TORONTO, Aug. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --PRESS RELEASE-- Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX: AH, OTCQX: ALEAF) reports its financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2022, its first quarter of its fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.
Branded cannabis net revenue, quarter over quarter, increased 25%: Aleafia Health continued its upward sales growth trend, with branded cannabis net revenue increasing 24% to a record $10.0 million from $8.0 million quarter over quarter. In the key branded adult-use market, the company’s net revenue increased 107% to $6.7 million from $3.2 million in the same period last year.
“Our pivot to a branded cannabis strategy is the success story driving the three pillars of company revenue: adult-use branded cannabis, a ‘sticky’ recurring medical cannabis revenue stream and growing higher margin international sales,” said Aleafia Health CEO Tricia Symmes. “As a result of revenue increases, the company has achieved the 2nd highest growth rate amongst top 12 Canadian LPs in retail sell through over the prior quarter while achieving a #12 ranking for market share in our core markets for Q2 CY2022.”
“Due to our successful branded growth strategy, the company continues to target a top 10 standing in our key markets and reaffirms our expectation to reach breakeven Adjusted EBITDA profitability during the second half of FY2023,” said Aleafia Health CFO Matt Sale. “Showing continued success in retail sell through provides us the confidence to reaffirm our guidance to deliver at least $53 million in total net revenue in fiscal year 2023, with a current run-rate of $48 million.”
Divvy Brand Leadership: “In each of the three largest revenue categories - flower, pre-rolls and vapes - the company is gaining in market share and continuing to deliver excellent growth rates,” Symmes said. “In the Ontario value category, Divvy flower enjoys a #7 market share ranking (with 3.4% share), pre-rolls enjoy a #5 ranking (with a 6.9% share), and our recently launched vape products continue to grab market share amidst a highly competitive format, and enjoy a 1.4% market share.”
Medical: The company reported a 4% increase in medical cannabis net revenue to $2.8 million in Q1 FY2023 over $2.5 million in the prior quarter. This represents a $11 million run-rate net revenue base. Moreover, the company has attained a milestone 7.5% market share in the overall Canadian medical market, according to Health Canada data. “In a competitive medical cannabis segment, market share has increased and we have restarted our growth trajectory over the last two quarters,” said Symmes. “We continue to penetrate the Quebec market with a 71% quarter over quarter increase in patient registrations. Growth in Quebec has helped to offset industry wide medical channel decline which has also affected our business. Sales to veterans also increased 4% quarter over quarter.”
“Anchored by our Emblem brand, we continue to view medical as a core part of our diversified sales mix, and is synergistic with our branded adult-use channel given the ability to sell products into both segments,” said Sale.
International Revenue Growth: “International revenue is a competitive advantage and a differentiating factor for Aleafia, as we leverage our high quality, diversified flower supply and export it to the higher margin international sales markets,” Symmes said. “Current international agreements have led to more than $0.5 million in sales to Germany and Australia this quarter. We have also secured a new European partner with a $4.6 million sales commitment, representing further channel development. International success leverages both the company’s products and its brands.”
“The newly signed agreement improves revenue and cash flow visibility, locks in attractive margins, and improves our overall cash conversion cycle and net working capital performance,” said Sale.
Continued Cost Rationalization: “We are striving to achieve breakeven Adjusted EBITDA profitability by the end of FY2023,” Sale said. “Firstly, we are increasing revenue by capturing market share. SKU optimization has furthered revenue growth, which aligns the portfolio with the highest selling product formats with strongest margins, coupled with moderate and strategic price increases. Second, we are relentlessly focused on cost rationalization. In addition to difficult headcount reductions and other initiatives, the company has engaged in vendor consolidation to reduce complexity across sites while negotiating trusted vendor price improvements due to economies of scale. With all of these efforts combined, the company has extracted $20 million in annualized SG&A savings over the last four quarters, and break-even Adjusted EBITDA profitability is within our grasp during FY2023, a milestone for the company.”
“On the cultivation side of the business, all processes in our Grimsby, Ont. hybrid greenhouse have been remapped to allow it to meet anticipated growing throughput of high potency THC flower,” said Sale. “With strategic investments to improve flower consistency and quality, we continue to see steady improvements in Grimsby.”
New Nitecaps: “In Q1 FY2023, the company completed development on a breakthrough product that has just been brought to the Ontario and Alberta markets this month,” said Symmes. “Our Noon & Night Nitecaps softgels with CBD suspended in melatonin and-MCT oil are an industry first.”
“We are highly strategic and thoughtful about our new product roll-outs. In this case, Nitecaps can be leveraged in the adult-use and medical channels as sleep is top-of-mind for many patients, addressing an unmet consumer need,” said Sale.
“Aleafia Health today is a vastly different company than it was one year ago,” said Symmes. “With an extraordinary team of people at all levels, we are now positioned to reach new heights, supported by cost containment, a transforming balance sheet, and new equity financing. We are now rooted in a new era, with a relentless drive toward profitability and increased market share capture.”
