Seneca Foods Reports Net Loss of $0.6 Million for the Quarter Ended September 27, 2014

MARION, N.Y., Oct. 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seneca Foods Corporation (Nasdaq:SENEA) (Nasdaq:SENEB) reported for the second quarter of 2015, a net loss of $0.6 million, or $(0.05) per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $6.6 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, in the fiscal second quarter of 2014. Net sales for the second quarter ended September 27, 2014 decreased from the second quarter ended September 28, 2013 by 7.3%, or $24.5 million to $312.2 million. The decrease is attributable to a sales volume decrease of $36.0 million partially offset by favorable sales mix and higher selling prices of $11.5 million. A major portion of the lower sales was due to a timing issue. This year's sale of certain commodities under the General Mills Alliance fell in third quarter, versus the second quarter last year, due to cooler weather conditions.

The Company reported a net loss for the fiscal six months ended September 27, 2014 of $0.7 million, or $(0.06) per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $8.0 million, or $0.71 per diluted share for the same period in the prior year. In the six months ended September 27, 2014, net sales decreased $16.6 million, or 2.9% to $552.2 million. The decrease is attributable to a sales volume decrease of $38.2 million partially offset by favorable sales mix and higher selling prices of $21.6 million.

Excluding a non-cash after-tax LIFO charge of $3.9 million, net earnings per diluted share were $0.30 during the quarter ended September 27, 2014 versus $1.09 during the quarter ended September 28, 2013, which included a non-cash LIFO charge of $5.6 million. Excluding a non-cash after-tax LIFO charge of $3.6 million, net earnings per diluted share were $0.27 during the six months ended September 28, 2013, compared to $1.55 during the six months ended September 28, 2013 which included a non-cash LIFO charge of $9.3 million.

About Seneca Foods Corporation

Seneca Foods is North America's leading provider of packaged fruits and vegetables, with facilities located throughout the United States. Its high quality products are primarily sourced from over 2,000 American farms. Seneca holds the largest share of the retail private label, food service, and export canned vegetable markets, distributing to over 90 countries. Products are also sold under the highly regarded brands of Libby's®, Aunt Nellie's®, READ®, Seneca Farms® and Seneca labels, including Seneca snack chips. In addition, Seneca provides vegetable products under an alliance with General Mills Operations, LLC, a subsidiary of General Mills, Inc., under the Green Giant label. Seneca's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Stock Market under the symbols "SENEA" and "SENEB". SENEA is included the S&P SmallCap 600, Russell 2000 and Russell 3000 indices.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Net Earnings Excluding LIFO Impact, EBITDA and FIFO EBITDA

Net Earnings excluding LIFO, EBITDA and FIFO EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide a basis for comparison to companies that do not use LIFO and enhance the understanding of the Company's historical operating performance. The Company does not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Set forth below is a reconciliation of reported net earnings and reported diluted earnings per share to net earnings excluding LIFO and diluted earnings per share excluding LIFO.

Set forth below is a reconciliation of reported net earnings to EBITDA and FIFO EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, non-cash charges and credits related to the LIFO inventory valuation method). The Company does not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Forward-Looking Information

The information contained in this release contains, or may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements appear in a number of places in this release and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers (including statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates" or similar expressions) with respect to various matters.

Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are:

• general economic and business conditions;
• cost and availability of commodities and other raw materials such as vegetables, steel and packaging materials;
• transportation costs;
• climate and weather affecting growing conditions and crop yields;
• availability of financing;
• leverage and the Company's ability to service and reduce its debt;
• foreign currency exchange and interest rate fluctuations;
• effectiveness of the Company's marketing and trade promotion programs;
• changing consumer preferences;
• competition;
• product liability claims;
• the loss of significant customers or a substantial reduction in orders from these customers;
• changes in, or the failure or inability to comply with, United States, foreign and local governmental regulations, including environmental and health and safety regulations; and
• other risks detailed from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the SEC.

Except for ongoing obligations to disclose material information as required by the federal securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the filing of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.