SCHEID FAMILY WINES REPORTS THIRD QUARTER FISCAL 2024 RESULTS

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Jan 15, 2024, 06:30 ET

SALINAS, Calif., Jan. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Scheid Vineyards Inc. (dba Scheid Family Wines) (OTC Markets: SVIN) announced today its financial results for the nine months ended November 30, 2023 (3^rd quarter of fiscal 2024).

Financial Results

Total revenues for the nine months ended November 30, 2023, were $52.4 million, up $1.2 million from the nine months ended November 30, 2022, an increase of 2%. This increase was driven primarily by the Company's winery processing and storage revenues which increased 35%, to $10.4 million from $7.7 million, which was partially offset by a decrease in bulk wine and grape sales of 29%, to $4.0 million from $5.6 million. Cased goods sales for the current nine-month period were relatively flat. After a slow start to fiscal 2024 shipments, cased goods sales were up 15% for the three months ended November 30, 2023, compared to the same three-month period in 2022.

Gross margin increased to 30%, from 28%, primarily as result of the change in sales mix. Sales and marketing expenses decreased 14%, to $8.3 million, from $9.7 million, as the Company reorganized its sales and marketing departments in late 2022. These expenses were 16% of total revenues in the first nine months ended November 30, 2023, compared to 19% for the same period in 2022. General and administrative expenses decreased 18%, to $5.3 million, from $6.5 million.

Operating income for the nine months ended November 30, 2023 was $2.3 million, compared to an operating loss of $1.6 million during the same period in 2022, an increase of $3.9 million as the Company continues to focus on reducing costs across all departments. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) increased 13%, to $6.1 million, from $5.4 million.

Interest expense rose 45%, to $4.8 million, from $3.3 million, due to increased borrowings and increases in interest rates on the Company's variable rate debt. Average interest rates on Company debt increased to 6.2% for the nine months ended November 30, 2023, from 4.0% during the same period in 2022.

During the nine months ended November 30, 2022, the Company recognized a gain from the forgiveness of a $3.7 million loan made to the Company pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Plan ("PPP") administered by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). During the same period, the Company settled a class action lawsuit which alleged violations of California wage and hour employment laws, for $1.25 million.

In total, the Company reported a net loss of $1.8 million for the nine months ended November 30, 2023, compared to a $1.7 million net loss for the nine months ended November 30, 2022.

2023 Harvest Update

The 2023 grape harvest began in late September, approximately three weeks later than a normal harvest season on the Central Coast, due to a cool summer growing season that affected all of California. Mr. Scott Scheid, President and CEO of the Company, stated, "Harvest was completed on November 17, with overall yields approximately 18% above the Company's five-year average yields. Our winemaking team is impressed with the quality, as the winter rains and extended growing season lent themselves to favorable conditions for producing high quality wine grapes."



	Nine Months Ended November 30,
	2023		2022
REVENUES:
Cased goods sales	$	35,228	$	35,141
Winery processing and storage revenues	10,362		7,730
Bulk wine sales	2,696		3,396
Grape sales	1,321		2,175
Direct sales revenues …	2,286		2,223
Vineyard management revenues	536		525
Other revenues	10		8
Total net revenues	52,439		51,198
COST OF SALES	(36,578)		(36,723)
GROSS PROFIT	15,861		14,475
Sales and marketing expenses	(8,348)		(9,653)
General and administrative expenses	(5,258)		(6,453)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	2,255		(1,631)
Interest expense, net	(4,787)		(3,283)
Loan forgiveness	—		3,731
Other income (loss)	—		(1,250)
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment	40		15
LOSS BEFORE BENEFIT FROM INCOME TAXES	(2,492)		(2,418)
BENEFIT FROM INCOME TAXES	713		676
NET LOSS	$	(1,779)	$	(1,742)


NET LOSS PER SHARE	$	(1.94)	$	(1.91)

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING	915		913

(amounts in thousands, except for per share data)

About Scheid Family Wines

Scheid Family Wines, a family-owned and operated wine company for over 50 years, is ranked among the top 25 largest wine producers in the United States. Based in Monterey County, California, Scheid is vertically integrated to bring high quality estate grown wines to the marketplace from its sustainably and organically certified vineyards and grower partners throughout the Central Coast. Scheid's innovative, luxury-level winery is 100% powered by renewable wind energy generated by a 400-foot-tall wind turbine, which also supplies energy to the local community. The Scheid Family Wines globally distributed brand portfolio includes Scheid Vineyards, Sunny with a Chance of Flowers, VDR (Very Dark Red), Grandeur (organically certified), Fog & Light, Metz Road, District 7, Ryder Estate, and HOXIE, a premium wine spritzer. Scheid Family Wines sells internationally to over 30 countries and is one of the largest producers of premium exclusive brands.

Please visit www.scheidfamilywines.com and www.otcmarkets.com/stock/SVIN/quote for more information.

CONTACT:	Scott Scheid, President and CEO, [email protected]
	Mike Thomsen, Chief Financial Officer, [email protected]
	(831) 455-9990