REED Reeds Inc

Reed's, Inc. (NASDAQ:REED) (OTCBB:REEDP), maker of the top-selling sodas in natural food stores nationwide, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

First Quarter 2010 Highlights:

• First quarter sales increased 17% to a record $4.0 million.
• Gross profit in the first quarter increased 26% to $1.1 million.
• Gross margin in the first quarter increased by 200 basis points to 27%.
• Operating expenses in the first quarter decreased by $86,000, or 7% to $1.2 million.
• EBITDA for the first quarter was $172,000, as compared to an EBITDA loss of $159,000 in the first quarter of 2009 (See EBITDA table at end of this release for further non-GAAP information).
• Cash plus revolving LOC availability was $1.3 million at March 31, 2010, as compared to $1.5 million at December 31, 2009.
• Working capital increased by approximately $500,000 during the quarter, to $2.5 million
• Ramped up private label business with the addition of third private label customer.
• Began production/shipment of new ‘Reed’s Rx’ Remedy for Nausea and Motion Sickness.
• ‘Reed’s Rx’ Natural Ginger Nausea Relief gained placements in over 7,000 CVS/Pharmacy locations nationwide.
• Expanded relationship with Kroger’s and Woodman’s Food Market; and established new relationship with Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG).

“The first quarter is usually the weakest, but the fact that the Company was EBITDA positive makes it clear to us that we have moved into profitability,” said Chris Reed, Founder and CEO of Reed’s, Inc. “Our strategic plans are unfolding and are boosted by the improving economy. In the first quarter, revenues from our existing brands provided a solid base while our new branded products and private label sales took us to a 17% sales increase over last year, with higher margins. As we go into the second quarter, sales of all of our brands continue to outpace last year, and we anticipate substantial increases in private-label product sales throughout 2010. Gross profits from private-label sales will fuel our promotions of branded products. We project 20%-plus overall revenue increases for 2010.”

Reed's Chief Financial Officer, Jim Linesch, commented, "We currently have $1.3 million cash available and we are cash flow positive. Our ability to run lean has helped us weather the economic downturn in 2009 and to reach profitability faster in 2010. Reed’s is nimble and quick, enabling us to seize opportunities that others cannot.”

See financial statements and EBITDA schedule at the end of this release.

Conference Call

Jim Linesch and Chris Reed will review the Company’s first quarter financial report in a conference call following the close of the market today. Time and dial-in information for the Company’s conference call will be available later in the day.

About Reed's, Inc.

Reed's, Inc. makes the top selling natural sodas in the natural foods industry sold in over 10,500 natural food markets and supermarkets nationwide. In 2009, Reed’s started producing Private Label natural beverages for select national chains. Its six award-winning non-alcoholic Ginger Brews are unique in the beverage industry, being brewed, not manufactured and using fresh ginger, spices and fruits in a brewing process that predates commercial soft drinks. The Company owns the top selling root beer line in natural foods, the Virgil's Root Beer product line, and the top selling cola line in natural foods, the China Cola product line. Recently, Reed's introduced its ‘Reed’s Rx’ line of ginger-based nausea relief products for the drug store market and acquired the Sonoma Sparkler brand, a sparkling juice celebration drink with an established customer base. Other product lines include: Reed's Ginger Candies and Reed's Ginger Ice Creams.

Reed's products are sold through specialty gourmet and natural food stores, mainstream supermarket chains, retail stores and restaurants nationwide, and in Canada, as well as through private label relationships with major supermarket chains. For more information about Reed's, please visit the company's website at: http://www.reedsgingerbrew.com or call 800-99-REEDS.

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SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

Some portions of this press release, particularly those describing Reed's goals and strategies, contain "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because the context of the statement will include words, such as "expects," "should," "believes," "anticipates" or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe future plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements. While Reed's is working to achieve those goals and strategies, actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include difficulty in marketing its products and services, maintaining and protecting brand recognition, the need for significant capital, dependence on third party distributors, dependence on third party brewers, increasing costs of fuel and freight, protection of intellectual property, competition and other factors, any of which could have an adverse effect on the business plans of Reed's, its reputation in the industry or its expected financial return from operations and results of operations. In light of significant risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation by Reed's that they will achieve such forward-looking statements. For further details and a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, please see our most recent reports on Form 10-KSB and Form 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as they may be amended from time to time. Reed's undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

         

REEDS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited)

  Three months ended March 31, 2010       2009

Sales

$ 4,012,000 $ 3,417,000 Cost of sales   2,946,000     2,570,000     Gross profit   1,066,000     847,000     Operating expenses: Selling and marketing expense 524,000 659,000 General and administrative expense   652,000     603,000   Total operating expenses   1,176,000     1,262,000     Loss from operations (110,000 ) (415,000 )   Interest expense   (149,000 )   (83,000 )   Net loss (259,000 ) (498,000 )   Preferred stock dividend   (14,000 )   -     Net loss attributable to common stockholders $ (273,000 ) $ (498,000 )   Loss per share available to common stockholders - basic and diluted $ (0.03 ) $ (0.06 ) Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic and diluted   9,834,696     9,041,483                

REED’S, INC.

EBITDA SCHEDULE

 (Unaudited)

  Three Months Ended March 31, 2010       2009 Net loss $ (259,000 ) $ (498,000 )   EBITDA adjustments: Depreciation and amortization 148,000 109,000 Interest expense 149,000 83,000 Stock option compensation 421,000 142,000 Impairment of assets   134,000     147,000  

Total EBITDA adjustments

  431,000     339,000     EBITDA income (loss) from operations $ 172,000   $ (159,000 )  

The Company defines EBITDA as net loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and non-cash expense for securities. Other companies may calculate EBITDA differently. Management believes that the presentation of EBITDA provides a meaningful measure of performance that approximates cash flow before interest expense, and is meaningful to investors.

               

REED’S, INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

  March 31,

2010

December 31,

2009

ASSETS (unaudited) Current assets: Cash $ 235,000 $ 1,306,000 Inventory 3,177,000 2,884,000 Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and returns and discounts of $90,000 1,197,000 866,000 Prepaid and other current assets   534,000     99,000   Total Current Assets 5,143,000 5,155,000   Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $833,000 and $727,000, respectively

3,602,000

3,655,000

Brand names 1,029,000 1,029,000 Deferred financing fees, net of amortization of $41,000 and $10,000, respectively  

100,000

   

131,000

  Total assets $ 9,874,000   $ 9 ,970,000     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 946,000 $ 954,000 Accrued expenses 137,000 127,000 Dividends payable 14,000 - Recycling fees payable 467,000 456,000 Lines of credit 881,000 1,415,000 Current portion of long term financing obligation 44,000 40,000 Current portion of capital leases payable 25,000 24,000 Current portion of note payable   103,000     102,000   Total current liabilities 2,617,000 3,118,000   Long term financing obligation, less current portion, net of discount of $714,000 and $726,000, respectively

2,274,000

2,274,000

Capital leases payable, less current portion 123,000 130,000 Note payable, less current portion   45,000     71,000   Total liabilities   5,059,000     5,593,000     Commitments and contingencies   Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, $10 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, 46,621 shares outstanding

466,000

466,000

Series B Convertible Preferred stock, $10 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, 110,794 and 120,820 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

1,108,000 1,208,000

Common stock, $.0001 par value, 19,500,000 shares authorized, 10,128,206 and 9,606,127 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

1,000 1,000

Additional paid in capital

21,014,000 20,203,000 Accumulated deficit   (17,774,000 )   (17,501,000 ) Total stockholders’ equity   4,815,000     4,377,000     Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 9,874,000   $ 9,970,000