Final Results
Financial Highlights:
• Turnover up +51% to £37.1m (2015: £24.6m)
• LFL sales growth of +1.8% (2015: +5%)
• Adjusted** EBITDA up +45% to £2.6m (2015: £1.8m)
• EBITDA* £1.0m (2015: £1.6m)
• Statutory loss before tax of £0.3m (2015: Profit before tax £1.2m), in line with plan and reflecting investment for accelerated expansion
• Cash balances of £4.9m at 31 January 2016 (£9.1m at 31 January 2015) following the acquisition of Gabbotts Farm
• Final dividend of 0.47p (2015: 0.47p)
* EBITDA is defined by the Group as profit/loss before tax, exceptional items, depreciation, amortisation, profit/(loss) on disposal of assets, net finance costs and share based payment charges attributable to the LTIP Growth Share Scheme.
** Adjusted EBITDA is defined by Group as EBITDA before "accelerated opening costs". Accelerated opening costs are defined by the Group as the overhead investment in people, processes, systems and new store pre-opening costs i.e. costs directly associated with our accelerated store opening programme. In the period these costs amounted to £1.6m (2015: £0.2m) resulting in an adjusted EBITDA of £2.6m (2015: £1.8m).
Strategy Highlights:
• Transformative year with the new management team and the appropriate infrastructure in place to deliver the rapid growth plan
• Significant investment in the rebranding of the legacy estate and standardisation of the retail proposition complete ahead of the new store rollout
• Record levels of premium quality homemade produce sold after investment in our unique vertically integrated concept
• 17 stores added in the year and performing in line with expectations
• Extensive property pipeline will deliver 15 new stores in current year, including further expansion into Yorkshire/North West heartlands and entering Midlands/Birmingham area
Chief Executive Officer, Noel Collett, comments:
"We are pleased to report another set of solid results for the business and are delighted with the significant progress we've made during a very transformative year. We have proved that customers love our compelling retail concept, delivering quality fresh meat and food-to-go at exceptional prices. With strong foundations now in place, we are well positioned to build on our current position and establish Crawshaws as a national brand."