NATIONAL BEVERAGE CORP - Annual Report: 2020 (Form 10-K)

table of contents         

PART I

ITEM 1.     BUSINESS

GENERAL

National Beverage Corp. innovatively refreshes America with a distinctive portfolio of sparkling waters, juices, energy drinks and, to a lesser extent, carbonated soft drinks. We believe our creative product designs, innovative packaging and imaginative flavors, along with our corporate culture and philosophy, make National Beverage unique as a stand-alone entity in the beverage industry.

Points of differentiation include the following:

Healthy Transformation – We focus on developing and delighting consumers with healthier beverages in response to the global shift in consumer buying habits and lifestyles. We are committed to tailoring the variety and types of beverages in our portfolio to satisfy the preferences of a diverse mix of consumers including ‘crossover consumers’ – a growing group desiring a healthier alternative to artificially sweetened or high-calorie beverages.

Creative Innovations – Building on a rich tradition of flavor and brand innovation with more than a 130-year history of development with iconic brands such as Shasta® and Faygo®, we have extended our flavor and essence leadership and technical expertise to the sparkling water category.  Proprietary flavors and our naturally-essenced beverages are developed and tested in-house and made commercially available only after extensive concept and sensory evaluation.  Our variety of distinctive flavors provides us a unique advantage with today’s consumers who demand variety and refreshing beverage alternatives.

Innovation Ethic – We believe that innovative marketing, packaging and consumer engagement is more effective in today’s marketplace than traditional higher-cost national advertising. In addition to our cost-effective social media platforms, we utilize regionally-focused marketing programs and in-store “brand ambassadors” to interact with and obtain feedback from our consumers. We also believe the design of our packages and the overall optical effect of their placement on the shelf (“shelf marketing”) has become more important as millennials and younger generations become increasingly influential consumers, and are now influencing baby boomers and older generations.

Creative Dynamics – In a beverage industry dominated by the “cola giants”, we pride ourselves on being able to respond faster and more creatively to consumer trends than competitors burdened by legacy production and distribution complexity and costs. The ability to identify consumer trends and create new market-leading concepts define our new product development model. Speed to market with the appropriate concept, unique flavor creation and trend-forward ‘better-for-you’ ingredients continues to be our goal. Internal development teams are responsible for concept creation, packaging and design, which allow for rapid ‘go to market’ timing and reduced development costs.   Presently, our primary market focus is the United States and Canada.  Certain of our products are also distributed on a limited basis in other countries and options to expand distribution to other regions are being considered.

National Beverage Corp. is incorporated in Delaware and began trading as a public company on the NASDAQ Stock Market in 1991. In this report, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Company” and “National Beverage” mean National Beverage Corp. and its subsidiaries unless indicated otherwise.

BRANDS

Our brands consist of beverages geared to the active and health-conscious consumer (“Power+ Brands”) including sparkling waters, energy drinks, and juices. Our portfolio of Power+ Brands includes LaCroix®, LaCroix Cúrate®,and LaCroix NiCola® sparkling water products; Clear Fruit® Rip It® energy drinks and shots; and Everfresh®, Everfresh Premier Varietals™ and Mr. Pure® 100% juice and juice-based products. Additionally, we produce and distribute carbonated soft drinks (“CSDs”) including Shasta® and Faygo®, iconic brands whose consumer loyalty spans more than 130 years.

Power+ Brands –

LaCroix

LaCroix® Sparkling Water, our most significant brand, has uniquely redefined the Sparkling Water category that is rapidly becoming the alternative to traditional carbonated soda.  With zero calories, zero sweeteners and zero sodium, LaCroix leads the premium domestic sparkling water category. Naturally essenced, LaCroix has gained the support of national retailers in multiple channels, including mass-merchandisers, club stores, drug stores, mainstream supermarkets and natural and specialty food retailers.   Early in Fiscal year 2020, LaCroix launched Hi-Biscus, a unique flavor that adds the delicate essence of the hibiscus flower to sparkling water. LaCroix Hi-Biscus delights taste buds with pleasing floral aroma and exquisite taste.   In the fourth quarter of Fiscal year 2020, two new naturally-essenced flavors of LaCroix, the enticing savor of LimonCello and the refreshing taste of Pastèque (French for watermelon), began rolling out to retailers throughout the U.S. Fans are instantly transported to the Italian Riviera with the refreshing finesse of LimonCello. Pastèque, one of LaCroix’s most highly-anticipated flavors to date, captures lusciousness of a sweet picnic watermelon. These innovative new varieties join the LaCroix family of 27 refreshingly innocent flavors.

LaCroix’s dynamic ‘theme’ LaCroix Cúrate® (‘Cure Yourself’) celebrates French sophistication with Spanish zest and bold flavor pairings.  Cúrate naturally refreshes in tall, sleek 12 oz. consumer-friendly cans.  Eloquent graphics, robust aroma, naturally ‘essenced’ and premium-priced, Cúrate is an attractive alternative for today’s consumers.   NiCola® by LaCroix, an innovative sparkling water, captures the ‘crossover’ cola consumers with its ‘innocent’ effect of no calories, sodium, sweetener or any other ingredient that the health-conscious consumer avoids. NiCola is designed for those cola and diet cola consumers within the $87 billion U.S. carbonated soft drink market that are looking to continue to quench their cola-craving taste without negative health consequences. In late Fiscal year 2019, we introduced three new additions to our LaCroix NiCola theme − Coconut Cola, Cubana (Mojito), and Coffea Exotica (Sumatra coffee and cola).   Additional LaCroix themes are in development that feature unique packaging and ground-breaking flavor concepts designed to capitalize on LaCroix brand loyalty and growth of the sparkling water category.

Everfresh and Mr. Pure

Everfresh® and Mr. Pure® 100% juice and juice drinks are available in a variety of flavors, from such classics as Orange, Cranberry and flavored lemonades to exotics that include Premium Papaya, Pineapple Mango, Peach Watermelon and Island Punch. The brands’ signature package is a hot-filled, 16 oz. glass bottle designed for single-serve consumption.   Everfresh Premier Varietals™, a unique theme from Everfresh, is positioned as a stand-alone brand for display in the produce section of supermarkets. Everfresh Premier Varietals is a premium line of apple juice derived from a variety of apples specific to the taste of the varietal, such as Granny Smith, McIntosh, Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious, Fuji and Pink Lady.

Clear Fruit

Clear Fruit is a crisp, clear, non-carbonated water beverage enhanced with fruit flavors. Clear Fruit is available in 12 delicious flavors, including consumer favorites Cherry Blast, Strawberry Watermelon, and Fruit Punch. Clear Fruit is available in 20-ounce and 16.9-ounce bottles with consumer-favored sports caps.

Rip It

RIP IT® Energy Fuel is “Real Energy for Real People” with 14 unique flavors and six sugar-free options. Building on the flavor tradition of original Rip It, a 2 oz. sugar-free shot version in eight flavors is marketed in displayable package configurations. RIP IT proudly supports military and first responder heroes at home and abroad with such energetic flavors as Tribute, Citrus X, Cherry Lime and Atomic Pom. 

Carbonated Soft Drinks –

Shasta® has been recognized as a bottling industry pioneer and innovator for more than 130 years. Shasta features multiple flavors and has earned consumer loyalty by delivering value and convenience with such unique tastes as Raspberry Crème, Tiki Punch, and California Dreamin’.   With more than 110 years of brand history,  Faygo® products include numerous unique flavors such as Red Pop®, Moon Mist®, and Rock’n’Rye®.  Faygo recently reintroduced fan-favorite Faygo Pineapple Orange.

Many of our carbonated soft drink brands enjoy a regional identification that fosters long-term consumer loyalty and makes them more competitive as a consumer choice. In addition, products produced locally may generate retailer-sponsored promotional activities and receive media exposure through community activities rather than costly national advertising.   In recent years, we reformulated many of our brands to reduce caloric content while still preserving their time-tested flavor profiles. Our brands, optically and ingredient-wise, are continually evolving. We always strive to make all our drinks healthier while maintaining their iconic taste profiles.

PRODUCTION

Our philosophy emphasizes vertical integration; our production model integrates the procurement of raw materials and crafting flavors and concentrates with the production of finished products.  Our twelve strategically-located production facilities are near major metropolitan markets across the continental United States.  The locations of our facilities enable us to efficiently produce and distribute beverages to substantially all geographic markets in the United States, including the top 25 metropolitan statistical areas.  Each facility is generally equipped to produce both canned and bottled beverage products in a variety of package sizes.

We believe the innovative and controlled vertical integration of our production facilities provides an advantage over certain of our competitors that rely on independent third-party bottlers to manufacture and market their products. Since we control all national production, distribution and marketing of our brands, we believe we can more effectively manage quality control and consumer appeal while responding quickly to changing market conditions.

We craft a substantial portion of our flavors and concentrates. By controlling our own formulas throughout our bottling network, we are able to produce beverages in accordance with uniform quality standards while innovating flavors to meet changing consumer preferences. We believe the combination of a Company-owned bottling network, together with uniform standards for packaging, formulations and customer service, provides us with a strategic advantage in servicing national retailers and mass-merchandisers. We also maintain research and development laboratories at multiple locations. These laboratories continually test products for compliance with our strict quality control standards as well as conduct research for new products and flavors.

DISTRIBUTION 

To service a diverse customer base that includes numerous national retailers, as well as thousands of smaller “up-and-down-the-street” accounts, we utilize a hybrid distribution system to deliver our products through three primary distribution channels: take-home, convenience and food-service.

The take-home distribution channel consists of national and regional grocery stores, club stores, mass-merchandisers, wholesalers, e-commerce stores, drug stores and dollar stores. We distribute our products to this channel primarily through the warehouse distribution system and, to a lesser extent, the direct-store delivery system.

Under the warehouse distribution system, products are shipped from our production facilities to the retailer’s centralized distribution centers and then distributed by the retailer to each of its store locations with other goods. This method allows our retail partners to further maximize their assets by utilizing their ability to pick-up product at our warehouses, thus lowering their/our product costs. Products sold through the direct-store delivery system are distributed directly to the customer’s retail outlets by our direct-store delivery fleet and by independent distributors.   We distribute our products to the convenience channel through our own direct-store delivery fleet and those of independent distributors. The convenience channel consists of convenience stores, gas stations and other smaller “up-and-down-the-street” accounts. Because of the higher retail prices and margins that typically prevail, we have developed packaging and graphics specifically targeted to this market.

Our food-service division distributes products to independent, specialized distributors who sell to hospitals, schools, military bases, airlines, hotels and food-service wholesalers. Also, our Company-owned direct-store delivery fleet distributes products to certain schools and other food-service customers.

Our take-home, convenience and food-service operations use vending machines and glass-door coolers as marketing and promotional tools for our brands. We provide vending machines and coolers on a placement or purchase basis to our customers. We believe vending and cooler equipment expands on-site visual trial, thereby increasing sales and enhancing brand awareness.

SALES AND MARKETING

We sell and market our products through an internal sales force as well as specialized broker networks. Our sales force is organized to serve a specific market, focusing on one or more geographic territories, distribution channels or product lines. We believe this focus allows our sales group to provide high level, responsive service and support to our customers and markets.   Our marketing emphasizes programs designed to reach consumers directly through innovative digital marketing, digital social marketing, social media engagement, sponsorships and creative content. We are focused on increasing our digital presence and capabilities to further enhance the consumer experience across our brands. We may retain agencies to assist with social media content creative and platform selection for our brands.

Additionally, we maintain and enhance consumer brand recognition and loyalty through a combination of participation in regional events, special event marketing, endorsements, consumer coupon distribution and product sampling. We also offer numerous promotional programs to retail customers, including cooperative advertising support, ‘BrandED’ ambassadors, in-store promotional activities and other incentives. These elements allow marketing and other consumer programs to be tailored to meet local and regional demographics.

RAW MATERIALS 

Our centralized procurement group maintains relationships with numerous suppliers of ingredients and packaging. By consolidating the purchasing function for our production facilities, we believe we are able to procure more competitive arrangements with our suppliers, thereby enhancing our ability to compete as an efficient producer of beverages.

The products we produce and sell are made from various materials including aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles, water, carbon dioxide, juice and flavor concentrates, sweeteners, cartons and closures. We craft a substantial portion of our flavors and concentrates while purchasing the remaining raw materials from multiple suppliers.

Substantially all of the materials and ingredients we purchase are presently available from several suppliers, although strikes, weather conditions, utility shortages, governmental control or regulations, national emergencies, quality, price or supply fluctuations or other events outside our control could adversely affect the supply of specific materials. A significant portion of our raw material purchases, including aluminum cans, plastic bottles, high fructose corn syrup, corrugated packaging and juice concentrates, are derived from commodities. Therefore, pricing and availability tend to fluctuate based upon worldwide commodity market conditions. In certain cases, we may elect to enter into multi-year agreements for the supply of these materials with one or more suppliers, the terms of which may include variable or fixed pricing, minimum purchase quantities and/or the requirement to purchase all supplies for specified locations. Additionally, we use derivative financial instruments to partially mitigate our exposure to changes in certain raw material costs.

Seasonality

Our operating results are affected by numerous factors, including fluctuations in costs of raw materials, holiday and seasonal programming and weather conditions. Beverage sales are seasonal with higher volume realized during summer months when outdoor activities are more prevalent.

Competition

While LaCroix® Sparkling Water is the brand of choice as the number one premium domestic sparkling water throughout the United States, the beverage industry is highly competitive and our competitive position may vary by market area.  Our products compete with many varieties of liquid refreshment, including water products, soft drinks, juices, fruit drinks, energy drinks and sports drinks, as well as powdered drinks, coffees, teas, dairy-based drinks, functional beverages and various other nonalcoholic beverages.  We compete with bottlers and distributors of national, regional and private label products. Several competitors, including those  that dominate the beverage industry, such as Nestlé S.A., PepsiCo and The Coca-Cola Company, have greater financial resources than we have and aggressive promotion of their products may adversely affect sales of our brands.   Principal methods of competition in the beverage industry are price and promotional activity, advertising and marketing programs, point-of-sale merchandising, retail space management, customer service, product differentiation, packaging innovations and distribution methods. We believe our Company differentiates itself through novel methods of innovation, key brand recognition, focused social media, innovative flavor variety, attractive packaging, efficient distribution methods, and, for some product lines, value pricing.

Trademarks   We own numerous trademarks for our brands that are significant to our business. We intend to continue to maintain all registrations of our significant trademarks and use the trademarks in the operation of our businesses.

Governmental Regulation

The production, distribution and sale of our products in the United States are subject to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act; the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; the Lanham Act; various environmental statutes; and various other federal, state and local statutes regulating the production, transportation, sale, safety, advertising, labeling and ingredients of such products. We believe that we are in compliance, in all material respects, with such existing legislation.

Certain states and localities require a deposit or tax on the sale of certain beverages. These requirements vary by each jurisdiction. Similar legislation has been or may be proposed in other states or localities or by Congress. We are unable to predict whether such legislation will be enacted or what impact its enactment would have on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

All of our facilities in the United States are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. Compliance with these provisions has not had any material adverse effect on our financial or competitive position. We believe our current practices and procedures for the control and disposition of toxic or hazardous substances comply in all material respects with applicable law.

Employees

As of May 2, 2020, we employed approximately 1,550 people, of which 360 are covered by collective bargaining agreements. We believe we maintain good relations with our employees.

SUSTAINABILITY 

National Beverage Corp. is dedicated to sustainable operations and responsible business initiatives. All our beverage products are produced in the U.S., providing thousands of jobs in local communities and boasting a lower carbon footprint than imported brands.

All of our packaging is recyclable and we continually focus on reducing packaging content. More than 80% of our products are in aluminum cans, which generally contain approximately 73% recycled material.  Each of our facilities has programs in place designed to minimize the use of water, energy, and other natural resources. 

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and amendments to those reports are available free of charge on our website at www.nationalbeverage.com as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, our Code of Ethics is available on our website. The information on the Company’s website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any other report that we file with, or furnish to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ITEM 1A.     RISK FACTORS

In addition to other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the following risk factors should be considered carefully in evaluating the Company’s business. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected by any of these risks. Additional risks and uncertainties, including risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company, or that the Company currently deems immaterial, may also impair our business and results of operations.

Brand image and consumer preferences. Our beverage portfolio is comprised of a number of unique brands with reputations and consumer loyalty that have been built over time. Our investments in social media and marketing as well as our strong commitment to product quality are intended to have a favorable impact on brand image and consumer preferences. Unfavorable publicity, or allegations of quality issues, even if false or unfounded, may tarnish our reputation and brand image and cause consumers to choose other products. In addition, if we do not adequately anticipate and react to changing demographics, consumer trends, health concerns and product preferences, our financial results could be adversely affected.

Competition. The beverage industry is extremely competitive. Our products compete with a broad range of beverage products, most of which are manufactured and distributed by companies with substantially greater financial, marketing and distribution resources. In order to generate future revenues and profits, we must continue to sell products that appeal to our customers and consumers. Discounting and other actions by our competitors could adversely affect our ability to sustain revenues and profits.

Customer relationships. Our retail customer base has been consolidating over the last several years resulting in fewer customers with increased purchasing power. This increased purchasing power can limit our ability to increase pricing for our products with certain of our customers. Additionally, e-commerce transactions and value stores are experiencing rapid growth. Our inability to adapt to customer requirements could lead to a loss of business and adversely affect our financial results.

Raw materials and energy. The production of our products is dependent on certain raw materials, including aluminum, resin, corn, linerboard, water and fruit juice. In addition, the production and distribution of our products is dependent on energy sources, including natural gas, fuel and electricity. These items are subject to price volatility caused by numerous factors. Commodity price increases ultimately result in a corresponding increase in the cost of raw materials and energy. We may be limited in our ability to pass these increases on to our customers or may incur a loss in sales volume to the extent price increases are taken. In addition, strikes, weather conditions, governmental controls, tariffs, national emergencies, natural disasters, supply shortages or other events could affect our continued supply and cost of raw materials and energy. If raw materials or energy costs increase, or the availability is limited, our financial results could be adversely affected.

Governmental regulation. Our business and properties are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations, including those governing the production, packaging, quality, labeling and distribution of beverage products. In addition, various governmental agencies have enacted or are considering additional taxes on soft drinks and other sweetened beverages. Compliance with or changes in existing laws or regulations could require material expenses and negatively affect our financial results through lower sales or higher costs.

Sustained increases in the cost of employee benefits. Our profitability is affected by the cost of medical, statutory and other benefits provided to employees, including employees covered under collective bargaining agreements and multi-employer pension plans. In recent years, we have experienced increases in these costs, certain of which are self-insured.  Although we seek to limit these cost increases, continued upward pressure in these costs could reduce our profitability.

Unfavorable weather conditions. Unfavorable weather conditions could have an adverse impact on our revenue and profitability. Unusually cold or rainy weather may temporarily reduce demand for our products and contribute to lower sales, which could adversely affect our profitability for such periods. Prolonged drought conditions in the geographic regions in which we do business could lead to restrictions on the use of water, which could adversely affect our ability to produce and distribute products.

Dependence on key personnel. Our performance significantly depends upon the continued contributions of our executive officers and key employees, both individually and as a group, and our ability to retain and motivate them. Our officers and key personnel have many years of experience with us and in our industry and it may be difficult to replace them. If we lose key personnel or are unable to recruit qualified personnel, our operations and ability to manage our business may be adversely affected.

COVID-19 pandemic. The magnitude and duration of the current COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain, rapidly changing and may be impacted by events beyond our knowledge or control. Such events could include a shutdown of one or more of our facilities resulting from illness or government restrictions, and the disruption of operations of our customers and suppliers. Such events could adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

ITEM 1B.     UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2.     PROPERTIES

Our principal properties include twelve production facilities located in ten states, which aggregate approximately two million square feet. We own ten production facilities in the following states: California (2), Georgia, Kansas, Michigan (2), Ohio, Texas, Utah and Washington. Two production facilities, located in Maryland and Florida, are leased subject to agreements that expire through 2025. We believe our facilities are generally in good condition and sufficient to meet our present needs.

The production of beverages is capital intensive but is not characterized by rapid technological change. The technological advances that have occurred have generally been of an incremental cost-saving nature, such as the industry’s conversion to lighter weight containers or improved blending processes that enhance ingredient yields. We are not aware of any anticipated industry-wide changes in technology that would adversely impact our current physical production capacity or cost of production.

We own and lease trucks, vans and automobiles used in the sale, delivery and distribution of our products. In addition, we lease warehouse and office space, transportation equipment, office equipment and certain manufacturing equipment.

ITEM 3.     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company has been named in certain legal proceedings, including those containing derivative and class action allegations.  One complaint alleges the Company’s LaCroix branded products contain synthetic ingredients and therefore violate state consumer protection statutes and other laws.  A similar consumer complaint was voluntarily dismissed during the fiscal year along with a full written retraction of all claims by the plaintiff and counsel. The Company is vigorously defending all legal proceedings and believes litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, cash flows or results of operations.

ITEM 4.     MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

PART II

The common stock of National Beverage Corp., par value $.01 per share, (“Common Stock”) is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “FIZZ”.

At June 24, 2020, there were approximately 29,500 holders of our Common Stock, the majority of which hold their shares in the names of banks, brokers and other financial institutions.

The Company paid special cash dividends on Common Stock of $135.2 million ($2.90 per share) on January 29, 2019 and $69.9 million ($1.50 per share) on August 4, 2017.

Our Board of Directors has authorized a program to repurchase 1.6 million shares of our common stock of which 943,428 shares remain available and authorized for repurchases. In March 2020, the Company purchased 47,651 shares of its common stock at an average price per share of $40.94 for a total of $1.9 million. 

Performance Graph 

The following graph shows a comparison of the five-year cumulative returns of an investment of $100 cash on May 2, 2015, assuming reinvestment of dividends, of our Common Stock with the NASDAQ Composite Index, the S&P 500 Index, a Company-constructed Peer Group (the “Peer Group”) and the newly-added Dow Jones US Soft Drinks Index. The Peer Group consists of Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated and Cott Corporation and will be replaced by the Dow Jones US Soft Drinks Index to provide a broader representation of our industry peers. Going forward, the Peer Group will be excluded from this performance graph.

ITEM 6.     SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

National Beverage Corp. innovatively refreshes America with a distinctive portfolio of sparkling waters, juices, energy drinks (Power+ Brands) and, to a lesser extent, carbonated soft drinks. We believe our creative product designs, innovative packaging and imaginative flavors, along with our corporate culture and philosophy, make National Beverage unique as a stand-alone entity in the beverage industry.

National Beverage Corp., in recent years, has transformed to an innovative, healthier refreshment company. From our corporate philosophy, development of products and marketing to manufacturing, we are converting consumers to a ‘Better for You’ thirst quencher that compassionately cares for their nutritional health. We are committed to our quest to innovate for the joy, benefit and enjoyment of our consumers’ healthier lifestyle!

National Beverage Corp. is uniquely positioned in three distinctive ways:

Our strategy seeks the profitable growth of our products by (i) developing healthier beverages in response to the global shift in consumer buying habits and tailoring our beverage portfolio to the preferences of a diverse mix of ‘crossover consumers’ – a growing group desiring a healthier alternative to artificially sweetened and high-caloric beverages; (ii) emphasizing unique flavor development and variety throughout our brands that appeal to multiple demographic groups; (iii) maintaining points of difference through innovative marketing, packaging and consumer engagement and (iv) responding faster and more creatively to changing consumer trends than larger competitors who are burdened by legacy production and distribution complexity and costs. 

Presently, our primary market focus is the United States and Canada. Certain of our products are also distributed on a limited basis in other countries and options to expand distribution to other regions are being considered. To service a diverse customer base that includes numerous national retailers, as well as thousands of smaller “up-and-down-the-street” accounts, we utilize a hybrid distribution system consisting of warehouse and direct-store delivery. The warehouse delivery system allows our retail partners to further maximize their assets by utilizing their ability to pick up product at our warehouses, further lowering their/our product costs.

National Beverage Corp. is incorporated in Delaware and began trading as a public company on the NASDAQ Stock Market in 1991. In this report, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Company” and “National Beverage” mean National Beverage Corp. and its subsidiaries unless indicated otherwise.

Our operating results are affected by numerous factors, including fluctuations in the costs of raw materials, holiday and seasonal programming and weather conditions. While prior years witnessed more seasonality, higher sales are realized during the summer when outdoor activities are more prevalent.

Our highly innovative business, where new beverages are developed and produced for selective holidays and ceremonial dates, should not be analyzed on the common three-month (quarterly) periods, traditionally found acceptable. Today, costly development projects and seasonal weather periods plus promotional packaging, make quarter-to-quarter comparisons unworthy statistics and forces companies to decision making for that purpose, not truly beneficial for investors and shareholders alike.

Traditional and typical are not a part of an innovator’s vocabulary.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following section generally discusses the fiscal years ended May 2, 2020 (Fiscal 2020) and April 27, 2019 (Fiscal 2019) items and year-to-year comparisons between Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2019. Discussions of fiscal year ended April 28, 2018 (Fiscal 2018) items and year-to-year comparisons between Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2018 can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 2019, which is available free of charge on our website at www.nationalbeverage.com. Fiscal 2020 consisted of 53 weeks; Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2018 both consisted of 52 weeks. 

Net Sales

Net sales for Fiscal 2020 declined 1.4% to $1,000 million compared to $1,014 million for Fiscal 2019.  The decline in sales resulted from a 1.4% reduction in average selling price per case due primarily to changes in product mix.  Power+ Brands volume declined 3.4% and branded carbonated soft drinks volume increased 6.6%.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for Fiscal 2020 was $370.1 million compared to $384.4 million for Fiscal 2019.  The change in gross profit is due to a 1.0% increase in cost per case resulting primarily from changes in product mix and increased manufacturing costs.  Gross margin was 37.0% for Fiscal 2020 compared to 37.9% in Fiscal 2019.

Shipping and handling costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, the classification of which is consistent with many beverage companies. However, our gross margin may not be comparable to companies that include shipping and handling costs in cost of sales. See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $204.4 million for both Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2019 or approximately 20% of net sales for both periods.  Selling, general and administrative expenses reflect increased selling and administrative costs offset by reduced shipping and distribution costs. 

Interest Expense and Other Expense (Income) - Net

Other income, net is primarily interest income of $3.9 million for Fiscal 2020 and $4.1 million for Fiscal 2019. The change in interest income is due to  lower investment yields on an increased average investment balances. Interest expense is comprised of fees related to maintaining lines of credit. Interest expense was essentially flat for all years presented.

Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate was 23.3% for Fiscal 2020 and 23.4% for Fiscal 2019. The differences between the effective rate and the federal statutory rate were primarily due to the effects of state income taxes.

LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At May 2, 2020, we maintained $100 million unsecured revolving credit facilities, under which no borrowings were outstanding and $3.4 million was reserved for standby letters of credit. Cash generated from operations is our principal source of funds. We believe that existing capital resources will be sufficient to meet our liquidity and capital requirements for the next twelve months. See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 

Expenditures for property, plant and equipment amounted to $23.9 million for Fiscal 2020 primarily to expand production capacity.  We continually evaluate capital projects to expand our production capacity, enhance packaging capabilities or improve efficiencies at our production facilities.  We intend to continue production capacity and efficiency improvement projects in fiscal year 2021 and expect capital expenditures to be comparable to Fiscal 2020.

The Company paid special cash dividends on Common Stock of $135.2 million ($2.90 per share) on January 29, 2019 and $69.9 million ($1.50 per share) on August 4, 2017.

The Board of Directors has authorized the Company to repurchase up to 1.6 million shares of common stock. During Fiscal 2020, the Company purchased an aggregate 154,512 shares for a cost of $6.2 million. As of May 2, 2020, 656,572 shares were purchased under the program and 943,428 shares were available for repurchase.

Pursuant to a management agreement, we incurred a fee to Corporate Management Advisors, Inc. (CMA) of $10.0 million for Fiscal 2020 and $10.2 million for Fiscal 2019. At May 2, 2020, management fees payable to CMA were $2.6 million. See Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 

Cash Flows

During Fiscal 2020, $177.7 million was provided by operating activities, $23.9 million was used in investing activities and $5.5 million was used in financing activities.  Cash provided by operating activities increased $38.3 million primarily due to decreased working capital requirements and increased depreciation and amortization offset in part by lower net income.  Cash used in investing activities decreased due to reduced capital expenditures.  Cash used in financing activities includes the $6.2 million of stock repurchased during Fiscal 2020.  In Fiscal 2019, $135.2 million ($2.90 per share) special cash dividend was paid on January 29, 2019.

Financial Position

During Fiscal 2020, our working capital increased to $319.0 million from $224.4 million at April 27, 2019. The increase in working capital resulted from increased cash and equivalents generated by operations and reduced inventories offset in part by increased current liabilities. Current liabilities in Fiscal 2020 increased in part due to the adoption of the new lease Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, “Leases.” (Topic 842).  Trade receivables increased slightly and days sales outstanding was 29.5 days compared to 32.2 days for 2019. Inventories decreased $7.2 million or 10.2% as a result of reductions in finished goods and raw materials. Annual inventory turns increased to 9.4 from 8.8 times.  As of May 2, 2020 and April 27, 2019, the current ratio was 3.3 to 1.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Contractual obligations at May 2, 2020 are payable as follows:

We contribute to certain pension plans under collective bargaining agreements and to a discretionary profit sharing plan. Annual contributions were $3.6 million for Fiscal 2020, $3.8 million for Fiscal 2019 and $3.4 million for Fiscal 2018. See Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 

We maintain self-insured and deductible programs for certain liability, medical and workers’ compensation exposures. Other long-term liabilities include known claims and estimated incurred but not reported claims not otherwise covered by insurance based on actuarial assumptions and historical claims experience. Since the timing and amount of claim payments vary significantly, we are not able to reasonably estimate future payments for specific periods and therefore such payments have not been included in the table above. Standby letters of credit aggregating $3.4 million have been issued in connection with our self-insurance programs. These standby letters of credit expire through June 2021 and are expected to be renewed.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND ESTIMATES

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on our financial condition.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.  Although these estimates are based on management's knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, they may ultimately differ from actual results.  We believe that the critical accounting policies described in the following paragraphs comprise the most significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.  For these policies, we caution that future events rarely develop exactly as estimated and the best estimates routinely require adjustment. 

Credit Risk

We sell products to a variety of customers and extend credit based on an evaluation of each customer’s financial condition, generally without requiring collateral.  Exposure to credit losses varies by customer principally due to the financial condition of each customer.  We monitor our exposure to credit losses and maintain allowances for anticipated losses based on our experience with past due accounts, collectability and our analysis of customer data.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

All long-lived assets, excluding goodwill and intangible assets not subject to amortization, are evaluated for impairment on the basis of undiscounted cash flows whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impaired asset is written down to its estimated fair value based on the best information available. Estimated fair value is generally measured by discounting future cash flows. Goodwill and intangible assets not subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment annually or sooner if we believe such assets may be impaired. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount or, for goodwill, the carrying amount of its reporting unit, is greater than its fair value.

Income Taxes

The Company's effective income tax rate is based on estimates of taxes which will ultimately be payable. Deferred taxes are recorded to give recognition to temporary differences between the tax bases of assets or liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. Valuation allowances are established to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets when it is deemed, more likely than not, that the benefit of deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Insurance Programs

We maintain self-insured and deductible programs for certain liability, medical and workers’ compensation exposures. Accordingly, we accrue for known claims and estimated incurred but not reported claims not otherwise covered by insurance based on actuarial assumptions and historical claims experience.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue upon delivery to our customers, based on written sales terms that do not allow a right of return except in rare instances. Our products are typically sold on credit; however smaller direct-store delivery accounts may be sold on a cash basis. Our credit terms normally require payment within 30 days of delivery and may allow discounts for early payment. We estimate and reserve for bad debt exposure based on our experience with past due accounts, collectability and our analysis of customer data.

We offer various sales incentive arrangements to our customers that require customer performance or achievement of certain sales volume targets. Sales incentives are accrued over the period of benefit or expected sales. When the incentive is paid in advance, the aggregate incentive is recorded as a prepaid and amortized over the period of benefit. The recognition of these incentives involves the use of judgment related to performance and sales volume estimates that are made based on historical experience and other factors. Sales incentives are accounted for as a reduction of sales and actual amounts ultimately realized may vary from accrued amounts. Such differences are recorded once determined and have historically not been significant. We adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and its amendments on April 29, 2018.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

National Beverage Corp. and its representatives may make written or oral statements relating to future events or results relative to our financial, operational and business performance, achievements, objectives and strategies.  These statements are “forward-looking” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and include statements contained in this report and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in reports to our stockholders. Certain statements including, without limitation, statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “expects,” and “estimates” constitute “forward-looking statements” and involve known and unknown risk, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of our Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic and business conditions, pricing of competitive products, success of new product and flavor introductions, fluctuations in the costs and availability of raw materials and packaging supplies, ability to pass along cost increases to our customers, labor strikes or work stoppages or other interruptions in the employment of labor, continued retailer support for our products, changes in brand image, consumer demand and preferences and our success in creating products geared toward consumers’ tastes, success in implementing business strategies, changes in business strategy or development plans, government regulations, taxes or fees imposed on the sale of our products, unfavorable weather conditions and other factors referenced in this report, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other reports to our stockholders. We disclaim an obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

ITEM 7A.      QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Commodities

We purchase various raw materials, including aluminum cans, plastic bottles, high fructose corn syrup, corrugated packaging and juice concentrates, the prices of which fluctuate based on commodity market conditions. Our ability to recover increased costs through higher pricing may be limited by the competitive environment in which we operate. At times, we manage our exposure to this risk through the use of supplier pricing agreements that enable us to establish all, or a portion of, the purchase prices for certain raw materials. Additionally, we use derivative financial instruments to partially mitigate our exposure to changes in certain raw material costs. 

Interest Rates

At May 2, 2020, the Company had no borrowings outstanding. We had no debt-related interest rate exposure during Fiscal 2020.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

NATIONAL BEVERAGE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

National Beverage Corp. develops, produces, markets and sells a distinctive portfolio of sparkling waters, juices, energy drinks and carbonated soft drinks primarily in the United States and Canada. Incorporated in Delaware in 1985, National Beverage Corp. is a holding company for various operating subsidiaries. When used in this report, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Company” and “National Beverage” mean National Beverage Corp. and its subsidiaries.

1.      significant accounting policies

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of National Beverage Corp. and all subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.  Our fiscal year ends the Saturday closest to April 30 and, as a result, an additional week is added every five or six years.  The fiscal year ended May 2, 2020 (Fiscal 2020) consisted of 53 weeks.  The fiscal year ended April 27, 2019 (Fiscal 2019) and the fiscal year ended April 28, 2018 (Fiscal 2018) both consisted of 52 weeks.

Cash and Equivalents

Cash and equivalents are comprised of cash and highly liquid securities (consisting primarily of bank deposits and short-term government money-market investments).

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative financial instruments are used to partially mitigate our exposure to changes in certain raw material costs. All derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Derivative financial instruments are not used for trading or speculative purposes. Credit risk related to derivative financial instruments is managed by requiring high credit standards for counterparties and frequent cash settlements.

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing earnings available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated in a similar manner, but includes the dilutive effect of stock options amounting to 200,000 shares in Fiscal 2020, 284,000 shares in Fiscal 2019, and 323,000 shares in Fiscal 2018.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The estimated fair values of derivative financial instruments are calculated based on market rates to settle the instruments.  These values represent the estimated amounts we would receive upon sale, taking into consideration current market prices and credit worthiness. 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

All long-lived assets, excluding goodwill and intangible assets not subject to amortization, are evaluated for impairment on the basis of undiscounted cash flows whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impaired asset is written down to its estimated fair market value based on the best information available. Estimated fair value is generally measured by discounting future cash flows. Goodwill and intangible assets not subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment annually or sooner if management believes such assets may be impaired. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount or, for goodwill, the carrying amount of its reporting unit, is greater than its fair value.

Income Taxes

The Company’s effective income tax rate is based on estimates of taxes which will ultimately be payable. Deferred taxes are recorded to give recognition to temporary differences between the tax bases of assets or liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. Valuation allowances are established to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets when it is deemed, more likely than not, that the benefit of deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Insurance Programs

The Company maintains self-insured and deductible programs for certain liability, medical and workers’ compensation exposures.  Accordingly, the Company accrues for known claims and estimated incurred but not reported claims not otherwise covered by insurance based on actuarial assumptions and historical claims experience.  At May 2, 2020, and April 27, 2019, other liabilities included accruals of $5.5 million and $5.7 million, respectively, for estimated non-current risk retention exposures, of which $4.3 million was covered by insurance at both dates and included as a component of non-current other assets.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets as of May 2, 2020 and April 27, 2019 consisted of non-amortizable acquired trademarks.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of first-in, first-out cost or market. Adjustments, if required, to reduce the cost of inventory to market (net realizable value) are made for estimated excess, obsolete or impaired balances. Inventories at May 2, 2020 were comprised of finished goods of $39.1 million and raw materials of $24.4 million. Inventories at April 27, 2019 were comprised of finished goods of $48.7 million and raw materials of $22.0 million.

Marketing Costs

The Company utilizes a variety of marketing programs, including cooperative advertising programs with customers, to advertise and promote our products to consumers. Marketing costs are expensed when incurred, except for prepaid advertising and production costs which are expensed when the advertising takes place. Marketing costs, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, totaled $54.8 million in Fiscal 2020, $55.3 million in Fiscal 2019 and $49.7 million in Fiscal 2018.

New Accounting Pronouncements – Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities,” which expands strategies that qualify for hedge accounting, changes how many hedging relationships are presented in the financial statements, and simplifies the application of hedge accounting in certain situations. Effective for Fiscal 2020, the Company adopted the amendments to Topic 815 which did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Effective for Fiscal 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) using the modified retrospective transition approach by applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. Results and disclosure requirements for reporting periods beginning after April 27, 2019 are presented under Topic 842, while prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our historical accounting under ASC 840, "Leases." Topic 840.

The Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which allowed us to carryforward historical lease classification, the assessment on whether a contract was or contains a lease, and the initial direct costs for any leases that existed prior to April 28, 2019. The Company also elected to combine our lease and non-lease components and to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off the balance sheet and recognize the associated lease payments in the consolidated statements of income on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Under Topic 842, the Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Right of use assets (ROU) and lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of remaining lease payments over the lease term. For this purpose, the Company considers only payments that are fixed and determinable at the time of commencement. As most leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company’s incremental borrowing rate is used, based on the information available at commencement date, in determining the present value of lease payments. The ROU asset also includes any lease payments made prior to commencement and is recorded net of any lease incentives received. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise such options. The Company assesses these options using a threshold of reasonably certain, which is a high threshold and, therefore, the majority of the Company's leases do not include renewal periods or purchase options in the measurement of the right of use asset and the associated lease liability.  Lease agreements may contain variable costs such as common area maintenance, insurance, real estate taxes or other costs.  Variable lease costs are expensed as incurred.  Lease agreements generally do not contain residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants.  

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Additions, replacements and betterments are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs that do not extend the useful life of an asset are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of 5 to 30 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 15 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the remaining lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvement. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts and any related gain or loss is recognized.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized upon delivery to our customers, based on written sales terms that do not allow a right of return except in rare instances.  Our products are typically sold on credit; however smaller direct store delivery accounts may be sold on a cash basis. Our credit terms normally require payment within 30 days of delivery and may allow discounts for early payment.  The Company estimates and reserves for bad debt exposure based on our experience with past due accounts, collectability and our analysis of customer data. 

Various sales incentive arrangements are offered to our customers that require customer performance or achievement of certain sales volume targets. Sales incentives are accrued over the period of benefit or expected sales. When the incentive is paid in advance, the aggregate incentive is recorded as a prepaid and amortized over the period of benefit. The recognition of these incentives involves the use of judgment related to performance and sales volume estimates that are made based on historical experience and other factors. Sales incentives are accounted for as a reduction of sales and actual amounts ultimately realized may vary from accrued amounts. Such differences are recorded once determined and have historically not been significant.

Segment Reporting

The Company operates as a single operating segment for purposes of presenting financial information and evaluating performance. As such, the accompanying consolidated financial statements present financial information in a format that is consistent with the internal financial information used by management. The Company does not accumulate revenues by product classification and, therefore, it is impractical to present such information.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are reported in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Such costs aggregated $69.8 million in Fiscal 2020, $72.4 million in Fiscal 2019 and $63.3 million in Fiscal 2018. Although our classification is consistent with many beverage companies, our gross margin may not be comparable to companies that include shipping and handling costs in cost of sales.

Trade Receivables

Trade receivables are recorded at net realizable value, which includes an estimated allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company extends credit based on an evaluation of each customer’s financial condition, generally without requiring collateral. Exposure to credit losses varies by customer principally due to the financial condition of each customer. The Company continually monitors our exposure to credit losses and maintains allowances for anticipated losses based on our experience with past due accounts, collectability and our analysis of customer data. Actual future losses from uncollectible accounts could differ from the Company’s estimate. Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts was as follows:

As of May 2, 2020, and April 27, 2019, the Company had no customer that comprised more than 10% of trade receivables. No customer accounted for more than 10% of net sales during any of the last three fiscal years.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.  Although these estimates are based on management's knowledge of current events and anticipated future actions, actual results may vary from reported amounts. 

2.      PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment as of May 2, 2020 and April 27, 2019 consisted of the following:

Depreciation expense was $14.4 million for Fiscal 2020, $12.8 million for Fiscal 2019 and $11.1 million for Fiscal 2018.

3.      ACCRUED LIABILITIES

Accrued liabilities as of May 2, 2020 and April 27, 2019 consisted of the following:

4.      Leases

The Company has entered into various non-cancelable operating lease agreements for certain of our offices, buildings, machinery and equipment expiring at various dates through January 2029.  The Company does not assume renewals in our determination of the lease term unless the renewals are deemed to be reasonably assured at lease commencement. Lease agreements generally do not contain material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.  Operating lease cost for Fiscal 2020 under Topic 842 was $15.1 million.  The weighted-average remaining lease term and weighted average discount rate of operating leases was 4.3 years and 3.38%, respectively as of May 2, 2020.  Net cash provided by operations was impacted by $12.1 million for operating leases for the year ended May 2, 2020.

The following is a summary of future minimum lease payments and related liabilities for all non-cancelable operating leases as of May 2, 2020:

Under the prior accounting guidance of ASC 840, operating lease expense was $18.2 million and $13.3 million for Fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. 

Minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of April 27, 2019 were as follows:

5.      DEBT

At May 2, 2020, a subsidiary of the Company maintained unsecured revolving credit facilities with banks aggregating $100 million (the Credit Facilities). The Credit Facilities expire from October 3, 2020 to June 18, 2021 and any borrowings would currently bear interest at .9% above one-month LIBOR. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facilities at May 2, 2020 or April 27, 2019. At May 2, 2020, $3.4 million of the Credit Facilities was reserved for standby letters of credit and $96.6 million was available for borrowings.

The Credit Facilities require the subsidiary to maintain certain financial ratios, including debt to net worth and debt to EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Facilities), and contain other restrictions, none of which are expected to have a material effect on our operations or financial position. At May 2, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all loan covenants.

6.      CAPITAL STOCK AND TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

The Board of Directors has authorized the Company to repurchase up to 1.6 million shares of common stock. During Fiscal 2020, the Company purchased an aggregate 154,512 shares for a cost of $6.2 million. As of May 2, 2020, 656,572 shares were purchased under the program and 943,428 shares were available for repurchase.

The Company paid a special cash dividend on Common Stock of $135.2 million ($2.90 per share) on January 29, 2019 and $69.9 million ($1.50 per share) on August 4, 2017. No dividends were declared or paid in Fiscal year 2020.

The Company is a party to a management agreement with Corporate Management Advisors, Inc. (CMA), a corporation owned by our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. This agreement was originated in 1991 for the efficient use of management of two public companies at the time. In 1994, one of those public entities, through a merger, no longer was managed in this manner.

Under the terms of the agreement, CMA provides, subject to the direction and supervision of the Board of Directors of the Company, (i) senior corporate functions (including supervision of the Company’s financial, legal, executive recruitment, internal audit and information systems departments) as well as the services of a Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and (ii) services in connection with acquisitions, dispositions and financings by the Company, including identifying and profiling acquisition candidates, negotiating and structuring potential transactions and arranging financing for any such transaction. CMA, through its personnel, also provides, to the extent possible, the stimulus and creativity to develop an innovative and dynamic persona for the Company, its products and corporate image. In order to fulfill its obligations under the management agreement, CMA employs numerous individuals, who, acting as a unit, provide management, administrative and creative functions for the Company.

CMA and the Company are joint owners of a corporate aircraft and each party agreed to pay certain expenses associated with the use of the aircraft.  During the past three years, the Company's operating costs have averaged approximately $.8 million per year and lease buy-down payments and financing costs have averaged approximately $.8 million per year.  In conjunction with an inquiry by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company is in the process of reviewing the aircraft usage to ensure that expenses may be properly allocated.  This review is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements, but could result in adjustments between CMA and the Company or modify other disclosures.

The management agreement provides that the Company will pay CMA an annual base fee equal to one percent of the consolidated net sales of the Company, and further provides that the Compensation and Stock Option Committee and the Board of Directors may from time to time award additional incentive compensation to CMA or its personnel.  The Board of Directors on numerous occasions contemplated incentive compensation to CMA, however, since the inception of this agreement, no incentive compensation has been paid.  We incurred management fees to CMA of $10.0 million for Fiscal 2020, $10.2 million for Fiscal 2019, and $9.8 million for Fiscal 2018.  Included in accounts payable were amounts due CMA of $2.6 million at May 2, 2020 and $2.4 million at April 27, 2019. 

7.      DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

From time to time, the Company enters into aluminum swap contracts to partially mitigate our exposure to changes in the cost of aluminum cans. Such financial instruments are designated and accounted for as cash flow hedges. Accordingly, gains or losses attributable to the effective portion of the cash flow hedges are reported in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (AOCI) and reclassified into cost of sales in the period in which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of our cash flow hedge was immaterial. The following summarizes the gains (losses) recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income and AOCI relative to the cash flow hedges for Fiscal 2020, Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2018:

As of May 2, 2020, the notional amount of our outstanding aluminum swap contracts was $49.3 million and, assuming no change in the commodity prices, $6.7 million of unrealized loss before tax will be reclassified from AOCI and recognized in cost of sales over the next 12 months.

As of May 2, 2020, and April 27, 2019, the fair value of the derivative liability was $6.9 million and $2.0 million, respectively, which was included as a component of accrued liabilities. Such valuation does not entail a significant amount of judgment and the inputs that are significant to the fair value measurement are Level 2 as defined by the fair value hierarchy as they are observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

8.      INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes consisted of the following:

Deferred taxes are recorded to give recognition to temporary differences between the tax bases of assets or liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. Valuation allowances are established to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets when it is deemed more likely than not that the benefit of deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities as of May 2, 2020 and April 27, 2019 consisted of the following:

The reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to our effective tax rate is as follows:

As of May 2, 2020, the gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $2.0 million and $91,000 was recognized as tax expense in Fiscal 2020. If the Company is to prevail on all uncertain tax positions, the net effect would be to reduce our tax expense by approximately $1.6 million. A reconciliation of the changes in the gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits, which amounts are included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, is as follows:

Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized as a component of income tax expense. As of May 2, 2020, unrecognized tax benefits included accrued interest of $267,000, of which approximately $15,000 was recognized as tax expense in Fiscal 2020.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was enacted into law. The Tax Act made changes to the U.S. tax code, including reducing the U.S. federal tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. The phasing in of the lower corporate income tax rate results in a blended federal statutory rate of 30.4% for our Fiscal 2018, compared with the previous 35% rate. Included in the effective tax rate for Fiscal 2018 is a one-time adjustment reducing income tax expense to remeasure previous deferred tax liabilities of $4.3 million.

Annual income tax returns are filed in the United States and in various state and local jurisdictions. A number of years may elapse before an uncertain tax position, for which the Company has unrecognized tax benefits, are resolved. While it is often difficult to predict the final outcome or the timing of resolution of any particular uncertain tax position, The Company believes that unrecognized tax benefits reflect the most probable outcome. The Company adjusts these unrecognized tax benefits, as well as the related interest, in light of changing facts and circumstances. The resolution of any particular uncertain tax position could require the use of cash and an adjustment to our provision for income taxes in the period of resolution. Federal income tax returns for fiscal years subsequent to 2016 are subject to examination. Generally, the income tax returns for the various state jurisdictions are subject to examination for fiscal years ending after fiscal 2013.

9.      LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company has been named in certain legal proceedings, including those containing derivative and class action allegations.  One complaint alleges the Company’s LaCroix branded products contain synthetic ingredients and therefore violate state consumer protection statutes and other laws.  A similar consumer complaint was voluntarily dismissed during Fiscal 2020 along with a full written retraction of all claims by the plaintiff and counsel. The Company is vigorously defending all legal proceedings and believes litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, cash flows or results of operations.  

10.      STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Our stock-based compensation program is a broad-based program designed to attract and retain personnel while also aligning participants’ interests with the interests of the shareholders.

The 1991 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Omnibus Plan) provides for compensatory awards consisting of (i) stock options or stock awards for up to 4,800,000 shares of common stock, (ii) stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalents, other stock-based awards in amounts up to 4,800,000 shares of common stock and (iii) performance awards consisting of any combination of the above. The Omnibus Plan is designed to provide an incentive to officers and certain other key employees and consultants by making available to them an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest or to increase such interest in National Beverage. The number of shares or options which may be issued under stock-based awards to an individual is limited to 1,680,000 during any year. Awards may be granted for no cash consideration or such minimal cash consideration as may be required by law. Options generally have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant, vest over a five-year period and expire after ten years.

The Special Stock Option Plan provides for the issuance of stock options to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,800,000 shares of common stock. Options may be granted for such consideration as determined by the Board of Directors. The vesting schedule and exercise price of these options are tied to the recipient’s ownership level of common stock and the terms generally allow for the reduction in exercise price upon each vesting period. Also, the Board of Directors authorized the issuance of options to purchase up to 50,000 shares of common stock to be issued at the direction of the Chairman.

The Key Employee Equity Partnership Program (KEEP Program) provides for the granting of stock options to purchase up to 240,000 shares of common stock to key employees, consultants, directors and officers. Participants who purchase shares of stock in the open market receive grants of stock options equal to 50% of the number of shares purchased, up to a maximum of 6,000 shares in any two-year period. Options under the KEEP Program are forfeited in the event of the sale of shares used to acquire such options. Options are granted at an initial exercise price of 60% of the purchase price paid for the shares acquired and the exercise price reduces to the stock par value at the end of the six-year vesting period.

Stock options are accounted for under the fair value method of accounting using a Black-Scholes valuation model to estimate the stock option fair value at date of grant. The fair value of stock options is amortized to expense over the vesting period. Stock options for 9,000 shares were granted in Fiscal 2019 and 500 shares in Fiscal 2018. No stock options were issued during Fiscal 2020. The weighted average Black-Scholes fair value assumptions for stock options granted are as follows: weighted average expected life of 8.0 years for Fiscal 2019 and 8.0 years for Fiscal 2018; weighted average expected volatility of 21.7% for Fiscal 2019 and 23.8% for Fiscal 2018; weighted average risk free interest rates of 2.6% for Fiscal 2019 and 2.4% for Fiscal 2018; and expected dividend yield of 1.6% for Fiscal 2019 and 1.6% for Fiscal 2018.  The expected life of stock options was estimated based on historical experience.  The expected volatility was estimated based on historical stock prices for a period consistent with the expected life of stock options.  The risk free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury constant maturity interest rate whose term is consistent with the expected life of stock options. There were no forfeitures estimated in Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2018.

The following is a summary of stock option activity for Fiscal 2020:

_______________________________

^(a) Weighted average exercise price.

Stock-based compensation expense was $126,000 for Fiscal 2020, $251,000 for Fiscal 2019, and $161,000 for Fiscal 2018. The total fair value of shares vested was $768,000 for Fiscal 2020, $127,000 for Fiscal 2019, and $140,000 for Fiscal 2018.

The total intrinsic value for stock options exercised was $4.9 million for Fiscal 2020, $2.2 million for Fiscal 2019, $3.0 million for Fiscal 2018. Net cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options were $740,000 for Fiscal 2020, $456,000 for Fiscal 2019, $560,000 for Fiscal 2018. Stock based income tax benefits aggregated $974,000 for Fiscal 2020, $443,000 for Fiscal 2019, and $886,000 for Fiscal 2018. The weighted average fair value for stock options granted was $63.71 for Fiscal 2020.

As of May 2, 2020, unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of stock options was $465,000, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 4.5 years. The weighted average remaining contractual term and the aggregate intrinsic value for options outstanding as of May 2, 2020 was 3.7 years and $7.0 million, respectively. The weighted average remaining contractual term and the aggregate intrinsic value for options exercisable as of April 27, 2019 was 3.3 years and $14.9 million, respectively.

11.      PENSION PLANS

The Company contributes to certain pension plans under collective bargaining agreements and to a discretionary profit sharing plan. Annual contributions (including contributions to multi-employer plans reflected below) were $3.6 million for Fiscal 2020, $3.8 million for Fiscal 2019, and $3.4 million for Fiscal 2018.

The Company participates in three multi-employer defined benefit pension plans with respect to certain collective bargaining agreements. If the Company chooses to stop participating in the multi-employer plan or if other employers choose to withdraw to the extent that a mass withdrawal occurs, the Company could be required to pay the plan a withdrawal liability based on the underfunded status of the plan.

Summarized below is certain information regarding the Company’s participation in significant multi-employer pension plans including the financial improvement plan or rehabilitation plan status (“FIP/RP Status”) and the zone status under the Pension Protection Act (“PPA”). The most recent PPA zone status available in Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2019 is for the plans’ years ending December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

For the plan years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company was not listed in the Form 5500 Annual Returns as providing more than 5% of the total contributions for the above plans. The collective bargaining agreements for employees in the CSSS Fund and the WCT Fund expire on October 18, 2021 and May 14, 2021, respectively.

The Company’s contributions for all multi-employer pension plans for the last three Fiscal years are as follow:

12.      COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company enters into various agreements with suppliers for the purchase of raw materials, the terms of which may include variable or fixed pricing and minimum purchase quantities. As of May 2, 2020 the Company had purchase commitments for raw materials of $22.6 million through 2023. 

As of May 2, 2020, the Company had purchase commitments for plant and equipment of $5.1 million anticipated to be completed in the 2021 fiscal year. 

13.      QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of National Beverage Corp.

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of National Beverage Corp. (the Company) as of May 2, 2020 and April 27, 2019, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 2, 2020, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of May 2, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of May 2, 2020 and April 27, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended May 2, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of May 2, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013.

Basis for Opinions

The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements and an opinion on the company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. 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 U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the financial statements 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 audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Self-Insurance Accruals

As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company maintains self-insured and deductible programs for workers’ compensation exposures. The Company accrues for known claims and estimated incurred but not reported claims not otherwise covered by insurance based on actuarial assumptions and historical claims experience. While a third party actuary is employed to advise the Company, estimating workers’ compensation exposure is inherently uncertain, as estimates are generally derived using a variety of actuarial estimation techniques that are dependent upon assumptions and expectations about future events, many of which are difficult to quantify. As of May 2, 2020 and April 27, 2019, other liabilities included accruals of $5.5 million and $5.7 million, respectively, for estimated non-current risk retention exposures, of which $4.3 million was covered by insurance at both dates.

We identified the evaluation of the Company’s self-insurance accruals as a critical audit matter due to the significant judgments made by management in estimating the workers’ compensation liability. Auditing management’s judgments used in estimating the value of the workers’ compensation liability involved a high degree of auditor judgment and increased audit effort, including the use of our actuarial specialist.

Our audit procedures related to the Company’s self-insurance accrual assessment included the following, among others:

/s/ RSM US LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2006.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

July 1, 2020

ITEM 9.        CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

ITEM 9A.     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. Based on that evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of May 2, 2020.

Management recognizes that there are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of internal control. Accordingly, even effective internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal control may vary over time.

RSM US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and, as part of their audit, has issued their report, included herein, on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended May 2, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.     OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

PART III

ITEM 10.      DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by Item 10 will be included under the captions “Election of Directors”, “Information as to Nominees and Other Directors”, “Information Regarding Meetings and Committees of the Board” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the officers of the Registrant as of May 2, 2020:

_______________________________

All officers serve until their successors are chosen and may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors. Officers are normally appointed each year at the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the annual meeting of shareholders.

ITEM 11.     EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by Item 11 will be included under the captions “Executive Compensation and Other Information” and “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12.     SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by Item 12 will be included under the captions “Security Ownership” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13.     CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTION, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required by Item 13 will be included under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” and “Information Regarding Meetings and Committees of the Board” in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14.     PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by Item 14 will be included under the caption “Independent Auditors” in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

PART IV

ITEM 15.     EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

EXHIBIT INDEX