Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and Item 8. Financial Statements
and Supplementary Data, Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
History and Development of Our Business
We were incorporated in
Florida in 1959 and commenced operating as a chain of small cocktail lounges and package liquor stores throughout South Florida.
By 1970, we had established a chain of "Big Daddy's" lounges and package liquor stores between Vero Beach and Homestead,
Florida. From 1970 to 1979, we expanded our package liquor store and lounge operations throughout Florida and opened clubs in five
other "Sun Belt" states. In 1975, we discontinued most of our package store operations in Florida except in the South
Florida areas of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe Counties. In 1982, we expanded our club operations into the Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania area as general partner of several limited partnerships we organized. In March 1985, we began franchising package
liquor stores and lounges in the South Florida area. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements and the discussion of
franchised units on page 4.
During our fiscal year
1987, we began renovating our lounges to provide full restaurant food service, and subsequently renovated and added food service
to most of our lounges. Food sales currently represent approximately 81.1% and bar sales approximately 18.9% of our total restaurant
sales.
Our package liquor stores
emphasize high volume business by providing customers with a wide variety of brand name and private label merchandise at discount
prices. Our restaurants offer alcoholic beverages and full food service with abundant portions and reasonable prices, served in
a relaxed, friendly and casual atmosphere.
We conduct our operations
directly and through a number of limited partnerships and wholly owned subsidiaries, all of which are listed below. Our subsidiaries
and the limited partnerships, (except for the limited partnership, where we are not the general partner, which owns and operates
our franchised restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) are reported on a consolidated basis.
Entity State Of Organization Percentage Owned
Flanigan’s Management Services, Inc. Florida 100
Flanigan’s Enterprises, Inc. of Georgia Georgia 100
Flanigan’s Enterprises, Inc. of Pa. Pennsylvania 100
Flanigan’s Enterprises of N. Miami, Inc. Florida 100
CIC Investors #13, Limited Partnership Florida 45
CIC Investors #50, Limited Partnership Florida 24
CIC Investors #55, Limited Partnership Florida 49
CIC Investors #60, Limited Partnership Florida 46
CIC Investors #65, Limited Partnership Florida 28
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CIC Investors #70, Limited Partnership Florida 41
CIC Investors #80, Limited Partnership Florida 27
CIC Investors #85, Limited Partnership Florida 100
CIC Investors #90, Limited Partnership Florida 5
Josar Investments, LLC Florida 100
Flanigan’s Calusa Center, LLC Florida 100
Flanigan’s Fish Company, LLC Florida 51
Package Liquor Store Operations
Our package liquor stores
emphasize high volume business by providing customers with a wide selection of brand name and private label liquors, beers and
wines while offering competitive pricing by meeting the published sales prices of our competitors. We provide sales training to
our package liquor store personnel. The stores are open for business seven days a week from 9:00-10:00 a.m. to 9:00-10:00 p.m.,
depending upon demand and local law. Most of our units have "night windows" with extended evening hours.
Company-Owned Package
Liquor Stores. We own and operate nine package liquor stores in the South Florida area under the name “Big Daddy’s
Liquors”, two of which are jointly operated with restaurants we own.
Franchised Package Liquor
Stores. We currently franchise three package liquor stores, all in the South Florida area, all of which are operated under
the name “Big Daddy’s Liquors”. Of the three franchised package liquor stores, two are jointly operated with
our franchisee’s restaurant operations and one is operated in a freestanding building adjacent to the franchisee’s
restaurant operation. Two of the three remaining franchised package liquor stores are franchised to members of the family of our
Chairman of the Board, officers and/or directors. We have not entered into a franchise arrangement for either a package liquor
store, restaurant or combination package liquor store/restaurant since 1986 and do not anticipate that we will do so in the foreseeable
future.
Generally, a franchise
agreement with our franchisees for the operation of a package liquor store runs for the balance of the term of the franchisee’s
lease for the business premises, extended by the franchisee’s continued occupancy of the business premises thereafter, whether
by lease or ownership. In exchange for our providing management and related services to the franchisee and our granting the right
to the franchisee to use our service mark, “Big Daddy’s Liquors”, franchisees of package liquor stores pay us
weekly in arrears, (i) a royalty equal to approximately 1% of gross sales; plus (ii) an amount for advertising equal to between
1-1/2% to 3% of gross sales generated at the stores depending upon our actual advertising costs.
Restaurant Operations
Our restaurants provide
a neighborhood casual, standardized dining experience, typical of casual restaurant chains. The interior decor of the restaurants
is nautical with numerous fishing and boating pictures and decorations. The restaurants are designed to permit minor modifications
without significant capital expenditures. However, from time to time we are required to redesign and refurbish the restaurants
at significant cost. Drink prices may vary between locations to meet local conditions. Food prices are substantially standardized
for all restaurants. The restaurants' hours of operation are from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00-5:00 a.m. depending upon demand and local
law.
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Company-Owned Restaurants.
We own and operate nine restaurants all under our service mark “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” two of which
are jointly operated with package liquor stores we own. One additional combination package liquor store and restaurant located
at 2505 N. University Drive, Hollywood, Florida (Store #19) has been closed since October 2018 due to fire damage.
Franchised Restaurants.
We franchise five restaurants, all of which operate under our service mark “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill”,
two of which operate as a restaurant only, two of which operate jointly with a franchisee operated “Big Daddy’s Liquors”
package liquor store and one of which operates adjacent to a “Big Daddy’s Liquors” package liquor store.
Generally, a franchise
agreement with our franchisees for the operation of a restaurant runs for the balance of the term of the franchisee’s lease
for the business premises, extended by the franchisee’s continued occupancy of the business premises thereafter, whether
by lease or ownership. In exchange for our providing management and related services to the franchisee and our granting the right
to the franchisee to use our service mark, “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill”, our franchisees pay us weekly
in arrears, (i) a royalty equal to approximately 3% of gross sales; plus (ii) an amount for advertising equal to between 1-1/2%
to 3% of gross sales from the restaurants depending upon our actual advertising costs.
For accounting purposes,
we do not consolidate the revenue and expenses of our franchisees’ operations with our revenue and expenses. Franchise royalties
we receive are “earned” when sales are made by franchisees.
Restaurants Owned by Affiliated Limited Partnerships
We have invested along
with others, (some of whom are or are affiliated with our officers and directors), in nine limited partnerships which currently
own and operate nine South Florida based restaurants under our service mark “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill”.
In addition to being a limited partner in these limited partnerships, we are the sole general partner of eight of these limited
partnerships and manage and control the operations of these restaurants. We are only a limited partner in the limited partnership
which owns and operates the restaurant located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We are currently developing a “Flanigan’s
Seafood Bar and Grill” restaurant in Sunrise, Florida which will be owned by a limited partnership using the same or substantially
similar financial arrangement and of which we will be the sole general partner and may invest as a limited partner.
Generally, the terms of
the limited partnership agreements provide that until the investors’ cash investment in a limited partnership (including
any cash invested by us) is returned in full, (available cash is distributed to the investors pro-rata based on ownership interest),
the limited partnership distributes to the investors annually out of available cash from the operation of the restaurant, as a
return of capital, up to 25% of the cash invested in the limited partnership, with no management fee paid to us. Any available
cash in excess of the 25% of the cash invested in the limited partnership distributed to the investors annually, is paid one-half
(1⁄2) to us as a management fee and one-half (1⁄2) to the investors, (including us), pro-rata based on the investors’
investment, as a return of capital. Once all of the investors, (including us), have received, in full, amounts equal to their cash
invested, an annual management fee becomes payable to us equal to one-half (1⁄2) of cash available to be distributed, with
the other one-half (1⁄2) of available cash distributed to the investors (including us), as a profit distribution, pro-rata
based on the investors’ investment. As of October 3, 2020, all eight (8) limited partnerships where we are the general partner
and are eligible to receive a management fee, have returned to their respective investors all cash invested and we receive an annual
management fee equal to one-half (1⁄2) of the cash available for distribution by these limited partnerships. In addition to
our receipt of distributable amounts from the limited partnerships, we receive a fee equal to 3% of gross sales for use of our
“Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” service mark, which use is authorized while we act as general partner only.
This 3% fee is “earned” when sales are made by the limited partnerships and is paid weekly, in arrears. Whether we
will have any additional restaurants under development in the future will be dependent, among other things, on market conditions
and our ability to raise capital. We anticipate that we will continue to form limited partnerships to raise funds to own and operate
restaurants under our service mark “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” using the same or substantially similar
financial arrangements.
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Below is information on
the nine limited partnerships which own and operate “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” restaurants:
Surfside, Florida
We are the sole general
partner and a 46% limited partner in this limited partnership which has owned and operated a restaurant in Surfside, Florida under
our “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” service mark since March 6, 1998. 33.3% of the remaining limited partnership
interest is owned by persons who are either our officers, directors or their family members. This limited partnership has returned
to its investors all of their initial cash invested and we receive an annual management fee equal to one-half (1⁄2) of the
cash available for distribution by this limited partnership.
Kendall, Florida
We are the sole general
partner and a 41% limited partner in this limited partnership which has owned and operated a restaurant in Kendall, Florida under
our “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” service mark since April 4, 2000. 28.3% of the remaining limited partnership
interest is owned by persons who are either our officers, directors or their family members. This limited partnership has returned
to its investors all of their initial cash invested and we receive an annual management fee equal to one-half (1⁄2) of the
cash available for distribution by this limited partnership.
West Miami, Florida
We are the sole general
partner and a 27% limited partner in this limited partnership which has owned and operated a restaurant in West Miami, Florida
under our “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” service mark since October 11, 2001. 32.7% of the remaining limited
partnership interest is owned by persons who are either our officers, directors or their family members. This limited partnership
has returned to its investors all of their initial cash invested and we receive an annual management fee equal to one-half (1⁄2)
of the cash available for distribution by this limited partnership.
Wellington, Florida
We are the sole general
partner and a 28% limited partner in this limited partnership which has owned and operated a restaurant in Wellington, Florida
under our “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” service mark since May 27, 2005. 22.4% of the remaining limited
partnership interest is owned by persons who are either our officers, directors or their family members. This limited partnership
has returned to its investors all of their initial cash invested and we receive an annual management fee equal to one-half (1/2)
of the cash available for distribution by this limited partnership.
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Pinecrest, Florida
We are the sole general
partner and 45% limited partner in this limited partnership which has owned and operated a restaurant in Pinecrest, Florida under
our “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” service mark since August 14, 2006. 20.2% of the remaining limited partnership
interest is owned by persons who are either our officers, directors or their family members. This limited partnership has returned
to its investors all of their initial cash invested and we receive an annual management fee equal to one-half (1⁄2) of the
cash available for distribution by this limited partnership.
Pembroke Pines, Florida
We are the sole general
partner and a 24% limited partner in this limited partnership which has owned and operated a restaurant in Pembroke Pines, Florida
under our “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” service mark since October 29, 2007. 23.8% of the remaining limited
partnership interest is owned by persons who are either our officers, directors or their family members. This limited partnership
has returned to its investors all of their initial cash invested and we receive an annual management fee equal to one-half (1⁄2)
of the cash available for distribution by this limited partnership.
Davie, Florida
We are the sole general
partner and a 49% limited partner in this limited partnership which has owned and operated a restaurant in Davie, Florida under
our “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” service mark since July 28, 2008. 12.3% of the remaining limited partnership
interest is owned by persons who are either our officers, directors or their family members. This limited partnership has returned
to its investors all of their initial cash invested and we receive an annual management fee equal to one-half (1⁄2) of the
cash available for distribution by this limited partnership.
Miami, Florida
We are the sole general
partner and a 5% limited partner in this limited partnership which has owned and operated a restaurant in Miami, Florida under
our “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” service mark since December 27, 2012. 26.8% of the remaining limited partnership
interest is owned by persons who are either our officers, directors or their family members. This limited partnership has returned
to its investors all of their initial cash invested and we receive an annual management fee equal to one-half (1⁄2) of the
cash available for distribution by this limited partnership.
Sunrise, Florida
During the second quarter of our
fiscal year 2019, we entered into a Lease Agreement (the “Sunrise Lease Agreement”) with a non-affiliated third party
to rent approximately 6,900 square feet of commercial space in Sunrise, Florida where, subject to certain conditions, we anticipate
opening a new restaurant location under our “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” service mark. During the third
quarter of our fiscal year 2019, we assigned the Sunrise Lease Agreement to a newly formed limited partnership in which we currently
are (i) the sole general partner; and (ii) our wholly owned subsidiary is the sole limited partner. While there can be no assurances
that we will be successful in doing so, we intend to sell limited partnership interests to third parties as well as affiliates
of the Company in order to raise net proceeds, in the amount of $5,000,000, which proceeds will be used to renovate this potential
restaurant location. We anticipate that the new restaurant location’s ownership and operating structure will be substantially
similar to that of our other restaurants owned by limited partnerships.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
A corporation owned by
one of our board members acts as sole general partner of a limited partnership which has owned and operated a restaurant in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida under our “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” service mark since April 1, 1997. We have a
25% limited partnership interest in this limited partnership. 31.9% of the remaining limited partnership interest is owned by persons
who are either our officers, directors or their family members. This limited partnership has returned to its investors all cash
invested, but since we are not the general partner of this limited partnership, we do not receive an annual management fee. We
have a franchise arrangement with this limited partnership and for accounting purposes, we do not consolidate the operations of
this limited partnership into our operations.
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Management Agreement for “The Whale’s Rib”
Restaurant
Since January 2006, we
have managed “The Whale’s Rib”, a casual dining restaurant located in Deerfield Beach, Florida, pursuant to a
management agreement. We paid $500,000 in exchange for our rights to manage this restaurant. The restaurant is owned by a third
party unaffiliated with us. In exchange for providing management, bookkeeping and related services, we receive one-half (1⁄2)
of the net profit, if any, from the operation of the restaurant. For our fiscal years ended October 3, 2020 and September 28, 2019,
we generated $150,000 and $375,000 of revenue, respectively from providing these management services.
Operations and Management
We emphasize systematic
operations and control of all package liquor stores and restaurants regardless of whether we own, franchise or manage the unit.
Each unit has its own manager who is responsible for monitoring inventory levels, supervising sales personnel, food preparation
and service in restaurants and generally assuring that the unit is managed in accordance with our guidelines and procedures. We
have in effect an incentive cash bonus program for our managers and salespersons based upon various performance criteria. Our operations
are supervised by supervisors, who visit units to provide on-site management and support. There are three supervisors responsible
for package liquor store operations and five supervisors responsible for restaurant operations.
All of our managers and
salespersons receive extensive training in sales techniques. We arrange for independent third parties, or "shoppers",
to inspect each unit in order to evaluate the unit's operations, including the handling of cash transactions.
Purchasing and Inventory
The package liquor business
requires a constant substantial capital investment in inventory in the units. Our inventory consists primarily of liquor and wine
products and as such, does not become excessive or obsolete that would require identifying and recording of the same. Liquor inventory
purchased can normally be returned only if defective or broken.
All of our purchases of
liquor inventory are made through our purchasing department from our corporate headquarters. The major portion of inventory is
purchased under individual purchase orders with licensed wholesalers and distributors who deliver the merchandise within one or
two days of the placing of an order. Frequently there is only one wholesaler in the immediate marketing area with an exclusive
distributorship of certain liquor product lines. Substantially all of our liquor inventory is shipped by the wholesalers or distributors
directly to our stores. We significantly increase our inventory prior to Christmas, New Year's Eve and other holidays. Under Florida
law, we are required to pay for our liquor purchases within ten days of delivery.
Negotiations with food
suppliers are conducted by our purchasing department at our corporate headquarters. We believe this ensures that the best quality
and prices will be available to each restaurant. Orders for food products are prepared by each restaurant's kitchen manager and
reviewed by the restaurant's general manager before orders are placed. Food is delivered by the supplier directly to each restaurant.
Orders are placed several times a week to ensure product freshness. Food inventory is primarily paid for monthly.
Government Regulation
Our operations are subject
to various federal, state and local laws affecting our business. In particular, our operations are subject to regulation by federal
agencies and to licensing and regulation by state and local health, sanitation, alcoholic beverage control, safety and fire department
agencies in the state or municipality where our units are located.
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Alcoholic beverage control
regulations require each of our restaurants and package liquor stores to obtain a license to sell alcoholic beverages from a state
authority and in certain locations, county and municipal authorities.
In Florida, where all of
our restaurants and package liquor stores are located, most of our liquor licenses are issued on a "quota license" basis.
Quota licenses are issued on the basis of a population count established from time to time under the latest applicable census.
Because the total number of liquor licenses available under a quota license system is limited and restrictions are placed upon
their transfer, the licenses have purchase and resale value based upon supply and demand in the particular areas in which they
are issued. The quota licenses held by us allow the sale of liquor for on and off premises consumption. The other liquor licenses
held by us or limited partnerships of which we are the general partner, are restaurant liquor licenses, which do not have quota
restrictions or purchase or resale value. A restaurant liquor license is issued to every applicant who meets all of the state and
local licensing requirements, including, but not limited to zoning and minimum restaurant size, seating and menu. The restaurant
liquor licenses held by us allow the sale of liquor for on premises consumption only.
All licenses must be renewed
annually and may be revoked or suspended for cause at any time. Suspension or revocation may result from violation by the licensee
or its employees of any federal, state or local law regulation pertaining to alcoholic beverage control. Alcoholic beverage control
regulations relate to numerous aspects of the daily operations of our units, including, minimum age of patrons and employees, hours
of operations, advertising, wholesale purchasing, inventory control, handling, storage and dispensing of alcoholic beverages, internal
control and accounting.
As the sale of alcoholic
beverages constitutes a large share of our revenue, the failure to receive or retain, or a delay in obtaining a liquor license
in a particular location could adversely affect our operations in that location and could impair our ability to obtain licenses
elsewhere.
During our fiscal years
2020 and 2019, no significant pending matters have been initiated concerning any of our licenses which might be expected to result
in a revocation of a liquor license or other significant actions against us.
We are subject to “dram-shop”
statutes due to our restaurant operations. These statutes generally provide a person injured by an intoxicated person the right
to recover damages from an establishment that wrongfully served alcoholic beverages to the intoxicated individual. We carry liquor
liability coverage as part of our existing comprehensive general liability insurance, which we believe is consistent with coverage
carried by other entities in the restaurant industry. Although we are covered by insurance, a judgment against us under a dram-shop
statute in excess of our liability coverage could have a material adverse effect on us.
Our operations are also
subject to federal and state laws governing such matters as wages, working conditions, citizenship requirements and overtime. Significant
numbers of hourly personnel at our restaurants are paid at rates related to the federal or Florida minimum wage, whichever is higher,
and accordingly, increases in the minimum wage will increase labor costs. We are also subject to the Americans with Disability
Act of 1990 (ADA), which, among other things, may require certain renovations to our restaurants to meet federally mandated requirements.
The cost of any such renovations is not expected to materially affect us.
We are not aware of any
statute, ordinance, rule or regulation under present consideration which would significantly limit or restrict our business as
now conducted. However, in view of the number of jurisdictions in which we conduct business, and the highly regulated nature of
the liquor business, there can be no assurance that additional limitations may not be imposed in the future, even though none are
presently anticipated.
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Coronavirus Pandemic
In March 2020, a novel
strain of coronavirus was declared a global pandemic and a National Public Health Emergency. The novel coronavirus pandemic and
related “shelter-in-place” orders and other governmental mandates relating thereto (collectively, “COVID-19”)
adversely affected and will, in all likelihood continue to adversely affect, our restaurant operations and financial results for
the foreseeable future. Due to COVID-19, from mid-March 2020 through mid-May 2020, we ceased all dining and bar services at all
of our restaurants, limiting service to take-out and delivery only of food, and implemented reduced hours at our retail package
liquor stores. From mid-May 2020 through the beginning of July 2020, there was a gradual elimination of restrictions on our restaurant
operations, permitting us to, among other things, provide dining for outdoor seating patrons with appropriate social distancing
and provide dining for indoor patrons at up to 50% capacity (depending on the location of the restaurant), but with no bar service
and increased operating hours at our package liquor stores. From the beginning of July 2020 through the beginning of September
2020, we ceased dine-in service at all of our Miami-Dade County, Florida restaurants, (two Company-owned and six limited partnership
owned restaurants). Since the beginning of September 2020, we have been offering both food and bar options at all of our restaurants,
including those located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, with appropriate social distancing and dine-in
service at up to 100% capacity, including outdoor seating.
Due to COVID-19, we implemented
(i) certain cost cutting measures including material layoffs at our restaurants and reduced corporate personnel salaries; and (ii)
a number of changes to our operations such as the establishment of an in-house delivery service and an adjustment to our traditional
staffing model to meet customer demand. We have been in regular contact with our suppliers and while to date we have not experienced
significant disruptions in our supply chain, we could see future disruptions should the impacts of COVID-19 extend for a considerable
amount of time. To support our employees, we have implemented work from home support, increased sanitization of high touch, high
traffic areas in our restaurants, retail package liquor stores and corporate offices, provided personal protective equipment for
our employees and increased the frequency of personal hygiene practices. From March 29, 2020 through May 9, 2020, the salaries
of all our non-executive corporate office personnel were reduced by 20%, the base salaries of our Chief Operating Officer and Chief
Financial Officer were each reduced by 50% and our Chief Executive Officer waived his base salary, representing salary savings
of approximately $135,000 during this period. Our employee headcount as of fiscal year end 2020 was 1,804 persons reduced from
1,870 persons as of our fiscal year end 2019.
In addition and also due to COVID-19, we did not make any
quarterly distributions to our limited partners for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. For each of the quarters ended June 30, 2020
and September 30, 2020, we made quarterly distributions to our limited partners equal to one-half (1⁄2) of the amounts that
would have been distributed for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
During the third quarter
of fiscal year end 2020, the United States government passed a $2.0 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act
(“CARES Act”) designed primarily to help keep businesses running during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES
Act included provisions for certain deductions and tax credits, filing deadline extensions, filing payment deadlines and making
available certain grant money to assist businesses. This CARES ACT allowed us to take advantage of credits, deferments, and deductions,
and PPP Loans (described below) during the third quarter of our fiscal year 2020. As a result, during the third and fourth quarter
of 2020, we reversed certain of our cost cutting measures, including (i) reinstating employees laid off at our restaurants in anticipation
of resuming dine-in service, (ii) restoring corporate personnel and executive salaries and (iii) paying prior salary reductions.
During the third quarter
of our fiscal year 2020, we, certain of the entities owning the limited partnership stores (the “LP’s”), franchised
stores (the “Franchisees”) as well as the store we manage but do not own (the “Managed Store”), (collectively,
the “Borrowers”), applied for and received loans from an unrelated third party lender pursuant to the Paycheck Protection
Program (the “PPP”) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) enacted
March 27, 2020, in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $13.1 million, (the “PPP Loans”), of which approximately:
(i) $5.9 million was loaned to us; (ii) $4.1 million was loaned to 8 of the LP’s; (iii) $2.6 million was loaned to 5 of the
Franchisees; and (iv) $0.5 million was loaned to the Managed Store. The PPP Loans to the Franchisees and the Managed Store are
not included in our consolidated financial statements. Due to our receipt of the PPP Loans, we reversed certain cost cutting measures,
including reinstating employees laid off at our restaurants in anticipation of resuming dine-in service and restoring corporate
personnel salaries.
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The PPP Loans,
which are in the form of Notes issued by each of the Borrowers, mature two years from the date of funding (dates ranging from
May 5, 2022 to May 11, 2022) and bear interest at a rate of 1.00% per annum, payable monthly commencing approximately six
months from the date of issuance of the Notes (issuance dates ranging from April 30, 2020 to May 6, 2020). The Notes may be
prepaid by the applicable Borrower at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. Proceeds from the PPP Loans
have been used and are available to the respective Borrower to fund designated expenses, including certain payroll costs,
group health care benefits and other permitted expenses, including rent and interest on mortgages and other debt obligations
incurred before February 15, 2020. Under the terms of the PPP, up to the entire amount of principal and accrued interest may
be forgiven to the extent the proceeds of the PPP Loans are used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act and
applicable implementing guidance issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration under the PPP. No assurance can be given
that the Borrowers will obtain forgiveness of the PPP Loans in whole or in part.
With respect to any portion
of any of the PPP Loans that is not forgiven under the terms of the PPP, such amounts will be subject to customary provisions for
a loan of this type, including customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breaches of the provisions
of the applicable PPP Note and cross-defaults on any other loan with the Lender or other creditors.
We do not believe COVID-19
has had a material adverse effect on our access to supplies or labor, although there can be no assurance that there will not be
a significant adverse impact on our supply chain or access to labor in the future. We are actively monitoring our food suppliers
to assess how they are managing their operations to mitigate supply flow and food safety risks. To ensure we mitigate potential
supply availability risk, we are building additional inventory back stock levels when appropriate and we have also identified alternative
supply sources in key product categories including but not limited to food, sanitation and safety supplies.
Prior to obtaining the
PPP Loans, we were in compliance with the financial covenants contained in our loans with our unrelated third party institutional
lender (the “Institutional Lender”) under which as of October 3, 2020, we owe in the aggregate, approximately $12,209,000
(the “Institutional Loans”). We determined that as of the end of the third quarter of our fiscal year 2020, we were
not in compliance with our financial covenants contained in the Institutional Loans related to the Rent Adjusted Funded Debt to
EBITDA Ratio because our consolidated debt during the third quarter of our fiscal year 2020 increased due to our repayment obligations
under the PPP Loans (the “Covenant Breach’). Pursuant to the terms of the Institutional Loans, the Covenant Breach,
grants the Institutional Lender the right to exercise certain remedies under the Institutional Loans, including the right to accelerate
the indebtedness owed by us to the Institutional Lender thereunder. On August 10, 2020, we received a written waiver of the Covenant
Breach from the Institutional Lender, which, among other things, waives the Covenant Breach through June 30, 2021. As of October
3, 2020, we are in compliance with the financial covenants contained in our loans with our Institutional Lender.
There can be no assurances
that we will be in compliance with our financial covenants thereafter due to, among other things, that our results of operations
will likely continue to be materially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Absent a waiver, failure to be in compliance with our
financial covenants would constitute a default under the Institutional Loans with our Institutional Lender when reported. Such
a default, if not cured or waived, would allow the Institutional Lender to accelerate the maturity of the indebtedness we owe under
the Institutional Loans, making it due and payable at the time. If maturity of the Institutional Loans were accelerated, it would
have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial statements and results of operations.
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General Liability Insurance
We have general
liability insurance which incorporates a deductible of $10,000 per occurrence for both us and the limited partnerships. Our
insurance carrier is responsible for $1,000,000 coverage per occurrence above our deductible, up to a maximum aggregate of
$2,000,000 per year. During our fiscal year 2020, we were able to purchase excess liability insurance at a reasonable
premium, whereby our excess insurance carrier is responsible for $10,000,000 coverage above our primary general liability
insurance coverage. We are uninsured against liability claims in excess of $11,000,000 per occurrence and in the aggregate.
Subsequent to the end of our fiscal year 2020, we secured general liability and excess liability insurance for the period
commencing after the expiration of the current policies on December 30, 2020.
Our general policy is to
settle only those legitimate and reasonable claims asserted and to aggressively defend and go to trial, if necessary, on frivolous
and unreasonable claims. Under our current liability insurance policy, certain expenses incurred in defending a claim, including
attorney's fees, are a part of our $10,000 deductible.
In accordance with accounting
guidance, we accrue for any liability by recognizing costs when it is probable that a covered liability has been incurred and the
cost can be reasonably estimated. Accordingly, our annual insurance costs may be subject to adjustment from previous estimates
as facts and circumstances change. Our accruals are included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets in the caption "Accounts
payable and accrued expenses". A significant unfavorable judgment or settlement against us in excess of our liability insurance
coverage could have a materially adverse effect on the Company.
Property Insurance; Windstorm Insurance;
Deductibles
For the policy year
beginning December 30, 2019, our property insurance is a one (1) year policy with an unaffiliated third party insurance
carrier, including coverage for properties leased by us and our consolidated limited partnerships, and provides for full
insurance coverage for property losses, including those caused by windstorm, such as a hurricane. For property losses caused
by windstorm, the property insurance has a fixed deductible of $100,000, plus 5% of all insured losses, per occurrence. For
all other property losses, the property insurance has deductibles of $10,000 per location, per occurrence. Subsequent to the
end of our fiscal year 2020, we secured property insurance for the period commencing after the expiration of the current
policy on December 30, 2020.
Competition and the Company's Market
The liquor and hospitality
industries are highly competitive and are often affected by changes in taste and entertainment trends among the public, by local,
national and economic conditions affecting spending habits, and by population and traffic patterns. We believe that the principal
means of competition among package liquor stores is price and that, in general, the principal means of competition among restaurants
include the location, type and quality of facilities and the type, quality and price of beverage and food served.
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Our package liquor stores
compete directly or indirectly with local retailers and discount "superstores". Due to the competitive nature of the
liquor industry in South Florida, we have had to adjust our pricing to stay competitive, including meeting all competitors’
advertisements. Such practices will continue in the package liquor business. We believe that we have a competitive position in
our market because of widespread consumer recognition of the "Big Daddy's Liquors" name.
Our restaurants compete
directly or indirectly with many well-established competitors, both nationally and locally owned. In June 2019, we increased certain
menu prices for our bar offerings to target an increase to our total bar revenues of approximately 6.2% annually and we also increased
certain restaurant menu prices for our food offerings to target an increase to our total food revenues of approximately 3.4% annually.
We believe that we have a competitive position in our market because of widespread consumer recognition of the "Flanigan’s
Seafood Bar and Grill" name.
We have many well-established
competitors, both nationally and locally owned, with substantially greater financial resources than we do. Their resources and
market presence may provide advantages in marketing, purchasing and negotiating leases. We compete with other restaurant and retail
establishments for sites and finding management personnel.
Our business is subject
to seasonal effects, including that liquor purchases tend to increase during the holiday seasons.
Trade Names
We operate our package
liquor stores and restaurants under two service marks; "Big Daddy's Liquors" and "Flanigan's Seafood Bar and Grill",
both of which are federally registered trademarks owned by us. Our right to the use of the "Big Daddy's" service mark
is set forth under a consent decree of a federal court entered into by us in settlement of federal trademark litigation. The consent
decree and the settlement agreement allow us to continue to use and to expand our use of the "Big Daddy's” service mark
in connection with our package liquor sales in Florida, while restricting future liquor sales in Florida under the "Big Daddy's"
name by the other party who has a federally registered service mark for "Big Daddy's" use in the restaurant business.
The federal court retained jurisdiction to enforce the consent decree. We have acquired registered Federal trademarks on the principal
register for our "Flanigan's" and “Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill” service marks.
The standard symbolic trademark
associated with our facilities and operations is the bearded face and head of "Big Daddy" which is predominantly displayed
at all "Flanigan's" facilities and all "Big Daddy's" facilities throughout the country. The face comprising
this trademark is that of the Company’s founder, Joseph "Big Daddy" Flanigan, and is a federally registered trademark
owned by us.
Employees
As of our fiscal year end
2020, we employed 1,804 persons, of which 952 were full-time and 852 were part-time. Of these, 51 were employed at our corporate
offices in administrative capacities and 13 were employed in maintenance. Of the remaining employees, 65 were employed in our package
liquor stores and 1,675 in our restaurants.
None of our employees are
represented by collective bargaining organizations. We consider our labor relations to be favorable.
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Executive Officers
Name Positions and Offices Currently Held Age Office or Position Held Since
August Bucci Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President 76 2002
Jeffrey D. Kastner Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel and Secretary 67 (2)
Christopher O’Neil Vice President of Package Operations 55 2016
----------------
(1) Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer
since 2005; President since 2002.
(2) Chief Financial Officer since 2004; Secretary since 1995; and
General Counsel since 1982.
Flanigan’s 401(k) Plan
Effective July 1, 2004,
we began sponsoring a 401(k) retirement plan covering substantially all employees who meet certain eligibility requirements. Employees
may contribute elective deferrals to the plan up to amounts allowed under the Internal Revenue Code. We are not required to contribute
to the plan but may make discretionary profit sharing and/or matching contributions. During our fiscal years ended October 3, 2020
and September 28, 2019, the Board of Directors approved discretionary matching contributions totaling $81,000 and $74,000, respectively.
Environmental Matters
We are not aware of any
federal, state or local environmental laws or regulations that will materially affect our earnings or competitive position or result
in material capital expenditures. However, we cannot predict the effect of possible future environmental legislation or regulations
on our operations.
Our Website
Our website address is
https://www.flanigans.net
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common
stock involves a high degree of risk. These risks should be considered carefully with the uncertainties described below, and all
other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, before deciding whether to purchase our common stock. Additional
risks and uncertainties not currently known to management or that management currently deems immaterial and therefore not referenced
herein, may also become material and may harm our business, financial condition or results of operations. The occurrence of any
of the following risks could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. The trading price of our common
stock could decline due to any of these risks and uncertainties and you may lose part or all of your investment.
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Certain statements in this
report contain forward-looking information. In general, forward-looking statements include estimates of future revenues, cash flow,
capital expenditures, or other financial items and assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements reflect
management’s current expectations regarding future events and use words such as “anticipate”, “believe”,
“expect”, “may”, “will” and other similar terminology. These statements speak only as of the
date they were made and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed in the forward-looking statements. Several factors, many beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially
from management’s expectations. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and we cannot predict when they may
arise or how they may affect us. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this report
as a result of new information, future events or other developments, except as required by applicable laws and regulations.
The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Pandemic Has Had A Significant Impact On Our Operations Since March 2020 And Could Materially And Adversely Affect Our Future Business
And Financial Results.
The
global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19 virus) has and will continue to materially and adversely affect our restaurant
business for what may be a prolonged period of time. This damage and disruption has resulted from events and factors that were
impossible for us to predict and are beyond our control. In the United States, as well as globally, individuals are being encouraged
to practice social distancing, restricted from gathering in groups, and in some areas are restricted from non-essential movements
outside of their homes. In compliance with government directives from time to time, we temporarily (i) shifted our restaurant
operations to a take-out or delivery only operating model; (ii) reduced the operating hours of our retail package stores; (iii)
laid off a significant number of employees; and (iv) substantially modified our corporate operations to comply with social distancing
requirements. As a result, and despite experiencing increased sales and traffic at certain of our retail package liquor stores,
these changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic materially adversely affected our results of operations for our fiscal year 2020
and will, in all likelihood, impact our results of operations, liquidity and/or financial condition for our fiscal year 2021, particularly
if further government directives are put in place for a significant amount of time.
The
COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the economy in general, globally, nationally and locally, could also adversely affect our guests’
financial condition, resulting in reduced spending at our restaurants and package liquor stores. The COVID-19 pandemic and these
responses have affected and will continue to adversely affect our guest traffic, sales and operating costs and we cannot predict
how long the pandemic will last or what other government responses may occur. Moreover, once restrictions are lifted, it is unclear
whether guests will be comfortable dining out and, if so, how quickly guests will return to our restaurants, which may be a function
of continued concerns over safety and/or depressed consumer sentiment due to adverse economic conditions, including job losses,
and other factors that are beyond our control. Any failure of consumers to return to pre-pandemic dining patterns could have a
long-term material adverse impact on us and our future prospects.
The
equity markets in the United States have been extremely volatile due to the COVID-19 pandemic and our stock price has fluctuated
significantly and may continue to do so. If the business interruptions caused by COVID-19 continue indefinitely or last longer
than we expect, we may need to seek other sources of liquidity. The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant disruption and extreme
volatility in global capital markets and is adversely affecting the availability of liquidity generally in the credit markets,
and there can be no guarantee that additional liquidity will be readily available on favorable terms, especially the longer the
COVID-19 pandemic lasts, or available at all. In the second quarter of fiscal 2020, our Board of Directors voted to cancel a previously
declared cash dividend due to uncertainty surrounding the duration of closures of our dining rooms and other restrictions mandated
by state and local governments in response to COVID-19. Additionally, certain of our restaurants have been further disrupted when
an employee has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or exposed to a person with a confirmed positive diagnosis of COVID-19. In the event
an employee has been diagnosed with COVID-19, our policy requires quarantine of some or all of a restaurant’s or store’s
employees and disinfection of the restaurant or store facilities. Additionally, if an employee has direct contact with a friend
or family member with a confirmed positive diagnosis of COVID-19, such employee must exclude himself or herself from work for a
certain period of time. If a significant percentage of our workforce is unable to work, whether because of illness, quarantine,
limitations on travel or other government restrictions in connection with COVID-19, our operations will be negatively impacted,
potentially materially adversely affecting our liquidity, financial condition or results of operations. If an outbreak is traced
to one or more of our locations, it could impact our reputation and subject us to legal claims.
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We
have not experienced any significant issues related to suppliers; however, our suppliers could be adversely impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic. If our suppliers’ employees are unable to work, whether because of illness, quarantine, limitations on travel or
other government restrictions in connection with COVID-19, or if the supply chain is disrupted for any other reason such as travel
limitations and other restrictions on commerce, we could face shortages of food items or other supplies at our restaurants and
our operations and sales could be adversely impacted by such supply interruptions.
Considering
the significant uncertainty as to our ability to increase sales to levels we achieved before the COVID-19 pandemic based on aforementioned
uncertainties and other known and unknown risks related to the pandemic, refer to Part I, Item 1 – Business, Part II, Item
7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discussions on Liquidity for further
information. Additionally, the impact of COVID-19, and the volatile regional and global economic conditions stemming from the pandemic,
may also precipitate or exacerbate other risks discussed in this Item 1A - Risk Factors and elsewhere in this report, any of which
could have a material effect on us. This situation is changing rapidly and additional effects may arise that we are not presently
aware of or that we currently do not consider to present significant risks to our operations. If we are not able to respond to
and manage the impact of such events effectively, our business and financial condition will be negatively impacted.
Our Sales and Profit Growth Could
Be Adversely Affected If Comparable Restaurant Sales Increases Are Less Than We Expect, and We May Not Successfully Increase Comparable
Restaurant Sales or They May Decrease.
While future sales
growth will depend substantially on our opening new restaurants, changes in comparable restaurant sales (which represent the change
in period-over-period sales for restaurants) will also affect our sales growth and will continue to be a critical factor affecting
profit growth. This is because the profit margin on comparable restaurant sales is generally higher, as comparable restaurant sales
increases enable fixed costs to be spread over a higher sales base. Conversely, declines in comparable restaurant sales can have
a significant adverse effect on profitability due to the loss of the positive impact on profit margins associated with comparable
restaurant sales increases. There is no assurance that comparable restaurant sales will increase in fiscal year 2021 due to, among
other things, ongoing consumer and economic uncertainty.
Our ability to increase
comparable restaurant sales depends on many factors, including:
· perceptions of the Flanigan’s brand;
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· changes in consumer preferences and discretionary spending;
As a result it
is possible that we will not achieve our targeted comparable restaurant sales or that the change in comparable restaurant sales
could be negative. A number of these factors are beyond our control and therefore we cannot assure that we will be able to sustain
comparable restaurant sales increases.
High Unemployment, Instability in the
Housing Market, High Energy and Food Costs and General Economic Uncertainty Could Result in a Decline in Consumer Discretionary
Spending That Would Materially Affect our Financial Performance.
Dining out is a discretionary
expense. Factors that affect consumer behavior and spending for restaurant dining, such as changes in general economic conditions
(including national, regional and local economic conditions), discretionary spending patterns, employment levels, instability in
the housing market, and high energy and food costs may have a material adverse effect on us. If economic conditions worsen, our
financial performance could be adversely affected.
Intense Competition In The Restaurant And Package Liquor Store
Industry Could Prevent Us From Increasing Or Sustaining Our Revenues And Profitability.