FRGI - Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2021 Results

Fourth Quarter 2021 Positive Comparable Restaurant Sales of 9.0% Compared to 2020

Comparable Restaurant Sales Growth of 7.5% in January and 8.8% in February 2022 Compared to 2021

Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. ("Fiesta" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: FRGI), parent company of the Pollo Tropical® restaurant brand, today reported results for the 13-week fourth quarter, which ended on January 2, 2022, and provided a business update related to current operations.

Fiesta President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Stockinger said, "We were pleased with Pollo Tropical's fourth quarter 2021 comparable restaurant sales performance, which continued to accelerate in January and February of 2022. Fourth quarter 2021 comparable restaurant sales increased 9.0% vs. the fourth quarter of 2020, and comparable restaurant sales were at 2019 levels for two consecutive quarters ⁽¹⁾ . We are off to a strong start in 2022, with accelerating comparable same store sales growth of 7.5% in January and 8.8% in February, and we remain optimistic about continued sales momentum as we refine and implement our growth initiatives.”

Stockinger continued, "Our singular focus on the Pollo Tropical brand, as a result of the completion of the Taco Cabana sale last August, enabled us to make significant progress on Pollo’s growth initiatives during the fourth quarter. We continued to make great strides on enhancing our digital platform by successfully completing the pilot of our much improved digital drive thru customer experience, re-opening curbside capability that was placed on hold during staffing challenges, and launching quick response (QR) kiosk in-hand technology in all units for faster in-store ordering and payment. As part of our new unit design efforts, we completed and successfully tested a new, more efficient kitchen line design with assistance from a leading operations engineering firm. The new kitchen design is expected to significantly reduce order cycle times and is also being tested in upcoming remodels as a retrofit to improve productivity and unlock unmet drive thru demand in high volume units. We also completed seven remodels late in the fourth quarter of 2021 aimed at testing key restaurant design elements and operating platform improvements, and will continue to refine our new restaurant design elements through additional remodels in 2022.”

Stockinger added, "Industry-wide staff availability challenges continued in the fourth quarter. Our proactive action plans that included wage rate increases, hiring incentives, and improved benefits are working – current staffing levels have improved compared to the third quarter of 2021. We are taking additional actions at select units that have not yet reached optimal staffing levels, including incentive pay for challenging scheduling dayparts such as late night shifts, expanded recruiting resources, and added team incentives for completed schedules.”

Stockinger further commented, "We also continued our plan to opportunistically improve margins in an increasingly inflationary environment through phased price increases of 5.2% late in the fourth quarter of 2021 and 5.0% in early March of 2022, as well as through ongoing labor optimization including significant overtime reduction. We believe our historical pricing actions over the last three years have been well below our peers. We are on track for Restaurant-level Adjusted EBITDA ⁽²⁾ margins, a non-GAAP financial measure, to reach our targeted range of 18% to 20% on a run-rate basis by the end of the first quarter of 2022, barring unforeseen changes in our cost structure and operating environment.”

Stockinger added, “Restaurant-level Adjusted EBITDA margins declined during the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020 primarily due to total labor cost increases, which were only partially offset by our phased pricing action late in the fourth quarter. A large portion of the labor cost increases are expected to be short term only, estimated at $0.8 million, or approximately 90 basis points as a percentage of sales. Fourth quarter 2021 loss from continuing operations was $6.8 million compared to income from continuing operations in the fourth quarter of 2020 of $2.5 million .”

Stockinger concluded, "We are encouraged by our accelerating sales and margin momentum thus far in 2022, which we expect to continue, barring unforeseen changes in our cost structure and operating environment. We are also finalizing plans to further reduce G&A expenses to a targeted range of 8.5% to 9.0% of current restaurant sales on a run rate basis during 2022, with expected implementation in the second half of the year. Finally, we will continue enhancing the customer experience across all service channels, further investing in our growing digital platform and the development of our field management teams, and refining our brand proposition and new unit design features in additional remodel tests to drive future growth."

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Fourth Quarter 2021 Financial Summary

• Total revenues from continuing operations increased 1.7% to $89.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 from $87.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2020;

• Comparable restaurant sales at Pollo Tropical increased 9.0% in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. Compared to the same fiscal period in 2019, comparable restaurant sales for Pollo Tropical were flat;

• Net loss of $(4.7) million, or $(0.19) per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to net income of $0.9 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2020;

• Net loss from continuing operations of $(6.8) million, or $(0.27) per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to net income from continuing operations of $2.5 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2020;

• Adjusted net loss (a non-GAAP financial measure) of $(3.4) million, or $(0.13) per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to adjusted net income of $2.4 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2020 (see non-GAAP reconciliation table below);

• Continuing Operations Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP financial measure) of $2.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $9.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 (see non-GAAP reconciliation table below);

• Adjusted EBITDA for Pollo Tropical of $6.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $12.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2020; and

• Restaurant-level Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP financial measure) for Pollo Tropical of $12.7 million, or 14.3% of Pollo Tropical restaurant sales, in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $19.1 million, or 21.8% of Pollo Tropical restaurant sales, in the fourth quarter of 2020 (see non-GAAP reconciliation table below).

Fourth Quarter 2021 Comparable Restaurant Sales

• As a result of the 53 ^rd week in fiscal 2020, our 2021 fiscal year began one week later than our 2020 fiscal year. Changes in comparable restaurant sales for the thirteen weeks ended January 2, 2022, are not directly comparable on a calendar basis to the thirteen weeks ended January 3, 2021.

• The fiscal year and fourth quarter ended January 3, 2021 contained 53 weeks and 14 weeks, respectively. Fourth quarter 2020 comparable restaurant sales exclude the extra week in fiscal fourth quarter 2020 and are reported on a 13-week basis.

• Fourth quarter 2021 and November 2021 comparable restaurant sales at Pollo Tropical vs 2020 benefited from the negative impact of Hurricane Eta in 2020. After adjusting for the impact of the hurricane, 2021 fourth quarter and November 2021 comparable sales would have been approximately 50 and 160 basis points lower, respectively.

First Quarter 2022 Comparable Restaurant Sales Update

Cash and Liquidity

Excluding $3.8 million in restricted cash, our cash balance decreased from $52.0 million at October 3, 2021 to $36.8 million at January 2, 2022. Significant cash outflows for the fourth quarter included $5.4 million for stock repurchases, $4.1 million in capital expenditures, a software licensing payment of $2.5 million and $4.7 million in tax payments including property tax payments and $1.6 million in deferred social security payments related to 2020 deferrals under the CARES Act.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Pollo Tropical Results

Total Pollo Tropical restaurant sales increased 1.6% to $88.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $87.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 primarily due to a comparable restaurant sales increase of 9.0%. The increase in comparable restaurant sales resulted from a net impact of product/channel mix and pricing of 9.4% and a decrease in comparable restaurant transactions of 0.4%. The increase in product/channel mix and pricing was driven primarily by increases in delivery and drive-thru average check, and menu price increases of 7.8%. Pollo Tropical dine-in and counter take-out comparable restaurant sales increased 27.4% from the fourth quarter of 2020 to the fourth quarter of 2021 due primarily to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dine-in traffic and closures of our dining rooms during a portion of the fourth quarter of 2020. Digital channel sales (delivery/online) growth continued to be strong in the fourth quarter of 2021, with 28.1% comparable restaurant sales growth vs. 2020 and over triple the comparable restaurant sales dollars compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. During the fourth quarter of 2021, Pollo Tropical experienced increased hourly staffing challenges due to workforce availability which we believe had a negative impact on sales throughout the quarter, driven in part by reduced operating hours. Comparable restaurant sales results were much stronger in markets that had adequate staffing – those markets realized improved fourth quarter 2021 comparable restaurant sales of approximately 13.5% vs. the fourth quarter of 2020 and 3.9% vs. the fourth quarter of 2019.

Adjusted EBITDA for Pollo Tropical decreased to $6.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 from $12.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. The decrease was primarily due to higher labor costs, repair and maintenance costs, advertising expenses, and other operating expenses in 2021 as well as the extra week in 2020, partially offset by the impact of higher restaurant sales, and improved cost of sales margins in 2021. Higher labor costs were driven primarily by hourly wage rate increases, short-term hiring incentives, and additional overtime and training. We believe that approximately $0.8 million of the labor cost increases for overtime and staffing-related incentives are short term in nature. We are implementing phased pricing increases to offset labor and commodity cost increases in order to minimize the negative impact on traffic. While our 5.2% price increase in mid-December only had a limited impact on fourth quarter 2021 revenue and Restaurant Adjusted EBITDA margin, the full impact of that price increase is expected to be realized in the first quarter of 2022 and beyond. An additional price increase of 5.0% was also taken in March, 2022. The impact of the extra week in the fourth quarter of 2020 is estimated at $5.8 million in restaurant sales and $1.7 million in Adjusted EBITDA. Fourth quarter 2020 Adjusted EBITDA would have been $10.4 million and 12.7% of sales excluding the extra week in the fourth quarter.

Restaurant-level Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP financial measure) for Pollo Tropical as a percentage of restaurant sales decreased, with fourth quarter Restaurant-level Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of restaurant sales of 14.3% in 2021 compared to 21.8% in 2020 (see non-GAAP reconciliation table below). Continuing Operations Adjusted EBITDA decreased to $2.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $9.1 million in the same period in 2020.

Full Year 2021 Financial Summary

Total revenues increased 13.3% in 2021 to $357.3 million from $315.4 million in 2020, driven primarily by an increase in comparable restaurant sales at Pollo Tropical due in part to lapping the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Comparable restaurant sales in 2021 increased 16.0% for our Pollo Tropical restaurants resulting from an increase in the net impact of product/channel mix and pricing of 11.8% and an increase in comparable restaurant transactions of 4.2%

We recognized net income of $10.4 million in 2021, or $0.40 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(10.2) million, or $(0.40) per diluted share in 2020, due primarily to the impact of income from discontinued operations of $18.5 million in 2021 compared to a loss from discontinued operations of $(6.8) million in 2020. The income from discontinued operations in 2021 was due primarily to the gain on the sale of Taco Cabana in 2021. Higher Pollo Tropical labor costs, advertising costs, general and administrative expenses, repair and maintenance costs and delivery fees in 2021 were partially offset by increased comparable restaurant sales at Pollo Tropical. The impact of the increase in income from discontinued operations in 2021 was also partially offset by an increase in unallocated general and administrative costs in continuing operations in 2021 and the impact of the extra week in 2020. We recognized a loss from continuing operations in 2021 of $(8.1) million, or $(0.31) per diluted share, compared to a loss from continuing operations in 2020 of $(3.4) million, or $(0.13) per diluted share, primarily as a result of the foregoing. In addition, in 2020 gains from the sale-leaseback and sale of property were $3.3 million.

Continuing Operations Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA decreased $1.0 million to $25.0 million in 2021 from $26.0 million in 2020 (see non-GAAP reconciliation table below) driven primarily by higher labor costs, advertising costs, general and administrative expenses, repair and maintenance costs and delivery fees, as well as the impact of the extra week in 2020, partially offset by higher restaurant sales. Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA for Pollo Tropical was $63.1 million or 17.7% of restaurant sales in 2021 compared to $61.3 million or 19.5% of restaurant sales in 2020 (see non-GAAP reconciliation table below).

Previously Approved Share Repurchase Program Resumed

The Company resumed its share repurchase program that the board of directors had previously authorized for the repurchase of an aggregate 3.0 million shares of common stock, of which 152,208 shares remain available for purchase as of January 2, 2022. During the fourth quarter 2021, the Company repurchased 516,074 shares valued at approximately $5.4 million.

Restaurant Portfolio

As of January 2, 2022, there were 138 Company-owned Pollo Tropical restaurants, and 31 franchised Pollo Tropical restaurants in the U.S., the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Panama, Guyana, Ecuador and the Bahamas.

Investor Conference Call Today

We will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET today. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 201-689-8562. A replay will be available after the call until Wednesday, March 16, 2022 and can be accessed by dialing 1-412-317-6671. The passcode is 13727144. The conference call will also be webcast live and archived on the corporate website at www.frgi.com , under the Investor Relations section. A replay of the webcast will be available through the corporate website shortly after the call has concluded.

About Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.

Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., owns, operates and franchises the Pollo Tropical® restaurant brand and prior to August 16, 2021, owned, operated, and franchised the Taco Cabana® restaurant brand. The brands specialize in the operation of fast casual/quick service restaurants that offer distinct and unique flavors with broad appeal at a compelling value. The brands feature fresh-made cooking, drive-thru service and catering. For more information about Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., visit the corporate website at www.frgi.com .

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release and in our public disclosures, whether written, oral or otherwise made, relating to future events or future performance, including any discussion, express or implied regarding our anticipated growth, plans, objectives and the impact of our initiatives, our investments in strategic and sales building initiatives, including those relating to operations improvements, digital infrastructure supporting ordering and online sales, catering and third-party delivery and drive thru improvements and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and our initiatives designed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic on future sales, margins, earnings and liquidity, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are often identified by the words "may," "might," "believes," "thinks," "anticipates," "plans," "positioned," "target," "continue," "expects," "look to," "intends" and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or the affirmative, that are not statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our actual results and timing of certain events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements and the internal projections and beliefs upon which we base our expectations included in this release are made only as of the date of this release and may change. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

FIESTA RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Supplemental Non-GAAP Information
The following table sets forth certain unaudited supplemental financial data for the periods indicated
(In thousands):

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (including Continuing Operations Adjusted EBITDA) and margin and Restaurant-level Adjusted EBITDA and margin are non-GAAP financial measures. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings (loss) before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, impairment and other lease charges, goodwill impairment, closed restaurant rent expense, net of sublease income, stock-based compensation expense, other expense (income), net, and certain significant items that are related to strategic changes and/or are not related to the ongoing operation of our restaurants as set forth in the reconciliation table below. Adjusted EBITDA includes an allocation of general and administrative expenses associated with administrative support for executive management, information systems and certain finance, legal, supply chain, human resources, construction and other administrative functions. Restaurant-level Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Adjusted EBITDA excluding franchise royalty revenues and fees, pre-opening costs and general and administrative expenses (including corporate-level general and administrative expenses). The "Other" column includes corporate costs that were allocated to Taco Cabana and are not included in discontinued operations.

Adjusted EBITDA is the primary measure of segment profit or loss used by our chief operating decision maker for purposes of allocating resources and assessing performance. In addition, management believes that Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA and Restaurant-level Adjusted EBITDA, when viewed with our results of operations calculated in accordance with GAAP and our reconciliation of net income (loss) to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA and Restaurant-level Adjusted EBITDA (i) provide useful information about our operating performance and period-over-period changes, (ii) provide additional information that is useful for evaluating the operating performance of our business, and (iii) permit investors to gain an understanding of the factors and trends affecting our ongoing earnings, from which capital investments are made and debt is serviced. However, such measures are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP and, accordingly, should not be considered as alternatives to net income or cash flow from operating activities as indicators of operating performance or liquidity. Also, these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled captions of other companies.