred tax
assets allocated to income tax expense ................... (52) (87)
State income taxes, net of federal
income tax benefit ....................................... 247 238 116
Other ...................................................... 47 (33) (62)
--------------- --------------- ---------------
$ 2,874 $ 2,314 $ 1,135
=============== =============== ===============
</TABLE>
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant
portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are presented
below (in thousands):
JANUARY 2, JANUARY 3,
1998 1997
------ ------
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards ............. $191 $268
Accruals not currently deductible ............ 382 180
Other ........................................ 134 84
------ ------
Total deferred tax assets ............ 707 532
------ ------
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment depreciation ... 457 309
Other ........................................ 86 74
------ ------
Total deferred tax liabilities ....... 543 383
------ ------
Net deferred tax asset ........................... $164 $149
====== ======
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management
considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the
deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred
tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the
periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Based upon the
level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income
over the periods which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management
believes that it is more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will be
realized and a valuation allowance for such assets is not required.
F13
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
At January 2, 1998, the Company has a net operating loss ("NOL")
carryforward for federal income tax purposes of approximately $484,000 available
to reduce future income taxes. If not utilized to offset future taxable income,
the NOL carryforward will expire in 2006 through 2007.
During 1992, the Company experienced an "ownership change" as defined by
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. After an ownership change, utilization of a
loss corporation's NOL carryforward is limited annually to a prescribed rate
times the value of the loss corporation's stock immediately before the ownership
change. In general, an ownership change occurs if ownership of more than 50% in
value of the stock of the loss corporation changes during the three-year period
preceding the test date. The Company's NOL carryforward is limited to the use of
approximately $193,000 on an annual basis.
NOTE 8. OPTIONS AND WARRANTS.
In connection with the Company's issuance of Preferred Stock in 1992,
five-year Common Stock Purchase Warrants (the "Warrants") entitling the holder
to purchase up to 143,656 shares of the Company's Common Stock at a price of
$4.89 per share were issued to the placement agent. On April 2, 1996, the
Company issued 90,134 shares of Common Stock in exchange for all of the
Warrants.
In connection with the Company's acquisition of a minority ownership
interest in Henri Morris & Associates, Inc. on November 6, 1996, a warrant was
issued to purchase 5,000 restricted shares of the Company's common stock at a
price of $19.75 per share. The warrant expires in ten years if not exercised.
In July 1993, the Company adopted the Fresh America Corp. 1993 Stock
Option and Award Plan (the "1993 Plan"), which reserves 450,000 shares of the
Company's common stock for issuance to employees and directors. At January 2,
1998 and January 3, 1997, options for 8,177 shares were available for issuance.
In July 1996, the Company adopted the Fresh America Corp. 1996 Stock
Option and Award Plan (the "1996 Plan"), which reserves 150,000 shares of the
Company's common stock for issuance to employees and directors. At January 2,
1998, and January 3, 1997 options for 48,000 and 93,000, respectively, shares
were available for issuance.
Options under the 1993 and 1996 Plans are granted at an exercise price
equal to at least 100% of the fair market value of the Company's common stock on
the date of grant. Unless determined otherwise by the Company's Board of
Directors, each non-employee director is automatically granted an option to
purchase 5,000 shares of common stock each year. Such option grants vest
immediately and will expire in ten years if not exercised. Options granted to
employees generally vest in one year from the date of grant and expire within
ten years if not exercised. The Plans restrict the rights to exercise based on
employment status and percentage of stock ownership in accordance with Section
422 of the Internal Revenue Code.
F14
<PAGE>
The following table summarizes stock option activity under the Plans for
fiscal 1995 through fiscal 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WEIGHTED
STOCK OPTIONS OPTION PRICE RANGE AVERAGE
----------------------------- -------------------- EXERCISE
ISSUED EXERCISABLE LOW HIGH PRICE
------- ----------- ----- ------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
At January 1, 1995 243,467 140,962 $0.02 $ 9.90 $ 5.24
Granted 140,000 5.00 5.75 5.17
Exercised (500) 3.55 3.55 3.55
Canceled (8,500) 5.00 9.00 6.65
-------
At January 5, 1996 374,467 239,467 0.02 9.90 5.18
Granted 114,000 11.75 17.75 13.46
Exercised (88,958) 0.02 9.00 5.00
Canceled (2,000) 11.75 11.75 11.75
-------
At January 3, 1997 397,509 305,509 0.02 17.75 7.56
Granted 51,500 14.00 25.50 15.61
Exercised (115,670) 0.02 11.75 3.56
Canceled (7,000) 14.00 14.00 14.00
--------
At January 2, 1998 326,339 291,839 $3.55 $25.50 $ 10.11
--------
</TABLE>
The Company has adopted the disclosure-only provision SFAS No. 123,
"Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." Accordingly, no compensation cost has
been recognized for the stock option plans. Had compensation cost for the
Company's two stock option plans been determined for grant dates subsequent to
January 1, 1995 based on the fair value at the grant date of awards consistent
with the provisions of SFAS No. 123, the Company's net earnings and earnings per
share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:
(In thousands, except earnings per share data)
1997 1996 1995
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income - as reported $ 4,713 $ 4,043 $ 2,300
Net income - pro forma 4,276 3,783 2,161
Earnings per share - as reported:
Basic 1.25 1.11 0.65
Diluted 1.17 1.04 0.63
Earnings per share - pro forma:
Basic 1.14 1.04 0.61
Diluted 1.06 0.98 0.59
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant
using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average
assumptions used for fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995 for both plans: no dividend
yield; expected volatility of 78% in 1997 and 49% in 1996 - 1995; risk-free
interest rates 5.7% in 1997 and of 6.2% to 6.4% in 1996 - 1995; and expected
lives of three to five years. The weighted average fair value per share of the
options granted during fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995 is estimated to be $9.18,
$6.19 and $2.11, respectively.
NOTE 9. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN.
Effective January 1, 1992, the Company adopted the Fresh America Corp.
401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the "Plan"), which provides for the Company, at its
option, to make a matching contribution of up to 6% of each qualifying
employee's annual earnings. The Company's matching contribution under the Plan
was $111,000, $81,000 and $125,000 for the fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
F-15
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 10. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COMMITMENTS.
The Company is obligated under certain noncancelable operating leases
(with initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one year). The future
minimum lease payments under such leases as of January 2, 1998 are (in
thousands):
Fiscal years ending:
1998 $ 5,260
1999 5,137
2000 4,315
2001 3,881
2002 2,864
Thereafter 7,560
------------
Total minimum lease payments $ 29,017
============
Rental expense amounted to approximately $4,769,000, $2,430,000 and
$1,389,000 for the fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995 respectively, of which
approximately $2,268,000, $863,000 and $895,000 relates to truck and trailer
rental which is included in cost of sales.
The Company is involved in various claims and legal actions arising in
the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate
disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the
Company's consolidated financial position.
NOTE 11. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED).
Summarized quarterly financial data is as follows (in thousands, except
earnings per share data):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL 1997(a)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Qtr. Second Qtr. Third Qtr. Fourth Qtr.
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales ................................... $ 69,735 $ 88,665 $ 90,800 $ 100,104
Gross profit ................................ 7,118 9,430 8,602 11,710
Gross margin ................................ 10.2% 10.6% 9.5% 11.7%
Net income .................................. 945 1,531 1,081 1,156
Earnings per share - basic .................. 0.25 0.41 0.29 0.31
Earnings per share - diluted ................ 0.24 0.39 0.27 0.29
FISCAL 1996(a)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Qtr. Second Qtr. Third Qtr. Fourth Qtr.
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Net sales ................................... $ 46,195 $ 64,721 $ 59,726 $ 68,535
Gross profit ................................ 4,238 6,325 5,299 7,388
Gross margin ................................ 9.2% 9.8% 8.9% 10.8%
Net income .................................. 348 1,407 810 1,478
Earnings per share - basic .................. 0.10 0.39 0.22 0.40
Earnings per share - diluted ................ 0.09 0.37 0.21 0.38
</TABLE>
(a) The 52-week year is spread 12, 13, 13, and 14 weeks, respectively.
F16
<PAGE>
FRESH AMERICA CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 12. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (UNAUDITED).
Subsequent to January 2, 1998, various transactions have occurred and
are described as follows:
On February 2, 1998, restructured its existing loan agreement with a
major bank to provide a revolving line of credit ("Revolver") of up to $12
million and a bridge loan of $5 million. The revolver expires February 2, 2001
and is subject to certain covenants and borrowing base requirements. Outstanding
principal amounts under the Revolver accumulate interest at the bank prime rate
(8.5% as of March 9, 1998), or at the Company's election, the Eurodollar rate
plus 1.75% (7.4% as of March 9, 1998). The bridge loan was funded on February 2,
1998 and is to be repaid in two equal installments of $312,500 due on March 31,
1998 and June 30, 1998, with a final payment of the remaining principal balance
due on September 30, 1998. The bridge loan accumulates interest at prime plus
1.375%, or at the Company's election, the Eurodollar rate plus 2.675% (8.4% as
of March 9, 1998).
On February 2, 1998, the Company acquired substantially all of the net
operating assets and the business of Francisco Distributing Company,
("Francisco"), a produce marketing, distribution and repackaging company based
in Norwalk, California. The acquisition will be accounted for using the purchase
method of accounting. As consideration for the net assets received, the Company
paid $5,575,000 in cash, 285,437 shares of Company common stock valued at $19.27
per share and contingent consideration subject to a minimum of $2.5 million
based on the pre-tax earnings of Francisco for the 1998 and 1999 fiscal years
subject to certain adjustments. Such contingent payments are payable in cash,
common stock or a combination of both at the election of the Company.
On March 4, 1998, the Company acquired all of the capital stock of
Ontario Tree Fruits Ltd. and its affiliated companies ("OTF") in exchange for
609,713 shares of its common stock. OTF imports and distributes fresh produce to
large retail chains and hundreds of independent grocers and wholesalers in
Canada and the Northeastern United States. The transaction will be accounted for
as pooling of interests and, accordingly, Fresh America's historical
consolidated financial statements presented in future reports will be restated
to include the accounts and results of operations of OTF.
The following unaudited pro forma data summarizes the combined results
of operations of the Company and OTF as if the combination had been consummated
on January 2, 1998 (in thousands).
FISCAL YEARS ENDED
---------------------------------------------
Jan. 2, Jan. 3, Jan. 5,
1998 1997 1996
------------- ------------- ------------
Net sales ................... $427,800 $323,800 $205,700
Net income* ................. 5,650 4,250 2,800
Earnings per share - basic .. 1.29 1.00 0.68
Earnings per share - diluted* 1.22 0.95 0.65
EXHIBIT 21.1
FRESH AMERICA CORP.
LIST OF SUBSIDIARY CORPORATIONS
JANUARY 2, 1998
SUBSIDIARY STATE OF INCORPORATION
Lone Star Produce Acquisition Corp. Texas
Produce Plus, Inc. Texas
(fka Plus Acquisition Corp.)
Fresh America California, Inc. Texas
One More Tomato, Inc. Texas
(fka OMT Acquisition Corp.)
Fresh America Louisiana, Inc. Texas
C.Kalil Fruit & Vegetable, Inc. Texas
Fresh America Georgia, Inc. Texas
Fresh America San Diego, Inc. Texas
Hereford Haven, Inc., d/b/a/ Martin Bros. Texas
EXHIBIT 23.1
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S CONSENT
The Board of Directors
Fresh America Corp.:
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (No.
333-35019 and 333-3714) on Forms S-8 of Fresh America Corp. of our report dated
March 5, 1998, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Fresh America and
subsidiaries as of January 2, 1998, and January 3, 1997, and the related
consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each
of the years in the three-year period ended January 2, 1998, which report
appears in the January 2, 1998, annual report on Form 10-K of Fresh America
Corp.
KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP
Dallas, Texas
March 25, 1998
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM FRESH AMERICA CORP. FORM 10-K FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 2, 1998 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-2-1998
<PERIOD-END> JAN-2-1998
<CASH> 936
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 34,121
<ALLOWANCES> (924)
<INVENTORY> 3,536
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,671
<PP&E> 14,328
<DEPRECIATION> (3,579)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 60,131
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 26,022
<BONDS> 0
0
0
<COMMON> 39
<OTHER-SE> 27,580
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 60,131
<SALES> 349,304
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 349,304
<CGS> 312,444
<TOTAL-COSTS> 312,444
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 29,457
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 118
<INCOME-PRETAX> 7,587
<INCOME-TAX> 2,874
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,713
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 4,713
<EPS-PRIMARY> 1.25
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.17
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM FRESH AMERICA CORP. FORM 10-K FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 3, 1997 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-3-1997
<PERIOD-END> JAN-3-1997
<CASH> 4,297
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 20,986
<ALLOWANCES> (35)
<INVENTORY> 1,940
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 391
<PP&E> 8,005
<DEPRECIATION> (2,085)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 35,207
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 13,408
<BONDS> 0
0
0
<COMMON> 37
<OTHER-SE> 21,215
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 35,207
<SALES> 239,177
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 239,177
<CGS> 215,927
<TOTAL-COSTS> 215,927
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 17,254
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<INCOME-PRETAX> 6,357
<INCOME-TAX> 2,314
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,043
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 4,043
<EPS-PRIMARY> 1.11
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.04
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM FRESH AMERICA CORP. FORM 10-K FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 5, 1996 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-5-1996
<PERIOD-END> JAN-5-1996
<CASH> 1,851
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 19,675
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 1,958
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 664
<PP&E> 6,047
<DEPRECIATION> (1,252)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 29,832
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 12,725
<BONDS> 0
0
0
<COMMON> 35
<OTHER-SE> 16,462
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 29,832
<SALES> 124,837
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 124,837
<CGS> 103,118
<TOTAL-COSTS> 103,118
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 18,711
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<INCOME-PRETAX> 3,435
<INCOME-TAX> 1,135
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,300
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 2,300
<EPS-PRIMARY> 0.65
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.63
</TABLE>
