Healthier Choices Management Corp. - Annual Report: 2018 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

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

For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2018

or

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

For the transition period from: _____________ to _____________

HEALTHIER CHOICES MANAGEMENT CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Address of Principal Executive Office: 3800 North 28^th Way Hollywood, FL 33020

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (305) 600-5004

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Common Stock, par value $0.0001

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

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. ☐ Yes  þ No

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  þ No

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. þ Yes  ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). þ Yes  ☐ No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) 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. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ 

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

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was approximately $2.9 million based on the June 30, 2018 closing price of $0.0001 per share.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 66,634,387,066 shares outstanding as of March 27, 2019.

INDEX

PART I

Item 1. Business.

Healthier Choices Management Corp. (the “Company”) is a holding company focused on providing consumers with healthier daily choices with respect to nutrition and other lifestyle alternatives. The Company currently operates twelve retail vape stores in the Southeast region of the United States, through which it offers e-liquids, vaporizers and related products. The Company also operates Ada’s Natural Market, a natural and organic grocery store, through its wholly owned subsidiary Healthy Choice Markets, Inc. Ada’s Natural Market offers fresh produce, bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, packaged groceries, meat and seafood, deli, baked goods, dairy products, frozen foods, health & beauty products and natural household items. The Company also sells vitamins and supplements on the Amazon.com marketplace through its wholly owned subsidiary Healthy U Wholesale, Inc. The Company markets its Q-Cup™ technology under the vape segment. This patented technology is based on a small, quartz cup called the Q-Cup™, which a customer partially fills with either cannabis or CBD concentrate (approximately 50mg) purchased from a third party. The Q-Cup™ is then inserted into the Q-Cup™ Tank or Globe that heats the cup from the outside without coming in direct contact with the solid concentrate. This Q-Cup™ technology provides significantly more efficiency and an “on the go” solution for consumers who prefer to vape concentrates either medicinally or recreationally.

In addition, effective as of December 14, 2018, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Paradise Health Foods, Inc. (“Paradise”), which owned and operated health and nutrition stores in Melbourne, Florida and Palm Bay, Florida.  Contemporaneous with the Paradise closing, Healthy U Wholesale, Inc., entered into, and closed, a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement to acquire 100% of the equity interests in The Vitamin Store, LLC (“TVS”).  TVS operates an online vitamin, supplement, and health-related products business at www.thevitaminstore.com.  

VAPORIZER AND E-LIQUID BUSINESS

Retail Stores

While evaluating retail store operations in 2018, management decided to close two of its vape stores in December 31, 2018. One of the store closures was related to non-renewal of a lease and the other closing was related to underperformance of the store.

Vaporizers

“Vaporizers” are battery-powered products that enable users to inhale nicotine vapor without smoke, tar, ash, or carbon monoxide. Regardless of their construction, they are comprised of three functional components:

When a user draws air through the vaporizer, the air flow is detected by a sensor, which activates a heating element that vaporizes the solution stored in the mouthpiece/cartridge, the solution is then vaporized and it is this vapor that is inhaled by the user. The cartridge contains either a nicotine solution or a nicotine free solution, either of which may be flavored.

Vaporizers feature a tank or chamber, a heating element and a battery. The vaporizer user fills the tank with e-liquid or the chamber with dry herb or leaf. The vaporizer battery can be recharged and the tank and chamber can be refilled.

Our Brands

We sell a wide variety of our e-liquid under the Vape Store brand. Our in-house engineering and graphic design teams work to provide aesthetically pleasing, technologically advanced and affordable vaporizer and e-liquid flavor options. We are in the process of preparing to commercialize additional brands which we intend to market to new customers and demographics.

Our Improvements and Product Development on Intellectual Property

We have developed, trademarked and are preparing to commercialize additional products. We include product development expenses as part of our operating expenses. In October 2018, we announced the granting of three US patents related to our Q-Cup™ technology. This Q-Cup™ technology provides significantly more efficiency and an “on the go” solution for consumers who prefer to vape concentrates either medicinally or recreationally. In addition, we have a suite of patent applications pending in the United States. There is no assurance that we will be awarded patents for of any of these pending patent applications.

Vaporizer Biometric Fingerprint Lock Sensor Patent

We have a patent pending for a biometric fingerprint lock sensor that can be used in vaporizers. The biometric fingerprint lock sensor will allow the owner of the vaporizer to keep the device locked and turned off unless the authorized user unlocks the device via fingerprint scan, protecting the device from use by another individual. This technology may be used to protect against minors being able to turn on the device and will also deem the devices unusable in the event the device is lost or stolen. There is no assurance that we will be awarded a patent for this technology.

The Market for Vaporizers

We market our vaporizers as an alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes and cigars. We offer our products in multiple nicotine strengths and flavors. Because vaporizers and electronic cigarettes offer a “smoking” experience without the burning of tobacco leaf, vaporizers and electronic cigarettes offer users the ability to satisfy their nicotine cravings without smoke, tar, ash or carbon monoxide. In many cases vaporizers may be used where tobacco-burning cigarettes may not. Vaporizers may be used in some instances where for regulatory or safety reasons tobacco burning cigarettes may not be used. However, certain states, cities, businesses, providers of transportation and public venues in the U.S. have banned the use of vaporizers, where traditional cigarettes may not be smoked, while others are considering banning the use of vaporizers. We cannot provide any assurances that the use of vaporizers will be permitted in places where traditional tobacco burning cigarette use is banned.

Advertising

Currently, we advertise our products primarily through point of sale materials and displays at retail locations. We also attempt to build brand awareness through social media marketing activities, price promotions, in-store and on-premise promotions, public relations and radio advertising. We intend to continue to strategically manage our advertising activities in 2019 to gain editorial coverage for our brands. Some of our competitors promote their brands through print media and television commercials, and through celebrity endorsements, and have substantial resources to devote to such efforts. We believe that our and our competitors’ efforts have helped increase our sales, our product acceptance and general industry awareness.

Distribution and Sales

The Company sells directly to consumers through ten company owned retail vape stores. Our management believes that consumers are shifting towards vape stores for an enhanced experience. This enhanced experienced is derived from the greater variety of products at the stores, the knowledgeable staff and the social atmosphere. The Company anticipates a significant portion of future revenue will continue to come from its retail stores.

Business Strategy

We believe and are seeing in our current stores that there is a large consumer demand centered on vaporizer products and the “atmosphere” created by the vape stores. We believe that our reputation and our experience in the vaporizer industry, from a development, customer service and production perspective, give us an advantage in attracting customers.

Moreover, we believe that our history with our suppliers, including the volume of products we source, gives us an advantage over other market participants as it relates to favorable pricing, priority as to inventory supply and delivery and first access to new products, including first access to next generation products and technology.

Our goal is to achieve a position of sustainable leadership in the vaporizer industry. Our strategy consists of the following key elements:

Competition

Competition in the vaporizer and e-liquid industry is intense. We compete with other sellers of vaporizes, most notably Altria Group, Inc., JT International, Imperial Tobacco, and Reynolds American, Inc., which are big tobacco companies that have vaporizer and electronic cigarette business segments. The nature of our competitors is varied as the market is highly fragmented and the barriers to entry into the business are low. Our direct competitors sell products that are substantially similar to ours. As a general matter, we have access to market and sell the similar vaporizers as our competitors and we sell our products at substantially similar prices as our competitors; accordingly, the key competitive factors for our success is the quality of service we offer our customers, the scope and effectiveness of our marketing efforts, including media advertising campaigns and, increasingly, the ability to identify and develop new sources of customers.

As discussed above, we compete against “big tobacco”, U.S. cigarette manufacturers of both conventional tobacco cigarettes and electronic cigarettes like Altria Group, Inc., JT International, Imperial Tobacco, and Reynolds American, Inc. We compete against “big tobacco” who offers not only conventional tobacco cigarettes and electronic cigarettes and vaporizers, but also smokeless tobacco products such as “snus” (a form of moist ground smokeless tobacco that is usually sold in sachet form that resembles small tea bags), chewing tobacco and snuff. “Big tobacco” has nearly limitless resources, global distribution networks in place and a customer base that is fiercely loyal to their brands. Furthermore, we believe that “big tobacco” is devoting more attention and resources to developing, acquiring technology patents, and offering electronic cigarettes, vaporizers and e-liquids as these markets grow. Because of their well-established sales and distribution channels, marketing expertise and significant resources, “big tobacco” is better positioned than small competitors like us to capture a larger share of the electronic cigarette market. We also compete against numerous other smaller manufacturers or importers of cigarettes. There can be no assurance that we will be able to compete successfully against any of our competitors, some of whom have far greater resources, capital, experience, market penetration, sales and distribution channels than us. If our major competitors were, for example, to significantly increase the level of price discounts offered to consumers, we could respond by offering price discounts, which could have a materially adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Manufacturing

We have no manufacturing capabilities and do not intend to develop any manufacturing capabilities. Third party manufacturers make our products to meet our design specifications. We depend on third party manufacturers for our vaporizer e-liquid and accessories. Our customers associate certain characteristics of our products including the weight, feel, draw, unique flavor, packaging and other attributes of our products to the brands we market, distribute and sell. Any interruption in supply and or consistency of our products may harm our relationships and reputation with customers, and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In order to minimize the risk of supply interruption, we currently utilize several third-party manufacturers to manufacture our products to our specifications.

We currently utilize several manufacturers both domestically and internationally. We contract with our manufacturers on a purchase order basis. We do not have any output or requirements contracts with any of our manufacturers. Our manufacturers provide us with finished products, which we hold in inventory for distribution, sale and use.

Source and Availability of Product

We believe that an adequate supply of product will be available to us as needed and from multiple sources and suppliers.

Patent Litigation

Third party patent lawsuits alleging our infringement of patents, trade secrets or other intellectual property rights have and could force us to do one or more of the following:

Future third party lawsuits alleging our infringement of patents, trade secrets or other intellectual property rights could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. 

We are required to obtain licenses to patents or proprietary rights of others and may be required to obtain more in the future and as the product continues to evolve. We cannot assure you that any future licenses required under any such patents or proprietary rights would be made available on terms acceptable to us or at all. If we do not obtain such licenses, we could encounter delays in product market introductions while we attempt to design around such patents, or could find that the development, manufacture, or sale of products requiring such licenses could be foreclosed. Litigation may be necessary to defend against claims of infringement asserted against us by others, or assert claims of infringement to enforce patents issued to us or exclusively licensed to us, to protect trade secrets or know-how possessed by us, or to determine the scope and validity of the proprietary rights of others. In addition, we may become involved in oppositions in foreign jurisdictions, reexaminations declared by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or interference proceedings declared by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to determine the priority of inventions with respect to our patent applications or those of our licensors. Litigation, opposition, reexamination or interference proceedings could result in substantial costs to and diversion of effort by us, and may have a material adverse impact on us. In addition, we cannot assure you that our efforts to maintain or defend our patents will be successful.

Regulations

Since a 2010 U.S. Court of Appeals decision, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) is permitted to regulate electronic cigarettes as “tobacco products” under the Family Smoking Prevention and the Tobacco Control Act. Under this decision, the FDA is not permitted to regulate electronic cigarettes as “drugs” or “devices” or a “combination product” under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act unless they are marketed for therapeutic purposes. This is contrary to anti-smoking devices like nicotine patches, which undergo more extensive FDA regulation. Because the Company does not market its electronic cigarettes for therapeutic purposes, the Company’s electronic cigarettes are subject to being classified as “tobacco products” under the Tobacco Control Act. The Tobacco Control Act grants the FDA broad authority over the manufacture, sale, marketing and packaging of tobacco products, although the FDA is prohibited from issuing regulations banning all cigarettes or all smokeless tobacco products, or requiring the reduction of nicotine yields of a tobacco product to zero. 

On April 24, 2014, the FDA released proposed rules that would extend its regulatory authority to electronic cigarettes and certain other tobacco products under the Tobacco Control Act. The proposed rules would require that electronic cigarette manufacturers (i) register with the FDA and report electronic cigarette product and ingredient listings; (ii) market new electronic cigarette products only after FDA review; (iii) only make direct and implied claims of reduced risk if the FDA confirms that scientific evidence supports the claim and that marketing the electronic cigarette product will benefit public health as a whole; (iv) not distribute free samples; (v) implement minimum age and identification restrictions to prevent sales to individuals under age 18; (vi) include a health warning; and (vii) not sell electronic cigarettes in vending machines, unless in a facility that never admits youth. It is not known how long finalizing and implementing this regulatory process to may take. Accordingly, the Company cannot predict the content of any final rules from the proposed rules or the impact they may have.

In this regard, total compliance and related costs are not possible to predict and depend substantially on the future requirements imposed by the FDA under the Tobacco Control Act. Costs, however, could be substantial and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, failure to comply with the Tobacco Control Act and with FDA regulatory requirements could result in significant financial penalties and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations and ability to market and sell the Company’s products. At present, it is difficult to predict whether the Tobacco Control Act will impact the Company to a greater degree than competitors in the industry, thus affecting the Company’s competitive position.

State and local governments currently legislate and regulate tobacco products, including what is considered a tobacco product, how tobacco taxes are calculated and collected, to whom and by whom tobacco products can be sold and where tobacco products may or may not be smoked. State and local regulation of the e-cigarette market and the usage of e-cigarettes is beginning to accelerate.

As local regulations expand, vaporizers and electronic cigarettes may lose their appeal as an alternative to cigarettes, which may have the effect of reducing the demand for the Company’s products and as a result have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

At present, neither the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (which prohibits the use of the U.S. Postal Service to mail most tobacco products, which would require individuals and businesses that make interstate sales of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to comply with state tax laws) nor the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (which governs how cigarettes can be advertised and marketed) apply to electronic cigarettes. The application of either or both of these federal laws to vaporizers and electronic cigarettes would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

On July 1, 2015, the FDA published a document entitled “Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking” or the Advance. Through the Advance, the FDA solicited public comments on whether it should issue rules with respect to nicotine exposure warning and child-resistant packaging for e-liquids containing nicotine. Following public comment, the FDA may issue proposed rules in furtherance of the purposes outlined in the Advance and ultimately pass the rules as proposed or in modified form. We cannot predict whether rules will be passed or if they will have a material adverse effect on our future results of operations and financial conditions.

The Company expects that the tobacco industry will experience significant regulatory developments over the next few years, driven principally by the World Health Organization’s FCTC. The FCTC is the first international public health treaty on tobacco, and its objective is to establish a global agenda for tobacco regulation with the purpose of reducing initiation of tobacco use and encouraging cessation. Regulatory initiatives that have been proposed, introduced or enacted include:

If Vaporizers, electronic cigarettes, or e-liquids, are subject to one or more significant regulatory initiates enacted under the FCTC, the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

NATURAL AND ORGANIC GROCERIES and DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS BUSINESS

Healthy Choice and Healthy Choice Markets 2 are specialty retailer of natural and organic groceries and dietary supplements. We focus on providing high-quality products at affordable prices, exceptional customer service, nutrition education and community outreach. We strive to generate long-term relationships with our customers based on quality and service by:

Our History and Founding Principles

We are committed to maintaining the following founding principles, which have helped foster our growth:

Our Market

We operate within the natural products retail industry, which is a subset of the United States grocery industry and the dietary supplement business. This industry includes conventional supermarkets, natural, gourmet and specialty food markets, mass and discount retailers, warehouse clubs, independent health food stores, dietary supplement retailers, drug stores, farmers’ markets, food co-ops, mail order and online retailers and multi-level marketers. Industry-wide sales of natural and organic foods and dietary supplements have experienced meaningful growth over the past several years, and we believe that growth will continue for the foreseeable future.

We believe the growth in sales of natural and organic foods and dietary supplements continues to be driven by numerous factors, including:

Our Competitive Strengths

We are well-positioned to capitalize on favorable natural and organic grocery and dietary supplement industry dynamics as a result of the following competitive strengths:

Strict focus on high-quality natural and organic grocery products. We offer high-quality products and brands, including an extensive selection of widely-recognized natural and organic food, dietary supplements, body care products, pet care products and books. We offer our customers approximately 10,000 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) of natural and organic products. We believe our broad product offering enables our customers to shop our stores for substantially all of their grocery and dietary supplement purchases. In our grocery departments, we primarily sell USDA certified organic produce and do not approve for sale grocery products that are known to contain artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners or partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils. In addition, we only sell pasture-raised, humanely-raised dairy products. Consistent with this strategy, our product selection does not include items that do not meet our strict quality guidelines. Our store managers enhance our robust product offering by customizing their stores’ selections to address the preferences of local customers.

Engaging customer service experience based on education and empowerment. We strive to offer consistently exceptional customer service in a shopper-friendly environment, which we believe creates a differentiated shopping experience, enhances customer loyalty and generates repeat visits from our clientele. A key aspect of our customer service model is to provide free nutrition education to our customers. We believe this focus provides an engaging retail experience while also empowering our customers to make informed decisions about their health. We offer our science-based nutrition education through our trained employees, our newsletter and sales flyer, community out-reach programs, one-on-one nutrition health coaching, nutrition classes and cooking demonstrations.

Our Growth Strategies

We expect to pursue several strategies to continue our profitable growth, including:

Expand our store base. We intend to expand our store base through the acquisition of new stores.

Increase sales from existing customers. In order to increase our average ticket and the number of customer transactions, we plan to continue offering an engaging customer experience by providing science-based nutrition education and a differentiated merchandising strategy that delivers affordable, high-quality natural and organic grocery products and dietary supplements. We also plan to continue to utilize targeted marketing efforts to reach our existing customers, which we anticipate will drive customer transactions and convert occasional, single-category customers into core, multi-category customers.

Grow our customer base. We plan to implement several measures aimed at building our brand awareness and growing our customer base, including: (i) redesigning our website (www.adasmarket.com) to enhance functionality, create a more engaging user experience and increase its reach and effectiveness; (ii) introducing customer appreciation programs at all our stores; and (iii) developing new collateral marketing materials. We believe offering nutrition education has historically been one of our most effective marketing strategies for reaching new customers and increasing the demand for natural and organic groceries and dietary supplements in our markets.

Improve operating margins. We expect to continue to improve our operating margins as we benefit from investments we have made or are making in fixed overhead and information technology. As we add additional stores, we expect to achieve greater economies of scale through sourcing and distribution. To achieve additional operating margin expansion, we intend to further optimize performance, maintain appropriate store labor levels and effectively manage product selection and pricing.

Our Products

Product Selection Guidelines. We have a set of strict quality guidelines covering all products we sell. For example:

Our product review team analyzes all new products and approves them for sale based on ingredients, price and uniqueness within the current product set. We actively research new products in the marketplace through our product vendors, private label manufacturers, scientific findings, customer requests and general trends in popular media. Our stores are able to fully merchandise all departments by providing an extensive assortment of natural and organic products. We do not believe we need to sell conventional products to fill our selection, increase our margins or attract more customers.

What We Sell. We operate both a full-service natural and organic grocery stores and dietary supplement stores within our retail locations. The following is a breakdown of our product mix:

Quality Assurance. We endeavor to ensure the quality of the products we sell. We work with reputable suppliers we believe are compliant with established regulatory and industry guidelines. Our purchasing department requires a complete supplier and product profile as part of the approval process. Our dietary supplement suppliers must follow Food and Drug Administration (FDA) current good manufacturing practices supported by quality assurance testing for both the base ingredients and the finished product. We expect our suppliers to comply with industry best practices for food safety.

Many of our suppliers are inspected and certified under the USDA National Organic Program, voluntary industry associations, and other third-party auditing programs with regards to additional ingredients, manufacturing and handling standards. We operate all our stores in compliance with the National Organic Program standards, which restricts the use of certain substances for cleaning and pest control and requires rigorous recordkeeping, among other requirements.

Our Pricing Strategy

We believe our pricing strategy allows our customers to shop our stores on a regular basis for their groceries and dietary supplements.

The key elements of our pricing strategy include:

As we expand our store base, we believe there are opportunities for increased leverage in fixed costs, such as administrative expenses, as well as increased economies of scale in sourcing products. We strive to keep our product, operating and general and administrative costs low, which allows us to continue to offer attractive pricing for our customers.

Store Management and Staffing. Our store staffing includes a manager and assistant manager, with department managers in each of the dietary supplement, grocery, dairy and frozen, produce, body care and receiving departments, as well as several non-management employees. Our regional manager is responsible for monthly store profit and loss, including labor, merchandising and inventory costs.

To ensure a high level of service, all employees receive training and guidance on customer service skills, product attributes and nutrition education. Employees are carefully trained and evaluated based on a requirement that they present nutrition information in an appropriate and legally compliant educational context while interacting with customers. Additionally, store employees are cross-trained in various functions, including cashier duties, stocking and receiving product.

Inventory. We use a robust merchandise management and perpetual inventory system that values goods at average cost. We manage shelf stock based on weeks-on-hand relative to sales, resupply time and minimum economic order quantity.

Sourcing and Vendors. We source from approximately 460 suppliers, and offer over 4,000 brands. These suppliers range from small independent businesses to multi-national conglomerates. As of December 31, 2018, we purchased approximately 70% of the goods we sell from our top 20 suppliers. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, approximately 30% of our total purchases were from one vendor. We maintain good relations with all our suppliers and believe we have adequate alternative supply methods, including self-distribution.

We have longstanding relationships with our suppliers, and we require disclosure from them regarding quality, freshness, potency and safety data information. Our bulk food private label products are packaged by us in pre-packed sealed bags to help prevent contamination while in transit and in our stores. Unlike most of our competitors, most of our private label nuts, trail mix and flours are refrigerated in our warehouse and stores to maintain freshness.

Our Employees

Commitment to our employees is one of our five founding principles. Employees are eligible for health, long-term disability, vision and dental insurance coverage, as well as Company paid short-term disability and life insurance benefits, after they meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, our employees are offered a 401(k) retirement savings plan with discretionary contribution matching opportunities. This further offers our employees the opportunity to become more familiar with our products, which we believe improves the customer service our employees are able to provide. We believe these and other factors result in higher retention rates and encourage our employees to appreciate our culture, which helps them better promote our brand.

Our Customers

The growth in the natural and organic grocery and dietary supplement industries and growing consumer interest in health and nutrition have led to an increase in our core customer base. We believe the demands for affordable, nutritious food and dietary supplements are shared attributes of our core customers, regardless of their socio-economic status. Additionally, we believe our core customers prefer a retail store environment that offers carefully selected natural and organic products and dietary supplements. Our customers tend to be interested in health and nutrition, and expect our store employees to be highly knowledgeable about these topics and related products.

Competition

The grocery and dietary supplement retail business is a large, fragmented and highly competitive industry, with few barriers to entry. Our competition varies by market and includes conventional supermarkets such as Publix and Winn-Dixie, mass or discount retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target, natural and gourmet markets such as Whole Foods and The Fresh Market, specialty food retailers such as Trader Joe’s, independent health food stores, dietary supplement retailers, drug stores, farmers’ markets, food co-ops, mail order and online retailers and multi-level marketers. These businesses compete with us for customers on the basis of price, selection, quality, customer service, shopping experience or any combination of these or other factors. They also compete with us for products and locations. In addition, some of our competitors are expanding to offer a greater range of natural and organic foods. We believe our commitment to carrying only carefully vetted, affordably priced and high-quality natural and organic products and dietary supplements, as well as our focus on providing nutritional education, differentiate us in the industry and provide a competitive advantage.

Seasonality

Our business is active throughout the calendar year and does not experience significant fluctuation caused by seasonal changes in consumer purchasing.

Insurance and Risk Management

We use a combination of insurance and self-insurance to cover workers’ compensation, general liability, product liability, director and officers’ liability, employment practices liability, associate healthcare benefits and other casualty and property risks. Changes in legal trends and interpretations, variability in inflation rates, changes in the nature and method of claims settlement, benefit level changes due to changes in applicable laws, insolvency of insurance carriers and changes in discount rates could all affect ultimate settlements of claims. We evaluate our insurance requirements and providers on an ongoing basis.

Information Technology Systems

We have made significant investments in overhead and information technology infrastructure, including purchasing, receiving, inventory, point of sale, warehousing, distribution, accounting, reporting and financial systems.

Segment Information

We have two reporting segments, natural and organic retail stores (“Grocery”) and vapor products (“Vapor”), through which we conduct all of our business.  

Going Concern and Liquidity

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which contemplate the continuation of the Company as a going concern for the next twelve months from the issuance of this Form 10-K and realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business and do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of any uncertainties related to our going concern assessment. The carrying amounts of assets and liabilities presented in the consolidated financial statements do not necessarily purport to represent realizable or settlement values.

The Company currently and historically has reported net losses and cash outflows from operations. As of December 31, 2018, cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $7.1 million. While we anticipate that our current cash, cash equivalents, and cash to be generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our projected operating plans for the foreseeable future through a year and a day from the issuance of these consolidated financial statements, should we require additional funds (either through equity or debt financings, collaborative agreements or from other sources) we have no commitments to obtain such additional financing, and we may not be able to obtain any such additional financing on terms favorable to us, or at all. During the second quarter of 2018, the Company entered into a $2.0 million line of credit agreement with a financial institution that is subject to annual renewal with a variable interest rate that it is based on a rate of 1% over what is earned on the collateral amount. The collateral amount established in the arrangement with the financial institution is $2.0 million.

In the third quarter of 2018, the Company used $0.5 million from the $2.0 million the line of credit at a variable interest rate, to issue a note receivable to VPR Brands LLC. In addition, on December 31, 2018, we entered into a Term Loan Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Professional Bank (the “Bank”) pursuant to which the Company issued a Term Note (the “Term Note”) in the principal amount of $1.4 million in favor of the Bank. The Term Note bears interest at a rate equal to 1.5% in excess of that rate shown in the Wall Street Journal as the prime rate, adjusted annually. The proceeds of the Term Note are to be used for acquisitions and for general working capital requirements. The ability to raise additional financing may have a positive effect on the future performance of the Company. 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None

Item 2. Properties.

The Company operates its business from numerous facilities in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. These leased facilities include our headquarters location, warehouse and retail stores.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

No response is required under Item 103 of Regulation S-K.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

None.

PART II

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

Our common stock is currently listed on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol “HCMC”.

As of March 27, 2019, there were approximately 1,400 stockholders of record for our common stock. A substantially greater number of stockholders may be “street name” or beneficial holders, whose shares are held of record by banks, brokers and other financial institutions.

As of March 27, 2019, the last reported sale price of our common stock on OTC Pink Marketplace was $0.0001 per share. 

We have never declared or paid, and do not anticipate declaring or paying, any cash dividends on any of our capital stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation of our business and do not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. Future determination as to the declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board and will depend on then existing conditions, including our operating results, financial conditions, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects and other factors our Board may deem relevant.

Repurchases of Outstanding Series A Warrants

Company repurchases of Series A Warrants during 2017 are set forth in the table below. There were no such repurchases by the Company during 2018.

On August 16, 2018, Healthier Choices Management Corp. (the “Company”) entered into agreements (each a “Warrant Exchange Agreement”) with certain holders of its Series A Warrants to exchange the Company’s Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series B Stock”) for Series A Warrants. A total of 20,722 shares of Series B Stock were exchanged for 46,048,318 Series A Warrants (including those warrants issuable pursuant to a Unit Purchase Option). The Series A Warrants acquired by the Company represented approximately 92% of the outstanding Series A Warrants and would have been convertible into 460,483,180,000 shares of Company common stock (“Common Stock”) if exercised as the date of the Warrant Exchange Agreements. Each share of Series B Stock has a stated value equal to $1,000 and is convertible into Common Stock on a fixed basis at a conversion price of $0.0001 per share.

As part of the transaction, the Company also acquired and cancelled a Unit Purchase Option that it had issued on July 23, 2015. The Unit Purchase Option was exercisable into 3,761,660 Series A Warrants.  

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

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

You should read the following discussion in conjunction with our audited historical consolidated financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this report. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition” and “Results of Operations” contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates, and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this report, including statements regarding our future financial position, liquidity, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements contained in this report include:

The words “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect,” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs.

The results anticipated by any or all of these forward-looking statements might not occur. Important factors, uncertainties and risks that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are contained in the Risk Factors contained herein. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. For more information regarding some of the ongoing risks and uncertainties of our business, see the Risk Factors below.

Factors Affecting Our Performance

We believe the following factors affect our performance:

Retail: We believe the operating performance of our retail stores will affect our revenue and financial performance. The Company has a total of ten retail vape stores and four natural and organic groceries and dietary supplement stores which are located in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. The Company has ceased plans to increase the number of retail vape stores due to adverse industry trends and increasing federal and state regulations that, if implemented, may negatively impact future retail revenues.

Increased Competition: The launch by national competitors in both of our business reporting segments have made it more difficult to compete on prices and to secure business. We expect increased product supply and downward pressure on prices to continue and impact our operating results in the future. We also expect the continued expansion of national grocery chains, which leads to greater competition, to impact our operating results in the future.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 that is used in the following discussions of our results of operations:

Net vapor sales increased $0.4 million to $6.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 as compared to $5.9 million for the same period in 2017. The increase in sales is primarily due to proceeds realized from our patented Q-Cup™ technology.  Net grocery sales increased $1.3 million to $8.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 as compared to $7.0 million for the same period in 2017. The increase was primarily due to same store sales increase at Ada’s Natural Market.

Vapor cost of goods sold for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were $2.7 million and $2.6 million, respectively an increase of $0.1 million. The increase in cost of goods sold is primarily due to the proceeds realized from our patented Q-Cup™ technology. Grocery store cost of goods sold for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were $4.8 million and $4.1 million, respectively, an increase of $0.7 million. The increase was primarily due to the same store sales increase at Ada’s Natural Market.

Total operating expenses decreased $6.4 million to $10.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. The decrease is primarily attributable to the decline in employee stock compensation which decreased by $5.8 million when compared to 2017.

Net other expenses of $10.2 million expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 includes $10.7 million of a non-cash charge of the Series A warrants related to the August 2018 Warrant Exchange Agreement. Also, $0.5 million of other income as a result of the re-payment of the VPR Brands note and, $0.1 million of a loss on investment in common stock of MJ Holdings, Inc stock.

 Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our net cash used in operating activities of $0.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 resulted from our net loss of $13.2 million, offset by a net cash usage of $0.1 million from changes in operating assets and liabilities and a non-cash adjustments of $13.1 million. Our net cash used in continuing operating activities of $2.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 resulted from our net loss from continuing operations of $9.9 million, offset by a net cash usage of $0.8 million from changes in operating assets and liabilities and a non-cash adjustments of $8.1 million. We did not utilize any cash on discontinued operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. Our net cash used in discontinued operations of $0.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 resulted from our net income from discontinued operations of $0.3 million offset by non-cash adjustments of $0.5 million.

The net cash used in investing activities of $4.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 resulted from the issuance and collection of a note receivable, the acquisition of new business and purchases of a patent and property and equipment. The net cash used in investing activities of $0.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 resulted from patent purchases of $0.1 million and property and equipment of $0.1 million.

The net cash provided by financing activities of $3.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 is due to proceeds from loan payable and line of credit of $3.3 million and proceeds from exercise of stock options of $0.1 million. The net cash used in financing activities of $2.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 is due to repurchases of Series A warrants totaling $2.4 million and, principal payments on capital lease obligations of $0.1 million.

At December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we did not have any material financial guarantees or other contractual commitments with trade vendors that are reasonably likely to have an adverse effect on liquidity.

Our cash balances are kept liquid to support our growing acquisition and infrastructure needs for operational expansion. The majority of our cash and cash equivalents are concentrated in one large financial institution, which is in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) coverage. The following table presents the Company’s cash position as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

The Company reported net loss of approximately $13.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The Company also had positive working capital of $3.9 million. The Company expects to continue incurring losses for the foreseeable future and may need to raise additional capital to satisfy warrant obligations, and to continue as a going concern.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements other than operating leases for retail locations, equipment, and vehicles.

Seasonality

We do not consider our business to be seasonal.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following discussion and analysis contains a non-GAAP financial measure. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed as supplemental to, and should not be considered as alternative to, net income, operating income, and cash flow from operating activities, liquidity or any other financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measures may not be indicative of the historical operating results of the Company nor are they intended to be predictive of potential future financial results. Investors should not consider non-GAAP financial measures in isolation or as substitutes for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Management believes stockholders benefit from referring to the Adjusted EBITDA in planning, forecasting, and analyzing future periods. Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure in evaluating its financial and operational decision making and as a means of evaluating period to period comparison.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net loss from operations adjusted for non-cash charges for depreciation and amortization and stock compensation. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of our operating performance because it allows management, investors and analysts to evaluate and assess our core operating results from period to period after removing the impact of significant non-cash charges that effect comparability between reporting periods. Our management recognizes that Adjusted EBITDA has inherent limitations because of the excluded items.

We have included a reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measure to loss from operations as calculated in accordance with GAAP. We believe that providing the non-GAAP financial measure, together with the reconciliation to GAAP, helps investors make comparisons between the Company and other companies. In making any comparisons to other companies, investors need to be aware that companies use different non-GAAP measures to evaluate their financial performance. Investors should pay close attention to specific definitions being used and to the reconciliation between such measures and the corresponding GAAP measures provided by each company under applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

See pages F-1 through F-23.

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

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

We are required to report under Section 404(a) of Sarbanes-Oxley regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. If we determine that we have material weaknesses, it may be necessary to make restatements of our consolidated financial statements and investors will not be able to rely on the completeness and accuracy of the financial information contained in our filings with the SEC and this could potentially subject us to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities or stockholder litigation.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, did not carry out an evaluation on internal controls during the year ended December 31, 2018 in regard to the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. As an evaluation was not carried out, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018.

In planning and performing its audit of our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, our independent registered public accounting firm noted material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting. A list of our material weaknesses are as follows:

Our management concluded that considering internal control deficiencies that, in the aggregate, rise to the level of material weaknesses, we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018 based on the criteria set forth in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”).

Remediation Efforts

Following this assessment and during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, we have undertaken an action plan to strengthen internal controls and procedures:

Our management continues to review ways in which we can make improvements in internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information.

None.

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Directors and Executive Officers

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers and directors as of December 31, 2018:

Executive Officers

Jeffrey Holman has been our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since April 2014. From February 2013 until March 4, 2015, Mr. Holman serviced as our President. Mr. Holman has been a member of our Board since May 2013 and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of our subsidiary Smoke Anywhere, USA since its inception on March 24, 2008. Since 1998, Mr. Holman has been the President of Jeffrey E. Holman & Associates, P.A., a South Florida based law firm. He has also been a Partner in the law firm of Holman, Cohen & Valencia since 2000. Mr. Holman was selected as a director for his business and legal experience. In addition, as one of the founders of Smoke Anywhere, Mr. Holman possesses an in-depth understanding of the challenges, risks and characteristics unique to our industry.

Christopher Santi has been our Chief Operating Officer since December 12, 2012 and has served as the President and Chief Operating Officer since April 11, 2016. Prior to that Mr. Santi served as Director of Operations of the Company beginning in October 2011. Mr. Santi served as the National Sales Manager of Collages.net from November 2007 to October 2011.

John A. Ollet has been our Chief Financial Officer since December 12, 2016. Mr. Ollet previously served as Executive Vice President-Finance for Systemax, Inc. (NYSE:SYX) from 2006 to 2016. His prior chief financial officer experience also includes serving as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Arrow Cargo Holdings, Inc., an airline logistics company, and VP Finance /CFO - The Americas - Cargo Division, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, an airline company. He also previously served as Vice President Finance/Administration at Sterling-Starr Maritime Group, Inc. and served on the audit staff of Arthur Andersen & Co. Mr. Ollet received a bachelor’s degree in Finance/Economics and a master’s degree in business administration from Florida International University. Mr. Ollet is a Certified Public Accountant.

Non-Employee Directors

Anthony Panariello, M.D. has been a director since April 15, 2016. Dr. Panariello is a Board Certified in Pulmonology and Internal Medicine in Florida and has been in private practice since 1996, serving as an attending physician at a number of hospitals. Dr. Panariello is a member of the College of Physicians and the American College of Chest Physicians. Additionally, Dr. Panariello currently serves as a Lieutenant Commander in the Medical Corps of the United States Navy Reserve. Dr. Panariello received his Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and his medical degree from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara.

Clifford J. Friedman has been a director since April 15, 2016. Mr. Friedman is a certified public accountant in Coral Springs, Florida and managed his own public accounting, tax and consulting practice since 2001. From 1992 to 2000, Mr. Friedman was Vice President-Finance of Administration of the Box Worldwide, Inc., a Viacom company. He received an M.B.A. from Nova Southeastern University and his B.B.A. from Pace University.

Corporate Governance

Board Responsibilities

The Board oversees, counsels, and directs management in the long-term interest of the Company and its stockholders. The Board’s responsibilities include establishing broad corporate policies and reviewing the overall performance of the Company. The Board is not, however, involved in the operating details on a day-to-day basis.

Board Committees and Charters

The Board and its Committees meet throughout the year and act by written consent from time-to-time as appropriate. The Board delegates various responsibilities and authority to different Board Committees. Committees regularly report on their activities and actions to the Board.

The Board currently has and appoints the members of: The Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each of these committees have a written charter which can be found on our corporate website at www.healthiercmc.com/committee-charters/.

The following table identifies the independent and non-independent current Board and committee members: 

Director Independence

Our Board has determined that Clifford J. Friedman and Dr. Anthony Panariello are independent in accordance with standards under the OTC Pink Marketplace. Our Board determined that as a result of being executive officer, Messrs. Jeffrey Holman is not independent under the OTC Pink Marketplace Bulletin Boards. Our Board has also determined that Clifford J. Friedman and Dr. Anthony Panariello are independent under the OTC Pink Marketplace independence standards for Audit and Compensation Committee members.

Committees of the Board

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee, which currently consists of Clifford J. Friedman (chair) and Dr. Anthony Panariello, reviews the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board and administers our engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee approves all audit and non-audit services, and reviews the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

Our Board has determined that Clifford J. Friedman is qualified as an Audit Committee Financial Expert, as that term is defined by the rules of the SEC and in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Compensation Committee

The function of the Compensation Committee is to determine the compensation of our executive officers. The Compensation Committee has the power to set performance targets for determining periodic bonuses payable to executive officers and may review and make recommendations with respect to stockholder proposals related to compensation matters. Additionally, the Compensation Committee is responsible for administering the Company’s equity compensation plans including the Plan.

The members of the Compensation Committee are all independent directors within the meaning of applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules and all of the members are “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The responsibilities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee include the identification of individuals qualified to become Board members, the selection of nominees to stand for election as directors, the oversight of the selection and composition of committees of the Board, establish procedures for the nomination process including procedures and the oversight of the evaluations of the Board and management. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has not established a policy with regard to the consideration of any candidates recommended by stockholders since no stockholders have made any recommendations. If we receive any stockholder recommended nominations, the Nominating Committee will carefully review the recommendation(s) and consider such recommendation(s) in good faith.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the members of our compensation committee has ever been an officer or employee of the Company. None of our executive officers serve, or have served during the last fiscal year, as a member of our compensation committee or other Board committee performing equivalent functions of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board or on our compensation committee.

Board Assessment of Risk

The Board is actively involved in the oversight of risks that could affect the Company. This oversight is conducted primarily through the Audit Committee, but the full Board has retained responsibility for general oversight of risks. The Audit Committee considers and reviews with our independent public accounting firm and management the adequacy of our internal controls, including the processes for identifying significant risks and exposures, and elicits recommendations for the improvements of such procedures where desirable. In addition to the Audit Committee’s role, the full Board is involved in oversight and administration of risk and risk management practices. Members of our senior management have day-to-day responsibility for risk management and establishing risk management practices, and members of management are expected to report matters relating specifically to the Audit Committee directly thereto, and to report all other matters directly to the Board as a whole. Members of our senior management have an open line of communication to the Board and have the discretion to raise issues from time-to-time in any manner they deem appropriate, and management’s reporting on issues relating to risk management typically occurs through direct communication with directors or committee members as matters requiring attention arise. Members of our senior management regularly attend portions of the Board’s meetings, and often discuss the risks related to our business.

Presently, the largest risks affecting the Company are the Company’s ability to manage and satisfy the Series A Warrant obligations and evaluation of potential adverse impact of the FDA’s final regulations on vaporizers and e-liquids on the retail business operations. The Board actively interfaces with management on seeking solutions.

Code of Ethics

The Company has a code of ethics, “Business Conduct: “Code of Conduct and Policy,” that applies to all of the Company’s employees, including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, and the Board. A copy of this code is available on the Company’s website at http://www.healthiercmc.com/code-of-conduct. The Company intends to disclose any changes in or waivers from its code of ethics by posting such information on its website or by filing a Current Report on Form 8-K.

Stockholder Communications

Although we do not have a formal policy regarding communications with our Board, stockholders may communicate with the Board by writing to us at Healthier Choices Management Corp., 3800 N 28th Way, Hollywood, FL 33020, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or by facsimile (954) 272-7773. Stockholders who would like their submission directed to a member of the Board may so specify, and the communication will be forwarded, as appropriate.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of common stock and the other equity securities. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by SEC rules to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.

Based solely on a review of the reports furnished to us, or written representations from reporting persons that all reportable transactions were reported and that no Form 5s were required, we believe that during 2018 our officers, directors and greater than 10% owners timely filed all reports they were required to file under Section 16(a).

ITEM 11. Executive Compensation

The following information is related to the compensation paid, distributed or accrued by us for fiscal 2018 to all Chief Executive Officers (principal executive officers) serving during the last fiscal year and the two other most highly compensated executive officers serving at the end of the last fiscal year whose compensation exceeded $100,000. We refer to these individuals as our “named executive officers.”

Summary Compensation Table

(1)   Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value, without regard to forfeitures, computed in accordance with ASC 718. These amounts represent options and restricted stock of the Company’s common stock and do not reflect the actual amounts that may be realized by the Named Executive Officers. Our assumptions with respect to the calculation of the stock options and restricted stock value are set forth in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements contained herein.

Named Executive Officer Employment Agreements

On August 13, 2018, the Company amended and restated its existing employment agreement with Jeffrey Holman, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “Holman Employment Agreement”). The Holman Employment Agreement is for an additional three year term and provides for an annual base salary of $450,000 and a target bonus for 2018 only in an amount ranging from 20% to 200% of his base salaries subject to the Company meeting certain earnings before interest, taxes depreciation and amortization performance milestones. Mr. Holman is entitled to receive severance payments, including two years of his then base salary and other benefits in the event of a change of control, termination by the Company without cause, termination for good reason by the executive or non-renewal by the Company. Mr. Holman was also granted 11 billion shares of restricted common stock pursuant to the Holman Employment Agreement Amendment on the condition that 11 billion of his options to purchase Company common stock are forfeited. This restricted stock will vest one year following the date of issuance provided that the grantee remains an employee of the Company through each applicable vesting date. The above description of the terms of the Holman Employment Agreement is not complete and is qualified by reference to the complete document.

Effective as of August 13, 2018, Healthier Choices Management Corp. (the “Company”) entered into an amendment to the existing employment agreement (the “Santi Amended Employment Agreement”) with the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Christopher Santi. Pursuant to the Santi Amended Employment Agreement, Mr. Santi will continue to be employed as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer for an additional one year extension period through January 29, 2021. Mr. Santi will receive a base salary of $330,000 for this additional year. The severance pay period for termination without cause was increased to up to 18 months based on time of service. Mr. Santi was also granted 8 billion shares of restricted common stock pursuant to the Santi Amended Employment Agreement on the condition that 8 billion of his options to purchase Company common stock are forfeited. This restricted stock will vest one year following the date of issuance provided that the grantee remains an employee of the Company through each applicable vesting date. The above description of the terms of the Santi Amended Employment Agreement is not complete and is qualified by reference to the complete document

Effective as of August 13, 2018, the Company entered into an amendment to the existing employment agreement (the “Ollet Amended Employment Agreement”) with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, John Ollet. Pursuant to the Ollet Amended Employment Agreement, Mr. Ollet will continue to be employed as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer for an additional one year extension period through December 12, 2020. Mr. Ollet will receive a base salary of $250,000 for this additional year. Mr. Ollet was also granted 3 billion shares of restricted common stock pursuant to the Ollet Amended Employment Agreement. This restricted stock will vest one year following the date of issuance provided that the grantee remains an employee of the Company through each applicable vesting date. The above description of the terms of the Ollet Amended Employment Agreement not complete and is qualified by reference to the complete document.

Under the Restricted Stock Award Agreements with Messrs. Holman, Ollet and Santi, each recipient will have all rights of a stockholder of the Company, except the right to receive any dividends thereon until vested. This restricted stock will vest one year following the date of issuance provided that the grantee remains an employee of the Company through each applicable vesting date.

Termination Provisions

The table below describes the severance payments that our Named Executive Officers are entitled to in connection with a termination of their employment upon death, disability, dismissal without cause, Change of Control or for Good Reason. All of the termination provisions are intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Regulations thereunder.

(1) Good reason is generally (with certain exceptions) defined, in the case of Holman, as (i) a material diminution in their authority, duties or responsibilities, (y) the Company failing to maintain an office in the stated area or (ii) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of the Employment Agreement. Messrs. Ollet and Santi’s employment agreement do not include the concept of good reason.

(2) Change of Control is generally defined (i) in the case of Holman, as any Change of Control Event as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5); and (ii) in the case of Santi, as (w) a sale of substantially all of the Company, (x) any “person” (as such term is defined under the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owners of over 50% of the Company’s voting power, (y) a change in the majority of the composition of the Board or (z) a transaction that results in over 50% of the Company’s voting power ceasing to hold a majority of the voting power post-transaction.

Risk Assessment Regarding Compensation Policies and Practices as they Relate to Risk Management

Our compensation program for employees does not create incentives for excessive risk taking by our employees or involve risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us. Our compensation has the following risk-limiting characteristics:

Outstanding Awards at Fiscal Year End

Listed below is information with respect to unexercised options that have not vested, and equity incentive plan awards for each named executive officer outstanding as of December 31, 2018:

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2018 Fiscal Year-End

Director Compensation

Non-employee directors are paid a monthly fee of $1,000 per month and $1,000 for each meeting attended. Because we do not pay any compensation to employee directors, Mr. Holman is omitted from the following table. Non-employee members of our Board of Directors were compensated for as follows:

Fiscal 2018 Director Compensation

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the June 26, 2015 stockholders meeting. On November 21, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors increased the number of shares of common stock available for issuance pursuant to the Plan to 100,000,000,000. The Plan is a broad-based plan in which all employees, consultants, officers, and directors of the Company are eligible to participate. The purpose of the Plan is to further the growth and development of the Company by providing, through ownership of stock of the Company and other equity-based awards, an incentive to its officers and other key employees and consultants who are in a position to contribute materially to the prosperity of the Company, to increase such persons’ interests in the Company’s welfare, by encouraging them to continue their services to the Company, and by enabling the Company to attract individuals of outstanding ability to become employees, consultants, officers and directors of the Company.

The following chart reflects the number of awards granted under equity compensation plans approved and not approved by stockholders and the weighted average exercise price for such plans as of December 31, 2018.

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

The following table sets forth the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned as of December 31, 2018, by (i) those persons known by us to be owners of more than 5% of our common stock, (ii) each director, (iii) our Named Executive Officers and (iv) all of our executive officers and directors of as a group. Unless otherwise specified in the notes to this table, the address for each person is: c/o Healthier Choices Management Corp., 3800 North 28th Way, Hollywood, Florida 33020.

(1) Beneficial Ownership. Applicable percentages are based on 66,634,387,066 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 27, 2019. Beneficial ownership is determined under the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Shares of common stock subject to options, warrants, convertible notes and preferred stock currently exercisable or convertible or exercisable or convertible within 60 days are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of the person holding such securities but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person. The table includes shares of common stock, options, warrants, and preferred stock exercisable or convertible into common stock and vested or vesting within 60 days. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, we believe that each of the stockholders named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of common stock indicated as beneficially owned by them. The table does not include: (i) restricted stock units that do not have the right to vote until they vest and the shares are delivered or (ii) unvested options that do not vest within 60 days of the date listed above in this footnote.

(2) Holman. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Includes 39,000,000,000 vested options and 11,000,000,000 shares of unvested restricted Common Stock. The option agreement includes a provision that prevents Mr. Holman from exercising the option into common stock to the extent (but only to the extent) that such conversion would result in the holder, or any of its affiliates, beneficially owning (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) more than 19.9% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock (the “Exercise Blocker”). Without the Exercise Blocker, Mr. Holman would be deemed to beneficially own 50,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to vested options.

(3) Santi. Santi and Chief Operation Officer. Includes 17,000,000,000 vested options and 8,000,000,000 shares of unvested restricted Common Stock. The option agreement of Mr. Santi includes the Exercise Blocker. Without the Exercise Blocker, Mr. Santi would be deemed to beneficially own 25,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to vested options.

(4) Ollet. Chief Financial Officer. Includes 5,000,000,000 vested options. He also holds 3,000,000,000 shares of unvested restricted Common Stock. The option agreement of Mr. Ollet includes the Exercise Blocker.

(5) Panariello. A director. Includes 1,000,000,000 vested options. He also holds 500,000,000 shares of unvested restricted Common Stock.

(6) Friedman. A director. Includes 1,000,000,000 vested options. He also holds 500,000,000 shares of unvested restricted Common Stock.

(7) Directors and Executive Officers. Includes executive officers who are not Named Executive Officers under the SEC’s rules and regulations. 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions

We have adopted a policy that our executive officers, directors, nominees for election as a director, beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of our common stock and any members of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons are not permitted to enter into a related person transaction with us without the prior consent of our audit committee. Our audit committee will review and oversee all transactions with an executive officer, director, nominee for election as a director, beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our common stock or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons and such person would have a direct or indirect interest. In approving or rejecting any such transactions, our audit committee is to consider the material facts of the transaction, including, but not limited to, whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

Our Audit Committee pre-approves audit and permissible non-audit services performed by its independent registered public accounting firm, as well as the fees charged for such services. All of the services related to audit fees and audit-related fees charged were pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The following table shows the fees for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

(1) Audit fees — these fees relate to the audit of our annual financial statements and the review of our interim quarterly financial statements and our registration statements.

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT INDEX

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of

Healthier Choices Management Corp.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Healthier Choices Management Corp. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the two years ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting 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.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Marcum LLP

Marcum LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.

New York, NY

March 27, 2019

HEALTHIER CHOICES MANAGEMENT CORP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

See notes to consolidated financial statements

HEALTHIER CHOICES MANAGEMENT CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

See notes to consolidated financial statements

HEALTHIER CHOICES MANAGEMENT CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND 2018

See notes to consolidated financial statements

HEALTHIER CHOICES MANAGEMENT CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

See notes to consolidated financial statements

HEALTHIER CHOICES MANAGEMENT CORP.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. ORGANIZATION, GOING CONCERN, BASIS OF PRESENTATION, AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Organization

Healthier Choices Management Corp. (the “Company”) is a holding company focused on providing consumers with healthier daily choices with respect to nutrition and other lifestyle alternatives. The Company currently operates ten retail vape stores in the Southeast region of the United States, through which it offers e-liquids, vaporizers and related products. The Company also operates Ada’s Natural Market, a natural and organic grocery store, through its wholly owned subsidiary Healthy Choice Markets, Inc. Ada’s Natural Market and Paradise Health and Nutrition offers fresh produce, bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, packaged groceries, meat and seafood, deli, baked goods, dairy products, frozen foods, health & beauty products and natural household items. The Company also sells vitamins and supplements on the Amazon.com marketplace through its wholly owned subsidiary Healthy U Wholesale, Inc. The Company markets the Q-Cup™ technology under the vape segment; this patented technology is based on a small, quartz cup called the Q-Cup™, which a customer partially fills with either cannabis or CBD concentrate (approximately 50mg) purchased from a third party. The Q-Cup™ is then inserted into the Q-Cup™ Tank or Globe, that heats the cup from the outside without coming in direct contact with the solid concentrate. This Q-Cup™ technology provides significantly more efficiency and an “on the go” solution for consumers who prefer to vape concentrates either medicinally or recreationally.

Going Concern and Liquidity

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern and realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business and do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of any uncertainties related to our going concern assessment. The carrying amounts of assets and liabilities presented in the financial statements do not necessarily purport to represent realizable or settlement values.

The Company currently and historically has reported net losses and cash outflows from operations. As of December 31, 2018, cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $7.1 million. While we anticipate that our current cash, cash equivalents, and cash to be generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our projected operating plans for the foreseeable future through a year and a day from the issuance of these consolidated financial statements, should we require additional funds (either through equity or debt financings, collaborative agreements or from other sources), we have no commitments to obtain such additional financing and we may not be able to obtain any such additional financing on terms favorable to us, or at all.

During  the second quarter of 2018, the Company entered into a $2.0 million line of credit agreement with a financial institution that is subject to annual renewal with a variable interest rate that it is based on a rate of 1% over what is earned on the collateral amount. The collateral amount established in the arrangement with the financial institution is $2.0 million. The Company has $0.1 million of availability as of December 31, 2018.  

Sourcing and Vendors.

We source from multiple suppliers. These suppliers range from small independent businesses to multinational conglomerates. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, approximately 30% and 40% of our total purchases were from one vendor.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all subsidiaries in which the Company holds a controlling financial interest as of the financial statement date.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Healthy Choice Markets, Inc., Healthy Choice Markets 2, LLC (“Paradise Health and Nutrition”), The Vitamin Store, LLC, Healthy U Wholesale, Inc., The Vape Store, Inc. (“Vape Store”), Vaporin, Inc. (“Vaporin”), Smoke Anywhere U.S.A., Inc. (“Smoke”), Emagine the Vape Store, LLC (“Emagine”), IVGI Acquisition, Inc., Vapormax Franchising LLC, Vaporin LLC, and Vaporin Florida, Inc. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Note 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts in the consolidated financial statements related to stock splits and the sale of discontinued operations have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation. No changes to the Company’s net loss were made as a result of such reclassifications.

Segment Reporting

Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the operating decision makers, or decision-making group, in making decisions on how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s decision-making group are the senior executive management team. The Company and the decision-making group view the Company’s operations and manage its business as two operating segments. All long-lived assets of the Company reside in the U.S.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of the Financial Statements

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of net revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. These estimates and assumptions include allowances, reserves and write-downs of receivables and inventory, valuing equity securities and hybrid instruments, share-based payment arrangements, deferred taxes and related valuation allowances, and the valuation of the assets and liabilities acquired in business combinations. Certain of management’s estimates could be affected by external conditions, including those unique to our industry, and general economic conditions. It is possible that these external factors could have an effect on our estimates that could cause actual results to differ from our estimates. The Company re-evaluates all of its accounting estimates at least quarterly based on these conditions and records adjustments when necessary.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues from product sales and services rendered, net of promotional discounts, manufacturer coupons and rebates, return allowances, and sales and consumption taxes, are recorded when products are delivered, title passes to customers and collection is likely to occur. Title passes to customers at the point of sale for retail and upon delivery of products for wholesale. Return allowances, which reduce revenue, are estimated using historical experience.

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with the following five-step model:

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-9, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-9”), is a comprehensive revenue recognition standard that superseded nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance. The Company adopted the standard on January 1, 2018 using the full retrospective method, which requires reporting entities to apply the standard as of the earliest period presented in their financial statements. The adoption of the new standard resulted in an immaterial impact to the consolidated statements of operations for reclassifying $13,000 to net loss and an immaterial impact to the consolidated balance sheets for reclassifying $61,000 of contract liabilities from accrued expenses as of December 31, 2017. Contract liabilities consist of gift card and loyalty point program liabilities. See “Accounts Receivable, Contract Assets, and Deferred Revenue” significant accounting policy.

Adoption of ASU 2014-09 impacted the previously reported results for the year ended December 31, 2017 as follows:

Adoption of ASU 2014-09 impacted the previously reported balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 as follows:

Shipping and Handling

Shipping charges billed to customers are included in net sales and the related shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, shipping and handling costs of approximately $101,000 and $100,000, were included in cost of sales, respectively.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash and cash equivalents. The majority of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are concentrated in one large financial institution, which is in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) coverage. At December 31, 2018, cash in excess of FDIC limits of $250,000 per financial institution were approximately $6.0 million. The Company continually monitors its positions with, and the credit quality of, the financial institutions with which it invests, as deposits are held in excess of federally insured limits. The Company’s cash equivalent at December 31, 2018 was a money market account. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

Accounts Receivable, Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities

Accounts receivable are claims to consideration which are unconditional; meaning no performance obligations remain for the Company and only the passage of time is necessary before collection. Contract assets are distinguished from accounts receivable as performance obligations remain before claims to consideration become unconditional. By nature of the Company’s operations, contract assets are typically not recognized. Contract liabilities are recorded when customers transfer consideration in advance of delivery of products or services, which the Company records for gift cards and loyalty reward programs. When one party to an arrangement performs before the other(s), the Company records an account receivable, contract asset or contract liability.

The majority of arrangements with customers contain one performance obligation: to provide a distinct set of products or services. Most performance obligations are satisfied simultaneously as the Company exchanges products or services for customer payment. Exceptions include gift cards and loyalty rewards, for which the Company has a performance obligation to deliver products or services at a future date. As gift cards are purchased and loyalty points earned, contract liabilities are recorded until the performance obligations are satisfied through delivery of products or services or breakage based on gift card and loyalty reward program term limits. The Company’s breakage policy is twenty-four months for gift cards, twelve months for Grocery loyalty rewards, and six months for Vapor loyalty rewards. Loyalty rewards are earned at five percent on qualifying purchases and the reward functions as an allocation of transaction price from the period earned by the customer to the period the performance obligation is satisfied by the Company. As such, all contract liabilities are expected to be recognized within a twenty-four month period.

Concentration of accounts receivable consist of the following:

Due from Merchant Credit Card Processor

Due from merchant credit card processor represents monies held by the Company’s credit card processors. The funds are being held by the merchant credit card processors pending satisfaction of their hold requirements and expiration of charge backs/refunds from customers.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at average cost. If the cost of the inventories exceeds their net realizable value, provisions are recorded to write down excess inventory to their net realizable value. The Company’s inventories consist primarily of merchandise available for resale, such as fresh produce, perishable grocery items and non-perishable consumable goods.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the expected useful life of the respective asset, after the asset is placed in service. Revenue earning property and equipment includes signage, furniture and fixtures, computer hardware, appliance, cooler, displays with useful lives range from two to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over life of lease.

Identifiable Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Identifiable intangible assets are recorded at cost, or when acquired as part of a business acquisition, at estimated fair value. Certain identifiable intangible assets are amortized over 3 and 15 years. Similar to tangible personal property and equipment, the Company periodically evaluates identifiable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Indefinite-lived intangible assets, such as goodwill are not amortized.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. In connection with this review, the Company also reevaluates the depreciable lives for these assets. The Company assesses recoverability by determining whether the net book value of the related asset will be recovered through the projected undiscounted future cash flows of the asset. If the Company determines that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable, it measures any impairment based on the projected future discounted cash flows as compared to the asset’s carrying value.

The Company assesses the carrying amounts of goodwill for recoverability on at least an annual basis or when events or changes in circumstances indicate evidence of potential impairment exists, using a fair value based test. Application of the goodwill impairment test requires significant judgments including estimation of future cash flows, which is dependent on internal forecasts, estimation of the long-term rate of growth for the businesses, and the useful life over which cash flows will occur. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value and/or conclusions on goodwill impairment for the Company.

During the third quarter of 2017, we changed the date of our annual impairment test from December 31st to September 30th. We believe the change in accounting principle related to changing our annual impairment testing date did not delay, accelerate, or avoid an impairment charge. We have determined that this change in accounting principle is preferable under the circumstances and does not result in adjustments to our financial statements when applied retrospectively. Our 2018 annual impairment test resulted in no impairment being recorded. Management also performed a qualitative analysis at December 31, 2018 to determine whether any triggering events have occurred since the annual test date of September 30, 2018, which would indicate an impairment. Management determined no triggering events had occurred through December 31, 2018.

Advertising

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred.

Income Taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). Under this method, income tax expense is recognized as the amount of: (i) taxes payable or refundable for the current year and (ii) future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years which those temporary 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 results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the deferred tax assets reported if based on the weight of available evidence it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation for employees and directors under ASC Topic No. 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). These standards define a fair value based method of accounting for stock-based compensation. In accordance with ASC 718, the cost of stock-based compensation is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized over the vesting period. The value of the stock-based award is determined using an appropriate valuation model, whereby compensation cost is the fair value of the award as determined by the valuation model at the grant date. The resulting amount is charged to expense on the straight-line basis over the period in which the Company expects to receive the benefit, which is generally the vesting period. The Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience. Stock-based compensation for non-employees is measured at the grant date, is re-measured at subsequent vesting dates and reporting dates, and is amortized over the service period. 

Derivative Instruments

The Company accounts for free-standing derivative instruments and hybrid instruments that contain embedded derivative features in accordance with ASC Topic No. 815, “Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” (“ASC 815”) as well as related interpretations of this topic. In accordance with this topic, derivative instruments and hybrid instruments are recognized as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet and are measured at fair values with gains or losses recognized in earnings. Embedded derivatives that are not clearly and closely related to the host contract are bifurcated and are recognized at fair value with changes in fair value recognized as either a gain or loss in earnings. The Company determines the fair value of derivative instruments and hybrid instruments based on available market data using appropriate valuation models, giving consideration to all of the rights and obligations of each instrument.

The Company estimates fair values of derivative instruments and hybrid instruments using various techniques (and combinations thereof) that are considered to be consistent with the objective of measuring fair values. In selecting the appropriate technique, the Company considers, among other factors, the nature of the instrument, the market risks that it embodies and the expected means of settlement. For complex instruments, the Company utilizes custom Monte Carlo simulation models. For less complex instruments, such as free-standing warrants, the Company generally uses the Binomial Lattice model, adjusted for the effect of dilution, because it embodies all of the requisite assumptions (including trading volatility, estimated terms, dilution and risk-free rates) necessary to fair value these instruments. Estimating fair values of derivative financial instruments requires the development of significant and subjective estimates that may, and are likely to, change over the duration of the instrument with related changes in internal and external market factors. In addition, option-based techniques (such as the Binomial Lattice model or the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model) are highly volatile and sensitive to changes in the trading market price of the Company’s common stock. Since derivative financial instruments are initially and subsequently carried at fair values, the Company’s net income (loss) going forward will reflect the volatility in these estimates and assumption changes. Under ASC 815, increases in the trading price of the Company’s common stock and increases in fair value during a given financial period result in the application of non-cash derivative losses. Conversely, decreases in the trading price of the Company’s common stock and decreases in trading fair value during a given financial period result in the application of non-cash derivative gains.

Fair Value Measurements

The fair value framework under FASB’s guidance requires the categorization of assets and liabilities into three levels based upon the assumptions used to measure the assets or liabilities. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, whereas Level 3, if applicable, would generally require significant management judgment. The three levels for categorizing assets and liabilities under the fair value measurement requirements are as follows:

Nonfinancial assets such as goodwill, other intangible assets, and long-lived assets held and used are measured at fair value when there is an indicator of impairment and recorded at fair value when impairment is recognized or for a business combination

Sequencing Policy 

Under ASC 815-40-35, the Company has adopted a sequencing policy, whereby, in the event that reclassification of contracts from equity to assets or liabilities is necessary pursuant to ASC 815 due to the Company’s inability to demonstrate it has sufficient authorized shares, shares will be allocated on the basis of the earliest issuance date of potentially dilutive instruments, with the earliest grants receiving the first allocation of shares.

Adopted Accounting Pronouncements 

As more fully described above, on January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2014-9 using the full retrospective method, which requires reporting entities to apply the standard as of the earliest period presented in their financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15 (Topic 230), “Statement of Cash Flows Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments”. The new standard will make eight targeted changes to how cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and annual and interim periods thereafter, with early adoption permitted. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this new standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In July 2017, the FASB issued a two-part ASU No. 2017-11, I “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features” and II “Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests With a Scope Exception”. The ASU is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this new standard will have on its consolidated financial statements. 

Note 3. ACQUISITION AND DISPOSAL

Paradise Health and Nutrition and The Vitamin Store

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Healthy Choice Markets 2, LLC (the “Paradise Buyer”), closed on its acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Paradise Health Foods, Inc. (“Paradise”), which owned and operated health and nutrition stores in Melbourne, Florida and Palm Bay, Florida (the “Paradise Acquisition”). In addition, the Paradise Buyer assumed certain leasehold obligations and entered into a short-term transition agreement with the sole stockholder of Paradise. The cash purchase price to acquire the assets and business of Paradise was approximately $2.28 million. Contemporaneous with the Paradise closing, Healthy U Wholesale, Inc. (the “TVS Buyer”), entered into, and closed, a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement to acquire 100% of the equity interests in The Vitamin Store, LLC (“TVS”) (the “TVS Acquisition” and, together with the Paradise Acquisition, the “Acquisitions”). TVS operates an online vitamin, supplement, and health-related products business at www.thevitaminstore.com. The cash purchase price to acquire TVS was approximately $973,000.

The Acquisitions were accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, the acquired assets and assumed liabilities were recorded at their estimated fair values, and operating results for Paradise and TVS are included in the consolidated financial statements from the effective date of acquisition of December 14, 2018. The allocation of the purchase price is summarized as follows:

Goodwill arising from the transactions mainly consist of the expected operational synergies upon acquisition of the combined entity and intangibles not qualifying for separate recognition. Goodwill is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes in the tax jurisdiction of the acquired business. The tradenames/trademarks will be amortized on a straight-line basis over their expected useful lives range from nine years to ten years. Customer relationships will be amortized on a straight-line basis over their expected useful lives range from five years to ten years. The non-compete agreement will be amortized on a straight-line basis over its expected useful life of four years.

The following presents the unaudited pro-forma combined results of operations of the Company with Paradise and TVS as if the acquisition occurred on January 1, 2017.

The unaudited pro-forma results of operations are presented for information purposes only and are based on estimated financial operations. The unaudited pro-forma results of operations are not intended to present actual results that would have been attained had the acquisition been completed as of January 1, 2018 or to project potential operating results as of any future date or for any future periods.

Note 4. DISAGGREGATION OF REVENUES  

The Company reports the following segments in accordance with management guidance: Vapor and Grocery. When the Company prepares its internal management reporting to evaluate business performance, we disaggregate revenue into the following categories that depict how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.

Note 5. INVESTMENT

During 2018, the Company invested $150,000 in 85,714 common stock shares at MJ Holdings, Inc. (“MJNE”), a publicly traded company. The investment was made based on the assumption of an increase in MJNE stock due to the sales agreement with the Company. The Company recorded the investment in MJNE at fair value with changes in the fair value reported through the income statement as the stock is traded on the OTC market. Investment is classed with Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Fair value for the investment is based on quoted prices in active markets.

Note 6. INVENTORIES

Inventories are stated at average cost. If the cost of the inventories exceeds their market value, provisions are recorded to write down excess inventory to its net realizable value. Throughout the year, the Company had independent third party counts of its inventory and recorded the write down of inventories amounting to $0.3 million and $0.7 million, approximately, in 2018 and 2017 respectively, as a result of the findings. The Company’s inventories consist primarily of merchandise available for resale  .

Note 7. NOTES RECEIVABLE AND OTHER INCOME

On September 6, 2018, the Company entered into a secured, 36-month promissory note with VPR Brands L.P. for $582,260. The note is composed of a principal amount of $500,000 (the “Promissory Note”) and an outstanding balance from prior secured notes of $82,260 (the “Note”). The Note bears an interest rate of 7%, which payments thereunder are $4,141 weekly, with such payments commencing as of September 14, 2018. The Company records all proceeds related to the interest of the Note as interest income as proceeds are received.

A summary of the Note as of December 31, 2018 is presented below:

For  the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company had a reversal of the valuation allowance reserve and notes receivable collections of approximately $0.5 million recorded to other income in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Note 8. PROPERTY & EQUIPMENT and CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS

Property and equipment consists of the following

The Company incurred approximately $0.2 million of depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Note 9. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill represents the premium paid over the fair value of the intangible and net tangible assets acquired in the Acquisitions and Merger and other retail business acquisitions. The Company assesses the carrying value of its goodwill on at least an annual basis.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

Intangible assets, net are as follows: