Swiss Water, a leading specialty coffee company and green coffee decaffeinator, has announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2024, reporting substantial gains in sales and profitability. The Canadian-based company, known for its chemical-free decaffeination process, recorded a 27% increase in total sales for the quarter and a 4% year-to-date rise compared to the same period in 2023.
The year-over-year comparisons reflect a rebound in sales following capacity constraints in 2023, when Swiss Water consolidated its operations to a single location. In a strategic move to streamline production, the company closed its legacy Burnaby facility last year, which temporarily impacted production volumes.
Financial Highlights
Swiss Water’s gross profit for Q3 2024 reached $6.4 million, marking a significant increase from the $3.5 million reported during the same quarter last year. Year-to-date, gross profit rose to $19.2 million, up $7.3 million from the first nine months of 2023. The company attributed this growth to increased processing volumes, cost reductions from operational consolidation, lower utility expenses, and a reduction in one-time depreciation costs.
Gross margin percentages also saw improvement, with Q3 margins at 15% compared to 11% last year, and year-to-date margins reaching 16% compared to 10% in 2023. Swiss Water explained that these gains were driven by the efficiencies realized from consolidating its operations to a single facility, which helped reduce overhead costs and improve production efficiency.
In 2023, the company incurred a one-time depreciation expense of $2.5 million related to the closure of its Burnaby production facility. With that cost no longer impacting current financials, Swiss Water’s profitability metrics have shown marked improvement.
Earnings and Losses
Despite the increase in sales and gross profit, Swiss Water reported a net loss of $0.8 million for Q3 and a year-to-date net loss of $0.7 million. While still in the red, this performance marks an improvement from 2023, when the company reported a larger nine-month loss of $1.5 million.
Swiss Water’s President and CEO, Frank Dennis, expressed optimism regarding the company’s recent performance, particularly in terms of volume growth. “We are pleased to report that we delivered volume growth and improved profitability during the third quarter. Total volume grew by 27 per cent, and adjusted EBITDA increased by 40 per cent, when compared to Q3 last year,” Dennis stated.
Market Outlook and Challenges
Swiss Water remains optimistic about the future, with consumer interest in its chemical-free decaf coffee products holding strong. However, the company has noted challenges in the broader coffee market due to the high price of coffee commodities, particularly on the NY’C’ coffee exchange, which remained near historic peaks during Q3.
Dennis cautioned that elevated coffee prices could eventually impact both consumer demand and roaster orders. “Evidence is starting to emerge that [the high commodity price] is negatively impacting consumer consumption of coffee, roaster demand and importer inventories,” he said. Should futures prices remain high and maintain a backward-dated structure, Swiss Water anticipates potential challenges to volume growth not only for the remainder of 2024 but also into the next year.
The company’s strategic focus remains on capitalizing on its environmentally friendly, chemical-free decaffeination process as it navigates the current market conditions. Swiss Water’s unique process, which relies on natural water rather than chemicals, continues to attract eco-conscious consumers and differentiates it within the coffee market.
Swiss Water’s Q3 results highlight both the opportunities and hurdles in the decaffeinated coffee segment, as the company aims to sustain its growth trajectory while managing the pressures of a volatile coffee commodity market.
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