UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of April 2022

Commission File Number: 001-40892

 

 

The Very Good Food Company Inc.

(Translation of the registrant’s name into English)

 

 

2748 Rupert Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

Canada V5M 3T7

(Address of principal executive office)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F  ☒                Form 40-F  ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):  ☐

 

 

 


EXHIBIT INDEX

The following documents, which are attached as exhibits hereto, are incorporated by reference herein:

 

Exhibit

  

Title

99.1    Annual information form for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021
99.2    Earnings press release
99.3    Management’s discussion and analysis of financial results for fiscal year ended December 31, 2021
99.4    Consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021
99.5    Certification of annual filings - CEO
99.6    Certification of annual filings - CFO


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

    THE VERY GOOD FOOD COMPANY INC.
Date: April 1, 2022     By:  

/s/ Mitchell Scott

      Name: Mitchell Scott
      Title: Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM

THE VERY GOOD FOOD COMPANY INC.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021

March 31, 2022


GENERAL

Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the “Company”, “VERY GOOD’’, “us”, “we” or “our’’ refer to The Very Good Food Company Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, all information provided in this annual information form (“AIF”) is given as at December 31, 2021. All references to ‘‘$’’ or “dollars” are to Canadian dollars. All references to “US$” are to United States dollars. Amounts are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. Certain totals, subtotals and percentages throughout this AIF may not reconcile due to rounding.

This AIF contains certain trademarks held by the Company, such as The Very Good Food Co., The Very Good Butchers, and We Butcher Beans, which are protected under applicable intellectual property laws and are our property. Solely for convenience, our trademarks and trade names referred to in this AIF may appear without the symbol, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights to these trademarks and trade names.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This AIF contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively referred to as “forward-looking information”). Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances. Any such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as “proposed”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”, “will”, and similar expressions.

This forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements relating to: the Company’s business strategy and growth plans; the Company’s plans to lower throughput and headcount at some locations, manage inventory levels and implement initiatives, such as temporarily pausing non-critical capital expenditures and lowering selling, general and administrative spending, to manage both short and long-term liquidity, manage the Company’s cash runway and establish a path towards profitability; future capital expenditures on the Rupert, Patterson and Fairview Facilities (as defined herein); the Company’s review of its on-line strategy and marketing expenditures relating to its eCommerce store; the Company’s intended transition from a focus on top line growth to balancing top line growth and profitability; future workforce reductions; the Company’s strategic review of its go-to market channels and the potential outcome of such review; the Company’s focus on the wholesale and food service channels; management’s belief that the initiatives being implemented will allow the Company to manage both its short-term and long-term liquidity and increase its cash runway; management’s efforts to evaluate ways to support the business with as little dilution as possible; the scale and timing of the anticipated production capacity increases at its production facilities; VERY GOOD’s ability to open a second flagship store; the continued strong and increasing demand for VERY GOOD’s products; the appeal and attributes of the Company’s products including taste and nutritional content and their ability to compete; trends and growth expectations in the plant-based industry; planned product innovation and the benefits VERY GOOD expects to derive from any new product launches; wholesale expansion and

 


specifically, VERY GOOD’s U.S. retail expansion and the number of stores VERY GOOD’s products are expected to be in; VERY GOOD’s acquisition strategy; and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on VERY GOOD’s business.

Forward-looking information is based on the Company’s opinions, estimates and assumptions in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Despite a careful process to prepare and review the forward-looking information, there can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct.

Certain assumptions with respect to, the Company’s ability to successfully implement the cost improvement initiatives and measures and achieve their intended benefits, the availability of sufficient financing on reasonable terms to fund VERY GOOD’s capital and operating requirements; the Company’s ability to remain listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”); the impact of COVID-19; continued growth of the popularity of plant-based foods and, in particular, vegan meat alternatives; the continued strong demand for VERY GOOD’s products; no material deterioration in general business and economic conditions; no material fluctuations of interest rates and foreign exchange rates; the successful placement of VERY GOOD’s products in retail stores; the availability of sufficient financing on reasonable terms to fund VERY GOOD’s capital and operating requirements, VERY GOOD’s ability to successfully enter new markets and manage its international expansion, receipt of trademarks we have applied for in Canada, the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, VERY GOOD’s ability to increase production capacity and obtain the necessary production equipment and human resources as needed, VERY GOOD’s relationship with its suppliers, distributors and third-party logistics providers, results of our consultation with stakeholders across the Company to develop ESG (as defined herein) goals, and the Company’s ability to position VERY GOOD competitively, are all material assumptions made in preparing forward-looking information and management’s expectations.

Forward-looking information is based on a number of opinions, estimates and assumptions that we considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such statements are made and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, but not limited to the following risk factors described in greater detail under the heading entitled “Risk Factors” in this AIF:

 

   

We have experienced greater than expected cash burn in the last several months of 2021 and may not be able to secure additional financing to fund operations or expand our business.

 

   

We have incurred losses in the past and may be unable to achieve or sustain profitability in the future despite moderating our operating costs.

 

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The COVID-19 pandemic has had and may continue to have a material adverse effect on our business and future growth opportunities.

 

   

We experience intense competition from other plant-based food producers and this competition could adversely affect our business and revenue.

 

   

Our business requires sourcing seasonal, raw ingredients, a disruption in the supply or a material price fluctuation of these ingredients could adversely affect our business.

 

   

Our business relies on building brand awareness through social media marketing which can be adversely affected by regulation, privacy policy updates and/or negative reviews from influencers.

 

   

An inability to scale production and manage supply chain and inventory levels could affect our ability to become profitable.

 

   

We may face delays and even failure in attempting to establish and ramp up our production facilities.

 

   

Our access to capital may be limited if we fail to comply with the covenants under the Loan Agreement (as defined herein).

 

   

Our inability to attract and retain key managers may adversely impact our ability to carry out our business operations and strategies as planned.

 

   

Our ability to generate revenue depends in large part on our ability to attract new customers, innovate and expand production, if we fail in any of these initiatives, we may not be able to increase revenue.

 

   

We are subject to risks associated with third party logistics providers (3PL) and any increase in price, disruption in service or future unfavourable terms may adversely affect our results of operations.

 

   

We are subject to risks related to real or perceived quality or health issues with our products, any failure to uphold a high-quality standard would likely harm our brand and our business.

 

   

We could be subject to product recalls which would likely result in significant losses in both inventory, revenue and reputational image.

 

   

We may enter into co-manufacturing relationships which subject our business to additional regulatory related risks.

 

   

Our business and brand are sensitive to risks relating to food safety and consumer health, including product liability, an adverse event could have an unfavourable effect on our business.

 

   

Our business relies on the protection of trademarks and other intellectual property rights, protecting and enforcing these rights may create a large financial burden.

 

   

Losing a significant distributor arrangement could negatively impact our business.

 

   

We may face unexpected challenges and ultimately be unsuccessful in U.S. and international expansion.

 

   

Any failure to adhere to laws and regulations regarding product labelling and marketing may adversely impact our business.

 

   

We may be subject to additional taxes, which could affect our operating results.

 

   

Failure to innovate will affect our ability to expand and become profitable.

 

   

Our ability to generate revenue depends on our ability to attract new customers and retain existing customers, if we fail to do either we may not be able to meet our growth strategy.

 

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As our business consolidates customers and becomes increasingly reliant on large distributors, we become subject to the risk of losing a significant customer which could adversely affect our result of operations.

 

   

Our product pricing strategy may become inefficient, which could result in a negative impact on our revenue.

 

   

The regulatory framework in which we operate is constantly evolving.

 

   

We may engage in litigation and there may be claims made against us from time to time that can result in litigation that could distract management from our business activities and result in significant liability or damage to us.

 

   

We may be unable to execute successfully on our acquisitions, investments, and other business initiatives.

 

   

We are subject to risks associated with leasing space and equipment and are subject to a number of long-term non-cancelable leases with substantial lease payments. Any failure to make these lease payments when due, or the inability to extend, renew or continue to lease space and equipment in key locations, would likely harm our business, profitability, and results of operations.

 

   

A change in consumer trends away from plant-based products could limit demand for our products.

 

   

If we issue additional Common Shares (as defined herein) this may have a dilutive effect on shareholders.

 

   

Our business is labor intensive and could be adversely affected if we are unable to maintain satisfactory relations with our employees or the occurrence of union attempts to organize our employees.

 

   

An inability to maintain high social responsibility standards could lead to reputational damage and adversely affect our business.

 

   

An inability to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting could increase the risk of an error in our financial statements and/or call into question the reliability of our financial statements.

 

   

Changes in accounting standards and subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by management related to complex accounting matters could significantly affect our reported financial results or financial condition.

 

   

We are currently not in compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid price requirement. Failure to regain compliance will result in delisting from Nasdaq, limit our ability to raise capital and may have a negative impact on the price and liquidity of our Common Shares.

 

   

We incur significantly increased costs and devote substantial management time as a result of operating as a U.S. public company.

 

   

A decline in the price of the Common Shares could affect our ability to raise further working capital and adversely impact our ability to continue operation.

 

   

Future sales of our securities by existing shareholders or by us could cause the market price for the Common Shares to decline.

 

   

We do not expect to pay any cash dividends for the foreseeable future.

The forward-looking information contained in this AIF represents the Company’s expectations as of March 31, 2022 and is subject to change after such date. VERY GOOD disclaims any intent or

 

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obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws.

CORPORATE STRUCTURE

Incorporation and Head Office

The Company was incorporated on December 27, 2016, under the laws of the province of British Columbia, Canada under its original name “The Very Good Butchers Inc.” The Company changed its legal name to “The Very Good Food Company Inc.” on October 1, 2019. The Company’s head office is located at 2748 Rupert Street, Vancouver, BC, V5M 3T7 and its registered and records office is located at 800 – 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3H1. Our telephone number is (855) 526-9254.

Intercorporate Relationships

The following chart identifies the Company’s subsidiaries, their applicable governing corporate jurisdictions and the percentage of their voting securities which are owned, or controlled or directed, directly or indirectly, by VERY GOOD.

The Very Good Food Company Inc.

(British Columbia)

 

LOGO

BUSINESS AND STRATEGY

 

LOGO

 

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Our Business Model

As at December 31, 2021, the Company’s product portfolio consisted of 24 products: 19 products developed under The Very Good Butchers brand and five products developed under The Very Good Cheese Co. brand. As at December 31, 2021, our products were produced in four leased facilities located in Victoria, BC, Canada (the “Victoria Facility”), Vancouver, BC, Canada (the “Rupert Facility”) and Esquimalt, BC, Canada (the “Fairview Facility”), and Patterson, California, United States (the “Patterson Facility”).

In May 2021, VERY GOOD introduced our new brand, The Very Good Cheese Co., and our lineup of five new plant-based cheese products. These new SKUs consist of: “Bold Cheddah”, a white cheddar style vegan cheese; “Cheedah”, a medium cheddar style vegan cheese; “Dill’ish”, a garlic and dill-havarti style vegan cheese; “Goud AF*”, a smoky gouda style vegan cheese; and “Pepper Jack”, a monterey jack style vegan cheese. These newly announced plant-based cheeses follow the Company’s completed acquisition of The Cultured Nut.

VERY GOOD introduced its new gluten-free and soy-free Butcher’s Select product line initially consisting of five SKUs in July 2021. The Butcher’s Select product range comprises a premium line of sausages, burgers and meatballs that is gluten-free, soy-free and Non-GMO verified. The Butcher’s Select product line will diversify VERY’s portfolio of plant-based meats and position The Very Good Butchers brand in the alternative meat substitute category where products are created to directly simulate their animal-based counterparts and which has been largely dominated by Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. In October 2021, VERY GOOD announced two additions to the Butcher’s Select product: Butcher’s Select Spicy Meatballs and The Very Good Steak.

We distribute and sell our products in all 10 provinces and three territories in Canada and 50 states in the United States through three main revenue channels: (1) eCommerce, (2) Wholesale (including Food Service) and (3) our butcher shop and restaurant located in Victoria, BC (the “Victoria Flagship Store”) (collectively, the “Distribution Network”).

 

(1)

eCommerce – Our eCommerce Store, accessible through the Company’s website, sells VERY GOOD’s products both individually and in boxed sets. In addition, we offer a monthly subscription service which allows customers to receive monthly boxed sets at a discount over a selected period of time. As at the end of fiscal 2021, the Company had over 1,937 active subscribers across Canada and the United States compared to 800 active subscribers at the end of fiscal 2020. We are currently reviewing our on-line strategy and marketing expenditures related to the e-commerce business to optimize return on investment (“ROI”). See “Our Strategic Progress” section for further details.

 

(2)

Wholesale – VERY GOOD has experienced strong demand for its products in the wholesale channel and continues to market its products to a number of large retailers in both Canada and the United States. During fiscal 2021, Canadian wholesale accounts included, but were not limited to, national grocery store chains such as Whole Foods Markets, Thrifty Foods (Sobeys), Save-On-Foods, Fresh St. Market, Choices Markets, IGA, and Farmboy; as well as smaller independent grocers. The Company launched into U.S. retail in August 2021 with retailers including, but not limited to, Wegman’s, Harmon’s, PCC, Earth Fare, Erewhon and Metro Markets. The Company had approximately 4,847 retail distribution points (being the number of retails stores multiplied by the number of products SKUs) and 1,395 stores in Canada and United States as at December 31, 2021. As at March 31, 2022, the Company had approximately 5,539 retail distribution points in 1,651 stores across North America. See “Our Strategic Progress” section for further details.

 

(3)

Victoria Flagship Store – The Victoria Flagship Store is the brick and mortar of our Distribution Network. Designed as a flagship store to showcase our products, serve as a test kitchen and be utilized as a key marketing and branding tool, the Victoria Flagship Store also retails a small offering of plant-based foods made by local artisan companies. The development of our second flagship store, based in Vancouver, BC (the “Mount Pleasant Flagship Store”), is currently under review. See “Our Strategic Progress” section for further details.

 

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Our Strategy

Our strategy is grounded in our mission and purpose, our pride in establishing and maintaining strong relationships with our customers through differentiated products, and our commitment to long-term profitable growth. We believe that our key strategic choices position us to create competitive advantages by offering the right mix of products, creating strong customer awareness and engagement, implementing reliable production at scale, while optimizing our geographic reach and fulfilment:

 

Scale production and distribution

  

Strengthen brand awareness

and consumer engagement

  

Launch new products

and gain market share

  

Growth

•  Build operational scalability and expand production competencies to meet consumer demand

 

•  Increase distribution capabilities to drive greater market share capture across Canada and the United States

 

•  Expand into United States retail increasing the number of retail distribution points

  

•  Deepen brand awareness by encouraging people to consciously make lifestyle choices that affect and contribute to their wellbeing and that of the planet

 

•  Own consumer relationships by providing the right mix of products at the right price, in the right channels, supported by a brand purpose that consumers can embrace

  

•  Capitalize on strong R&D capabilities and specialized knowledge of plant-based protein ingredients to expand our range of innovative and delicious product portfolio with a wholesome nutritional profile

 

•  Invest in technology to support growth and continued development of new innovative products

  

•  Continue to expand in the Canadian and United States markets

OUR STRATEGIC PROGRESS

Production Capacity

Increased production capacity enables us to expand our points of distribution within our wholesale network and take advantage of potential food service opportunities. Our ability to reliably produce enough product to consistently fulfill orders is an important factor in securing listings with large grocery store chains.

As at December 31, 2021, VERY GOOD had four leased production facilities. We entered into two new food production facility leases during fiscal year 2020 for the Rupert Facility and the Patterson Facility. Through the acquisition of The Cultured Nut Inc. (the “Cultured Nut”) in February 2021, VERY GOOD took over the lease of the Fairview Facility.

 

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Rupert Facility   

•  Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

 

•  Size: 45,000 square feet

 

•  Current annual production capacity: 1.2 million kgs

 

•  Potential annual production capacity : 16.8 million kgs(1)

 

•  Potential number of production lines: 2

 

•  Capital expenditures (including tenant improvements) spent to date, including expected 2022 amounts: $20-25 million

•  Start date of food production: May 2021

 

Patterson Facility   

•  Location: Patterson, California, United States

 

•  Size: 25,000 square feet (with first right of refusal on an additional 25,000 square feet)

 

•  Current annual production capacity : 199,000 kgs

 

•  Potential annual production capacity: 44.7 million kgs(1)

 

•  Potential number of production lines: 3-4

 

•  Expected future capital expenditures – Nil for 2022

 

•  Start date of food production: 2021 (via commercial kitchen equipment)

 

Victoria Facility   

•  Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

 

•  Size: 3,000 square feet

 

•  Current annual production capacity: 150,000 kgs

 

•  Potential annual production capacity: 623.690 kgs(1)

 

•  Commercial kitchen equipment

 

•  Start date of food production: 2019

 

Fairview Facility   

•  Location: Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada

 

•  Size: 3,000 square feet

 

•  Current annual production capacity: 24.500 kgs

 

•  Potential annual production capacity: 226.796 kgs(1)

 

•  Capital expenditures spent to-date (including tenant improvements), including expected 2022 amounts: $34,000

 

•  Commercial kitchen equipment

 

•  Start date of food production: 2019

Note:

(1)

Estimates of potential production are based on VERY GOOD’s expectations.

Rupert Facility

To address near-term demand, VERY GOOD signed a lease for the Rupert Facility, which was already built-out as a food production facility, in November 2020 and took possession in January 2021. The Rupert Facility comprises approximately 45,000 square feet of production, refrigeration, warehousing, R&D and office space, and we expect it to be capable of producing up to 37 million pounds of annualized product to be phased in during 2022. VERY GOOD commissioned its first production line at the Rupert Facility in April 2021 and saleable production began in June 2021. The second production line at the Rupert Facility is planned to be commissioned in 2023.

Patterson Facility

To support the expansion of our U.S. operations and the introduction of new products into the market, VERY GOOD signed a lease for the Patterson Facility in August 2020. The Patterson Facility comprises approximately 25,000 square feet of production space, with the option to lease an additional 25,000 square feet, and was expected to be capable of producing up to 98.5 million pounds of product per year if three to four production lines were commissioned successfully. In September 2021, the Company began food production on commercial-grade kitchen equipment in

 

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order to fast-track the production of Taco Stuff’er, one of the VERY GOOD’s most in-demand SKUs. Testing of Taco Stuff’er on this commercial-grade kitchen equipment was completed in November 2021 with saleable production starting shortly thereafter.

Victoria Facility

The Victoria Facility produces our existing SKUs that have not yet been scaled at one of our larger facilities, as well as new products in development on a smaller scale to test in the market.

Fairview Facility

Through the acquisition of The Cultured Nut, VERY GOOD took over the lease of the Fairview Facility. The Fairview Facility produces our Very Good Cheese SKUs as well as other plant-based cheese products in development.

Developing Innovative Products

We have a team of scientists and food technology experts at the Rupert Facility working on developing innovative new plant-based products and continuously improving the taste and texture of our product lines.

The core products in our The Very Good Butchers legacy line, including The Very Good Burger, Taco Stuff’er, Very Good Pepperoni and Very Good Dog, were developed by our co-founder, James Davison and our research and development team either before or throughout 2019 and 2020.

In May 2021, VERY GOOD announced its new brand, The Very Good Cheese Co., and its lineup of five new plant-based cheese products. These new SKUs consist of: “Bold Cheddah”, a white cheddar style vegan cheese; “Cheedah”, a medium cheddar style vegan cheese; “Dill’ish”, a garlic and dill-havarti style vegan cheese; “Goud AF*”, a smoky gouda style vegan cheese; and “Pepper Jack”, a monterey jack style vegan cheese. These newly announced plant-based cheeses follow the Company’s completed acquisition of The Cultured Nut. The Very Good Cheese Co. products were made available in the United States and Canada in June 2021 through our eCommerce Store and we expect that they will be available in Canadian retail stores and U.S. wholesale in 2022.

VERY GOOD announced its new gluten-free and soy-free Butcher’s Select product line initially consisting of five SKUs in July 2021. The Butcher’s Select product range comprises a premium line of sausages, burgers and meatballs that is gluten-free, soy-free and Non-GMO verified. The Butcher’s Select product line will diversify VERY GOOD’s portfolio of plant-based meats and position The Very Good Butchers brand in the alternative meat substitute category where products are created to directly simulate their animal-based counterparts and which has been largely dominated by Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods.

Our Butcher’s Select products were made available via limited release on our eCommerce Store (www.verygoodbutchers.com) in August 2021 and starting in early Q4 2021, all Butcher’s Select products were available from our eCommerce Store. The retail rollout of the Butcher’s Select product line kicked off in September 2021 with Butcher’s Select products on the shelves of several retail locations in North America, with additional retailers planned to be added in 2022.

 

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Butcher’s Select Mmm...Meatballs won a prestigious NEXTY award in the Best New Frozen Product category in September 2021. The NEXTY Awards are a biannual awards program created to recognize the pinnacle of excellence in the natural products industry, elevating impactful brands and products that inspire a healthy, sustainable future for people and the planet.

In October 2021, VERY GOOD announced two additions to the Butcher’s Select product: Butcher’s Select Spicy Meatballs and The Very Good Steak. The original plant-based meatballs entered the market as an alternative to not only plant-based, but also traditional meat products in the natural food space. The Very Good Butchers Steak will compete in a nascent segment of the plant-based meat alternative category by tackling more sophisticated whole meat muscle products such as strip loin and fillets.

In early 2022, VERY GOOD announced the introduction of two new plant-based ground meats, A Cut Above Pork, and A Cut Above Beef which introduce our offerings into a new subcategory of refrigerated plant-based meats.

Expansion of Wholesale Distribution

We continue our efforts to expand our Canadian and United States wholesale distribution as part of our strategic focus to meet demand and increase customer awareness resulting in revenue growth.

Canadian Wholesale Distribution

VERY GOOD continued its coast-to-coast expansion in Canada through its wholesale distribution partnership with Horizon Grocery + Wellness, through which the Company signed on with Save-On-Foods in August 2021, Western Canada’s largest grocery retailer, to carry The Very Good Butchers products in 184 of its retail stores across Canada. Save-on-Foods is the owner of several well-established banners including its namesake Save-On-Foods stores as well as PriceSmart Foods, Urban Fare and Bulkley Valley Wholesale. Save-on-Foods is stocking The Very Good Butchers’ top five SKUs including The Very Good Burger, Smokin’ Bangers, Taco Stuff’er, Very Good Pepperoni and the Very Good Dog in 177 of its retail stores and seven Urban Fare locations across Canada.

In September 2021, the Company announced it has further expanded its product offering within Sobeys’ retail network. Our popular The Very Good Butchers product line is now available for the first time in Québec at Rachelle Béry health food stores, and online throughout the Greater Toronto Area via Voilà by Sobeys’ online home delivery service.

 

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As of December 31, 2021, The Very Good Butchers’ products were in 973 retail stores across Canada compared to 275 in the prior year, with major retailers including Whole Foods Markets, Thrifty Foods (Sobeys), Fresh St. Market, Choices Markets, IGA, and Farmboy; as well as smaller independent grocers.

United States Wholesale Distribution

Wholesale retail distribution in the United States is a pivotal component of our 2022 and future growth strategy. VERY GOOD entered into a new partnership with Boulder, Colorado-based natural food and beverage brokerage, Green Spoon Sales (“Green Spoon”), in May 2021 to accelerate the Company’s reach into grocery and retail across the United States. VERY GOOD also signed on with the United States distribution arm of United Natural Foods (“UNFI”) later that same month, the largest publicly traded wholesale distributor of health and specialty foods in North America. In Q2 2021, the Company announced a wholesale distribution agreement with KeHE Distributors, LLC (“KeHE”) a top pure play U.S. wholesale food distributor of natural, organic, specialty and fresh food brands across North America.

These valued distribution partners have relationships with major grocers including Harmons Grocery, Erewhon Organic Grocer, Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods, Thrive Market and Associated Food Stores.

On September 14, 2021, VERY GOOD announced it is further expanding its U.S. retail presence with Earth Fare, a United States based health and wellness supermarket retailer. Starting in November 2021, VERY GOOD’s Very Good Butchers/Original and its Butchers Select, its newest gluten-free and soy-free product line, will be rolled out into all 23 of Earth Fare’s locations in states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, Ohio and Michigan. Other wholesale accounts include, but are not limited to, Wegman’s, Raley’s, Harmon’s, PCC, Earth Fare, Erewhon and Metro Markets.

As of December 31, 2021, VERY GOOD’s products were placed in 422 U.S. stores across 26 states; bringing the total number of stores across North America to 1,395.

eCommerce

eCommerce has been a key channel for VERY GOOD, supporting our speed to market strategy and building brand awareness for our products. In June 2021, the Company launched an Amazon U.S. storefront and in August 2021, the Company launched its UK eCommerce website allowing UK-based customers to order VERY GOOD’s Butcher Boxes. Both initiatives have recently been paused.

VERY GOOD is currently reviewing its eCommerce channel. Digital marketing costs to acquire new customers have increased over the past year, largely related to structural changes of the largest digital and social platforms and as such we are reviewing our online strategy and marketing expenditures to optimize our ROI. As such, we expect our growth will slow down in the near-term in this channel. We are committed to finding alternative initiatives to support our eCommerce business profitably.

 

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Food Service

Entering the food service industry is a natural growth opportunity for VERY GOOD as the brand continues to earn positive recognition. Establishing ourselves in this channel will provide another key growth area for the company and will allow us to respond to numerous inquiries and interest in this segment. As a first step, we have recently hired a Director of Food Services.

Strategic Warehousing and Logistics Partnerships

Establishing hubs across North America is a critical step in building out our North American expansion strategy, reducing shipping costs, and enhancing customer relationships through faster delivery times. In the latter part of 2020, the Company signed agreements with three strategically located 3PL providers in North America to increase speed of delivery to customers and reduce associated shipping costs for its eCommerce orders. The 3PL provider facilities’ centralized locations provide VERY GOOD with the capabilities of reaching anywhere in North America in two to three days via ground transportation. All three providers pick, pack and ship for our eCommerce Store orders and wholesale palletize for retail orders.

Our significant reliance on 3PL providers exposes us to a number of associated risks such as increases in price, disruption or termination in service or future unfavourable terms all of which may adversely affect our operations and financial condition. See further discussion under “Risk Factors”.

Victoria Flagship Store

In October 2021, we opened our new Victoria Flagship Store in downtown Victoria, BC. The new Victoria Flagship Store has an outdoor patio and a larger footprint than our previous butcher shop and can accommodate a higher volume of customers.

Mount Pleasant Flagship Store and R&D Innovation Centre

In January 2020, the Company signed a lease for the Mount Pleasant Flagship Store and took possession in September 1, 2020. Plans for the Mount Pleasant Flagship Store included a second flagship store with a retail front featuring our butcher shop and restaurant concept in addition to a test kitchen and R&D innovation centre. The Company is working with the City of Vancouver on obtaining the required construction permits, the receipt of which have been significantly delayed. As at December 31, 2021, a total of $1 million in capital expenditures has been spent on the Mount Pleasant Flagship Store and an estimated $4.5 million is required to complete the facility. However, as of the date of this AIF, the opening of the Mount Pleasant Flagship Store has been delayed indefinitely and the project is undergoing review. Given this review, the Company has not determined the source of financing for funding the remaining cost for completion of the Mount Pleasant Flagship Store.

Financings

On June 7, 2021, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) for a senior secured credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Waygar Capital Inc., as agent for Ninepoint Canadian Senior Debt Master Fund L.P. The Credit Facility consists of a $20 million revolving

 

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line of credit and a $50 million senior secured asset backed term loan. All amounts drawn are subject to specific borrowing requirements and under the Credit Facility will pay interest at a rate of 9.95% per annum and will be repaid in full upon maturity. The Credit Facility has a term of 24 months with an option to renew, upon mutual consent, for another 12 months and is secured by a first-priority security interest on substantially all of VERY GOOD’s assets. The amount we may draw under the term loan at any given time is tied to a prescribed proportion of the appraised value of our eligible equipment from time to time. Only certain equipment may be financed, and no value is given for equipment installation costs. As at December 31, 2021, a total of $6,333,356 is outstanding under the Credit Facility, net of an unamortized discount of $133,725, and $38,565 is outstanding for interest and $2,135 is outstanding for unused line fee, which is included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

In July 2021, the Company completed its bought deal prospectus offering in Canada (the “July 2021 Offering”) consisting of 5,594,750 units (the “July 2021 Units”) at a price of $3.70 per July 2021 Unit for total gross proceeds of $20,700,575. Each July 2021 Unit consisted of one common share in the capital of the Company (“Common Shares”) and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a “July 2021 Warrant”), with each July 2021 Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at a price of $4.60 per July 2021 Warrant until January 2, 2023.

In October 2021, the Company completed a United States registered direct offering (the “October 2021 Offering”) with certain institutional investors for the purchase and sale of 15,000,000 units of the Company (the “October 2021 Units” and together with the July 2021 Units, the “Units”) at a price of U.S.$2.00 per October 2021 Unit for total gross proceeds of US$30,000,000. Each October 2021 Unit consisted of one Common Share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, an “October 2021 Warrant” and together with the July 2021 Warrants, the “Warrants”), with each October 2021 Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at a price of U.S.$2.35 per October 2021 Warrant until October 19, 2026.

COVID-19

Along with businesses globally, VERY GOOD is subject to the continuing risk that COVID-19, and its current and/or any future variants, may impact our results of operations or financial condition through disruptions to our operations including as a result of disruptions in our supply chain and Distribution Network, temporary production suspensions at our production facilities, reduced productivity of our team members or new indoor dining restrictions.

We continue to utilize and refine our health and safety protocols to ensure the health and wellness of our employees and to reduce risk within our facilities and mitigate the direct impacts of COVID-19 including the implementation of a Company-wide vaccination policy to mandate COVID-19 vaccination in our facilities as a key element of our safety protocols to maintain a safe work environment. We have required compliance with such policy for all of our team members since December 2021, subject to any special exceptions or other approved reasonable accommodations.

In 2021, our operations were affected by indirect impacts of COVID-19 through delays in the delivery of production equipment and in the approval of building permits for both the Rupert

 

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Facility and the Mount Pleasant Flagship Store as well as the tightening of the local labour markets in the areas surrounding the Rupert Facility and the Patterson Facility which made it more challenging to secure the personnel needed to staff operations from time to time. We also encountered challenges posed by unstable supply chains caused by port congestion, freight equipment shortages, higher freight rates and fluctuating prices of raw materials. Moreover, in 2021, our Victoria Flagship Store faced mandated COVID-19 closures and restrictions for in-restaurant dining. In addition, we incurred increased costs to implement additional health safety measures, including our mandatory vaccination policy.

COVID-19 continues to have an impact on the global economy, leading to increased inflation and ongoing uncertainty due to the risk of a re-emergence of the virus. As such, the extent of the impact of COVID-19 on future periods will depend on future developments, all which are uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the duration or resurgence of the pandemic, government responses and health and safety measures or directives put in place by public health authorities and sustained pressure on global supply chains causing supply and demand imbalances. See “Risk Factors”.

Marketing Channels

We believe that our brand image has contributed significantly to the success of our business to date and that maintaining, promoting and positioning our brand image and increasing brand awareness is important to maintaining and expanding our customer base. Our strategy in maintaining and enhancing our brand image has largely centered around marketing campaigns and organic social media through influencer engagement.

Raw Material Supply

We source a wide variety of raw materials for our ingredient and packaging needs.

We derive the ingredients for our products from a number of suppliers and have entered into written supply agreements for many of our core ingredients including beans, vegetables, grains and vital wheat gluten. For ingredients not sourced pursuant to written purchase agreements, we work to manage supply with advance purchase orders to provide suppliers with increased notice of our upcoming supply requirements. Many of our product inputs are readily available in the market from a variety of suppliers which limits the price volatility of our principal ingredients. However, seasonality affects the availability of our ingredients and we must align our supply contracts with crop cycles to secure sufficient supply through the next harvest. In order to secure timely delivery of our ingredients we will also increasingly be required to enter into volume agreements to secure timely access and pricing in our supply chain.

We also purchase significant amounts of packaging for our products. Currently, we do not have any written supply agreements for our packaging materials.

Seasonality

Demand for our products can be seasonally affected as demand increases for certain items such a burgers and hot dogs in the summer BBQ season and for other products such as our Stuffed Beast roast in the winter holidays season. We also compete with other plant-based food companies for

 

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raw materials many of which must be secured at specific times of the year due to timing of crop cycles.

Competitive Conditions

The plant-based food market has experienced accelerated growth in recent years. This growth has been accompanied by intense competitive pressure as new entrants, legacy plant protein companies and more traditional multi-national food manufacturers compete for market share in this rapidly evolving space. Our competitors are a diverse group of brands that produce plant-based food products including small and large independent companies as well as large-scale manufacturers of animal-based protein that have integrated plant-based meat, dairy and other food alternatives within their product offerings.

We compete both in the meat alternatives market and in the plant-based cheese category based on a combination of factors, including taste, nutritional profile and ingredients, quality, product availability, retailer shelf space and shelf placement, brand awareness and customer loyalty, price, and effective promotions.

Regulatory Environment and Food Safety

The food industry is highly regulated and is subject to changing political, legislative, regulatory, and other influences. In Canada, the primary federal agencies governing the manufacture, distribution, labelling and advertising of the consumer food products are the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (the “CFIA”) and Health Canada. Together these agencies regulate product composition, manufacturing, labelling and other marketing and advertising to consumers. The CFIA has the authority to inspect our facilities to evaluate compliance with prescribed requirements. Additionally, the CFIA requires that certain nutrition and product information appear on our product labels. We are also restricted from making certain types of claims about our products, including nutrient content claims, health claims, and claims regarding the effects of our products on any structure or function of the body, whether express or implied, unless we satisfy certain regulatory requirements.

Currently the Safe Food for Canadians Act, the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, the Food and Drugs Act and the Food and Drugs Regulations are the main federal food laws and regulations in Canada. The responsibility for food labelling is shared between the CFIA and Health Canada. Health Canada, together with the CFIA, administers regulations relating to the health, safety, and nutritional quality of food sold in Canada. This includes labelling requirements about the nutrients in food, claims about nutrients, the presence of food allergens, and safety-related expiration dates. The CFIA is primarily responsible for administering non-health and safety food labelling regulations related to misrepresentation, labelling, advertising and standards of identity. The CFIA is responsible for the enforcement of all of the federal food laws.

In the United States, federal agencies governing the manufacture, distribution, labeling and advertising of our products include the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and the Federal Trade Commission. Under various federal statutes and implementing regulations, these agencies, among other things, prescribe the requirements and establish the standards for quality

 

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and safety and regulate our product composition, ingredients, manufacturing, labeling and other marketing and advertising to consumers.

As part of this regulatory environment, our production facilities located in Canada are subject to oversight by the CFIA and the Patterson Facility is subject to FDA oversight. Federal, provincial, state, and foreign regulators have the authority to inspect our facilities to evaluate compliance with applicable requirements.

Our Rupert Facility, Victoria Facility and Fairview Facility have all obtained the NSF International Supplier Assurance Audit certification. NSF International is a globally recognized food safety standard assurance program based in the United States.

Our Rupert Facility has also received its Safe Quality Food (“SQF”) certification. SQF is a globally recognized food safety assurance program based in the United States. In addition, the entire Butcher’s Select product line-up has been Kosher certified by Kosher Check, a non-profit global kosher certification agency and has also been, along with several of our Legacy line products, non-GMO verified by the Non-GMO Project, a North American-based non-profit third-party verification for non-Genetically Modified Organism, or “Non-GMO” food and products.

In order to maintain compliance with the various and ever changing regulatory, industry and customer requirements and expectations, we employ a food safety and quality assurance team comprised of qualified, trained and experienced personnel.

Federal, state, and foreign regulatory authorities also require that certain nutrition and product information appear on our product labels and, more generally, that our labels and labeling be truthful and non-misleading and that our marketing and advertising be truthful, non-misleading and not deceptive to consumers. We are also restricted from making certain types of claims about our products, including nutrient content claims and health claims unless we satisfy certain regulatory requirements.

Employees

As of December 31, 2021, we had 271 regular full and part-time employees, of whom 94 were salaried employees and 177 were hourly employees. Of these employees, 19 are employed in the United States and 252 are employed in Canada. Approximately 73.4 percent of our employees are employed at our production facilities. Our employees are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement and we have had no labour-related work stoppages.

 

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Intellectual Property

Trademarks

Brand recognition and loyalty is highly important in the food industry. Our principal trademarks currently include the logos and/or wordmarks of The Very Good Butchers, We Butcher Beans and The Very Good Food Co. which have either become registered or for which we have applied for registration in Canada, the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom. We intend to continue to work to strategically register trademarks that we use today and those we develop in the future.

Trade Secrets

We consider proprietary information related to recipes, formulas and production methods to be trade secrets. Our employees with access to such information are subject to contractual and common law confidentiality provisions which prohibit them from disclosing information, including information relating to our recipes and production methods, acquired by them during, as a consequence of, or in connection with their employment.

Availability of Company Information

This AIF and the related exhibits are available for viewing at the offices of The Very Good Food Company Inc., 2748 Rupert Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5M 3T7, telephone: (855) 526-9254. Copies of our financial statements and other continuous disclosure documents required under applicable Canadian securities law are available for viewing under the Company’s profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com. All of the documents referred to are in English.

The SEC maintains an Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that makes available reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The Company’s website can be found at www.verygoodfood.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this AIF and should not be considered a part of this AIF, and the reference to our website in this AIF is an inactive textual reference only.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE

Central to our mission to get millions to rethink their food choices while helping them do the world a world of good, is our commitment to grow and operate our business in a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable manner.

Within that context we are working to create a meaningful environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) program that aligns with our core values.

During 2021, we laid the foundation for future ESG disclosures through the commencement of a materiality assessment. We launched a review of potentially material ESG issues for our operations that included an impact analysis, peer benchmarking, and examination of relevant ESG standards and frameworks. We are currently in the process of reviewing the preliminary results of this

 

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analysis and have initiated a consultation with stakeholders across our Company to develop our ESG goals and initiatives.

Code of Conduct

We have adopted a Code of Conduct (the “Code of Conduct”) to communicate to all of our team members our commitment to conducting business with honesty and integrity, in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and policies, and in a manner that preserves our reputation and deters unethical behavior and wrongdoing.

All amendments to the Code of Conduct, and all waivers of the Code of Conduct with respect to any of the officers covered by it, will be promptly posted on our website, and provided in print to any shareholder who requests them. The Code of Conduct is located on its website at www.verygoodfood.com under the heading “Investors—Corporate Governance” and on the Company’s profile on www.sedar.com. A copy of the Code of Conduct will be provided to anyone, without charge, by reaching out to hello@verygoodfood.com.

RISK FACTORS

The following specific factors could materially adversely affect us and should be considered when deciding whether to make an investment in VERY GOOD and our Common Shares. The risks and uncertainties described in this AIF are those we currently believe to be significant, but they are not the only ones we face. If any of the following risks, or any other risks and uncertainties that we have not yet identified or that we currently consider not to be material, actually occur or become material risks, our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and consequently the price of the Common Shares could be materially and adversely affected. In all these cases, the trading price of the Common Shares could decline, and prospective investors could lose all or part of their investment. In addition, the following factors could affect our financial performance and cause actual results, plans and expectations to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any of the forward-looking information contained in this AIF.

Summary of Risk Factors

 

   

We have experienced greater than expected cash burn in the last several months of 2021 and may not be able to secure additional financing to fund operations or expand our business.

 

   

We have incurred losses in the past and may be unable to achieve or sustain profitability in the future despite moderating our operating costs.

 

   

The COVID-19 pandemic has had and may continue to have a material adverse effect on our business and future growth opportunities.

 

   

We experience intense competition from other plant-based food producers and this competition could adversely affect our business and revenue.

 

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Our business requires sourcing seasonal, raw ingredients, a disruption in the supply or a material price fluctuation of these ingredients could adversely affect our business.

 

   

Our business relies on building brand awareness through social media marketing which can be adversely affected by regulation, privacy policy updates and/or negative reviews from influencers.

 

   

An inability to scale production and manage supply chain and inventory levels could affect our ability to become profitable.

 

   

We may face delays and even failure in attempting to establish and ramp up our production facilities.

 

   

Our access to capital may be limited if we fail to comply with the covenants under the Loan Agreement.

 

   

Our inability to attract and retain key managers may adversely impact our ability to carry out our business operations and strategies as planned.

 

   

Our ability to generate revenue depends in large part on our ability to attract new customers, innovate and expand production, if we fail in any of these initiatives, we may not be able to increase revenue.

 

   

We are subject to risks associated with third party logistics providers and any increase in price, disruption in service or future unfavourable terms may adversely affect our results of operations.

 

   

We are currently not in compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid price requirement. Failure to regain compliance will result in delisting from Nasdaq, limit our ability to raise capital and may have a negative impact on the price and liquidity of our Common Shares.

 

   

A decline in the price of the Common Shares could affect our ability to raise further working capital and adversely impact our ability to continue operations.

 

   

Future sales of our securities by existing shareholders or by us could cause the market price for the Common Shares to decline.

Risks Relating to our Business and Industry

We have experienced greater than expected cash burn in the last several months of 2021 and may not be able to secure additional financing to fund operations or expand our business.

We had negative cash flow from operating activities of $41,650,050, $9,660,481 and $1,432,523 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. In addition, the Company has experienced a greater than expected cash burn in the last several months as the Company scaled its operations to meet its growth targets, which has reduced its cash position and

 

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has strained its short-term liquidity. As of the date of this AIF, we believe we have sufficient cash on hand and available liquidity to meet our future operating expenses and finance our capital expenditure and debt service requirements for approximately the next three to five months and .are currently evaluating financing options to extend the Company’ cash runway. Accordingly, we may fail to comply with our debt covenants under our Credit Facility if we are not able to maintain a specified cash coverage ratio with respect to interest payments that is tested on a quarterly basis. In addition, our Credit Facility requires us to meet certain EBITDA targets, as adjusted from time to time, on a quarterly basis. Accordingly, we will need to raise additional equity or debt financing, and/or access the Credit Facility, to the extent available to us, to continue to operate and expand our business. If such financing is not available to us, or is not available on satisfactory terms, our ability to continue to operate and expand our business, or respond to competitive pressures, would be curtailed or severely limited and we may need to delay, limit or disregard expansion plans or other elements of our growth strategy or cease operations. Our inability to secure sufficient funding would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. In addition, the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities may affect the value of our Common Shares and could result in significant dilution to our shareholders. Any debt financing secured by us in the future could involve additional restrictive covenants relating to our capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities, including potential acquisitions.

We have incurred losses in the past and may be unable to achieve or sustain profitability in the future despite moderating our operating costs.

We have experienced net losses since incorporation. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 we incurred net losses of $54,559,923, $13,858,800 and $2,341,544, respectively. While we anticipate a moderation in our operating expenses in 2022, we currently expect that over time our operating expenses and capital expenditures will continue to increase as we invest in our facilities, production innovation, supply chain and distribution networks and brand awareness all of which may prove more expensive than anticipated, and we may not succeed in increasing sales and margins sufficiently to offset the anticipated higher expenses. In addition, many of our expenses, including the costs associated with our existing and the proposed future production facilities and operating as a public company reporting in Canada and the United States, are fixed. Accordingly, we may not be able to achieve or sustain profitability, and we may incur significant losses for the foreseeable future.

The factors noted above or other factors could result in the contraction of our business and the implementation of significant cost cutting measures including restructuring actions to streamline operations and improve cost efficiencies to better align our operating expenses with our revenue, reduce our headcount and other expenditures, which could result in disruptions to our operations and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had and may continue to have a material adverse effect on our business and future growth opportunities.

Our operations and financial condition may be materially adversely affected by public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as related government responses and consumer and customer behaviour. The risks of COVID-19 to our Company include the physical and mental health and safety of our team members; the temporary suspension of operations;

 

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disruption in global and local supply chains, impacting the availability of key inputs for our operations as well as our ability to distribute products; operational restrictions and restrictions on gatherings of individuals; delays in the completion of capital projects; counterparty credit risk; volatility in financial and commodity markets; shifts in customer and consumer demand; and supply chain disruptions, all or any of which could materially adversely affect the Company’s business operations and financial results. Depending on the continued evolution of COVID-19, the impact of the pandemic may also increase the effect of the other risks described in this AIF.

As the spread and/or risk of a resurgence of COVID-19 continues, governments may increase or extend restrictions, directives, orders or regulations that could adversely affect our operations, suppliers, customers, counterparties, employee health, workforce productivity, access to capital markets, insurance premiums and coverage, and ability to advance our business strategy.

We experience intense competition from other plant-based food producers and this competition could adversely affect our business and revenue.

We face intense competition in the plant-based food industry as new entrants and more traditional food companies vie for market share in this rapidly evolving market. Most of our competitors are, and many of our potential competitors may be, larger, and may have greater brand recognition, greater presence in both the retail and online marketplace and access to greater financial, marketing and other resources. Therefore, these competitors may be able to devote greater resources to the marketing and sale of their products, generate greater brand recognition or adopt more aggressive pricing policies and distribution methods than we can. As a result, we may lose market share, which could reduce our revenue and adversely affect our results of operations.

We do not possess exclusive rights to some elements that currently comprise our core brand such as our vegan butcher shop concept and offerings. Our competitors may seek to emulate facets of our business strategy, butcher shop store experience or product offerings, which could result in a reduction of any competitive advantage that we may possess, and our business could suffer. There is no assurance that we will continue to compete successfully against existing or future competitors.

Our business requires sourcing seasonal, raw ingredients. A disruption in the supply or a material price fluctuation of these ingredients could adversely affect our business.

Many of the raw materials in our products, such as vegetables, beans, peas used for pea protein, and vital wheat gluten derived from wheat flour, are vulnerable to adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, frosts, earthquakes, hurricanes and pestilence. Adverse weather conditions and natural disasters can lower crop yields and reduce crop size and quality, which in turn could reduce the available supply of, or increase the price of quality ingredients. Similarly, armed conflict can also affect the availability and cost of our raw materials as we are currently experiencing with certain products derived from sunflower seeds grown in Ukraine and Russia. COVID-19 has also had, and continues to have, a significant effect on global supply chains with port congestion, shortage of freight equipment and high freight rates, among other factors, contributing to significant instability in supply and transport.

 

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Seasonality also affects supply of our ingredients and we must align our supply contracts with crop cycles to secure sufficient product through the next harvest. If we are unable to secure such agreements for the supply of the necessary ingredients in sufficient quantities at competitive prices, or at all, this could negatively affect our production capacity and ability to meet demand for our products. Similarly, suppliers with whom we do not have any written agreements, could seek to alter or terminate their relationship with us at any time, which could result in disruption to our supply chain. If we are not able to source the necessary raw materials from other suppliers in a timely manner or at all, we may experience ingredient shortages which may require us to reduce or halt production of one or more of our products and threaten our ability to meet customer demands which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We also compete with other food producers in the procurement of ingredients, and as consumer demand for plant-based protein products increases, this competition may increase. Moreover, we strive to use organic ingredients which are more limited in supply than conventional product ingredients. If supplies of quality ingredients are reduced or there is greater demand for such ingredients, we may not be able to obtain sufficient supply on favourable terms, or at all, which could impact our ability to supply products to our customers and may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition to ingredients, we also purchase significant amounts of packaging for our products. Price fluctuations in our key ingredients and packaging supplies could increase our cost of goods sold and we may not be able to implement product price increases to cover any increased costs, or any price increases implemented may result in lower sales volumes. If we are not successful in managing our raw material costs, and unable to increase our prices to cover increased costs or if such price increases reduce sales volumes, then such increases in costs will adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our business relies on building brand awareness through social media marketing which can be adversely affected by regulation, privacy policy updates and/or negative relationships with influencers.

We believe that our brand image has contributed significantly to the success of our business to date and that maintaining, promoting and positioning our brand image and increasing brand awareness is important to maintaining and expanding our customer base. Maintaining and enhancing our current brand image and awareness or any future brands we develop or acquire will require us to make investments in areas such as public relations and marketing. These investments, including digital marketing campaigns, new Flagship store openings and organic social media through influencer engagement, may be substantial, and our efforts may not ultimately be successful. If our current marketing efforts are not successful, there may be no immediately available or cost effective alternative means to build or maintain brand awareness, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. See “Risks relating to information technology systems and cybersecurity”.

Since the privacy updates implemented by Apple in April 2021 and the changes META (Facebook) made to their advertising tools shortly after, the data collection features used by advertisers have become less effective. As a result, VERY GOOD, along with other direct to consumer businesses, has been limited in the ways we can target consumers and measure the success of specific ad

 

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campaigns. The cost of digital marketing initiatives also continues to rise with the lightening of COVID-19 restrictions and as more businesses come back online. Our brand image and reputation may be impacted by actions taken by our employees, product attributes (including food safety and quality assurance issues that may result in recalls) and negative commentary or reviews. Real or perceived quality or food safety concerns or failures to comply with applicable food regulations and requirements, whether or not ultimately based on fact and whether or not involving us or incidents involving our competitors, could cause negative publicity and reduced confidence in us and our products, which could cause harm to our brand, reputation and sales, and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, as we increase our influencer relationships to promote our brand and products to targeted consumer groups, if one of our influencers promotes our brand in a negative way or does not adhere to applicable guidelines required by law, this may negatively impact our brand and reputation. Widespread use and access to social media campaigns and viral messaging or imagery could significantly broaden the scope and impact of any such events or circumstances. Consumers may act on information conveyed through social media without further investigation and without regard to its accuracy. The harm to our brand may be immediate without affording us an opportunity for redress or correction, and there can be no assurances that we will respond in an appropriate or timely manner. Brand value is based on perceptions of subjective qualities, and any incident that erodes the loyalty of consumers, including adverse publicity, governmental investigation or litigation, could significantly reduce the value of our brand and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

An inability to scale production and manage supply chain and inventory levels could affect our ability to become profitable.

Our ability to effectively scale production processes and effectively manage our supply chain requirements has risk. We must accurately forecast demand for our products and inventory needs, for both raw materials and finished goods, to ensure we have adequate available production capacity and to effectively manage our inventory. Insufficient or delayed supply of products threatens our ability to meet customer demands while overcapacity and excess inventory may require us to reduce or temporarily halt production at one or more of our facilities with accompanying headcount reductions and we may experience lost sales, spoilage and inventory markdowns. If we do not accurately align our production capabilities and inventory supply with demand, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

We may face delays and even failure in attempting to establish and ramp up our production facilities.

Any substantial delays in bringing our existing and/or future facilities up to the required production on our schedule will affect our production capacity, our ability to meet demand for our products and expand distribution; all of which would negatively impact our ability to achieve our growth goals and financial objectives.

Our ability to successfully establish facilities and ramp up our production is dependent on a variety of factors including the timely receipt of required permits and approvals for construction, the

 

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accuracy of construction schedules and cost estimates, availability and cost of engineering resources, constructions crews and materials, our ability to hire and retain skilled employees at these facilities, adequate funding for the substantial capital expenditures required such as production equipment, the timely delivery of production equipment for which lead times can be lengthy including as a result of the impact of COVID-19 on supply chains, or otherwise.

Even if we are able to establish these facilities as planned and on schedule, we may not realize all of the operational and financial benefits we expect to receive. We can provide no assurance that we will meet our targeted production schedules at any of our production facilities, and any additional delays and/or shortfalls of our production targets may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Our access to capital may be limited if we fail to comply with the covenants under the Loan Agreement.

The Company is required to comply with customary positive and negative covenants under the Loan Agreement for our Credit Facility and, in the event that we do not comply with these covenants, our access to capital could be restricted or repayment could be required. Events beyond our control may contribute to the failure of the Company to comply with such covenants. A failure to comply with any of the covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, would permit acceleration of the indebtedness pursuant to the Credit Facility. The acceleration of the Company’s indebtedness under the Credit Facility may permit acceleration of indebtedness under any other agreements that contain cross default or cross-acceleration provisions. In addition, the Credit Facility imposes certain operating and financial restrictions on the Company that include restrictions on the payment of dividends, limitations on liens, entering into disposition of assets or amalgamations and limitations on additional indebtedness, among others. Even if VERY GOOD is able to obtain new financing, it may not be on commercially reasonable terms or terms that are acceptable to the Company.

The amount we may draw under the term loan portion of the Credit Facility at any given time is tied to a prescribed proportion of the appraised value of our eligible equipment from time to time. Only certain equipment may be financed, and no value is given for equipment installation costs. Accordingly, our ability to rely on the Credit Facility to fund our operations is limited.

Our inability to attract and retain key managers may adversely impact our ability to carry out our business operations and strategies as planned.

Our management team consists of a core group of senior executive officers. As a result of having a small group of senior executive officers, the loss of the technical knowledge, management expertise and knowledge of our operations of one or more members of our team, could result in a diversion of management resources, as the remaining members of management would need to cover the duties of any senior executive who leaves us and would need to spend time usually reserved for managing our business to search for, hire and train new members of management. We do not have key person life insurance policies for our management employees.

The loss of some or all of our management team or other key personnel, including the directors and managers of key functional areas, could negatively affect our ability to develop and pursue

 

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our strategy, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition. Any departures of senior management could also be viewed in a negative light by investors and analysts, which could cause the market price of our Common Shares to decline.

Additionally, the market for key personnel in the plant-based food industry is highly competitive. As a result, we may not be able to attract and retain key personnel with the skills and expertise necessary to manage our business and pursue our growth strategy.

Our success also depends in part upon our ability to attract, train and retain a sufficient number of employees who understand and appreciate our culture and can represent our brand effectively and establish credibility with our business partners and consumers. If we are unable to hire and retain employees capable of meeting our business needs and expectations, our business and brand image may be impaired. Any failure to meet our staffing needs or any material increase in turnover rates of our employees or key personnel changes may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our ability to generate revenue depends in large part on our ability to attract new customers, innovate and expand production, if we fail in any of these initiatives, we may not be able to increase revenue.

We have grown rapidly since inception and since completing the Canadian IPO (as defined herein), which places significant demands on our management, financial, operational and other resources. The anticipated growth and expansion of our business and our product offerings will continue to place considerable demands on our management and operations teams and will require substantial resources to meet our needs, which may not be available in a cost-effective manner, or at all. As we move forward, we expect our growth to bring new challenges and complexities that we have not faced before. We cannot anticipate all the demands that expanding operations would impose on our business, and our failure to appropriately address these demands could have an adverse effect on us. If we do not effectively manage our growth, we may not be able to execute on our business plan, respond to competitive pressures, take advantage of market opportunities, satisfy customer requirements or maintain high-quality product offerings, any of which could harm our business, brand, results of operations and financial condition.

The success of our growth strategy is dependent on, among other things, our ability to expand production through added capacity, drive revenue growth through increased sales across our Distribution Network, raise brand awareness, innovate, diversify our product portfolio, effectively integrate newly acquired businesses as well as other factors which are beyond our control, including general economic conditions.

If we fail to execute any one or more of these initiatives or fail to fully realize the benefits expected to result from these initiatives, our results of operations could be materially adversely impacted, and the price of our Common Shares could decline.

 

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We are subject to risks associated with third party logistics (3PL) providers and any increase in price, disruption in service or future unfavourable terms may adversely affect our results of operations.

We currently rely upon independent 3PL logistics providers for the fulfillment and shipment of our eCommerce orders and wholesale shipments. Our use of such 3PL providers for fulfillment and transportation is subject to risks, including but not limited to increases in fuel prices, which would increase shipping costs (freight and delivery), labour disruptions, inclement weather, transportation accidents, human error and shipment delays.

Any unanticipated changes in our 3PL providers, such as a result of a strike or other stoppages, could result in logistical difficulties that could adversely impact deliveries and we may incur costs and expend resources in connection with such change.

Moreover, we may not be able to obtain terms as favourable as those received from the 3PL providers we currently use, which may also result in increased costs, or we may not be able to replace our current third-party providers with a viable alternative at all. Failure of our 3PL providers to deliver our products in a timely manner may negatively impact our customer service levels, brand reputation and profitability. Additionally, our 3PL providers are required to maintain the quality of our products and to comply with our product specifications and any failure to do so could adversely affect our reputation in the marketplace and result in product recalls, product liability claims and economic loss.

Our business and brand are sensitive to risks relating to food safety and consumer health, including product liability, an adverse event could have an unfavourable effect on our business.

We are subject to risks that affect the food industry in general, including the risks posed by food spoilage, accidental contamination, foodborne illness, product tampering, consumer product liability, and the potential costs and disruptions of a product recall. Unexpected side effects, illness, injury or death related to allergens, food-borne illnesses or other food safety incidents involving our products could result in the discontinuance of sales of these products or otherwise result in increased operating costs, regulatory enforcement actions, lawsuits or harm to our reputation. We manage these risks by maintaining strict and rigorous controls and processes in our production processes and distribution system. However, we cannot assure that such systems will eliminate the risks related to food safety. Any product safety issue could subject us to product liability and negligence claims, including consumer class action lawsuits, adverse publicity and government scrutiny, investigation or intervention, resulting in increased costs and decreased sales. Any claims brought against us may exceed or be outside the scope of our existing or future insurance policy coverage or limits. Any of these events could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to risks related to real or perceived quality or health issues with our products, any failure to uphold a high-quality standard would likely harm our brand and business.

We believe our consumers rely on us to provide them with high-quality plant-based products. Therefore, real or perceived quality or food safety concerns or failures to comply with applicable food regulations and requirements, whether or not ultimately based on fact and whether or not

 

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involving us (such as incidents involving our competitors), could cause negative publicity and reduced confidence in our Company, brand or products, or the industry as a whole, which could in turn harm our reputation and sales, and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. Although we believe we have a rigorous quality control process, there can be no assurance that our products will always comply with the standards set for our products, and although we strive to keep our products free of pathogenic organisms, they may not be easily detected and cross-contamination can occur.

We have no control over our products once purchased by consumers. Accordingly, consumers may prepare our products in a manner that is inconsistent with our directions or store our products for long periods of time, which may adversely affect the quality and safety of our products. If consumers do not perceive our products to be safe or of high quality, then the value of our brand would be diminished, and our business, results of operations and financial condition would be adversely affected.

Any loss of confidence on the part of consumers in the ingredients used in our products or in the safety and quality of our products would be difficult and costly to overcome. Any such adverse effect could be exacerbated by our position in the market as a purveyor of high-quality plant-based protein products and may significantly reduce our brand value. Issues regarding the safety of any of our products, regardless of the cause, may have a substantial and adverse effect on our brand, reputation and operating results.

The growing use of social and digital media by us, our consumers and third parties increases the speed and extent that information or misinformation and opinions can be shared. Negative publicity about us, our brands or our products on social or digital media could seriously damage our brands and reputation. If we do not maintain the favourable perception of our brands, our sales and profits could be negatively impacted.

We could be subject to product recalls which would likely result in significant losses in both inventory, revenue and reputational image.

Food producers are sometimes subject to the recall or return of their products for a variety of reasons, including product defects, such as contamination, unintended harmful side effects or interactions with other substances, packaging safety and inadequate or inaccurate labeling disclosure. We could be required to recall certain or a large portion of our products, including in the event of contamination or adverse test results or as a precautionary measure. There is also a risk that not all of the product subject to the recall will be properly identified, or that the recall will not be successful or not be enacted in a timely manner. A product recall could result in significant losses due to its costs, destruction of product inventory and lost sales due to the unavailability of the product or potential loss of current or new customers as a result of an adverse impact on our reputation. In addition, once purchased by consumers, we have no further control over our products and consumers may prepare our products in a manner that is inconsistent with our directions which may adversely affect the quality and safety of our products.

 

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We may enter into co-manufacturing relationships which subject our business to additional regulatory related risks.

While we do not currently have any co-manufacturing relationships, we may in the future enter into such arrangements. If future co-manufacturers fail to comply with food safety, environmental or other laws and regulations, or face allegations of non-compliance, their operations may be disrupted. Additionally, co-manufacturers would be required to maintain the quality of our products and to comply with our product specifications. In the event of actual or alleged non-compliance, we might be forced to find an alternative co-manufacturer and we may be subject to lawsuits related to such non-compliance by our co-manufacturers. As a result, our finished inventory could be disrupted or our costs could increase, which would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the failure of any co-manufacturer to produce products that conform to our standards could adversely affect our reputation in the marketplace and result in product recalls, product liability claims and economic loss.

Our business relies on the protection of trademarks and other intellectual property rights, protecting and enforcing these rights may create a large financial burden.

We rely on unpatented proprietary expertise, recipes and formulations and other trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive position. Our success depends, to a significant degree, upon our ability to protect and preserve our intellectual property. Our employees with access to such information are subject to contractual and common law confidentiality obligations which prohibit them from disclosing information acquired by them during, as a consequence of, or in connection with their employment. We rely on these agreements to protect our intellectual property rights. Nevertheless, trade secrets are difficult to protect. Although we attempt to protect our trade secrets, our confidentiality protections may not effectively prevent disclosure of our proprietary information and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of such information. If we do not keep our trade secrets confidential, others may produce products with our recipes or formulations. Further, we currently own no patents or exclusive intellectual property rights in processes used for our products. As a result, our current and future competitors may be able to create and sell products similar to ours.

We rely on trademark registrations and common law trademark and copyright rights to protect the distinctiveness of our brand and have either registered, or applied to register, our current key trademarks, including We Butcher Beans and our The Very Good Butchers and The Very Good Food Co. logos, in Canada, the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, and we may seek to expand our trademark registrations in the future. Current and future trademarks not yet registered may not be approved, or may be refused, and ultimately not registered. In addition, our trademark rights and related registrations may be challenged in the future and could be canceled or narrowed. Failure to protect our trademark rights could prevent us in the future from challenging third parties who use names and logos similar to our trademarks, which may in turn cause consumer confusion or negatively affect consumers’ perception of our brand and products.

Litigation may be necessary to protect and enforce our trademarks and other intellectual property rights, or to defend against claims brought by third parties. Such intellectual property disputes and

 

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proceedings may be protracted and costly with no certainty of success, and an adverse outcome could subject us to liabilities, force us to cease use of certain trademarks or other intellectual property or force us to enter into licenses with others. Any one of these occurrences may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Losing a significant distributor arrangement could negatively impact our business.

We distribute products in our wholesale channel through food distributors who sell and deliver our products to retailers. As we expand our wholesale sales we will increasingly rely on our distributors. Since these distributors act as intermediaries between us and the retail grocers, we do not have short-term or long-term commitments or minimum purchase volumes in our agreements with them that ensure future sales of our products. The loss of one or more significant distributors, if we are unable to replace the distributor in a timely manner, could negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We may face unexpected challenges and ultimately be unsuccessful in U.S. and international expansion.

Our future growth depends, in part, on our expansion efforts outside of Canada. We have limited operating experience outside of Canada including with respect to regulatory environments and market practices and cannot guarantee that we will be able to penetrate or successfully operate in any market outside of Canada. In connection with any future expansion efforts outside of Canada, and in particular outside of North America, we would expect to encounter additional obstacles, including increased costs and expenses associated with international shipping, including inventory management and distribution, cultural and linguistic differences and differences in regulatory environments and market practices including with respect to food safety, manufacturing, labeling, distribution, marketing, and advertising and privacy laws such as those relating to collection, storage and use of information on consumers ordering from our eCommerce store. Failure to develop new markets outside of Canada (through our eCommerce store or otherwise) may harm our business, growth and results of operations and could cause the market price of our Common Shares to decline.

We may be subject to additional taxes, which could affect our operating results.

If the Company is classified as a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, certain generally adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could apply to U.S. investors. The Company generally will be classified as a PFIC for any taxable year in which its passive income or its assets that produce passive income exceed certain thresholds. If the Company were a PFIC for any year during the holding period of a U.S. Holder, then the holder generally would be required to treat any gain realized upon a disposition of its Common Shares, or certain excess distributions received on its Common Shares, as ordinary income and to pay an interest charge on a portion of such gain or distribution, unless the holder were to make certain elections, to the extent available, in a timely and effective manner. The Company has not determined whether it is likely to be classified as a PFIC for the current taxable year or in future years because, among other things, PFIC status is determined annually and is based on a corporation’s income, assets, and activities for the entire taxable year. Moreover, the determination as to whether any corporation was, or will be, a PFIC for a particular taxable year depends, in part,

 

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on the application of complex U.S. federal income tax rules, which are subject to differing interpretations and uncertainty. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Company is not currently or will not be classified as a PFIC for any taxable year. This paragraph is qualified in its entirety by the discussion below under the heading “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations.” Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its own tax adviser regarding the potential PFIC status of the Company.

Any failure to adhere to laws and regulations regarding product labelling and marketing may adversely impact our business.

Our products are subject to regulations governing their labeling, marketing and advertising. If regulators determine that the labeling of any of our products is not in compliance with applicable law or regulations in Canada or other jurisdictions, we could be subject to civil remedies or penalties, such as fines, injunctions, recalls or seizures, warning letters, restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the products, or refusals to permit the import or export of products, as well as potential criminal sanctions.

We could also become subject to third-party claims, because of any violations of, or liabilities under, such requirements, including any competitor or consumer challenges relating to compliance with such requirements. For example, in connection with the marketing and advertisement of our products, we could be the target of claims relating to false or misleading advertising, including under the Canadian Safe Food for Canadians Act, Food and Drugs Act or Competition Act or similar statutes in other countries, or the consumer protection statutes in various jurisdictions. Such claims could include challenges to our label or labeling claims that, if successful, could require us to make labeling changes and/or pay monetary damages.

Health Canada and the CFIA or similar foreign regulatory authorities, such as the FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture, or authorities in the UK, could take action to impact our ability to use the terms “meat” or “cheese” or similar words to describe or advertise our brand and products. In addition, a food may be deemed misbranded if its labeling is false or misleading in any particular way, and authorities or other regulators could interpret the use of such terms or any similar phrase(s) to describe our plant-based food products as false or misleading or likely to create an erroneous impression regarding their composition. Should regulatory authorities take action with respect to the use of the terms “meat”, “cheese” or similar terms, such that we are unable to use those terms with respect to our plant-based products, we could be subject to enforcement action or recall of our products marketed with these terms, we may be required to modify our marketing strategy, and our business, prospects, results of operations or financial condition could be adversely affected. Competitors may also try to bring legal action against us and any resulting litigation could be costly and disruptive to our ability to market in the affected jurisdictions.

Any change in labeling or packaging requirements for our products may lead to an increase in costs or interruptions in production, either of which could adversely affect our operations and financial condition. New or revised government laws and regulations could result in additional compliance costs and, in the event of non-compliance, civil remedies, including fines, injunctions, withdrawals, recalls or seizures and confiscations, as well as potential criminal sanctions, any of which may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

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Failure to innovate will affect our ability to expand and become profitable.

Our growth in part depends on our ability to develop and market new products and improvements to our existing products that appeal to consumer preferences. The success of our innovation and product development efforts is affected by our ability to anticipate changes in consumer preferences, the technical capability of our R&D team in developing and testing product prototypes, including complying with applicable governmental regulations, the success of our management and sales and marketing team in introducing and marketing new products and positive acceptance by consumers. Failure to develop and successfully market and sell new products will inhibit our growth, sales and profitability.

Our ability to generate revenue depends on our ability to attract new customers and retain existing customers, if we fail to do either we may not be able to meet our growth strategy.

Our success, and our ability to increase revenue and operate profitably, depends in part on our ability to acquire new customers and retain existing customers across our distribution channels. We may fail to acquire or retain customers due to a variety of factors including negative value and quality perceptions, a lack of new and relevant products, failure to open new flagship stores as anticipated or failure to deliver customers’ orders in a timely manner.

As our business consolidates customers and becomes increasingly reliant on large distributors, we become subject to the risk of losing a significant customer which could adversely affect our result of operations.

As we increase distribution to retail grocery stores, we will be subject to the risk resulting from increasing consolidation being experienced in that sector, in particular by smaller independent retailers. As retail grocers continue to consolidate and customers grow larger and more sophisticated, we will be required to adjust to changes in their purchasing practices and requirements including resistance to product price increases. We could also be affected by other adverse developments in the relationship with one or more large customers including the loss thereof, the reduction of purchasing levels or the cancellation of any business from large customers for an extended period of time. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our product pricing strategy may become inefficient, which could result in a negative impact on our revenue.

Our success is dependent, in part, on our ability to make pricing decisions regarding our products that, on one hand encourage consumers to buy, yet on the other hand recoup development and other costs associated with those products. Products that are priced too high will not sell and products priced too low will not generate an adequate return. In addition, we may be required to pass on to our customers any price increases that arise out of supply chain disruptions. Accordingly, any failure by us to properly price our products could have a material adverse effect on the VERY GOOD’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

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The regulatory framework in which we operate is constantly evolving.

We are subject to employment, health and safety, cyber and data security, privacy, environmental, tax, advertising, competition and other laws, and regulation by government agencies such as Health Canada, CFIA and FDA who regulate various aspects of our products, including food safety standards, preventive controls plans, traceability and current good manufacturing practices. In particular, our production facilities and products are subject to inspection by CFIA, FDA, and provincial, state and municipal health authorities, as applicable. We strive to maintain compliance with all laws and regulations. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that we are in compliance with all such laws and regulations, have all necessary permits and licenses, and will be able to comply with such laws and regulations, or obtain such permits and licenses in the future. Failure by us to comply with applicable laws and regulations and permits and licenses could subject us to civil remedies, including fines, injunctions, recalls or seizures, as well as potential criminal sanctions, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. If we, or third parties involved in the supply chain of our products, cannot successfully manufacture, package, label, store, advertise or distribute products that conform to the specifications and the strict regulatory requirements of the CFIA or other applicable regulators, we may be subject to adverse inspectional findings or enforcement actions, which could materially impact our ability to market our products, could result in our inability to manufacture our products, or could result in a recall of our products that have already been distributed.

The regulatory environment in which we operate could change significantly in the future. Enforcement of existing laws and regulations, changes in legal requirements and/or evolving interpretations of existing regulatory requirements may result in increased compliance costs and create other obligations, financial or otherwise, that could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In particular, any change in laws and regulations, including laws and regulations applicable to the manufacture, composition, ingredients, packaging, labeling, distribution, advertising, sale, quality and safety requirements for our products may lead to an increase in costs or interruptions in production, either of which could adversely affect our operations and financial condition.

A material disruption or a security breach affecting our information technology systems could significantly affect our business and lead to reduced sales, growth prospects and reputational damage.

We rely on our information technology systems to manage our business, including customer, employee, product, inventory, supply chain and financial data. We also use mobile devices, online message platforms and other online activities to communicate with employees and other stakeholders. The failure of our information technology systems to operate effectively could adversely affect our business. In addition, our information technology systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, cyber-attacks, phishing attacks, denial-of-service attacks, social engineering attacks, ransomware attacks, security breaches, catastrophic events such as fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, pandemics, acts of war or terrorism, and usage errors by our employees. If our information technology systems are damaged or cease to function properly, we may have to make a significant investment to fix or replace them.

 

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We may also suffer loss of critical data, compromise to the integrity or confidentiality of data and information, including but not limited to employee, customer and supplier information in our systems or networks, disruption to the systems or networks of third parties on which we rely, and interruptions or delays in our operations. We rely on third-party technology cloud providers and may be subject to risks of such service providers ceasing business operations, changing their business models, reducing functionality or experiencing cyber-attacks or system outages. Any significant loss of data or failure to maintain reliable data could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Privacy updates implemented by Apple in April 2021 and the changes META (Facebook) made to their advertising tools shortly after have limited the ways in which we can target consumers and measure the success of specific ad campaigns. See “Our business relies on building brand awareness through social media marketing which can be adversely affected by regulation, privacy policy updates and/or negative relationships with influencers” above. A disruption to our eCommerce business, including our ability to effectively market our brand and products, could reduce our eCommerce revenue, increase our costs, diminish our growth prospects, expose us to litigation, decrease customer confidence and damage our brand, and a material interruption to any of our computer systems could adversely affect our business or results of operations and our reputation.

We generally collect, process, store and use sensitive personal information relating to our customers and employees, including their personally identifiable information, and rely on third parties for the operation of our eCommerce site and for the various social media tools and websites we use, for marketing purposes and for employment purposes. Any perceived, attempted or actual unauthorized disclosure of personally identifiable information regarding our employees, customers or website visitors could harm our reputation and credibility, reduce our eCommerce revenue, reduce our ability to attract and retain customers, or subject us to litigation or the imposition of significant fines or penalties, which could adversely affect our business, growth, brand image and reputation. Moreover, we could incur significant expenses or disruptions of our operations in connection with system failures or data breaches.

Many jurisdictions have adopted privacy and data security laws or regulations that require notification to consumers or employees if the security of their personal information is breached, among other requirements. Any compromise of our security or accidental loss or theft of customer or employee data in our possession could result in a violation of applicable privacy and other laws, significant legal and financial exposure and damage to our reputation, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and the price of our Common Shares.

We may engage in litigation and there may be claims made against us from time to time that can result in litigation that could distract management from our business activities and result in significant liability or damage to us.

As a growing company with expanding operations, we increasingly face the risk of claims, lawsuits, government investigations, and other proceedings involving product recall and liability, intellectual property, privacy, consumer protection, securities, tax, employment, commercial disputes, and other matters that could adversely affect our business operations and financial condition.

 

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These claims can raise complex factual and legal issues that are subject to risks and uncertainties that, regardless of their merits, could harm our reputation, divert management’s attention from our operations and result in substantial legal fees and other costs all of which could materially adversely affect our operations, our reputation and the market price of our Common Shares.

We may be unable to execute successfully on our acquisitions, investments, and other business initiatives.

We may pursue acquisitions and investments in the future that we believe will help us achieve our strategic objectives. If we do complete acquisitions, we may not ultimately achieve our goals or realize the anticipated benefits as acquisitions inherently involve a number of risks. Specifically, the pursuit of acquisitions and any integration process will require significant time and resources and could divert management time and focus and we may not be able to manage the process successfully. An acquisition, investment or business relationship may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures, including disrupting our ongoing operations and subjecting us to additional liabilities, increasing our expenses, and adversely impacting our business, financial condition and operating results. Moreover, we may be exposed to unknown liabilities related to the acquired company or products for which we may not be sufficiently indemnified, and the anticipated benefits of any acquisition, investment or business relationship may not be realized if, for example, we fail to successfully integrate such acquisition into our company. To pay for any such acquisitions, we would have to use cash, incur debt, or issue debt or equity securities, each of which may affect our financial condition or the value of our Common Shares and could result in dilution to our shareholders. Our acquisition strategy could require significant management attention, disrupt and harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we issue additional Common Shares this may have a dilutive effect on shareholders.

The issuance of additional Common Shares, or securities convertible into Common Shares, under any equity financing or pursuant to any equity-based compensation plans, may have a dilutive effect on the interests of shareholders. The number of Common Shares that we are authorized to issue is unlimited. We may, in our sole discretion, subject to applicable law and the rules of both the TSX-V and the Nasdaq, issue additional Common Shares from time to time and the interests of shareholders may be diluted as a result.

We are subject to risks associated with leasing space and equipment and are subject to a number of long-term non-cancelable leases with substantial lease payments. Any failure to make these lease payments when due, or the inability to extend, renew or continue to lease space and equipment in key locations, would likely harm our business, profitability, and results of operations.

We lease all of our facilities and accordingly, are subject to all of the risks associated with leasing, occupying and making tenant improvements to real property, including adverse demographic and competitive changes affecting the location of the property and changes in availability of and contractual terms for leasable commercial and retail space. Changes in areas around our current and future butcher shops that result in reductions in customer foot traffic or otherwise render the location unsuitable or altogether unavailable due to unforeseen or extraordinary circumstances including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, could result in lower sales volumes and adversely

 

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affect our business, results of operation, and financial condition. We also have significant financial obligations under the leases we have entered into and if we are not able to meet our lease obligations, this could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and business.

A change in consumer trends away from plant-based products could limit demand for our products.

Our business is focused on providing wholesome and nutritious plant-based products as alternatives to traditional animal-based products. Consumer demand could change based on a number of possible factors, including dietary habits and nutritional values, concerns regarding the health effects of ingredients and shifts in preference for various product attributes that we may not be able to accurately predict or respond to. If consumer demand for our products decreases, our business and financial condition would suffer. Consumer trends could change based on a number of possible factors, including economic factors and social trends. A significant shift in consumer demand away from our products could reduce sales, which would harm our business and financial condition.

Our business is labor intensive and could be adversely affected if we are unable to maintain satisfactory relations with our employees or the occurrence of union attempts to organize our employees.

Union attempts to organize our employees could negatively affect our business. None of our employees are currently subject to a collective bargaining agreement. As we expand our operations, unions may attempt to organize all or part of our employee base. Responding to such organization attempts may divert the attention and efforts of management and employees and may have a negative financial impact on our business. The maintenance of a productive and efficient labour environment and, in the event of unionization of these employees, and the successful negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement, cannot be assured. Protracted and extensive work stoppages or labour disruptions such as strikes or lockouts could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

An inability to maintain high social responsibility standards could lead to reputational damage and adversely affect our business.

We have set certain corporate social responsibility metrics for ourselves and our failure to meet such metrics may influence our reputation and the value of our brand. We have applied to B Lab to become a Certified B Corporation. If we obtain status as a Certified B Corporation our reputation could be harmed if we subsequently lose such status, whether by our choice or by our failure to meet B Lab’s certification requirements, if that change in status were to create a perception that we are more focused on financial performance and are no longer as committed to the values shared by Certified B Corporations. If we become a Certified B Corporation, we will be required to seek shareholder approval to amend our Company’s constating documents to become a Benefit Company under the BCBCA. Benefit Companies must include a benefit statement in its Notice of Articles and a benefit provision in its Articles, to set out a public benefit purpose that is intended to have a positive effect for the benefit of a class of persons, communities or organizations, or the environment. If we become a Benefit Company, our management and board of directors (the “Board”) will be required to act honestly and in good faith with a view to conducting the business

 

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in a responsible and sustainable manner and promoting the Company’s public benefits (the “Benefit Duty”) and balance this Benefit Duty with their traditional fiduciary duties to the Company. In the event of a conflict between the interests of our shareholders, our stakeholders, and our benefit purpose, our directors must only make an informed and disinterested decision. Our directors would have significant latitude under this standard and there is no guarantee that a conflict would be resolved in favor of our shareholders. This balancing obligation may allow our directors to make decisions that they could not have made pursuant to the fiduciary duties applicable prior to a Benefit Company conversion, and such decisions may not maximize short-term shareholder value.

Similarly, our reputation could be harmed if we take actions that are perceived to be misaligned with our values. Any harm to our reputation resulting from setting these metrics or our failure or perceived failure to meet such metrics could impact: employee engagement and retention; consumer loyalty, the willingness of our customers to do business with us; or investors’ willingness to purchase our Common Shares, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial performance, and growth.

In addition, shareholders and institutional investors increasingly focus on corporate ESG practices which they commonly measure through third-party benchmarks or scores. If our future ESG practices do not meet these standards we may lose investment from certain shareholders and our business and reputation could be negatively impacted and the price of our Common Shares could be materially and adversely affected.

An inability to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting could increase the risk of an error in our financial statements and/or call into question the reliability of our financial statements.

As a public company, we are required to maintain internal controls over financial reporting and to report any material weaknesses in such internal controls. If we are unable to implement and maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports.

We determined that a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting existed as of December 31, 2021 as a result of control deficiencies identified by our auditors during their audit of the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year then ended. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weakness identified by our auditors related to a lack of review of journal entries and insufficient management review of accounts and balances in the preparation of our 2021 consolidated financial statements. These audit misstatements were corrected in connection with the preparation of our 2021 consolidated financial statements and did not have a material effect on previously issued financial statements.

The Company plans to implement a remediation plan to address this material weakness during 2022, including designing and operating enhanced management review controls over accounts and balances as part of the financial close process in future periods. Successful remediation requires further assessment of the skills and resources in the Company’s finance function as well as an evaluation of the Company’s financial close process. While we believe that we have sufficient personnel and review procedures to allow us to remedy the above-mentioned material weakness and maintain an effective system of internal controls, we cannot assure you that we will not experience additional material weaknesses in our internal control. Even if we are able to remedy the outstanding material weakness, our internal controls over financial reporting, because of its inherent limitations, may not prevent or detect fraud or misstatements. Failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our results of operations, or cause us to fail to meet our future reporting obligations.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) requires that we evaluate and determine the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting and provide a management report on internal controls over financial reporting. Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act also requires that our management report on internal controls over financial reporting be attested to by our independent auditor. Due to a transition period established by rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for new public companies, we were not required to comply with these two requirements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. In addition, pursuant to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”), we are classified as an “emerging growth company”. Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies are exempt from certain reporting requirements, including the independent auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Under this exemption, our independent auditor will not be required to attest to and report on management’s assessment of our internal control over financial reporting during a transition period of up to five years from our initial registration with the SEC. We will need to prepare for compliance with Section 404(b) by strengthening, assessing and testing our system of internal controls to provide the basis for our report. However, the continuous process of strengthening our internal controls and complying with Section 404(b) is complicated and time-consuming. Furthermore, we believe that our business will grow, in which case our internal controls will become more complex and will require significantly more resources and attention to ensure our internal controls remain effective overall.

 

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If we are unsuccessful in remediating our existing material weakness or if in the future we have any additional material weaknesses, we may not detect errors on a timely basis and our financial statements may be materially misstated. Additionally, if in the future we are unable to comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in a timely manner, are unable to assert that our internal controls over financial reporting are effective, continue to have a material weakness or identify additional material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting, or if, when auditor attestation is required, our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our Common Shares could be adversely affected, and we could become subject to investigations by Nasdaq, the SEC, or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.

Changes in accounting standards and subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by management related to complex accounting matters could significantly affect our reported financial results or financial condition.

Generally accepted accounting principles and related accounting pronouncements, implementation guidelines and interpretations with regard to a wide range of matters that are relevant to our business, including but not limited to revenue recognition, impairment of assets, leases, inventory, income taxes and litigation, are highly complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments. Changes in these rules or their interpretation or changes in underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments could significantly change our reported financial performance or financial condition in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Risks Relating to our Common Shares

We are currently not in compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid price requirement. Failure to regain compliance will result in delisting from Nasdaq, limit our ability to raise capital and may have a negative impact on the price and liquidity of our Common Shares.

On January 14, 2022, the Company announced that it received an initial notification letter from Nasdaq’s Listing Qualifications Department notifying the Company that it had 180 days to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement set forth in Nasdaq’s continued listing rules. Nasdaq’s continued listing rules require that listed securities maintain a minimum bid price of U.S.$1.00 per share, and that a failure to meet the minimum bid price requirement exists if the deficiency continues for a period of 30 consecutive business days or more. The Common Shares traded below a bid price of U.S.$1.00 for the 30 consecutive business days prior to January 11, 2022. As a result, Nasdaq found that the Company did not meet the minimum bid price requirement. The Common Shares remain listed on Nasdaq and the Company has until July 11, 2022, to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement in order to maintain the listing. To regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement, the Common Shares must have a closing bid price of at least U.S.$1.00 for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days. In the event the Company does not regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement by

 

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July 11, 2022, the Company has the option to apply to Nasdaq for additional time to regain compliance with this listing requirement.

If the Common Shares are delisted from the Nasdaq, VERY GOOD’s ability to raise capital in the future may be limited. Delisting could also result in less liquidity for the Company’s shareholders and a lower share price. Such a delisting would likely have a negative effect on the price of the Common Shares and could impair the Company shareholders’ ability to sell or purchase the Common Shares. For example, the Company’s shareholders in the U.S. may be required to resell their shares on the TSX-V if a liquid over-the-counter trading market did not develop in the U.S. following a delisting. In the event of a delisting, the Company expects to take actions to restore its compliance with the Nasdaq’s listing requirements, but it can provide no assurance that any action taken by the Company would result in the Common Shares becoming listed again, or that any such action would stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of the Common Shares. Delisting also could have other negative results, including the potential loss of confidence by employees, the loss of institutional investor interest and fewer business development opportunities.

We incur significantly increased costs and devote substantial management time as a result of operating as a U.S. public company.

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the TSX-V, Canadian securities legislation, the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the rules thereunder implemented by the SEC, Nasdaq rules and regulations and Nasdaq listing standards and other applicable securities rules and regulations. Compliance with these rules and regulations has increased our legal and financial compliance costs and strains our financial and management systems, internal controls, and employees. In addition, if any regulatory agency and/or shareholders allege that we are in violation of any of the foregoing securities laws, we may become the subject of regulatory enforcement and/or shareholder litigation, which could result in negative publicity, disruption to our operations as a result of significant diversion of management attention, and/or fines, penalties, judgments against us, which may have a material adverse effect on our business.

The rules and regulations applicable to public companies, and potential stockholder litigation brought recently against public companies, have also made it more expensive to obtain and maintain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to incur even higher costs to obtain and maintain the same or similar coverage. In addition, we may not be able to claim sufficient insurance coverage in respect of claims against us, members of our board of directors and/or executive officers. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members on our board of directors and qualified executive officers.

A decline in the price of the Common Shares could affect our ability to raise further working capital and adversely impact our ability to continue operations.

The market price of our Common Shares has been and could be subject to significant fluctuations which have and could continue to materially reduce the market price of our Common Shares regardless of our operating performance. In addition to the other risk factors described this AIF, the factors that could cause significant disruption in the market price of our Common Shares may include actual or anticipated changes or fluctuations in our operating results, adverse market reaction to any indebtedness we may incur or securities we may issue in the future, litigation or

 

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regulatory action, significant acquisitions, business combinations or other strategic actions or capital commitments by or involving us or our competitors, recruitment or departure of key personnel and investors’ general perception and reactions to our public disclosure and filings.

In addition, broad market and industry factors may harm the market price of our Common Shares. As a result, the market price of our Common Shares may fluctuate based upon factors external to us and that may have little or nothing to do with us, including expectations of market analysts, positive or negative recommendations or withdrawal of research coverage by analysts, publication of research reports or news stories about us, our competitors or our industry and changes in general political, economic, industry and market conditions and trends.

Future sales of our securities by existing shareholders or by us could cause the market price for the Common Shares to decline.

We cannot predict the size of future equity issuances of our Common Shares or convertible debt or the effect, if any, that such future issuances and sales will have on the market price of our Common Shares. As of March 30, 2022, there were 118,503,464 Common Shares issued and outstanding. There are also options to acquire 7,450,564 Common Shares and 13,064,081 warrants currently outstanding. The Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of these options and warrants will, to the extent permitted by any applicable vesting requirements and restrictions under applicable securities laws, also become eligible for sale in the public market. Sales of substantial equity amounts, or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Common Shares.

We do not expect to pay any cash dividends for the foreseeable future.

We currently expect to retain all available funds for use in the operation and growth of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our Board, subject to compliance with applicable law and any contractual provisions, pursuant to the Loan Agreement and other agreements for indebtedness we may incur, that restrict or limit our ability to pay dividends, and will depend upon, among other factors, our results of operations, financial condition, earnings, capital requirements and other factors that our Board deems relevant.

General Risk Factors

Unexpected events such natural disasters and global health crises could adversely affect our business and revenue.

Our offices, production facilities, warehouses, and restaurant as well as the facilities of our distributors and third-party logistics providers are vulnerable to disruption from natural disasters, extreme and/or unusual weather, global health crises and disease outbreaks (including COVID-19), and other unexpected events. These events could cause and, in the case of COVID-19, have caused, disruptions in our operations and those of our third-party partners, including our suppliers.

Natural disasters such as earthquakes could severely damage or destroy one or more of our facilities, thereby severely disrupting our business operations. We may also experience plant shutdowns or periods of reduced production because of regulatory issues, equipment failure,

 

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delays in raw material deliveries or COVID-19 or other disease outbreaks. Any such disruption or unanticipated event may cause significant interruptions or delays in our business and the reduction or loss of inventory may render us unable to fulfill customer orders in a timely manner, or at all which would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Climate change could adversely affect our business.

Physical risks resulting from climate change can be event-driven (acute) or long-term (chronic) shifts in climate patterns that may have negative impacts on our business, including direct damage to assets such as our facilities and indirect impact to our supply chain. As climate change accelerates, its impacts are becoming more widespread and unpredictable. The incidence and impact of severe weather-related events, long term changes in weather patterns that lead to extreme weather and natural disasters including flooding and drought, may have a negative effect on agricultural productivity, which may result in decreased availability or less favourable pricing for some or many of the ingredients in our products such as such as legumes and vegetables. Furthermore, evolving regulatory and legal frameworks to tackle climate change today and in the future may lead to adverse impacts to our business. These may include, but are not limited to, costs related to compliance, resources, and transportation.

We are subject to insurance-related risks.

We maintain insurance including liability insurance, property and business interruption insurance and directors’ and officers’ insurance, with deductibles, limits of liability and similar provisions. However, there is no guarantee that our insurance coverage will be sufficient, or that insurance proceeds will be paid to us on a timely basis. In addition, there are types of losses we may incur but against which we cannot be insured or which we believe are not economically reasonable to insure. If we incur these losses and they are material, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected. Also, certain material events may result in sizable losses for the insurance industry and materially adversely impact the availability of adequate insurance coverage or result in significant premium increases. Accordingly, we may elect to self-insure, accept higher deductibles or reduce the amount of coverage in response to such market changes.

A change in general economic conditions may have an adverse effect on our business.

The global economy can be negatively impacted by a variety of factors such as the spread or fear of spread of contagious diseases (such as COVID-19), man-made or natural disasters, actual or threatened war, terrorist activities, political unrest, civil unrest, and other geopolitical uncertainty. Consumers may shift purchases to lower-priced or other perceived value offerings during economic downturns and may reduce the amount of plant-based food products that they purchase, and in particular more premium items such as our products. In addition, the occurrence of any of these events may disrupt commerce, our supply chain operations, international trade or result in political or economic instability. Prolonged unfavourable economic conditions or uncertainty may have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

 

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Our reliance on counterparties subjects us to risk in the event of a counterparty default or non-performance of an obligation.

We are party to contracts, transactions and business relationships with various third parties, pursuant to which such third parties have performance, payment and other obligations to us. If any of these third parties were to become subject to bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceedings, our rights and benefits in relation to our contracts, transactions and business relationships with such third parties could be terminated, modified in a manner adverse to us, or otherwise impaired. We cannot make any assurances that we would be able to arrange for alternate or replacement contracts, transactions or business relationships on terms as favourable as our existing contracts, transactions or business relationships, if at all. Any inability on our part to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

As a foreign private issuer whose shares are listed on Nasdaq, we intend to follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of certain Nasdaq requirements.

As a foreign private issuer whose shares are listed on Nasdaq, we are permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of certain requirements of the Nasdaq rules. In addition, we intend to follow the TSX-V listing rules in respect of private placements instead of Nasdaq requirements to obtain shareholder approval for certain dilutive events (such as issuances that will result in a change of control, certain transactions other than a public offering involving issuances of a 20% or greater interest in us and certain acquisitions of the shares or assets of another company). Accordingly, our shareholders may not be afforded the same protection as provided under Nasdaq corporate governance rules for domestic issuers.

It may be difficult for United States investors to effect service of process or enforcement of actions against us or certain of our directors and officers under U.S. federal securities laws.

We are incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada. A number of our directors and officers reside in Canada. Because certain of our assets and these persons are located outside the United States, it will be difficult for United States investors to effect service of process in the United States upon us or our directors or officers, or to realize in the United States upon judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities under the Exchange Act or other United States laws. It may also be difficult to have a judgment rendered in a U.S. court recognized or enforced against us in Canada.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE

The following is a summary of the material attributes and characteristics of the Company’s authorized share capital. This summary is qualified by reference to, and is subject to, and the detailed provisions of our Articles available under the Company’s profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com. In addition, we will file as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 20-F an exhibit that contains a description of our Common Shares, which will be available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Our authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of Common Shares. As at the date of this AIF, there were 118,503,464 Common Shares issued and outstanding. Holders of our Common Shares are entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, all meetings of shareholders and to receive all notices and other documents required to be sent to shareholders. On a poll, every shareholder is entitled to one vote for each Common Share held. The holders of

 

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Common Shares are entitled to dividends if, as and when declared by the Board and, upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of its affairs or other distribution of its assets for the purpose of winding-up its affairs, to receive, on a pro rata basis, all of the remaining assets of the Company. The Common Shares do not carry any pre-emptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights, nor do they contain any sinking fund or purchase fund provisions.

DIVIDEND POLICY

We currently intend to retain any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business and do not currently anticipate paying dividends on the Common Shares. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of the Board and will depend on many factors, including, among others, our financial condition, current and anticipated cash requirements, contractual restrictions and financing agreement covenants, and other factors that our Board may deem relevant.

The Loan Agreement, or certain other agreements that the Company may enter into from time to time for indebtedness, prohibits us from paying dividends at any time at which a default or event of default has occurred and is continuing, or if a default or event of default would exist as a result of paying the dividend.

MARKET FOR COMMON SHARES

Trading Price and Volume

The Common Shares are currently listed and posted for trading on the TSX-V under the symbol “VERY.V”. Our Common Shares were initially listed on the CSE following completion of our initial public offering on June 16, 2020 (the “Canadian IPO”) until March 16, 2021 and thereafter on the TSX-V, where the Common Shares commenced trading on March 17, 2021. The Common Shares commenced trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “VGFC” on October 13, 2021. The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the range of high and low prices per Common Share at the close of market on the CSE, as well as total volumes of the Common Shares traded on the CSE.

 

Period

   High
($)
     Low
($)
     Volume  

January

     8.87        5.27        8,707,019  

February

     7.28        5.06        5,723,822  

March 1-16

     6.17        4.42        2,407,694  

 

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The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the range of high and low prices per Common Share at the close of market on the TSX-V, as well as total volumes of the Common Shares traded on the TSX-V.

 

Period

   High
($)
     Low
($)
     Volume  

March 17-31

     6.00        4.45        2,297,839  

April

     5.56        4.40        2,181,353  

May

     4.98        3.50        2,485,373  

June

     4.72        3.53        3,220,754  

July

     3.94        2.80        3,589,384  

August

     3.34        2.70        3,219,763  

September

     3.08        2.32        2,235,384  

October

     3.68        1.85        10,196,848  

November

     2.20        1.06        4,865,561  

December

     1.27        0.92        3,085,506  

Prior Sales

The following table summarizes VERY GOOD’s issuances of options to purchase Common Shares (“Options”) under its stock option plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

 

Date

   Number
of
Securities
     Exercise
Price Per
Security
($)
 

January 4, 2021

     1,155,000      $ 6.21  

January 26, 2021

     60,000      $ 7.10  

January 29, 2021

     3,255,000      $ 7.03  

February 16, 2021

     75,000      $ 6.73  

March 8, 2021

     35,000      $ 5.72  

July 15, 2021

     685,625      $ 3.70  

October 7, 2021

     115,000      $ 3.41  

The following table summarizes VERY GOOD’s issuances of warrants during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

 

Date

   Number
of
Securities
    Exercise
Price Per
Security
($)
 

January 5, 2021

     7,500 (1)    $ 2.00  

January 13, 2021

     119,434 (1)    $ 4.50  

January 20, 2021

     10,000 (1)    $ 2.00  

June 7, 2021

     225,000 (2)    $ 5.62  

July 2, 2021

     391,632 (3)    $ 3.70  

October 19, 2021

     525,000 (4)    U.S.$ 2.50  

Notes:

(1)

Represents an exercise of compensation warrants in accordance with their terms.

 

(2)

Represents 225,000 warrants issued to Waygar Capital Inc. as compensation for services as lender for the Credit Facility, with each warrant being exercisable for one Common Share at a price of $5.62 until June 7, 2026.

 

(3)

Represents compensation warrants issued as compensation to Canaccord Genuity Corp. (“Canaccord”) as the underwriter for the July 2021 Offering.

 

(4)

Represents compensation warrants issued as compensation to agents for the October 2021 Offering.

 

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The following table summarizes VERY GOOD’s issuances of units during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

 

Date

   Number
of
Securities
    Exercise
Price Per
Security
($)
 

July 2, 2021

     5,594,750 (1)    $ 3.70  

July 2, 2021

     30,000 (2)    $ 3.82  

October 19, 2021

     15,000,000 (3)    U.S.$ 2.00  

Notes:

(1)

Represents units issued pursuant to the July 2021 Offering. Each unit consists of one Common Share and one-half of one warrant with each whole warrant being exercisable for one additional Common Share at an exercise price of $4.60 until January 2, 2023.

 

(2)

Represents corporate finance fee units issued as compensation to Canaccord as the underwriter for the July 2021 Offering, with each corporate finance fee consisting of one Common Share and one-half of one warrant with each whole warrant being exercisable for one additional Common Share at an exercise price of $4.60 until January 2, 2023.

 

(3)

Represents units issued pursuant to October 2021 Offering. Each unit was comprised of one Common Share and one half of one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of U.S.$2.35 until October 19, 2026.

Record Holders

Based on our records and a review of the information provided to us by our transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc., as of the date of this AIF, there were 80 holders of record of our Common Shares, of which two record holders (including Cede & Co., the nominee of the Depository Trust Company), holding approximately 24.25% of our outstanding Common Shares, had registered addresses in the United States. These numbers are not representative of the number of beneficial holders of our Common Shares nor is it representative of where such beneficial holders reside primarily because many of these Common Shares may be held of record by brokers or other nominees.

Exchange Controls

We are not aware of any Canadian federal or provincial laws, decrees, or regulations that restrict the export or import of capital, including foreign exchange controls, or that affect the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to non-Canadian holders of the Common Shares. There are no limitations under the laws of Canada or by the charter or our other constituent documents, except the Investment Canada Act which may require review and approval by the Minister of Industry (Canada) of certain acquisition of control of us by non-Canadians. The threshold for acquisitions of control is generally defined as being one-third or more of our voting shares. If the investment is potentially injurious to national security, it may be subject to review under the Investment Canada Act notwithstanding the percentage interest acquired or amount of the investment. “Non-Canadian” generally means an individual who is not a Canadian citizen, or a corporation, partnership, trust, or joint venture that is ultimately controlled by non-Canadians.

 

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ESCROWED SECURITIES AND SECURITIES SUBJECT TO CONTRACTUAL RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER

The following table sets out the securities that are currently held in escrow pursuant to an escrow agreement dated May 11, 2020 (the “Escrow Agreement”), among our co-founders Mitchell Scott and James Davison, Tania Friesen (James Davison’s spouse), our former Chief Financial Officer Drew Bonnell (collectively, the “Escrowed Parties”) and Computershare Trust Company, as escrow agent. The entry into of the Escrow Agreement was a requirement of National Policy 46-201—Escrow for Initial Public Offerings in connection with the Canadian IPO and serves to tie the Company’s management and its principal securityholders to the Company by restricting their ability to sell their securities for a period of time following the Canadian IPO.

 

Designation of Class

   Number of Escrowed Securities(1)      Percentage of Class(2)  

Common Shares

     12,636,255        10.66

Notes:

(1)

On May 11, 2020, 27,850,006 Common Shares and 158,337 warrants (the “Escrow Warrants”) were deposited into escrow by the Escrowed Parties pursuant to the Escrow Agreement and subject to a timed escrow release schedule. On June 16, 2020, 2,788,334 Common Shares were released from escrow. On December 16, 2020 a further, 4,192,085 Common Shares were released from escrow. On June 16, 2021, a further 4,212,085 Common Shares were released from escrow. On December 16, 2021, a further 4,212,085 Common Shares were released from escrow. On June 16, 2022, a further 4,212,085 Common Shares will be released from escrow. On December 17, 2022, 4,212,085 Common Shares will be released from escrow. On June 16, 2023, a further 4,212,085 Common Shares will be released from escrow. As at the date of this AIF, all of the Escrow Warrants have been exercised and the Common Shares resulting from such exercise have been deposited into escrow in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement.

(2)

Based on 118,503,464 Common Shares issued and outstanding.

CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to a U.S. Holder (as defined below) of the ownership and disposition of Common Shares. This summary is based on provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), on the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Treasury Regulations”), and on published administrative rulings, judicial decisions, and other applicable authority, all as in effect on the date hereof and all of which are subject to change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary addresses only U.S. Holders that acquire and hold Common Shares as “capital assets” within the meaning of the Code (generally, property held for investment).

This summary is necessarily general and may not apply to all categories of holders, some of whom may be subject to special rules, including, without limitation:

 

   

persons that own (directly, indirectly, or constructively, applying certain attribution rules) 10% or more of the total voting power or total value of the stock of the Company;

 

   

dealers in securities or currencies;

 

   

financial institutions or financial services entities;

 

   

mutual funds;

 

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life insurance companies;

 

   

persons that hold Common Shares as part of a straddle, hedging transaction, conversion transaction, constructive sale or other arrangement involving more than one position;

 

   

persons that acquired Common Shares in connection with the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for services;

 

   

persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

 

   

persons who have elected mark-to-market accounting;

 

   

persons who hold Common Shares through a partnership or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

   

persons subject to the alternative minimum tax or the unearned income Medicare contribution tax on net investment income; and

 

   

certain U.S. expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States.

This summary does not address all potentially relevant U.S. federal income tax matters, nor does it address any state, local, foreign, estate, or gift tax consequences of holding or disposing of Common Shares.

As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of Common Shares who, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is: (i) a citizen or individual resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation (or other entity classified as a corporation for U.S. federal tax purposes) organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, and (iv) a trust (A) if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has elected to be treated as a U.S. person under applicable Treasury Regulations.

If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes) holds Common Shares, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships (or other entities or arrangements classified as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes) holding Common Shares, and their partners and other owners, are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the U.S. federal, state, local, and other tax consequences that may be relevant to them.

This summary does not constitute tax advice and is not intended to be a substitute for tax planning. Prospective investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal, state, and local income tax consequences particular to their ownership and disposition of Common Shares, as well as any tax consequences under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

 

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Ownership and Disposition of the Common Shares

Taxation of Distributions

The Company currently expects to retain all available funds for use in the operation and growth of its business and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In the event that the Company pays a dividend, and subject to the discussion below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” a U.S. Holder generally will recognize, to the extent paid out of the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles), dividend income on the receipt of distributions on the Common Shares (including amounts withheld to pay any Canadian withholding taxes). To the extent that the amount of a distribution exceeds the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, it will be treated first as a tax-free return of a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its Common Shares, and to the extent the amount of the distribution exceeds such U.S. Holder’s tax basis, the excess will be taxed as capital gain. The Company does not intend to calculate its earnings and profits according to U.S. federal income tax principles. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should expect a distribution generally to be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax reporting purposes.

Dividends received by individuals and other non-corporate U.S. Holders on Common Shares generally will be subject to tax at preferential rates applicable to long-term capital gains, provided that such holders meet certain holding period and other requirements, the Company is not treated as a PFIC for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or for the preceding taxable year, and either (i) the Company is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States, which generally will be the case if the Common Shares are treated as primarily and regularly traded on the TSX-V or (ii) the Common Shares are readily tradable on Nasdaq. No assurance can be given that the foregoing conditions will be satisfied. Dividends on Common Shares generally will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations.

Dividends paid by the Company generally will constitute foreign-source income for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. A U.S. Holder may be entitled to deduct or credit any Canadian withholding taxes on dividends in determining its U.S. income tax liability, subject to certain limitations (including that the election to deduct or credit foreign taxes applies to all of the U.S. Holder’s foreign taxes for a particular tax year). The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income. Dividends distributed by the Company with respect to Common Shares generally will constitute “passive category” income. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its own tax adviser regarding the availability of a foreign tax credit with respect to such holder’s particular circumstances.

The amount of any dividend paid to a U.S. Holder in Canadian dollars (including amounts withheld to pay Canadian withholding taxes) will be includible in income in a U.S. dollar value amount determined by reference to the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar in effect on the date of receipt of such dividend by the U.S. Holder, regardless of whether the Canadian dollars so received are in fact converted into U.S. dollars. A U.S. Holder will have a tax basis in the Canadian dollars equal to their U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. If the Canadian dollars received are converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, the U.S. Holder generally

 

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will not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss with respect to the dividend. If the Canadian dollars received are not converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder may recognize foreign currency gain or loss on a subsequent conversion or other disposition of the Canadian dollars. Such gain or loss generally will be treated as U.S.-source ordinary income or loss.

Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its own tax adviser regarding the application of the foregoing rules in light of the holder’s particular circumstances.

Sale, Exchange, or Other Taxable Disposition of the Common Shares

Subject to the discussion below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” upon a sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of a Common Share, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on such sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition (or, if the amount realized is denominated in Canadian dollars, its U.S. dollar equivalent, generally, for U.S. Holders that use the cash method and for electing U.S. Holders that use the accrual method, determined by reference to the spot rate of exchange on the date of settlement) and the holder’s tax basis in the Common Share. Such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Common Share has been held for more than one year and will be short-term capital gain or loss if the holding period is equal to or less than one year. Such gain or loss generally will be U.S.-source gain or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate taxpayers are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations

Certain generally adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could apply to a U.S. Holder if the Company is treated as a PFIC for any taxable year during the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Common Shares, as determined under the PFIC rules. A non-U.S. corporation, such as the Company, will be classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year in which either (i) 75% or more of its gross income for such year consists of certain types of “passive” income or (ii) 50% or more of the value of its assets during such year produce or are held for the production of passive income. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties, rents, annuities, net gains from the sale or exchange of property producing such income, and net foreign currency gains. For purposes of the income test and asset test, a non-U.S. corporation that directly or indirectly owns at least 25% by value of the shares of another corporation is treated as if it held its proportionate share of the assets of the other corporation and received directly its proportionate share of the income of the other corporation.

The Company has not determined whether it is likely to be classified as a PFIC for the current taxable year or in future years because, among other things, PFIC status is determined annually and is based on the Company’s income, assets, and activities for the entire taxable year. Moreover, the determination as to whether any corporation was, or will be, a PFIC for a particular taxable year depends, in part, on the application of complex U.S. federal income tax rules, which are subject to differing interpretations and uncertainty. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Company is not currently or will not be classified as a PFIC for any taxable year. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its own tax adviser regarding the potential PFIC status of the Company.

 

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Subject to certain elections described below, if the Company were a PFIC for any taxable year during a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Common Shares, then gain recognized by the U.S. Holder upon the sale or other taxable disposition of the Common Shares would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Common Shares. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the sale or other taxable disposition and to any year before the Company became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that taxable year, and an interest charge would be imposed on the tax on such amount. Further, to the extent that any distribution received by a U.S. Holder on its Common Shares were to exceed 125% of the average of the annual distributions on the Common Shares received during the preceding three years or the U.S. Holder’s holding period, whichever is shorter, that distribution would be subject to taxation in the same manner as gain, described immediately above. If the Company were classified as a PFIC for any taxable year in which a U.S. Holder held Common Shares, then the Company generally would continue to be classified as a PFIC with respect to such U.S. Holder for any subsequent taxable year in which the U.S. Holder continued to hold Common Shares, even if the Company’s income or assets would not cause it to be a PFIC in such subsequent taxable year, unless an exception were to apply.

In addition, if the Company were classified as a PFIC with respect to a U.S. Holder, to the extent any of the Company’s subsidiaries were also PFICs, the holder might be deemed to own shares in any such lower-tier PFICs directly or indirectly owned by the Company in that proportion which the value of the Common Shares owned by the holder bears to the value of all of the Company’s shares, and the holder therefore might be subject to the adverse tax consequences described above with respect to the shares of such lower-tier PFICs deemed owned by the holder.

Certain elections may be available to mitigate the adverse tax consequences of PFIC status described above. If the Company were a PFIC for any taxable year in which a U.S. Holder held Common Shares, and the U.S. Holder had made a timely and effective election to treat the Company as a “qualified electing fund” (a “QEF Election”) for the first taxable year of the U.S. Holder’s holding period in which the Company were classified as a PFIC, then the U.S. Holder generally would not be subject to the PFIC rules described in the preceding paragraphs. Instead, the U.S. Holder would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such holder’s pro rata share of (i) the net capital gain of the Company, which would be taxed as long-term capital gain to the U.S. Holder, and (ii) the ordinary earnings of the Company, which would be taxed as ordinary income to the U.S. Holder. However, a QEF Election cannot be made unless the Company provides or makes available certain information. The Company does not intend to provide information necessary for U.S. Holders to make QEF Elections, and therefore U.S. Holders should assume that QEF Elections will not be available to them.

As an alternative to a QEF Election, if the Company were a PFIC for any taxable year and the Common Shares were treated as “marketable stock” in such year, then a U.S. Holder could avoid the unfavorable rules described above by making a timely and effective “mark to market” election (a “Mark-to-Market Election”) in the first taxable year of the U.S. Holder’s holding period in which the Company were classified as a PFIC. In general, if a U.S. Holder were to make a timely and effective Mark-to-Market Election, the U.S. Holder generally would not be subject to the PFIC rules described in the preceding paragraphs. Instead, the U.S. Holder generally would include in ordinary income, for each taxable year in which the Company were a PFIC, an amount equal to

 

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the excess, if any, of (i) the fair market value of the Common Shares, as of the close of such taxable year over (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such Common Shares. The U.S. Holder would be entitled to deduct as an ordinary loss each year the excess of its adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares over their fair market value at the end of the year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the Mark-to-Market Election. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares would be increased by the amount of any income inclusion and decreased by the amount of any deductions under the Mark-to-Market Election rules. In addition, upon a sale or other taxable disposition of Common Shares, a U.S. Holder that made a Mark-to-Market Election would recognize ordinary income or ordinary loss (but only to the extent such loss did not exceed the net amount of previously included income as a result of the Mark-to-Market Election). A Mark-to-Market Election would apply to the taxable year in which the election were made and to each subsequent taxable year, unless the Common Shares were to cease to be “marketable stock,” the U.S. Holder were to mark the Common Shares to market under non-PFIC provisions of the Code, or the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) were to consent to the revocation of the election. The Common Shares will be marketable if they are regularly traded on certain qualifying stock exchanges. However, there can be no assurance that trading in the Common Shares will be sufficiently regular for the shares to qualify as marketable stock. Moreover, the Mark-to-Market Election will not be available with respect to any non-U.S. subsidiary classified as a PFIC. Accordingly, U.S. Holders making a Mark-to-Market Election generally would be subject to the unfavorable tax consequences described above with respect to any non-U.S. subsidiary classified as a PFIC.

In any year in which the Company is classified as a PFIC, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to file an annual report with the IRS containing certain information regarding the holder’s interest in the Company (or a non-U.S. subsidiary classified as a PFIC), subject to certain exceptions. A failure to satisfy such reporting requirement could result in the extension of the statute of limitations with respect to federal income tax returns filed by the U.S. Holder. The application of the PFIC rules to U.S. Holders is complex. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax adviser regarding the foregoing reporting requirements, the advisability of making a Mark-to-Market Election, and any other tax consequences under the PFIC rules of acquiring, owning, and disposing of Common Shares.

Foreign Financial Asset Reporting

Certain U.S. Holders are required to report information relating to an interest in Common Shares, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for Common Shares held in accounts maintained by certain financial institutions) by filing IRS Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets) with their U.S. federal income tax returns. Significant penalties may apply for the failure to satisfy these reporting obligations. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its own tax adviser regarding the information reporting obligations, if any, with respect to the holder’s ownership and disposition of Common Shares.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Distributions on Common Shares made to a U.S. Holder and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of Common Shares generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax reporting and may, under certain circumstances, be subject to U.S. federal backup withholding, unless the holder

 

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provides proof of an applicable exemption or, in the case of backup withholding, furnishes its taxpayer identification number and otherwise complies with all applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and generally will be allowed as a refund or credit against the holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

THE ABOVE SUMMARY IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF ALL TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO U.S. HOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP, AND DISPOSITION OF COMMON SHARES. U.S. HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISERS AS TO THE TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO THEM WITH REGARD TO THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The names and jurisdiction of residence of the directors and executive officers of the Company, their respective positions and offices held with the Company and their principal occupation for the last five or more years are shown below as at the date hereof. Directors are elected to serve until the next annual meeting or until their successors are elected or appointed, unless their office is earlier vacated.

 

Name, Province or State and Country of Residence

  

Current Position with

the Company

   Age    Held
Since
  

Principal Occupation During the Previous Five
Years

Mitchell Scott(1)

British Columbia, Canada

   Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer    33    2016    Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VERY GOOD (since December 2016) and prior thereto, Global Director Sales & Promotion, Degica.

James Davison

British Columbia, Canada

   Co-Founder, Chief Research & Development Officer and Director    35    2016    Co-Founder, Chief Research & Development Officer of VERY GOOD (since December 2016) and prior thereto, Chef in the UK and Canada.

Ana Silva

British Columbia, Canada

  

President, Interim Chief Financial Officer, Interim Corporate Secretary and Director

   55    2021    President of VERY GOOD (since January 2021) and Interim Chief Financial Officer of VERY GOOD (Since December 2021). Prior thereto, Chief Financial Officer of Daiya Foods Inc. (November 2015 to December 2020).

William (Bill) Tolany(2)(4)(5)

British Columbia, Canada

   Director    51    2020    Director of Operations at Lyra Growth Partners (since February 2022); prior thereto Independent Consultant and Regional Manager at Amazon (May 2015 to November 2017).

Dela Salem(2)(3)(4)(5)

British Columbia, Canada

   Director    34    2019   

Executive Vice President of Finance and Corporate Development at Enotecca Wineries and Resorts Inc. (since January 2022). Corporate Controller /Vice President of Finance at Portland Management Inc. (from February 2011 to December 2021).

Justin Steinbach(2)(3)(4)(5)
Milan, Italy
   Director    46    2021    Global Vice-President of Foodservice for the Barilla Group.

 

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Name, Province or State and Country of Residence

  

Current Position with

the Company

   Age    Held
Since
  

Principal Occupation During the Previous Five
Years

Janet Meiklejohn
British Columbia, Canada
   Vice President of Finance and Investor Relations    58    2021    VP Investor Relations of First Mining Gold Corp. from March 2021 to October 2021, Chief Financial Officer of Renaissance Bioscience Inc. from June 2018 to August 2020 and prior thereto Principal of Emerald Capital, a consulting company providing CFO, strategic, valuation, corporate governance and marketing services to public companies.

Notes:

(1)

Mitchell Scott was a director and chairman of the Board until he resigned from those positions December 9, 2021.

 

(2)

Member of our Audit Committee.

 

(3)

Member of our Compensation Committee.

 

(4)

Independent director for the purposes of National Instrument 58-101Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices.

 

(5)

Member of our Governance and Nomination Committee.

Ownership Interest

As of the date of this AIF, our directors and executive officers, as a group, beneficially own, or control or direct, directly or indirectly, 26,678,171 Common Shares, representing 22.51% of our issued and outstanding Common Shares.

Cease Trade Orders

To the knowledge of the Company, no director or executive officer of the Company (nor any personal holding company of any of such individuals) is, as of the date of this AIF, or was within ten years before the date of this AIF, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company (including the Company), that: (i) was subject to a cease trade order (including a management cease trade order), an order similar to a cease trade order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, in each case that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days (collectively, an “Order’’), that was issued while the individual was acting in the capacity as a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; or (ii) was subject to an Order that was issued after the individual ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that individual was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer.

Bankruptcies

To the knowledge of the Company, no director, executive officer or control person of the Company (nor any personal holding company of any of such individuals): (i) is, as of the date of this AIF, or has been within the ten years before the date of this AIF, a director or executive officer of any company (including the Company) that, while that individual was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that individual ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or (ii) has, within the ten years before the date of this AIF, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to

 

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or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets.

Penalties or Sanctions

To the knowledge of the Company, no director, executive officer or control person of the Company (nor any personal holding company of any of such individuals) has been subject to: (i) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or (ii) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable holder of Common Shares in deciding whether to vote for the proposed director.

Conflicts of Interest

To the knowledge of the Company, there are no known material existing or potential conflicts of interest among the Company’s directors, officers or other members of management as a result of their outside business interests except that certain of the Company’s directors and officers serve as directors and officers of other companies, and therefore it is possible that a conflict may arise between their duties to the Company and their duties as a director or officer of such other companies. See “Directors and Officers” and “Interest of Management and Others in Material Transactions”.

Foreign Private Issuer Status

The Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the U.S. Exchange Act and its Common Shares are listed on Nasdaq. Rule 5615(a)(3) of Nasdaq Stock Market Rules permits foreign private issuers to follow home country practices in lieu of certain provisions of Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. A foreign private issuer that follows home country practices in lieu of certain provisions of Nasdaq Stock Market Rules must disclose ways in which its corporate governance practices differ from those followed by domestic companies either on its website or in the annual report that it distributes to shareholders in the United States.

Although the Company currently intends to comply with the Nasdaq corporate governance rules applicable to U.S. domestic companies, the Company may in the future decide to use the foreign private issuer exemption with respect to some or all of the other Nasdaq corporate governance rules.

The Company follows the listing rules of the TSX-V in respect of private placements instead of the requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules to obtain shareholder approval for certain dilutive events (such as issuances that will result in a change of control, certain transactions other than a public offering involving issuances of a 20% or greater interest in the Company and certain acquisitions of the shares or assets of another company).

The Company intends to take all actions necessary for it to maintain compliance as a foreign private issuer under the applicable corporate governance requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley, the rules adopted by the SEC and the Nasdaq corporate governance rules and listing standards.

 

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As a foreign private issuer, the Company’s directors and senior management are not subject to short-swing profit and insider trading reporting obligations under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. They will, however, be subject to the obligations to report changes in share ownership under Section 13 of the Exchange Act and related SEC rules.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

The primary function of the audit committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee’’) is to assist the Board in fulfilling its financial oversight responsibilities by monitoring: (i) the quality and integrity of our financial statements and other financial information; (ii) the compliance of such statements and information with legal and regulatory requirements; (iii) the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent external auditors; and (iv) the performance of our internal accounting procedures. In meeting these responsibilities, the Audit Committee monitors the financial reporting process and internal control system; reviews and appraises the work of external auditors and provides an avenue of communication between the external auditors, senior management and the Board. The Audit Committee is also mandated to review and approve all material related party transactions.

Audit Committee Charter

Our Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee that sets forth the purpose, composition, authority and responsibility of our Audit Committee, consistent with National Instrument 52-110Audit Committees (“NI 52-110”). A copy of the Audit Committee charter is attached at Appendix A.

Composition of the Audit Committee

Our Audit Committee consists of three directors, all of whom are and are required to be, independent directors and financially literate within the meaning of NI 52-110. The three directors also meet the Nasdaq definition of independence in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2). Our Audit Committee is comprised of Dela Salem (Chair), William (Bill) Tolany, and Justin Steinbach.

Relevant Education and Experience of Audit Committee Members

Each of our Audit Committee members has an understanding of the accounting principles used to prepare financial statements and varied experience as to the general application of such accounting principles, as well as an understanding of the internal controls and procedures necessary for financial reporting.

Dela Salem – Dela is a Chartered Professional Accountant with Over eleven years of accounting experience with private and public companies focusing on financial reporting, regulatory compliance, internal control and corporate finance activities. Dela’s experience includes financial reporting for Canadian and U.S. listed companies with multiple international subsidiaries. Dela holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant, CPA.

Dela is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the rules of the SEC given her understanding of accounting principles, ability to apply these principles, experience with complex

 

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financial statements, understanding of internal controls over financial reporting and her understanding of audit committee functions. These skills have been acquired through her work experience as an accountant and education as a CPA.

William (Bill) Tolany – Bill has held senior roles in the marketing and ecommerce divisions of Whole Foods Market and Amazon. Bills hold an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame.

Justin Steinbach – Justin has worked with major food brands such as Danone and Barilla where he currently serves as Global Vice-President of Food Service for the Barilla Group, the world leader in pasta. Prior to joining Barilla, he previously led global sales development & marketing for Danone’s Food Service division and was responsible for building strategic global partnerships with Starbucks, McDonald’s and Subway.

External Auditor Service Fee

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we incurred the following fees by our current external auditors, KPMG LLP (“KPMG”)

 

Fiscal year ended

   Audit  fees(1)(2)
($)
     Audit related  fees(3)(4)
($)
     Tax fees(5)
($)
     All other fees(6)
($)
 

December 31, 2021

     403,925        117,165        108,635        Nil  

December 31, 2020

     117,700        Nil        16,050        Nil  

Notes:

(1)

“Audit Fees” include fees necessary to perform the annual audit and quarterly reviews of VERY GOOD’s consolidated financial statements and fees for review of tax provisions and for accounting consultations on matters reflected in the financial statements.

 

(2)

These figures do not include fees in the amount of $10,000 paid to DMCL LLP, Chartered Professional Accountant (“DMCL), the Company’s former external auditors, for the period from January 1, 2020 until December 15, 2020.

 

(3)

“Audit-Related Fees” include services that are traditionally performed by the auditor. These audit-related services include employee benefit audits, due diligence assistance, accounting consultations on proposed transactions, internal control reviews and audit or attest services not required by legislation or regulation. Audit Fees also include audit or other attest services required by legislation or regulation, such as comfort letters, consents and reviews of securities filings.

 

(4)

These figures do not include fees in the amount of $6,000 paid to DMCL for the period from January 1, 2020 until December 15, 2020.

 

(5)

“Tax Fees” This category includes fees for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice. Tax planning and tax advice includes assistance with tax audits and appeals, tax advice related to mergers and acquisitions, and requests for rulings or technical advice from tax authorities.

 

(6)

“All Other Fees” include all other non-audit services.

 

KPMG replaced DMCL as auditors of VERY GOOD on December 16, 2020, given the increase in size/complexity of the Company’s operations.

Audit Committee Oversight

The Audit Committee has not made any recommendations to the Board to nominate or compensate any auditor other than DMCL and KPMG.

 

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Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

In accordance with the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee pre-approves all auditing services and permitted non-audit services (including the fee and terms thereof) to be performed for the Company by the auditor including audited related and tax services. The only time the Audit Committee does not pre-approve non-audit services by the auditor if the services (i) were reasonably expected not to constitute, in the aggregate, more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Company to the auditor during the fiscal year in which the non-audit services are provided, (ii) were not recognized by the Company at the time of engagement to be non-audit services, and (iii) are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee by Management and approved prior to the completion of the audit by the Audit Committee or by one or more members of the Audit Committee who are members.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

The primary function of the compensation committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) is to assist the Board with respect to oversight with: (i) appointment, performance, evaluation and compensation of senior executives of the Company; (ii) compensation structure for senior executives of the Company including salaries, annual and long-term incentive plans including plans involving equity issuances and other equity-based awards; (iii) establishment of policies and procedures designed to identify and mitigate risks associated with the Company’s compensation policies and practices; (iv) compensation of the directors of the board; and (v) adoption of benefit retirement savings plan.

Compensation Committee Charter

Our Board has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee that sets forth the purpose, composition, authority and responsibility of our Compensation Committee. A copy of the Compensation Committee charter has been posted on our website at www.verygoodfood.com.

Composition of the Compensation Committee

Our Compensation Committee is comprised of two directors, both of whom has been determined by our Board to be an independent director, and is charged with reviewing, overseeing and evaluating our compensation policies. Our Compensation Committee is currently comprised of Dela Salem and Justin Steinbach.

PROMOTERS

Mitchell Scott and James Davison founded the Company and, accordingly, may be considered to be a “Promoter” of VERY GOOD within the meaning of applicable securities legislation in British Columbia. As of the date of this AIF, Mitchell Scott beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, an aggregate of 13,924,533 Common Shares (representing approximately 11.8% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares), 900,000 Options at an exercise price of $0.25 per Common Share until December 31, 2024 (450,000 Options) and January 1, 2025 (450,000 Options) and 525,000 Options at an exercise price of $7.03 per Common Share until January 29, 2026. James Davison beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, an aggregate of 12,640,000 Common Shares (representing approximately 10.7% of the issued and outstanding

 

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Common Shares), 900,000 Options at an exercise price of $0.25 per Common Share until December 31, 2024 (450,000 Options) and January 1, 2025 (450,000 Options) and 525,000 Options at an exercise price of $7.03 per Common Share until January 29, 2026.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND REGULATORY ACTIONS

In the ordinary course of business, we may become involved in legal, administrative, regulatory and other proceedings, actions, claims and inquiries relating to our business. Management is not aware of any litigation outstanding, threatened or pending as of the date of this AIF by or against VERY GOOD or its subsidiaries which would be material to an investor of Common Shares. See further discussion under “Risk Factors”.

INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS

Other than as set out in this AIF, there are no material interests, direct or indirect, of any of our directors or executive officers, any shareholder that beneficially owns, or controls or directs (directly or indirectly), more than 10% of any class or series of our Common Shares, or any associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing persons, in any transaction within the three most recently completed financial years or during the current financial year that has materially affected or is reasonably expected to materially affect us or any of our subsidiaries.

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Shares is Computershare Investor Services Inc. at its principal office in Vancouver, British Columbia.

MATERIAL CONTRACTS

Other than contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, the following are the material contracts entered into by VERY GOOD during our most recently completed financial year, prior to the date of this AIF, or prior to the beginning of our most recently completed financial year and that are still in effect.

 

  (a)

Industrial Lease with MPW Properties Partnership in respect of the Rupert Facility (the “Rupert Lease”);

 

  (b)

Loan Agreement relating to the Credit Facility; and

 

  (c)

Warrant indenture dated July 2, 2021 with Computershare Trust Company of Canada (the “2021 Warrant Indenture”); and

 

  (d)

Warrant Indenture dated December 4, 2020 with Computershare Trust Company of Canada (the “December 2020 Warrant Indenture”).

Copies of these contracts may be found under the Company’s profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com and will be filed as exhibits to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F.

 

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Rupert Lease

The Rupert Lease has an initial term of ten years with renewal options for two additional consecutive five-year terms. The total annual base rent for the Rupert Facility (the “Annual Base Rent”) is (i) $881,528 in each of the first two years of the Rupert Lease, (ii) $961,306 in each of years three and four of the Rupert Lease, (iii) $1,007,177 in each of years five through seven of the Rupert Lease, (iv) $1,053,048 in each of years eight and nine of the Rupert Lease, and (v) $1,098,919 in year ten of the Rupert Lease. In addition to the Annual Base Rent, the Company is also required to pay a management fee equal to 5% of the applicable Annual Base Rent to the landlord of the Rupert Facility as well as the Company’s proportionate share of the Rupert Facility’s operating expenses. The Rupert Lease also contains various terms customary for commercial leases including environmental indemnities in favour of both the Landlord (as such term is defined in the Rupert Lease) and the Company, and restrictions on transfer, assignment and subletting of the Rupert Lease. A copy of the Rupert Lease has been filed under the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F.

2021 Warrant Indenture

The 2021 Warrant Indenture is between Computershare Trust Company of Canada and VERY GOOD and governs the terms and conditions of 2,797,375 Common Share purchase warrants issued on July 2, 2021 with an exercise price of $4.60 and an expiration date of January 2, 2023. A copy of the 2021 Warrant Indenture has been filed under the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F.

December 2020 Warrant Indenture

The December 2020 Warrant Indenture is between Computershare Trust Company of Canada and VERY GOOD and governs the terms and conditions of 1,889,450 Common Share purchase warrants issued on December 4, 2020 with an exercise price of $4.50 and an expiration date of June 4, 2022. A copy of the December Warrant Indenture has been filed under the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F.

Loan Agreement

See “Business Strategy – Our Strategic Progress – Financings”. A copy of the Loan Agreement has been filed under the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F.

INTERESTS OF EXPERTS

KPMG LLP are the auditors of the Company and have confirmed with respect to The Very Good Food Company Inc. that they are independent within the meaning of the relevant rules of the Code of Professional Conduct of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia and related interpretations prescribed by the relevant professional bodies in Canada and any applicable legislation or regulations and also that they are independent accountants with respect to The Very Good Food Company under all relevant U.S. professional and regulatory standards.

 

- 59 -


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional information, including directors’ and officers’ remuneration and indebtedness, principal holders of our Company’s securities and securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, is contained in VERY GOOD’s management information circular prepared in connection with the most recent annual meeting of holders of Common Shares that involved the election of directors. Additional financial information is provided in the Company’s audited annual consolidated financial statements and related management’s discussion and analysis for our most recently completed fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Such documentation, as well as additional information relating to the Company, may be found under the Company’s profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com and on the SEC’s website (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov.

 

- 60 -


APPENDIX A – AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

 

I.

MANDATE

The Audit Committee (the ‘‘Committee’’) of the Board of Directors (the ‘‘Board’’) of The Very Good Food Company Inc. (the ‘‘Company’’) shall assist the Board in fulfilling its financial oversight responsibilities. The Committee’s primary duties and responsibilities under this mandate are to serve as an independent and objective party to monitor:

 

1.

The quality and integrity of the Company’s financial statements and other financial information;

 

2.

The compliance of such statements and information with legal and regulatory requirements;

 

3.

The qualifications and independence of the Company’s independent external auditor (the ‘‘Auditor”); and

 

4.

The performance of the Company’s internal accounting procedures and Auditor.

 

II.

STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS

A. Composition

The Committee shall be comprised of three members, all of whom shall be independent.

B. Qualifications

Each member of the Committee must be a member of the Board.

None of the members of the Committee shall be officers or employees of the Company or of an affiliate of the Company.

Each member of the Committee must be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including the Company’s balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.

C. Appointment and Removal

The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board and shall serve until such member’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such member’s earlier resignation or removal. Any member of the Committee may be removed, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the Board.

D. Chair

Unless the Board shall select a Chair, the members of the Committee shall designate a Chair by the majority vote of all of the members of the Committee. The Chair shall call, set the agendas for and chair all meetings of the Committee.


E. Sub-Committees

The Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees consisting of one or more members when appropriate, including the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services, provided that a decision of such subcommittee to grant a pre-approval shall be presented to the full Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

F. Meetings

The Committee shall meet at least once in each fiscal year, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. The Auditor shall be given reasonable notice of, and be entitled to attend and speak at, each meeting of the Committee concerning the Company’s annual financial statements and, if the Committee feels it is necessary or appropriate, at every other meeting. On request by the Auditor, the Chair shall call a meeting of the Committee to consider any matter that the Auditor believes should be brought to the attention of the Committee, the Board or the shareholders of the Company.

At each meeting, a quorum shall consist of a majority of members.

As part of its goal to foster open communication, the Committee may periodically meet separately with each of management and the Auditor to discuss any matters that the Committee believes would be appropriate to discuss privately. In addition, the Committee should meet with the Auditor and management annually to review the Company’s financial statements in a manner consistent with Section III of this Charter.

The Committee may invite to its meetings any director, any manager of the Company, and any other person whom it deems appropriate to consult in order to carry out its responsibilities. The Committee may also exclude from its meetings any person it deems appropriate to exclude in order to carry out its responsibilities.

The Committee may also exercise its powers by written resolutions signed by all members of the Committee.

 

III.

DUTIES

A. Introduction

The following functions shall be the common recurring duties of the Committee in carrying out its purposes outlined in Section I of this Charter. These duties should serve as a guide with the understanding that the Committee may fulfill additional duties and adopt additional policies and procedures as may be appropriate in light of changing business, legislative, regulatory or other conditions. The Committee shall also carry out any other responsibilities and duties delegated to it by the Board from time to time related to the purposes of the Committee outlined in Section I of this Charter.

The Committee, in discharging its oversight role, is empowered to study or investigate any matter of interest or concern which the Committee in its sole discretion deems appropriate for study or investigation by the Committee.


The Committee shall be given full access to the Company’s internal accounting staff, managers, other staff and Auditor as necessary to carry out these duties. While acting within the scope of its stated purpose, the Committee shall have all the authority of, but shall remain subject to, the Board.

B. Powers and Responsibilities

The Committee will have the following responsibilities and, in order to perform and discharge these responsibilities, will be vested with the powers and authorities set forth below, namely, the Committee shall:

Independence of Auditor

 

1.

Review and discuss with the Auditor any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Auditor and, if necessary, obtain a formal written statement from the Auditor setting forth all relationships between the Auditor and the Company, consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard 1 and the applicable independence rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”).

 

2.

Take, or recommend that the Board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the Auditor.

 

3.

Require the Auditor to report directly to the Committee.

 

4.

Review and approve the Company’s hiring policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the Auditor and former independent external auditor of the Company.

Performance & Completion by Auditor of its Work

 

5.

Be directly responsible for the oversight of the work by the Auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the Auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work.

 

6.

Review annually the performance of the Auditor and recommend the appointment by the Board of a new, or re-election by the Company’s shareholders of the existing, Auditor.

 

7.

Pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for the Company by the Auditor unless such non-audit services:

 

  (a)

which are not pre-approved, are reasonably expected not to constitute, in the aggregate, more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Company to the Auditor during the fiscal year in which the non-audit services are provided;

 

  (b)

were not recognized by the Company at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and


  (c)

are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee by Management and approved prior to the completion of the audit by the Committee or by one or more members of the Committee who are members of the Board to whom authority to grant such approvals has been delegated by the Committee.

Internal Financial Controls & Operations of the Company

 

8.

Establish procedures for:

 

  (a)

the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters; and

 

  (b)

the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

Preparation of Financial Statements

 

9.

Discuss with management and the Auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements, including any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles, any major issues as to the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and any special steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies.

 

10.

Discuss with management and the Auditor any correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies and any employee complaints or published reports which raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements or accounting policies.

 

11.

Discuss with management and the Auditor the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives as well as off-balance sheet structures on the Company’s financial statements.

 

12.

Discuss with management the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies.

 

13.

Discuss with the Auditor the matters required to be discussed relating to the conduct of any audit, in particular:

 

  (a)

The adoption of, or changes to, the Company’s significant auditing and accounting principles and practices as suggested by the Auditor or management.

 

  (b)

Any difficulties encountered in the course of the audit work, including any restrictions on the scope of activities or access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management.


Public Disclosure by the Company

 

14.

Review the Company’s annual and quarterly financial statements, management discussion and analysis (MD&A), annual information form, and management information circular before the Board approves and the Company publicly discloses this information.

 

15.

Review the Company’s financial reporting procedures and internal controls to be satisfied that adequate procedures are in place for the review of the Company’s public disclosure of financial information extracted or derived from its financial statements, other than disclosure described in the previous paragraph, and periodically assessing the adequacy of those procedures.

 

16.

Review any disclosures made to the Committee by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during their certification process of the Company’s financial statements about any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls or material weaknesses therein and any fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls.

 

17.

Manner of Carrying Out its Mandate

 

18.

Consult, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, with the Auditor but without the presence of management, about the quality of the Company’s accounting principles, internal controls and the completeness and accuracy of the Company’s financial statements.

 

19.

Request any officer or employee of the Company or the Company’s outside counsel or Auditor to attend a meeting of the Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Committee.

 

20.

Cause the officers of the Company to provide such funding as the Committee shall determine to be appropriate for payment of compensation to the Auditor and any legal counsel or other advisers engaged by the Committee, and payment of ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.

 

21.

Meet, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, with management and the Auditor in separate executive sessions at least quarterly.

 

22.

Have the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to retain independent legal, accounting or other consultants to advise the Committee advisors.

 

23.

Make regular reports to the Board.

 

24.

Review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.

 

25.

Annually review the Committee’s own performance.

 

26.

Provide an open avenue of communication among the Auditor the Board.


27.

Not delegate these responsibilities other than to one or more independent members of the Committee the authority to pre-approve, which the Committee must ratify at its next meeting, non-audit services to be provided by the Auditor.

C. Limitation of Audit Committee’s Role

While the Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter, it is not the duty of the Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company’s financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable rules and regulations. These are the responsibilities of management and the Auditor.

Exhibit 99.2

The Very Good Food Company Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2021

Financial Results

2021 Revenue Increased 164% Year-over-Year to $12.3 Million

Q4 2021 Revenue increased 70% to $4.3 Million compared to Q3 2021

2021 eCommerce Revenue Increased by $5.9 Million or 174% Year-over-Year

2021 Fulfilled eCommerce Orders Increased by 149% to 100,473 Year-over-Year

Vancouver, British Columbia (March 31, 2021) - The Very Good Food Company Inc. (NASDAQ: VGFC) (TSXV: VERY.V) (“VERY GOOD” or the “Company”), a leading plant-based food technology company, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2021.

“Q4 2021 was another strong quarter for VERY GOOD, with solid year-over-year growth across our eCommerce and wholesale channels,” said Mitchell Scott, co-founder and CEO of VERY GOOD. “We successfully expanded our presence in the US retail market, bringing our North American store count to 1,395 by the end of 2021 and 1,651 at the end of March 2022. Our revenue in Q4 2021 was 70% higher than the previous quarter and partly supported by seasonal demand for our holiday products including the Stuffed Beast.”

“VERY GOOD achieved certain of its strategic objectives for 2021 including scaling production, deepening brand awareness, expanding into U.S. wholesale, and launching innovative new products. 2021 was a year focused on investment and top-line growth, and 2022 will be more measured and focused on establishing a clear path to profitability.”

As previously announced, the Company is temporarily lowering production throughput and headcount at some locations, to manage inventory levels, and implementing initiatives, such as pausing non-critical capital expenditures and lowering general & administrative spending, to manage both short and long-term liquidity, extend its cash runway and establish a path towards profitability.

Financial Highlights

 

 

Revenue in fiscal 2021 increased 164% to $12,258,783 as compared to $4,636,838 in fiscal year 2020 primarily driven by an increase of $5,895,292 in eCommerce sales and $1,588,582 in wholesale revenue due to the Company’s scaling of production and distribution to meet demand in both sales channels. $5,267,144 of revenue was attributed to United States sales due to the Company’s strategic focus on the United States market as a key growth opportunity for the future.

 

  o

In Q4 2021, revenue was $4,298,922 compared to $2,536,097 in Q3 2021.

 

 

Wholesale revenue increased 189% to $2,429,072 in fiscal 2021 compared to $840,490 in fiscal 2020.

 

  o

Wholesale revenue was $781,363 in Q4 2021, a decrease of 8% compared to $846,749 in Q3 2021. This decrease was largely due to large seasonal orders being placed in Q3 2021 and pipeline orders for onboarded new retailers in Q3 2021.


 

Wholesale distribution points1 increased 273% to 4,847 at the end of 2021 compared to 1,300 at the end of 2020. As at March 31, 2022, the Company had approximately 5,539 retail distribution points in 1,651 stores across North America.

 

 

eCommerce sales increased 174% to $9,227,750 in fiscal 2021 compared to $3,382,458 in fiscal 2020.

 

  o

eCommerce sales were $3,340,107 in Q4 2021, an increase of 116% compared to $1,546,146 in Q3 2021.

 

 

eCommerce orders fulfilled increased 149% to 100,473 in fiscal 2021 compared to 40,322 orders fulfilled in fiscal 2020.

 

 

Gross margin was 28% of revenue and gross profit was $3,398,851 in fiscal 2021 compared to 18% and $827,106 in fiscal 2020.

 

  o

Q4 gross margin was 38% of revenue and gross profit was $1,653,262 compared to 19% and $476,893 in Q3 2021.

 

 

General and administrative expense2 was $32,129,489 in fiscal 2021 compared to $7,084,795 in fiscal 2020.

 

  o

Q4 general and administrative expense was $8,630,775 compared to $7,089,277 in Q3 2021.

 

 

Adjusted general and administrative expense2 increased 215% to $14,114,252 in fiscal 2021 compared to $4,484,044 in fiscal 2020.

 

  o

Adjusted general and administrative expense was $5,741,337 in Q4 2021, an increase of 45% compared to $3,963,524 in Q3 2021. The increase was primarily driven by increases in insurance fees of $484,187, legal and professional fees of $387,636, accounting and audit fees of $355,540, and salaries and wages of $1,853,870.

 

 

Marketing and investor relations expense increased 248% to $11,276,537 in fiscal 2021, compared to $3,243,210 in fiscal 2020, mainly due to an increase in digital marketing initiatives of $6,416,848, wages and benefits of $764,068 and share-based compensation expense of $856,481 due to the expansion of the marketing team to support sales growth.

 

 

Net loss2 was $(54,559,923) in fiscal 2021 compared to $(13,858,800) in fiscal 2020.

 

  o

In Q4 2021, net loss was $(13,330,908) compared to $(13,699,706) in Q3, 2021.

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA2 was a loss of $(24,253,335) in fiscal 2021 compared to $(8,344,117) in fiscal 2020.

 

  o

In Q4 2021, adjusted EBITDA loss was $(5,014,266) compared to $(8,174,024) in Q3 2021.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $21,975,653. The Company has experienced a greater than expected cash burn in the last several months as the Company scaled its operations to meet its growth targets, which has reduced its cash position and has strained its short-term liquidity. We believe we have sufficient cash on hand and available liquidity to meet our future operating expenses and finance our operational, core capital

 

 

1 

Wholesale distribution points are defined as the number of retail stores multiplied by the number of product SKUs

2 

Required to discuss IFRS results before non-IFRS results.


expenditure and debt service requirements for approximately the next 3 to 5 months. The Company is currently evaluating financing options to support the business with as little dilution as possible.

Operational Highlights

Production Update

 

 

Increased Stuffed Beast production and distribution for the 2021 holiday season. The product can be found in 123 Real Canadian Superstore locations nationally and 40 Loblaw and Zehrs stores throughout Ontario; along with other Canadian retailers such as WholeFoods, Thrifty Foods, La Moisson, Country Grocer, Natures Emporium, Organic Garage, Fiesta Farms, Good Rebel, Vegan Supply, and many more natural and independent stores.

 

 

Launched three new products in Q1 2022: Spicy mmm…Meatballs- a spicy iteration of the NEXTY Award winning Mmmmm…Meatballs, and two plant-based ground meat products - A Cut Above Pork and A Cut Above Beef. The new plant-based grounds introduce VERY GOOD’s offerings into a new subcategory of refrigerated plant-based meat.

 

 

Began producing Taco Stuffer at the Patterson facility in California on a commercial grade kitchen in the fourth quarter of 2021 to meet growing sales volume driven by its expanded distribution at retail stores.

Capital Markets Update

 

 

On October 13, 2021, VERY GOOD‘s common shares (the “Common Shares”) commenced trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol “VGFC”.

 

 

On October 19, 2021, VERY GOOD completed an SEC-registered direct offering (“SEC Direct Offering” for gross proceeds of US$30,000,000. VERY GOOD has been using the net proceeds from the SEC Direct Offering to scale its operations, to expand its geographical reach, for research and development, for marketing initiatives and for general corporate and other working capital purposes.

 

 

On January 11, 2022, VERY GOOD received notification from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq that, for the previous 30 consecutive business days, the bid price of the Common Shares had closed below the minimum US$1.00 per share requirement for continued inclusion on the Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Bid Price Rule”). The Nasdaq notification has no immediate effect on the listing of the Common Shares. VERY GOOD is also listed on the TSXV and the notification does not affect the Company’s compliance status with such listing.

Under Nasdaq rule 5810(c)(3)(A), VERY GOOD has until July 11, 2022 to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule. If at any time over this period the bid price of the Common Shares close at US$1.00 per Common Share or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days, VERY GOOD will regain compliance, unless Nasdaq exercises its discretion to extend this 10-day compliance period.

In the event the Company does not regain compliance, the Company may be eligible for an additional compliance period of 180 calendar days. To qualify, the Company will be


 

required to meet the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the Bid Price Rule, and will need to provide written notice of its intention to cure the deficiency during this second compliance period. If the Company does not qualify for the additional compliance period, then the Common Shares will be subject to delisting, at which time the Company may appeal the delisting determination to a Nasdaq Hearings Panel.

The management’s discussion and analysis for the period and the accompanying financial statements and notes are available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and have been furnished on a Report on Form 6-K on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. VERY GOOD will also file an Annual Report on Form 20-F no later than April 30, 2022, which will incorporate by reference the Company’s annual filings and will be available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Q4 and Fiscal Year End 2021 Conference Call Details

VERY GOOD will host a conference call on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 4:30 pm Eastern Time/ 1:30 am Pacific Time to discuss the financial results and business outlook.

Participant Dial-In Numbers:

Toll-Free: 1-877-425-9470

Toll / International: 1-201-389-0878

* Participants should request The Very Good Food Company Fourth Quarter Earnings Call.

The call will be available via webcast on VERY GOOD’s investor page of the Company website at www.verygoodfood.com/investors until April 30, 2022. Participants who would like to ask a question during the live Q&A must login via webcast.

Please visit the website at least 15 minutes before the call to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available on VERY GOOD’s investor page approximately two hours after the conference call has ended.


Financial Highlights

 

      Three months ended December 31      Year ended December 31  
      2021      2020      2021      2020  

Revenue by channel

                                   
         

eCommerce

   $ 3,340,107      $ 1,438,931      $ 9,277,750      $ 3,382,458  
         

Wholesale

     781,363        255,276        2,429,072        840,490  
         

Butcher Shop, Restaurant and Other

     177,452        142,475        551,961        413,890  
         
     $ 4,298,922      $ 1,836,682      $ 12,258,783      $ 4,636,838  
         

Gross Profit(1)

   $ 1,653,262      $ 260,472      $ 3,398,851      $ 827,106  
         

Gross Margin(1)

     38%        14%        28%        18%  
         

Net Loss

   $ (13,330,908)      $ (5,813,13)      $ (54,559,923)      $ (13,858,80)  
         

Adjusted EBITDA(1) 

   $ (5,014,266)      $ (3,279,266)      $ (24,253,335)      $ (8,344,117)  
         

Loss per share – basic and diluted

   $ (0.12)      $ (0.06)      $ (0.53)      $ (0.21)  

Weighted average number of shares outstanding – basic and diluted

     115,381,279        89,689,807        103,401,995        66,388,474  

(1) See “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” starting on page 21 of the 2021 MD&A for more information on Non-IFRS financial measures and reconciliations thereof to the nearest comparable measures under IFRS.


Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(Expressed in Canadian dollars)

 

As at        Notes           December 31,
2021
           December 31, 2020  
Assets                                    
    Current assets                                    

Cash and cash equivalents

           $ 21,975,653        $ 25,084,083  

Accounts receivable

     4         2,101,842          449,583  

Inventory

     5         8,474,255          1,195,535  

Prepaids and deposits

     6         8,640,286          1,887,035  

Loan to related party

     14         410,268          -  

Total current assets

             41,602,304          28,616,236  

Right-of-use assets

     7         16,659,502          5,046,597  

Property and equipment

     8         15,450,608          740,728  

Prepaids and deposits

     6         707,110          779,036  

Deferred financing costs

     12         3,924,743          -  

Total assets

             $ 78,344,267        $ 35,182,597  
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity                                    
    Current liabilities                                    

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     10       $ 8,109,161        $ 1,871,728  

Deferred revenue

             32,137          102,239  

Current portion of lease liabilities

     11         849,935          146,935  

Current portion of loans payable and other liabilities

     12         1,947,642          -  

Contingent considerations

     9,22         1,048,000          -  

Derivative liabilities

     15         3,942,002          -  

Total current liabilities

             15,928,877          2,120,902  

Lease liabilities

     11         16,764,458          5,389,352  

Loans payable and other liabilities

     12         5,474,605          30,000  

Total liabilities

               38,167,940          7,540,254  

Shareholders’ equity

               

Share capital

     16         84,751,366          39,335,150  

Equity reserves

             26,719,047          5,009,980  

Subscription received and receivable

             (3,750        8,250  

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

             (12,716        6,660  

Deficit

               (71,277,620        (16,717,697

Total shareholders’ equity

               40,176,327          27,642,343  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

             $ 78,344,267        $ 35,182,597  

Nature of operations and going concern uncertainty (Note 1)

               

Commitments (Notes 11 and 25)

               

Events after the reporting period (Notes 14, 17 and 18)

               


Consolidated Statements of Net Loss and Comprehensive Loss

(Expressed in Canadian dollars)

 

          Notes           December 31, 2021          December 31, 2020  

Revenue

           $ 12,258,783        $ 4,636,838  

Procurement expense

       7, 8, 23           (8,859,932        (3,809,732

Fulfilment expense

       7, 8, 23           (10,267,444        (1,907,621

General and administrative expense

       7, 8, 23           (32,129,489        (7,084,795

Marketing and investor relations expense

       23           (11,276,537        (3,243,210

Research and development expense

       7, 8, 23           (1,974,530        (477,750

Pre-production expense

       23         (3,214,797        -  

Operating loss

             (55,463,946        (11,886,270

Finance expense

       19           (3,024,451        (1,842,853

Other expense

       20           (514,638        (129,677

Change in fair value of derivative liabilities

       15           7,922,647          -  

Impairment of goodwill

       9           (3,479,535        -  

Net loss

             (54,559,923        (13,858,800

Foreign currency translation (loss) income

                   (19,376        6,660  

Total comprehensive loss

                 $ (54,579,299      $ (13,852,140

Loss per share - basic and diluted

                 $ (0.53      $ (0.21

Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic and diluted

                   103,401,995          66,388,474  


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Expressed in Canadian dollars)

 

     December 31, 2021     December 31, 2020  
                  

Operating activities

    

Net loss for the year

   $ (54,559,923   $ (13,858,800

Adjustments for items not affecting cash:

    

Finance expense

     3,024,451       1,842,853  

Change in fair value of derivative liabilities

     (7,922,647     -  

Depreciation

     1,938,058       425,276  

(Gain) loss on termination of lease

     (1,600     7,533  

Lease concessions

     -       (16,800

Loss on disposal of equipment

     32,816       -  

Impairment of equipment

     101,077       -  

Impairment of goodwill

     3,479,535       -  

Share-based compensation

     21,605,880       2,780,488  

Shares, units and warrants issued for services

     227,471       458,533  

Changes in non-cash working capital items

    

Accounts receivable

     (1,612,791     (376,739

Inventory

     (6,871,350     (1,120,057

Prepaids and deposits

     (4,995,707     (1,804,382

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     3,698,504       1,882,671  

Deferred revenue

     (70,102     94,663  

Due from related parties

     -       24,280  

Net cash and cash equivalents used in operating activities

     (41,926,328     (9,660,481

Investing activities

    

Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (1,315,694     -  

Purchase of property and equipment

     (12,021,319     (564,437

Security deposits paid for property and equipment

     (2,840,116     -  

Acquisition of right-of-use assets

     (67,335     -  

Loans to related parties

     (1,250,000     -  

Repayment received from loans to related parties

     839,732       -  

Net cash and cash equivalents used in investing activities

     (16,654,732     (564,437

Financing activities

    

Proceeds from the issuance of common shares and units for cash, net of issuance costs

     52,713,503       24,416,725  

Proceeds from the exercise of warrants

     2,401,483       10,863,951  

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

     120,599       608,126  

Proceeds from subscriptions received

     -       19,500  

Proceeds from loans payable

     5,171,222       499,129  

Repayment of loans payable and other liabilities

     (902,863     (490,309

Deferred financing costs paid

     (2,262,039     -  

Proceeds from loan payable to related parties

     -       400,000  

Repayment of loan payable to related parties

     -       (400,000

Payments of lease liabilities

     (1,591,300     (163,811

Payments of lease deposits

     -       (779,036

Interest paid

     (159,276     (73,288

Net cash and cash equivalents provided by financing activities

     55,491,329       34,900,987  

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (18,699     2,404  

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (3,108,430     24,678,473  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

     25,084,083       405,610  

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

   $ 21,975,653     $ 25,084,083  

Cash and cash equivalents consist of:

    

Cash

   $ 21,875,653     $ 24,019,083  

Redeemable guaranteed investment certificate (“GIC”)

     -       1,000,000  

Restricted redeemable GIC

     100,000       65,000  

Total cash and cash equivalents

   $ 21,975,653     $ 25,084,083  

Supplemental cash flow information (Note 21)

    


NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Non-IFRS financial measures are metrics used by management that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA

Management defines adjusted EBITDA as net loss before finance expense, tax, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation and other non-cash items, including impairment of goodwill, loss on disposal of equipment, loss on termination of leases, finance expense and shares, units and warrants issued for services. Management believes adjusted EBITDA is a useful financial metric to assess its operating performance because it adjusts for items that either do not relate to the Company’s underlying business performance or that are items that are not reasonably likely to recur.

 

 

  

 

Three months ended

December 31,

   

Three months ended

September 30,

   

Three months ended

December 31,

    Year ended
December 31,
    Year ended
December 31,
    Year ended
December 31,
 

 

   2021     2021     2020     2021     2020     2019  

Net loss as reported

   $ (13,330,908   $ (13,699,706   $ (5,813,132   $ (54,559,923   $ (13,858,800   $ (2,341,544

Adjustments:

                                                

Depreciation

     480,272       616,111       153,295       1,938,035       425,276       161,583  

Impairment of goodwill

     3,479,535       -       -       3,479,535       -       -  

Loss on disposal of equipment

     -       10,255       -       32,816       -       -  

Loss on termination of lease1

     -       -       -       (1,600     7,533       -  

Finance expense

     1,157,411       1,102,858       148,014       3,024,451       1,842,853       173,268  

Share-based compensation

     3,199,424       3,796,458       1,951,150       21,605,880       2,780,488       200,933  

Shares, units and warrants issued for services

     -       -       281,407       227,471       458,533       477,500  

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ (5,014,266   $ (8,174,024   $ (3,279,266   $ (24,253,335   $ (8,344,117   $ (1,328,260

1 On September 22, 2020, the Company terminated 17 lease agreements and purchased the related leased equipment for $79,118. The difference between the related lease liabilities and right-of-use-assets of $7,533 was recognized as a loss on termination of leases. During the years ended December 31, 2021,and 2020, the Company terminated 2 lease agreements and recognized a $1,600 gain on termination of leases.


Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Management utilizes gross profit and gross margin to provide a representation of performance in the period, which are determined by deducting procurement expense from revenue.

 

             
      Three months ended
December 31,
   

Three months ended

September 30,

    Three months ended
December 31,
   

Year ended

December 31,

    Year ended
December 31,
    Year ended
December 31,
 
      2021     2021     2020     2021     2020     2019  

Revenue

   $ 4,298,922     $ 2,536,097     $ 1,836,682     $ 12,258,783     $ 4,636,838     $ 999,797  

Procurement expense

     (2,645,660     (2,059,204     (1,576,210     (8,859,932     (3,809,732     (1,169,583

Gross profit

   $ 1,653,262     $ 476,893     $ 260,472     $ 3,398,851       827,106     $ (169,786

Gross margin

     38%       19%       14%       28%       18%       (17%

Adjusted General and Administrative Expense

Management defines adjusted general and administrative expense as general and administrative expense excluding non-cash items such as share-based compensation and depreciation expense. Management believes adjusted general and administrative expense provides useful information as it represents the corporate costs to operate the business excluding any non-cash items.

 

             
      Three months ended
December 31,
   

Three months ended

September 30,

    Three months ended
December 31,
    Year ended
December 31,
   

Year ended

December 31,

    Year ended
December 31,
 
      2021     2021     2020     2021     2020     2019  

General and administrative

expense

   $ (8,630,775   $ (7,089,277   $ (3,858,273   $ (32,129,489   $ (7,084,795   $ (1,622,541

Adjustments:

                                                

Share-based compensation

     2,808,617       3,043,998       1,605,184       17,740,461       2,370,059       179,227  

Depreciation

     80,821       81,755       98,398       274,776       230,692       8,707  

Adjusted general and

administrative expense

   $ (5,741,337   $ (3,963,524   $ (2,154,691   $ (14,114,252   $ (4,484,044   $ (1.434.607


About The Very Good Food Company Inc.

The Very Good Food Company Inc. is an emerging plant-based food technology company that produces nutritious and delicious plant-based meat and cheese products under VERY GOOD’s core brands: The Very Good Butchers and The Very Good Cheese Co. www.verygoodfood.com.

OUR MISSION IS LOFTY, BADASS BUT BEAUTIFULLY SIMPLE: GET MILLIONS TO RETHINK THEIR FOOD CHOICES WHILE HELPING THEM DO THE WORLD A WORLD OF GOOD. BY OFFERING PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTIONS SO DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS, WE’RE HELPING THIS KIND OF DIET BECOME THE NORM.

ON BEHALF OF THE VERY GOOD FOOD COMPANY INC

Mitchell Scott

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Janet Meiklejohn

Vice President Finance and Investor Relations

Phone: +1 855-472-9841

Email: invest@verygoodbutchers.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively referred to as “forward-looking information”), for the purpose of providing information about management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking information may be identified by words such as “plans”, “proposed”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “may”, “will”, and similar expressions. Forward-looking information contained or referred to in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s plans to lower throughput and headcount at some locations, manage inventory levels and implement initiatives, such as temporarily pausing non-critical capital expenditures and lowering SG&A spending, to manage both short and long-term liquidity, extend its cash runway and establish a path towards profitability; the Company’s ability to meet its future operating expenses and finance our operational, capital expenditure and debt service requirements for approximately the next three to five months; the Company’s use of proceeds from the SEC Direct Offering; the Company’s plan to file an Annual Report on Form 20-F by April 30, 2022; the Company’s intended transition from a focus on top line growth to balancing top line growth and profitability; future workforce reductions; management’s belief that the initiatives being implemented will allow the Company to manage both its short-term and long-term liquidity and increase its cash runway; and management’s efforts to evaluate ways to support the business with as little dilution as possible. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information, but which may prove to be incorrect including, but not limited to, material assumptions with respect to the Company’s ability to successfully implement the cost improvement initiatives and measures and achieve their intended benefits, the Company’s ability to remain listed on the Nasdaq, the availability of


sufficient financing on reasonable terms or at all to fund VERY GOOD’s capital and operating requirements, the Company’s ability to accurately forecast customer demand for its products and manage its inventory levels, continued demand for VERY GOOD’s products, continued growth of the popularity of meat alternatives and the plant-based food industry, no material deterioration in general business and economic conditions, the successful placement of VERY GOOD’s products in retail stores, VERY GOOD’s ability to successfully enter new markets and manage its international expansion, VERY GOOD’s ability to obtain necessary production equipment and human resources as needed, VERY GOOD’s relationship with its suppliers, distributors and third-party logistics providers, and management’s ability to position VERY GOOD competitively. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because VERY GOOD can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of VERY GOOD to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking information include, among others, the impact of, uncertainties and risks associated with negative cash flow and future financing requirements to sustain and grow operations, limited history of operations and revenues and no history of earnings or dividends, competition, risks relating to the availability of raw materials, risks relating to regulation on social media, expansion of facilities, risks related to credit facilities, dependence on senior management and key personnel, availability of labour, general business risk and liability, regulation of the food industry, change in laws, regulations and guidelines, compliance with laws, risks related to third party logistics providers, unfavorable publicity or consumer perception, increased costs as a result of being a United States public company, product liability and product recalls, risks related to intellectual property, risks relating to co-manufacturing, risks related to expansion into the United States; risks related to our acquisition strategy, taxation risks, difficulties with forecasts, management of growth and litigation as well as the risks associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For a more comprehensive discussion of the risks faced by VERY GOOD, please refer to VERY GOOD’s most recent Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com and as an exhibit to the Form 6-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022 and available at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date of this news release. VERY GOOD undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

None of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, TSX Venture Exchange, the SEC or any other securities regulator has either approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. None of the Nasdaq, the TSX Venture Exchange or its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), the SEC or any other securities regulator accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

The Very Good Food Company | 2021 Annual Report

Exhibit 99.3

MANAGEMENT’S

DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

     2  

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

     3  

OUR BUSINESS

     4  

CORPORATE OVERVIEW

     5  

OUR STRATEGIC PROGRESS

     7  

COVID-19

     11  

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW

     12  

QUARTERLY RESULTS

     18  

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

     19  

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

     21  

OFF-BALANCE SHEET AGREEMENTS

     24  

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

     24  

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     27  

EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD

     27  

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

     27  

ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ISSUED BUT NOT YET EFFECTIVE

     29  

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

     29  

BOARD APPROVAL

     29  

DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

     29  

INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

     29  


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

The following management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) of the financial condition and results of operations of The Very Good Food Company Inc. (“VERY GOOD”, “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”), constitutes management’s review of the factors that affected the Company’s financial and operational performance for the year ended December 31, 2021.

This MD&A contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively referred to as “forward-looking information”). Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances. Any such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as “proposed”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”, “will”, and similar expressions.

This forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements relating to: the Company’s business strategy and growth plans; the Company’s capital expenditures and operations; the Company’s plans to lower throughput and headcount at some locations, manage inventory levels and implement initiatives, such as temporarily pausing non-critical capital expenditures and lowering selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) spending, to manage both short and long-term liquidity and establish a path towards profitability; the Company’s intended transition from a focus on top line growth to balancing top line growth and profitability; future workforce reductions; the Company’s strategic review of its go-to market channels and the potential outcome of such review; the Company’s focus on the wholesale and food service channels; management’s belief that the initiatives being implemented will allow the Company to manage both its short-term and long-term liquidity and increase its cash runway; management’s efforts to evaluate ways to support the business with as little dilution as possible; the scale and timing of the anticipated production capacity increases at its production facilities; the continued strong and increasing demand for VERY GOOD’s products; the appeal and attributes of the Company’s products including taste and nutritional content and their ability to compete; trends and growth expectations in the plant-based industry; planned product innovation and the benefits VERY GOOD expects to derive from any new product launches; wholesale expansion and specifically, VERY GOOD’s U.S. retail expansion and the number of stores VERY GOOD’s products are expected to be in; viability of VERY GOOD’s eCommerce channel; plans for potential future expansion into foodservice and meal kit delivery services; the function of eCommerce as a brand awareness tool; and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on VERY GOOD’s business.

Forward-looking information is based on the Company’s opinions, estimates and assumptions in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Despite a careful process to prepare and review the forward-looking information, there can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct.

Certain assumptions with respect to, the Company’s ability to successfully implement the cost improvement initiatives and measures and achieve their intended benefits, the availability of sufficient financing on reasonable terms to fund VERY GOOD’s capital and operating requirements; the Company’s ability to remain listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”); the impact of COVID-19; continued growth of the popularity of plant-based foods and, in particular, vegan meat alternatives; the continued strong demand for VERY GOOD’s products; no material deterioration in general business and economic conditions; no material fluctuations of interest rates and foreign exchange rates; the successful placement of VERY GOOD’s products in retail stores and eCommerce viability; the availability of sufficient financing on reasonable terms to fund VERY GOOD’s capital and operating requirements, VERY GOOD’s ability to successfully enter new markets and manage its international expansion, VERY GOOD’s ability to increase production capacity and obtain the necessary production equipment, the availability of labour as well as the accuracy of construction schedules and cost estimates for the commissioning of production lines at VERY GOOD’s Rupert and Patterson facilities and the timely receipt of required permits, VERY GOOD’s relationship with its suppliers, distributors and third-party logistics providers, and the Company’s ability to position VERY GOOD competitively, are all material assumptions made in preparing forward-looking information and management’s expectations.

Forward-looking information is based on a number of opinions, estimates and assumptions that we considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such statements are made and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, those set forth under the “Risks and Uncertainties” section of this MD&A. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the opinions, estimates or assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results or future events might vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

The forward-looking information contained in this MD&A represents the Company’s expectations as of March 31, 2022 and is subject to change after such date. VERY GOOD disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws.

 

2


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The following MD&A is intended to help the reader understand the financial condition and results of the operations of The Very Good Food Company Inc. and constitutes management’s review of the factors that affected the Company’s financial and operating performance for the year ended December 31, 2021. This MD&A has been prepared in compliance with the requirements of National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations. This MD&A should be read in conjunction with the audited annual consolidated financial statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 together with the notes thereto, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). The results for the year ended December 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period.

Some of the financial measures we provide in this MD&A are non-IFRS financial measures that have no standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. See “Non-IFRS Financial Measures”, starting on page 20 for more information on the Company’s non-IFRS financial measures and reconciliations thereof.

All amounts in this MD&A are expressed in Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated. All references to the Company include its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis. The information contained in this MD&A, including forward-looking statements, is current as of March 31, 2022 unless otherwise stated.

Additional information regarding the Company is available on the SEDAR website for Canadian regulatory filings at www.sedar.com; the EDGAR website for U.S. regulatory filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) at www.sec.gov; and on the Company’s website at www.verygoodfood.com. Our reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only and accordingly, information contained on the Company’s website shall not be deemed to be a part of this MD&A or incorporated by reference herein.

 

3


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

2021 HIGHLIGHTS

Financial Highlights

 

     
      Three months ended
December 31
     Year ended December 31  
         
      2021      2020      2021      2020  

Revenue by channel

                                   

eCommerce

   $ 3,340,107      $ 1,438,931      $ 9,277,750      $ 3,382,458  

Wholesale

     781,363        255,276        2,429,072        840,490  

Butcher Shop, Restaurant and Other

     177,452        142,475        551,961        413,890  
         
     $ 4,298,922      $ 1,836,682      $ 12,258,783      $ 4,636,838  

Gross Profit(1)

   $ 1,653,262      $ 260,472      $ 3,398,851      $ 827,106  

Gross Margin(1)

     38%        14%        28%        18%  

Net Loss

   $ (13,330,908)      $ (5,813,13)      $ (54,559,923)      $ (13,858,80)  

Adjusted EBITDA(1) 

   $ (5,014,266)      $ (3,279,266)      $ (24,253,335)      $ (8,344,117)  

Loss per share – basic and diluted

     $    (0.12)        $    (0.06)        $    (0.53)        $    (0.21)  

Weighted average number of shares outstanding – basic and diluted

     115,381,279        89,689,807        103,401,995        66,388,474  

(1) See “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” starting on page 20 for more information on Non-IFRS financial measures and reconciliations thereof to the nearest comparable measures under IFRS.

OUR BUSINESS

VERY GOOD is an emerging plant-based food technology company that designs, develops, produces, distributes and sells a variety of plant-based meat, cheese and other food alternatives.

The Company was incorporated on December 27, 2016, under the laws of the province of British Columbia, Canada under its original name “The Very Good Butchers Inc.” The Company changed its name to “The Very Good Food Company Inc.” on October 1, 2019. The Company’s head office is located at 2748 Rupert Street, Vancouver, BC, V5M 3T7 and its registered and records office is located at 800 – 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3H1.

The common shares in the capital of the Company (the” Common Shares”) trade on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV”) under the symbol “VERY.V”, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the simple “OSI”, and the Nasdaq Capital Market under the “VGFC”.

Nasdaq Listing Notification

On January 11, 2022, VERY GOOD received notification from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq that, for the previous 30 consecutive business days, the bid price of the Common Shares had closed below the minimum US$1.00 per share requirement for continued inclusion on the Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Bid Price Rule”). The Nasdaq notification has no immediate effect on the listing of the Common Shares. VERY GOOD is also listed on the TSXV and the notification does not affect the Company’s compliance status with such listing.

Under Nasdaq rule 5810(c)(3)(A), VERY Good has until July 11, 2022 to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule. If at any time over this period the bid price of the Common Shares close at US$1.00 per Common Share or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days, VERY GOOD will regain compliance, unless Nasdaq exercises its discretion to extend this 10-day compliance period.

 

4


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

In the event the Company does not regain compliance, the Company may be eligible for an additional compliance period of 180 calendar days. To qualify, the Company will be required to meet the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the Bid Price Rule, and will need to provide written notice of its intention to cure the deficiency during this second compliance period. If the Company does not qualify for the additional compliance period, then the Common Shares will be subject to delisting, at which time the Company may appeal the delisting determination to a Nasdaq Hearings Panel.

Operational and Liquidity Update

On March 16th, 2022 VERY GOOD announced we are temporarily lowering production throughput and headcount at some locations, to manage inventory levels, and implementing initiatives, such as pausing non-critical capital expenditures and lowering general and administrative expenses, to manage both short and long-term liquidity and establish a path towards profitability.

VERY GOOD is also implementing additional cost improvement measures, as we transition from a focus on top line growth, to a focus of balancing top line growth and profitability. As part of this shift, VERY expects to further right-size our workforce across multiple business functions as we streamline operations.

VERY GOOD is currently reviewing its “go-to market” channels. Digital marketing costs to acquire new customers have increased over the past year, largely related to structural changes of the largest digital and social platforms and as such we are reviewing our online strategy and marketing expenditures to optimize our ROI. As such, we expect our growth will slow down in the near-term in this channel. VERY GOOD will continue to focus on the wholesale and food service channels, particularly in the US, which the Company views as critical to realizing our vision to scale.

VERY GOOD experienced a greater than expected cash burn as the company scaled our operation to meet our growth targets. The initiatives we are implementing, including pausing non-critical capital expenditures and significantly lowering general and administrative spending, will allow the Company to manage both short-term and long-term liquidity and increase our cash runway. Management will continue to evaluate ways to support the business with as little dilution as possible. As disclosed in Note 1 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, there are material uncertainties related to events and conditions that may cast significant doubt upon the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

CORPORATE OVERVIEW

Our Business Model

As at December 31, 2021, the Company’s product portfolio consisted of 24 products: 19 products developed under The Very Good Butchers brand and five products developed under The Very Good Cheese Co. brand. As at December 31, 2021, our products were produced in four leased facilities located in Victoria, BC, Canada (the “Victoria Facility”), Vancouver, BC, Canada (the “Rupert Facility”) and Esquimalt, BC, Canada (the “Fairview Facility”), and Patterson, California, United States (the “Patterson Facility”). In November 2021, the Patterson Facility started its initial production by producing Taco Stuff’er, one of our most popular products, on commercial kitchen grade equipment.

In May 2021, VERY GOOD introduced our new brand, The Very Good Cheese Co., and our lineup of five new plant-based cheese products. These new SKUs consist of: “Bold Cheddah”, a white cheddar style vegan cheese; “Cheedah”, a medium cheddar style vegan cheese; “Dill’ish”, a garlic and dill-havarti style vegan cheese; “Goud AF*”, a smoky gouda style vegan cheese; and “Pepper Jack”, a monterey jack style vegan cheese. These newly announced plant-based cheeses follow the Company’s completed acquisition of The Cultured Nut.

VERY GOOD introduced its new gluten-free and soy-free Butcher’s Select product line initially consisting of five SKUs in July 2021. The Butcher’s Select product range comprises a premium line of sausages, burgers and meatballs that is gluten-free, soy-free and Non-GMO verified. The Butcher’s Select product line will diversify VERY’s portfolio of plant-based meats and position The Very Good Butchers brand in the alternative meat substitute category where products are created to directly simulate their animal-based counterparts and which has been largely dominated by Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. In October 2021, VERY GOOD announced two additions to the Butcher’s Select product: Butcher’s Select Spicy Meatballs and The Very Good Steak.

We distribute and sell our products in all 10 provinces and three territories in Canada and 50 states in the United States through three main revenue channels: (1) eCommerce, (2) Wholesale (including Food Service), and (3) our butcher shop and restaurant located in Victoria, BC

 

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The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

(the “Victoria Flagship Store”) (collectively, the “Distribution Network”). VERY GOOD established an e-commerce presence in the UK during the year, but that has since been paused as the company focuses on growing its North American sales.

 

(1)

eCommerce – Our eCommerce Store, accessible through the Company’s website and Amazon US, sells VERY GOOD’s products both individually and in boxed sets. In addition, we offer a monthly subscription service which allows customers to receive monthly boxed sets at a discount over a selected period of time. As at the end of fiscal 2021, the Company had over 1,937 active subscribers across Canada and the United States compared to 800 active subscribers at the end of fiscal 2020. We are currently reviewing our on-line strategy and marketing expenditures related to the e-commerce business to optimize ROI.

For fiscal 2021, the Company shipped 100,473 eCommerce orders, which represents a year-over-year improvement of 149%. eCommerce revenue increased $5,895,292 (174%) in fiscal 2021, compared to fiscal 2020.

 

     Year ended

    eCommerce

  

December 31, 2021

$9,277,750

  

December 31, 2020          

$ 3,382,458     

See “Our Strategic Progress” section for further details.

 

(2)

Wholesale – VERY GOOD has experienced strong demand for its products in the wholesale channel and continues to market its products to a number of large retailers in both Canada and the United States. During fiscal 2021, Canadian wholesale accounts included, but were not limited to, national grocery store chains such as Whole Foods Markets, Thrifty Foods (Sobeys), Save-On-Foods, Fresh St. Market, Choices Markets, IGA, and Farmboy; as well as smaller independent grocers. The Company launched into U.S. retail in August 2021 with retailers including, but not limited to, Wegman’s, Harmon’s, PCC, Earth Fare, Erewhon and Metro Markets. The Company had approximately 4,847 retail distribution points (being the number of retails stores multiplied by the number of products SKUs) and 1,395 stores in Canada and United States as at December 31, 2021. As at March 31, 2022, the Company had approximately 5,539 retail distribution points in 1,651 stores across North America. Wholesale revenue increased $1,588,582 (189%) in fiscal 2021, compared to fiscal 2020.

 

     Year ended

    Wholesale

  

December 31, 2021

$2,429,072

  

December 31, 2020          

$840,490     

See “Our Strategic Progress” section for further details.

 

(3)

Victoria Flagship Store – The Victoria Flagship Store is the brick and mortar of our Distribution Network. Designed as a flagship store to showcase our products, serve as a test kitchen and be utilized as a key marketing and branding tool, the Victoria Flagship Store also retails a small offering of plant-based dairy and cheese alternatives made by local artisan companies. Our second flagship store, based in Vancouver, BC (the “Mount Pleasant Flagship Store”), is currently under review.

 

6


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

See “Our Strategic Progress” section for further details.

Our Strategy

Our strategy is grounded in our mission and purpose, our pride in establishing and maintaining strong relationships with our customers through differentiated products, and our commitment to long-term profitable growth. We believe that our key strategic choices position us to create competitive advantages by offering the right mix of products, creating strong customer awareness and engagement, implementing reliable production at scale, while optimizing our geographic reach and fulfilment:

 

 

Scale production and distribution

  

 

Strengthen brand awareness

and consumer engagement

 

 

 

Launch new products

and gain market share

 

  

 

Growth

       

   Build operational scalability and expand production competencies to meet consumer demand

 

   Increase distribution capabilities to drive greater market share capture across Canada and the United States

 

   Expand into U.S. retail increasing the number of retail distribution points

  

   Deepen brand awareness by encouraging people to consciously make lifestyle choices that affect and contribute to their wellbeing and that of the planet

 

   Own consumer relationships by providing the right mix of products at the right price, in the right channels, supported by a brand purpose that consumers can embrace

 

   Capitalize on strong R&D capabilities and specialized knowledge of plant-based protein ingredients to expand our range of innovative and delicious product portfolio with a wholesome nutritional profile

 

   Invest in technology to support growth and continued development of new innovative products

  

   Continue to  expand in the Canadian and U.S. markets.

OUR STRATEGIC PROGRESS

Production Capacity

Increased production capacity enables us to expand our points of distribution within our wholesale network and take advantage of potential food service opportunities. Our ability to reliably produce enough product to consistently fulfill orders is an important factor in securing listings with large grocery store chains.

As at December 31, 2021, VERY GOOD had four leased production facilities. We entered into two new food production facility leases during fiscal year 2020 for the Rupert Facility and the Patterson Facility. Through the acquisition of The Cultured Nut Inc. (the “Cultured Nut”) in February 2021, VERY GOOD took over the lease of the Fairview Facility.

 

 

Rupert Facility

  

 

   Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

   Size: 45,000 square feet

   Current annual production capacity: 1.2 million kgs

   Potential annual production capacity : 16.8 million kgs

   Potential number of production lines: 2

   Capital expenditures (including tenant improvements) spent to-date, including expected 2022 amounts: $20-25 million

 

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The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

   
    

   Start date of food production: May 2021

   
Patterson Facility   

   Location: Patterson, California, United States

   Size: 25,000 square feet (with first right of refusal on an additional 25,000 square feet)

   Current annual production capacity: 199,000 kgs

   Potential annual production capacity : 44.7 million Kgs1

   Potential number of production lines: 3-4

   Expected future capital expenditures – $nil for 2022

   Start date of food production: 2021 (via Commercial kitchen equipment)

   
Victoria Facility   

   Location: Victoria, BC, Canada

   Size: 3,000 square feet

   Current annual production capacity: 150,000 kgs

   Potential annual production capacity: 623,690 kgs1

   Commercial kitchen equipment

   Start date of food production: 2019

   
Fairview Facility   

   Location: Esquimalt, BC, Canada

   Size: 3,000 square feet

   Current annual production capacity: 24,500 kgs

   Potential annual production capacity: 226,796 kgs1

   Capital expenditures spent to-date (including tenant improvements), including expected 2022 amounts: $34,000

   Commercial kitchen equipment

   Start date of food production: 2019

1Estimates of potential production are based on VERY GOOD’s expectations

Rupert Facility

To address near-term demand, VERY GOOD signed a lease for the Rupert Facility, which was already built-out as a food production facility, in November 2020 and took possession in January 2021. The Rupert Facility comprises approximately 45,000 square feet of production, refrigeration, warehousing, R&D and office space, and we expect it to be capable of producing up to 37 million pounds of annualized product to be phased in 2022. VERY GOOD commissioned its first production line at the Rupert Facility (“Rupert Line 1”) in April 2021 and saleable production began in June 2021. The second production line at the Rupert Facility is planned to be commissioned in 2023.

Patterson Facility

To support the expansion of our U.S. operations and the introduction of new products into the market, VERY GOOD signed a lease for the Patterson Facility in August 2020. The Patterson Facility comprises approximately 25,000 square feet of production space, with the option to lease an additional 25,000 square feet, and was expected to be capable of producing up to 98.5 million pounds of product per year if three to four production lines were commissioned successfully. In September 2021, the Company began food production on commercial-grade kitchen equipment in order to fast-track the production of Taco Stuff’er, one of the VERY GOOD’s most in-demand SKUs. Testing of Taco Stuff’er on this commercial-grade kitchen equipment was completed in November 2021 with saleable production starting shortly thereafter.

 

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The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

Victoria Facility

The Victoria Facility produces our existing SKUs that have not yet been scaled at one of our larger facilities, as well as new products in development on a smaller scale to test in the market.

Fairview Facility

Through the acquisition of The Cultured Nut, VERY GOOD took over the lease of the Fairview Facility. The Fairview Facility produces our Very Good Cheese SKUs as well as other plant-based cheese products in development.

Developing Innovative Products

We have a team of scientists and food technology experts at the Rupert Facility working on developing innovative new plant-based products and continuously improving the taste and texture of our product lines.

In May 2021, VERY GOOD announced its new brand, The Very Good Cheese Co., and its lineup of five new plant-based cheese products. These new SKUs consist of: “Bold Cheddah”, a white cheddar style vegan cheese; “Cheedah”, a medium cheddar style vegan cheese; “Dill’ish”, a garlic and dill-havarti style vegan cheese; “Goud AF*”, a smoky gouda style vegan cheese; and “Pepper Jack”, a monterey jack style vegan cheese. These newly announced plant-based cheeses follow the Company’s completed acquisition of The Cultured Nut. The Very Good Cheese Co. products were made available in the United States and Canada in June 2021 through our eCommerce Store and we expect that they will be available in Canadian retail stores and U.S. wholesale in 2022.

VERY GOOD announced its new gluten-free and soy-free Butcher’s Select product line initially consisting of five SKUs in July 2021. The Butcher’s Select product range comprises a premium line of sausages, burgers and meatballs that is gluten-free, soy-free and Non-GMO verified. The Butcher’s Select product line will diversify VERY GOOD’s portfolio of plant-based meats and position The Very Good Butchers brand in the alternative meat substitute category where products are created to directly simulate their animal-based counterparts and which has been largely dominated by Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods.

The highly anticipated Butcher’s Select products were made available via limited release on our eCommerce Store (www.verygoodbutchers.com) in August 2021. Starting in early Q4 2021, all Butcher’s Select products were available from our eCommerce Store. The retail rollout of the Butcher’s Select product line kicked off in September 2021 with Butcher’s Select products on the shelves of several retail locations in North America, with additional retailers planned to be added in 2022.

Butcher’s Select Mmm...Meatballs won the prestigious NEXTY award in the Best New Frozen Product category in September 2021. The NEXTY Awards are a biannual awards program created to recognize the pinnacle of excellence in the natural products industry, elevating impactful brands and products that inspire a healthy, sustainable future for people and the planet.

In October 2021, VERY GOOD announced two additions to the Butcher’s Select product: Butcher’s Select Spicy Meatballs and The Very Good Steak. The original plant-based meatballs entered the market as an alternative to not only plant-based, but also traditional meat products in the natural food space. The Very Good Butchers Steak will compete in a nascent segment of the plant-based meat alternative category by tackling more sophisticated whole meat muscle products such as strip loin and fillets.

In early 2022, VERY GOOD announced the introduction of two new plant-based ground meats, A Cut Above Pork, and A Cut Above Beef which introduce our offerings into a new subcategory of refrigerated plant-based meats.

Expansion of Wholesale Distribution

We continue our efforts to expand our Canadian and United States wholesale distribution as part of our strategic focus to meet demand and increase customer awareness resulting in revenue growth.

Canadian Wholesale Distribution

VERY GOOD continued its coast-to-coast expansion in Canada through its wholesale distribution partnership with Horizon Grocery + Wellness, through which the Company signed on with Save-On-Foods in August 2021, Western Canada’s largest grocery retailer, to carry The Very Good Butchers products in 184 of its retail stores across Canada. Save-on-Foods is the owner of several well-established banners

 

9


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

including its namesake Save-On-Foods stores as well as PriceSmart Foods, Urban Fare and Bulkley Valley Wholesale. Save-on-Foods is stocking The Very Good Butchers’ top five SKUs including The Very Good Burger, Smokin’ Bangers, Taco Stuff’er, Very Good Pepperoni and the Very Good Dog in 177 of its retail stores and seven Urban Fare locations across Canada.

In September 2021, the Company announced it has further expanded its product offering within Sobeys’s retail network. Our popular The Very Good Butchers product line is now available for the first time in Québec at Rachelle Béry health food stores, and online throughout the Greater Toronto Area via Voilà by Sobeys’ online home delivery service.

As of December 31, 2021, The Very Good Butcher’s products were in 973 retail stores across Canada compared to 275 in the prior year, with major retailers including Whole Foods Markets, Thrifty Foods (Sobeys), Fresh St. Market, Choices Markets, IGA, and Farmboy; as well as smaller independent grocers.

US Wholesale Distribution

Wholesale retail distribution in the United States is a pivotal component of our 2022 and future growth strategy. VERY GOOD entered into a new partnership with Boulder, Colorado-based natural food and beverage brokerage, Green Spoon Sales (“Green Spoon”), in May 2021 to accelerate the Company’s reach into grocery and retail across the United States. VERY GOOD also signed on with the U.S. distribution arm of United Natural Foods (“UNFI”) later that same month, the largest publicly traded wholesale distributor of health and specialty foods in North America. In Q2 2021, the Company announced a wholesale distribution agreement with KeHE Distributors, LLC (“KeHE”) a top pure play U.S. wholesale food distributor of natural, organic, speciality and fresh food brands across North America. These valued distribution partners have relationships with major grocers including Harmons Grocery, Erewhon Organic Grocer, Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods, Thrive Market and Associated Food Stores.

On September 14, 2021, VERY GOOD announced it is further expanding its U.S. retail presence with Earth Fare, a U.S. based health and wellness supermarket retailer. Starting in November 2021, VERY GOOD’s Very Good Butchers/Original and its Butchers Select its newest gluten-free and soy-free product line, will be rolled out into all 23 of Earth Fare’s locations in states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, Ohio and Michigan. Other wholesale accounts include, but are not limited to, Wegman’s, Raley’s, Harmon’s, PCC, Earth Fare, Erewhon and Metro Markets.

As of December 31, 2021, VERY GOOD’s products were placed in 422 U.S. stores across 26 states; bringing the total number of stores across North America to 1,395.

eCommerce

eCommerce has been a key channel for VERY GOOD supporting our speed to market strategy and building brand awareness for our products. In June 2021, the Company launched an Amazon U.S. storefront and in August 2021, the Company launched its UK eCommerce website allowing UK-based customers to order VERY GOOD’s Butcher Boxes. Both initiatives have recently been paused.

VERY GOOD is currently reviewing its e-commerce channel. Digital marketing costs to acquire new customers have increased over the past year, largely related to structural changes of the largest digital and social platforms and as such we are reviewing our online strategy and marketing expenditures to optimize our ROI. As such, we expect our growth will slow down in the near-term in this channel. We are committed to finding alternative initiatives to support our e-commerce business profitably.

Food Service

Entering the food service industry is a natural growth opportunity for VERY GOOD as the brand continues to earn positive recognition. Establishing ourselves in this channel will provide another key growth area for the company and will allow us to respond to numerous inquiries and interest in this segment. As a first step, we have recently hired a Director of Food Services.

Strategic Warehousing and Logistics Partnerships

Establishing hubs across North America is a critical step in building out our North American expansion strategy, reducing shipping costs, and enhancing customer relationships through faster delivery times. In the latter part of 2020, the Company signed agreements with three strategically located 3PL providers (“3PL”) in North America to increase speed of delivery to customers and reduce associated shipping

 

10


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

costs for its eCommerce orders. The 3PL provider facilities’ centralized locations provide VERY GOOD with the capabilities of reaching anywhere in North America in two to three days via ground transportation. All three providers pick, pack and ship for our eCommerce Store orders and wholesale palletize for retail orders.

Victoria Flagship Store

In October 2021, we opened our new Victoria Flagship Store in downtown Victoria, BC. The new Victoria Flagship Store has an outdoor patio and a larger footprint than our previous butcher shop and accommodates a higher volume of customers.

Mount Pleasant Flagship Store and R&D Innovation Centre

In January 2020, the Company signed a lease for the Mount Pleasant Flagship Store and took possession in September 1, 2020. Plans for the Mount Pleasant Flagship Store included a second flagship store with a retail front featuring our butcher shop and restaurant concept including a test kitchen and R&D innovation centre. The Company is working with the City of Vancouver on the obtaining the required construction permits, the receipt of which have been significantly delayed. As at December 31, 2021, a total of $1 million has been spent on the Mount Pleasant Flagship Store and an estimated $4.5 million is required to complete the facility. However, as of March 31, 2022, the opening of the Mount Pleasant Flagship Store has been delayed indefinitely and the project is undergoing review.

Financings

In June 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Waygar Capital Inc. (“Waygar Capital”), as agent for Ninepoint Canadian Senior Debt Master Fund L.P. The Credit Facility consists of a $20 million revolving line of credit and a $50 million senior secured asset backed term loan. All amounts drawn are subject to specific borrowing requirements and under the Credit Facility will pay interest at a rate of 9.95% per annum and will be repaid in full upon maturity. The Credit Facility has a term of 24 months with an option to renew, upon mutual consent, for another 12 months and is secured by a first-priority security interest on substantially all of VERY GOOD’s assets (refer to Note 12 of consolidated financial statements). The amount we may draw under the term loan at any given time is tied to a prescribed proportion of the appraised value of our eligible equipment from time to time. Only certain equipment may be financed, and no value is given for equipment installation costs. As at December 31, 2021, a total of $6,333,356 is outstanding under the Credit Facility, net of an unamortized discount of $133,725, and $38,565 is outstanding for interest and $2,135 is outstanding for unused line fee, which is included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

In July 2021, the Company completed its bought deal prospectus offering in Canada (the “July 2021 Offering”) consisting of 5,594,750 units (the “July 2021 Units”) at a price of $3.70 per July 2021 Unit for total gross proceeds of $20,700,575. Each July 2021 Unit consisted of one Common Share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a “July 2021 Warrant”), with each July 2021 Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at a price of $4.60 per July 2021 Warrant until January 2, 2023.

In October 2021, the Company completed a U.S. registered direct offering (the “October 2021 Offering” and together with the July 2021 Offering, the “2021 Offerings”) with certain institutional investors for the purchase and sale of approximately 15,000,000 units of the Company (the “October 2021 Units” and together with the July 2021 Units, the “Units”) at a price of U.S.$2.00 per October 2021 Unit for total gross proceeds of US$30,000,000. Each October 2021 Unit consisted of one Common Share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, an “October 2021 Warrant” and together with the July 2021 Warrants, the “Warrants”), with each October 2021 Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at a price of U.S.$2.35 per October 2021 Warrant until October 19, 2026.

COVID-19

Along with businesses globally, VERY GOOD is subject to the continuing risk that COVID-19, and its current and/or any future variants, may impact our results of operations or financial condition through disruptions to our operations including as a result of disruptions in our supply chain and distribution network, temporary production suspensions at our production facilities, reduced productivity of our team members or new indoor dining restrictions.

We continue to utilize and refine our health and safety protocols to ensure the health and wellness of our employees and to reduce risk within our facilities and mitigate the direct impacts of COVID-19 including the implementation of a company-wide vaccination policy to mandate COVID-19 vaccination in our facilities as a key element of our safety protocols to maintain a safe work environment. We have

 

11


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

required compliance with such policy for all of our team members since December 2021, subject to any special exceptions or other approved reasonable accommodations.

In 2021, our operations were affected by indirect impacts of COVID-19 through delays in the delivery of production equipment and in the approval of building permits for both the Rupert Facility and the Mount Pleasant Flagship Store as well as the tightening of the local labour markets in the areas surrounding the Rupert Facility and the Patterson Facility which made it more challenging to secure the personnel needed to staff operations from time to time. We also encountered challenges posed by unstable supply chains caused by port congestion, freight equipment shortages, higher freight rates and fluctuating prices of raw materials. Moreover, in 2021, our Victoria Flagship Store faced mandated COVID-19 closures and restrictions for in-restaurant dining. In addition, we incurred increased costs to implement additional health safety measures, including our mandatory vaccination policy.

COVID-19 continues to have an impact on the global economy, leading to increased inflation and ongoing uncertainty due to the risk of a re-emergence of the virus. As such, the extent of the impact of COVID-19 on future periods will depend on future developments, all which are uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the duration or resurgence of the pandemic, government responses and health and safety measures or directives put in place by public health authorities and sustained pressure on global supply chains causing supply and demand imbalances. See “Risk Factors’’.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Selected Financial Information

 

           
     

Three months

ended

December 31,

      

Three months

ended

December 31,

       Year ended
December 31,
       Year ended
December 31,
       Year ended   
December 31,   
           
      2021        2020        2021        2020        2019   

Revenue

     $4,298,922          $1,836,682          $12,258,783          $4,636,838          $999,797    

Procurement expense

     (2,645,660)          (1,576,210)          (8,859,932)          (3,809,732)          (1,169,583)  

Gross profit(3)

     $1,653,262          $260,472          $3,398,851          $827,106          $(169,786)  

Gross margin(3)

     38%          14%          28%          18%          (17%)  

Fulfilment expense

     (4,434,376)          (778,122)          (10,267,444)          (1,907,621)          (170,617)  

General and administrative expense

     (8,630,775)          (3,858,273)          (32,129,489)          (7,084,795)          (1,622,541)  

Marketing and investor relations expense

     (4,371,771)          (973,853)          (11,276,537)          (3,243,210)          (64,445)  

Research and development expense

     (525,873)          (210,018)          (1,974,530)          (477,750)          (125,680)  

Pre-production expense

     (345,965)          -          (3,214,797)          -          -  

Operating loss

     (16,655,498)          (5,559,794)          (55,463,946)          (11,886,270)          (2,153,069)  

Finance expense

     (1,172,470)          (148,014)          (3,024,451)          (1,842,853)          (173,268)  

Other income (expense)

     53,948          (105,323)          (514,638)          (129,677)          (15,207)  

Change in fair value of derivative liabilities(1)

     7,922,647          -          7,922,647          -          -  

Impairment of goodwill (2)

     (3,479,535)          -          (3,479,535)          -          -  
           

Net loss

     $(13,330,908)          $(5,813,131)          $(54,559,923)          $(13,858,800)          $(2,341,544)  

Adjusted general and administrative expense(3)

     $5,741,337          $2,154,691          $14,114,252          $4,484,044          $1,434,607  

Adjusted EBITDA(3)

     $(5,014,266)          $(3,279,266)          $(24,253,335)          $(8,344,117)          $(1,328,260)  

(1) On October 19, 2021, the Company issued 7,500,000 common share purchase warrants with an exercise price of US$2.35. Due to the variable nature of the proceeds from exercise of these warrants, the Company recognized a derivative liability of $11,864,649 at the issuance date. The fair value of these liabilities will be revalued at the end of every reporting period and the change in fair value will be reported in profit or loss as a gain or loss on derivative financial instruments.

(2) During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded an impairment of goodwill of $3,479,535 on the basis that synergies originally expected from integration with its acquisitions of The Cultured Nut Inc. and Lloyd-James Marketing Group Inc. have not materialized.

 

12


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

(3) See “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” starting on page 20 for more information on Non-IFRS financial measures and reconciliations thereof.

Revenue

Revenue by geographic region

 

             
     

Three months
ended December

31,

    

Three months
ended

September 30,

     Three months
ended December
31,
     Year ended
December 31,
     Year ended
December 31,
     Year ended  
December 31,  
 
             
      2021      2021      2020      2021      2020      2019    

Canada

     $1,802,495        $1,633,112        $1,349,314        $6,352,640        $4,003,507        $999,797    

United States

     2,494,344        899,400        487,367        5,900,475        633,331        -    

United Kingdom

     2,083        3,585        -        5,668        -        -    
             

Total

     $4,298,922        $2,536,097        $1,836,681        $12,258,783        $4,636,838        $999,797    
Revenue by channel

 

        
             
     

Three months
ended December

31,

    

Three months
ended

September 30,

     Three months
ended December
31,
     Year ended
December 31,
     Year ended
December 31,
     Year ended  
December 31,  
 
             
      2021      2021      2020      2021      2020      2019    

eCommerce

     $3,340,107        $1,546,146        $1,438,931        $9,277,750        $3,382,458        $225,121    

Wholesale

     781,363        846,749        255,276        2,429,072        840,490        156,137    

Butcher Shop & Restaurant and Other

     177,452        143,202        142,475        551,961        413,890        618,539    
             

Total

     $  4,298,922        $  2,536,097        $  1,836,682        $  12,258,783        $  4,636,838        $  999,797    

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to September 30, 2021

Revenue increased $1,762,825 (70%) to $4,298,922 in Q4 2021, compared to $2,536,097 in Q3 2021. VERY GOOD shipped 35,823 eCommerce orders in Q4 compared to 17,546 in the previous quarter due to the popularity of its seasonal products, in particular the Stuffed Beast. Wholesale revenue experienced a slight decrease in Q4 2021 by $65,386 (8%) from $846,749 in Q3 2021 as a result of seasonal trends towards the end of the quarter. eCommerce revenue increased dramatically by $1,793,961 (116%) from $1,546,146 in Q3 2021 due to seasonal on-line promotions, in particular our Stuffed Beast.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

Revenue increased $2,462,240 (134%) to $4,298,922 in Q4 2021, compared to $1,836,682 in the same period in fiscal 2020. The growth in revenue was driven by an increase of $1,901,176 in eCommerce sales and $526,087 in wholesale revenue due to the Company’s scaling of production and distribution to meet demand in both sales channels. Of the increase in revenue, $2,006,977 was attributed to United States sales from the launch into U.S. retail in the third quarter of 2021, which is a key growth market for the Company.

Year Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

Revenue increased $7,621,945 (164%) to $12,258,783 in fiscal 2021, compared to $4,636,838 in the same period in fiscal 2020. The growth in revenue was primarily driven by an increase of $5,895,292 in eCommerce sales and $1,588,582 in wholesale revenue due to the Company’s scaling of production and distribution to meet demand in both sales channels. Of the increase in revenue, $5,267,144 was attributed to United States sales due to the Company’s strategic focus on the United States market as a key growth opportunity for the future.

 

13


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

Procurement expense

Procurement expense consists of the cost of raw materials, supplies and inventory packaging, inbound shipping charges, employee wages and benefits, and other attributable overhead expenses incurred in the procurement and manufacturing of the Company’s finished goods. Procurement expense also includes expense associated with the Butcher Shop & Restaurant including food costs, direct labour and other attributable overhead expenses.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to September 30, 2021

Procurement expense increased $586,456 (28%) to $2,645,660 in Q4 2021, compared to $2,059,204 in Q3 2021. The increase in procurement expense was due to more units being sold in Q4 2021 compared to the previous quarter

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

Procurement expense increased $1,069,450 (68%) to $2,645,660 in Q4 2021, compared to $1,576,210 in Q4 2020. The increase in procurement expense was primarily driven by increased sales from the Company ramping up production and distribution to meet demand for its products.

Year Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

Procurement expense increased $5,050,200 (133%) to $8,859,932 in fiscal 2021, compared to $3,809,732 in fiscal 2020. The increase in procurement expense was primarily driven by higher sales from the Company ramping up production and distribution to meet demand for its products as well as $470,190 in higher share-based compensation expense incurred for operational employees.

Gross profit

Gross profit is a Non-IFRS measure. Gross profit consists of revenue less procurement expense. See “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” on page 20 for more information on management’s use of gross profit and a reconciliation thereof.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to September 30, 2021

Gross profit was $1,653,262 or 38% of revenue in Q4 2021, compared to $476,893 or 19% of revenue in Q3 2021, for which the improvement was largely due to the ramp up of the Rupert facility.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

Gross profit was $1,653,262 or 38% of revenue in Q4 2021, compared to gross profit of $260,472 or 14% for the same period in fiscal 2020 for which the improvement was largely due to the ramp up in the Rupert facility.

Year Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

 

14


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

Gross profit was $3,398,851 or 28% of revenue in fiscal 2021, compared to gross profit of $827,106 or 18% in fiscal 2020 due to the operational efficiencies related to the ramp up of production at the Rupert and Patterson facilities.

Fulfilment expense

Fulfilment expense represents third-party fulfilment costs for picking and packing of inventory into orders, fulfilment packaging costs, direct fulfilment labor, outbound shipping and freight, and warehousing costs.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to September 30, 2021

Fulfilment expense increased $2,629,917 (146%) to $4,434,376 in Q4 2021, compared to $1,804,459 in Q3 2021. Fulfilment expenses increased due to an increase in the number of eCommerce orders shipped as well as additional costs related to the adverse effect of the atmospheric river (flooding) that BC experienced in November 2021 and warehouse scarcity. During Q4 2021, VERY GOOD shipped 35,823 eCommerce orders compared to 17,546 in the previous quarter due to the popularity of its seasonal products.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

Fulfilment expense increased $3,656,254 (470%) to $4,434,376 in Q4 2021, compared to $778,122 in Q4 2020. The increase in fulfilment expense was primarily driven by higher eCommerce sales shipped as well as additional costs related to the adverse effect of the atmospheric river (flooding) that BC experienced in November 2021 and warehouse scarcity. During Q4 2021, 145,167 units were sold in our eCommerce channel compared to 105,874 during the same period in fiscal 2020.

Year Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

Fulfilment expense increased $8,359,823 (438%) to $10,267,444 in fiscal 2021, compared to $1,907,621 in fiscal 2020. The increase in fulfilment expense was primarily driven by higher sales in our eCommerce channel as well as other supply chain issues related to COVID-19 and the atmospheric river (flooding) that BC experienced in Q4 2021 2021 and warehouse scarcity. During the year ended December 31, 2021, 559,458 units were sold in our eCommerce channel compared to 319,682 units respectively during fiscal 2020.

General and administrative expense and adjusted general and administrative expense

General and administrative expense are primarily comprised of administrative expenses, selling expenses, salaries, wages and benefits, including associated share-based compensation not directly associated with other functions, non-production rent expense, depreciation and amortization expense on non-production assets and other non-production operating expenses. Administrative expenses include the expenses related to management, accounting, legal, information technology, and other support functions.

Adjusted general and administrative expense is a Non-IFRS measure calculated as total general and administrative expense less share-based compensation and depreciation. See “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” on page 20 for more information on management’s use of adjusted general and administrative expense and a reconciliation thereof.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to September 30, 2021

General and administrative expense increased $1,541,498 (22%) to $8,630,775 in Q4 2021, compared to $7,089,277 in Q3 2021. Excluding share-based compensation and depreciation expense, adjusted general and administrative expense increased $1,777,813 (45%) to $5,741,337 in Q4 2021 compared to $3,963,524 in Q3 2021. The increase in adjusted general and administrative expense was primarily driven by increases in insurance fees of $484,187 due to increases in director and officer insurance, legal and professional fees of $387,636 due to additional regulatory and filing matters including services related to the Company’s Nasdaq listing, accounting and audit fees of $355,540 due to the accrual of 2021 audit fees, and salaries and wages of $1,853,870 due to annual bonuses.

 

15


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

General and administrative expense increased $4,772,502 (124%) to $8,630,775 in Q4 2021 compared to $3,858,273 in Q4 2020. Excluding share-based compensation and depreciation expense, adjusted general and administrative expense increased $3,586,646 (166%) in Q4 2021, compared to $2,154,364 in Q4 2020. The increase in adjusted general and administrative expense was primarily driven by increased insurance fees of $578,215 due to increases in director and officer insurance, wages and benefits of $1,963,715 due to annual bonuses, filing and listing fees of $290,841 related to the Company’s Nasdaq listing, legal and professional fees of $857,673 due to additional regulatory and filing matters including services related to the Company’s Nasdaq listing, and accounting and audit fees of $294,480 due to the accrual of 2021 audit fees.

Year Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

General and administrative expense increased $25,044,694 (353%) to $32,129,489 in fiscal 2021, compared to $7,084,795 in fiscal 2020. Excluding share-based compensation and depreciation expense, adjusted general and administrative expense increased $9,630,208 (215%) in fiscal 2021 compared to $4,484,044 in fiscal 2020. The increase in adjusted general and administrative expense is driven by an increase in wages and benefits of $4,470,302 and recruitment expense of $359,438, due to expansion of the management and sales team to support planned growth, legal and professional fees of $1,572,677 due to additional advisory fees, executive recruitment services, and additional regulatory and filing matters including services related to the Company’s Nasdaq listing, insurance fees of $854,139 due to increases in director and officer insurance, filing and listing fees of $719,323 related to the Company’s Nasdaq listing, software license and subscription fees of $514,446 as the Company implements a new enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system to support manufacturing and growth and purchases additional software subscriptions to support the increased headcount, general office expenses such as small equipment, repairs and maintenance, property tax, insurance, and consumables of $1,086,621 due to the higher volume of business activities, and travel expenses of $250,060 as COVID-19 restrictions began to ease in the latter half of 2021.

Marketing and investor relations expense

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to September 30, 2021

Marketing and investor relations expense increased $2,193,006 (101%) to $4,371,771 in Q4 2021, compared to $2,178,765 in Q3 2021. The increase in marketing and investor relations expense was mainly due to an increase of $905,701 in marketing expenses related to a change in service providers in Canada who assist with digital marketing initiatives to raise brand awareness, increase eCommerce traffic and conversion resulting in lower customer acquisition fees, $906,063 relating to other marketing expenses such as content creation, online advertising and brand strategy development; investor relations expense increased by $306,369 to support the October 2021 Offering.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

Marketing and investor relations expense increased $3,397,918 (349%) to $4,371,771 in Q4 2021, compared to $973,853 in Q4 2020. The increase in marketing and investor relations expense was mainly due to the increase of $3,312,217 in digital marketing initiatives to raise brand awareness and increase eCommerce traffic and conversion as well as an increase of $278,779 in wages and benefits and $115,808 in share-based compensation due to the expansion of the marketing team to support sales growth.

Year Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

Marketing and investor relations expense increased $8,033,327 (248%) to $11,276,537 in fiscal 2021, compared to $3,243,210 in fiscal 2020 mainly due to an increase in digital marketing initiatives of $6,416,848, wages and benefits of $764,068 and share-based compensation expense of $856,481 for the same reasons mentioned above.

Pre-production expense

 

16


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

Pre-production expense includes wages and benefits, right-of-use assets and property and equipment depreciation expense and other operating expense related to the commissioning of the Rupert Facility, the Patterson Facility, the Mount Pleasant and the newly located Victoria Flagship Stores which are not yet in operation. These type of expenses will be included as part of procurement expense once these sites are in operation.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to September 30, 2021

Pre-production expense decreased $981,044 (74%) to $345,965 in Q4 2021, compared to $1,327,009 in Q3 2021. Pre-production expense decreased as scaling of existing and new SKU’s, including Butchers Select wound down and products were commercially launched.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

Pre-production expense was $345,965 in Q4 2021, compared to $nil in Q4 2020 due to the Company not taking possession of the Rupert Facility until January 2021.

Year Ended December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020

Pre-production expense was $3,214,797 in fiscal 2021, compared to $nil in fiscal 2020 due to the Company not taking possession of the Rupert Facility until January 2021.

Impairment of Goodwill

In accordance with our annual testing for impairment of cash-generating units that were acquired in a business combination, we determined based on analysis conducted in the fourth quarter in comparison to the original forecasts that the goodwill associated with the acquisition of The Cultured Nut of $2,422,086 and for Lloyd-James of $1,056,619 is impaired. With respect to The Culture Nut, the success of the cheese products was significantly below the original forecasts made at the time of acquisition and the products under development at the time of acquisition were also determined to have a lack of innovation as compared to original expectations. With respect to Lloyd James, the cost savings in terms of brokerage fees associated with the acquisition were significantly below the original forecasts, particularly as the sales team was build out as well as the fact any relationships associated with the acquisition did not result in viable acquisition targets as expected.

Selected Annual Financial and Balance Sheet Information

 

 
As at and for the year ended December 31  
      2021                               2020                               2019  

  Revenue

     $   12,258,783        $   4,636,838        $   999,797  
       

  Net loss

     $  (54,559,923)        $  (13,858,800)        $  (2,341,544)  

  Loss per share (basic and diluted)

     $   (0.53)        $   (0.21)        $   (0.06)  
       

  Weighted average number of shares outstanding (basic and diluted)

     103,401,995        66,388,474        36,330,356  

  Total cash and cash equivalents

     $   21,975,653        $ 25,084,083        $  25,084,083  

  Total assets

     78,344,267        35,182,597        1,344,219  
       

  Total non-current financial liabilities

     22,239,063        5,419,352        949,313  

  Total liabilities

     38,167,940        7,540,254        1,684,800  
       

  Share capital

     84,751,366        39,335,150        2,245,422  

  Deficit

     $  (71,277,620)        $  (16,717,697)        $  (2,858,897)  

Total assets

 

17


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

Total assets increased $43,161,670 to $78,344,267 as at December 31, 2021 from $35,182,597 as at December 31, 2020; primarily due to the increase in right-of-use assets of $11,612,905; and in property and equipment of $14,709,880 at the Rupert Facility; an increase in inventory of $7,278,720; and deposits on equipment of $2,166,488. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $21,975,653. As discussed above under “Our Business—Operational and Liquidity Update”, the Company has experienced a greater than expected cash burn in the last several months as the Company scaled its operations to meet its growth targets, which has reduced its cash position and has strained its short-term liquidity.

Total liabilities

Total liabilities increased $30,627,686 to $38,167,940 as at December 31, 2021 from $7,540,254 as at December 31, 2020; primarily due to an increase of $12,078,106 in lease liabilities relating to right-of-use assets including the Rupert Facility and an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $6,237,433 from the ramp-up of operations and financing costs related to the closing of the Credit Facility. The Company also had $4,577,081 in advances on the Credit Facility and recorded $1,048,000 in contingent consideration liabilities related the acquisition of The Cultured Nut and Lloyd-James Marketing Group Inc. (“Lloyd James”).

Share Capital

Share capital increased $45,416,216 to $84,751,366 at December 31, 2021, compared to $39,335,150 as at December 31, 2020; primarily due to $57,778,775 for the issuance of units, $2,401,483 for the issuance of units for common share purchase warrant exercised and $1,156,437 for Common Shares issued for the acquisition of The Cultured Nut and Lloyd-James, partially offset by $6,595,296 in share issue costs related to the 2021 Offerings and $11,864,649 related to the derivative liability on common share purchase warrant denominated in U.S. dollars.

QUARTERLY RESULTS

The following table presents certain unaudited financial information for each of the eight quarters up to and including the quarter ended December 31, 2021. The information has been derived from our unaudited quarterly condensed interim consolidated financial statements.

 

                                                                                   
   
     Three Months Ended  
     

December 31,

2021

    

September 30,

2021

    

June 30,

2021

    

March 31,

2021

 

  Revenue

     $4,298,922        $2,536,097        $2,780,681        $2,643,083  
         

  Net loss

     $(13,330,908)        $(13,699,706)        $(12,500,733)        $(15,028,576)  

  Comprehensive loss

     $(13,334,419)        $(13,724,506)        $(12,496,272)        $(15,024,102)  
         

  Loss per share (basic and diluted)

     $(0.12)        $(0.13)        $(0.13)        $(0.15)  

  Number of eCommerce orders

     35,823        17,546        24,025        23,181  

 

                                                                                   
   
     Three Months Ended  
     

December 31,

2020

       September 30,
2020 (1)
    

        June 30,

2020

    

      March 31,

2020

 

  Revenue

     $1,836,682       $1,373,814        $1,087,790        $338,553  
         

  Net loss and comprehensive loss

     $(5,813,132)       $(4,497,107)        $(2,418,655)        $(1,129,986)  

 

18


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

                                                                                   
         

  Loss per share (basic and diluted)

     $(0.06)        $(0.06)        $(0.05)        $(0.02)  

  Number of eCommerce orders

                   13,580                               13,107                      11,194                      2,441  

Revenue has increased over the last eight quarters, other than Q3 2021 when revenues decreased slightly due to an increase in digital marketing costs to acquire new customers that increased largely related to structural changes of the largest digital and social platforms and negatively impacted sales. The sales growth has been achieved in both the eCommerce and wholesale channels in Canada and the United States. The Company began making significant efforts to increase its production capacity in H2 2020 with the addition of the Patterson Facility. Ramp-up continued throughout 2021 with the addition of the Rupert Facility in January 2021, the commissioning of Rupert Line 1 in April 2021, commercial production on Rupert Line 1 in June 2021. The Company also partnered with new 3PL providers to more effectively extend their reach in North America. The Company plans to continue investment in its existing production and infrastructure as needed to meet sales demand on a go-forward basis. The Company also incurred higher general and administration expense to build out its teams in Victoria, Vancouver and California to support this growth with the hiring of employees, increased office expense, recruitment fees, information technology and licensing cost. High marketing cost necessary to support the on-line business in combination with financing costs associated with our various financings have also had a significant drag on our profitability. Further fluctuations in net loss have been impacted by the timing and amount of share-base compensation expense related to the fair value of stock options (“Options”) and common share purchase warrants granted. After investing heavily in the infrastructure build-out required to support our business as a public company in Canada and in the United States, the Company announced that was shifting to finding opportunities to maximize our efficiency and leverage in general and administrative expenses. See also “Our Business—Operational and Liquidity Update” above.

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Non-IFRS financial measures are metrics used by management that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA

Management defines adjusted EBITDA as net loss before finance expense, tax, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation and other non-cash items, including impairment of goodwill, loss on disposal of equipment, loss on termination of leases, finance expense and shares, units and warrants issued for services. Management believes adjusted EBITDA is a useful financial metric to assess its operating performance because it adjusts for items that either do not relate to the Company’s underlying business performance or that are items that are not reasonably likely to recur.

 

             
     

 

Three months ended

December 31,

    

Three months ended

September 30,

    

Three months ended

December 31,

     Year ended December
31,
     Year ended December
31,
     Year ended December
31,
 
             
      2021      2021      2020      2021      2020      2019  

Net loss as reported

     $(13,330,908)        $(13,699,706)        $(5,813,132)        $(54,559,923)        $(13,858,800)        $(2,341,544)  
             

Adjustments:

                                                     

Depreciation

     480,272        616,111        153,295        1,938,035        425,276        161,583  
             

Impairment of goodwill

     3,479,535        -        -        3,479,535        -        -  

Loss on disposal of equipment

     -        10,255        -        32,816        -        -  
             

Loss on termination of lease1

     -        -        -        (1,600)        7,533        -  

Finance expense

     1,157,411        1,102,858        148,014        3,024,451        1,842,853        173,268  
             

Share-based compensation

     3,199,424        3,796,458        1,951,150        21,605,880        2,780,488        200,933  

 

19


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
             

    Shares, units and warrants issued for services

       -          -          281,407          227,471          458,533          477,500  

    Adjusted EBITDA

       $(5,014,266)          $(8,174,024)          $(3,279,266)          $(24,253,335)          $(8,344,117)          $(1,328,260)  

1 On September 22, 2020, the Company terminated 17 lease agreements and purchased the related leased equipment for $79,118. The difference between the related lease liabilities and right-of-use-assets of $7,533 was recognized as a loss on termination of leases. During the years ended December 31, 2021,and 2020, the Company terminated 2 lease agreements and recognized a $1,600 gain on termination of leases.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Management utilizes gross profit and gross margin to provide a representation of performance in the period, which are determined by deducting procurement expense from revenue.

 

             
      Three months ended
December 31,
    

Three months ended

September 30,

     Three months ended
December 31,
     Year ended December
31,
     Year ended December
31,
     Year ended December
31,
 
      2021      2021      2020      2021      2020      2019  

    Revenue

     $4,298,922        $2,536,097        $1,836,682        $12,258,783        $4,636,838        $999,797  
             

    Procurement expense

     (2,645,660)        (2,059,204)        (1,576,210)        (8,859,932)        (3,809,732)        (1,169,583)  

    Gross profit

     $1,653,262        $476,893        $260,472        $3,398,851        827,106        $(169,786)  
             

    Gross margin

     38%        19%        14%        28%        18%        (17%)  

Adjusted General and Administrative Expense

Management defines adjusted general and administrative expense as general and administrative expense excluding non-cash items such as share-based compensation and depreciation expense. Management believes adjusted general and administrative expense provides useful information as it represents the corporate costs to operate the business excluding any non-cash items.

 

             
     Three months ended
December 31,
   

Three months ended

September 30,

    Three months ended
December 31,
    Year ended December
31,
    Year ended December
31,
    Year ended December
31,
 
     2021     2021     2020     2021     2020     2019  

    General and administrative expense

    $(8,630,775)       $(7,089,277)       $(3,858,273)       $(32,129,489)       $(7,084,795)       $(1,622,541)  
             

    Adjustments:

                                               

    Share-based compensation

    2,808,617       3,043,998       1,605,184       17,740,461       2,370,059       179,227  
             

    Depreciation

    80,821       81,755       98,398       274,776       230,692       8,707  

    Adjusted general and administrative expense

    $(5,741,337)       $(3,963,524)       $(2,154,691)       $(14,114,252)       $(4,484,044)       $(1.434.607)  

 

20


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

CAPITAL MANAGMENT

The following table summarizes our cash flows as at December 31, 2021 and 2020:

 

   
      Year ended December 31  
     
      2021                                   2020  

  Operating activities

     $(41,926,328)        $(9,660,481)  

  Investing activities

     (16,654,732)        (564,437)  

  Financing activities

     55,491,329        34,900,987  

  Effect of foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents

     (18,699)        2,404  

  Net changes in cash and cash equivalents

     $(3,108,430)        $24,678,473  

Operating activities

Net cash used in operating activities for fiscal 2021 was $41,926,328 compared to $9,660,481 in the prior year due to a greater net loss in 2021 of $54,559,923 and an increase in non-cash working capital of $9,851,446, which was primarily offset by non-cash share-based compensation of $21,605,880. The increase in working capital was largely due to an increase in inventory and prepaids and deposits of $5,751,293 and $3,191,325, respectively, which was offset by an increase in accounts payable of $1,815,833. During fiscal 2020, net cash used in operating activities was $9,660,481 resulting from the net loss for period of $13,858,800, partially offset by non-cash share-based compensation of $2,780,488. In addition, non-cash working capital increased by $1,299,564, again, largely related to an increase in inventory and prepaids.

Investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities for fiscal 2021 was $16,654,732 primarily attributed to capital expenditures and leasehold improvements incurred for the commissioning of the Rupert Facility. In addition, the Company paid $1,315,694 (net of cash acquired) for the acquisition of The Cultured Nut and Lloyd-James combined. During fiscal, 2020, net cash used in investing activities was $564,437 relating to capital expenditures for the restaurant and production equipment to expand production.

Financing activities

Net cash received from financing activities for fiscal 2021 was $55,491,329 mainly due to $52,713,503 from the issuance of units, $2,401,483 received from the exercise of common share purchase warrants and $120,599 received from the exercise of options; this was partially offset by payments of lease liabilities of $1,591,300, repayment of loans payable and other liabilities of $902,863, and deferred financing cost of $2,262,039. During fiscal 2020, net cash received from financing activities was $34,900,987 as at result of net proceeds from the issuance of common shares pursuant to our initial public offering in Canada (the “Canadian IPO”) and additional financings during the year, $10,863,951 received from proceeds from the exercise of common share purchase warrants, $608,126 received from the exercise of options and $1,007,315 incurred for various deposits, loans and lease liabilities and interest paid.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company received a total of $4,577,081 pursuant to the Credit Facility and recognized the net present value of the credit facility fee payable of $2,288,965, including a present value discount of $231,035. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized interest and accretion expense on the credit facility fee payable of $97,310 and interest expense of $180,522 related to the revolving credit facility and term loan. The Company also incurred an unused line of credit fee of $19,454. As at December 31, 2021, 2021, $38,565 is outstanding for interest and $2,135 is outstanding for unused line of credit fees, which are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The Company incurred debt financing costs totalling $5,303,563, which will be amortized over the term of the Credit Facility at the effective interest rate. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company

 

21


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

recognized accretion expense of the deferred financing costs of $1,378,820. As at December 31, 2021, the remaining carrying value of the deferred financing costs was $3,924,743.

Prospectus Offerings Use of Proceeds

On June 17, 2020, the Company completed the Canadian IPO consisting of 16,100,000 [units/Common Shares] at $0.25 per [unit/Common Share] for gross proceeds of $4,025,000. The following table provides an update on the anticipated use of proceeds raised, along with amounts expended.

 

     
     

 

Proposed Use of Proceeds

    

 

Approximate Use of Proceeds

to December 31, 2021

 

  Build out of Mount Pleasant (less tenant improvement allowance)

     $1,147,000        $1,020,000  

  Direct research and development expenses

     150,000        150,000  

  General corporate & other working capital

     2,231,000        2,481,000  

  Offering expenses and underwriter fees

     497,000        374,000  

  Total

     $4,025,000        $4,025,000  

On August 7, 2020, the Company closed an agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. pursuant to which they agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis , 6,555,000 units at a price of $1.30 per unit for gross proceeds Company of $8,521,500. The following table provides an update on the anticipated use of proceeds raised in the financing, along with amounts expended.

 

     
     

 

Proposed Use of Proceeds

    

 

Approximate Use of Proceeds

to December 31, 2021

 

  Expansion to the United States

     $3,500,000        $3,500,000  

  Direct research and development expenses

     750,000        750,000  

  Accretive acquisitions

     1,500,000        1,325,000  

  General corporate & other working capital

     1,739,780        2,148,000  

  Offering expenses and underwriter fee

     1,031,720        798,500  

Total

     $8,521,500        $8,521,500  

On December 4, 2020, the Company closed an agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. pursuant to which they agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis, 3,778,900 units at a price of $3.50 per unit for gross proceeds of $13,226,150. The following table provides an update on the anticipated use of proceeds raised in the financing, along with amounts expended.

 

     
     

 

Proposed Use of Proceeds

    

 

Approximate Use of Proceeds

to December 31, 2021

 

  Commencement of operations at Rupert Facility

     $10,000,000        $10,000,000  

 

22


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

  General corporate & other working capital

     1,918,058        1,928,148  

  Offering expenses and underwriter fee

     1,308,092        1,298,002  

  Total

                                  $13,226,150                                                           $13,226,150  

On July 2, 2021, the Company closed the July 2021 Offering with Canaccord Genuity Corp. pursuant to which they agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis, 5,594,750 July 2021 Units at a price of $3.70 per July 2021 Unit for gross proceeds of $20,700,575. The following table provides an update on the anticipated use of proceeds raised in the July 2021 Offering, along with amounts expended.

 

     
     

 

Proposed Use of Proceeds

    

 

Approximate Use of Proceeds

to December 31, 2021

 

  Commencement of operations at Patterson Facility

     $9,750,000        $1,079,000  

  U.S. eCommerce & wholesale expansion efforts

     3,000,000        3,000,000  

  International eCommerce launches

     2,000,000        158,000  

  General corporate & other working capital

     4,501,535        14,141,575  

  Offering expenses and underwriter fee

     1,449,040        2,322,000  

  Total

     $20,700,575        $20,700,575  

On October 19, 2021, the Company closed the October 2021 Offering with certain U.S. institutional investors for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 15,000,000 October 2021 Units at a price of U.S.$2.00 per October 2021 Unit for gross proceeds of $37,078,200 (U.S.$30,000,000). The following table provides an update on the anticipated use of proceeds raised in the October 2021 Offering, along with amounts expended.

 

     
     

 

Proposed Use of Proceeds

    

 

Approximate Use of Proceeds
to December 31, 2021

 

  Scale operations

     $12,977,370        $2,473,267  

  Expand geographical reach

     3,337,038        -  

  Accretive acquisitions within plant-based food sector

     3,707,820        -  

  Research & development

     3,089,850        300,338  

  Marketing initiatives

     4,325,790        2,840,845  

  General corporate & other working capital

     7,415,640        7,415,640  

  Offering expenses and underwriter fee

     2,224,692        $2,742,958  

Total

     $37,078,200        $15,773,048  

OUTSTANDING COMMON SHARES, OPTIONS, AND WARRANTS

The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares. The table below outlines the number of issued and outstanding Common Shares, common share purchase warrants and Options as at the dates indicated.

 

       
      As at March 31,    As at December 31,    As at December 31,

 

23


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

       
                                         2022                                         2021                                             2020  

  Common Shares

     118,503,464        118,498,464        96,640,432  

  Warrants

     13,064,081        13,663,058        2,889,367  

  Options

     7,442,230        8,512,206        3,852,639  

Common Shares

Common Shares increased by 21.9 million during fiscal 2021 primarily due to the following transactions:

 

   

20.6 million Common Shares and units issued for cash in the 2021 Offerings;

 

   

0.8 million Common Shares and units issued for common share purchase warrants exercised;

 

   

0.2 million Common Shares issued for acquisitions;

 

   

0.2 million Common Shares issued for Options exercised; and

 

   

0.1 million Common Shares and units issued for finder’s fees and for services.

Warrants

Common share purchase warrants increased by 10.8 million during fiscal 2021 primarily due to the following transactions:

 

   

exercise of 0.8 million broker and agent common share purchase warrants, including units exercisable for both Common Shares and common share purchase warrants;

issuance of 0.1 million common share purchase warrants resulting from the exercise of the foregoing units;

 

   

0.1 million expired common share purchase warrants;

 

   

issuance of 0.2 million common share purchase warrants to Waygar Capital related to the Credit Facility;

 

   

issuance of 3.2 million July 2021 Warrants; and

 

   

issuance of 8.0 million October 2021 Warrants.

Options

Options increased by 4.7 million during fiscal 2021 due to the following transactions:

 

   

5.4 million Options granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants;

 

   

0.2 million Options exercised; and

 

   

0.5 million Options cancelled.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET AGREEMENTS

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements such as obligations under guaranteed contracts, a retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity, any obligation under derivative instruments or any obligation under a material variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to the Company or engages in leasing or hedging services with the Company.

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The Company is exposed in varying degrees to a variety of financial instrument related risks. The Board of Directors approves and monitors the risk management processes, inclusive of documented investment policies, counterparty limits, and controlling and reporting structures. The type of risk exposure and the way in which such exposure is managed is provided as follows:

Contractual Obligations and Material Cash Requirements

The following is an analysis of the contractual maturities of the Company’s non-derivative financial liabilities and material cash requirements as at December 31, 2021. As at December 31, 2021, the Company has $21,975,653 (2020 – $25,084,083) of cash and cash equivalents. The Company is obligated to pay accounts payable and accrued liabilities, the current portion of the lease liabilities, and the current portion of loans payable and other liabilities with a carrying amount of $10,906,738 (2020 - $2,018,663) and contingent consideration of $1,048,000 within the next year. The Company is currently exploring several external financing alternatives that could take a variety of forms including debt and equity and may include proceeds from option or warrant exercises to meet these obligations in addition to obligations arising from our on-going business operations.

 

  December 31, 2021    Within 1 year      Between 1 -2 years      More than 2 years  

  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     $          8,109,161        $                –        $                –  

 

24


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

                                                              

  Loans payable and other liabilities

                      1,151,945                           5,181,411                                         –  

  Financing arrangements

     815,654        298,103         

  Lease liabilities

     849,935        912,090        15,852,368  

  Contingent consideration on acquisitions1

     1,048,000                
       $  11,974,695        $  6,391,604        $15,852,368  

* See Note 11 of the consolidated financial statements for an analysis of the future minimum lease payments of the lease liabilities due in more than 2 years.

 

                                                              
  December 31, 2020    Within 1 year      Between 1 -2 years      More than 2 years  

  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     $        1,871,728        $            –        $            –  

  Loans payable

            30,000         

  Lease liabilities

     146,935        212,877        5,176,475  
       $        2,018,663        $        242,877        $        5,176,475  

1 Contingent on the successful achievement of certain milestones related to the integration of The Cultured Nut and Lloyd-James over a 12-month period from the acquisition dates of February 23, 2021 and March 11, 2021, respectively. As of the date of filing of this MD&A, the contingent payments have not been paid.

Interest Risk

The Company’s exposure to interest risk relates to its investment of surplus cash and cash equivalents, including restricted and unrestricted short-term investments. The Company may invest surplus cash in highly liquid investments with short terms to maturity and would accumulate interest at prevailing rates for such investments. At December 31, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $21,975,653 (2020 - $25,084,083) and a 1% change in interest rates would increase or decrease interest income by approximately $220,000 (2020 - $250,000).

Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk of an unexpected loss if a customer or third party to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, security deposits, accounts receivable and loan to related party. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, security deposits, accounts receivables and loan to related party represent the maximum exposure to credit risk, and as at December 31, 2021, this amounted to $27,833,734 (2020 - $26,826,938).

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held through large Canadian financial institutions and no losses have been incurred in relation to these items. The Company’s receivables are comprised of trade accounts receivable and GST receivable. At December 31, 2021, the Company has $90,822 (2020 - $43,153) in trade accounts receivable outstanding over 60 days, of which the Company has recognized an allowance for doubtful accounts of $41,350 (2020 - $39,917).

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of credit risk is the risk of reliance upon a select number of customers which significantly impact the financial performance of the Company. The Company recorded sales from three wholesale distributors of the Company representing 12% (2020 - 18%) of total revenue during the year ended December 31, 2021. Of the Company’s trade receivables outstanding at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, 58% and 81% are held with five customers and three customers of the Company, respectively.

Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to pay financial instrument liabilities as they come due. The Company manages its liquidity risk by reviewing on an ongoing basis its capital requirements.

To date, the Company has been able to rely on the public equity markets and private debt to provide the necessary capital for it to maintain existing operations and fund expansion opportunities. The Company manages its capital structure and adjusts based on the funds available to the company. The Company’s board of directors (“Board of Directors”) does not establish quantitative return on capital criteria for management, but rather relies on the expertise of the Company’s management to sustain future development of the business.

 

25


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

With the change in the sentiment in the public equity markets in recent months, we are making some significant pivots in our strategy to adapt to this new environment. The Company is transitioning from a focus on top line growth, to a focus of balancing top line growth and profitability. As discussed in “Our Business—Operational and Liquidity Update” above, we announced that we are temporarily lowering production throughput and headcount to manage inventory levels, and implementing initiatives such as pausing non-critical capital expenditures and lowering general and administrative expenditures, to manage both short and long-term liquidity and to establish a path towards profitability. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $21,975,653. The Company has experienced a greater than expected cash burn in the last several months as the Company scaled its operations to meet its growth targets, which has reduced its cash position and has strained its short-term liquidity. As of the date of this MD&A, we believe we have sufficient cash on hand and available liquidity to meet our future operating expenses and finance our capital expenditure and debt service requirements for approximately the next 3 to 5 months. The Company is currently evaluating financing options that will minimize dilution in order to extend its cash runway.

Foreign Currency Risk

The Company is exposed to foreign currency risk on fluctuations related to cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and deferred revenue that are denominated in U.S. dollars. As at December 31, 2021, a 10% appreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar would have increased net financial assets by approximately $1,398,296 (2020 – $102,312). A 10% depreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar would have had the equal but opposite effect.

Commodity Price Risk

The Company is exposed to price risk with respect to commodity prices. Commodity price risk is defined as the potential adverse impact on earnings and economic value due to commodity price movements and volatilities. The Company closely monitors commodity prices of raw materials to determine the appropriate course of action to be taken by the Company.

Equity Price Risk

In recent years, securities markets have experienced extremes in price and volume volatility. The market price of securities of many early-stage companies, among others, have experienced fluctuations in price which may not necessarily be related to the operating performance, underlying asset values or prospects of such companies. It may be anticipated that any market for the Common Shares will be subject to market trends generally and the value of the Common Shares on a stock exchange may be affected by such volatility.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

At December 31, 2021, the carrying value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, loan to related party, deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and loans payable and other liabilities, all of which are carried at amortized cost, approximate their fair value given their short-term nature or discount rate applied.

The Company does not have any financial instruments measured at fair value in the consolidated statement of financial position, except for its contingent consideration, which was estimated at fair value as part of the purchase price allocations in note 9 of the consolidated financial statements and for which there has been no change in fair value to December 31, 2021, and derivative liabilities, which was estimated at fair value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

 

26


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company’s key management personnel have the authority and responsibility for planning, directing, and controlling the activities of the Company and consists of the Company’s executive management team and directors. Compensation was as follows:

 

   
      Year ended December 31,  
     
      2021                          2020  

Salaries incurred to key management personnel(1)

     $ 2,219,695        $1,564,966  

Professional fees incurred to the former CFO(2)

       -        159,437  

Directors fees

     47,385        -  

Share-based compensation

     12,207,690        676,078  

Total related party transactions

     $14,474,770        $2,400,481  

(1) The balance for the year ended December 31, 2020, includes $287,230 paid by the issuance of a total of 165,000 common share purchase warrants, which have exercise prices ranging between $1.51 and $7.60 per common share purchase warrant, with expiry dates ranging between August 13, 2021, and December 21, 2021.

(2) The balance for the year ended December 31, 2020, includes $25,001 paid by the issuance of 166,670 units. Each unit consists of one Common Share and one-half of a common share purchase warrant exercisable at a price of $0.30 per common share purchase warrant for a period of 12 months from issuance, subject to early acceleration in certain circumstances.

The following is a summary of the significant related party balances:

 

   
      Year ended December 31,  
     
      2021                  2020  

Due from the Chief Research and Development Officer (“CRDO”), and Director

     $410,268        -  

On February 11, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement with its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Mitchell Scott, and its Chief Research & Development Officer (“CRDO”), James Davison (the “Lenders”), whereby the Lenders agreed to loan the Company up to a maximum aggregate loan amount of $1,200,000 (the “Principal”), in three equal tranches of $400,000. The outstanding amount of the Principal had a maturity date of May 11, 2021, and bore interest from and after the date of each advance until repayment at the rate of 0.67% per month, simple interest. The Company also executed a general security agreement with the Lenders, which created a security interest over all present and after acquired property of the Company. The Company received one tranche of $400,000 on February 11, 2020. On June 22, 2020, the Company repaid the principal balance of $400,000 and interest of $11,728.

On November 16, 2021, the Company entered into loan agreements with its CEO and its CRDO to provide individual loans in the amounts of $750,000 and $500,000 to the CEO and CRDO, respectively (collectively, the “Loans”). With the express consent of the CEO and CRDO, the Loans were amended on November 23, 2021 such that all accrued principal and interest under the CEO Loan was immediately due and payable and the CRDO Loan is due and payable within 60 days. Until repayment, the Loans continue to bear interest at a rate of 9% per annum, payable monthly, and, if for any reason a Loan is not paid in full on or before January 18, 2022, the Loan will be secured by certain financial assets commencing on such date. The CEO Loan of $750,000 was repaid in full as at December 31, 2021 and the Company received interest of $2,772. The CRDO Loan provides for scheduled repayments prior to maturity. As at December 31, 2021, the CRDO repaid $89,732 and the Company accrued interest of $5,314 which was included in accounts receivable.

On February 4, 2022, the Company entered into a Share Pledge Agreement (“Pledge Agreement”) with the CRDO whereby the CRDO pledged 1,000,000 common shares of the Company (“Pledged Shares”). As of the filing date of these consolidated financial statements, the Pledge Shares have not been disposed of by the Company and the balance of the CDRO Loan remains outstanding.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires the Company to make judgments, estimates, and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amount of assets, liabilities and contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and revenues and expenses during the period. The Company’s management reviews these

 

27


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

estimates and underlying assumptions on an ongoing basis, based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Revisions to estimates are adjusted for prospectively in the period in which the estimates are revised. Actual results may differ from these judgements, estimates and assumptions. While our significant accounting policies are more fully described in our annual consolidated financial statements, we believe that the following accounting policies and estimates are critical to our business operations and understanding our financial results.

The following are the key judgements and sources of estimation uncertainty that we believe could have the most significant impact on the amounts recognized in our consolidated financial statements.

The determination of the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is a key area of judgment applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements as discussed above in note 1 of the consolidated financial statements. Amortization of right-of-use assets and property and equipment are dependent upon the estimated useful lives, which are determined through the exercise of judgment. The assessment of any indicators of impairment of these assets is dependent upon judgments that take into account factors such as economic and market conditions and the useful lives of assets.

Share-based compensation

The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model (“Black-Scholes”) to estimate the fair value of Options and common share purchase warrants granted to directors, officers, employees and service providers. The use of Black-Scholes requires management to make various estimates and assumptions that impact the value assigned to the Options including the forecast future volatility of the stock price, the risk-free interest rate, dividend yield and the expected life of the Options. Any changes in these assumptions could have a material impact on the share-based compensation calculation value.

Business combinations

Judgment is used in determining whether an acquisition is a business combination or an asset acquisition and assessing whether the amounts paid on achievement of milestones represents contingent consideration or compensation for post-acquisition services. Contingent consideration that is classified as a liability is remeasured at fair value at each reporting date and subsequent changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration are recognised in profit or loss. Accounting for acquisitions requires estimates with respect to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Impairment of non-financial assets

The Company assesses impairment of non-financial assets such as goodwill, right-of-use assets, and property and equipment. In assessing impairment, management estimates the recoverable amount of each asset or cash generating unit (“CGU”) based on expected future cash flows. When measuring expected future cash flows, management makes assumptions about future growth of profits which relate to future events and circumstances. Actual results could vary from these estimated future cash flows. Estimation uncertainty relates to assumptions about future operating results and the application of an appropriate discount rate.

Goodwill is subject to impairment testing on an annual basis. However, if indicators of impairment are present, the Company will review goodwill for impairment when such indicators arise. In addition, at each reporting period, the Company reviews whether there are indicators that the recoverable amount of long-lived assets may be less than their carrying amount.

At year end, the company determined that the goodwill associated with both The Cultured Nut and Lloyd James acquisitions was impaired and goodwill of $2,422,916 and $1,056,619 respectively was expensed. Goodwill and long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment by determining the recoverable amount of each CGU or groups of CGUs to which the goodwill or long-lived assets relate. Management estimated at year end that the recoverable amount of the CGUs based on value-in-use (“VIU”) was nil. The VIU calculations are based on expected future cash flows. When measuring expected future cash flows, management makes key assumptions about future growth of profits which relate to future events and circumstances. Estimation uncertainty relates to assumptions about future operating results and the application of an appropriate discount rate. Actual results could vary from these estimates which may cause significant adjustments to the Company’s goodwill or long-lived assets in subsequent reporting periods.

 

28


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

Leases

The lease liability and right-of-use asset valuation is based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. The lease term is determined as the non-cancellable term of the lease, which may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. The Company applies judgment in evaluating whether it is reasonably certain whether or not to exercise the option to extend or terminate the lease, and any modifications to the lease term will result in the revaluation of the lease. The present value of the lease payments is dependent on the Company’s estimate of its incremental borrowing rates.

ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ISSUED BUT NOT YET EFFECTIVE

The following IFRS standards have been recently issued by the IASB. Pronouncements that are irrelevant or not expected to have a significant impact have been excluded.

Amendments to IAS 1: Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-Current

The amendment clarifies the requirements relating to determining if a liability should be presented as current or non-current in the statement of financial position. Under the new requirement, the assessment of whether a liability is presented as current or non-current is based on the contractual arrangements in place as at the reporting date and does not impact the amount or timing of recognition. The amendment applies retrospectively for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of this amendment on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Amendments to IAS 37: Onerous Contracts and the Cost of Fulfilling a Contract

The amendment specifies that the “cost of fulfilling” a contract comprises the “costs that relate directly to the contract”. Costs that relate directly to a contract can either be incremental costs of fulfilling that contract or an allocation of other costs that relate directly to fulfilling contracts. The amendment is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2022, with early application permitted. The Company evaluated the potential impact of this amendment and is expecting minimal impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

VERY GOOD is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties related to its businesses that may have adverse effects on its results of operations and financial position. Details on some of these can be found in VERY GOOD’s most recent Annual Information Form (“AIF”) filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com and with the SEC at www.sec.gov. Readers should carefully review and evaluate these risk factors together with all of the other information contained in this discussion and analysis. Furthermore, it should be noted that the risk factors described in the AIF are not the only risk factors facing VERY GOOD and it may be subject to risks and uncertainties not described therein or that it is not presently aware of or that it may currently deem insignificant.

BOARD APPROVAL

The Board of Directors oversees management’s responsibility for financial reporting and internal control systems through an Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically with management and annually with the independent auditors to review the scope and results of the annual audit and to review the financial statements and related financial reporting and internal control matters before the financial statements are approved by the Board of Directors and submitted to the shareholders of the Company.

The Board of Directors of the Company has approved the financial statements and the disclosure contained in this MD&A.

INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Internal controls over financial reporting are designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS. Management is responsible for establishing adequate policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets of the Company; (ii) are designed to provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made in accordance with authorisations of management and the Board of Directors; and (iii) are designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorised acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

The Company determined that a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting existed as of December 31, 2021 as a result of misstatements identified by the Company’s auditors during their audit of the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year then ended. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weakness resulted from a lack of review of journal entries and insufficient management review of accounts and balances in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. The misstatements were corrected in the December 2021 consolidated financial statements and there is no material effect on previously issued financial statements

The Company plans to remediate this matter during 2022, including designing and operating enhanced management review controls over accounts and balances as part of the financial close process in future periods. Successful remediation requires further assessment of the skills and resources in the Company’s finance function as well as an evaluation of the Company’s financial close process.

CONTROLS CERTIFICATION

As at December 31, 2021, the Company was a venture issuer, as such term is defined under National Instrument 52-109 - Certification of Disclosure in Issuers Annual and Interim Filings (NI 52-109). In connection with listing on the Nasdaq on October 13, 2021, the Company became a non-venture issuer. As this is the first financial period after becoming a non-venture issuer, the Company is filing certificates in the form of Form 52-109F1 IPO/RTO Certification of Annual Filings Following an Initial Public Offering, Reverse Takeover or Becoming a Non-Venture Issuer for this period (the Non-Venture Certificates). The Non-Venture Certificates do not include representations relating

 

29


The Very Good Food Company  |  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

to the establishment and maintenance of disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting, as defined in NI 52-109. However, the CEO and interim CFO did ensure that processes were in place to provide them with sufficient knowledge to support the representations they made in the Non-Venture Certificates.

 

30


LOGO

 

 

The Very Good Food Company Inc.

2748 Rupert Street,

Vancouver, BC,

V5M 3T7 Canada

1.855.526.9254

hello@verygoodfood.com

www.verygoodfood.com

The Very Good Food Company | 2021 Annual Report

Exhibit 99.4

CONSOLIDATED

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020

(Expressed in Canadian dollars)


LOGO

      
 

KPMG LLP

  

Telephone

 

(604) 691-3000

 

Chartered Professional Accountants

  

Fax

 

(604) 691-3031

 

PO Box 10426 777 Dunsmuir Street

  

Internet

 

www.kpmg.ca

 

Vancouver BC V7Y 1K3

    
 

Canada

    

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors

The Very Good Food Company Inc.:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of The Very Good Food Company Inc. (and subsidiaries) (the Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of net loss and comprehensive loss, change in equity (deficiency), and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by International Accounting Standards Board.

Going Concern

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has incurred losses and has negative cash flows from operations that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

© 2021 KPMG LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms

affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.


LOGO

The Very Good Food Company Inc

Page 2

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

LOGO

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020.

Vancouver, Canada

March 31, 2022


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(Expressed in Canadian dollars)

  As at           Notes               December 31, 2021                 December 31, 2020  

  Assets

              

Current assets

              

Cash and cash equivalents

            $  21,975,653          $  25,084,083  

Accounts receivable

     4        2,101,842          449,583  

Inventory

     5        8,474,255          1,195,535  

Prepaids and deposits

     6        8,640,286          1,887,035  

Loan to related party

     14        410,268          -  

  Total current assets

            41,602,304          28,616,236  

Right-of-use assets

     7        16,659,502          5,046,597  

Property and equipment

     8        15,450,608          740,728  

Prepaids and deposits

     6        707,110          779,036  

Deferred financing costs

     12        3,924,743          -  

  Total assets

              $  78,344,267          $  35,182,597  

  Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

              

Current liabilities

              

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     10        $   8,109,161          $    1,871,728  

Deferred revenue

            32,137          102,239  

Current portion of lease liabilities

     11        849,935          146,935  

Current portion of loans payable and other liabilities

     12        1,947,642          -  

Contingent considerations

     9,22        1,048,000          -  

Derivative liabilities

     15        3,942,002          -  

  Total current liabilities

            15,928,877          2,120,902  

Lease liabilities

     11        16,764,458          5,389,352  

Loans payable and other liabilities

     12        5,474,605          30,000  

  Total liabilities

              38,167,940          7,540,254  

  Shareholders’ equity

              

Share capital

     16        84,751,366          39,335,150  

Equity reserves

            26,719,047          5,009,980  

Subscription received and receivable

            (3,750)          8,250  

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

            (12,716)          6,660  

Deficit

              (71,277,620)          (16,717,697)  

  Total shareholders’ equity

              40,176,327          27,642,343  

  Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

              $  78,344,267          $  35,182,597  

  Nature of operations and going concern uncertainty (Note 1)

              

  Commitments (Notes 11 and 25)

              

  Events after the reporting period (Notes 14, 17 and 18)

              

Approved and authorized for issue by Board of Directors on March 31, 2022

 

“Mitchell Scott”

                         

“Dela Salem”

  
Director      Director   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

2


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

Consolidated Statements of Net Loss and Comprehensive Loss

(Expressed in Canadian dollars)

 

          Notes          December 31, 2021           December 31, 2020    

  Revenue

            $    12,258,783            $    4,636,838    

  Procurement expense

       7, 8, 23          (8,859,932)          (3,809,732)  

  Fulfilment expense

       7, 8, 23          (10,267,444)          (1,907,621)  

  General and administrative expense

            7, 8, 23               (32,129,489)               (7,084,795)  

  Marketing and investor relations expense

       23          (11,276,537)          (3,243,210)  

  Research and development expense

       7, 8, 23          (1,974,530)          (477,750)  

  Pre-production expense

       23        (3,214,797)          -  

  Operating loss

            (55,463,946)          (11,886,270)  

  Finance expense

       19          (3,024,451)          (1,842,853)  

  Other expense

       20          (514,638)          (129,677)  

  Change in fair value of derivative liabilities

       15          7,922,647          -  

  Impairment of goodwill

       9          (3,479,535)          -  

  Net loss

            (54,559,923)          (13,858,800)  

  Foreign currency translation (loss) income

                  (19,376)          6,660  

  Total comprehensive loss

                  $(54,579,299)          $(13,852,140)  

  Loss per share - basic and diluted

                  $    (0.53)          $    (0.21)  

  Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic and diluted

                  103,401,995          66,388,474  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

3


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Deficiency)

(Expressed in Canadian dollars except share amounts)

 

      LOGO      LOGO      LOGO      LOGO      LOGO      LOGO      LOGO  
Balance at January 1, 2020      45,515,339      $ 2,245,422      $ 272,894      $      $      $ (2,858,897)      $ (340,581)  

Issuance of common shares and units for cash

     26,808,076        26,887,650        -        -        -        -        26,887,650  

Issuance of common shares and units for finders’ fees

     432,000        332,910        134,190        -        -        -        467,100  

Share issuance costs

     -        (5,576,272)        2,638,247        -        -        -        (2,938,025)  

Issuance of common shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options

     2,358,167        989,522        (375,146)        (6,250)        -        -        608,126  

Issuance of common shares and units pursuant to the exercise of warrants

     13,369,876        11,680,958        (812,007)        (5,000)        -        -        10,863,951  

Issuance of common shares pursuant to the conversion of convertible debentures

     7,494,716        1,873,222        -        -        -        -        1,873,222  

Issuance of units for services

     166,670        21,241        3,760        -                      25,001  

Issuance of common shares for services

     39,263        65,978        -        -        -        -        65,978  

Issuance of warrants for services

     -        -        367,554        -        -        -        367,554  

Issuance of shares for debt settlement

     456,325        814,519        -        -                      814,519  

Share-based compensation

     -        -        2,780,488        -        -        -        2,780,488  

Subscription received

     -        -        -        19,500        -        -        19,500  

Foreign currency translation gain

     -        -        -        -        6,660        -        6,660  

Net loss for the year

     -        -        -        -               (13,858,800)        (13,858,800)  
Balance at December 31, 2020      96,640,432      $ 39,335,150      $ 5,009,980      $ 8,250      $ 6,660      $ (16,717,697)      $ 27,642,343  

 

4


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Deficiency)

(Expressed in Canadian dollars except share amounts)

 

      LOGO      LOGO      LOGO      LOGO      LOGO      LOGO      LOGO  
Balance at January 1, 2021      96,640,432      $ 39,335,150      $ 5,009,980      $ 8,250      $ 6,660      $ (16,717,697)      $ 27,642,343  

Issuance of units for cash

     20,594,750        57,778,775        -        -        -        -        57,778,775  

Allocation of proceeds to derivative liability

     -        (11,864,649)        -        -        -        -        (11,864,649)  

Issuance of units for finders’ fees

     30,000        88,680        25,920        -        -        -        114,600  

Share issuance costs

     -        (6,595,296)        1,415,424        -        -        -        (5,179,872)  

Issuance of common shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options

     231,333        432,802        (314,703)        2,500        -        -        120,599  

Issuance of common shares and units pursuant to the exercise of warrants

     757,250        4,191,996        (1,776,013)        (14,500)        -        -        2,401,483  

Issuance of common shares for services

     42,694        227,471        -        -        -        -        227,471  

Issuance of common shares for acquisitions

     202,005        1,156,437        -        -        -        -        1,156,437  

Issuance of warrants for loan

     -        -        752,559        -        -        -        752,559  

Share-based compensation

     -        -        21,605,880        -        -        -        21,605,880  

Foreign currency translation loss

     -        -        -        -        (19,376)        -        (19,376)  

Net loss for the year

     -        -        -        -        -        (54,559,923)        (54,559,923)  
Balance at December 31, 2021      118,498,464      $ 84,751,366      $ 26,719,047      $ (3,750)      $ (12,716)      $ (71,277,620)      $ 40,176,327  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

5


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Expressed in Canadian dollars)

 

      December 31, 2021      December 31, 2020   

Operating activities

    

Net loss for the year

     $(54,559,923)         $(13,858,800)    

Adjustments for items not affecting cash:

    

Finance expense

     3,024,451       1,842,853  

Change in fair value of derivative liabilities

     (7,922,647)       -  

Depreciation

     1,938,058       425,276  

(Gain) loss on termination of lease

     (1,600)       7,533  

Lease concessions

     -       (16,800)  

Loss on disposal of equipment

     32,816       -  

Impairment of equipment

     101,077       -  

Impairment of goodwill

     3,479,535       -  

Share-based compensation

     21,605,880       2,780,488  

Shares, units and warrants issued for services

     227,471       458,533  

Changes in non-cash working capital items

    

Accounts receivable

     (1,612,791)       (376,739)  

Inventory

     (6,871,350)       (1,120,057)  

Prepaids and deposits

     (4,995,707)       (1,804,382)  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     3,698,504       1,882,671  

Deferred revenue

     (70,102)       94,663  

Due from related parties

     -       24,280  
     

Net cash and cash equivalents used in operating activities

     (41,926,328)       (9,660,481)  

Investing activities

    

Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (1,315,694)       -  

Purchase of property and equipment

     (12,021,319)       (564,437)  

Security deposits paid for property and equipment

     (2,840,116)       -  

Acquisition of right-of-use assets

     (67,335)       -  

Loans to related parties

     (1,250,000)       -  

Repayment received from loans to related parties

     839,732       -  
     

Net cash and cash equivalents used in investing activities

     (16,654,732)       (564,437)  

Financing activities

    

Proceeds from the issuance of common shares and units for cash, net of issuance costs

     52,713,503       24,416,725  

Proceeds from the exercise of warrants

     2,401,483       10,863,951  

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

     120,599       608,126  

Proceeds from subscriptions received

     -       19,500  

Proceeds from loans payable

     5,171,222       499,129  

Repayment of loans payable and other liabilities

     (902,863)       (490,309)  

Deferred financing costs paid

     (2,262,039)       -  

Proceeds from loan payable to related parties

     -       400,000  

Repayment of loan payable to related parties

     -       (400,000)  

Payments of lease liabilities

     (1,591,300)       (163,811)  

Payments of lease deposits

     -       (779,036)  

Interest paid

     (159,276)       (73,288)  
     

Net cash and cash equivalents provided by financing activities

     55,491,329       34,900,987  

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (18,699)       2,404  

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (3,108,430)       24,678,473  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

     25,084,083       405,610  
     

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

     $ 21,975,653       $ 25,084,083  
     

Cash and cash equivalents consist of:

    

Cash

     $ 21,875,653       $ 24,019,083  

Redeemable guaranteed investment certificate (“GIC”)

     -       1,000,000  

Restricted redeemable GIC

     100,000       65,000  
     

Total cash and cash equivalents

     $ 21,975,653       $ 25,084,083  

Supplemental cash flow information (Note 21)

     

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

6


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

1.

Nature of operations and going concern uncertainty

The Very Good Food Company Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated on December 27, 2016, under the laws of the province of British Columbia, Canada. The Company is an emerging plant-based food technology company that designs, develops, produces, distributes, and sells a variety of plant-based meats and other food alternatives. To date, the Company has developed a core product line under The Very Good Butchers brand. The Company changed its name from The Very Good Butchers Inc. to The Very Good Food Company Inc. on October 1, 2019.

Effective June 18, 2020, the Company’s common shares commenced trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) under the symbol “VERY”. Effective July 27, 2020, the Company’s shares commenced trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “0SI”. Effective October 14, 2020, the Company’s shares commenced trading on the OTC QB Market under the symbol “VRYYF”. Effective March 17, 2021, the Company’s shares commenced trading on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company ceased trading on the CSE on March 16, 2021. Effective October 13, 2021, the Company’s common shares commenced trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VGFC”.

The Company’s registered and records office are located at 800 – 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, BC V6C 3H1.

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis that the Company will continue as a going concern, which assumes that the Company will be able to realize its assets and satisfy its liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company generated a net loss of $54,559,923 (2020 - $13,858,800) and negative cash flows from operations of $41,926,328 (2020 - $9,660,481). The Company expects to incur further losses in the development of its business and has significant capital projects planned. The continued operations of the Company are dependent on management’s ability to manage costs, raise additional equity or debt, and on future profitable operations. Whether and when the Company can generate sufficient operating cash flows to pay for its expenditures and settle its obligations as they fall due is uncertain. Furthermore there can be no assurances that the Company will be able to raise funds through future debt or equity issuances. As a result of these conditions, management has concluded, in making its going concern assessment, that there are material uncertainties related to events and conditions that may cast significant doubt upon the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

These consolidated financial statements do not reflect the adjustments to the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the reported expenses and statement of financial position classifications that would be necessary were the going concern assumption inappropriate. These adjustments could be material.

Covid-19 Estimation Uncertainty

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) a global pandemic. This has resulted in governments worldwide, including the Canadian government, to enact emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus. These measures, which include social distancing, the implementation of travel bans, and closures of non-essential businesses, have caused material disruption to businesses globally, resulting in an economic slowdown. As at December 31, 2021, the Company has not observed any material impairments of our assets or a significant change in the fair value of assets due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The situation is dynamic and the ultimate duration and magnitude of the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and the financial effect on our business, financial position and operating results remain unknown at this time. These impacts could include the ability of the Company to raise capital, the impairment in the value of our long-lived assets, or potential future decreases in revenue or the profitability of our ongoing and future operations. The Company is closely monitoring the impact of the pandemic on all aspects of its business.

 

7


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

2.

Basis of presentation and measurement

Statement of compliance

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and interpretations of the International Financial Reporting Committee (“IFRIC”). The consolidated statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2021, were authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on March 31, 2022.

Basis of presentation

These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries: The Very Good Butchers Inc., 1218169 B.C. Ltd., 1218158 B.C. Ltd., The Cultured Nut Inc., and Lloyd-James Marketing Group Inc., companies incorporated in the province of British Columbia, Canada, and VGFC Holdings LLC, a company incorporated in the state of Delaware, U.S.A.

The financial statements of the subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that control commences. Control exists when the Company has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on an accrual basis and are based on historical costs. The presentation and functional currency of the Company is the Canadian dollar. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial statements have been included.

The Company structures its consolidated statements of net loss and comprehensive loss on a functional basis. For that purpose, the Company defines cost of sales as procurement expense and gross profit as revenues less procurement expense.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements

The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires the Company to make judgments, estimates, and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amount of assets, liabilities and contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and revenues and expenses during the period. The Company’s management reviews these judgments, estimates and underlying assumptions on an ongoing basis, based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Revisions to estimates are adjusted for prospectively in the period in which the estimates are revised. Actual results may differ from these judgements, estimates and assumptions.

Information on significant areas of judgement that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements relate to the following:

The determination of the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is a key area of judgment applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements as discussed above in note 1. Amortization of right-of-use assets and property and equipment are dependent upon the estimated useful lives, which are determined through the exercise of judgment. The assessment of any indicators of impairment of these assets is dependent upon judgments that take into account factors such as economic and market conditions and the useful lives of assets.

Information on significant areas of uncertainty and critical estimates in applying accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements relate to the following:

 

8


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

2.

Basis of presentation and measurement (continued)

Share-based compensation

The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model (“Black-Scholes”) to estimate the fair value of stock options and warrants granted to directors, officers, employees and service providers and to determine the fair value of its warrant derivative liability. The use of Black-Scholes requires management to make various estimates and assumptions that impact the value assigned to the stock options including the forecast future volatility of the stock price, the risk-free interest rate, dividend yield and the expected life of the stock options. Any changes in these assumptions could have a material impact on the share-based compensation calculation value. See also notes 15 and 18.

Carrying value of inventory

The Company records valuation adjustments for inventory by comparing the inventory cost to its net realizable value. The process requires the use of estimates and assumptions related to future market demand, costs and prices. Such assumptions are reviewed periodically and may have a significant impact on the valuation adjustments for inventory.

Business combinations

Judgment is used in determining whether an acquisition is a business combination or an asset acquisition and assessing whether the amounts paid on achievement of milestones represents contingent consideration or compensation for post-acquisition services. Contingent consideration that is classified as a liability is remeasured at fair value at each reporting date and subsequent changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration are recognised in profit or loss. Accounting for acquisitions requires estimates with respect to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Impairment

The Company assesses impairment of non-financial assets such as goodwill, right-of-use assets, and property and equipment.

Goodwill is subject to impairment testing on an annual basis. However, if indicators of impairment are present, the Company will review goodwill for impairment when such indicators arise. In addition, at each reporting period, the Company reviews whether there are indicators that the recoverable amount of long-lived assets may be less than their carrying amount.

Goodwill and long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment by estimating the recoverable amount of each cash generating unit (“CGU”) or groups of CGUs to which the goodwill or long-lived assets relate. Management estimates the recoverable amount of the CGUs based on the higher of value-in-use (“VIU”) and fair value less costs of disposal (“FVLCD”). The VIU calculations are based on the present value of expected future cash flows. When measuring expected future cash flows, management makes key assumptions about future growth of profits which relate to future events and circumstances. Estimation uncertainty relates to assumptions about future operating results and the application of an appropriate discount rate. Actual results could vary from these estimates which may cause significant adjustments to the Company’s goodwill or long-lived assets in subsequent reporting periods.

Leases

The lease liability and right-of-use asset valuation is based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. The lease term is determined as the non-cancellable term of the lease, which may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. The Company applies judgment in evaluating whether it is reasonably certain whether or not to exercise the option to extend or terminate the lease, and any modifications to the lease term will result in the revaluation of the lease. The present value of the lease payments is dependent on the Company’s estimate of its incremental borrowing rates.

 

9


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

3.

Significant accounting policies

The following significant accounting policies have been applied consistently to all periods presented in these consolidated financial statements.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents is comprised of cash deposits and highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash with original maturities of three months or less.

Inventory

Inventory consists primarily of finished goods, packaging and restaurant supplies and raw materials. Inventory is measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Inventory costs include direct labor and certain overhead expenses such as in-bound shipping and handling costs incurred to bring the inventory to its present location and conditions. Cost is determined using the weighted average method. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less the estimated costs of completion and selling expenses. If the Company determines that the estimated net realizable value of its inventory is less than the carrying value of such inventory, it records a charge to procurement expense.

Financial instruments

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, deposits, loan to related party, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, loans payable and derivative liabilities. All of the Company’s financial instruments are measured at amortized cost, with the exception of its derivative liabilities, which are measured at fair value through profit or loss.

(i) Classification and subsequent measurement

Financial assets

On initial recognition, a financial asset is required to be classified in one of the following categories: amortized cost; fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVOCI”); or fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”).

All financial instruments are measured at fair value on initial recognition. Measurement in subsequent periods depends on the classification of the financial instrument. Transaction costs are included in the initial carrying amount of financial instruments except for financial instruments classified as FVTPL in which case transaction costs are expensed as incurred.

A financial asset is measured at amortized cost if it meets both of the following conditions and is not designated as FVTPL:

 

   

it is held within a business model whose objective is to hold assets to collect contractual cash flows; and

   

its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding.

A debt investment is measured at FVOCI if it meets both of the following conditions and is not designated as FVTPL:

 

   

it is held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets; and

 

   

its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding.

 

10


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

3.

Significant accounting policies (continued)

On initial recognition of an equity investment that is not held for trading, the Company may irrevocably elect to present subsequent changes in the investment’s fair value in Other Comprehensive Income (“OCI”). This election is made on an investment-by-investment basis.

All financial assets not classified as measured at amortized cost or FVOCI as described above are measured at FVTPL. This includes all derivative financial assets. On initial recognition, the Company may irrevocably designate a financial asset that otherwise meets the requirements to be measured at amortized cost or at FVOCI as FVTPL if doing so eliminates or significantly reduces an accounting mismatch that would otherwise arise.

Financial assets are not reclassified subsequent to their initial recognition unless the Company changes its business model for managing financial assets in which case all affected financial assets are reclassified on the first day of the first reporting period following the change in the business model.

Financial assets: Subsequent measurement and gains and losses

 

   

Financial assets at FVTPL: These assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Net gains and losses, including any interest or dividend income, are recognized in net loss.

 

   

Financial assets at amortized cost: These assets are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. The amortized cost is reduced by impairment losses. Interest income, foreign exchange gains and losses and impairment are recognized in the consolidated statement of net loss and comprehensive loss. Any gain or loss on derecognition is recognized in net loss.

 

   

Debt investments at FVOCI: These assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Interest income calculated using the effective interest method, foreign exchange gains and losses and impairment are recognized in net loss. Other net gains and losses are recognized in OCI. On derecognition, gains and losses accumulated in OCI are reclassified to net loss.

 

   

Equity investments at FVOCI: These assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Dividends are recognized as income in net loss and unless the dividend clearly represents a recovery of part of the cost of the investment. Other net gains and losses are recognized in OCI and are never reclassified to net loss.

Financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are classified as other liabilities at amortized cost or FVTPL. A financial liability is classified as FVTPL if it is classified as held-for-trading, it is a derivative or it is designated as such on initial recognition. Financial liabilities at FVTPL are measured at fair value and net gains and losses, including any interest expense, are recognized in net loss. Other financial liabilities are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. Interest expense, foreign exchange gains and losses, or gains and losses on derecognition are recognized in net loss.

(ii) Derecognition

Financial assets

The Company derecognizes a financial asset when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire, or it transfers the rights to receive the contractual cash flows in a transaction in which substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset are transferred or in which the Company neither transfers nor retains substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership and it does not retain control of the financial asset. The Company enters into transactions whereby it transfers assets recognized in its consolidated statement of financial position but retains

 

11


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

3.

Significant accounting policies (continued)

either all or substantially all of the risks and rewards of the transferred assets. In these cases, the transferred assets are not derecognized.

Financial liabilities

The Company derecognizes a financial liability when its contractual obligations are discharged or cancelled, or expire. The Company also derecognizes a financial liability when its terms are modified and the cash flows of the modified liability are substantially different, in which case a new financial liability based on the modified terms is recognized at fair value. On derecognition of a financial liability, the difference between the carrying amount extinguished and the consideration paid (including any non-cash assets transferred or liabilities assumed) is recognized in net loss.

(iii) Offsetting

Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset and the net amount presented in the consolidated statement of financial position when, and only when, the Company currently has a legally enforceable right to set off the amounts and it intends either to settle them on a net basis or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

(iv) Impairment

Credit-impaired financial assets

At each reporting date, the Company assesses whether financial assets carried at amortized cost and debt securities at FVOCI are credit-impaired. A financial asset is ‘credit-impaired’ when one or more events that have a detrimental impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset have occurred.

The Company measures loss allowances on amounts receivable at an amount equal to lifetime expected credit losses (“ECL”). When determining whether the credit risk of a financial asset has increased significantly since initial recognition and when estimating ECL, the Company considers reasonable and supportable information that is relevant and available without undue cost or effort. This includes both quantitative and qualitative information and analysis, based on the Company’s historical experience and informed credit assessment and including forward-looking information. The Company assumes that the credit risk on a financial asset has increased significantly if it is more than 30 days past due. The Company considers a financial asset to be in default when:

 

   

the borrower is unlikely to pay its credit obligations to the Company in full, without recourse by the Company to actions such as realizing security (if any is held); or

 

   

the financial asset is more than 90 days past due.

Measurement of ECLs

ECLs are a probability-weighted estimate of credit losses. Credit losses are measured as the present value of all cash shortfalls (i.e. the difference between the cash flows due to the entity in accordance with the contract and the cash flows that the entity expects to receive).

ECLs are discounted at the effective interest rate of the financial asset.

 

12


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

3.

Significant accounting policies (continued)

Presentation of allowance for ECL in the statement of financial position

Loss allowances for financial assets measured at amortized cost are deducted from the gross carrying amount of the assets.

Write-off

The gross carrying amount of a financial asset is written off (either partially or in full) to the extent that there is no realistic prospect of recovery. This is generally the case when the Company determines that the debtor does not have assets or sources of income that could generate sufficient cash flows to repay the amounts subject to the write-off. However, financial assets that are written off could still be subject to enforcement activities in order to comply with the Company’s procedures for recovery of amounts due.

(v) Fair values

Fair value measurements recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position must be categorized in accordance with the following levels:

Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices); and

Level 3: inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

Property and equipment

Property and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognized as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Company and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognized. All other repairs and maintenance are expensed when incurred. Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognized in net loss.

Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line method to allocate their cost less their residual values over the following estimated useful lives:

 

  Class of property and equipment    Useful lives in years  
  Restaurant and production equipment    5 - 15 years  
  Furniture and fixtures    5 years  
  Computer equipment and software    1 – 2 years  
  Leasehold improvements    Term of lease, or estimated useful life of specific improvements if shorter  
  Vehicles    5 years or the estimated useful life of specific vehicle  

Impairment of non-financial assets

At each reporting period, the Company assesses whether there are indicators of impairment for its non-financial assets. If indicators exist, the Company determines if the recoverable amount of the asset or CGU is greater than its carrying amount. A CGU is defined as the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows of other assets or groups of assets.

 

13


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

3.

Significant accounting policies (continued)

If the carrying amount exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset or CGU is recorded at its recoverable amount with the reduction recognized in profit or loss. The recoverable amount is the greater of the value in use or fair value less costs to sell. Fair value is the amount the asset could be sold for in an arm’s length transaction. The value in use is the present value of the estimated future cash flows of the asset from its continued use. The fair value less costs to sell considers the continued development of a property and market transactions in a valuation model.

Impairments are reversed in subsequent periods when there has been an increase in the recoverable amount of a previously impaired asset or CGU and these reversals are recognized in profit or loss. The recovery is limited to the original carrying amount less depreciation, if any, that would have been recorded had the asset not been impaired.

Leases

At inception of a contract, the Company assesses whether a contract is or contains a lease based on the definition of a lease. A contract is, or contains, a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The Company has the right to control an identified asset if it obtains substantially all of its economic benefits and either pre-determines or directs how and for what purpose the asset is used.

The Company recognizes a right-of-use asset and lease liability at the lease commencement date. The right-of-use assets are initially measured at the amount of the lease liability plus initial direct costs incurred by the lessee. Adjustments may also be required for lease incentives, payments at or prior to commencement and restoration obligations.

The right-of-use assets are depreciated to the earlier of the end of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the lease term using the straight-line method as this most closely reflects the expected pattern of consumption of the future economic benefits.

The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments payable over the lease term, discounted at the rate implicit in the lease, or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease obligation, when applicable, may comprise fixed payments, variable payments that depend on an index or rate, amounts expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee and the exercise price under a purchase, extension or termination option that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. The lease liability is subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. It is remeasured when there are changes in the following: i) the lease term; ii) the Company’s assessment of whether it will exercise a purchase option; iii) a change in an index or a change in the rate used to determine the payments; and iv) amounts expected to be payable under residual value guarantees.

Some of the Company’s leases contain extension options. The Company assesses at lease commencement whether it is reasonably certain to exercise the extension options. The Company reassesses whether it is reasonably certain to exercise the options if there is a significant event or significant change in circumstances within its control. The assessment of whether the Company is reasonably certain to exercise such options impacts the lease term, which significantly affects the amount of lease liabilities and right-of-use assets recognized.

Unit financing

In a unit financing where the Company issues common shares with an attached warrant, the warrants issued to investors and any warrants issued to brokers are accounted for as follows:

 

14


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

3.

Significant accounting policies (continued)

The fair value of investor warrants is measured based on the unit price paid by the investor compared to the fair value of the common shares on the issuance date. If the unit price is greater than the common share price, the excess is considered the fair value of the investor warrant. If the unit price is less than the common share price, no fair value is assigned to the warrant. The fair value of the common shares is recognized in share capital and the fair value of the investor warrants is recognized in reserves.

The fair value of investor warrants with an exercise price denominated in a foreign currency are accounted for as a derivative liability and the fair value is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model on the date of issuance. The fair value is netted against the proceeds from issuance of the units.

The fair value of broker warrants is measured and recognized on the date of issuance, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value is recognized as a share issuance cost with a corresponding increase in equity reserves.

Share-based compensation

The Company grants stock options to acquire common shares of the Company to directors, officers, employees and consultants. An individual is classified as an employee when the individual is an employee for legal or tax purposes, or provides services similar to those performed by an employee.

The grant date fair value of share-based compensation awards granted to employees is recognized as share-based compensation expense, with a corresponding increase in equity, over the period that the employees unconditionally become entitled to the awards. The amount recognized as an expense is adjusted to reflect the number of awards for which the related service and non-market vesting conditions are expected to be met, such that the amount ultimately recognized as an expense is based on the number of awards that do meet the related service and non-market performance conditions at the vesting date. For share-based compensation awards with non-vesting conditions, the grant date fair value of the share-based compensation is measured to reflect such conditions and there is no true-up for differences between expected and actual outcomes.

Where equity instruments are granted to parties other than employees, they are recorded by reference to the fair value of the services received. If the fair value of the services received cannot be reliably estimated, the Company measures the services received by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments granted, measured at the date the counterparty renders service.

All equity-settled share-based compensations are reflected in equity reserves, unless exercised. Upon exercise, shares are issued from treasury and the amount reflected in equity reserves is credited to share capital, adjusted for any consideration paid.

Revenue recognition

The Company generates revenue from the sale of vegan meats through a storefront, a vegan restaurant, public markets, wholesale arrangements and online eCommerce sales. The time between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant and none of the Company’s contracts contain a significant financing component.

The Company follows IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“IFRS 15”), to recognize its revenue. IFRS 15 establishes a five-step model to account for revenue arising from contracts with customers. Under IFRS 15 the Company’s accounting policy for revenue recognition is as follows: i) identify the contract with the customer; ii) identify the performance obligation(s) in the contract; iii) determine the transaction price; iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligation(s); and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) performance obligation(s) are satisfied.

 

15


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

3.

Significant accounting policies (continued)

For storefront, restaurant and public market sales, revenue is recognized immediately upon providing the customer with the product. For wholesale arrangements and online eCommerce sales, revenue is recognized when delivery has occurred and there is no unfulfilled obligation that could affect the customer’s acceptance. These criteria are generally met at the time the product leaves the Company’s premises as at that point, control has passed to the customer. For online eCommerce sales where consideration is received before the service is provided, the Company accounts for those pending sales as deferred revenue. Revenue is measured based on the price specified in the Company’s invoice provided to the customer. The Company does not have any multiple-element revenue arrangements. Revenue is presented net of discounts and sales and other related taxes.

The Company routinely offers sales discounts and promotions through various programs to its customers and consumers. These programs include rebates, temporary on shelf price reductions, off invoice discounts, retailer advertisements, product coupons and other trade activities. Provision for discounts and incentives are recorded in the same period in which the related revenues are recognized. The offsetting charge is recorded as a reduction of revenues in the same period when the expense is incurred.

Procurement expense

Procurement expense consist of the purchase price of the raw material and inventory packaging, inbound shipping charges, director labour and other attributable overhead expenses incurred in the procurement and manufacturing of the Company’s finished goods. Inbound shipping charges from suppliers are included in inventory and recognized as procurement expense upon the sale of product to customer. Procurement expense also include expenses associated with storefront and restaurant operations, including food costs, direct labour and other attributable overhead expenses.

Fulfilment expense

Fulfilment expense include third-party fulfilment cost for picking and packing of orders, fulfilment packaging costs, direct fulfilment labour, merchant processing fees, outbound shipping and freight costs and warehousing fees.

General and administrative expense

General and administrative expense are primarily comprised of administrative expenses, non-production salaries, wages and benefits, including associated share-based compensation not directly associated with other functions, non-production rent expense, depreciation and amortization expense on non-production assets and other non-production operating expenses. Administrative expenses include the expenses related to management, accounting, legal, information technology, and other support functions.

Research and development expense

Research and development expense are primarily incurred to develop new products as well as enhancing existing products for the Company. These costs consist of material and ingredients used for research and development, research and development staff cost including wages, salaries and benefits, including associated share-based compensation and depreciation on research and development assets.

Income taxes

Current income tax:

Current income tax assets and liabilities for the current period are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities. The tax rates and tax laws used to compute the amount are those that are enacted or substantively enacted, at the reporting date, in the countries where the Company operates and generates taxable income.

 

16


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

3.

Significant accounting policies (continued)

Current income tax relating to items recognized directly in other comprehensive income or equity is recognized in other comprehensive income or equity and not in profit or loss. Management periodically evaluates positions taken in the tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulations are subject to interpretation and establishes provisions where appropriate.

Deferred income tax:

Deferred income tax is recognized, using the asset and liability method, on temporary differences at the reporting date arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes. The carrying amount of deferred income tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and recognized only to the extent that it is probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred income tax asset to be utilized.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the year when the asset is realized or the liability is settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period. Deferred income tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities are offset, if a legally enforceable right exists to set off current tax assets against current income tax liabilities and the deferred income taxes relate to the same taxable entity and the same taxation authority.

Deferred tax is not recognized for the following temporary differences: the initial recognition of assets or liabilities in a transaction that is not a business combination and that affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss, and differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent that it is probable that they will not reverse in the foreseeable future. In addition, deferred tax is not recognized for taxable temporary differences arising on the initial recognition of goodwill.

Functional and presentation currency

The Company’s reporting currency is the Canadian dollar. The functional currency for the Company and its subsidiaries is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates. The functional currency of the Company and its Canadian subsidiaries is the Canadian dollar, while the functional currency of its US subsidiary is the US dollar. Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated using the exchange rate in effect on the transaction date or at the annual average rate. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rate of exchange in effect at the consolidated statement of financial position date. Non-monetary items are translated using the historical rate on the date of the transaction. Foreign exchange gains and losses are included in the consolidated statement of net loss and comprehensive loss.

For purposes of consolidation, the assets and liabilities of foreign operations with functional currencies other than the Canadian dollar are translated to Canadian dollars using the rate of exchange in effect at the financial statement date. Revenue and expenses of the foreign operations are translated to Canadian dollars at exchange rates at the date of the transactions. Foreign currency differences resulting from translation of the accounts of foreign operations are recognized directly in other comprehensive income and are accumulated in accumulated other comprehensive income as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.

 

17


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

3.

Significant accounting policies (continued)

Loss per share

Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding in the period. For all periods presented, the loss attributable to common shareholders equals the reported loss attributable to owners of the Company. Diluted loss per share is calculated by the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the calculation of diluted loss per share assumes that the proceeds to be received on the exercise of dilutive share options and warrants are used to repurchase common shares at the average market price during the period. Since the Company has a loss in all periods presented, the potential effect of share options and warrants has not been included in this calculation as they would be anti-dilutive.

Related party transactions

Parties are considered to be related if one party has the ability, directly or indirectly, to control the other party or exercise significant influence over the other party in making financial and operating decisions. Parties are also considered to be related if they are subject to common control. Related parties may be individuals or corporate entities. A transaction is considered to be a related party transaction when there is a transfer of resources or obligations between related parties. Related party transactions are recognized and measured at the amounts agreed between the parties.

Government grants

The Company classifies forgivable loans from the government as a government grant when there is a reasonable assurance that the Company will meet the terms for forgiveness on the loan. If this threshold is not met, the Company classifies forgivable loans as other liabilities, measured initially at fair value in accordance with IFRS 9, Financial Instruments.

Government grants and assistance are recognized as a reduction in the related expense in the period in which there is reasonable assurance that the grant or assistance has become receivable and all conditions, if any, have been or will be satisfied.

The Company applied for COVID-19 financial relief in Canada under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (“CEWS”) program and the Canada Emergency Business Account program (“CEBA”) funded by the Government of Canada. The CEWS and CEBA programs are relief programs launched by the Canadian federal government to qualifying employers to subsidize payroll costs and provide financing relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The qualified amounts received under the CEWS program are non-repayable, and a portion of the amounts received under the CEBA program are non-repayable if the loan is repaid by December 31, 2022 (see Note 12). During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized the CEWS proceeds as a reduction of general and administrative expense of $21,299 and of research and development expense of $4,309. In addition, the Company recognized the forgivable portion of the CEBA loan as a reduction of financing expense of $10,000.    

 

18


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

3.

Significant accounting policies (continued)

Accounting standards issued but not yet effective

The following IFRS standards have been recently issued by the IASB. Pronouncements that are irrelevant or not expected to have a significant impact have been excluded.

Amendments to IAS 1: Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-Current

The amendment clarifies the requirements relating to determining if a liability should be presented as current or non-current in the statement of financial position. Under the new requirement, the assessment of whether a liability is presented as current or non-current is based on the contractual arrangements in place as at the reporting date and does not impact the amount tor timing of recognition. The amendment applies retrospectively for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of this amendment on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Amendments to IAS 37: Onerous Contracts and the Cost of Fulfilling a Contract

The amendment specifies that the “cost of fulfilling” a contract comprises the “costs that relate directly to the contract”. Costs that relate directly to a contract can either be incremental costs of fulfilling that contract or an allocation of other costs that relate directly to fulfilling contracts. The amendment is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2022, with early application permitted. The Company evaluated the potential impact of this amendment and is expecting minimal to no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

4.

Accounts receivable

 

     
     

As at December 31,

2021

    

As at December 31,

2020

 

  GST receivable

     $  1,588,641        $  366,561  

  Trade accounts receivable

     337,247        82,740  

  Accrued interest receivable

     5,394        282  

  Other receivables

     170,560        -  
       $  2,101,842        $  449,583  

Trade accounts receivable is recorded net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $41,350 (2020 - $39,917).

 

5.

Inventory

Inventory consisted primarily of raw materials, packaging and restaurant supplies and finished goods which were either at the retail location, warehouses, storage space or held with third party distributors.

 

     
     

As at December 31,

2021

    

As at December 31,

2020

 

  Raw materials

     $  3,446,596        $     320,346  

  Packaging and restaurant supplies

     1,282,278        333,728  

  Finished goods

     3,745,381        541,461  
       $  8,474,255        $  1,195,535  

Included in finished goods inventory at December 31, 2021, was $263,609 (2020 - $12,053) of depreciation expense related to property and equipment and $120,939 (2020 - $7,502) related to right-of-use assets used in production.

 

19


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

6.

Prepaids and deposits

 

     
     

As at December 31,

2021

    

As at December 31,

2020

 

  Prepaid expenses

     $   5,234,416        $     432,039  

  Security deposits

     3,345,611        1,293,272  

  Lease deposits (Notes 11 and 25)

     767,369        940,760  
       9,347,396        2,666,071  

  Less: current portion of prepaids and deposits

     (8,640,286)        (1,887,035)  
       $      707,110        $    779,036  

 

7.

Right-of-use assets

 

         
     

Right-of-use

building

    

    Right-of-use

equipment

    

    Right-of-use

vehicle

     Total  

  Cost

                                   

  Balance, January 1, 2020

     $     289,855        $     216,307        $           -        $      506,162  

  Additions

     4,990,752        5,989        23,767        5,020,508  

  Early termination of lease

     -        (71,179)        -        (71,179)  

  Balance, December 31, 2020

     5,280,607        151,117        23,767        5,455,491  

  Additions

     11,081,620        1,847,264        33,157        12,962,041  

  Termination of lease

     (7,493)        (60,218)        (23,767)        (91,478)  

  Foreign exchange translation adjustment

     (22,245)        -        -        (22,245)  
         
  Balance, December 31, 2021    $  16,332,489      $  1,938,163      $       33,157      $  18,303,809  

  Accumulated Depreciation

                                   

  Balance, January 1, 2020

     $  (68,827)        $  (43,935)        -        $  (112,762)  

  Depreciation

     (275,439)        (41,072)        (5,485)        (321,996)  

  Early termination of leases

     -        23,940        -        23,940  

  Foreign exchange translation adjustment

     1,924        -        -        1,924  

  Balance, December 31, 2020

     (342,342)        (61,067)        (5,485)        (408,894)  

  Depreciation

     (1,130,496)        (137,105)        (11,084)        (1,278,685)  

  Termination of leases

     2,366        36,131        5,942        44,439  

  Foreign exchange translation adjustment

     (1,167)        -        -        (1,167)  
         
  Balance, December 31, 2021    $  (1,471,639)      $  (162,041)      $  (10,627)      $  (1,644,307)  

  Carrying amounts

                                   

  Balance, December 31, 2020

     $    4,938,265        $       90,050        $    18,282        $     5,046,597  
         
  Balance, December 31, 2021    $  14,860,850      $  1,776,122      $    22,530      $    16,659,502  

 

The additions in right-of-use assets (building and equipment) during the year ended December 31, 2021, are primarily related to the Rupert Facility.

 

20


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

7.

Right-of-use assets (continued)

Depreciation of right-of-use assets included in the consolidated financial statements is split as follows:

 

   
      As at December 31,  
     
      2021      2020  

  Consolidated statements of financial position

                 

  Included in inventory

     $120,939        $7,502  

    

                 
   
      Year ended December 31,  
     
      2021      2020  

  Consolidated statements of net loss and comprehensive loss

     

  Included in procurement expense

     $371,135        $102,398  

  Included in fulfilment expense

     235,263        12,226  

  Included in general and administrative expense

     94,896        199,870  

  Included in pre-production expense

     456,452        -  
       $1,157,746        $314,494  

 

8.

Property and equipment

 

             
      Restaurant,
production, and
R&D equipment
    

Furniture

and

fixtures

    

Computer

equipment

and software

    

Leasehold

improvements

     Vehicle      Total  

  Cost

 

  At January 1, 2020

     $  195,513        $  18,030        $  21,410        $  70,436        $  61,222        $  366,611  

  Additions

     169,210        107,112        86,460        182,713        8,559        554,054  

  At December 31, 2020

     364,723        125,142        107,870        253,149        69,781        920,665  

  Additions

     9,848,607        568,659        403,656        4,863,197        206,760        15,890,879  

  Disposals

     (2,679)        -        -        -        (34,768)        (37,447)  
             
  At December 31, 2021    $10,210,651      $  693,801      $  511,526      $  5,116,346      $  241,773      $16,774,097  

  Accumulated depreciation

 

  At January 1, 2020

     $  (11,047)        $  (6,113)        $  (13,875)        $  (19,945)        $(6,122)        $  (57,102)  

Depreciation

     (52,887)        (4,353)        (20,332)        (32,378)        (12,885)        (122,835)  

  At December 31, 2020

     (63,934)        (10,466)        (34,207)        (52,323)        (19,007)        (179,937)  

Depreciation

     (258,314)        (74,093)        (332,597)        (357,833)        (21,084)        (1,043,921)  

Disposals

     -        -        -        -        1,446        1,446  

Impairment

     (101,077)        -        -        -        -        (101,077)  
             
  At December 31, 2021    $(423,325)      $(84,559)      $(366,804)      $(410,156)      $(38,645)      $(1,323,489)  

  Net book value

 

  At December 31, 2020

     $  300,789        $  114,676        $  73,663        $  200,826        $  50,774        $  740,728  
             
  At December 31, 2021    $    9,787,326      $   609,242      $  144,722      $  4,706,190      $  203,128      $  15,450,608  

 

As at December 31, 2021, a total of $nil (2020 - $81,000) of furniture and fixtures, $4,492,196 (2020 - $nil) of production equipment, $264,060 (2020 - $63,557) of leasehold improvements and $78,497 (2020 - $nil) of vehicle was related to property and equipment under construction, and no depreciation has been recognized. The Company will begin recognizing depreciation once the underlying assets are ready for their intended use.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized an impairment of $101,077 related to production equipment that was no longer in use.

 

21


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

8.

Property and equipment (continued)

Depreciation of property and equipment included in the consolidated financial statements is split as follows:

 

   
      As at December 31,  
     
                          2021                          2020  

  Consolidated statements of financial position

                 

  Included in inventory

     $  263,609        $  12,053  
                   
   
      Year ended December 31,  
     
      2021      2020  

  Consolidated statements of net loss and comprehensive loss

                 

  Included in procurement expense

     $  433,984        $  76,132  

  Included in fulfilment expense

     15,177        244  

  Included in general and administrative expense

     179,881        30,822  

  Included in research and development expense

     6,804        3,584  

  Included in pre-production expense

     144,466        -  
       $  780,312        $  110,782  

 

9.

Acquisitions

The Cultured Nut Inc.

On February 23, 2021, the Company closed a share purchase agreement with the shareholders of The Cultured Nut Inc. (“TCN”) to purchase 100% of the issued and outstanding Class V Voting Shares, Class A Non-Voting Common Shares, Class D Non-Voting Common Shares and Class C Non-Voting Common Shares (collectively, the “Shares”). TCN, an artisan vegan cheese producer on the West Coast of Canada, with several innovative products including block style cheeses. In consideration for the acquisition of TCN, the Company agreed to pay the following:

 

   

$925,000 due on closing (paid);

   

139,676 common shares due on closing (issued);

   

$75,000 on August 30, 2021 (paid); and

   

Up to $1,000,000 contingent on the successful achievement of certain milestones related to the integration of TCN’s business over a 12-month period.

The Company also agreed to pay an amount equal to the closing working capital of TCN, equal to the difference between the current assets and current liabilities on the date of acquisition. The Company incurred acquisition-related costs of $119,222, which have been included in other expense in the consolidated statement of net loss and comprehensive loss.

The purchase price allocation for the acquisition of TCN is summarized as follows:

 

   
  Acquisition consideration        

  Cash

   $   1,000,000  

  Fair value of common shares

     790,566  

  Contingent consideration

     698,000  

  Working capital consideration

     36,219  

  Total acquisition consideration

   $   2,524,785  

 

22


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

9.

Acquisitions (continued)

 

   
  Fair value of TCN’s net assets acquired        

Cash and cash equivalents

     $         3,895  

Accounts receivable

     14,218  

Inventory

     23,418  

Prepaids and deposits

     7,788  

Right-of-use assets

     127,043  

Property and equipment

     65,851  

Goodwill

     2,422,916  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (12,801)  

Lease liabilities

     (127,543)  

  Total fair value of TCN’s net assets acquired

     $    2,524,785  

In accordance with the acquisition method of accounting, the acquisition cost has been allocated to the identifiable underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based upon their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition.

The goodwill was attributable mainly to the expected synergies and future income and growth expected to be achieved from integrating TCN into the Company’s existing business. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded an impairment of goodwill of $2,422,916 on the basis that such synergies from integration have not materialized to the extent initially expected and that the revenues from the cheese products under TCN that were acquired were significantly below the original forecasts made at the time of acquisition. The products under development at the time of acquisition were also determined to lack innovation as compared to original expectations.

Lloyd-James Marketing Group Inc.

On March 11, 2021, the Company closed a share purchase agreement with the sole shareholder of Lloyd-James Marketing Group Inc. (“Lloyd-James”) to purchase 100% of the issued and outstanding common shares (the “Shares”). Lloyd-James is a wholesale and food service broker who specializes in the plant-based food industry has a history of placement in large natural, speciality and conventional grocery retailers. In consideration for the acquisition of Lloyd-James, the Company agreed to pay the following:

 

   

$325,000 due on closing (paid);

   

62,329 common shares due on closing (issued); and

   

Up to $350,000 contingent on the successful achievement of certain milestones related to the integration of Lloyd-James business over a 12 month period.

The Company also agreed to pay an amount equal to the closing working capital of Lloyd-James, equal to the difference between the current assets and current liabilities on the date of acquisition. The Company incurred acquisition-related costs of $54,440, which have been included in other expense in the consolidated statement of net loss and comprehensive loss.

 

23


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

9.

Acquisitions (continued)

The purchase price allocation for the acquisition of Lloyd-James is summarized as follows:

 

   
  Acquisition consideration        

Cash

   $ 325,000  

Fair value of common shares

     365,871  

Contingent consideration

     350,000  

Working capital consideration

     25,648  

  Total acquisition consideration

   $ 1,066,519  

 

   
  Fair value of Lloyd-James’s net assets acquired        

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 5,411  

Accounts receivable

     19,936  

Goodwill

     1,056,619  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (15,447)  

  Total fair value of Lloyd-James’s net assets acquired

   $   1,066,519  

In accordance with the acquisition method of accounting, the acquisition cost has been allocated to the identifiable underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based upon their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition.

The goodwill was attributable mainly to the skills and technical talent of Lloyd-James work force and the synergies expected to be achieved from integrating Lloyd-James into the Company’s existing business. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded an impairment of goodwill of $1,056,619 on the basis that such synergies from integration have not materialized to the extent initially expected and that the cost savings, in terms of brokerage fees associated with the acquisition, were significantly below the original forecasts, particularly as the sales team was built-out, as well as the fact any relationships associated with the acquisition did not result in viable acquisition targets as expected.

 

10.

Accounts payables and accrued liabilities

 

     
     

As at December 31,

2021

    

As at December 31,

2020

 

  Accounts payable

   $ 5,077,613      $ 1,173,048  

  Accrued liabilities

     3,031,548        698,680  
     $ 8,109,161      $ 1,871,728  

 

24


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

11.

Lease liabilities

Lease liabilities consist of leases for retail, production and distribution facilities, equipment and a vehicle. The leases have been discounted using weighted average interest rates ranging between 3.0% and 12.5% as estimated incremental borrowing rates of the Company for similar assets.

 

   
      Year ended December 31,  
     
      2021                                   2020  

  Balance, beginning of year

     $5,536,287        $    392,472  

Additions

     12,375,861        5,020,509  

Lease payments

     (1,591,300)        (163,811)  

Early termination of leases

     (24,552)        (39,706)  

Lease concessions

     -        (16,800)  

Interest expense

     1,340,492        345,958  

Foreign exchange translation adjustment

     (22,395)        (2,335)  

  Balance, end of year

     $17,614,393        $  5,536,287  

  Less: current portion of lease liabilities

     (849,935)        (146,935)  

  Lease liabilities

     $16,764,458        $  5,389,352  

On September 22, 2020, the Company terminated 17 lease agreements and purchased the related leased equipment for $79,118. The difference between the related lease liabilities and right-of-use-assets of $7,533 was recognized as a loss on termination of leases.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company terminated 2 lease agreements and recognized a $1,600 of gain on termination of leases.

The Company’s future minimum lease payments for the leases for retail, warehouse, production facilities, equipment and vehicle are as follows:

 

  Fiscal year ending:    Retail, warehouse
and production
facilities
     Equipment      Vehicle      Total  

  December 31, 2022

     $    1,841,099        $    342,213        $    12,175        $    2,195,487  

  December 31, 2023

     1,859,082        329,567        12,175        2,200,824  

  December 31, 2024

     1,876,935        268,083        468        2,145,486  

  December 31, 2025

     1,894,002        225,395        -        2,119,397  

  December 31, 2026

     1,932,419        55,164        -        1,987,583  

  December 31, 2027 and thereafter

     19,006,706        -        -        19,006,706  

  Total lease payments

     28,410,243        1,220,422        24,818        29,655,483  

  Amounts representing interest over the term of the leases

     (11,920,295)        (119,199)        (1,596)        (12,041,090)  

  Present value of net lease payments

     16,489,948        1,101,223        23,222        17,614,393  

  Less: Current portion

     (550,077)        (288,849)        (11,009)        (849,935)  

  Long-term portion

     $   15,939,871        $   812,374        $   12,213        $   16,764,458  

Further information about our leases facilities is provided in Note 25 Commitments.

 

25


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

12.

Loans payable and other liabilities

 

      CEBA loan Note
12(g)
    

Revolving line of
credit

Note 12(h)

    

Senior secured
term loan

Note 12(h)

     Credit facility fee
liability Note
12(h)
     Financing
arrangements
Notes 12(i) - (l)
     Other loans
payable and
financing Notes
12(a) – (f)
     Total  

  Balance, January 1, 2020

     $    -        $    –        $    –        $    –        $    –        $    31,181        $    31,181  

  Additions

     40,000                                    459,129        499,129  

  Interest expense

                                        61,558        61,558  

  Repayments

                                        (551,868)        (551,868)  

  Forgiveness of loan

     (10,000)                                           (10,000)  

  Balance, December 31, 2020

     30,000                                           30,000  

  Additions

     -        2,451,720        2,125,361        2,520,000        1,389,081               8,486,162  

  Discount

     -        -        -        (231,035)        (32,729)               (263,764)  

  Accretion expense

     -        -        -        97,310        7,863               105,173  
               

  Repayments

     (30,000)        -        -        (630,000)        (275,324)               (935,324)  

  Balance, December 31, 2021

     -        2,451,720        2,125,361        1,756,275        1,088,891               7,422,247  
               

  Less: Current portion

     -        -        -        (1,151,945)        (795,697)               (1,947,642)  

  Long-term portion

     $    -        $    2,451,720        $    2,125,361        $    604,330        $    293,194        $    –        $    5,474,605  

 

  a)

On January 15, 2018, the Company entered into a loan agreement for proceeds of $56,550, net of an origination fee of $3,450. The loan was interest bearing at 23.08% per annum, payable monthly, secured against the Company’s net assets with personal guarantees from the CEO, and matured and was repaid on January 13, 2020.

 

  b)

On March 20, 2019, the Company entered into a future receivables sale agreement, whereby the Company agreed to remit a daily payment equal to 15% of future sales up to $64,500 in consideration for proceeds of $50,000. The Company’s obligations under the agreement were secured against the Company’s assets. On January 21, 2020, the Company entered into a new future receivables sales agreement with the lender, whereby the remaining balance of $10,277 was renewed and increased to $64,500 in consideration for an additional proceeds of $37,183. On September 29, 2020, the Company fulfilled the obligations under the future receivables sale agreement.

 

  c)

On July 1, 2019, the Company entered into a loan agreement for the purchase of a vehicle. The loan was non-interest bearing, secured against the purchased vehicle, and matured on May 1, 2020. Pursuant to the loan agreement, the Company made a down payment of $15,000 on July 1, 2019, and made 10 monthly instalments of $4,000.

 

  d)

On January 20, 2020, the Company entered into a Business Loan and Security Agreement for net proceeds of $42,720, net of an original issue discount of $12,460 and an origination fee of $1,780. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company was required to make 113 payments of $504 on each business day until fully repaid. The loan was secured against the Company’s net assets and matured on July 6, 2020.

 

  e)

On May 12, 2020, the Company entered into a Capital Agreement, whereby the Company agreed to remit a daily payment equal to 17% of future sales up to $181,900 in consideration for proceeds of $170,000. The Company’s obligations under the agreement were secured against the Company’s assets. On August 27, 2020, the Company fulfilled the obligations under the Capital Agreement.

 

  f)

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company entered into Revenue Share Agreements, whereby the Company agreed to remit a daily payment at rates ranging between 8% and 11% of future sales up to a total of $235,406 in consideration for proceeds totalling $209,226. The Company’s obligations under the agreement were secured against the Company’s assets. On September 1, 2020, the Company fulfilled the obligations under the Revenue Share Agreements.

 

26


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

12.

Loans payable and other liabilities (continued)

 

  g)

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company received a loan totalling $40,000 from its bank under the Canada Emergency Business Account program (“CEBA”) funded by the Government of Canada. The loan is interest free and may be repaid any time before December 31, 2022, at which time if unpaid, the remaining balance will convert to a 3-year term loan at an interest rate of 5% per annum. If the Company repays the loan prior to December 31, 2022, there will be loan forgiveness of 25% of the loan, up to $10,000. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized $10,000 as forgiveness of loan as it was reasonably certain that the Company would repay the loan before December 31, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company repaid the loan of $30,000.

 

  h)

On June 7, 2021, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) for a senior secured credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Waygar Capital Inc. (the “Agent”), as agent for Ninepoint Canadian Senior Debt Master Fund L.P. (the “Lender”). The Credit Facility consists of a $20,000,000 revolving line of credit and a $50,000,000 senior secured asset term loan. All amounts drawn under the Credit Facility will incur interest at a rate of 9.95% per annum on the unpaid principal amount of outstanding advances, will be repaid in full upon maturity, and are secured by a first-priority security interest on substantially all of the Company’s assets. The revolving line of credit is also subject to an unused line fee of 1% per annum. The Credit Facility will become due on June 7, 2023, subject to the Company’s option to extend the maturity date for an additional 12 months on terms and conditions to be mutually agreed to between the Company and the Lender. In connection with the Loan Agreement, the Company issued 225,000 common share purchase warrants to the Agent with a fair value of $752,559, which are exercisable for one common share of the Company at a price of C$5.62 for a period of 60 months from the date of issuance. In addition, the Company agreed to pay a credit facility fee of $2,520,000 to the Agent, which is payable as follows: $210,000 payable within 5 days of closing (paid); $105,000 payable on or before July 7, 2021 (paid); $105,000 payable on or before August 8, 2021 (paid); $105,000 on or before September 8, 2021 (paid); $105,000 on or before October 5, 2021 (paid); $630,000 on or before June 6, 2022; $630,000 on or before June 8, 2022; and $630,000 on or before June 7, 2023. The Company also incurred other financing costs in cash of $2,262,039 in connection with the financing, consisting of a finder’s fee of $2,037,000 and legal and filing fees of $225,039.

 

   

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company received a total of $4,577,081 pursuant to the Credit Facility and recognized the net present value of the credit facility fee payable of $2,288,965, including a present value discount of $231,035.

 

   

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized interest and accretion expense on the credit facility fee payable of $97,310 and interest expense of $180,522 related to the revolving credit facility and term loan. The Company also incurred an unused line of credit fee of $19,454. As at December 31, 2021, $38,565 is outstanding for interest and $2,135 is outstanding for unused line of credit fees, which are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

 

   

The Company incurred debt financing costs totalling $5,303,563, which will be amortized over the term of the Credit Facility at the effective interest rate. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized accretion expense of the deferred financing costs of $1,378,820. As at December 31, 2021, the remaining carrying value of the deferred financing costs was $3,924,743.

 

  i)

On January 28, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement for the purchase of production equipment for $569,214. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company paid a 35% deposit of the purchase price totalling $199,225, and the balance is due in 24 equal payments totalling $15,416 per month, starting from the date of the delivery. On September 27, 2021, the equipment was delivered and the deposit was capitalized in property and equipment. The loan is interest free, secured by the production equipment acquired, and was measured at a fair value of $354,853.

 

27


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

12.

Loans payable and other liabilities (continued)

 

   

The carrying value of the loan payable will be accreted to the face value of $369,989 over the term of the loan. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized accretion of the loan of $3,563 and made a repayment of $15,416. As at December 31, 2021, the carrying value of the loan payable was $343,000.

 

  j)

On January 28, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement for the purchase of production equipment for $629,358. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company paid a 35% deposit of the purchase price totalling $220,275, and the balance is due in 24 equal payments totalling $17,045 per month, starting from the date of the delivery. On September 22, 2021, the equipment was delivered and the deposit was capitalized in property and equipment. The loan is interest free, secured by the production equipment acquired, and was measured at a fair value of $392,133. The carrying value of the loan payable will be accreted to the face value of $409,083 over the term of the loan. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized accretion of the loan of $4,154 and made a repayment of $17,045. As at December 31, 2021, the carrying value of the loan payable was $379,242.

 

  k)

On June 10, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement for the purchase of production equipment for $24,412. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company paid a 35% deposit of the purchase price totalling $8,544, and the balance is due in 24 equal payments totalling $661 per month, starting from the date of the delivery. On October 1, 2021, the equipment was delivered and the deposit was capitalized in property and equipment. The loan is interest free, secured by the production equipment acquired, and was measured at a fair value of $15,225. The carrying value of the loan payable will be accreted to the face value of $15,868 over the term of the loan. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized accretion of the loan of $146 increasing the carrying value of the loan payable to $15,371.

 

  l)

On October 29, 2021, the Company refinanced its directors and officer insurance for $594,141 (US$478,500) The loan bears interest at 15.49% per annum, is secured by the insurance policies, and is repayable in 5 equal instalments of US$99,438. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company repaid $242,863 and, as at December 31, 2021, the carrying value of the loan payable was $351,278.

 

13.

Convertible debentures

 

  a)

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued $351,000 in convertible debentures; incurring financing costs of $31,113 for a net amount of $319,887. On January 11, 2019, the Company completed an additional financing of $249,000 in convertible debentures from the same lender; incurring financing costs of $20,284 for a net amount of $228,716. The debentures were unsecured, accrued simple interest at 6% per annum and had an original maturity date of November 30, 2021. The convertible debentures automatically converted at the earlier of:

 

  (i)

Qualified financing conversion – if the Company raises gross proceeds of at least $2,000,000, other than convertible notes.

 

  (ii)

Liquidity event – if the Company sells shares or assets, which triggers a change in control.

 

  (iii)

Maturity date – November 30, 2021.

 

   

As the number of common shares to be issued were variable, the convertible debentures were accounted for as a financial liability. The financing costs had been netted against the principal balance of the debentures and were accreted over the term of the debentures using the effective interest method. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized interest and accretion expense of $53,668.

 

28


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

13.

Convertible debentures (continued)

 

   

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the convertible debentures were converted into 5,084,394 common shares as a result of the completion of a qualified financing. The difference between the fair value of the common shares issued and the carrying value of the convertible debentures at the time of conversion of $615,000, was recorded as a finance expense during the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

  b)

On June 20, 2019, the Company completed a financing of convertible debentures in the principal amount of $300,000, which bore compound interest at 1.5% per month, and originally matured on December 31, 2019. In connection with the issuance of the debentures, the Company paid a finders’ fee of $30,000 and received a net amount of $270,000. On December 5, 2019, the Company entered into an amending agreement whereby the maturity date was extended to June 30, 2020. These debentures became convertible if the Company undergoes a change of control, amalgamation, merger or other business combination resulting in a “going public transaction”, or in the process of any such transaction raises funds in excess of $2,000,000 as part of the Company’s “going public transaction” (“Qualified Financing”).

 

   

As the number of common shares to be issued were variable, the convertible debentures were accounted for as a financial liability. The convertible debentures were accreted up over the payment term using the effective interest method. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized interest and accretion expense of $30,663.

 

   

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the convertible debentures were converted into 1,692,995 common shares as a result of the completion of a Qualified Financing. The difference between the fair value of the common shares issued and the carrying value of the convertible debentures at the time of conversion of $63,000, was recorded as a finance expense during the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

  c)

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company entered into convertible promissory notes totalling $86,400, of which $75,000 were received for cash and $11,400 in consideration for consulting fees. The debentures had the same terms as the convertible debentures described in Note 13(a) above.

 

   

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized interest expense totalling $2,626.

 

   

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the convertible promissory notes were converted into 717,327 common shares as a result of the completion of a qualified financing. The difference between the fair value of the common shares issued and the carrying value of the convertible debentures at the time of conversion of $87,000, was recorded as a finance expense during the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

14.

Related party balances and transactions

Related party balances

On February 11, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement with its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Mitchell Scott, and its Chief Research & Development Officer (“CRDO”), James Davison (the “Lenders”), whereby the Lenders agreed to loan the Company up to a maximum aggregate loan amount of $1,200,000 (the “Principal”), in three equal tranches of $400,000. The outstanding amount of the Principal had a maturity date of May 11, 2021, and bore interest from and after the date of each advance until repayment at the rate of 0.67% per month, simple interest. The Company also executed a general security agreement with the Lenders, which created a security interest over all present and after acquired property of the Company. The Company received one tranche of $400,000 on February 11, 2020. On June 22, 2020, the Company repaid the principal balance of $400,000 and interest of $11,728.

 

29


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

14.

Related party balances and transactions (continued)

On November 16, 2021, the Company entered into loan agreements with its CEO and its CRDO to provide individual loans in the amounts of $750,000 and $500,000 to the CEO and CRDO, respectively (collectively, the “Loans”). With the express consent of the CEO and CRDO, the Loans were amended on November 23, 2021 such that all accrued principal and interest under the CEO Loan was immediately due and payable and the CRDO Loan is due and payable within 60 days. Until repayment, the Loans continue to bear interest at a rate of 9% per annum, payable monthly, and, if for any reason a Loan is not paid in full on or before January 18, 2022, the Loan will be secured by certain financial assets commencing on such date. The CEO Loan of $750,000 was repaid in full as at December 31, 2021 and the Company received interest of $2,772. The CRDO Loan provides for scheduled repayments prior to maturity. As at December 31, 2021, the CRDO repaid $89,732 and the Company accrued interest of $5,314 which was included in accounts receivable.

On February 4, 2022, the Company entered into a Share Pledge Agreement (“Pledge Agreement”) with the CRDO whereby the CRDO pledged 1,000,000 common shares of the Company (“Pledged Shares”). As of the filing date of these consolidated financial statements, the Pledge Shares have not been disposed of by the Company and the balance of the CDRO Loan remains outstanding.

Related party transactions

The Company’s key management personnel have the authority and responsibility for planning, directing, and controlling the activities of the Company and consists of the Company’s executive management team and directors. Compensation was as follows:

 

   
      Year ended December 31,  
     
      2021                          2020  

  Salaries incurred to key management personnel*

     $    2,219,695        $  1,564,966  
     

  Professional fees incurred to the former CFO**

     -        159,437  

  Directors’ fees

     47,385        -  

  Share-based compensation (Note 18)

     12,207,690        676,078  
       $  14,474,770        $  2,400,481  

* The balance for the year ended December 31, 2020, includes $287,230 paid by the issuance of a total of 165,000 warrants, which have exercise prices ranging between $1.51 per share and $7.60 per share, with expiry dates ranging between August 13, 2021, and December 21, 2021.

** The balance for the year ended December 31, 2020, includes $25,001 paid by the issuance of 166,670 units. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of share purchase warrant exercisable at a price of $0.30 per share for a period of 12 months from issuance, subject to early acceleration in certain circumstances.

 

15.

Derivative Liabilities

On October 19, 2021, the Company issued 7,500,000 common share purchase warrants with an exercise price of US$2.35 and expiry date of October 19, 2026 (Note 16(d)). Due to the variable nature of the proceeds from exercise of these warrants, the Company recognized a derivative liability of $11,864,649 at the issuance date. The fair value of these liabilities will be revalued at the end of every reporting period and the change in fair value will be reported in profit or loss as a gain or loss on derivative financial instruments.    

 

   
      Year ended December 31,  
     
      2021                          2020  

  Balance, beginning of year

     $     -        $    -  
     

  Additions

     11,864,649        -  

  Change in fair value of derivative liabilities

     (7,922,647)        -  
     

  Balance, end of year

     $  3,942,002        $    -  

 

15.

Derivative Liabilities (continued)

The Company determined the fair value for the purchase warrant derivative liabilities using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The following table shows the assumptions used in the calculations:

 

30


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

     
      Issuance Date      December 31, 2021  

  Risk-free interest rate

     1.31%        1.25%  

  Dividend yield

     0%        0%  

  Expected volatility

     103%        101%  

  Expected life (years)

     5.0        4.8  

  Forfeiture rate

     0%        0%  

 

16.

Share capital

Authorized share capital

Unlimited number of common shares without par value.

Issued share capital during the year ended December 31, 2021

 

  a)

On February 23, 2021, the Company issued 139,676 common shares with a fair value of $790,566 pursuant to a share purchase agreement to acquire TCN (Note 9).

 

  b)

On March 11, 2021, the Company issued 62,329 common shares with a fair value of $365,871 pursuant to a share purchase agreement to acquire Lloyd-James (Note 9).

 

  c)

On July 2, 2021, the Company completed its bought deal prospectus offering (the “July Offering”) consisting of 5,594,750 units of the Company (the “Units”) at a price of $3.70 per July Unit for total gross proceeds of $20,700,575. Each Unit consisted of one common share in the capital of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”), with each Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $4.60 per Warrant until January 2, 2023.

 

   

The Company paid a commission of $1,449,040 and 391,632 compensation warrants of the Company (the “Compensation Warrants”), with a fair value of $758,742, being equal to 7% of the aggregate number of Units sold pursuant to the offering. Each Compensation Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Unit of the Company (each a “Compensation Unit”) at a price of $3.70 per Compensation Unit until January 2, 2023. In addition, the Company also paid a corporate finance fee comprised of 30,000 Units, with a fair value of $114,600 to the agent. In connection with the Offering, the Company incurred other share issuance costs of $873,274.

 

  d)

On October 19, 2021, the Company closed a registered direct offering (the “October Offering”) with certain institutional investors for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 15,000,000 Units of the Company at a price of US$2.00 per Unit for gross proceeds to the Company of $37,078,200 (US$30,000,000). Each Unit was comprised of one common share of the Company and one-half of one Warrant.

 

   

Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share at an exercise price of US$2.35, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, until October 19, 2026. As the exercise price was denominated in a foreign currency, the amount of proceeds received by the Company from the exercise of these Warrants will be variable. As such, the 7,500,000 Warrants were treated as a derivate liability and the fair value of $11,864,649 at the issuance date was netted against the proceeds of $37,078,200 (Note 15).

 

   

The Company paid a commission of $2,224,692 (US$1,800,000) and 525,000 compensation warrants of the Company , with a fair value of $656,682,being equal to 3.5% of the aggregate number of Units sold pursuant to the October Offering. Each Compensation Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share at an exercise price of US$2.50, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, commencing on April 14, 2022 and expiring on April 14, 2025. In connection with the October Offering, the Company incurred other issuance costs of $518,266.

 

31


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

16.

Share capital (continued)

 

  e)

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued a total of 188,000 common shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options at $0.25 per share, 33,333 common shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options at $1.74 per share and 10,000 common shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options at $1.31 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $118,099 of which $3,750 was received subsequent to December 31, 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company received $6,250 related to a stock option exercise which occurred during the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

  f)

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued a total of 483,383 common shares and 273,867 units pursuant to the exercise of warrants with exercise prices ranging between $1.30 per share and $4.50 per share for gross proceeds of $2,415,983, of which $19,500 was received as at December 31, 2020. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half of one warrant with exercise prices ranging between $2.00 and $4.50 with terms ranging between February 7, 2022, and June 4, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company received $5,000 related to a warrant exercise which occurred during the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

  g)

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued a total of 42,694 common shares for marketing services with a fair value of $227,471.

Issued share capital during the year ended December 31, 2020

 

  h)

On June 17, 2020, the Company completed its Initial Public Offering (the “Offering”) consisting of 16,100,000 common shares for gross proceeds of $4,025,000. The Company paid the agent a commission of $241,500 and issued the agent a finder’s fee of 322,000 common shares with a fair value of $80,500. The Company also issued to the agent 1,288,000 warrants with a fair value of $176,242, exercisable to purchase common shares at a price of $0.25 per common share until June 17, 2021 (the “Agent’s Warrants”). In connection with the Offering, the Company also incurred other share issuance costs of $213,366.

 

  i)

On June 17, 2020, the Company issued 7,494,716 common shares with a fair value of $1,873,222 pursuant to the conversion of $1,108,222 of convertible debentures and related accrued interest, resulting in a loss on settlement of convertible debt of $765,000 (Note 13).

 

  j)

On July 10, 2020, the Company issued 408,459 common shares with a fair value of $694,375 pursuant to the settlement of $102,113 owing to a vendor, resulting in a loss on settlement of payables of $592,262.

 

  k)

On August 7, 2020, the Company completed a prospectus offering of 6,555,000 units at $1.30 per unit for gross proceeds of $8,521,500. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of one warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at $2.00 until February 7, 2022. The Company paid the agent a commission of $679,312 and issued the agent a finder’s fee of 80,000 units with a fair value of $120,800, which consisted of one common share and one-half of one warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable at $2.00 until February 7, 2022. The Company also issued 522,548 warrants with a fair value of $528,092, exercisable to acquire one unit at $1.30 per unit until February 7, 2022 (the “Broker’s Warrants”). Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half of one warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable at $2.00 until February 7, 2022. In connection with the prospectus offering, the Company also incurred other share issuance costs of $240,041.

 

  l)

On August 13, 2020, the Company completed a private placement of 88,462 units at $1.30 per unit for gross proceeds of $115,001. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of one warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at $2.00 until February 13, 2022.

 

  m)

On October 22, 2020, the Company issued 47,866 common shares with a fair value of $120,144 pursuant to the settlement of $130,834 owing to a vendor, resulting in a gain on settlement of payables of $10,690.

 

32


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

16.

Share capital (continued)

 

  n)

On December 4, 2020, the Company completed a prospectus offering of 3,778,900 units at $3.50 per unit for gross proceeds of $13,226,150. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of one warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at $4.50 until June 4, 2022. The Company paid the agent a commission of $1,037,078 and issued the agent a finder’s fee of 30,000 units with a fair value of $265,800, which consisted of one common share and one-half of one warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable at $4.50 until June 4, 2022. The Company also issued 296,308 Broker’s Warrants with a fair value of $1,933,778, exercisable to acquire one unit at $3.50 per unit until June 4, 2022. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half of one warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable at $4.50 until June 4, 2022. In connection with the prospectus offering, the Company also incurred other share issuance costs of $386,982.

 

  o)

On December 4, 2020, the Company completed a private placement of 285,714 units at $3.50 per unit for gross proceeds of $999,999. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of one warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at $4.50 until June 4, 2022. In connection with the private placement, the Company incurred share issuance costs of $139,746.

 

  p)

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company issued a total of 2,341,500 common shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options at $0.25 per share and 16,667 common shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options at $1.74 per share for an aggregate gross proceeds of $614,376 of which $6,250 was received subsequent to December 31, 2020.

 

  q)

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company issued a total of 12,895,190 common shares pursuant to the exercise of warrants with exercise prices ranging between $0.25 per share and $4.50 per share for gross proceeds of $10,251,859 of which $5,000 was received subsequent to December 31, 2020.

 

  r)

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company issued 474,686 units pursuant to the exercise of Broker’s Warrants at $1.30 per share for gross proceeds of $617,092. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half of one warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable at $2.00 until February 7, 2022.

 

  s)

During the year ended December 31, 2020, pursuant to an executive management services agreement entered on July 15, 2019 with the former CFO, director and executive consultant of the Company, the Company issued 166,670 units with a fair value of $25,001, of which $3,760 was allocated to warrants. Each unit issued was comprised of one common share and one-half of share purchase warrant exercisable at a price of $0.30 per share for a period of 12 months from issuance, subject to early acceleration in certain circumstances.

 

  t)

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company issued a total of 39,263 common shares for marketing services with a fair value of $65,978.

 

  u)

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company received subscriptions of $19,500 pursuant to the exercise of warrants in January 2021 (Note 16(f)).

 

33


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

17.

Warrants

The following table summarizes information about the warrants at December 31, 2021, and 2020, and the changes for the years then ended:

 

     
      Number of warrants      Weighted average exercise price  

  Warrants outstanding, December 31, 2019

     7,757,670        $    0.30  

Issued

     8,501,573        1.91  

Exercised

     (13,369,876)        0.81  

  Warrants outstanding, December 31, 2020

     2,889,367        3.70  

Issued

     11,590,941        3.47  

Exercised

     (757,250)        3.19  

Expired

     (60,000)        7.60  
     
  Warrants outstanding, December 31, 2021    13,663,058      $    3.51  

 

The Company’s warrants are exercisable only for common shares, unless otherwise noted. The following table summarizes information about warrants outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2021:

 

Exercise price    Expiry date    Warrants outstanding  

Weighted average

remaining contracted life (years)    

$1.30

   February 7, 2022    12,862*   0.10****

$2.00

   February 7, 2022    541,883   0.10****

$2.00

   February 13, 2022    44,232   0.12****

$3.50

   June 4, 2022    57,441**   0.42

$4.50

   June 4, 2022    1,552,633   0.42

$3.70

   January 2, 2023    391,632***   1.01

$4.60

   January 2, 2023    2,812,375   1.01

US$2.50

   April 14, 2025    525,000   3.29

$5.62

   June 7, 2026    225,000   4.44

US$2.35

   October 19, 2026    7,500,000   4.80
       
            13,663,058     

* Exercisable to acquire one unit at $1.30 per unit until February 7, 2022. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of one warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable at $2.00 until February 7, 2022.

** Exercisable to acquire one unit at $3.50 per unit until June 4, 2022. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of one warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable at $4.50 until June 4, 2022.

*** Exercisable to acquire one unit at $3.70 per unit until January 2, 2023. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of one warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable at $4.60 until January 2, 2023.

**** Expired subsequently

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company issued a total of 165,000 warrants to key management personnel with a fair value of $287,230. The warrants issued have exercise prices ranging between $1.51 per share and $7.60 per share and expiry dates ranging between August 13, 2021 and December 21, 2021. The fair value of warrants issued for services discussed above and as share issuance costs (Note 16) and debt issuance costs Note 12(h)) was estimated using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model with the following weighted average assumptions:

 

      2021                          2020  

  Risk-free interest rate

     0.74%        0.26%  

  Dividend yield

     0%        0%  

  Expected volatility

     107%        147%  

  Expected life (years)

     2.88        1.28  

  Forfeiture rate

     0%        0%  

Expected annualized volatility was determined through the comparison of historical share price volatilities used by similar publicly listed companies in similar industries.

 

34


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

18.

Stock options

Pursuant to the Company’s stock incentive plan, the Board of Directors is authorized to grant options to directors, officers, consultants or employees to acquire up to 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. The exercise price will not be less than $0.10 per share and the market price of the common shares on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the grant, less applicable discounts permitted by the TSX-V. The options that may be granted under this plan must be exercisable for over a period of not exceeding 5 years. The following table summarizes the continuity of the Company’s stock options at December 31, 2021, and 2020, and the changes for the years then ended:

 

     
      Number of options      Weighted average exercise price   

  Outstanding, December 31, 2019

     1,513,500        $    0.25    

Granted

     4,792,806        1.18  

Exercised

     (2,358,167)        0.26  

Cancelled or forfeited

     (95,500)        0.37  

  Outstanding, December 31, 2020

     3,852,639        1.39  

Granted

     5,380,625        6.34  

Exercised

     (231,333)        0.51  

Cancelled or forfeited

     (489,725)        4.34  
     
  Outstanding, December 31, 2021    8,512,206      $    4.38          
     
  Exercisable, December 31, 2021    5,619,910      $    3.51          

The options granted during the year ended December 31, 2021, generally vest in 3 to 4 equal instalments over vesting periods ranging between 12 months and 18 months. The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for share options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2021, was $4.52 (2020 - $6.96). Additional information regarding stock options outstanding as at December 31, 2021, is as follows:

 

Exercise price    Stock options outstanding*    Stock options exercisable    Expiry date

$4.65

   8,175    8,175    January 5, 2022**

$4.65

   16,800    16,800    February 4, 2022**

$7.03

   5,000    5,000    February 4, 2022**

$0.25

   7,000    7,000    February 13, 2022**

$0.25

   5,000    5,000    March 4, 2022***

$7.03

   5,000    5,000    March 4, 2022**

$1.68

   250,000    250,000    March 8, 2022**

$6.21

   250,000    250,000    March 8, 2022**

$7.03

   425,000    425,000    March 8, 2022**

$7.03

   16,667    16,667    March 10, 2022**

$7.10

   10,000    10,000    March 10, 2022**

$0.25

   3,000    3,000    March 20, 2022**

$3.41

   15,000    7,500    October 7, 2022

$9.07

   5,000    5,000    December 7, 2023

$6.21

   390,000    130,000    January 4, 2024

$7.10

   30,000    9,999    January 26, 2024

$7.03

   710,000    278,330    January 29, 2024

$6.73

   75,000    25,000    February 16, 2024

$5.72

   35,000    22,083    March 8, 2024

$3.70

   503,958       July 15, 2024

$0.25

   948,500    948,500    December 31, 2024

$0.25

   1,198,000    1,198,000    January 1, 2025

$0.25

   85,000    85,000    June 17, 2025

$1.31

   100,000    100,000    June 24, 2025

$1.56

   50,000    50,000    August 7, 2025

$1.65

   30,000    30,000    September 4, 2025

$1.70

   5,506    5,506    September 17, 2025

$1.60

   100,000    100,000    October 7, 2025

$4.65

   454,600    454,600    November 24, 2025

$8.86

   150,000    150,000    December 5, 2025

$7.03

   1,875,000    518,750    January 29, 2026

$6.21

   500,000    500,000    March 4, 2026

$3.70

   150,000       July 15, 2026

$3.41

   100,000       October 7, 2026
       
      8,512,206    5,619,910      

* The weighted average remaining life of options outstanding is 2.95 years.

** Expired subsequently

***Exercised subsequently

 

35


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

18.

Stock options (continued)

Share-based compensation expense is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized share-based compensation expense of $21,605,880 (2020 - $2,780,488) in equity reserves, of which $12,207,690 (2020 - $614,927) pertains to directors and officers of the Company. The weighted average fair value of options granted during the year ended December 31, 2021, was $4.54 (2020 - $1.13) per share. Weighted average assumptions used in calculating the fair value of share-based compensation expense are as follows:

 

     
              Year ended December 31,  
     
      2021      2020  

  Risk-free interest rate

     0.42%        1.25%  

  Dividend yield

     0%        0%  

  Expected volatility

     116%        145%  

  Expected life (years)

     4.25        5.0  

  Forfeiture rate

     0%        0%  

Expected annualized volatility was determined through the comparison of historical share price volatilities used by similar publicly listed companies in similar industries.

At December 31, 2021, there was $3,950,176 (2020 - $2,519,228) of unrecognized share-based compensation related to unvested stock options which will be recognized over 1.77 years.

 

19.

Finance expense

Finance expense is comprised of the following:

 

     
              Year ended December 31,  
     
      2021      2020  

  Loss on settlement of payables (Note 16(j))

     $     -        $  592,262  

  Interest on finance lease obligations (Note 11)

     1,340,492        345,958  

  Interest and accretion on loans and other liabilities (Note 12)

     1,683,969        61,558  

  Interest and accretion on convertible debentures (Note 13)

     -        86,957  

  Finance cost on settlement of convertible debt (Note 13)

     -        765,000  

  Interest and accretion on related party loan

     -        11,728  

  Forgiveness of loan (Note 12(g))

     -        (10,000)  

  Gain on settlement of debt (Note 16(m))

     -        (10,690)  

  Other income

     (10)        80  
       $  3,024,451        $  1,842,853  

 

36


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

20.

Other expense

Other expense is comprised of the following:

 

   
              Year ended December 31,    
     
      2021      2020    

  Loss on disposal of equipment

     $ 32,816        $     -    

  Impairment of equipment (Note 8)

     101,077        -    

  Pre-construction costs*

     208,683        129,677    

  Acquisition-related costs (Note 9)

     173,662        -    

  Gain on termination of lease (Note 11)

     (1,600)        -    
     
       $514,638        $129,677    

*Pre-construction costs consist of conceptual design and preliminary engineering expenditures incurred on building-out its Mount Pleasant facility (Note 25(e)) and Rupert facility (Note 25(j)). These costs did not meet the capitalization criteria as set out in IAS 16, Property, Plant and Equipment.

 

21.

Supplemental cash flow disclosures

 

   
      For the year ended December 31,  
     
      2021      2020  

Fair value of Agent’s Warrants and corporate finance fee warrants

     $  1,415,424        $  2,638,247  

Fair value of warrants issued in connection with Loan Agreement

     752,559        -  

Issuance of common shares for acquisitions

     1,156,437        -  

Issuance of common shares pursuant to the conversion of convertible debentures

     -        1,873,222  

Issuance of share for debt settlement

     -        814,519  

Issuance of units for finders’ fees

     114,600        467,100  

Lease liabilities assumed from acquisition

     (127,543)        -  

Property and equipment purchases included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     2,428,427        25,276  

Property and equipment acquired through financing arrangements

     729,749           

ROU assets acquired through leases

     12,248,318        5,020,509  

ROU assets acquired through acquisition

     127,043        -  

 

37


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

22.

Financial instruments and financial risk management

Fair value measurements

At December 31, 2021, the carrying value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, loan to related party, deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and loans payable and other liabilities, all of which are carried at amortized cost, approximate their fair value given their short-term nature or discount rate applied.

The Company does not have any financial instruments measured at fair value in the consolidated statement of financial position, except for its contingent consideration, which was estimated at fair value as part of the preliminary purchase price allocations in note 9 and for which there has been no change in fair value to December 31, 2021, and derivative liabilities, which was estimated at fair value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model (Note 15).

Financial risk management

The Company is exposed in varying degrees to a variety of financial instrument related risks. The Board of Directors approves and monitors the risk management processes, inclusive of documented investment policies, counterparty limits, and controlling and reporting structures. The type of risk exposure and the way in which such exposure is managed is provided as follows:

Interest risk

The Company’s exposure to interest risk relates to its investment of surplus cash and cash equivalents, including restricted and unrestricted short-term investments. The Company may invest surplus cash in highly liquid investments with short terms to maturity and would accumulate interest at prevailing rates for such investments. At December 31, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $21,975,653 (2020 - $25,084,083) and a 1% change in interest rates would increase or decrease interest income by approximately $220,000 (2020 - $250,000).

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk of an unexpected loss if a customer or third party to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, security deposits, accounts receivable and loan to related party. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, security deposits, trade and other receivables and loan to related party represent the maximum exposure to credit risk, and as at December 31, 2021, this amounted to $27,833,734 (2020 - $26,826,938).

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held through large Canadian financial institutions and no losses have been incurred in relation to these items. The Company’s receivables are comprised of trade accounts receivable and GST receivable. At December 31, 2021, the Company has $90,822 (2020 - $43,153) in trade accounts receivable outstanding over 60 days, of which the Company has recognized an allowance for doubtful accounts of $41,350 (2020 - $39,917).

 

38


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

22.

Financial instruments and financial risk management (continued)

Concentration of credit risk

Concentration of credit risk is the risk of reliance upon a select number of customers which significantly impact the financial performance of the Company. The Company recorded sales from 3 wholesale distributors of the Company representing 12% (2020 - 18%) of total revenue during the year ended December 31, 2021. Of the Company’s trade receivables outstanding at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, 58% and 81% are held with 5 customers and 3 customers of the Company, respectively.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to pay financial instrument liabilities as they come due. The Company manages its liquidity risk by reviewing on an ongoing basis its capital requirements.

As at December 31, 2021, the Company has $21,975,653 (2020 – $25,084,083) of cash and cash equivalents. The Company is obligated to pay accounts payable and accrued liabilities, the current portion of the lease liabilities, and the current portion of loans payable and other liabilities with a carrying amount of $10,906,738 (2020 - $2,018,663) and contingent consideration of $1,048,000 within the next year (see also note 1).

The following is an analysis of the contractual maturities of the Company’s non-derivative financial instrument liabilities as at December 31, 2021 and 2020:

 

  December 31, 2021    Within 1 year      Between 1 - 2 years      More than 2 years*    

  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     $    8,109,161        $              –        $   –    

  Loans payable and other liabilities

     1,151,945        5,181,411        –    

  Financing arrangements

     815,654        298,103        –    
       

  Lease liabilities

     849,935        912,090        15,852,368    

  Contingent consideration on acquisitions

     1,048,000               –    
       
       $  11,974,695        $  6,391,604        $15,852,368    

 

*  See Note 11 for an analysis of the future minimum lease payments of the lease liabilities due in more than 2 years.

    

   

 

  December 31, 2020    Within 1 year      Between 1 -2 years      More than 2 years    

  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     $        1,871,728        $            –        $                –    

  Loans payable

            30,000        –    

  Lease liabilities

     146,935        212,877        5,176,475    
       
       $        2,018,663        $        242,877        $ 5,176,475    

Foreign Currency Risk

The Company is exposed to foreign currency risk on fluctuations related to cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and deferred revenue that are denominated in US dollars. As at December 31, 2021, a 10% appreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar would have decreased the net foreign currency denominated financial assets and foreign exchange loss by approximately $1,398,296 (2020 – $102,312). A 10% depreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar would have had the equal but opposite effect.

Price Risk

The Company is exposed to price risk with respect to commodity prices. Commodity price risk is defined as the potential adverse impact on earnings and economic value due to commodity price movements and volatilities. The Company closely monitors commodity prices of raw materials to determine the appropriate course of action to be taken by the Company.

 

39


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

23.

Employee benefit expense

The breakdown of the wages and salaries costs within the condensed interim consolidated statements of net loss and comprehensive loss for the years ending December 31, 2021, and 2020, are as follows:

 

   
      Year ended December 31,  
     
      2021      2020  

  Included in procurement expense

                 

Wages and salaries

   $ 3,168,880      $ 1,139,362  

Share-based compensation

     766,574        296,384  

  Included in fulfilment expense

                 

Wages and salaries

     1,497,021        70,578  

Share-based compensation

     1,055,504        27,307  

  Included in general and administrative expense

                 

Wages and salaries

     6,672,372        2,176,732  

Share-based compensation

     17,740,461        2,370,059  

  Included in marketing and investor relations expense

                 

Wages and salaries

     764,068        -  

Share-based compensation

     860,463        3,982  

  Included in research and development expense

                 

Wages and salaries

     902,061        287,864  

Share-based compensation

     663,625        82,756  

  Included in pre-production expense

                 

Wages and salaries

     959,879        -  

Share-based compensation

     519,253        -  

  Total employee benefit expense

   $ 35,570,161      $ 6,455,024    

 

24.

Capital management

The Company’s primary objectives when managing capital is to maintain a capital structure that allows financing options to the Company in order to benefit from potential opportunities as they arise. The Company manages its capital structure and adjusts it based on the funds available to the Company in order to maintain existing operations, fund expansion opportunities and continue as a going concern (Note 1). The Board of Directors does not establish quantitative return on capital criteria for management, but rather relies on the expertise of the Company’s management to sustain future development of the business. The Company is continually evaluating expansion opportunities both domestically and within certain international markets. Depending on the timing and scope of expansion opportunities identified by the Company, there will be a requirement for the investment of additional capital for the Company to continue to successfully execute on its growth strategy. Based on the ongoing analysis of potential growth opportunities, the Company is not able to currently quantify any specific non-committed future capital requirements. The Company has historically relied on debt and equity markets to fund its activities. Management reviews its capital management approach on an ongoing basis and believes that this approach, given the relative size of the Company, is reasonable to ensure optimal capital structure to reduce cost of capital. There were no changes to the Company’s approach to capital management during the year ended December 31, 2021.

The Company is subject to externally imposed capital requirement. Pursuant to the loan agreement as described in 12(h), the Company shall maintain a cash coverage ratio of not less than 2.50 to 1.00 as the end of each fiscal quarter. The cash coverage ratio shall mean the ratio of the following: (a) cash on hand as at the end of each fiscal quarter; to (b) (i) at the end of each fiscal quarter prior to the one year anniversary of the closing date of the loan agreement, interest expense of the Company during the most recent fiscal quarter multiplied by four, and (ii) at the end of each fiscal quarter from and after the one year anniversary of the closing date of the loan agreement, interest expense of the Company during for the immediately preceding four fiscal quarters.

 

40


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

25.

Commitments

 

  a)

On December 22, 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement for retail and storage space located at 6-1701 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC. The lease is for a 5-year term, commencing on August 1, 2017 and expiring on July 31, 2022. The base rent due under the lease agreement is $1,252 per month during the first year and increases each subsequent year. For years 2-5, the monthly rent payable is equal to the current monthly minimum rent multiplied by the annual increase of the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) for the current lease year just ended over the previous lease year. CPI is defined as the consumer price index for the Greater Victoria Area issued by any bureau of statistics for the Government of Canada. The Company will also pay additional rent equivalent to 4% of the Company’s gross retail sales, excluding sales from wholesale orders, in excess of $2,000,000 per annum. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not pay additional rent as the gross retail sales, excluding sales from wholesale orders, were under $2,000,000 per annum.

 

  b)

On January 1, 2019, the Company entered into a sub-lease agreement for kitchen and retail space located at 2527 Government Street, Victoria, BC. The lease is for a 4.5-year term, expiring on June 30, 2023. The remaining base rent due under the sub-lease agreement is $3,950 per month for the period from January 1 to June 30, 2019, $4,350 per month for the period from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, $4,600 per month for the period from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, $4,800 per month for the period from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, and $5,050 per month for the period from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.

 

   

Also, in relation to the January 1, 2019 sub-lease agreement, the Company entered into a rental agreement for the use of fixtures and equipment located at 2527 Government Street, Victoria, BC. The lease is for a 4.5-year term, expiring on June 30, 2023. The remaining rent due under the rental agreement is $250 per month for the period from January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, $300 per month for the period from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, and $350 per month for the period from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023.

 

  c)

On January 9, 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement for restaurant production equipment. The lease is for a 3-year term, expiring on January 9, 2022. The Company is required to make 36 monthly payments of $1,858. At the expiration of the lease, the Company shall have the option to purchase the equipment for $10. On December 16, 2021, the Company purchased the equipment after all obligations under the lease agreement were satisfied.

 

  d)

On January 9, 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement for restaurant production equipment. The lease is for a 3-year term, expiring on January 9, 2022. The Company is required to make 36 monthly payments of $2,232. Subsequent to December 31, 2021, the Company purchased the equipment.

 

  e)

On January 22, 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a facility located in the Mount Pleasant area of Vancouver, BC, which commenced September 1, 2020 for a 10-year term. The facility will house the Company’s second restaurant, along with space for research and development, and offices. Pursuant to the lease agreement, the annual base rent is $332,832 per annum for years 1-3, $348,434 per annum for years 4-6, and $369,236 per annum for years 7-10. The Company paid a security deposit of $246,237, which will be partially applied towards the rent due for each of the 3rd, 13th, and 25th months of the term, with the balance being held as a security deposit. As at December 31, 2021, a balance of $188,323 (2020 - $232,242) is included in prepaids and deposits. Of this amount, $44,418 (Note 6) is presented as a current asset and the remaining balance as a non-current asset. The lease agreement includes an option to renew for two consecutive five-year periods.

 

41


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

25. Commitments (continued)

 

  f)

On April 8, 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement for storage space located in Victoria, BC. The lease is for 2 years and 16 days, commencing on April 15, 2020 and expiring on April 30, 2022. The base rent due under the lease agreement is $1,445 per month during the first year and $1,576 per month during the second year. The Company paid a security deposit of $2,565. As at December 31, 2021, a balance of $2,565 (2020 - $2,565) is included in prepaids and deposits as a current asset.

 

  g)

On June 4, 2020, the Company entered into agreements for the lease of production equipment. Pursuant to the purchase agreements, the Company was required to pay a deposit of $519,344, and the balance is due in 60 equal payments totalling $19,305 per month at an annual interest rate of 5%, starting from the date of the delivery. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the equipment was delivered and the deposits were applied against the acquisition of the right-of-use assets.

 

  h)

On August 31, 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a production and distribution facility located in Patterson, California, which commenced on September 1, 2020. The term of this lease is for 5 years and 7 months, expiring on February 28, 2026, with 2 options to extend the term of the lease, each for an additional term of 5 years. Pursuant to the lease agreement, the annual base rent is US$24,743 per month starting April 1, 2021 and no rent is required for the period from September 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. The base rent is to be adjusted by 3% on the 1st of April of each year commencing from April 1, 2021. The Company paid a security deposit of US$321,659. As at December 31, 2021, a balance of $375,774 (US$296,916) (2020 - $410,189 (US$321,659)) is included in prepaids and deposits as a non-current asset.

 

  i)

On September 22, 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a facility located in Victoria, BC, which commenced January 1, 2021 for a 10-year term. The facility will house the Company’s third restaurant. Pursuant to the lease agreement, the annual base rent is $44,975 per annum for years 1-2, $47,545 per annum for years 3-4, $50,115 per annum for years 5-6, $51,400 per annum for years 7-8, and $52,685 per annum for year 9-10. The lease agreement includes an option to renew for two consecutive five-year periods. The Company paid a security deposit of $12,256. As at December 31, 2021, a balance of $12,256 (2020 - $12,256) is included in prepaids and deposits as a current asset.

 

  j)

On November 11, 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement for the Rupert facility located in Vancouver, BC, for an initial 10-year term with renewal options for two additional 5-year terms. The facility comprises several units of approximately 45,000 square feet of production, refrigeration, warehousing, R&D and office space. Pursuant to the agreement, the lease commences June 1, 2021, with early possession permitted between January 11, 2021 and March 1, 2021. The annual base rent is $870,061 per annum for years 1 to 2, $948,546 per annum for years 3 to 4, $993,875 per annum in years 5 to 7, $1,039,204 per annum in years 8 to 9, and $1,084,533 per annum in year 10. The Company paid a security deposit of $222,249. As at December 31, 2021, a balance of $111,536 (2020 - $222,249) is included in prepaids and deposits as a non-current asset.

 

  k)

On January 20, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement for the lease of production equipment. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company is required to pay 20% deposit of the purchase price totalling $196,514, and the balance is due in 36 equal payments totalling $22,845 per month at an annual interest rate of 3%, starting from the date of the delivery. As of December 31, 2021, the equipment has not been delivered and the deposit of $196,514 is included in prepaids and deposits.

 

42


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

25. Commitments (continued)

 

  l)

On January 20, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement for the purchase of production equipment. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company is required to pay a total of $800,565, of which $160,113 was paid as a deposit, and the balance of $640,452 is due when installation is complete. As of December 31, 2021, the equipment has not been delivered and the deposit of $160,113 is included in prepaids and deposits.

 

  m)

On February 1, 2021, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a warehouse facility located in Victoria, BC. The lease is for a 5-year term commencing February 1, 2021 and expiring on January 31, 2026. The facility comprises approximately 6,288 square feet of warehousing space. Pursuant to the lease agreement, the annual base rent is $94,320 per annum for years 1-2, and $100,608 per annum for years 3-5. The Company paid a security deposit of $63,823, which is included in prepaids and deposits as a non-current asset.

 

  n)

On March 12, 2021, the Company entered into agreement for the purchase of production equipment. Pursuant to the purchase agreement, the Company is required to pay 30% deposit of the purchase price totalling $164,930 at the order date, 20% of the purchase price totalling $109,953 60 days after the order date, 40% of the purchase price totalling $219,907 prior to shipment, and 10% of the purchase price totalling $54,977 30 days after shipment. As of December 31, 2021, the equipment has not been delivered and the deposit of $164,930 is included in prepaids and deposits.

 

  o)

On June 15, 2021, the Company entered into agreement for the purchase of production equipment. Pursuant to the purchase agreement, the Company is required to pay 30% deposit of the purchase price totalling $190,119 at the order date, and the balance of $443,610 is due when installation is complete. As of December 31, 2021, the equipment has not been delivered and the deposit of $190,119 is included in prepaids and deposits.

 

  p)

On June 21, 2021, the Company entered into agreement for the construction of leasehold improvements. Pursuant to the construction agreement, the Company is required to pay 20% deposit of the budgeted cost totalling $500,000, and the balance will be billed based on the progress of the construction. As of December 31, 2021, the construction has not been completed and the deposit of $500,000 is included in prepaids and deposits.

 

  q)

On June 29, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement for the lease of production equipment. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company is required to pay 20% deposit of the purchase price totalling $217,997, and the balance is due in 36 equal payments totalling $25,358 per month at an annual interest rate of 3%, starting from the date of the delivery. As of December 31, 2021, the equipment has not been delivered and the deposit of $217,997 is included in prepaids and deposits.

 

  r)

On December 7, 2021, the Company entered into agreement for the purchase of production equipment. Pursuant to the purchase agreement, the Company is required to pay 30% deposit of the purchase price totalling $169,799 at the order date, 30% of purchase price totalling $169,799 30 days after order date, 30% of purchase price totalling $169,799 upon factory acceptance testing and 10% totalling $56,600 30 days after shipment. As of December 31, 2021, the equipment has not been delivered and the deposit of $169,799 is included in prepaids and deposits.

 

  s)

On December 9, 2021, the Company entered into agreement for the purchase of production equipment. Pursuant to the purchase agreement, the Company is required to pay 30% deposit of the purchase price totalling $197,019 at the order date, 30% of purchase price totalling $197,019 90 days after order date, 30% of purchase price totalling $197,019 upon factory acceptance testing and 10% totalling $65,673 30 days after shipment. As of December 31, 2021, the equipment has not been delivered and the deposit of $197,019 is included in prepaids and deposits.

As at December 31, 2021, the Company did not have any future payments required under non-cancellable short-term or low value leases contracted for but not capitalized in the consolidated financial statements.

 

43


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

26.

Segmented Information

The Company’s chief operating decision makers currently review the operating results of the Company as a single reportable operating segment – being the manufacture and distribution of vegan meat and cheese alternatives. The Company operates in three geographic regions: Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The following is a summary of the Company’s activities by geographic region as at December 31, 2021, and 2020:

 

      Canada          United States      United Kingdom                              Total  

  Total non-current assets as at December 31, 2021

         $  32,563,769        $  4,178,194      $    -       $  36,741,963  

  Total non-current assets as at December 31, 2020

     $  3,407,364        $  3,158,997      $    -       $  6,566,361  

  Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021*

     $  6,352,640        $  5,900,475      $ 5,668       $  12,258,783  

  Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020*

     $  4,003,507        $  633,331      $    -       $  4,636,838    

* Geographical allocation is based on location the location of the customer.

The following is a summary of the Company’s revenues by revenue channel during the years ended December 31, 2021, and 2020:

 

      Year ended
December 31, 2021
     Year ended
December 31, 2020
 

  eCommerce

     $9,277,750        $3,382,458  

  Wholesale

     2,429,072        840,490  

  Butcher shop, restaurant and other

     551,961        413,890  

  Total

     $12,258,783        $4,636,838    
                   

 

27.

Income taxes

A reconciliation of the expected income tax recovery to the actual income tax recovery is as follows:

 

                   
                   
                Year ended December 31  
                             2021                              2020  

  Net loss

   $ (54,559,923)      $ (13,858,000)  

  Statutory tax rate

     27%        27%  

  Expected income tax recovery at the statutory tax rate

   $ (14,731,000)      $ (2,730,000)  

  Non-deductible items and other

     (1,518,000)        324,000  

  Non-deductible share-based compensation

     5,833,000        548,000  

  Share issue costs

     (1,368,000)        (487,000)  

  Difference in foreign tax rates

     133,000        (1,291,000)    

  Change in recognized deferred assets

     11,651,000        3,636,000  

  Income tax recovery

   $ –        $ –    
                   

 

The significant components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities as at December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:

 

 

                   
                   
              As at December 31,  
                                 2021      2020  

  Deferred tax assets (liabilities)

     

Inventory

     $                      (104,000)      $    

Property and equipment

     104,000           

 Net deferred income tax assets (liabilities)

     $                                     –      $    
                   
                   

 

44


The Very Good Food Company  |   Consolidated financial statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

27. Income taxes (continued)

Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of the following items, because it is not probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the Company can use the benefits therefrom:

 

                                                                 
                   
                   
      As at December 31,  
     2021      2020  

  Non-capital loss carry-forwards

   $ 46,259,000      $ 12,275,000  

  Deductible temporary differences

     13,732,000        2,292,000  
     $ 59,991,000      $ 14,567,000    
                   

Tax losses for which no deferred tax asset was recognised expire as follows:

 

                                                                 
                   
                   
     2021      Expiry date  

Non-capital loss carry-forwards – Canada

   $ 46,259,000        2037-2041  
                   
     

                    

                 
                   
     2020      Expiry date  

  Non-capital loss carry-forwards – Canada

   $ 12,275,000        2037-2040    
                   

 

45


LOGO

 

 

The Very Good Food Company Inc.

2748 Rupert Street,

Vancouver, BC,

V5M 3T7 Canada

1.855.526.9254

hello@verygoodfood.com

www.verygoodfood.com

Exhibit 99.5

Form 52-109F1 – IPO/RTO

Certification of Annual Filings Following

an Initial Public Offering, Reverse Takeover or

Becoming a Non-Venture Issuer

I, Mitchell Scott, Chief Executive Officer of The Very Good Food Company Inc., certify the following:

 

1.

Review: I have reviewed the AIF, if any, annual financial statements and annual MD&A, including, for greater certainty, all documents and information that are incorporated by reference in the AIF (together, the “annual filings”) of The Very Good Food Company Inc. (the “issuer”) for the financial year ended December 31, 2021.

 

2.

No misrepresentations: Based on my knowledge, having exercised reasonable diligence, the annual filings do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement not misleading in light of the circumstances under which it was made, for the period covered by the annual filings.

 

3.

Fair presentation: Based on my knowledge, having exercised reasonable diligence, the annual financial statements together with the other financial information included in the annual filings fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, financial performance and cash flows of the issuer, as of the date of and for the periods presented in the annual filings.

Date: March 31, 2022

 

/s/ Mitchell Scott

Mitchell Scott

Chief Executive Officer

 

1

Exhibit 99.6

Form 52-109F1 – IPO/RTO

Certification of Annual Filings Following

an Initial Public Offering, Reverse Takeover or

Becoming a Non-Venture Issuer

I, Ana Silva, President and Interim Chief Financial Officer of The Very Good Food Company Inc., certify the following:

 

1.

Review: I have reviewed the AIF, if any, annual financial statements and annual MD&A, including, for greater certainty, all documents and information that are incorporated by reference in the AIF (together, the “annual filings”) of The Very Good Food Company Inc. (the “issuer”) for the financial year ended December 31, 2021.

 

2.

No misrepresentations: Based on my knowledge, having exercised reasonable diligence, the annual filings do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement not misleading in light of the circumstances under which it was made, for the period covered by the annual filings.

 

3.

Fair presentation: Based on my knowledge, having exercised reasonable diligence, the annual financial statements together with the other financial information included in the annual filings fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, financial performance and cash flows of the issuer, as of the date of and for the periods presented in the annual filings.

Date: March 31, 2022

 

/s/ Ana Silva

Ana Silva

President and Interim Chief Financial Officer

 

1