UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 10-QSB

 

ý                                  QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 29, 2005

 

o                               TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission File Number 000-29643

 

GRANITE CITY FOOD & BREWERY LTD.

(Exact Name of Small Business Issuer as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Minnesota

 

41-1883639

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

5831 Cedar Lake Road
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
(952) 525-2070

(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Issuer’s

Telephone Number, including Area Code)

 

Check whether the issuer:  (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

Yes ý  No o.

 

As of May 4, 2005, the issuer had outstanding 11,620,067 shares of common stock and 1,000,000 Class A Warrants.  The number of outstanding shares of common stock includes the shares issuable upon separation of the units, each consisting of one share of common stock and one redeemable Class A Warrant, sold in the issuer’s initial public offering.

 

Transitional Small Business Disclosure Format:

Yes o No ý.

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Balance Sheets as of December 28, 2004 and March 29, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Statements of Operations for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2004 and March 29, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2004 and March 29, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

ITEM 2

Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation

 

 

 

 

ITEM 3

Controls and Procedures

 

 

 

 

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1

Legal Proceedings

 

 

 

 

ITEM 2

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

 

 

 

ITEM 3

Defaults upon Senior Securities

 

 

 

 

ITEM 4

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

 

 

 

ITEM 5

Other Information

 

 

 

 

ITEM 6

Exhibits

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

 

 

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

 

i



 

PART I                               FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1                                Financial Statements

 

GRANITE CITY FOOD & BREWERY LTD.

 

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

December 28,
2004

 

March 29,
2005

 

 

 

(audited)

 

(unaudited)

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

9,297,247

 

$

7,739,907

 

Inventory

 

190,897

 

190,897

 

Prepaids and other

 

335,435

 

223,450

 

Total current assets

 

9,823,579

 

8,154,254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

21,950,428

 

23,001,855

 

Intangible assets and other

 

394,950

 

394,178

 

Total assets

 

$

32,168,957

 

$

31,550,287

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

654,334

 

$

431,847

 

Accrued expenses

 

2,179,017

 

1,674,813

 

Deferred rent incentive, current portion

 

30,000

 

30,000

 

Long-term debt, current portion

 

226,283

 

229,991

 

Capital lease obligations, current portion

 

517,232

 

578,684

 

Total current liabilities

 

3,606,866

 

2,945,335

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred rent incentive, net of current portion

 

400,000

 

392,500

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

 

2,504,310

 

2,444,739

 

Capital lease obligations, net of current portion

 

11,775,436

 

12,230,282

 

Total liabilities

 

18,286,612

 

18,012,856

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 90,000,000 shares authorized; 11,601,067 and 11,620,067 shares issued and outstanding at December 28, 2004 and March 29, 2005, respectively

 

116,011

 

116,201

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

20,717,101

 

20,796,363

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(6,950,767

)

(7,375,133

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

13,882,345

 

13,537,431

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

32,168,957

 

$

31,550,287

 

 

See notes to condensed financial statements.

 

1



 

GRANITE CITY FOOD & BREWERY LTD.

 

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

March 28,
2004

 

March 29,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurant revenues

 

$

6,139,367

 

$

7,870,335

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales:

 

 

 

 

 

Food, beverage and retail

 

1,876,115

 

2,355,388

 

Labor

 

2,043,221

 

2,713,753

 

Direct and occupancy

 

1,111,358

 

1,482,815

 

Total cost of sales

 

5,030,694

 

6,551,956

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-opening

 

264,974

 

7,713

 

General and administrative

 

588,584

 

952,353

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

330,040

 

444,396

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating loss

 

(74,925

)

(86,083

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest:

 

 

 

 

 

Income

 

3,971

 

38,261

 

Expense

 

(232,173

)

(323,989

)

Other expense, net

 

 

(10,843

)

Net other expense

 

(228,202

)

(296,571

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

(303,127

)

(382,654

)

Less preferred stock dividends declared

 

(347,106

)

 

Net loss available to common shareholders

 

$

(650,233

)

$

(382,654

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per common share, basic and diluted

 

$

(0.16

)

$

(0.03

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted

 

4,132,933

 

11,614,276

 

 

See notes to condensed financial statements.

 

2



 

GRANITE CITY FOOD & BREWERY LTD.

 

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

March 28,
2004

 

March 29,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(303,127

)

$

(382,654

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

330,040

 

444,396

 

Stock option/warrant compensation

 

6,390

 

6,390

 

Loss on disposal of asset

 

 

10,843

 

Rent incentive

 

 

(7,500

)

Decrease (increase) in:

 

 

 

 

 

Inventory

 

(23,121

)

 

Prepaids and other

 

(40,105

)

111,985

 

Increase (decrease) in:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

(179,970

)

(212,564

)

Accrued expenses

 

(261,748

)

(463,136

)

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(471,641

)

(492,240

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of:

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment

 

(1,100,170

)

(861,704

)

Intangible assets and other

 

(18,366

)

(4,113

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(1,118,536

)

(865,817

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Payments on capital lease obligations

 

(106,339

)

(133,702

)

Payments on long term-debt

 

(38,907

)

(55,863

)

Payment of dividends

 

(36

)

(41,068

)

Proceeds from issuance of long term-debt

 

750,000

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of stock

 

49,982

 

31,350

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

654,700

 

(199,283

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash

 

(935,477

)

(1,557,340

)

Cash, beginning

 

1,439,960

 

9,297,247

 

Cash, ending

 

$

504,483

 

$

7,739,907

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Land and buildings acquired under capital lease agreements

 

$

1,850,000

 

$

650,000

 

Equipment purchased and included in accounts payable

 

$

4,871

 

$

9,923

 

 

See notes to condensed financial statements.

 

3



 

GRANITE CITY FOOD & BREWERY LTD.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2004 and March 29, 2005

 

1.              Nature of business and basis of presentation:

 

Nature of business:

Granite City Food & Brewery Ltd. (“the Company”) develops and operates casual dining restaurants featuring on-premise breweries known as Granite City Food & Brewery®, in selected markets throughout the United States.  The theme is casual dining with a wide variety of menu items that are prepared fresh daily, combined with freshly brewed hand-crafted beers made on-premise.  The Company produces its beer using a process called Fermentus Interruptus™, which is intended to maintain high beer quality while enhancing overall profitability by reducing unit-level brewing costs.  The first restaurant, located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, opened in July 1999.  Subsequently, the Company opened restaurants in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Fargo, North Dakota; West Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

The Company’s current expansion strategy focuses on development of restaurants in markets where management believes the Company’s concept will have broad appeal and attractive restaurant-level economics.

 

Interim financial statements:

The Company has prepared the condensed financial statements for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2004 and March 29, 2005 without audit by the Company’s independent auditors.  In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company at March 29, 2005 and the results of operations and cash flows for the thirteen week periods ended March 28, 2004 and March 29, 2005 have been made. Those adjustments consist only of normal and recurring adjustments.

 

The balance sheet at December 28, 2004 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and notes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.  Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted.  These condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 24, 2005.

 

The results of operations for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.

 

Earnings (loss) per share:

Basic earnings (loss) per common share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) less the sum of preferred stock dividends declared, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding in each year. Diluted earnings (loss) per common share assumes that outstanding common shares were increased by shares issuable upon exercise of stock options and warrants for which the market price exceeds the exercise price, less shares which could have been purchased by the Company with related proceeds.  Calculations of the Company’s net loss per common share for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2004 and March 29, 2005 are set forth in the following table:

 

4



 

 

 

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

March 28,
2004

 

March 29,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(303,127

)

$

(382,654

)

Less dividends declared

 

(347,106

)

 

Net loss available to common shareholders

 

$

(650,233

)

$

(382,654

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per common share, basic and diluted

 

$

(0.16

)

$

(0.03

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted

 

4,132,933

 

11,614,276

 

 

2.              Stock compensation:

 

The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation awards using the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.  No compensation cost has been recognized for options issued to employees when the exercise price of the options granted is at least equal to the fair value of the common stock on the date of grant.  Had compensation cost been determined consistent with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, as amended by SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure, the Company’s net loss and net loss per common share would have been changed to the following pro forma amounts:

 

 

 

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

March 28,
2004

 

March 29,
2005

 

Net loss:

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

(303,127

)

$

(382,654

)

Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

 

$

(153,692

)

$

(189,080

)

Pro forma

 

$

(456,819

)

$

(571,734

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss per common share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted as reported

 

$

(0.16

)

$

(0.03

)

Basic and diluted pro forma

 

$

(0.19

)

$

(0.05

)

 

The fair value of each option grant for the pro forma disclosure required by SFAS No. 123, as amended by SFAS No. 148, is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions for the grants:

 

 

 

2004

 

2005

 

Dividend yield

 

None

 

None

 

Expected volatility

 

72.9%

 

37.6%

 

Expected life of option

 

5-10 years

 

5-10 years

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

3.8%

 

3.6%-4.5%

 

 

5



 

3.              Change in capitalization:

 

Exercise of warrants and options:

On January 3, 2005, an employee of the Company exercised a stock option for the purchase of 1,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.65 per share.  These options were issued pursuant to the 1997 Stock Option Plan.

 

On January 27, 2005, a former employee of the Company exercised a stock option for the purchase of 18,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.65 per share.  These options were issued outside the Company’s plans.

 

Dividends:

On November 4, 2004, the last day shares of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were outstanding, the Company, pursuant to the terms of the preferred stock, authorized cash payment of dividends to holders of its preferred stock as of that date.  Such dividends aggregated $41,068 and were paid on December 31, 2004.

 

4.              Line of credit:

 

In September 2004, the Company entered into a revolving line of credit agreement with maximum availability of $750,000 with an independent financial institution.  The Company incurred no interest and borrowed no money against this line in the first quarter of 2005.  In April 2005, the Company terminated this line of credit agreement.

 

5.              Reclassification:

 

As of March 29, 2005, the Company has reclassified certain of its restaurant operating costs relating to complimentary and employee meals from operating expenses to a contra-revenue account. This reclassification has no effect on net loss or accumulated deficit.  The total amount reclassified is reflected as a reduction of operating expenses and a corresponding reduction of revenues in the same amount in each period affected. For the quarter ended March 28, 2004, the reclassification totaled $153,504.

 

ITEM 2                  Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation

 

This discussion and analysis contains various non-historical forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act.  Although we believe that, in making any such statement, our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any such statement may be influenced by factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected.  When used in the following discussion, the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by the cautions and risks described herein.  Please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 24, 2005, for additional factors known to us that may cause actual results to vary.

 

6



 

Overview

 

We operate eight casual dining restaurants featuring on-premises breweries under the name Granite City Food & Brewery®.  The location of each restaurant and the month and year of its opening appear in the following chart:

 

Location

 

Opened

 

 

 

St. Cloud, Minnesota

 

June 1999

 

 

 

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

 

December 2000

 

 

 

Fargo, North Dakota

 

November 2001

 

 

 

West Des Moines, Iowa

 

September 2003

 

 

 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

 

November 2003

 

 

 

Davenport, Iowa

 

January 2004

 

 

 

Lincoln, Nebraska

 

May 2004

 

 

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

June 2004

 

We developed the foregoing restaurants using proceeds from the sale of our securities, building and equipment leases, debt financing and cash flow from operations.

 

The last five units were built based upon the prototype we developed in early 2003.  These units were developed under our multi-site development agreement with a commercial developer that provides us with assistance in site selection, construction management and financing for new restaurants.  Under this agreement, we lease each new restaurant from our developer.

 

In September 2004, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with accredited investors for the sale of approximately $8.5 million of common stock and warrants to purchase common stock.  Using the proceeds from this private placement and equipment loans as needed, we intend to add four additional restaurants in 2005, six additional restaurants in 2006, and eight additional restaurants in 2007.  The restaurants we plan to open in 2005 include sites in Kansas, Minnesota and Missouri.  We anticipate that all of these restaurants will be designed based on our 2003 prototype.

 

In 2001, we developed a patent-pending brewing process called Fermentus Interruptus™.  We believe that Fermentus Interruptus improves the economics of our microbrewing process as it eliminates the initial stages of brewing and storage at multiple locations, thereby reducing equipment and development costs at new restaurant locations.  Having a common starting point for our initial brewing process creates consistency of taste for our product from unit to unit.  In December 2004 we entered into a lease agreement for a building which will facilitate the initial stage of our brewing process, the production of wort.  The non-alcoholic wort produced at this facility will be transported via truck to the fermentation vessels at each of our restaurants where the brewing process will be completed.  We believe this commissary brewing process will allow us to service approximately 30 restaurant locations from one wort production site.  We are evaluating strategies to capitalize on Fermentus Interruptus, including licensing of our brewing technology.

 

We believe that our operating results will fluctuate significantly because of several factors, including the timing of new restaurant openings and related expenses, profitability of new restaurants, changes in food and labor costs, increases or decreases in comparable restaurant sales, general economic conditions, consumer confidence in the economy, changes in consumer preferences, competitive factors and weather conditions.

 

7



 

We expect the timing of new restaurant openings to have a significant impact on restaurant revenues and costs.  We believe we will incur the most significant portion of pre-opening costs associated with a new restaurant within the two months immediately preceding, and the month of, the opening of such restaurant.

 

Our restaurant revenues are comprised almost entirely of the sales of food and beverages.  The sale of retail items, such as cigarettes and promotional items, typically represents approximately 0.3% to 1.4% of total revenue.  Product costs include the costs of food, beverages and retail items.  Labor costs include direct hourly and management wages, taxes and benefits for restaurant employees.  Direct and occupancy costs include restaurant supplies, marketing costs, rent, utilities, real estate taxes, repairs and maintenance and other related costs.  Pre-opening costs consist of direct costs related to hiring and training the initial restaurant workforce and certain other direct costs associated with opening new restaurants.  General and administrative expenses are comprised of expenses associated with all corporate and administrative functions that support existing operations, management and staff salaries, employee benefits, travel, information systems and training and market research.  Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation on capital expenditures.  Other income and expense represents the cost of interest on debt and capital leases, interest income on invested assets and loss on disposal of assets.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table compares operating results expressed as a percentage of total revenue for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2004 and March 29, 2005.

 

 

 

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

March 28,
2004

 

March 29,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurant revenues

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales:

 

 

 

 

 

Food, beverage and retail

 

30.6

 

29.9

 

Labor

 

33.3

 

34.5

 

Direct and occupancy

 

18.1

 

18.8

 

Total cost of sales

 

81.9

 

83.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-opening

 

4.3

 

0.1

 

General and administrative

 

9.6

 

12.1

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

5.4

 

5.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating loss

 

(1.2

)

(1.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest:

 

 

 

 

 

Income

 

0.1

 

0.5

 

Expense

 

(3.8

)

(4.1

)

Other expense, net

 

 

(0.1

)

Net other expense

 

(3.7

)

(3.8

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

(4.9

)%

(4.9

)%

 

Certain percentage amounts do not sum due to rounding.

 

8



 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

This discussion and analysis is based upon our financial statements, which were prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.  These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.  We believe our estimates and assumptions are reasonable; however, actual results and the timing of the recognition of such amounts could differ from those estimates.  We have identified the following critical accounting policies and estimates utilized by management in the preparation of our financial statements:

 

Property and equipment

 

The cost of property and equipment is depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the related assets ranging from three to 20 years.  The cost of leasehold improvements is depreciated over the initial term of the related lease.  Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes and accelerated methods for income tax purposes.  Amortization of assets acquired under capital lease is included in depreciation expense.  We review property and equipment, including leasehold improvements, for impairment when events or circumstances indicate these assets might be impaired pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 144.  We base this assessment upon the carrying value versus the fair market value of the asset and whether that difference is recoverable.  Such assessment is performed on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis and includes other relevant facts and circumstances, including the physical condition of the asset.

 

Our accounting policies regarding property and equipment include certain management judgments regarding the estimated useful lives of such assets and the determination as to what constitutes enhancing the value of or increasing the life of existing assets.  These judgments and estimates may produce materially different amounts of depreciation and amortization expense than would be reported if different assumptions were used.

 

We continually reassess our assumptions and judgments and make adjustments when significant facts and circumstances dictate.  Historically, actual results have not been materially different than the estimates we have made.

 

Results of Operations for the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 28, 2004 and March 29, 2005

 

Revenue

 

We generated $6,139,167 and $7,870,335 of revenues during the first quarter of 2004 and 2005, respectively.  The thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2005 included 104 restaurant weeks, which is the sum of the actual number of weeks each restaurant operated.  The thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2004 included only 74 restaurant weeks.  The increase in sales of 28.2% for these periods was primarily the result of 30 additional restaurant weeks in the first quarter of 2005.

 

Due to increased demand fostered by the publicity surrounding the opening of a new restaurant, that restaurant typically experiences a temporary period of high revenues immediately following its opening (the “honeymoon effect”).  During the first quarter of 2004, we had three restaurants experiencing the honeymoon effect while no restaurants were in this honeymoon period in the first quarter of 2005.  As such, average weekly sales decreased from $82,964 to $75,676 per week.  Comparable restaurant sales, which include restaurants in operation over 18 months, decreased 5.7%.  As of March 29, 2005, three restaurants were included in comparable restaurant sales.

 

9



 

We anticipate that restaurant revenues will vary from quarter to quarter.  We anticipate seasonal fluctuations in restaurant revenues due in part to increased outdoor seating and generally favorable weather conditions at our locations during the summer months.  Due to the honeymoon effect, we expect the timing of new restaurant openings to cause fluctuations in restaurant revenues.  Additionally, consumer confidence in the economy and changes in consumer preferences may affect our future revenues.

 

Restaurant Costs

 

Food and Beverage

 

Our food and beverage costs decreased by 0.7% as a percentage of revenues during the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004.  The decrease we experienced was due primarily to more staff members becoming familiar with our operations since our most recent restaurant opening in June 2004.

 

We expect that our food and beverage costs will vary going forward due to numerous variables, including seasonal changes in food costs and guest preferences.  We periodically create new menu offerings and introduce new craftbrewed beers based upon guest preferences.  Although such menu modifications may temporarily result in increased food and beverage cost, we believe we are able to offset such increases with our weekly specials which provide variety to our guests at a great price value.  Our varieties of craftbrewed beer, which we can produce at lower cost than beers we purchase for resale, also enable us to keep our food and beverage costs low while fulfilling guest requests and building customer loyalty.  As we have opened additional units, we have experienced increased purchasing power and believe we will continue to do so with additional expansion, thereby mitigating product price increases and maintaining or reducing our food and beverage costs as a percentage of revenues.  Additionally, as we add new units, we believe our brewing process, Fermentus Interruptus, will allow us to keep our high quality product intact while reducing the production cost, thereby enhancing overall profitability.

 

Labor

 

Our labor costs increased 1.2% as a percentage of revenues during the first quarter of 2005 from that experienced in the first quarter of 2004.  This increase in labor costs was due to the increases we have experienced in health and workers compensation insurance expenses.

 

We expect that labor costs will vary as we add new restaurants.  Minimum wage laws, local labor laws and practices, as well as unemployment rates vary from state to state and will affect our labor costs, as will hiring and training expense at our new units.  Our management believes that retaining good employees and more experienced staff ensures high quality guest service and reduces hiring and training costs.

 

Direct and Occupancy

 

Our direct and occupancy expenses increased 0.7% as a percentage of revenues during the first quarter of 2005 from that experienced in the first quarter of 2004.  Operating supplies, rent and occupancy costs, repairs and maintenance, advertising and restaurant-level administrative expense represent the majority of our direct and occupancy expenses, a substantial portion of which is fixed or indirectly variable.  This increase in direct and occupancy expense was due primarily to the increase in utilities expense, particularly natural gas.

 

Pre-Opening Costs

 

Pre-opening costs during the first quarter of 2004 related to our Davenport restaurant which opened in January 2004, while the pre-opening costs in the first quarter of 2005 related to our Wichita restaurant which we anticipate opening in July 2005.  Based upon the costs of labor, travel, lodging and training incurred prior to opening, we expect pre-opening expenses to average between $275,000 and $300,000 per unit.  Such costs are primarily incurred in the month of, and two months prior to, the restaurant opening.

 

10



 

General and Administrative

 

General and administrative expenses include salaries and benefits associated with our corporate staff that is responsible for overall restaurant quality, future expansion into new locations and financial controls and reporting.  Other general and administrative expenses include advertising, professional fees, office administration, centralized accounting system costs, and travel by our corporate management to the restaurant locations.  General and administrative expenses increased $363,769, or 2.5% as a percent of revenue, during the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004.  In order to retain and recruit core management and further build our infrastructure to facilitate growth, we incurred increased expenses primarily related to payroll, employee benefits, recruiting and relocation.  Additionally, our professional fees, including investor relations, legal and accounting increased in the first quarter of 2005 over the first quarter of 2004.

 

We expect that general and administrative costs will continue to fluctuate as a percentage of restaurant revenues in the near term as we build our infrastructure to adequately sustain operations through our aggressive expansion schedule.  The anticipated additional restaurant revenues associated with further expansion are expected to result in greater economies of scale for our corporate expenses in the long term.

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $114,356 in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 due to depreciation related to the restaurants opened after the first quarter of 2004.  As a percentage of revenues, depreciation expense increased 0.2% from the first quarter of 2004 to the first quarter of 2005.

 

Other Income and Expense

 

Interest expense increased $91,816 in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 due to an increase in debt and capital leases as a result of additional units.  Interest income increased $34,290 over the same period due to interest earned on cash obtained from the sale of our securities in September 2004.  Management expects interest expense will increase and interest income will decrease as we pursue our three year expansion schedule.  As we remodeled our three older restaurants to mirror the prototype units, we recorded a $10,843 loss on assets which had not been fully depreciated.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We have funded our capital requirements since inception through sales of securities, building and equipment leases, debt financing and cash flow from operations.  As of March 29, 2005, we had net working capital of $5,208,919 compared to net working capital of $6,216,713 at December 28, 2004.

 

During the quarter ended March 29, 2005, we used $492,240 of net cash in operating activities, $865,817 in net cash to purchase equipment and other assets primarily for our wort production facility and our Wichita restaurant, and made payments aggregating $189,565 on our debt and capital lease obligations.  Additionally, during the first quarter of 2005, we paid cash dividends to shareholders of our preferred stock aggregating $41,068 and received net cash of $31,350 from the issuance of our common stock upon the exercise of options.

 

During first quarter of 2004, the issuance of our common stock upon the exercise of warrants provided us $49,982 of net cash and proceeds from long-term debt provided us $750,000 of cash.  We used $471,641 of cash in operating activities, $1,118,536 to purchase equipment and other assets primarily for our Davenport, Lincoln and Minneapolis restaurants, and made payments on our debt and capital lease obligations aggregating $145,246.

 

11



 

Using the proceeds from our 2004 private placement, we continue to expand into markets where we believe our concept will have broad appeal and attractive restaurant-level economics.  We plan to develop four additional restaurants in 2005, six additional restaurants in 2006 and eight additional restaurants in 2007.  We are utilizing the multi-site development agreement we entered into in October 2002 with Dunham Capital Management L.L.C. (“Dunham”) to facilitate this expansion plan.  Dunham is controlled by Donald A. Dunham, Jr., who is an affiliate of Granite Partners, L.L.C., a beneficial owner of a significant percentage of our securities.  Under this agreement, our developer provides us assistance in site selection, construction management and restaurant financing for new restaurants.

 

As part of our expansion strategy, we will continue using the prototype model we developed and used for our five most recently constructed restaurants.  We anticipate that each of these prototypical restaurants will require an investment by our developer of approximately $3.5 million to $4.0 million each for land, building and equipment.  We anticipate these costs will vary from one market to another based on real estate values, zoning regulations, labor markets and other variables. Under our development agreement, we will lease each new restaurant from our developer.  We anticipate that pre-opening expenses and the initial purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment will require an investment by us of approximately $1.0 million to $1.6 million per unit.

 

In February 2005, we commenced leasing a building in Ellsworth, Iowa which is being constructed in accordance with our specifications from an unrelated third party. This building will be used to facilitate the initial stage of our Fermentus Interruptus brewing process, the production of wort.  We have the option to purchase the facility at any time during the lease term for one dollar plus the unamortized construction costs.  Because the construction costs will be fully amortized through payment of rent during the base term, if the option is exercised at or after the end of the initial ten-year period, the option price will be one dollar.  As such, the lease is classified as a capital lease.

 

With cash generated from operations, proceeds from our 2004 private placement and equipment financing, management believes that we will have sufficient funds to pursue our business strategy over the next three years.  If we do not generate the cash needed from operations and/or are not able to obtain suitable equipment financing, which we anticipate requiring for one out of every two restaurants we open, we may have reduce or delay our planned expansion.

 

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

 

Operating and Capital Leases:

 

As of March 29, 2005, we had seven land and building lease agreements.  One of these leases expires in 2019, one in 2020, two in 2023, and the remaining three expire in 2024, all with renewable options for additional periods.  The building portions of these leases are classified as capital leases because their present value was greater than 90% of the estimated fair value at the beginning of the lease.  The land portions of these leases are classified as operating leases because the fair value of the land was more than 25% of the leased property at the inception of each lease.  Under three of the leases, we are required to pay additional percentage rent based upon restaurant sales.  As of March 29, 2005, future obligations relating to the land portion of these seven leases aggregated $15,177,292 plus percentage rent.  The scheduled rent increases for the land during the life of each lease are recognized on a straight-line basis.  Future obligations relating to the building portion of these seven leases aggregated $23,164,526 as of March 29, 2005.

 

In 2001, we entered into a 20-year operating lease for land upon which we built our Fargo restaurant.  As of March 29, 2005, future obligations under the terms of this lease aggregated $1,197,800 plus percentage rent.

 

12



 

In December 2004, we entered into a land and building lease agreement to be used as a wort production facility.  This ten-year lease commenced February 1, 2005 and is classified as a capital lease as it contains a bargain purchase option.  As of March 29, 2005, future obligations under the terms of this lease aggregated $849,604.

 

As of March 29, 2005, we have additional capital lease obligations outstanding aggregating $646,471 for equipment leases expiring in 2008, and an operating lease obligation outstanding of $26,800 for a lease expiring in 2005 for office space.

 

Personal Guaranties:

 

Certain of our directors have personally guaranteed certain of our leases and loan agreements.  In connection with the $1.5 million loan we obtained in July 2001 to finance our Fargo restaurant, we entered into an agreement concerning guaranty which provides, among other things, that such guarantors will be indemnified from any liabilities they may incur by reason of their guaranties of our indebtedness. The agreement contains various covenants, one of which requires us to use our best efforts to obtain a release of one individual’s guarantee obligation by January 1, 2006.  If we have not accomplished this, we are obligated to pay him a monthly guarantee fee in the amount of $1,000 until such release is obtained.  Additionally, at a meeting held in March 2004, our board of directors agreed to compensate our President and Chief Executive Officer for his personal guaranties of equipment loans entered into in August 2003 and January 2004.  The amount of annual compensation is 3% of the balance of such loans.  This amount is calculated and accrued based on the weighted average daily balances of such loans at the end of each monthly accounting period.  As of March 29, 2005, $24,571 of loan guarantee fees were included as a liability on our balance sheet, $9,677 of which was accrued during the first quarter of 2005.

 

Employment Agreement:

 

We have entered into an employment agreement with our President and Chief Executive Officer.  In lieu of a salary, we issued stock options to him in 1999, 2001 and 2003 as compensation for his services through March 30, 2003.  Effective April 1, 2003, we began paying an annual salary to such officer.  Among other provisions, the employment agreement includes change in control provisions that would entitle him to receive severance pay equal to 18 months of salary if there is a change in control of our company and his employment terminates.  On March 15, 2005, the Compensation Committee of our board of directors authorized a new three-year employment and compensation arrangement with him.  The arrangement provides for a minimum base salary of $225,000, commencing January 1, 2005, cash incentive compensation for 2005 ranging from $0 to $125,550 based on performance, and a stock option for the purchase of 150,000 shares of common stock.

 

Development Agreement:

 

We have entered into a development agreement with Dunham for the development of our restaurants.  The agreement gives Dunham the right to develop, construct and lease up to 22 restaurants for us prior to December 31, 2012.  We are not bound to authorize the construction of restaurants during that time period, but generally cannot use another developer to develop or own a restaurant as long as the development agreement is in effect.  We can use another developer if Dunham declines to build a particular restaurant, if the agreement is terminated because of a default by Dunham, or if our company is sold or merged into another company.  In the case of a merger or sale of our company, the development agreement may be terminated at such time as Dunham has completed seven restaurants under the agreement.  As of March 29, 2005, five restaurants had been constructed for us under this development agreement.

 

13



 

The development agreement provides for a cooperative process between Dunham and our company for the selection of restaurant sites and the development of restaurants on those sites, scheduling for the development and construction of each restaurant once a location is approved, and controls on the costs of development and construction using bidding and guaranteed maximum cost concepts.  The development agreement provides that restaurants will be leased to us on the basis of a triple net lease.  The rental rate of each lease will be calculated using a variable formula which is based on approved and specified costs of development and construction and an indexed interest rate.  The term of each lease is 20 years with five five-year options to renew.

 

Summary of Contractual Obligations:

 

The following table summarizes our obligations under contractual agreements as of March 29, 2005 and the time frame within which payments on such obligations are due.  This table does not include amounts related to percentage rent as such amounts have not yet been determined.  In addition, whether or not we would incur any additional expense on our employment agreement with Mr. Wagenheim depends upon the existence of a change in control of the company.  Therefore, no percentage rent nor severance expense has been included in the following table.

 

 

 

Payments due by period

 

Contractual Obligations

 

Total

 

Less than 1
year

 

1-3 years

 

3-5 years

 

More than 5
years

 

Long-term debt, principal

 

$

2,674,730

 

$

170,420

 

$

1,788,123

 

$

469,763

 

$

246,424

 

Interest on long-term debt

 

460,776

 

149,085

 

242,356

 

61,245

 

8,090

 

Capital lease obligations, including interest

 

24,660,602

 

1,235,493

 

3,083,365

 

2,796,336

 

17,545,407

 

Operating lease obligations, including interest

 

16,401,892

 

726,373

 

1,876,663

 

1,891,922

 

11,906,934

 

Loan guarantee

 

148,233

 

61,153

 

55,170

 

28,581

 

3,330

 

Total obligations

 

44,346,233

 

2,342,524

 

7,045,677

 

5,247,847

 

29,710,185

 

 

Based on our working capital position at March 29, 2005, we believe we have sufficient working capital to meet our current obligations.

 

Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Our company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on debt and changes in commodity prices.

 

Changes in Interest Rate:

 

In February 2007, we will have a balloon payment due of approximately $1,325,000 on the loan we obtained from an independent financial institution in July 2001.  Currently, this loan bears a fixed interest rate of 8.75%. If it becomes necessary to refinance such balloon balance, we may not be able to secure financing at the same interest rate.  The effect of a higher interest rate would depend upon the negotiated financing terms.

 

14



 

Changes in Commodity Prices:

 

Many of the food products we purchase are affected by commodity pricing and are, therefore, subject to unpredictable price volatility.   These commodities are generally purchased based upon market prices established with vendors.  Extreme fluctuations in commodity prices and/or long-term changes could have an adverse affect on us.  Although SYSCO Corporation is our primary supplier of food, substantially all of the food and supplies we purchase are available from several sources, which helps to control commodity price risks.  Additionally, we have the ability to increase menu prices, or vary the menu items offered, in response to a food product price increases.  If, however, competitive circumstances limit our menu price flexibility, margins could be negatively impacted.

 

Our company does not enter into derivative contracts either to hedge existing risks or for speculative purposes.

 

Seasonality

 

We expect that our sales and earnings will fluctuate based on seasonal patterns.  We anticipate that our highest sales and earnings will occur in the second and third quarters due to the milder climate and availability of outdoor seating during those quarters in our existing and proposed markets.

 

Inflation

 

The primary inflationary factors affecting our operations are food, supplies and labor costs.  A large number of our restaurant personnel are paid at rates based on the applicable minimum wage, and increases in the minimum wage directly affect our labor costs.  In the past, we have been able to minimize the effect of these increases through menu price increases and other strategies.  To date, inflation has not had a material impact on our operating results.

 

ITEM 3                              Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures that is designed to provide reasonable assurance that information, which is required to be disclosed, is accumulated and communicated to management timely.  At the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15.  Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to our company required to be disclosed in our periodic filings with the SEC.

 

During our most recent fiscal quarter, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II                           OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1

 

Legal Proceedings

 

 

 

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

ITEM 2

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

Not applicable.

 

 

 

ITEM 3

 

Defaults upon Senior Securities

 

 

 

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

ITEM 4

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

 

 

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

ITEM 5

 

Other Information

 

 

 

 

 

On May 4, 2005, we announced that our board of directors had extended the expiration date of our Class A Warrants through 5:00 p.m., Minneapolis time, on December 15, 2005. As a consequence, our publicly traded units, each consisting of one share of common stock and one Class A Warrant, will also remain in existence through this new expiration date.

 

 

 

ITEM 6

 

Exhibits

 

 

 

 

 

See “Index to Exhibits.”

 

16



 

SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

GRANITE CITY FOOD & BREWERY LTD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 9, 2005

 

By:

/s/ Monica A. Underwood

 

 

 

 

Monica A. Underwood

 

 

 

Interim Chief Financial Officer and

 

 

 

Corporate Controller

 

17



 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Amendment No. 2 to Warrant Agreement (including Specimen Class A Warrant certificate).

 

 

 

10.2

 

Form of Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement under the Company’s 1997 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 21, 2005 (File No. 000-29643)).

 

 

 

10.3

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Company’s 1997 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 21, 2005 (File No. 000-29643)).

 

 

 

10.4

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Company’s 1997 Director Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 21, 2005 (File No. 000-29643)).

 

 

 

10.5

 

Form of Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement under the Company’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 21, 2005 (File No. 000-29643)).

 

 

 

10.6

 

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the Company’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 21, 2005 (File No. 000-29643)).

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification by Steven J. Wagenheim, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification by Monica A. Underwood, Interim Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Controller of the Company, pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification by Steven J. Wagenheim, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification by Monica A. Underwood, Interim Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Controller of the Company, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

18