Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K10-K/A

(Amendment No. 1)

(Mark One)

xANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 30, 200629, 2007

oTRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                   to                  

Commission File Number: 1-14556

THE INVENTURE GROUP, INC.

(FORMERLY POORE BROTHERS, INC.)

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

86-0786101

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

incorporation or organization)

 

 

5050 N. 40th Street, Suite #300

Phoenix, Arizona

85018

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip

5050 N. 40th Street, Suite 300

Phoenix, Arizona 85018

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (623) 932-6200

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Class

 

Name of exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $.01 par value

 

Nasdaq

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes  o   No  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes  o   No  x

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 preceding 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  o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers in response 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.                                                                                  x

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer o

 

Non-accelerated filero

Smaller reporting company x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes  o   No  x

The aggregate market value of the voting stock (Common Stock, $.01 par value) held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $25.8$52.7 million based upon the closing market price on July 1, 2006,June 30, 2007, the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

The number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, as of March 16, 200724, 2008 was 19,275,828.20,186,213.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 22, 2007 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

EXCHANGE ACT REPORTS AVAILABLE ON COMPANY WEBSITE

Under “SEC Filings” on the “Investors” page of the Company’s website located at www.inventuregroup.net, the following filings are made available as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”): the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A related to the Company’s Annual Shareholders Meeting, and any amendments to those reports or statements filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  You may also read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549.  You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.  The SEC also maintains an Internet website located at http://www.sec.gov that contains the information we file of furnish electronically with the SEC.

 





Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

 

Item 1.

Business

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

Item 2.

Properties

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

PART II

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

Item 9B.

Other Information

PART III

Item 10.

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

PART IV

 

 

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

4

 

2





Table of Contents

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDINGEXPLANATORY NOTEFORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Amendment on Form 10-K/A (“Amendment No. 1”) constitutes Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K including all documents incorporatedfor the fiscal year ended December 29, 2007 filed by reference, includes “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and The Inventure Group, Inc. (the “Company”) desires to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions thereof.  Therefore, the Company is including this statement for the express purpose of availing itself of the protections of the safe harbor with respect to all of such forward-looking statements. In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “estimates,” “projects,” “will likely result,” “will continue,” “future” and similar terms and expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including specifically the possibility that the Company will need additional financing due to future operating losses or in order to implement the Company’s business strategy, the possible diversion of management resources from the day-to-day operations of the Company as a result of strategic acquisitions, potential difficulties resulting from the integration of acquired businesses with the Company’s business, other acquisition-related risks, lack of consumer acceptance of existing and future products, dependence upon key license agreements, dependence upon major customers, significant competition, risks related to the food products industry, volatility of the market price of the Company’s common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), the possible de-listing of the Common Stock from the Nasdaq SmallCap Market if the Company fails to satisfy the applicable listing criteria (including a minimum share price) in the future and those other risks and uncertainties discussed herein, that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated.  In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K will in fact transpire or prove to be accurate.  Readers are cautioned to consider the specific risk factors described herein and in “Risk Factors,” and not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this section.


Item 1.  Business

Description of Business

The Inventure Group, Inc. (the “Company”) is engaged in the development, production, marketing and distribution of innovative snack food products that are sold primarily through grocery retailers, mass merchandisers, club stores, convenience stores and vend distributors across the United States.  The Company currently manufactures and sells nationally T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks under license from TGI Friday’s Inc.  We also distribute Braids® and pretzels.  The Company also currently (i) manufactures and sells its own brands of snack food products, including Poore Brothers®, Bob’s Texas Style®, and Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand batch-fried potato chips and Tato Skins® brand potato snacks, (ii) manufactures private label potato chips for grocery retail chains in the Southwest, and (iii) distributes in Arizona snack food products that are manufactured by others.  The Company sells its T.G.I. Friday’s® brand salted snack products to mass merchandisers, grocery, club and drug stores directly and to convenience stores and vend operators primarily through independent distributors.  The Company’s other brands are also sold through independent distributors.  For the fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004, net revenues totaled $69,818,930, $75,332,541 and $68,734,763, respectively, and T.G.I. Friday’s® brand salted snacks represented 66%, 65% and 72%, respectively, of the Company’s total net revenues.  See Note 11 “Business Segments and Significant Customers” to the financial statements included in Item 8.

 

Percent of Total Net Revenues

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Branded products

 

93

%

93

%

94

%

Private label products

 

3

%

3

%

3

%

Total manufactured products segment revenues.

 

96

%

96

%

97

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributed products segment revenues.

 

4

%

4

%

3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

100

%

100

%

100

%

The Company produces T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks and Tato Skins® brand potato snacks utilizing a sheeting and frying process that includes licensed technology.  T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks and Tato Skins® brand potato snacks are offered in several different flavors and formulations.  All of these products are manufactured at the Company-owned facility in Bluffton, Indiana, except for Mozzarella Snack Sticks, Onion Rings and Hot Pepper Jack Cheese Fries products which are produced by contract manufacturers on behalf of the Company and sold under the T.G.I. Friday’s® brand name.  In 2005, Cinnabon® brand snacks were also produced by contract manufacturers on behalf of the Company and test marketed under the Cinnabon® brand name.  Effective November 8, 2006 we ceased selling product under the Cinnabon® brand.

Poore Brothers®, Bob’s Texas Style® and Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand potato chips are manufactured with a batch-frying process that the Company believes produces potato chips with enhanced crispness and flavor. Poore Brothers®, Bob’s Texas Style® and Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM potato chips are each offered in a variety of flavors.  The Company also manufactures potato chips for sale on contract manufacturing basis using a continuous frying process.  The Company’s potato chips are manufactured at a Company-owned facility in Goodyear, Arizona.  See “Products” and Marketing and Distribution”.

The Company’s business objective is to build a diverse portfolio of specialty food brands that provide high quality products at competitive prices that are superior in taste, texture, flavor variety and brand personality to comparable products. A significant element of the Company’s growth strategy is to develop, acquire or license innovative specialty food brands.  We may broaden our focus for new opportunities beyond snack foods, and perhaps even beyond food brands.  The Company also plans to increase sales of its existing brands and continue to improve profit margins through increased operating efficiencies and manufacturing capacity utilization.  See “Business Strategy”.

The Company’s executive offices are located at 5050 N. 40th Street, Suite #300 Phoenix, Arizona 85018, and its telephone number is (623) 932-6200.


Company History

The Inventure Group, Inc., (“the Company”) a Delaware corporation, was formed in 1995 as a holding company to acquire a potato chip manufacturing and distribution business, which had been founded by Donald and James Poore in 1986.  The Company changed its name from Poore Brothers, Inc. to The Inventure Group, Inc. on April 10, 2006.

In December 1996, the Company completed an initial public offering of its Common Stock.  In November 1998, the Company acquired the business and certain assets (including the Bob’s Texas Style® potato chip brand) of Tejas Snacks, L.P. (“Tejas”), a Texas-based potato chip manufacturer.  In October 1999, the Company acquired Wabash Foods, LLC (“Wabash”) including the Tato Skins®, O’Boisies®, and Pizzarias® trademarks and the Bluffton, Indiana manufacturing operation and assumed all of Wabash Foods’ liabilities.  In June 2000, the Company acquired Boulder Natural Foods, Inc. (“Boulder”) and the Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand of totally natural potato chips.

In October 2000, the Company launched its T.G.I. Friday’s® brand salted snacks pursuant to a license agreement with TGI Friday’s Inc., which expires in 2014.

The Company continues to introduce line extensions and test market new and innovative snack food products.

Business Strategy

The Company is engaged in the development, production, marketing and distribution of innovative snack food products that are sold primarily through grocery retailers, mass merchandisers, club stores, convenience stores and vend distributors across the United States.  The Company currently manufactures and sells nationally T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks under license from TGI Friday’s Inc. We also distribute Braids® and pretzels.  The Company also currently (i) manufactures and sells its own brands of snack food products, including Poore Brothers®, Bob’s Texas Style®, and Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand batch-fried potato chips and Tato Skins® brand potato snacks, (ii) manufactures private label potato chips for grocery retail chains in the Southwest, and (iii) distributes in Arizona snack food products that are manufactured by others.  The Company sells its T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snack products to mass merchandisers, grocery, club and drug stores directly and to convenience stores and vend operators through independent distributors.  The Company’s other brands are also sold through independent distributors.

The Company’s business strategy is to continue building a diverse portfolio of specialty food brands with annualized revenues of $5 million to $50 million each through licensing, acquisition or development.  This represents a broadening of the Company’s strategy beyond snack foods and may include opportunities other than food brands.  The goals of our strategy are to (i) capitalize on specialty food brand opportunities, (ii) deliver incremental category growth for retailers, (iii) provide product innovation targeted to a defined consumer segment, (iv) complement, rather than compete directly against, large national competitors with leading national brands, and (v) build relationships with major retailers in all channels of distribution by providing them higher margins, excellent customer service and constant innovation.  The primary elements of the Company’s long-term business strategy are as follows:

Develop, Acquire or License Innovative Specialty Food Brands.  A significant element of the Company’s business strategy is to develop, acquire or license new innovative specialty food brands that provide strategic fit with our existing business and possess strong national brand equity in order to expand, complement or diversify the Company’s existing business.  In October 2000 the Company initiated this element of its strategy by launching its first national niche brand, T.G.I. Friday’s® brand salted snacks, under an exclusive license from TGI Friday’s Inc.  The Company plans to continue developing, acquiring or licensing additional specialty food brands, though it intends to mitigate the financial impact of launching new brands by introducing new licensed products in small-scale test markets rather than large scale regional or national introductions.

Broaden Distribution of Existing Brands.  The Company plans to increase distribution and build the market share of its existing branded products through selected trade activity in various existing or new markets and channels.  For example, the Company has extended the shelf life of our Poore Brothers® brands in order for us to expand beyond Arizona.  We are looking at expanding the distribution of our Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand nationally through the natural channel as well as through the natural segment in the Grocery channel.  The Company is looking at expanding overseas with the T.G.I. Friday’s® brand. Marketing efforts may include, among other things, trade advertising and promotional programs with distributors and retailers, in-store advertisements, in-store displays and limited consumer advertising, public relations and coupon programs.


Pursue Acquisitions.  The Company continues to evaluate a number of acquisition opportunities in the specialty food area where we can use our competencies in Operations, Sales, Marketing and Distribution in order to drive revenue and profit growth.

Develop New Products for Existing Brands.  In addition, the Company plans to continue its innovation activities to identify and develop (i) new line extensions for its brands, such as new flavors or products, and (ii) new food segments in which to expand the brand’s presence.  We have launched a number of new items such as: T.G.I. Friday’s® Quesadillas, T.G.I. Friday’s® Pizza chips, Poore Brothers® Three Cheese Jalapeno, Poore Brothers® Reduced Fat and Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM  Spinach and Artichoke potato chips.

Leverage Infrastructure and Capacity.  The Company’s Indiana and Arizona facilities are currently operating at approximately 40% and 50% of their respective manufacturing capacities.  The Company currently has arrangements with several grocery chains for the manufacture and distribution by the Company of their respective private label potato chips and believes that additional contract manufacturing opportunities exist.  While they are extremely price competitive and can be short in duration, the Company believes that they may provide a profitable opportunity for the Company to improve the capacity utilization of its facilities.  The Company intends to seek additional private label and contract manufacturing customers located near its facilities who demand superior product quality at a reasonable price.  The Company also utilizes contract manufacturers’ excess capacity to produce items that the Company does not have the equipment or know-how to manufacture.

Improve Profit Margins.  The Company plans to increase gross profit margins through increased long-term revenue growth, improved operating efficiencies, and higher margin new products.  It believes that additional improvements to its manufactured products’ gross profit margins are possible with the achievement of the business strategies discussed above.  Depending on product mix, the Company believes that the existing manufacturing facilities could produce, in the aggregate, up to $150 million in annual revenue volume and thereby further reduce manufacturing product costs as a percentage of net revenue.

Products

Manufactured Snack Food Products.  The Company produces T.G.I. Friday’s® brand Potato Skins snacks and Tato Skins® brand potato snacks utilizing a sheeting and frying process.  T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks and Tato Skins® brand potato snacks are offered in several different flavors and formulations. All of these products are manufactured at its Company-owned facility in Bluffton, Indiana, except for Mozzarella Snack Sticks, Onion Rings and Hot Pepper Jack Cheese Fries products which are produced by contract manufacturers on behalf of the Company and sold under the T.G.I. Friday’s® brand name.

Poore Brothers®, Bob’s Texas Style®, and Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand potato chips are produced utilizing a batch-frying process and are marketed by the Company as premium products based on their distinctive combination of cooking method and variety of distinctive flavors.  Poore Brothers®, Bob’s Texas Style® and Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM potato chips are each offered in a variety of flavors.  The Company currently has agreements with several grocery chains pursuant to which the Company produces their respective private label potato chips in the styles and flavors specified by each grocery chain.

Distributed Snack Food Products.  The Company purchases and resells throughout Arizona snack food products manufactured by others.  Such products include pretzels, popcorn, dips and meat snacks.

Manufacturing

The Company-owned manufacturing facility in Bluffton, Indiana includes three fryer lines that can produce an aggregate of up to approximately 9,000 pounds per hour of T.G.I. Friday’s® and Tato Skins® brand products.  The Indiana facility is currently operating at approximately 40% of capacity.  Certain T.G.I. Friday’s® and Tato Skins® brand products are produced utilizing a sheeting and frying process that includes some licensed technology.  Some T.G.I. Friday’s® brand salted snack products are produced by contract manufacturers on behalf of the Company.  See “Patents, Trademarks and Licenses”.

The Company believes that a key element of the success to date of the Poore Brothers®, Bob’s Texas Style® and Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand potato chips has been the Company’s use of certain cooking techniques and key ingredients in the manufacturing process to produce potato chips with improved flavor.  These techniques currently involve two elements: the Company’s use of a batch-frying process, as opposed to the conventional continuous line cooking method,


and the Company’s use of distinctive seasonings to produce potato chips in a variety of flavors.  The Company believes that although the batch-frying process produces less volume, it is superior to conventional continuous line cooking methods because it enhances crispness and flavor through greater control over temperature and other cooking conditions.

The Company-owned manufacturing facility in Goodyear, Arizona has the capacity to produce up to approximately 3,500 pounds of potato chips per hour, including 1,400 pounds of batch-fried branded potato chips per hour and 2,100 pounds of continuous-fried private label potato chips per hour.  The Company owns additional batch-frying equipment which, if needed, could be installed without significant time or cost, and which would result in increased capacity to produce the batch-fried potato chips.  The Arizona facility is currently operating at approximately 50% of capacity.

There can be no assurance that the Company will obtain sufficient business to recoup the Company’s investments in its manufacturing facilities or to increase the utilization rates of such facilities.   See “Item 2. Properties”.

Marketing and Distribution

The Company’s T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snack food products have achieved significant market presence across a number of sales channels.  The Company attributes the success of its products in these markets to consumer loyalty.  The Company believes this loyalty results from the products’ differentiated taste, texture and flavor variety which result from its manufacturing processes.  The Company has retained a leading national sales and marketing agency with employees and offices nationwide to represent T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks on behalf of the Company in the grocery and convenience store channels.  The Company’s own sales organization sells T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks in the mass, club and drug channels.  The Company also obtains significant sales on T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks in the vending channel nationwide through an independent network of brokers and distributors.

The Company’s potato chip brands are distributed to grocery and other retailers primarily by a select group of independent distributors.  Poore Brothers® brand potato chip products have achieved significant market presence in the southwest United States.  The Company’s Bob’s Texas Style® brand potato chip products have achieved significant market presence in south/central Texas.  The Company’s Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand potato chip products have achieved significant market presence in Colorado and in natural food stores nationwide.  The Company selects brokers and distributors for its branded products primarily on the basis of quality of service, call frequency on customers, financial capability and relationships they have with supermarkets and vending distributors, including access to shelf space for snack food.

The Company’s distribution throughout Arizona includes approximately 50 independently operated service routes.  Each route is operated by an independent distributor who merchandises to major grocery store chains in Arizona, such as Albertson’s, Basha’s, Fry’s and Safeway stores.  In addition to servicing major supermarket chains, the Company’s independent distributors service many smaller independent grocery stores, club stores, and military facilities throughout Arizona.  In addition to Poore Brothers® brand products, the Company distributes throughout Arizona a wide variety of snack food items manufactured by other companies, including pretzels, popcorn, dips, and meat snacks.  The Company currently also retains a Canadian sales and marketing agency to sell to Canadian customers and is seeking opportunities to selectively expand its growth in other countries.

Successful marketing of the Company’s products depends, in part, upon obtaining adequate shelf space for such products, particularly in supermarkets and vending machines.  Frequently, the Company incurs additional marketing costs in order to obtain additional shelf space.  Whether or not the Company will continue to incur such costs in the future will depend upon a number of factors including, demand for the Company’s products, relative availability of shelf space and general competitive conditions.  The Company may incur significant shelf space, consumer marketing or other promotional costs as a necessary condition of entering into competition or maintaining market share in particular markets or channels.  Any such costs may materially affect the Company’s financial performance.

The Company’s marketing programs are designed to increase product trial and build brand awareness in core markets.  Most of the Company’s marketing spending has traditionally been focused on trade advertising and trade promotions designed to attract new consumers to the products at a reduced retail price.  The Company’s marketing programs also include selective event sponsorship designed to increase brand awareness and to provide opportunities to mass sample branded products.  Sponsorship of the Arizona Diamondbacks typifies the Company’s efforts to reach targeted consumers and provide them with a sample of the Company’s products to encourage new and repeat purchases.


Suppliers

The principal raw materials used by the Company are potatoes, potato flakes, wheat flour, corn and oil.  The Company believes that the raw materials it needs to produce its products are readily available from numerous suppliers on commercially reasonable terms.  Potatoes, potato flakes, wheat flour and corn are widely available year-round, although they are subject to seasonal price fluctuations.  The Company uses a variety of oils in the production of its products and the Company believes that alternative sources for such oils, as well as alternative oils, are readily abundant and available.  The Company also uses seasonings and packaging materials in its manufacturing process.

The Company chooses its suppliers based primarily on price, availability and quality.  Although the Company believes that its required products and ingredients are readily available, and that its business success is not dependent on any single supplier, the failure of certain suppliers to meet the Company’s performance specifications, quality standards or delivery schedules could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations.  In particular, a sudden scarcity, a substantial price increase, or an unavailability of product ingredients could materially adversely affect the Company’s operations.  There can be no assurance that alternative ingredients would be available when needed and on commercially attractive terms, if at all.

Customers

Two customers of the Company, Wal*Mart (including its SAM’s Clubs) and Vistar, formerly Vending Services of America, a national vending distributor  accounted for 13% and 11%, respectively, of the Company’s 2006 net revenues.  The remainder of the Company’s revenues was derived from sales to a limited number of additional customers, either grocery chains, club stores or regional distributors, none of which individually accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s net revenues in 2006.  A decision by any of the Company’s major customers to cease or substantially reduce their purchases could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.

The majority of the Company’s revenues are attributable to external customers in the United States.  The Company does sell to Canadian customers as well, however the revenues attributable to Canadian customers is immaterial.  All of the Company’s assets are located in the United States.

Market Overview and Competition

According to the Snack Food Association (“SFA”), the U.S. market for snack foods reached $24.6 billion at retail in 2005 (the latest year for which data is available) with potato chips, tortilla chips and potato crisps, accounting for 44% of the market, and corn snacks, popcorn, pretzels, nuts, meat snacks and other products accounting for the balance.  Total snack sales, in dollar terms, increased in each of the last ten years, ranging from an increase of 8.5% (in 1997) to 0.3% (in 1995), with a 2005 increase of 1%.  Potato chip, tortilla chips and potato crisps combined sales in 2005 were $10.9 billion, a 0.9% increase over 2004 sales of $10.8 billion.

The Company’s products compete generally against other snack foods, including potato chips, tortilla chips, cookies, etc.  The snack food industry is large and highly competitive and is dominated by large food companies, including Frito-Lay, Inc., a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc., Nabisco and Kraft.  These companies possess substantially greater financial, production, marketing, distribution and other resources than the Company brands that are more widely recognized than the Company’s products.  Numerous other companies that are actual or potential competitors of the Company, many with greater financial and other resources (including more employees and more extensive facilities) than the Company, offer products similar to those of the Company.  In addition, many of such competitors offer a wider range of products than offered by the Company.  Local or regional markets often have significant smaller competitors, many of whom offer products similar to those of the Company.  Expansion of the Company’s operations into new markets has and will continue to encounter significant competition from national, regional and local competitors that may be greater than that encountered by the Company in its existing markets.  In addition, such competitors may challenge the Company’s position in its existing markets.  While the Company believes that it has innovative products and methods of operation that will enable it to compete successfully, there can be no assurance of its ability to do so.

The principal competitive factors affecting the market of the Company’s products include product quality and taste, brand awareness among consumers, access to shelf space, price, advertising and promotion, variety of snacks offered, nutritional content, product packaging and package design.  The Company competes in the market principally on the basis of product quality and taste.  While products produced at the Company’s Bluffton, Indiana facility involve the use of certain licensed technology and unique manufacturing processes, the taste and quality of products produced at the Company’s Goodyear, Arizona facility are largely due to two elements of the Company’s manufacturing process: its use of batch-frying and its use of distinctive seasonings to produce a variety of flavors.  The Company does not have exclusive rights to the use of either element; consequently, competitors may incorporate such elements into their own processes.


Government Regulation

The manufacture, labeling and distribution of the Company’s products are subject to the rules and regulations of various federal, state and local health agencies, including the Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”).  In May 1994, regulations issued under the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 (“NLEA”), which requires specified nutritional information to be disclosed on all packaged foods, concerning labeling of food products, including permissible use of nutritional claims such as “fat-free” and “low-fat,” became effective.  The Company believes that it is complying in all material respects with the NLEA regulations and closely monitors the fat content of its products through various testing and quality control procedures.  The Company does not believe that compliance with the NLEA regulations materially increases the Company’s manufacturing costs.

As a direct result of the September 11, 2001 terrorism attack, the FDA issued the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 (“the Act”) to protect the U.S. food supply.  While there are four parts to the Act, only two of the provisions impact the Company.  One requirement for the Company was registration with the FDA as a U.S. Food Manufacturing Company, which the Company completed prior to the required date of December 12, 2003.  The second of the Act’s provisions pertaining to the Company relates to record retention.  The Company is required to retain records pertaining to its raw materials’ immediate previous sources (“one back”) as well as its finished goods’ subsequent recipients (“one up”) for twelve months.  The Act was effective January 1, 2005, and the Company believes it is currently compliant with this provision.

On July 11, 2003, the FDA published its final rule on Trans Fat Labeling requiring that food labels declare trans fats on or before January 1, 2006.  This rule requires that trans fat be declared on a separate line in the standard Nutrition Facts below total fat and saturated fat and be calculated to the nearest 0.5 grams, unless it is less than 0.5 grams in which case it may be expressed as 0 grams.

There can be no assurance that new laws or regulations will not be passed that could require the Company to alter the taste or composition of its products or impose other obligations on the Company.  Such changes could affect sales of the Company’s products and have a material adverse effect on the Company.

In addition to laws relating to food products, the Company’s operations are governed by laws relating to environmental matters, workplace safety and worker health, principally the Occupational Safety and Health Act.  The Company believes that it presently complies in all material respects with such laws and regulations.

Employees

As of December 30, 2006, the Company had 268 full-time employees, including 197 in manufacturing and distribution, 20 in sales and marketing and 51 in administration and finance.  The Company’s employees are not represented by any collective bargaining organization, and the Company has never experienced a work stoppage.  The Company believes that its relations with its employees are good.

Patents, Trademarks and Licenses

The Company produces T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks and Tato Skins® brand potato crisps utilizing a sheeting and frying process that includes technology that the Company licenses from a third party.  Pursuant to the license agreement between the Company and the third party, the Company has a royalty-bearing, exclusive right license to use the technology in the United States, Canada, and Mexico until such time the parties mutually agree to terminate the agreement and provide written sixty (60) days notice to each other.  In consideration for the use of this technology, the Company is required to make royalty payments on sales of products manufactured utilizing the technology until such termination date.  The patents for this technology expired December 26, 2006. However, should products substantially similar to Tato Skins® , O’Boisies® and Pizzarias® become available for any reason in the marketplace by any manufacturer other than the Company which results in a sales decline of 10% or more, any royalty obligation for the respective product (s) shall cease.

The Company licenses the T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks trademark from TGI Friday’s Inc. under a license agreement with a term expiring in 2014.  Pursuant to the license agreement, the Company is required to make royalty payments on sales of T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snack products and is required to achieve certain minimum sales levels by certain dates during the contract term.

The Company continues to evaluate new licensing opportunities to broaden its product offering and to complement the growth of its existing T.G.I. Friday’s® product line through the introduction of new products in snack foods as well as other consumer product categories.

The Company owns the following trademarks in the United States: Poore Brothers®, An Intensely Different Taste®, Texas Style®, Boulder Canyon®, Tato Skins®, O’Boisies®, Pizzarias®, Braids® and Knots®.

The Company considers its trademarks to be of significant importance in the Company’s business.  The Company is not aware of any circumstances that would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to use its trademarks.  Any termination of the Company’s license agreements, whether at the expiration of its term or prior thereto, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Seasonality

The food products industry is seasonal.  Consumers tend to purchase our products at higher levels during the major summer holidays and also at times surrounding major sporting events throughout the year.  Additionally, we may face seasonal price increases for raw materials.

9




Item 1A.  Risk Factors

Any one of the following factors could affect operating results.  You should read and carefully consider these risk factors, and the entirety of this report, before you invest in our securities.

Risks Related to Our Business

We may incur significant future expenses due to the implementation of our business strategy.

The Company is striving to achieve its long-term vision of being a significant marketer of specialty food brands.  Such action is subject to the substantial risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered in the implementation of a business strategy.  Even if the Company is successful in developing, acquiring and/or licensing new brands, and increasing distribution and sales volume of the Company’s existing products, it may require the Company to incur substantial additional expenses, including advertising and promotional costs, “slotting” expenses (i.e., the cost of obtaining shelf space in certain grocery stores), and integration costs of any future acquisitions. Accordingly, the Company may incur additional losses in the future as a result of the implementation of the Company’s business strategy, even if revenues increase significantly. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to implement its strategic plan, that its business strategy will prove successful or that it will be able to maintain profitability during such implementation.

We may not be able to obtain the additional financing we need to implement our business strategy.

A significant element of the Company’s business strategy is the development, acquisition and/or licensing of innovative specialty food brands, for the purpose of expanding, complementing and/or diversifying the Company’s business. In connection with each of the Company’s previous brand acquisitions, the Company borrowed funds or assumed additional indebtedness in order to satisfy a substantial portion of the consideration required to be paid by the Company.  The Company may, in the future, require additional third party financing (debt or equity) as a result of any future operating losses, in connection with the expansion of the Company’s business through non-acquisition means, in connection with any additional acquisitions completed by the Company, or to provide working capital for general corporate purposes.  There can be no assurance that any such required financing will be available or, if available, be on terms attractive to the Company.  Any third party financing obtained by the Company may result in dilution of the equity interests of the Company’s shareholders.

We expect our future growth to be derived in significant part, from acquisitions, but our acquisition strategy may not be successful, or we may not be successful integrating acquisitions.

A significant element of the Company’s business strategy is the pursuit of selected strategic acquisition opportunities for the purpose of expanding, complementing and/or diversifying the Company’s business.  However, no assurance can be given that the Company will be able to identify, finance and complete additional suitable acquisitions on acceptable terms, or that future acquisitions, if completed, will be successful.  Any future acquisitions could divert management’s attention from the daily operations of the Company and otherwise require additional management, operational and financial resources.  Moreover, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully integrate acquired companies or their management teams into the Company’s operating structure, retain management teams of acquired companies on a long-term basis, or operate acquired companies profitably. Acquisitions may also involve a number of other risks, including adverse short-term effects on the Company’s operating results, dependence on retaining key personnel and customers, and risks associated with unanticipated liabilities or contingencies.

We are subject to ongoing financial covenants under our main credit facility, and if we fail to meet those covenants or otherwise default on our credit facility, our lender may accelerate our borrowings.

At December 30, 2006, the Company had outstanding indebtedness under mortgage loans in the aggregate principal amount of $4.1 million.  The indebtedness under the mortgage loans is secured by the Company’s land and buildings.

The Company has a credit agreement which is secured by substantially all assets of the Company.  The Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by each of its subsidiaries.  The Company is required to comply with certain financial covenants pursuant to the U.S. Bank National Credit Agreement so long as borrowings from U.S. Bank remain outstanding.  Should the Company be in default under any of such covenants, U.S. Bank shall have the right, upon written notice and after the expiration of any applicable period during which such default may be cured, to demand immediate payment of all of the then unpaid principal and accrued but unpaid interest under the Credit Agreement.  At December 30, 2006, the Company was in compliance with all covenants of the Credit Agreement.


As the Company implements its business strategy, there can be no assurance that the Company will remain in compliance with the financial covenants in the future. Any acceleration of the borrowings under the Credit Agreement prior to the applicable maturity dates could have a material adverse effect upon the Company. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

We may not be able to successfully implement our strategy to expand our business internationally.

The Company plans to expand sales to Canadian customers and is exploring other international market opportunities for its brands.  Such expansion may require significant management attention and financial resources and may not produce desired levels of revenue.  International business is subject to inherent risks, including longer accounts receivable collection cycles, difficulties in managing operations across disparate geographical areas, difficulties enforcing agreements and intellectual property rights, fluctuations in local economic, market and political conditions, compliance requirements with U.S. and foreign export regulations, potential adverse tax consequences and currency exchange rate fluctuations.

We may incur material losses and costs as a result of product liability claims that may be brought against us or any product recalls we have to make.

As a manufacturer and marketer of food products, the Company may be subjected to various product liability claims.  There can be no assurance that the product liability insurance maintained by the Company will be adequate to cover any loss or exposure for product liability, or that such insurance will continue to be available on terms acceptable to the Company.  Any product liability claim not fully covered by insurance, as well as any adverse publicity from a product liability claim or product recall, could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

We are subject to numerous governmental regulations, and our failure to comply with those regulations could result in fines or penalties being imposed on us.

The packaged food industry is subject to numerous federal, state and local governmental regulations, including those relating to the preparation, labeling and marketing of food products.  The Company is particularly affected by the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 (“NLEA”), which requires specified nutritional information to be disclosed on all packaged foods.

Additionally, as a direct result of the September 11, 2001 terrorism attack, the FDA issued the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 (“the Act”) to protect the U.S. food supply.  While there are four parts to the Act, only two of the provisions impact the Company.  One requirement for the Company was registration with the FDA as a U.S. Food Manufacturing Company, which the Company completed prior to the required date of December 12, 2003.  The second of the Act’s provisions pertaining to the Company relates to record retention.  The Company is required to retain records pertaining to its raw materials’ immediate previous sources (“one back”) as well as its finished goods’ subsequent recipients (“one up”) for twelve months. The Act was effective January 1, 2005.

On July 11, 2003, the FDA published its final rule on Trans Fat Labeling requiring that food labels declare trans fats on or before January 1, 2006.  This rule requires that trans fat be declared on a separate line in the standard Nutrition Facts below total fat and saturated fat and be calculated to the nearest 0.5 grams, unless it is less than 0.5 grams in which case it may be expressed as 0 grams.

We cannot assure you that we will not face fines or penalties if our efforts to comply with these regulations are determined to be inadequate.

Newly adopted governmental regulations could increase our costs or liabilities or impact the sale of our products.

The food industry is highly regulated.  We cannot  assure you that new laws or regulations will not be passed that could require the Company to alter the taste or composition of its products or impose other obligations on the Company.  Such changes could affect sales of the Company’s products and have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Unavailability of our necessary supplies, at reasonable prices, could materially adversely affect our operations.

The Company’s manufacturing costs are subject to fluctuations in the prices of potatoes, potato flakes, wheat flour, corn and oil, as well as other ingredients of the Company’s products.  Potatoes, potato flakes, wheat flour and corn are widely available year-round, and the Company uses a variety of oils in the production of its products.  Nonetheless, the Company is dependent on its suppliers to provide the Company with products and ingredients in adequate supply and on a timely basis.  The failure of certain suppliers to meet the Company’s performance specifications, quality standards or delivery schedules


could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations.  In particular, a sudden scarcity, a substantial price increase, or an unavailability of product ingredients could materially adversely affect the Company’s operations.  There can be no assurance that alternative ingredients would be available when needed and on commercially attractive terms, if at all.

We do not own the patents for the technology we use to manufacture our T.G.I. Friday’s® and Tato Skins® brand products.

The Company licenses technology from a third party in connection with the manufacture of its T.G.I. Friday’s® and Tato Skins® brand products and has a royalty-bearing, exclusive right license to use the technology in the United States, Canada, and Mexico until such time the parties mutually agree to terminate the agreement and provide written sixty (60) days notice to each other.  In consideration for the use of this technology, the Company is required to make royalty payments to the third party on sales of products manufactured utilizing the technology until such termination date.  The patents for this technology expired December 26, 2006.  Since these patents expired, we no longer have exclusive rights to this technology and, as a result, may face additional competition that could adversely affect our revenues.  Moreover, competitors of the Company, certain of which may have significantly greater resources than the Company, may utilize different technology in the manufacture of products that are similar to those currently manufactured, or that may in the future be manufactured, by the Company.  The entry of any such products into the marketplace could have a material adverse effect on sales of T.G.I. Friday’s® and Tato Skins® brand products, as well as any such future products, by the Company.

The taste and quality of Poore Brothers®, Bob’s Texas Style® and Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand potato chips is largely due to two elements of the Company’s manufacturing process: its use of batch-frying and its use of distinctive seasonings to produce a variety of flavors.  The Company does not have exclusive rights to the use of either element; consequently, competitors may incorporate such elements into their own processes.

The majority of revenues are derived from a limited number of snack food brands.

The Company derives a substantial portion of its revenue from a limited number of snack food brands.  For the year ended December 30, 2006, over 76% of the Company’s net revenues were attributable to the T.G.I. Friday’s® brand products and the Poore Brothers® brand products.  A decrease in the popularity of a particular snack food brand during any year could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.  There can be no assurance that any of the Company’s snack food brands will retain their historical levels of popularity or increase in popularity.  Any impact to a licensed brand’s reputation could also lead to an impact on the Company’s other snack food products associated with that brand.  Decreased sales from any one of our key snack food brands without a corresponding increase in sales from other existing or newly introduced products would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

We depend on a license agreement for the right to sell our T.G.I. Friday’s® brand products and other products, and we may rely on similar license agreements in the future.

The T.G.I. Friday’s® brand products are manufactured and sold by the Company pursuant to a license agreement by and between the Company and TGI Friday’s Inc. which expires in 2014.  Pursuant to the license agreement, the Company is subject to various requirements and conditions (including, without limitation, minimum sales targets).  The failure of the Company to comply with certain of such requirements and conditions could result in the early termination of the license agreement by TGI Friday’s Inc.  Any termination of the license agreement, whether at the expiration of its term or prior thereto, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

The Company may introduce one or more new product lines in the future that will be manufactured and sold pursuant to additional license agreements by and between the Company and one or more third parties.  Pursuant to any such license agreements, the Company will likely be subject to various requirements and conditions (including minimum sales targets or royalty payments).  The failure of the Company to comply with certain of such requirements and conditions could result in the early termination of such additional license agreements.  Depending upon the success of any such new product lines, a termination of the applicable license agreements, whether at the expiration of their respective terms or prior thereto, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

The loss of one of our major customers could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Two customers of the Company, Wal*Mart (including its SAM’s Clubs), and Vistar, formerly Vending Services of America, a national vending distributor accounted for 13% and 11%, respectively, of the Company’s 2006 net revenues, with the remainder of the Company’s net revenues being derived from sales to a limited number of additional customers, either grocery chains or regional distributors, none of which individually accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s revenues


for 2006.  A decision by any major customer to cease or substantially reduce its purchases could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.

The loss of certain key employees could adversely affect our business.

The Company’s success is dependent in large part upon the abilities of its executive officers, including Eric Kufel, President, Chief Executive Officer, Terry McDaniel, Chief Operating Officer and Steve Weinberger, Chief Financial Officer.  The Company’s business strategy will challenge its executive officers, and the inability of such officers to perform their duties or the inability of the Company to attract and retain other highly qualified personnel could have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s business and prospects.

Risks Related to Our Industry

We may not be able to compete successfully in our highly competitive industry.

The market for snack foods, such as those sold by us, including potato chips and meat snacks, is large and intensely competitive. Competitive factors in the snack food industry include product quality and taste, brand awareness among consumers, access to supermarket shelf space, price, advertising and promotion, variety of snacks offered, nutritional content, product packaging and package design. The Company competes in that market principally on the basis of product taste and quality.

The snack food industry is dominated by large food companies, including Frito-Lay, Inc., Nabisco and others which have substantially greater financial and other resources than the Company and sells brands that are more widely recognized than are the Company’s products. Numerous other companies that are actual or potential competitors of the Company, many with greater financial and other resources (including more employees and more extensive facilities) than the Company, offer products similar to those of the Company. In addition, many of such competitors offer a wider range of products than that offered by the Company. Local or regional markets often have significant smaller competitors, many of whom offer products similar to those of the Company. With expansion of Company operations into new markets the Company has and will continue to encounter significant competition from national, regional and local competitors that may be greater than that encountered by the Company in its existing markets. In addition, such competitors may challenge the Company’s position in its existing markets. There can be no assurance of the Company’s ability to compete successfully.

We may incur substantial costs in order to market our products.

Successful marketing of food products generally depends upon obtaining adequate retail shelf space for product display, particularly in supermarkets. Frequently, food manufacturers and distributors, such as the Company, incur additional costs in order to obtain additional shelf space. Whether or not the Company incurs such costs in a particular market is dependent upon a number of factors, including demand for the Company’s products, relative availability of shelf space and general competitive conditions. The Company may incur significant shelf space or other promotional costs as a necessary condition of entering into competition or maintaining market share in particular markets or stores. If incurred, such costs may materially affect the Company’s financial performance.

Our business may be adversely affected by oversupply of food products at the wholesale and retail levels and seasonal fluctuations.

Profitability in the food product industry is subject to oversupply of certain food products at the wholesale and retail levels, which can result in our products going out of date before they are sold.  The food products industry is also seasonal.  Consumers tend to purchase our products at higher levels during the major summer holidays and also at times surrounding the major sporting events throughout the year.

We may not be able to respond successfully to shifting consumer tastes.

Consumer preferences for snack foods are continually changing and are extremely difficult to predict.  The ability of the Company to generate revenues in new markets will depend upon customer acceptance of the Company’s products.  The success of new products will be key to the success of the Company’s business plan and there can be no assurance that the Company will succeed in the development of any new products or that any new products developed by the Company will achieve market acceptance or generate meaningful revenue for the Company.


Diet trends may adversely affect our revenues.

Increased consumer concerns about nutrition and healthy diets and the risk that sales of our food product may decline due to perceived health concerns, changes in consumer tastes or other reasons beyond the control of the Company may adversely affect our revenues.

Risks Related to Our Securities

The market price of our Common Stock is volatile.

The market price of the Common Stock has experienced a high level of volatility since the completion of the Company’s initial public offering in December 1996.  Commencing with an offering price of $3.50 per share in the initial public offering, the market price of the Common Stock experienced a substantial decline, reaching a low of $0.50 per share (based on last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market) on December 22, 1998.  During fiscal 2006, the market price of the Common Stock (based on last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market) ranged from a high of $3.10 per share to a low of $2.00 per share.  The last reported sales price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market on March 16, 2007 was $2.70 per share. There can be no assurance as to the future market price of the Common Stock.  See “Our Common Stock may not continue to trade at a market price sufficient to prevent our de-listing from the NASDAQ SmallCap Market.”

Our Common Stock may not continue to trade at a market price sufficient to prevent our de-listing from the NASDAQ SmallCap Market.

In order for the Company’s Common Stock to continue to be listed on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the Company is required to be in compliance with certain continued listing standards.  One of such requirements is that the bid price of listed securities be equal to or greater than $1.00.  If, in the future, the Company’s Common Stock fails to be in compliance with the minimum closing bid price requirement for at least thirty consecutive trading days or the Company fails to be in compliance with any other Nasdaq continued listing requirements, then the Common Stock could be de-listed from the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.  Upon any such de-listing, trading, if any, in the Common Stock would thereafter be conducted in the over-the-counter market on the so-called “pink sheets” or the “Electronic Bulletin Board” of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”).  As a consequence of any such de-listing, an investor could find it more difficult to dispose of, or to obtain accurate quotations as to the price of, the Company’s Common Stock.  See “The market price of our Common Stock is volatile.”

A significant amount of our Common Stock is controlled by individuals, and the interests of such individuals may conflict with those of other shareholders.

As a result of the Wabash Foods acquisition, Capital Foods, LLC (“Capital Foods”) (an affiliate of the former owner of Wabash Foods) became the single largest shareholder of the Company, holding approximately 21% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock based on Capital Foods’ Schedule 13G filing.  Accordingly, Capital Foods is in a position to exercise substantial influence on the business and affairs of the Company.  In addition, Heartland Advisors, Inc. (“Heartland”), Eagle Rock Capital Management, LLC (“Eagle Rock”), BC Advisors, LLC (“BC”) and Gruber and McBaine Capital Management, LLC (“Gruber”), which, based on their Schedule 13G filings, are the beneficial owners of approximately 13%, 8%, 8% and 7%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at December 30, 2006.  Capital Foods, Heartland, Eagle Rock, BC and Gruber are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Significant Shareholders.”  There can be no assurance that one or more of those Significant Shareholder will not adopt or support a plan to undertake a material change in the management or business of the Company.

Apart from transfer restrictions arising under applicable provisions of the securities laws, there are no restrictions on the ability of the Significant Shareholders to transfer any or all of their respective shares of Common Stock at any time.  One or more of such transfers could have the effect of transferring effective control of the Company, including to one or more parties not currently known to the Company.

A significant amount of our Common Stock is subject to registration rights, and the registration and sale of such shares could negatively affect the market price of our Common Stock and impair our ability to obtain financing.

Approximately 4.3 million shares of outstanding Common Stock issued by the Company are subject to “piggyback” registration rights granted by the Company, pursuant to which such shares of Common Stock may be registered under the Securities Act and, as a result, become freely tradable in the future.  The Company will be required to pay all expenses relating to any such registration, other than underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the shares, and any other fees and expenses incurred by the holder(s) of the shares (including, without limitation, legal fees and


expenses) in connection with the registration.  All or a portion of such shares may, at the election of the holders thereof, be included in a future registration statement of the Company and, upon the effectiveness thereof, may be sold in the public markets.

No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that future sales of shares of Common Stock will have on the market price of the Common Stock prevailing from time to time.  Sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect prevailing market prices for the Common Stock and could impair the ability of the Company to raise additional capital through the sale of its equity securities or through debt financing.

Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes us to issue preferred stock, and the rights of holders of Common Stock may be adversely affected by the rights of holders of any such preferred stock.

The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 50,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock with such designations, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company.  The Company may issue such shares of preferred stock in the future without shareholder approval.  The rights of the holders of Common Stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be issued in the future.  The issuance of preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change of control of the Company, and preventing holders of Common Stock from realizing a premium on their shares.  In addition, under Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), the Company is prohibited from engaging in any business combination (as defined in the DGCL) with any interested shareholder (as defined in the DGCL) unless certain conditions are met.  This statutory provision could also have an anti-takeover effect.

Item 2.  Properties

The Company owns a 140,000 square foot manufacturing facility located on 15 acres of land in Bluffton, Indiana, approximately 20 miles south of Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  The facility is financed by a mortgage with U.S. Bank National Association that matures in December, 2016.  The Company produces its T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks and Tato Skins® brand potato snacks at the Bluffton, Indiana facility.

The Company owns a 60,000 square foot manufacturing facility located on 7.7 acres of land in Goodyear, Arizona, approximately 15 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona.  The facility is financed by a mortgage with Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York that matures in June 2012.  The Company produces its Poore Brothers®, Bob’s Texas Style® and Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand potato chips, as well as its private label potato chips, at the Goodyear, Arizona facility.

The Company also leases one-half of a 200,000 square foot facility in Bluffton, Indiana which is used as a distribution center.  The Company has entered into a lease, the initial term expiring in November 2006, with respect to the facility and has entered into the first of two three-year renewal options.  Current lease payments are approximately $31,500 per month.

The Company is responsible for all insurance costs, utilities and real estate taxes in connection with its facilities. The Company believes that its facilities are adequately covered by insurance.

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

The Company is periodically a party to various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business.  Management believes, based on discussions with legal counsel, that the resolution of such lawsuits, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

The Inventure Group, Inc. is one of eight companies sued by the Environmental Law Foundation in August, 2006 in the Superior Court for the State of California for the County of Los Angeles by the Attorney General of the State of California for alleged violations of California Proposition 65.  California Proposition 65 is a state law that, in part, requires companies to warn California residents if a product contains chemicals listed within the statute. The plaintiff seeks injunctive relief and penalties but has made no specific demands. We intend to vigorously defend this suit.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None.


PART II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company’s Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market tier of the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “SNAK”.  There were approximately 255 shareholders of record on March 23, 2007.  The Company believes the number of beneficial owners is substantially greater than the number of record holders because a large portion of the Common Stock is held of record in broker “street names.”

The Company has never declared or paid any dividends on the shares of Common Stock.  Management intends to retain any future earnings for the operation and expansion of the Company’s business and does not anticipate paying any dividends at any time in the foreseeable future.  Additionally, certain debt agreements of the Company limit the Company’s ability to declare and pay dividends.

The following table sets forth the range of high and low sale prices of the Company’s Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market for each quarter of the fiscal years ended December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005.

 

Sales Prices

 

Period of Quotation

 

High

 

Low

 

Fiscal 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

$

3.49

 

$

2.81

 

Second Quarter

 

$

4.08

 

$

2.91

 

Third Quarter

 

$

6.77

 

$

4.25

 

Fourth Quarter

 

$

5.17

 

$

2.57

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

$

3.10

 

$

2.43

 

Second Quarter

 

$

3.07

 

$

2.41

 

Third Quarter

 

$

3.02

 

$

2.00

 

Fourth Quarter

 

$

2.66

 

$

2.19

 

The information appearing under the heading “Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans” in the Company’s 2007 Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference in this section.

The Company re-purchased 818,740 shares of Common Stock in the third and fourth quarters of 2006 for $1,845,421, which amounts to a weighted average price of $2.25 per share.  See Note 9.


PERFORMANCE GRAPH

Included below is a line graph and a table comparing the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company’s Common Stock against the cumulative total return of The NASDAQ Stock Market (U.S. Companies) Index and the Company’s Peer Group for the period commencing December 31, 2001 and ending December 30, 2006 covering the Company’s five fiscal years ended December 28, 2002, December 27, 2003, December 25, 2004, December 31, 2005 and December 30, 2006.

The Company has selected a Peer Group consisting of the four publicly traded companies named below, which are in the snack food industry. Virtually all of the Company’s direct competitors and peers are privately held companies or subsidiaries or divisions of larger publicly held companies so that the available members of the Peer Group are limited.

Date

 

The Inventure
Group, Inc. (“SNAK”)

 

NASDAQ Stock Market

 

Peer Group

 

December 31, 2001

 

$

100.00

 

$

100.00

 

$

100.00

 

December 28, 2002

 

98.04

 

69.13

 

119.66

 

December 27, 2003

 

135.60

 

103.36

 

138.10

 

December 25, 2004

 

139.60

 

112.49

 

179.20

 

December 31, 2005

 

112.80

 

114.88

 

144.87

 

December 30, 2006

 

98.00

 

126.21

 

183.46

 

This graph and table assumes that $100 was invested on December 31, 2001 in the Company’s Common Stock, in The NASDAQ Stock Market (U.S. Companies) Index and in the Peer Group, which consists of Lance, Inc., Ralcorp Holdings, Inc., Golden Enterprises, Inc. and J&J Snack Foods Corp., and that dividends were reinvested.

17




Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL SUMMARY

(In millions except share and per share data)

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

Statements of Earnings Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

$

69.8

 

$

75.3

 

$

68.7

 

$

66.4

 

$

59.3

 

Gross profit

 

13.3

 

14.1

 

14.3

 

13.3

 

11.3

 

Operating income

 

1.6

 

0.5

 

3.7

 

0.0

 

2.7

 

Net income

 

1.1

 

0.3

 

2.1

 

1.1

 

2.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share — diluted.

 

$

0.06

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.11

 

$

0.06

 

$

0.15

 

Weighted average common shares — diluted

 

19,856,280

 

19,946,941

 

18,947,533

 

18,476,486

 

17,826,953

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net working capital

 

$

13.4

 

$

13.9

 

$

11.7

 

$

7.9

 

$

2.0

 

Total assets

 

42.8

 

41.8

 

40.1

 

36.6

 

31.8

 

Long-term debt

 

4.0

 

1.7

 

1.7

 

3.1

 

4.1

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

29.9

 

30.2

 

28.8

 

25.1

 

20.7

 

Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including “Item 1:  Business;” “Item 6:  Selected Financial Data;” and “Item 8:  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”  The various sections of this MD&A contain a number of forward-looking statements, all of which are based on our current expectations and could be affected by the uncertainties and risk factors described throughout this filing and particularly in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”  Accordingly, the Company’s actual future results may differ materially from historical results or those currently anticipated.

Overview

The Inventure Group, Inc. (the “Company”) is engaged in the development, production, marketing and distribution of innovative snack food products that are sold primarily through grocery retailers, mass merchandisers, club stores, convenience stores and vend distributors across the United States.  The Company currently manufactures and sells nationally T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks under license from TGI Friday’s Inc. We also distribute Braids® and pretzels.  The Company also currently (i) manufactures and sells its own brands of snack food products, including Poore Brothers®, Bob’s Texas Style®, and Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand batch-fried potato chips and Tato Skins® brand potato snacks, (ii) manufactures private label potato chips for grocery retail chains in the Southwest, and (iii) distributes in Arizona snack food products that are manufactured by others.


The Company’s net revenue decreased 7.3% in fiscal 2006.  T.G.I. Friday’s®, which comprised 66% of total net revenues, decreased 6.0%.  Our batch-fried chips decreased 9.8% in net revenues in 2006.  Both decreases were due primarily to decreased promotional spending.  The table below highlights the changes between years:

Net Revenues Comparison

($ in millions)

 

2006

 

2005

 

% Change

 

T.G.I. Friday’s®

 

$

46.1

 

$

49.1

 

(6.0

)%

Potato Chips and Other

 

23.7

 

26.2

 

(9.8

)%

Total

 

$

69.8

 

$

75.3

 

(7.3

)%

The market for snack foods, such as potato chips, tortilla chips, meat snacks and cookies, is large and intensely competitive.  The industry is dominated by several significant competitors and includes many other competitors with greater financial and other resources than the Company.  However, the Company’s growth has exceeded the industry average over the last few years primarily due to its growth from T.G.I. Friday’s® branded products.  This growth has been due to penetration into new and existing accounts, primarily in vend, mass, grocery and convenience stores.

In connection with the implementation of the Company’s business strategy, the Company is likely to require future debt or equity financings (particularly in connection with future strategic acquisitions).  Expenditures stemming from acquisition-related integration costs, trade and consumer marketing programs and new product development may adversely affect operating expenses and consequently may adversely affect operating and net income.

Key Trends

Retailer Consolidation

The retail food environment continues to be influenced by consolidation as fewer large retailers, including Kroger, Safeway and Wal*Mart, are gaining a larger share of the grocery retail environment.  These retailers are also consolidating their regional buying operations into singular national operations to improve efficiency.  This action creates opportunities for the Company because brands like T.G.I. Friday’s® snacks are niche brands that can be sold effectively on a national basis.

Consumer Trends

The snack industry has been heavily influenced in the past five years by a proliferation of new flavors and health focused snacks, with a rapid increase in the number of low-fat, low-carb and all-natural and organic products.  Mainstream retailers such as Safeway have now created standalone natural and organic sections in their stores.  The Company believes this trend for healthier snacks will continue.

Raw Material and Freight Price Increases and Subsequent Retail Price Increases

The industry has experienced higher costs as a result of the increase in the price of oil.  Both inbound transportation of raw materials and outbound transportation of finished goods have experienced higher costs as a result of freight surcharges.  Nearly all raw materials have experienced higher pricing both as a result of higher freight costs and certain products require oil based raw materials.  As a result of these raw material price increases, many companies, including us, have implemented price increases in 2006 and 2007.


Results of Operations

The following discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting the consolidated operating results, financial condition, liquidity and capital resources of the Company.  This discussion should be read in conjunction with Item 8: “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” and the “Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements” on page 4.

Year ended December 30, 2006 compared to the year ended December 31, 2005

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Difference

 

(dollars in millions)

 

$

 

% of Rev

 

$

 

% of Rev

 

$

 

%

 

Net revenues

 

$

69.8

 

100.0

%

$

75.3

 

100.0

%

$

(5.5

)

(7.3

)%

Cost of revenues

 

56.5

 

81.0

 

61.4

 

81.6

 

(4.9

)

(8.0

)

(Gain on sale)/write-down of equipment and brand discontinuance

 

0.0

 

0.0

 

(0.2

)

(0.3

)

0.2

 

 

Gross profit

 

13.3

 

19.0

 

14.1

 

18.7

 

(0.8

)

(5.9

)

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

11.7

 

16.7

 

13.6

 

18.1

 

(1.9

)

(14.7

)

Operating income

 

1.6

 

2.3

 

0.5

 

0.7

 

1.1

 

257.2

 

Interest income (expense), net

 

0.3

 

0.4

 

 

0.1

 

0.3

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

1.9

 

2.7

 

0.5

 

0.7

 

1.4

 

274.0

 

Income tax provision

 

(0.8

)

(1.1

)

(0.2

)

(0.3

)

(0.6

)

(253.9

)

Net income

 

$

1.1

 

1.6

%

$

0.3

 

0.4

%

$

0.8

 

289.8

%

For the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006, net revenues decreased 7.3% to $69.8 million, compared with net revenues of $75.3 million for the previous fiscal year.  T.G.I. Friday’s®, which comprised 66% of total net revenues, decreased 6.0%.  Our batch-fried chips decreased 9.8% in net revenues in 2006.  Both decreases were due primarily to decreased promotional spending.

Gross profit for 2006 decreased to $13.3 million, but increased as a percentage of net revenues, (or 19.0% of net revenues) compared with gross profit of $14.1 million (or 18.7% of net revenues) in 2005.  Cost of revenues decreased slightly, 81.6% of net revenues last year to 81.0% this year.  This decrease was due primarily to decreased trade and promotional allowances, which are deducted from gross revenue, offset by the increase of other manufacturing costs such as freight expense and higher fuel costs.  Included in 2005 cost of revenues were $1.2 million of charges associated with slow-moving products, mainly attributable to the Cinnabon® brand product in the third and fourth quarters.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to $11.7 million in fiscal 2006, down from $13.6 million in 2005, or 16.7% versus 18.1% of net revenues.  The decrease was primarily due to costs in 2005 that did not repeat in 2006 consisting of severance fees, professional service fees, and costs incurred to investigate an acquisition opportunity that did not materialize.

The Company’s effective income tax rate was 41.7% in 2006 and 44.1% in 2005.  The decrease was the result of the impact of permanent differences between financial reporting and taxable income, primarily non-deductible travel and meals  expenses related to the above mentioned acquisition activity.

Net income for 2006 increased 289.8% to $1.1 million, or $0.06 per basic and diluted share, compared with net income of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share, in 2005.


Year ended December 31, 2005 compared to the year ended December 25, 2004

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Difference

 

(dollars in millions)

 

$

 

% of Rev

 

$

 

% of Rev

 

$

 

%

 

Net revenues

 

$

75.3

 

100.0

%

$

68.7

 

100.0

%

$

6.6

 

9.6

%

Cost of revenues

 

61.4

 

81.6

 

52.7

 

76.7

 

8.7

 

16.5

 

(Gain on sale)/write-down of equipment and brand discontinuance

 

(0.2

)

(0.3

)

1.7

 

2.5

 

(1.9

)

111.3

 

Gross profit

 

14.1

 

18.7

 

14.3

 

20.8

 

(0.2

)

(1.2

)

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

13.6

 

18.1

 

10.6

 

15.4

 

3.1

 

29.2

 

Operating income

 

0.5

 

0.7

 

3.7

 

5.4

 

(3.3

)

(87.8

)

Interest income (expense), net

 

 

0.1

 

(0.2

)

(0.3

)

0.2

 

129.9

 

Income before income taxes

 

0.5

 

0.7

 

3.5

 

5.1

 

(3.0

)

(85.8

)

Income tax benefit (provision)

 

(0.2

)

(0.3

)

(1.4

)

(2.0

)

1.2

 

84.3

 

Net income

 

$

0.3

 

0.4

%

$

2.1

 

3.1

%

$

(1.9

)

(86.9

)%

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, net revenues increased 9.6% to $75.3 million, compared with net revenues of $68.7 million for the previous fiscal year.  T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks net revenues remained relatively flat as compared to fiscal 2004, accounting for 65% of the Company’s total net revenues for fiscal 2005.  The Company’s batch-fried chips performed well in the year, up 13% as an aggregate, especially the Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand which grew 45% in net revenues in 2005 and the Tato Skin® brand declined slightly in fiscal 2005.  The Company’s distributed products segment revenues increased $1.2 million compared to fiscal 2004.

Gross profit for 2005 was relatively flat at $14.1 million (or 18.7% of net revenues) compared with gross profit of $14.3 million (or 20.8% of net revenues) in 2004.  Cost of revenues increased from 76.7% of net revenues last year to 81.6% this year.  This increase was due primarily to greater than expected trade and promotional allowances, which are deducted from gross revenue, and increased freight expense due to higher fuel costs.  Included in cost of revenues were charges associated with slow-moving new product, mainly attributable to the Cinnabon® branded product, in the third and fourth quarters, amounting to $1.2 million for 2005.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $13.6 million in fiscal 2005, up from $10.6 million in 2004, or 18.1% versus 15.4% of net revenues.  The increase was primarily due to severance fees, professional service fees and costs incurred to investigate an acquisition opportunity that did not materialize.

The Company’s effective income tax rate was 44.1% in 2005 and 39.7% in 2004.  This increase was the result of the impact of permanent differences between financial reporting and taxable income, primarily non-deductible travel and meals  expenses related to the above mentioned acquisition activity.

Net income for 2005 decreased 86.9% to $0.3 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share, compared with net income of $2.1 million, or $0.11 per basic and diluted share, in 2004.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net working capital was $13.4 million (a current ratio of 3.0:1) and $13.9 million (a current ratio of 2.8:1) at December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.  For the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006, the Company generated cash flow of $2.5 million from operating activities, invested $1.3 million in new land, building and equipment, made $0.5 million in payments on long-term debt, received $0.2 million in proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of stock options and repurchased $1.8 million in treasury stock.  For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, the Company generated cash flow of $0.5 million from operating activities, invested $0.6 million in new equipment, made $1.0 million in payments on long-term debt and received $0.8 million in proceeds from issuance of Common Stock primarily pursuant to the exercise of stock options.  For the fiscal year ended December 25, 2004, the Company generated cash flow of $6.5 million from operating activities, invested $0.5 million in new equipment, made $0.9 million in payments on long-term debt and received $1.3 million in proceeds from issuance of Common Stock primarily pursuant to the exercise of stock options.


The Company has a Line of Credit with U.S. Bancorp (collectively, the “Credit Agreement”) consisting of: (i) a $5.0 million line of credit with a borrowing limit calculated based on specified percentages of eligible receivables and inventories and (ii) a $0.5 million capital expenditures line of credit.

The Line of Credit bears interest at the prime rate less 0.5% (7.75% at December 30, 2006) and matures on June 30, 2008.  Interest is due monthly, with the outstanding principal balance due in full at the maturity date.  The Term Loan that existed at December 31, 2005 bore interest at the prime rate (7.25% at December 31, 2005) and matured on July 1, 2006.  Monthly principal payments of $68,782 plus interest were due under the Term Loan.  At December 30, 2006, there was no outstanding balance on the Line of Credit or the Term Loan.

The Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all assets of the Company.  The Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by each of its subsidiaries.  The agreement requires the Company to maintain compliance with certain financial covenants, including a minimum tangible net worth, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a minimum current ratio.  At December 30, 2006, the Company was in compliance with all covenants of the Credit Agreement.  Management believes that the fulfillment of the Company’s plans and objectives will enable the Company to attain a sufficient level of profitability to remain in compliance with these financial covenants. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will attain any such profitability and remain in compliance.

The Company’s Goodyear, Arizona manufacturing and distribution facility is subject to a mortgage loan from Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, bears interest at 9.03% per annum and is secured by the building and the land on which it is located.  The loan matures on July 1, 2012; however monthly principal and interest installments of $16,825 are determined based on a twenty-year amortization period.

The Company’s Bluffton, Indiana manufacturing and distribution facility was purchased for $3.0 million in December, 2006.  A mortgage loan from U.S. Bank National Association, bears interest at the 30 day LIBOR plus 165 basis points and is secured by the building and the land on which it is located.  The loan matures in December, 2016; however monthly principal and interest installments of $18,392 are determined based on a twenty-year amortization period.

During 2006, 2005 and 2004, the Company received $0.2 million, $0.8 million and $1.3 million of proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock.  These proceeds were primarily due to the exercise of stock options.

At December 30, 2006, the Company had a net operating loss carryforward available for federal income taxes of approximately $1.9 million.  The Company’s accumulated net operating loss carryforward will begin to expire in varying amounts between 2010 and 2018.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Under SEC regulations, in certain circumstances, the Company is required to make certain disclosures regarding the following off-balance sheet arrangements, if material:

·                  Any obligation under certain guarantee contracts;

·                  Any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity or similar arrangement that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to that entity for such assets;

·                  Any obligation under certain derivative instruments; and

·                  Any obligation arising out of a material variable interest held by us in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to us, or engages in leasing, hedging or research and development services with us.

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that are required to be disclosed pursuant to these regulations, other than those described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  The Company does not have, nor does it engage in, transactions with any special purpose entities.  Other than an interest rate swap, the Company is not engaged in any derivative activities and had no forward exchange contracts outstanding at December 30, 2006.  In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into operating lease commitments, purchase commitments and other contractual obligations.  These transactions are recognized in our financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, and are more fully discussed below.

22




Contractual Obligations

The table below outlines the Company’s future contractual financial obligations as of December 30, 2006, due by period:

 

 

 

 

Less than 1

 

 

 

 

 

More than 5

 

 

 

Total

 

Year

 

1 — 3 Years

 

3 — 5 Years

 

Years

 

Long-term debt (including interest)

 

$

6,944,693

 

$

422,601

 

$

845,202

 

$

845,202

 

$

4,831,688

 

Operating leases.

 

4,378,960

 

1,356,733

 

1,595,458

 

1,059,066

 

367,703

 

Outside Warehouse Minimum Monthly Usage Charges

 

2,376,000

 

1,188,000

 

1,188,000

 

 

 

Royalty payments (i)

 

196,800

 

98,400

 

98,400

 

 

 

Total contractual cash obligations

 

$

13,896,453

 

$

3,065,734

 

$

3,727,060

 

$

1,904,268

 

$

5,199,391

 


(i)                Remaining minimum royalty payments due licensors pursuant to brand licensing agreements discussed in “Item 1: Business” under the “Patents, Trademarks and Licenses” section.

For information regarding the Company’s long-term debt, please read “Liquidity and Capital Resources” above and Note 6 in Item 8.

The Company has entered into a variety of operating leases for equipment and facilities.  For information regarding the Company’s facility leases, please read “Item 2:  Properties” and Note 8 in Item 8.

The Company currently has no material marketing or capital expenditure commitments.

Management’s Plans

In connection with the implementation of the Company’s business strategy, the Company may incur operating losses in the future and may require future debt or equity financings (particularly in connection with future strategic acquisitions, new brand introductions or capital expenditures).  Expenditures relating to acquisition-related integration costs, market and territory expansion and new product development and introduction may adversely affect promotional and operating expenses and consequently may adversely affect operating and net income.  These types of expenditures are expensed for accounting purposes as incurred, while revenue generated from the result of such expansion or new products may benefit future periods.  Management believes that the Company will generate positive cash flow from operations during the next twelve months, which, along with its existing working capital and borrowing facilities, will enable the Company to meet its operating cash requirements for the next twelve months.  The belief is based on current operating plans and certain assumptions, including   those relating to the Company’s future revenue levels and expenditures, industry and general economic conditions and other conditions. If any of these factors change, the Company may require future debt or equity financings to meet its business requirements. There can be no assurance that any required financings will be available or, if available, will be on terms attractive to the Company.

Inflation and Seasonality

While inflation has not had a significant effect on operations in the last year, management recognizes that inflationary pressures may have an adverse effect on the Company as a result of higher asset replacement costs and related depreciation and higher material and fuel costs.  Additionally, the Company may be subject to seasonal price increases for raw materials.  The Company attempts to minimize the fluctuation in seasonal costs by entering into purchase commitments in advance, which have the effect of smoothing out price volatility. The Company will attempt to minimize overall price inflation, if any, through increased sales prices and productivity improvements.


Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The Securities and Exchange Commission indicated that a “critical accounting policy”on March 28, 2008 (the “Annual Report”).  This Amendment No. 1 is one whichbeing filed solely to amend the Section 302 certifications appended as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2.  Specifically, the Company is both importantrefiling these certifications solely to the portrayaladd certain required language in Statement 4 of the Company’s financial condition and results and requires management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matterscertifications that are inherently uncertain.  The Company believes that the following accounting policies fit this definition:

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.  The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resultingwas inadvertently omitted from the inability of its customers to make required payments.  IfCompany’s certifications in the financial condition ofAnnual Report.  Accordingly, new certifications by the Company’s customers wereprincipal executive officer and principal financial officer that include the inadvertently omitted language are being filed as exhibits to deteriorate, resulting in an impairmentthis Form 10-K/A under Item 15 of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.Part IV hereof.

Inventories.  The Company’s inventories are stated at

Except for the lower of cost (first-in, first-out)matter described above, this amendment does not change any previously reported financial results, modify or market.  The Company identifies slow moving or obsolete inventories and estimates appropriate loss provisions related thereto.  If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

Goodwill and Trademarks.  Goodwill and trademarks are reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise.  Goodwill is required to be tested for impairment between the annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value.  Intangible assets with indefinite lives are required to be tested for impairment between the annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change indicating that the asset might be impaired.  The Company believes at this time that the carrying values continue to be appropriate.  Further discussion of goodwill and trademarks is expanded upon below:

·                  The Company’s Bob’s Texas Style potato chip brand was acquired in 1998 when the business of Tejas Snacks, L.P. was acquired. The Bob’s Texas Style trademark has a carrying value of approximately $1.2 million.

·                  The Company’s Tato Skins potato chip brand was acquired in 1999 when the business of Wabash Foods was acquired. The Wabash - Tato Skins trademark has a carrying value of approximately $2.1 million.

·                  The Company’s Boulder Canyon potato chip brand was acquired in 2000 when the business of Boulder Natural Foods, Inc. was acquired. The Boulder Canyon trademark has a carrying value of $0.9 million.

In determining that each of these trademarks has an indefinite life, management considered the factors found in paragraph 11 of SFAS No. 142. Management believes that each of these trademarks has the continued ability to generate cash flows indefinitely. Management’s determination that these trademarks have indefinite lives includes an evaluation of historical cash flows and projected cash flows for each of these trademarks. The Company continues making investments to market and promote each of these brands, and management continues to believe that the market opportunities and brand extension opportunities will generate cash flows for an indefinite period of time. In addition, there are no legal, regulatory, contractual, economic or other factors to limit the useful life of these trademarks, and management intends to renew each of these trademarks, which can be accomplished at little cost.

The Company recorded goodwill for each of the three acquisitions noted above. The acquired businesses were fully integrated into and are includedupdate disclosures in the Company’s Branded Products business segment. Consequently, all goodwill is attributable to the Company’s Manufactured Products business segment.

Advertising and Promotional Expenses and Trade Spending.  The Company expenses production costs of advertising the first time the advertising takes place, except for cooperative advertising costs which are expensed when the related sales are recognized.  Costs associated with obtaining shelf space (i.e., “slotting fees”) are accounted for as a reduction of revenue in the period in which such costs are incurred by the Company.  Anytime the Company offers consideration (cashAnnual Report, or credit) as a trade advertising or promotional allowance to a purchaser of products at any point along the distribution chain, the amount is accrued and recorded as a reduction in revenue.  Marketing programs that deal directly with the consumer, primarily consisting of in-store demonstrations/samples and a sponsorship with a professional baseball team, are recorded as a marketing expense in selling, general and administrative expenses.  Further discussion of these marketing programs is expanded upon below:


·Demonstrations/Samples:  The Company periodically arranges in-store product demonstrations with club stores (i.e. Sam’s, Costco or BJ’s) or grocery retailers.  Product demonstrations are conducted by independent third party providers designated by the various retailer or club chains.  During the in-store demonstrations the consumers in the stores receive small samples of our products, and consumers are not required to purchase our product in order to receive the sample. The cost of product used in the demonstrations, which is insignificant, and the fee we pay to the independent third party providers who conduct the in-store demonstrations are recorded as a sales and marketing expense in selling, general and administrative expenses. When we conduct in-store product demonstrations, we do not pay or give any consideration to the club stores or grocery retailers in which the demonstrations occur.

·Sponsorship:  The Company has one sponsorship with the Arizona Diamondbacks Major League Baseball team which takes place during their baseball season. We do not sell product to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the sponsorship clearly involves an identifiable benefit to us as the fans at the stadium see our name on the main scoreboard during each game and the value is reasonably estimated due to the fact that the team charges us a fixed amount per game which we record as a sales and marketing expense in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Income Taxes.  The Company has been profitable since 1999; however, it experienced significant net losses in prior fiscal years resulting in a net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward for federal income tax purposes of approximately $1.9 million at December 30, 2006.  Generally accepted accounting principles require that the Company record a valuation allowance against the deferred tax asset associated with this NOL if it is “more likely than not” that the Company will not be able to utilize it to offset future taxes.

Stock-Based CompensationOn January 1, 2006, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 123R,“Share-Based Payment”, under the modified prospective method.  SFAS 123R requires us to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for stock options granted using the fair value method as of the beginning of 2006.We account for our stock options under the fair value method of accounting using a Black-Scholes valuation model to measure stock option fair values atreflect events occurring after the date of grant. All stock option grants have a 5-year term. The fair value of stock option grants is amortized to expense over the vesting period, generally three years for employees and one year for the Board of Directors.

The above listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list of allfiling of the Company’s accounting policies.  In many cases the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by generally accepted accounting principles, with no need for management’s judgment in their application.  See the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K which contain accounting policies and other disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (SAB 108), to address diversity in practice in quantifying financial statement misstatements.  SAB 108 states that companies should use both an income statement (rollover) approach and a balance sheet (iron curtain) approach when quantifying and evaluating materiality of a misstatement.   SAB108 was effective for the Company as of December 30, 2006.  The Company’s adoption of SAB 108 did not affect the financial statements.

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109  (FIN 48), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in tax positions.  FIN 48 requires that the Company recognize in its financial statements the impact of a tax position if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective as of the beginning of our 2007 fiscal year, with the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle recorded as an adjustment to opening retained earnings. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of FIN 48 and has not yet completed its initial evaluation.  As a result, the Company has not yet determined the effect adoption will have on financial position or results of operation.


In September 2006, FASB issued SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  This statement is applied in conjunction with other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and, accordingly, this statement does not require any new fair value measurements.  Therefore, the adoption of this SFAS 157 is not expected to have a material impact on the financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“SFAS No. 159”).  SFAS No. 159 allows entities to choose to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings of each subsequent reporting date.  The fair value election is available for most financial assets and liabilities on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is to be elected on the date the financial instrument is initially recognized.  SFAS 159 is effective for all entities as of the beginning of a reporting entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007 (with earlier application permitted under certain circumstances).  The Company has not determined what impact, if any, the adoption of SFAS No. 159 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

Item 7A.     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The principal market risks to which the Company is exposed that may adversely impact the Company’s results of operations and financial position are changes in certain raw material prices and interest rates.  The Company has no market risk sensitive instruments held for trading purposes.

Raw materials used by the Company are exposed to the impact of changing commodity prices.  The Company’s most significant raw material requirements include potatoes, potato flakes, wheat flour, corn and oil.  The Company attempts to minimize the effect of future price fluctuations related to the purchase of raw materials primarily through forward purchasing to cover future manufacturing requirements, generally for periods from one to 12 months.  Futures contracts are not used in combination with the forward purchasing of these raw materials.  The Company’s procurement practices are intended to reduce the risk of future price increases, but also may potentially limit the ability to benefit from possible price decreases.  Inflation and changing prices have not had a material impact on the Company’s net revenues and net income.  Increased transportation costs, driven by higher fuel prices, could result in higher commodity costs in the future.

The Company entered into an interest rate swap in 2006 to effectively convert the interest rate of the mortgage to purchase the Bluffton, IN plant to a fixed rate of 6.85%.  The swap is not accounted for as a cash flow hedge, and as a result, unrealized gains and losses are recorded in the Company’s consolidated statement of income.  The swap has a fixed pay-rate of 6.85% and a notional amount of $2.4 million at December 30, 2006 and expires in December, 2016.  The value of the swap is recorded as a $29,250 liability at December 30, 2006.

The Company’s primary concentration of credit risk is related to certain trade accounts receivable.  In the normal course of business, the Company extends unsecured credit to its customers.  Substantially all of the Company’s customers are distributors or retailers whose sales are concentrated in the grocery industry, throughout the United States.  The Company investigates a customer’s credit worthiness before extending credit.  Two customers (Wal*Mart and Vistar) accounted for approximately 24% of net revenues during fiscal 2006 and for approximately 20% of the Company’s accounts receivable balance at December 30, 2006.

Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

35

Consolidated balance sheets as of December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005

36

Consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 30, 2006,

December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004

37

Consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity for the years ended December 30, 2006,

December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004

38

Consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 30, 2006,

December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004

39

Notes to consolidated financial statements

40

Item 9.        Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.


Item 9A.     Controls and Procedures.

(a)               Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report have been designed and are functioning effectively to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer do not expect that the Company’s internal controls will prevent all errors and all fraud.  A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.  Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of internal controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that internal controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

No change occurred in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the three months ended December 31, 2006 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B.     Other Information.

None.Report.

 

273





PART IIITable of Contents

Item 10.     Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

Code of Ethics

Each of the Company’s directors, officers and employees are required to comply with The Inventure Group, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics adopted by the Company.  The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics sets forth policies covering a broad range of subjects and requires strict adherence to laws and regulations applicable to the Company’s business.  The Company has also adopted a Financial Code of Ethics for its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and all other finance managers.  The Financial Code of Ethics supplements the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and is intended to emphasize the importance of honest and ethical conduct in connection with the Company’s financial reporting obligations.  The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the Financial Code of Ethics are available on the Company’s website at www.poorebrothers.com, under the “Investors-Governance” captions.  Copies of these Codes may also be obtained, without charge, by any shareholder upon written request directed to the Secretary of the Company at 5050 N. 40th St. Suite #300, Phoenix, Arizona 85018.  The Company will post to its website any amendments to these Codes, or waiver from the provisions thereof, applicable to the Company’s directors or any principal executive officer, principal financial officer principal accounting officer or controller, or any person performing similar functions under the “Investors-Governance-Code of Business Conduct-Waivers” caption.

The information regarding Directors and Executive Officers appearing under the headings “Proposal 1: Election of Directors,” “Executive Officers”, “Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” of the Company’s 2007 Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference in this section.

Item 11.     Executive Compensation

The information appearing under the headings “Compensation of Directors,” “Employment Agreements,” “Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation” and “Executive Compensation” of the Company’s 2007 Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference in this section.

Item 12.     Security Ownership of Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information appearing under the headings “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans” of the Company’s 2007 Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference in this section.

Item 13.     Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

The information appearing under the heading “Proposal 1: Election of Directors” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” of the Company’s 2007 Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference in this section.

Item 14.     Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Information appearing under the heading “Independent Auditors” of the Company’s 2007 Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference in this section.


PART IV

Item 15.         Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules:

The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K

1.              Financial Statements(b)           Exhibits

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated balance sheets as of December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005

Consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and

December 25, 2004

Consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity for the years ended December 30, 2006, December 31, 2005

and December 25, 2004

Consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and

December 25, 2004

Notes to consolidated financial statements

2.              Financial Schedules

Schedules have been omitted because of the absence of conditions under which they are required or because the information required is included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

3.              Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K:

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

3.131.1

Certificate of Incorporation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 23, 1995. (13)

3.2

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 3, 1995. (13)

3.3

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 7, 1999. (13)

3.4

By-Laws of the Company (as amended and restated on January 11, 2005). (15)

3.5

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 23, 2006. (28)

4.1

Specimen Certificate for shares of Common Stock. (1)

4.4

Warrant to purchase 400,000 shares of Common Stock, issued by the Company to Wabash Foods on October 7, 1999. (2)

4.5

Form of Revolving Note, Term Note A and Term Note B issued by the Company to U.S. Bancorp Republic Commercial Finance, Inc. on October 7, 1999. (4)


10.1*

Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreements dated August 1, 1995, August 31, 1995 and February 29, 1996, by and between the Company and Mark S. Howells. (1)

10.5*

Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of October 22, 1996, by and between the Company and Mark S. Howells. (1)

10.6*

Letter Agreement dated as of November 5, 1996, by and between the Company and Jeffrey J. Puglisi. (1)

10.7*

Letter Agreement dated November 1, 1996, by and among the Company, Mark S. Howells, Jeffrey J. Puglisi, David J. Brennan and Parris H. Holmes, Jr. (1)

10.8*

Letter Agreement dated December 4, 1996, by and between the Company and Jeffrey J. Puglisi, relating to stock options. (1)

10.9*

Letter Agreement dated December 4, 1996, by and between the Company and Mark S. Howells, relating to stock options. (1)

10.10

Fixed Rate Note dated June 4, 1997, by and between La Cometa Properties, Inc. and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York. (3)

10.11

Deed of Trust and Security Agreement dated June 4, 1997, by and between La Cometa Properties, Inc. and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York. (3)

10.12

Guaranty Agreement dated June 4, 1997, by and between the Company and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York. (3)

10.13

Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Limited Liability Company Membership Interests dated as of August 16, 1999, by and between Pate Foods Corporation, Wabash Foods and the Company. (2)

10.14

Letter Agreement dated July 30, 1999 by and between the Company and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated. (5)

10.15*

Poore Brothers, Inc. 1995 Stock Option Plan, as amended. (4)

10.16

Credit Agreement, dated as of October 3, 1999, by and between the Company and U.S. Bancorp Republic Commercial Finance, Inc. (4)

10.17

Security Agreement, dated as of October 3, 1999, by and between the Company and U.S. Bancorp Republic Commercial Finance, Inc. (4)

10.18

Commercial Lease, dated May 1, 1998, by and between Wabash Foods, LLC and American Pacific Financial Corporation. (4)

10.19

Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Assets of Boulder Potato Company dated as of June 8, 2000, by and among the Company, the shareholders of Boulder Potato Company, and Boulder Potato Company. (6)

10.20

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 8, 2000, by and between Boulder Potato Company and the Company. (6)

10.21

First Amendment, dated as of June 30, 2000, to Credit Agreement, dated as of October 3, 1999, by and between the Company and U.S. Bancorp. (6)

10.22

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement (dated March 2, 2001), by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association. (7)

10.23

License Agreement, dated April 3, 2000, by and between the Company and TGI Friday’s Inc. (Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.) (7)

10.24

Third Amendment to Credit Agreement (dated March 30, 2001), by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association. (8)

10.25

First Amendment to License Agreement, dated as of July 11, 2001, by and between the Company and TGI Friday’s Inc. (certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a confidentiality treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.) (9)

10.27

Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement (dated as of June 29, 2002), by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association. (10)

10.28

License Agreement, dated November 20, 2002, by and between the Company and Warner Bros., a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. (Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.) (11)

10.29

License Agreement, dated November 20, 2002, by and between the Company and Warner Bros., a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. (Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.) (11)

10.30

License Agreement, dated July 19, 2000, by and between the Company and M.J. Quinlan & Associates Pty. Limited (Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.). (11)

10.31

Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement (dated as of September 27, 2003) by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association. (12)

10.32

License Agreement, dated November 10, 2003, by and between the Company and Warner Bros. Consumer Products Inc. (Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.). (13)


10.33

Commercial Lease Agreement, dated May 22, 2003, by and between the Company and Westland Park LLC (13)

10.34

Warehouse Services Agreement, dated June 30, 2003, by and between the Company and Customized Distribution Services, Inc. (13)

10.35

License Agreement - #13770-WBLT-Amendment 1, dated June 14, 2004, by and between the Company and Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Inc. (14)

10.36

License Agreement - #14559-SCOO-Amendment 1, dated June 14, 2004, by and between the Company and Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Inc. (14)

10.37*

Form of Officer Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement. (16)

10.38*

Summary of Director Compensation. (17)

10.39

Agreement between Poore Brothers, Inc. and Cinnabon, Inc. entered into as of September 10, 2004, but becoming material in the reporting period of June 25, 2005 (certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission). (18)

10.40

Loan Agreement (Revolving Line of Credit Loan and Term Loan) dated August 19, 2005 between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association. (19)

10.41

Security Agreement relating to the Loan Agreement dated August 19, 2005 between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association. (19)

10.42

$5 Million Promissory Note (Facility 1 - Revolving Line of Credit Loan) dated August 19, 2005 between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association. (19)

10.43

$756,603 Promissory Note (Facility 2 — Term Loan) dated August 19, 2005 between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association. (19)

10.44*

Executive Employment Agreement dated August 1, 2005 between the Company and Steven Sklar. (19)

10.45*

Restricted Stock Agreement dated August 1, 2005 between the Company and Steven Sklar. (19)

10.46*

Letter Agreement dated as of December 14, 2005, by and between the Company and Eric J. Kufel. (20)

10.47*

Letter Agreement dated as of December 16, 2005, by and between the Company and Thomas W. Freeze. (20)

10.48*

Letter Agreement dated as of December 16, 2005, by and between the Company and Richard M. Finkbeiner. (20)

10.49*

Poore Brothers, Inc. Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. (21)

10.50*

Form of Director Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement — Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. (23)

10.51*

Form of Employee Incentive Stock Option Agreement — Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. (23)

10.52*

Executive Employment Agreement by and between Poore Brothers, Inc. and Eric J. Kufel, dated as of February 14, 2006. (22)

10.53*

Executive Employment Agreement by and between Poore Brothers, Inc. and Terry McDaniel, dated as of April 17, 2006. (25)

10.54

Commercial Lease Agreement, dated May 8, 2006, by and between the Company and B.G. Associates, Inc. (26)

10.55*

Letter Agreement dated as of April 21, 2006, by and between the Company and Thomas Tierney. (27)

10.56*

Summary of Director and Officer Compensation. (28)

10.57*

Executive Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Steve Weinberger, dated as of July 27, 2006. (29)

14.1

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (30)

14.2

Financial Code of Ethics (30)

21.1

List of Subsidiaries of the Company. (30)

23.1

Consent of Deloitte & Touche, LLP. (30)

31

Certification of Chief Executive Officer andpursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15(d)-14(a). (1)

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15(d)-14(a). (30)

32

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (30)(1)


  *                Management compensatory plan or arrangement.

(1)               Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2, Registration No. 333-5594-LA.

(2)               Incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 15, 1999.

(3)               Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended June 30, 1997.

(4)               Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.

(5)               Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1999.

(6)               Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended June 30, 2000.

(7)               Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 2001.


(8)               Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended June 30, 2001.

(9)               Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2001.

(10)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 28, 2002.

(11)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2002.

(12)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 27, 2003.

(13)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2003.

(14)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 26, 2004.

(15)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 12, 2005.

(16)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 23, 2004.

(17)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2004.

(18)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on 10-Q for the quarter ended June 25, 2005.

(19)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on 10-Q for the quarter ended October 1, 2005

(20)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 19, 2005.

(21)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2006.

(22)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on February 16, 2006.

(23)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

(24)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 10, 2006.

(25)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 17, 2006.

(26)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on 10-Q for the quarter ended April 1, 2006.

(27)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 21, 2006.

(28)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 26, 2006.

(29)         Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 27, 2006.

(30)           Filed herewith.

 

324





Table of Contents

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.

Dated:   March 29, 2007

August 11, 2008

THE INVENTURE GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

By:

   

/s/  Eric J. Kufel

/s/ Terry McDaniel

 

 

 

Eric J. Kufel   Terry McDaniel

 

 

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, in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Eric J. KufelTerry McDaniel

 

Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

March 29, 2007August 11, 2008

Eric J. KufelTerry McDaniel

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Steve Weinberger

 

Chief Financial Officer, Secretary & Treasurer

 

March 29, 2007August 11, 2008

Steve Weinberger

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Larry R. Polhill

 

Chairman and Director

 

March 29, 2007August 11, 2008

Larry R. Polhill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Ashton D. Asensio

 

Director

 

March 29, 2007August 11, 2008

Ashton D. Asensio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Mark S. Howells

 

Director

 

March 29, 2007August 11, 2008

Mark S. Howells

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Macon Bryce Edmonson

 

Director

 

March 29, 2007August 11, 2008

Macon Bryce Edmonson

 

 

 

 


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
The Inventure Group, Inc.
Phoenix, Arizona

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The Inventure Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (formerly Poore Brothers, Inc. and subsidiaries) (the “Company”) as of December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 30, 2006.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  An audit includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, 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, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Inventure Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (f/k/a Poore Brothers, Inc. and subsidiaries) as of December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 30, 2006, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123(R) Share-Based Payment, using the modified prospective method.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Phoenix, Arizona
March 29, 2007

34




THE INVENTURE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(FORMERLY POORE BROTHERS, INC. AND SUSIDIARIES)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

December 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

8,671,259

 

$

9,695,245

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $26,452 in2006 and $187,107 in 2005

 

6,284,163

 

6,671,521

 

Inventories

 

3,459,236

 

2,816,246

 

Deferred income tax asset

 

1,103,064

 

1,806,718

 

Other current assets

 

521,208

 

422,065

 

Total current assets

 

20,038,930

 

21,411,795

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

12,534,444

 

10,109,654

 

Goodwill

 

5,986,252

 

5,986,252

 

Trademarks

 

4,207,032

 

4,207,032

 

Other assets

 

45,606

 

88,836

 

Total assets.

 

$

42,812,264

 

$

41,803,569

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

3,440,033

 

$

3,309,591

 

Accrued liabilities

 

2,975,723

 

3,506,332

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

112,113

 

529,176

 

Current portion of accrued costs related to brand discontinuance and other exit cost accruals

 

98,400

 

177,424

 

Total current liabilities

 

6,626,269

 

7,522,523

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, less current portion

 

3,973,461

 

1,681,432

 

Non-current portion of accrued costs related to brand discontinuance and other exit cost accruals

 

91,428

 

179,617

 

Deferred income tax liability

 

2,200,114

 

2,177,140

 

Total liabilities

 

12,891,272

 

11,560,712

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 8 and 12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $100 par value; 50,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding at December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005

 

 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 20,150,746 and 20,077,080 shares issued and outstanding at December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

 

201,508

 

200,771

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

28,854,243

 

28,424,817

 

Retained earnings

 

2,710,662

 

1,617,269

 

 

 

31,766,413

 

30,242,857

 

Less : treasury stock, at cost: 818,740 shares at December 30,2006 and no shares at December 31, 2005

 

(1,845,421

)

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

29,920,992

 

30,242,857

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

42,812,264

 

$

41,803,569

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


THE INVENTURE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(FORMERLY POORE BROTHERS, INC. AND SUSIDIARIES)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 30,

 

December 31,

 

December 25,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

$

69,818,930

 

$

75,332,541

 

$

68,734,763

 

Cost of revenues

 

56,563,445

 

61,435,762

 

52,747,106

 

(Gain on sale)/write-down of equipment

 

 

(194,359

)

308,104

 

Costs related to brand discontinuance

 

 

 

1,414,759

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

13,255,485

 

14,091,138

 

14,264,794

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

11,639,518

 

13,638,684

 

10,558,544

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

1,615,967

 

452,454

 

3,706,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income (expense), net

 

260,425

 

49,274

 

(164,797

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income tax provision

 

1,876,392

 

501,728

 

3,541,453

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax provision

 

(782,999

)

(221,244

)

(1,406,739

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

1,093,393

 

$

280,484

 

$

2,134,714

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.06

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.11

 

Diluted

 

$

0.06

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

19,833,068

 

19,763,992

 

18,794,977

 

Diluted

 

19,856,280

 

19,946,941

 

18,947,553

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


THE INVENTURE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(FORMERLY POORE BROTHERS, INC. AND SUSIDIARIES)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

Common Stock

 

Additional

 

Retained

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Paid-in
Capital

 

Earnings
(Deficit)

 

Treasury 
Stock, at Cost

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, December 27, 2003

 

18,581,788

 

$

185,817

 

$

25,673,752

 

$

(797,929

)

$

 

$

25,061,640

 

Exercise of common stock options, including related tax benefit

 

878,499

 

8,785

 

1,602,947

 

 

 

1,611,732

 

Other issuances of common stock

 

187,274

 

1,874

 

(1,874

)

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

2,134,714

 

 

2,134,714

 

Balance, December 25, 2004

 

19,647,561

 

196,476

 

27,274,825

 

1,336,785

 

 

28,808,086

 

Exercise of common stock options, including related tax benefit

 

394,166

 

3,942

 

1,130,586

 

 

 

1,134,528

 

Issuance of restricted stock

 

35,353

 

353

 

174,647

 

 

 

175,000

 

Deferred compensation expense, net of amortization

 

 

 

(155,241

)

 

 

(155,241

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

280,484

 

 

280,484

 

Balance, December 31, 2005

 

20,077,080

 

200,771

 

28,424,817

 

1,617,269

 

 

30,242,857

 

Exercise of common stock options, including related tax benefit

 

61,666

 

617

 

162,030

 

 

 

162,647

 

Issuance of restricted stock and compensation cost, net of unearned deferred compensation and amortization

 

12,000

 

120

 

62,635

 

 

 

62,755

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

204,761

 

 

 

204,761

 

Purchase of treasury stock, at cost

 

 

 

 

 

(1,845,421

)

(1,845,421

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

1,093,393

 

 

1,093,393

 

Balance, December 30, 2006

 

20,150,746

 

$

201,508

 

$

28,854,243

 

$

2,710,662

 

$

(1,845,421

)

$

29,920,992

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


THE INVENTURE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(FORMERLY POORE BROTHERS, INC. AND SUSIDIARIES)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 30,
2006

 

December 31,
2005

 

December 25,
2004

 

Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

1,093,393

 

$

280,484

 

$

2,134,714

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

1,255,391

 

1,214,262

 

1,340,453

 

Amortization

 

5,835

 

5,836

 

25,163

 

Provision for bad debts

 

(94,558

)

83,456

 

(111,623

)

Other asset amortization

 

 

 

44,066

 

Deferred income taxes

 

726,629

 

(76,107

)

969,899

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

204,761

 

 

 

Amortization of deferred compensation expense

 

62,755

 

19,406

 

 

Costs related to brand discontinuance

 

 

 

1,758,919

 

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

 

 

330,559

 

315,017

 

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

 

(8,916

)

 

 

(Gain on sale)/write-down of equipment

 

 

(194,359

)

308,104

 

Loss on disposition of equipment

 

12,011

 

49,046

 

16,571

 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

481,916

 

(1,375,615

)

446,367

 

Inventories, net of brand discontinuance write-offs

 

(642,990

)

(670,504

)

(1,390

)

Other assets and liabilities

 

(228,961

)

(529,047

)

(139,705

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(400,167

)

1,349,849

 

(559,426

)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

2,467,099

 

487,266

 

6,547,129

 

Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of land, building and equipment

 

(1,298,522

)

(563,249

)

(455,769

)

Proceeds from disposition of equipment

 

6,330

 

281,250

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

(1,292,192

)

(281,999

)

(455,769

)

Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

162,647

 

804,322

 

1,296,715

 

Payments made on long-term debt

 

(525,035

)

(989,834

)

(952,155

)

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

 

8,916

 

 

 

Treasury stock purchases

 

(1,845,421

)

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

(2,198,893

)

(185,512

)

344,560

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(1,023,986

)

19,755

 

6,435,920

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

9,695,245

 

9,675,490

 

3,239,570

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

8,671,259

 

$

9,695,245

 

$

9,675,490

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash investing and financing transactions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land and building acquired with mortgage financing

 

$

2,400,000

 

 

 

Cashflow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the year for interest

 

$

172,527

 

$

150,979

 

$

293,908

 

Cash paid during the year for taxes

 

5,000

 

442,392

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

38




THE INVENTURE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(FORMERLY POORE BROTHERS, INC. AND SUSIDIARIES)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.     Organization, Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

The Inventure Group, Inc., (“the Company”) a Delaware corporation, was formed in 1995 as a holding company to acquire a potato chip manufacturing and distribution business, which had been founded by Donald and James Poore in 1986.  The Company changed its name from Poore Brothers, Inc. to The Inventure Group, Inc. on April 10, 2006.

In December 1996, the Company completed an initial public offering of its Common Stock.  In November 1998, the Company acquired the business and certain assets (including the Bob’s Texas Style® potato chip brand) of Tejas Snacks, L.P. (“Tejas”), a Texas-based potato chip manufacturer.  In October 1999, the Company acquired Wabash Foods, LLC (“Wabash”) including the Tato Skins®, O’Boisies®, and Pizzarias® trademarks and the Bluffton, Indiana manufacturing operation and assumed all of Wabash Foods’ liabilities.  In June 2000, the Company acquired Boulder Natural Foods, Inc. (“Boulder”) and the Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand of totally natural potato chips.

In October 2000, the Company launched its T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks pursuant to a license agreement with TGI Friday’s Inc., which expires in 2014.

In June 2003, the Company launched its Crunch Toons® brand potato snacks, initially featuring characters pursuant to a multi-year license agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products.  The Company decided to discontinue the brand in June 2004, and ceased using its license agreements with Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

In April 2005, the Company launched its Cinnabon® brand pursuant to a license agreement with Cinnabon, Inc.  We have decided the Cinnabon® brand license does not fit into our strategic plan going forward and therefore the Company terminated the agreement.  The Company ceased selling product under the Cinnabon® brand in 2006.

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday occurring in the month of December of each calendar year.  Accordingly, fiscal 2006 commenced January 1, 2006 and ended December 30, 2006.  In 2005, we had an additional week of results (53rd) week.  Our fiscal year ends on the last Saturday of each December, resulting in an additional week of results every five or six years.  In these consolidated financial statements, the additional week of results occurred in the third quarter of 2005.

Business

The Company is engaged in the development, production, marketing and distribution of innovative snack food products that are sold primarily through grocery retailers, mass merchandisers, club stores, convenience stores and vend distributors across the United States.  The Company currently manufactures and sells nationally T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks under license from TGI Friday’s Inc.  We also distribute Braids® and pretzels.  The Company also currently (i) manufactures and sells its own brands of snack food products, including Poore Brothers®, Bob’s Texas Style® and Boulder Canyon Natural FoodsTM brand batch-fried potato chips and Tato Skins® brand potato snacks, (ii) manufactures private label potato chips for grocery retail chains in the Southwest and (iii) distributes in Arizona snack food products that are manufactured by others.  The Company sells its T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snack products to mass merchandisers, grocery, club and drug stores directly and to primarily convenience stores and vend operators through independent distributors.  The Company’s other brands are also sold through independent distributors.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Inventure Group, Inc. and all of its wholly owned subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany amounts and transactions have been eliminated.


Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  The Company routinely evaluates its estimates, including those related to accruals for customer programs and incentives, product returns, brand discontinuance costs, bad debts, income taxes, long-lived assets, inventories and contingencies.  The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

At December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the carrying value of cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair values since they are short-term in nature.  The carrying value of the long-term debt approximates fair-value based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for long-term borrowings with similar terms, except for the mortgage loan with fixed interest at 9.03%, which has a fair value of $1.3 million and $1.4 million at December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.  The Company estimates fair values of financial instruments by using available market information.  Considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimate of fair value.  Accordingly, the estimate may not be indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market exchange.  The use of different market assumptions or valuation methodologies could have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company utilizes an interest rate swap in the management of its variable interest rate exposure and does not enter into derivatives for trading purposes.  All derivatives are measured at fair value and recorded in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability.  Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded currently in earnings unless hedge accounting criteria are met.

Because the Company did not qualify the interest rate swap for hedge accounting, the change in fair value of the derivative financial instrument is reflected in current period earnings.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market.  The Company identifies slow moving or obsolete inventories and estimates appropriate loss provisions related thereto.  If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost.  Cost includes expenditures for major improvements and replacements.  Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations when incurred.  When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related costs and accumulated depreciation are removed from the appropriate accounts, and the resulting gain or loss is recognized.  Depreciation expense is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from 2 to 30 years.  We capitalize certain computer software and software development costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining computer software for internal use. Capitalized software costs are included in property, plant and equipment and amortized on a straight-line basis when placed into service over three years.


In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,”, the Company evaluates the recoverability of property and equipment not held for sale by comparing the carrying amount of the asset or group of assets against the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset or group of assets and their eventual disposition.  If the undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset or group of assets being evaluated, an impairment loss is recorded.  The loss is measured as the difference between the fair value and carrying value of the asset or group of assets being evaluated.  Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or the fair value less cost to sell.  The estimated fair value would be based on the best information available under the circumstances, including prices for similar assets or the results of valuation techniques, including the present value of expected future cash flows using a discount rate commensurate with the risks involved.

Intangible Assets

Goodwill and trademarks are reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise.  Goodwill is required to be tested for impairment between the annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value.  Intangible assets with indefinite lives are required to be tested for impairment between the annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change indicating that the asset might be impaired.  The Company believes at this time that the carrying values continue to be appropriate.  Further discussion of goodwill and trademarks is expanded upon below:

·                  The Company’s Bob’s Texas Style potato chip brand was acquired in 1998 when the business of Tejas Snacks, L.P. was acquired. The Bob’s Texas Style trademark has a carrying value of approximately $1.2 million.

·                  The Company’s Tato Skins potato chip brand was acquired in 1999 when the business of Wabash Foods was acquired. The Wabash - Tato Skins trademark has a carrying value of approximately $2.1 million.

·                  The Company’s Boulder Canyon potato chip brand was acquired in 2000 when the business of Boulder Natural Foods, Inc. was acquired. The Boulder Canyon trademark has a carrying value of $0.9 million.

In determining that each of these trademarks has an indefinite life, management considered the factors found in paragraph 11 of SFAS No. 142. Management believes that each of these trademarks has the continued ability to generate cash flows indefinitely. Management’s determination that these trademarks have indefinite lives includes an evaluation of historical cash flows and projected cash flows for each of these trademarks. The Company continues making investments to market and promote each of these brands, and management continues to believe that the market opportunities and brand extension opportunities will generate cash flows for an indefinite period of time. In addition, there are no legal, regulatory, contractual, economic or other factors to limit the useful life of these trademarks, and management intends to renew each of these trademarks, which can be accomplished at little cost.

The Company recorded goodwill for each of the three acquisitions noted above. The acquired businesses were fully integrated into and are included in the Company’s Branded Products business segment. Consequently, all goodwill is attributable to the Company’s Manufactured Products business segment.

Advertising and Promotional Expenses and Trade Spending.  The Company expenses production costs of advertising the first time the advertising takes place, except for cooperative advertising costs which are expensed when the related sales are recognized.  Costs associated with obtaining shelf space (i.e., “slotting fees”) are accounted for as a reduction of revenue in the period in which such costs are incurred by the Company.  Anytime the Company offers consideration (cash or credit) as a trade advertising or promotional allowance to a purchaser of products at any point along the distribution chain, the amount is accrued and recorded as a reduction in revenue.  Marketing programs that deal directly with the consumer, primarily consisting of in-store demonstrations/samples and a sponsorship with a professional baseball team, are recorded as a marketing expense in selling, general and administrative expenses.  Further discussion of these marketing programs is expanded upon below:


·Demonstrations/Samples:   The Company will periodically arrange in-store product demonstrations with club stores (i.e. Sam’s, Costco or BJ’s) or grocery retailers.  Product demonstrations are conducted by independent third party providers designated by the various retailer or club chains.  During the in-store demonstrations the consumers in the stores receive small samples of our products, and consumers are not required to purchase our product in order to receive the sample. The cost of product used in the demonstrations, which is insignificant, and the fee paid to the independent third party providers who conduct the in-store demonstrations are recorded as a sales and marketing expense in selling, general and administrative expenses. When in-store product demonstrations are conducted, the Company does not pay or give any consideration to the club stores or grocery retailers in which the demonstrations occur.

·Sponsorship:   The Company has one sponsorship with the Arizona Diamondbacks Major League Baseball team which takes place during their baseball season. The Company does not sell product to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the sponsorship clearly involves an identifiable benefit to the Company as the fans at the stadium see the Company’s name on the main scoreboard during each game and the value is reasonably estimated due to the fact that the team charges a fixed amount per game which is recorded by the Company as a sales and marketing expense in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Revenue Recognition

In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, the Company recognizes operating revenues upon shipment of products to customers when title and risk of loss pass to its customers.  Provisions and allowances for sales returns, promotional allowances and discounts are also recorded as a reduction of revenues in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or income tax returns.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date.

Stock Options and Stock-Based Compensation

The Company’s 1995 Stock Option Plan (the “1995 Plan”), as amended, provided for the issuance of options to purchase 3,500,000 shares of Common Stock.  The options granted pursuant to the 1995 Plan expire over a five-year period and generally vest over three years.  In addition to options granted under the 1995 Plan, the Company also issued non-qualified options (non-plan options) to purchase Common Stock to certain Directors and Officers which are exercisable and expire either five or ten years from date of grant.  All options are issued at an exercise price of fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant and are non-compensatory.  The 1995 Plan expired in May 2005 and was replaced by the Inventure Group, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”) as described below.


The 2005 Plan was approved at the Company’s 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and expires in May 2015.  Awards granted under the 2005 Plan may include: nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance units and stock-reference awards.  If any shares of Common Stock subject to awards granted under the 1995 Plan or the 2005 Plan are canceled, those shares will be available for future awards under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan.

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” which requires that compensation cost related to all share-based payment arrangements, including employee stock options, be recognized in the financial statements based on the fair value method of accounting. In addition, SFAS No. 123R requires that excess tax benefits related to share-based payment arrangements be classified as cash inflows from financing activities and cash outflows from operating activities. SFAS No. 123R is a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” and supersedes Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations.

As originally permitted by SFAS 123, the Company had previously elected to apply the guidance in APB Opinion No. 25, which allowed companies to use the intrinsic value method of accounting  to measure the value of share-based payment transactions with employees. Based on this method, the Company had not previously recognized the compensation cost related to employee stock options in the financial statements as the stock options granted had an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 123R using the modified prospective application method. Accordingly, prior period amounts have not been restated. Under the modified prospective application method, the compensation cost related to the unvested stock options granted prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, and all new awards will be recognized in the financial statements over the requisite service period based on the fair value of the awards.

During the year ended December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the total share-based compensation expense from restricted stock recognized in the financial statements was $62,755 and $19,406, respectively. There were no restricted stock grants in 2004.  There were no share-based compensation costs which were capitalized.  As of December 30, 2006, the total unrecognized costs related to non-vested restricted stock awards granted was $119,006.  The Company expects to recognize such costs in the financial statements over a weighted-average period of three years.

The adoption of SFAS 123R during 2006 resulted in total share-based compensation expense from vested options recognized in the financial statements of approximately $205,000 which reduced income from operations accordingly. There were no share-based compensation costs which were capitalized.  The stock-based compensation expense caused net income to decrease by approximately $125,000 and basic and diluted earnings per share to decrease by $0.01 per share for the year ended December 30, 2006.

The Company received approximately $163,000 in cash from the exercise of stock options during the year ended December 30, 2006.  The excess tax benefit realized for the tax deductions from the exercise of options of the share-based payment arrangements for the year ended December 30, 2006, was $8,916.  The actual tax benefit realized in 2006 also decreased cash provided  by operating activities, and increased cash provided by financing activities by the same amount.  Pursuant to SFAS 123R prior period amounts have not been restated.

Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company’s stock-based compensation plan was accounted for under the recognition and measurement provisions of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations.  The Company had also adopted the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS 123, as amended by SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure”.  Accordingly, no compensation cost was previously recognized for stock option grants.  The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the fair value method required by SFAS 123R had been applied to all outstanding and unvested awards for the years ended 2005 and 2004, using the Black-Scholes valuation model.


 

2005

 

2004

 

Net income as reported

 

$

280,484

 

$

2,134,714

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value method for all awards, net of related tax effects

 

(176,574

)

(518,950

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma net income

 

$

103,910

 

$

1,615,764

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share — basic — as reported

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma net income per share — basic

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.09

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share — diluted — as reported

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma net income per share — diluted

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.09

 

Under the modified prospective method, awards that are granted, modified or settled after the date of adoption should be measured and accounted for in accordance with SFAS 123R.

For purposes of applying SFAS 123R, the fair value of each stock option award that was granted prior to the effective date continues to be accounted for in accordance with SFAS 123 except that amounts must be recognized in the income statement.  The fair value of each stock option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for the years ended:

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Expected dividend yield

 

0

%

0

%

0

%

Expected volatility

 

50

%

62

%

62

%

Risk-free interest rate

 

5.16

%

3.15

%

3.15

%

Expected life — Employees Options

 

2.4 years

 

3 years

 

3 years

 

Expected life — Board of Directors Options

 

1.4 years

 

3 years

 

3 years

 

The expected dividend yield was based on the Company’s expectation of future dividend payouts. The volatility assumption was based on historical volatility during the time period that corresponds to the expected life of the option. The expected life (estimated period of time outstanding) of stock options granted was estimated based on historical exercise activity. The risk-free interest rate assumption was based on the interest rate of U.S. Treasuries on the date the option was granted.

As of December 30, 2006, the amount of unrecognized compensation expense to be recognized in future periods, in accordance with SFAS 123R, is approximately $0.2 million.  This expected compensation expense does not reflect any new awards, or modifications to existing awards, that could occur in the future.


Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period.  Exercises of outstanding stock options or warrants are assumed to occur for purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share for periods in which their effect would not be anti-dilutive.  Earnings per common share was computed as follows for the years ended December 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Basic Earnings Per Common Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

1,093,393

 

$

280,484

 

$

2,134,714

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares

 

19,833,068

 

19,763,992

 

18,794,977

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share

 

$

0.06

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

1,093,393

 

$

280,484

 

$

2,134,714

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares

 

19,833,068

 

19,763,992

 

18,794,977

 

Incremental shares from assumed conversions - Stock options and restricted stock

 

23,212

 

182,949

 

152,576

 

Adjusted weighted average number of common shares

 

19,856,280

 

19,946,941

 

18,947,553

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share

 

$

0.06

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.11

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (SAB 108), to address diversity in practice in quantifying financial statement misstatements.  SAB 108 states that companies should use both an income statement (rollover) approach and a balance sheet (iron curtain) approach when quantifying and evaluating materiality of a misstatement.   SAB108 was effective for the Company as of December 30, 2006.  The Company’s adoption of SAB 108 did not affect the financial statements.

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109  (FIN 48), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in tax positions.  FIN 48 requires that the Company recognize in its financial statements the impact of a tax position if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective as of the beginning of the 2007 fiscal year, with the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle recorded as an adjustment to opening retained earnings. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of FIN 48 and has not yet completed its initial evaluation.  As a result, the Company has not yet determined the effect adoption will have on financial position or results of operation.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS No. 157”), which clarifies the definition of fair value whenever another standard requires or permits assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value.  Specifically, the standard clarifies that fair value should be based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, and establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions.  SFAS No. 157 also requires expanded financial statement disclosures about fair value measurements, including disclosure of the methods used and the effect on earnings.  SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on the consolidated financial statements.


In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“SFAS No. 159”).  SFAS No. 159 allows entities to choose to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings of each subsequent reporting date.  The fair value election is available for most financial assets and liabilities on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is to be elected on the date the financial instrument is initially recognized.  SFAS 159 is effective for all entities as of the beginning of a reporting entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007 (with earlier application permitted under certain circumstances).  The Company has not determined what impact, if any, the adoption of SFAS No. 159 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

2.     Goodwill and Trademarks:

Goodwill and trademarks relate to the 1998, 1999 and 2000 acquisitions described in Note 1.  Intangibles not subject to amortization consisted of the following as of December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005:

 

2006

 

2005

 

Goodwill

 

$

5,986,252

 

$

5,986,252

 

Trademarks

 

4,207,032

 

4,207,032

 

 

 

$

10,193,284

 

$

10,193,284

 

3.     Accrued Liabilities:

Accrued liabilities consisted of the following as of December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005:

 

2006

 

2005

 

Accrued payroll and payroll taxes

 

$

1,300,653

 

$

1,454,697

 

Accrued royalties and commissions

 

509,157

 

554,434

 

Accrued advertising and promotion

 

838,934

 

1,368,929

 

Accrued other

 

326,979

 

128,272

 

 

 

$

2,975,723

 

$

3,506,332

 

During the fourth quarter of 2005, the Company announced the departure of two executives and recorded charges consisting of severance and certain other personnel costs.  The amounts owed on these two severance agreements are $0 and $491,000 at December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively, and are included in accrued payroll and payroll taxes above.

4.     Inventories:

Inventories consisted of the following as of December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005:

 

2006

 

2005

 

Finished goods

 

$

1,833,495

 

$

1,731,531

 

Raw materials

 

1,625,741

 

1,084,715

 

 

 

$

3,459,236

 

$

2,816,246

 


5.     Property and Equipment:

Property and equipment consisted of the following as of December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005:

 

Useful Lives

 

2006

 

2005

 

Buildings and improvements

 

20 — 30 years

 

$

8,457,319

 

$

5,437,524

 

Equipment

 

7 — 15 years

 

11,331,513

 

10,998,189

 

Land

 

 

346,506

 

272,006

 

Vehicles

 

5 years

 

0

 

5,432

 

Furniture and office equipment

 

2 — 5 years

 

1,899,430

 

1,679,815

 

 

 

 

 

22,034,768

 

18,392,966

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

(9,500,324

)

(8,283,312

)

 

 

 

 

$

12,534,444

 

$

10,109,654

 

In December, 2004, the Company concluded that a packaging machine in its Indiana plant was no longer likely to be used, which resulted in a $308,104 impairment charge in 2004.  In 2005, the machine was able to be sold, which resulted in a gain on sale of $194,359.

6.     Long-Term Debt:

Long-term debt consisted of the following as of December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Mortgage loan due in monthly installments through July 2012; interest at 9.03%; collateralized by land and building in Goodyear, AZ

 

$

1,685,574

 

$

1,729,134

 

Mortgage loan due in monthly installments through December 2016; interest at LIBOR plus 165 basis points; collateralized by land and building in Bluffton, IN

 

2,400,000

 

 

Term loan due in monthly installments through July 1, 2006; interest at prime rate (7.25% at December 31, 2005); paid in full in June 2006

 

$

 

$

481,474

 

 

 

4,085,574

 

2,210,608

 

Less current portion

 

(112,113

)

(529,176

)

 

 

$

3,973,461

 

$

1,681,432

 

Annual maturities of long-term debt as of December 30, 2006 are as follows:

Year

 

 

 

2007

 

$

112,113

 

2008

 

116,416

 

2009

 

126,513

 

2010

 

136,985

 

2011

 

148,341

 

Thereafter

 

3,445,206

 

 

 

$

4,085,574

 

Interest Rate Swap

The Company entered into an interest rate swap in 2006 to effectively convert the interest rate of the mortgage to purchase the Bluffton, IN plant to a fixed rate of 6.85%.  The swap is not accounted for as a cash flow hedge, and as result, unrealized gains and losses are recorded in the Company’s consolidated statement of income.  The swap has a fixed pay-rate of 6.85% and a notional amount of $2.4 million at December 30, 2006 and expires in December, 2016.  The value of the swap is recorded as a $29,250 liability at December 30, 2006.


Interest income (expense), net consisted of the following for the fiscal years ended December 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004:

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Interest expense

 

$

(186,203

)

$

(275,853

)

$

(221,258

)

Interest income

 

446,628

 

325,127

 

56,461

 

Interest income (expense), net

 

$

260,425

 

$

49,274

 

$

(164,797

)

The Company’s Goodyear, Arizona manufacturing and distribution facility is subject to a $1.7 million mortgage loan from Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, bears interest at 9.03% per annum and is secured by the building and the land on which it is located.  The loan matures on July 1, 2012; however monthly principal and interest installments of $16,825 are determined based on a twenty-year amortization period.

The Company’s Bluffton, Indiana manufacturing and distribution facility was purchased for $3.0 million in December, 2006.  A mortgage loan from U.S. Bank National Association bears interest at the 30 day LIBOR plus 165 basis points and is secured by the building and the land on which it is located.  The loan matures in December, 2016; however monthly principal and interest installments of $18,392 are determined based on a twenty-year amortization period.

The Company has a Line of Credit with U.S. Bancorp (collectively, the “Credit Agreement”) consisting of: (i) a $5.0 million line of credit with a borrowing limit calculated based on specified percentages of eligible receivables and inventories and (ii) a $0.5 million capital expenditures line of credit.

The Line of Credit bears interest at the prime rate less 0.5% (7.75% at December 30, 2006) and matures on June 30, 2008.  Interest is due monthly, with the outstanding principal balance due in full at the maturity date.  The Term Loan that existed at December 31, 2005 bore interest at the prime rate (7.25% at December 31, 2005) and matured on July 1, 2006.  Monthly principal payments of $68,782 plus interest were due under the Term Loan.  At December 30, 2006, there was no outstanding balance on the Line of Credit or the Term Loan.

The Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all assets of the Company.  The Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by each of its subsidiaries.  The agreement requires the Company to maintain compliance with certain financial covenants, including a minimum tangible net worth, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a minimum current ratio.  At December 30, 2006, the Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants.

7.     Brand Discontinuance:

On June 11, 2004, the Company discontinued its Crunch Toons® brand.  As a result of the discontinuance, the Company recorded expenses of approximately $1.8 million.  The charge included approximately $1.1 million related to minimum royalties under the license agreements and $0.3 million in inventory write-downs, which are shown in “Costs related to brand discontinuance” on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.  In addition, charges of $0.3 million in estimated allowances given to the Company’s customers to sell-off remaining distributor and retailer inventories were recorded and are included in “Net revenues” on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.

In connection with the brand discontinuation, and included in the $1.1 million charge above, the Company negotiated amendments to its license agreements with Warner Bros. Consumer Products pursuant to which the Agreements will remain in effect, but will become non-exclusive.  However, because the Company has ceased using the Crunch Toons® brand, the Company accrued the fair value of remaining royalties in accordance with SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.”  The Company estimated the fair value of the remaining guaranteed future minimum payments under the agreements by computing the present value of the future cash payments.

48




7.     Brand Discontinuance: (Continued)

The following table summarizes the activity of the accrued costs related to brand discontinuance and other exit costs for the years ended December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005:

 

 

June 11,
2004
Brand
Discontinue
Charges

 

Write-offs
and
Payments

 

Dec. 25,
2004
Accrued
Expense
Balance

 

Payments

 

Dec. 31,
2005
Accrued
Expense
Balance

 

Payments

 

Dec. 30,
2006
Accrued
Expense
Balance

 

Inventory and equipment write-offs

 

$

294,768

 

$

(294,768

)

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 Write-down of prepaid royalties and present value of guaranteed minimum royalty payments (1,2)

 

$

1,119,991

 

$

(527,519

)

$

592,472

 

$

(235,431

)

$

357,041

 

$

(167,213

)

$

189,828

 

 Reclamation costs (1)

 

$

344,160

 

$

(309,662

)

34,498

 

(34,498

)

 

 

 

 Present value of remaining lease payments on equipment (1,3)

 

308,104

 

 

308,104

 

(308,104

)

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,067,023

 

$

(1,131,949

)

$

935,074

 

$

(578,033

)

$

357,041

 

$

(167,213

)

$

189,828

 


(1)                                  These amounts are reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as “Current and Non-current portions of accrued costs related to brand discontinuance and other liabilities.”

(2)                                  In accordance with SFAS No. 146, interest accretion was recorded for the year and future royalty payments will be made in accordance with the amended agreements.

(3)                                  In accordance with SFAS No. 146, the fair value of remaining operating lease payments were recorded relating to a machine the Company determined would no longer be used.  This machine lease was paid off in July 2005 and was able to be sold in 2005 resulting in a gain on sale of $194,359.

8.     Commitments and Contingencies:

The Company is periodically a party to various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business.  Management believes, based on discussions with legal counsel, that the resolution of such lawsuits, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

The Company leases one-half of a 200,000 square foot facility in Bluffton, Indiana which is used as a distribution center.  The Company has entered into a lease, the initial term expiring in November 2006, with respect to the facility and has entered into the first of two three-year renewal options.  Current lease payments are approximately $31,500 per month.  The Company also has entered into a service agreement expiring in December 2008 with a third party for warehousing services.  The service agreement includes certain minimum monthly usage commitments amounting to $1,188,000 in each of 2007 and 2008.


In addition to the Company’s facility leases, the Company has entered into a variety of operating leases for equipment and vehicles.  Rental expense under all operating leases was $1,529,400, $1,553,000 and $1,666,000 for fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  Minimum future rental commitments under non-cancelable leases as of December 30, 2006 are as follows:

Year

 

Operating
Leases

 

2007

 

$

1,356,000

 

2008

 

891,000

 

2009

 

705,000

 

2010

 

603,000

 

2011

 

457,000

 

Thereafter

 

368,000

 

Total

 

$

4,380,000

 

The Company licenses technology from a third party in connection with the manufacture of its T.G.I. Friday’s® and Tato Skins® brand products and has a royalty-bearing, exclusive right license to use the technology in the United States, Canada, and Mexico until such time the parties mutually agree to terminate the agreement and provide written sixty (60) days notice to each other.  In consideration for the use of this technology, the Company is required to make royalty payments to the third party on sales of products manufactured utilizing the technology until such termination date.  The patents for this technology expired December 26, 2006. However, should products substantially similar to Tato Skins® , O’Boisies® and Pizzarias® become available, for any reason, in the marketplace by any manufacturer other than the Company which results in a sales decline of 10% or more, any royalty obligation for the respective product (s) shall cease.

The Company licenses the T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks trademark from TGI Friday’s Inc. under a license agreement with a term expiring in 2014.  Pursuant to the license agreement, the Company is required to make royalty payments on sales of T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snack products and is required to achieve certain minimum sales levels by certain dates during the contract term.

9.     Shareholders’ Equity:

Common Stock

Approximately 4.3 million shares of outstanding Common Stock issued by the Company are subject to “piggyback” registration rights granted by the Company, pursuant to which such shares of Common Stock may be registered under the Securities Act and, as a result, become freely tradable in the future.  The Company will be required to pay all expenses relating to any such registration, other than underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the shares, and any other fees and expenses incurred by the holder(s) of the shares (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses) in connection with the registration.  All or a portion of such shares may, at the election of the holders thereof, be included in any future registration statement of the Company and, upon the effectiveness thereof, may be sold in the public markets.

On August 1, 2005, the Company issued to its Senior Vice President of Marketing 35,353 shares of restricted stock under the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to vesting in equal annual installments over three years.  The restricted stock was valued at the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant, and the resulting deferred compensation expense of $175,000 was included in additional paid-in capital and is being amortized over the vesting period.  During 2006 and 2005, amortization expense of $58,215 and $19,406, respectively, related to this grant is included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

On July 25, 2006, the Company issued to its Vice President of Human Resources 12,000 shares of restricted stock under the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to vesting in equal annual installments over three years.  The restricted stock was valued at the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant, and the resulting deferred compensation expense of $26,520 was included in additional paid-in capital and is being amortized over the vesting period.  During 2006, amortization expense of $4,540 related to this grant is included in selling, general and administrative expenses.


Preferred Stock

The Company has authorized 50,000 shares of $100 par value Preferred Stock, none of which is outstanding.  The Company may issue such shares of Preferred Stock in the future without shareholder approval.

Warrants

Warrants had been issued in connection with prior financings and the acquisition of Wabash.  During fiscal 2004, warrant activity was as follows:

 

Warrants
Outstanding

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

 

Balance, December 27, 2003

 

458,000

 

1.02

 

Exercised

 

(187,274

)

1.00

 

Cancelled

 

(270,726

)

1.05

 

Balance, December 25, 2004

 

 

$

 

Stock Options

The Company’s 1995 Stock Option Plan (the “1995 Plan”), as amended, provided for the issuance of options to purchase 3,500,000 shares of Common Stock.  The options granted pursuant to the 1995 Plan expire over a five-year period and generally vest over three years.  In addition to options granted under the 1995 Plan, the Company also issued non-qualified options (non-plan options) to purchase Common Stock to certain Directors and Officers which are exercisable and expire either five or ten years from date of grant.  All options are issued at an exercise price of fair market value at the date of grant and are non-compensatory.  The 1995 Plan expired in May 2005 and was replaced by the Inventure Group, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”) as described below.

The 2005 Plan was approved at the Company’s 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and expires in May 2015.  Awards granted under the 2005 Plan may include: nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance units and stock-reference awards.  If any shares of Common Stock subject to awards granted under the 1995 Plan or the 2005 Plan are canceled, those shares will be available for future awards under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan.  The Awards granted pursuant to the 2005 Plan generally expire over a five-year period and generally vest over three years.  As of December 30, 2006, there were 1,028,332 shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the 2005 Plan.


During fiscal years 2004, 2005 and 2006, stock option activity was as follows:

 

Plan Options

 

Non-Plan Options

 

 

 

Options
Outstanding

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

 

Options
Outstanding

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

 

Balance, December 27, 2003

 

1,156,500

 

$

2.82

 

1,082,500

 

$

1.74

 

Granted

 

625,000

 

2.69

 

 

 

Canceled

 

(335,001

)

2.96

 

(10,000

)

3.60

 

Exercised

 

(145,166

)

1.66

 

(725,000

)

1.42

 

Balance, December 25, 2004

 

1,301,333

 

$

2.85

 

347,500

 

$

2.35

 

Granted

 

40,000

 

4.99

 

 

 

Canceled

 

(355,500

)

2.80

 

(13,334

)

3.60

 

Exercised

 

(202,500

)

2.56

 

(191,666

)

1.49

 

Balance, December 31, 2005

 

783,333

 

$

3.04

 

142,500

 

$

3.38

 

Granted

 

487,000

 

2.74

 

 

 

Canceled

 

(486,667

)

3.16

 

(90,000

)

3.25

 

Exercised

 

(61,666

)

2.44

 

 

 

Balance, December 30, 2006

 

722,000

 

$

2.80

 

52,500

 

$

3.60

 

Tax benefits on stock options exercised are recorded as increases to additional paid-in capital and totaled $8,916, $330,559 and $315,017 for fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 30, 2006:

Range of
Exercise Prices

 

Options
Outstanding

 

Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
(in years)

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Options
Exercisable

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

$2.10 - $2.99

 

677,000

 

3.5

 

$

2.61

 

175,000

 

$

2.61

 

$3.08 - $3.60

 

67,500

 

1.6

 

$

3.53

 

64,167

 

$

3.55

 

$4.20 - $5.00

 

30,000

 

3.3

 

$

4.91

 

23,333

 

$

4.89

 

 

 

774,500

 

3.3

 

$

2.86

 

262,500

 

$

3.04

 

The table below summarizes the number of exercisable options outstanding and the weighted average exercise prices for each of the previous three fiscal years:

 

 

Plan Options

 

Non-Plan Options

 

 

 

Exercisable Options
Outstanding

 

Weighted Average
Exercise Price

 

Exercisable Options
Outstanding

 

Weighted Average
Exercise Price

 

December 30, 2006

 

210,000

 

$

2.90

 

52,500

 

$

3.60

 

December 31, 2005

 

636,666

 

$

2.97

 

118,333

 

$

3.34

 

December 25, 2004

 

553,555

 

$

2.89

 

275,833

 

$

2.02

 

The total intrinsic value related to stock options outstanding as of December 30, 2006 was $23,950. The aggregate intrinsic value is based on the exercise price and the Company’s closing stock price of $2.45 as of December 30, 2006.

52




In May, 2006 the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock re-purchase program whereby up to $3 million of common stock could be purchased from time to time at the discretion of management.  The repurchase program expired on February 14, 2007.  During the year ended December 30, 2006 the Company purchased 818,740 shares at a total cost of $1,845,421.  The repurchased shares are held as treasury stock and are available for general corporate purposes.  Common stock held in the Company’s treasury has been recorded at cost.

A summary of our common stock repurchases under the $3 million repurchase program is set forth in the following table.  All shares of common stock were repurchased pursuant to open market transactions.

Period

 

Total Number

of Shares
Repurchased

 

Weighted
Average Price
Paid Per
Share

 

Total Number of Shares

Repurchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Programs

 

Amount
Repurchased Under
the Program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5/2006 Approved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

3,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transactions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 2006

 

600,740

 

$

2.26

 

600,740

 

$

1,358,461

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 2006

 

218,000

 

2.23

 

218,000

 

486,960

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

 

818,740

 

$

2.25

 

818,740

 

$

1,845,421

 


10.  Income Taxes:

The provision for income taxes consisted of the following for the years ended December 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

(2,000

)

$

 

$

 

State

 

(54,369

)

 

(83,855

)

 

 

(56,369

)

 

(83,855

)

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

(678,999

)

(193,655

)

(1,220,220

)

State

 

(47,631

)

(27,589

)

(102,664

)

 

 

(726,630

)

(221,244

)

(1,322,884

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total provision for income taxes

 

$

(782,999

)

$

(221,244

)

$

(1,406,739

)

The following table provides a reconciliation between the amount determined by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to the pretax income amount for the years ended December 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Provision at statutory rate

 

$

(637,973

)

$

(170,588

)

$

(1,204,094

)

State income tax, net

 

(93,820

)

(24,530

)

(173,530

)

Nondeductible expenses and other

 

(51,206

)

(26,126

)

(29,115

)

Income tax provision

 

$

(782,999

)

$

(221,244

)

$

(1,406,739

)

The income tax effects of loss carryforwards and temporary differences between financial and income tax reporting that give rise to the deferred income tax asset and liability are as follows as of December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005:

 

2006

 

2005

 

Deferred Tax Asset — current

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss carryforward

 

$

651,000

 

$

827,000

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

10,000

 

73,000

 

Accrued liabilities

 

369,000

 

413,000

 

Other

 

73,064

 

493,718

 

 

 

1,103,064

 

1,806,718

 

Deferred Tax Liability — noncurrent

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

(2,233,688

)

(2,208,530

)

AMT minimum tax credit carryforward

 

33,572

 

31,390

 

 

 

(2,200,116

)

(2,177,140

)

Net deferred tax liability

 

$

(1,097,052

)

$

(370,422

)

The Company experienced significant net losses in prior fiscal years resulting in a net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward for federal income tax purposes of approximately $1.9 million at December 30, 2006.  The Company’s NOL will begin to expire in varying amounts between 2010 and 2018.  The Company also has an alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) credit carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $33,572 at December 30, 2006.

Generally accepted accounting principles require that a valuation allowance be established when it is more-likely-than-not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.  Changes in valuation allowances from period to period are included in the tax provision in the period of change.  In determining whether a valuation allowance is required, the Company takes into account all positive and negative evidence with regard to the utilization of a deferred tax asset including our past earnings history, expected future earnings, the character and jurisdiction of such earnings, unsettled circumstances that, if unfavorably resolved, would adversely affect utilization of a deferred tax asset, carryback and carryforward periods and tax strategies that could potentially enhance the likelihood of realization of a deferred tax asset.  The Company provides for income taxes at a rate equal to the combined federal and state effective rates, which approximated 39% under current tax rates.


11.  Business Segments and Significant Customers:

For the year ended December 30, 2006, Wal*Mart (including its SAM’s Clubs) and Vistar, a national vending distributor, were the only two customers accounting for more than 10% of total Company net revenue.  Wal*Mart accounted for $9,284,000 or 13%, $14,043,000, or 19%, and $14,211,000 or 21%, for fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  Vistar accounted for $7,972,000 or 11%, $8,504,000 or 11%, and $9,373,000 or 14%, for fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

The Company’s operations consist of two segments: manufactured products and distributed products.  The manufactured products segment produces potato chips, potato crisps and potato skins for sale primarily to snack food distributors and retailers.  The distributed products segment sells snack food products manufactured by other companies to the Company’s Arizona snack food distributors.  The Company’s reportable segments offer different products and services.  The majority of the Company’s revenues are attributable to external customers in the United States.  The Company does sell to Canadian customers as well, however the revenues attributable to Canadian customers is immaterial.  All of the Company’s assets are located in the United States.  All long-lived assets, trademarks, and goodwill are associated exclusively with the Company’s manufactured products segment.  The Company does not allocate any assets to the distributed products segment.

 

Percent of Total Revenues

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Branded products

 

93

%

93

%

94

%

Private label products

 

3

%

3

%

3

%

Total manufactured products segment revenues

 

96

%

96

%

97

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributed products segment revenues

 

4

%

4

%

3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

100

%

100

%

100

%

In fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004, the T.G.I. Friday’s® brand snacks represented 66%, 65% and 72%, respectively, of the Company’s total net revenues.

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Note 1).  The Company does not allocate assets, selling, general and administrative expenses, income taxes or other income and expense to segments.

 

 

Manufactured
Products

 

Distributed
Products

 

Consolidated

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues from external customers

 

$

66,897,862

 

$

2,921,068

 

$

69,818,930

 

Depreciation and amortization included in segment gross profit

 

868,359

 

 

868,359

 

Segment gross profit

 

12,923,140

 

332,345

 

13,255,485

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues from external customers

 

$

72,028,649

 

$

3,303,892

 

$

75,332,541

 

Depreciation and amortization included in segment gross profit

 

842,238

 

 

842,238

 

Segment gross profit

 

13,593,005

 

498,133

 

14,091,138

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues from external customers

 

$

66,629,008

 

$

2,105,755

 

$

68,734,763

 

Depreciation and amortization included in segment gross profit

 

998,415

 

 

998,415

 

Costs related to brand discontinuance

 

1,414,759

 

 

1,414,759

 

Segment gross profit

 

13,958,782

 

306,012

 

14,264,794

 


The following table reconciles reportable segment gross profit to the Company’s consolidated income before income tax provision for the years ended December 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004:

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Segment gross profit

 

$

13,255,485

 

$

14,091,138

 

$

14,264,794

 

Unallocated amounts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

(11,639,518

)

(13,638,684

)

(10,558,544

)

Interest income (expense), net

 

260,425

 

49,274

 

(164,797

)

Income before income taxes

 

$

1,876,392

 

$

501,728

 

$

3,541,453

 

12.  Litigation:

The Company is periodically a party to various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business.  Management believes, based on discussions with legal counsel, that the resolution of any such lawsuits, individually and in the aggregate,  will not have a material adverse effect on the financial statements taken as a whole.

The Inventure Group, Inc. is one of eight companies sued by the Environmental Law Foundation in August, 2006 in the Superior Court for the State of California for the County of Los Angeles by the Attorney General of the State of California for alleged violations of California Proposition 65.  California Proposition 65 is a state law that, in part, requires companies to warn California residents if a product contains chemicals listed within the statute. The plaintiff seeks injunctive relief and penalties but has made no specific demands. We intend to vigorously defend this suit.

13.  Related Party Transactions:

The land and building (140,000 square feet) occupied by the Company in Bluffton, Indiana was leased pursuant to a twenty year lease dated May 1, 1998 with American Pacific Financial Corporation, an affiliate of Pate Foods Corporation from whom the Company purchased Wabash in October 1999.  Rent expense was approximately $300,000 in each of the years December 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and December 25, 2004.  On December 4, 2006, the Company purchased the facility from Lincoln Estates, LLC for $3 million.  The Company’s Board of Directors identified the transaction as a related party transaction because Larry Polhill, a Director of the Company, owns 50% of Capital Foods LLC, which is the largest single shareholder of the Company and an affiliate of Lincoln Estates, LLC.  The transaction was reviewed and unanimously approved by the Board, including all of the Company’s disinterested Directors.


14.  Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited):

The results for any single quarter are not necessarily indicative of the Company’s results for any other quarter or the full year.  The sum of quarterly earnings (loss) per share information may not agree to the annual amount due to rounding and use of the treasury stock method of calculating earnings (loss) per share.

(in 000’s, except for share and
per share data)

 

First
Quarter

 

Second
Quarter

 

Third
Quarter

 

Fourth
Quarter

 

Full Year

 

Fiscal 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

$

17,595

 

$

18,498

 

$

17,576

 

$

16,150

 

$

69,819

 

Gross profit.

 

3,097

 

3,701

 

3,647

 

2,810

 

13,255

 

Operating income

 

81

 

830

 

480

 

225

 

1,616

 

Net income

 

$

68

 

$

543

 

$

329

 

$

153

 

$

1,093

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.00

 

$

0.03

 

$

0.02

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.06

 

Diluted

 

$

0.00

 

$

0.03

 

$

0.02

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

20,073,111

 

20,106,027

 

19,505,400

 

19,394,383

 

19,833,068

 

Diluted

 

20,097,237

 

20,124,950

 

19,625,173

 

19,399,074

 

19,856,280

 

(in 000’s, except for share and
per share data)

 

First
Quarter

 

Second
Quarter

 

Third
Quarter

 

Fourth
Quarter

 

Full Year

 

Fiscal 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

$

16,557

 

$

23,134

 

$

18,626

 

$

17,016

 

$

75,333

 

Gross profit.

 

3,388

 

5,870

 

2,724

 

2,109

 

14,091

 

Operating income (loss) (1),(2)

 

340

 

2,275

 

(509

)

(1,654

)

452

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

208

 

$

1,407

 

$

(269

)

$

(1,066

)

$

280

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.07

 

$

(0.01

)

$

(0.05

)

$

0.01

 

Diluted

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.07

 

$

(0.01

)

$

(0.05

)

$

0.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

19,647,561

 

19,681,902

 

19,842,862

 

20,053,509

 

19,763,992

 

Diluted

 

19,854,440

 

19,841,862

 

19,842,862

 

20,053,509

 

19,946,941

 


(1)   Operating income (loss) during the third quarter of 2005 includes $535,000 in charges associated with slow-moving new product, mainly attributable to the Cinnabon® branded product.

(2)   Operating income (loss) during the fourth quarter of 2005 includes $553,000 in severance charges for two executives and $615,000 in charges associated with slow-moving new product, mainly attributable to the Cinnabon® branded product.


15.  Accounts Receivable Allowance:

Changes to the allowance for doubtful accounts during the each of the three fiscal years ended December 30, 2006 are summarized below:

 

Balance at
beginning of period

 

Charges
(Reductions) to
Expense

 

(Write-offs)
Collections

 

Balance at end
of period

 

Fiscal 2004

 

$

347,000

 

(112,000

)

(146,000

)

$

89,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal 2005

 

$

89,000

 

83,000

 

15,000

 

$

187,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal 2006

 

$

187,000

 

(95,000

)

(65,000

)

$

27,000

 

16.  Concentrations of Credit Risk:

The Company’s cash is placed with major banks.  The Company, in the normal course of business, maintains balances in excess of Federal insurance limits.

The Company’s primary concentration of credit risk is related to certain trade accounts receivable.  In the normal course of business, the Company extends unsecured credit to its customers.  In 2006 and 2005, substantially all of the Company’s customers were distributors or retailers whose sales were concentrated in the grocery industry, throughout the United States.  The Company investigates a customer’s credit worthiness before extending credit.  At December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, two customers accounted for 20% and 23% of accounts receivable, respectively.

58




EXHIBIT INDEX

14.1

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

 

 

14.2/s/ Itzhak Reichman

Financial Code of EthicsDirector

August 11, 2008

Itzhak Reichman

 

 

 

21.1

List of subsidiaries of The Inventure Group, Inc.

23.1

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15(d)-14(a).

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15(d)-14(a).

32

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


* - Management compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

595