HFFG · Read the filing

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION ANDANALYSISOF FINANCIAL CONDITION ANDRESULTSOF OPERATIONS.

The following discussion and analysis provides information about our business, the results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and capital resources of HF Foods Group Inc. This information is intended to facilitate the understanding and assessment of significant changes and trends related to our results of operations and financial condition. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes presented elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Discussions of 2020 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2021 and 2020 that are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K can be found in "Part II - Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on January 31, 2023.

Overview

We market and distribute Asian specialty food products, seafood, fresh produce, frozen and dry food, and non-food products primarily to Asian restaurants and other foodservice customers throughout the United States. HF Group was formed through a merger between two complementary market leaders, HF Foods Group Inc. and B&R Global.

On December 30, 2021, HF Group acquired a leading seafood supplier, the Great Wall Group, resulting in the addition of 3 distribution centers, located in Illinois and Texas (the “Great Wall Acquisition”).

On April 29, 2022, HF Group acquired substantially all of the assets of Sealand Food, Inc. (the "Sealand Acquisition"), one of the largest frozen seafood suppliers servicing the Asian/Chinese restaurant market along the eastern seaboard, from Massachusetts to Florida, as well as Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. See Note 8 - Acquisitions to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding recent acquisitions.

We have grown our distribution network to 18 distribution centers servicing 46 states and covering approximately 95% of the contiguous United States with a fleet of over 400 refrigerated vehicles. Capitalizing on our deep understanding of the Chinese culture, with over 1,000 employees and subcontractors and supported by two call centers in China, we have become a trusted partner serving over 15,000 Asian restaurants, providing sales and service support to customers who mainly converse in Mandarin or other Chinese dialects. We are dedicated to serving the vast array of Asian and Chinese restaurants in need of high-quality and specialized food ingredients at competitive prices.

COVID-19 Impact

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operational results in 2020. All states across the country issued some form of stay-at-home orders, shutdowns, voluntary containment measures, and social distancing. The operations of our restaurant customers were also severely disrupted due to the significant decline in consumer demand for food away from home. The government mandates forced many of our restaurant customers to temporarily close or convert to take-out or delivery-only operations. As a result, there was a significant decline in net revenue beginning from the last two weeks of March 2020 through September 2020, negatively impacting our overall financial results in 2020. Since the third quarter of 2020, we've experienced a quarter-on-quarter recovery in net revenue.

The impact of COVID-19 seen in 2020 has generally subsided. Our net revenue for 2021 strongly recovered to 96% of pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels and net revenue for 2022 increased 47% as compared to 2021. Based on current sales volumes and adjusted cost structures, we continue to generate positive operating cash flow on a weekly basis and do not have immediate liquidity concerns. We remain optimistic on the long-term prospects for our business although we may continue to face intermittent government restrictions on our restaurant customers' business operations.

As a market leader in servicing the Asian/Chinese restaurant sector, we believe that we are well-positioned for long-term success. The fragmented nature of the Asian/Chinese foodservice industry and the environment during COVID-19 created opportunities for a company with the necessary expertise and a comprehensive cultural understanding of this unique customer base. We believe we are differentiated from our competitors given our extensive footprint, strong vendor and customer relationships, and value-added service offerings, all of which have allowed and will continue to allow us to better serve our customers.

How to Assess HF Group’s Performance

In assessing our performance, we consider a variety of performance and financial measures, including principal growth in net revenue, gross profit, distribution, selling and administrative expenses, as well as certain non-GAAP financial measures, including EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. The key measures that we use to evaluate the performance of our business are set forth below:

Net Revenue

Net revenue is equal to gross sales minus sales returns, sales incentives that we offer to our customers, such as rebates and discounts that are offsets to gross sales; and certain other adjustments. Our net revenue is driven by changes in number of customers and average customer order amount, product inflation that is reflected in the pricing of our products and mix of products sold.

Gross Profit

Gross profit is equal to net revenue minus cost of revenue. Cost of revenue primarily includes inventory costs (net of supplier consideration), inbound freight, customs clearance fees and other miscellaneous expenses. Cost of revenue generally changes as we incur higher or lower costs from suppliers and as the customer and product mix changes.

Distribution, Selling and Administrative Expenses

Distribution, selling and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, stock-based compensation and benefits for employees and contract laborers, trucking and fuel expenses, utilities, maintenance and repair expenses, insurance expenses, depreciation and amortization expenses, selling and marketing expenses, professional fees and other operating expenses.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

Discussion of our results includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, including EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, that we believe provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing our financial performance with other companies in the same industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in order to provide supplemental information that we consider relevant for the readers of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report, and such information is not meant to replace or supersede GAAP measures.

Management uses EBITDA to measure operating performance, defined as net income before interest expense, interest income, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. In addition, management uses Adjusted EBITDA, defined as net income before interest expense, interest income, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude certain unusual, non-cash, or non-recurring expenses. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is less susceptible to variances in actual performance resulting from non-recurring expenses, and other non-cash charges and is more reflective of other factors that affect our operating performance.

The definition of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies in the industry. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not defined under GAAP and are subject to important limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of HF Group’s results as reported under GAAP. For example, Adjusted EBITDA:

•excludes certain tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available;

•does not reflect any cash capital expenditure requirements for the assets being depreciated and amortized that may have to be replaced in the future;

•does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; and

•does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements, necessary to service our debt.

For additional information on EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, see the section entitled “EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA” below.

Financial Review

Highlights for 2022 included:

•Net revenue: Net revenue was $1,170.5 million in 2022, compared to $796.9 million in 2021, an increase of $373.6 million, or 46.9%. This increase was primarily attributable to recent acquisitions, product cost inflation, and, to a lesser extent, the strong recovery of restaurant demand from the COVID-19 pandemic.

•Gross profit: Gross profit was $205.5 million in 2022 compared to $151.5 million in 2021, an increase of $54.0 million, or 35.6%. The increase was primarily attributable to the additional revenue generated due to recent acquisitions. Gross profit margin for 2022 decreased from 19.0% in 2021 to 17.6% in 2022.

•Distribution, selling and administrative expenses: Distribution, selling and administrative expenses increased by $72.9 million, or 59.8%, mainly due to an increase in payroll and related labor costs and sales related cost, driven by net revenue growth and recent acquisitions, along with increased professional fees and delivery costs. Distribution, selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenue increased from 15.3% in 2021 to 16.7% in 2022, primarily due to the costs disclosed above partially offset by strong revenue growth.

•Net income attributable to HF Foods Group Inc.: Net income was $0.5 million in 2022 compared to net income of $22.1 million in 2021. The decrease of $21.6 million was driven by the decrease in gross profit margin and the increase in distribution, selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenue.

•Sealand Acquisition: On April 29, 2022, we acquired substantially all of the operating assets of Sealand Food, Inc. ("Sealand") including equipment, machinery and vehicles for an aggregate purchase price of $20.0 million in cash, as well as $14.4 million of acquired saleable inventory and additional fixed assets for approximately $0.5 million. The acquisition was completed to expand our territory along the East Coast, from Massachusetts to Florida, as well as Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2022and 2021. The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period.

Year Ended December 31, Change

Change in fair value of interest rate swap contracts (817) (1,425) 608 (42.7)%

The following table sets forth the components of our consolidated results of operations expressed as a percentage of net revenue for the periods indicated:

Year Ended December 31,

Distribution, selling and administrative expenses 16.7 % 15.3 %

Income (loss) from operations 0.9 % 3.7 %

Interest expense (0.6) % (0.5) %

Other income, net 0.2 % — %

Change in fair value of interest rate swap contracts 0.1 % 0.2 %

Lease guarantee expense (0.5) % — %

Income before income tax provision — % 3.4 %

Income tax (benefit) provision — % 0.5 %

Net income — % 2.9 %

Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests — % 0.1 %

Net Revenue

Net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $373.6 million or 46.9% compared to the same period in 2021. The increase was primarily due to the additional revenue generated by recent acquisitions and overall product cost inflation. Organic growth contributed $121.1 million and recent acquisitions, which shifted our product mix to higher Seafood sales compared to the same period in 2021, contributed the remaining $252.5 million.

Gross Profit

Gross profit was $205.5 million for 2022 compared to $151.5 million in the prior year, an increase of $54.0 million, or 35.6%. The increase was primarily attributable to the additional revenue generated due to recent acquisitions. Gross profit margin for 2022 decreased from 19.0% in 2021 to 17.6% in 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to the shift in product mix to higher Seafood sales, increases in fuel costs, incremental lower margin sales from newly acquired customers, timing of inventory purchases, higher than expected fluctuations in key commodity pricing and a higher-than-normal gross profit margin in the prior year due to our strong sales recovery to above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels in 2021.

Distribution, Selling and Administrative Expenses

Distribution, selling and administrative expenses increased by $72.9 million, or 60%, primarily due to an increase of $28.8 million in payroll and related labor costs, inclusive of the additional costs due to recent acquisitions, increased professional fees of $14.1 million, from $12.7 million in 2021 to $26.8 million in 2022, primarily driven by legal costs and increased compliance costs as a result of (a) the SEC and SIC investigations and (b) responding to an SEC comment letter and the filing of our delinquent reports, as well as an $8.4 million increase in sales-related costs driven by revenue growth and recent acquisitions. Distribution, selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenue increased to 16.7% in 2022 from 15.3% in 2021 primarily due to higher professional fees and increased headcount.

Interest Expense and Bank Charges

Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $3.4 million or 82.3%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to higher utilization of our line of credit coupled with the higher interest-rate environment, and, to a lesser extent, the increase of $46.0 million to our mortgage-secured term loan. Our average daily line of credit balance increased by $38.5 million, or 233.1%, to $55.0 million in 2022 from $16.5 million in 2021, and our average daily real estate term loan balance increased by $42.2 million, or 59.3%, to $113.4 million in 2022 from $71.2 million in 2021. Additionally, average floating interest rates for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by approximately 1.64% on the line of credit and 2.26% on the mortgage-secured term loan, compared to the same period in 2021, which further contributed to higher interest expense.

Income Tax (Benefit) Provision

Income tax (benefit) provision was an income tax benefit of $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to income tax provision of $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to decreased income before taxes.

Net Income Attributable to Our Shareholders

Net income attributable to our shareholders was $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $22.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The decrease of $21.7 million, or 97.9%, is primarily due to the distribution, selling, and administrative costs and interest expense described above, partially offset by our strong business recovery to above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. In addition, we recorded a non-recurring charge of $5.7 million related to a guarantee of a lease obligation.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

The following table reconciles EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure:

Year Ended December 31, Change

Change in fair value of interest rate swap contracts (817) (1,425) 608 (42.7)%

Adjusted EBITDA margin 3.4 % 6.4 %

Adjusted EBITDA was $40.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, a decrease of $10.7 million or 21.1%, compared to $50.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 3.4% for the year ended December 31, 2022 from 6.4% in the prior year. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA margin was primarily attributable to a 150 basis point decrease in gross profit and a 130 bps increase in distribution, selling and administrative expenses.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2022, we had cash of approximately $24.3 million, checks issued not presented for payment of $21.9 million and access to approximately $46.9 million in additional funds through our $100.0 million line of credit, subject to a borrowing base calculation. We have funded working capital and other capital requirements primarily by cash flow from operations and bank loans. Cash is required to pay purchase costs for inventory, salaries, fuel and trucking expenses, selling expenses, rental expenses, income taxes, other operating expenses and to service debts.

Based on current sales volume, which has been increasing steadily quarter-on-quarter since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the first half of 2020, we believe that our cash flow generated from operations is sufficient to meet our normal working capital needs for at least the next twelve months. However, our ability to repay our current obligations will depend on the future realization of our current assets. Management has considered the historical experience, the economy, the trends in the foodservice distribution industry to determine the expected collectability of accounts receivable and the realization of inventories as of December 31, 2022.

On March 31, 2022, we amended the Credit Agreement with J.P. Morgan extending our line of credit for five years. The amendment provided for a $100.0 million asset-secured revolving credit facility with a 1-month SOFR plus a credit adjustment of 0.1% plus 1.375% per annum, as well as an increase to our mortgage-secured term loan from $69.0 million to $115.0 million. In April of 2022, the $46.0 million increase to the mortgage-secured term loan was used to pay down our $100.0 million line of credit. We also received a waiver through January 31, 2023 associated with the timing of our filing of our 2021 audited financial statements. See Note 11 - Debt to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

On April 29, 2022, we completed the Sealand Acquisition for cash consideration of $20.0 million plus approximately $14.4 million of inventory. We financed the Sealand Acquisition through our $100.0 million line of credit.

During the three months ended June 30, 2022, we sold a warehouse to a related party for approximately $7.2 million and used a portion of the proceeds to pay the outstanding balance of our $4.5 million loan with First Horizon Bank. We also paid the remaining $4.5 million of our related party promissory note payable.

Based on the above considerations, management believes we have sufficient funds to meet our working capital requirements and debt obligations in the next twelve months. However, there are a number of factors that could potentially arise which might result in shortfalls in anticipated cash flow, such as the demand for our products, economic conditions, government intervention in response to a potential resurgence of COVID-19, competitive pricing in the foodservice distribution industry, and our bank and suppliers being able to provide continued support. If the future cash flow from operations and other capital resources is insufficient to fund our liquidity needs, we may have to resort to reducing or delaying our expected acquisition plans, liquidating assets, obtaining additional debt or equity capital, or refinancing all or a portion of our debt.

As of December 31, 2022, we have no off balance sheet arrangements that currently have or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

The following table summarizes cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2022and 2021:

Years Ended December 31, Change

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents $ 9,497 $ 5,211 $ 4,286 NM

____________________

NM - Not meaningful

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities consists primarily of net income adjusted for non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization, changes in deferred income taxes and others, and includes the effect of working capital changes. Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $13.8 million, or 78.7%, primarily due to lower working capital requirements in 2022 compared to increased working capital investment as a direct result of higher sales volume and the need for normal inventory level build up post-COVID-19 in 2021.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities increased by $9.7 million, or 23.6%, primarily due to the Sealand Acquisition of $34.9 million and $17.4 million paid for the inventory acquired related to the Great Wall Acquisition in 2022 compared to the Great Wall Acquisition of $37.8 million and $5.0 million paid related to the acquisition of noncontrolling interests in 2021.

Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities increased by $0.2 million, or 0.7%, primarily due to the $46.0 million increase of our mortgage-secured term loan partially offset by the $4.5 million payoff of our related party promissory note payable, the $4.5 million repayment of long-term debt related to a warehouse sale compared to the net impact of $39.0 million on our line of credit from net proceeds of $36.9 million in 2021 to a net repayment of $2.1 million.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. These principles require management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales and expenses, cash flow and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The estimates include, but are not limited to, accounts receivable, impairment of long-lived assets and income taxes. We base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and the actual results, future financial statements will be affected.

We believe that among our significant accounting policies, which are described in Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the following accounting policies involve a greater degree of judgment and complexity. Accordingly, we believe these are the most critical to fully understand and evaluate our financial condition and results of operations.

Business Combinations

We account for our business combinations using the purchase method of accounting in accordance with ASC Topic 805 (“ASC 805”), Business Combinations. The purchase method of accounting requires that the consideration transferred be allocated to the assets, including separately identifiable assets and liabilities we acquired, based on their estimated fair values. The consideration transferred in an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the fair values at the date of exchange of the assets given, liabilities incurred, and equity instruments issued as well as the contingent considerations and all contractual contingencies as of the acquisition date. Identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired or assumed are measured separately at their fair value as of the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any noncontrolling interests. The excess of (i) the total of cost of acquisition, fair value of the noncontrolling interests and acquisition date fair value of any previously held equity interest in the acquiree over, (ii) the fair value of the identifiable net assets of the acquiree, is recorded as goodwill. If the cost of acquisition is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognized directly in earnings.

We estimate the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. While we use our best estimates and assumptions to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, its estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. Significant estimates in valuing certain intangible assets include, but are not limited to future expected revenues and cash flows, useful lives, discount rates, and selection of comparable companies. Although we believe the assumptions and estimates we have made in the past have been reasonable and appropriate, they are based in part on historical experience and information obtained from management of the acquired companies and are inherently uncertain. During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, we may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. On the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in a business combination. We test goodwill for impairment at least annually, as of December 31, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. We have concluded we are one aggregated reporting unit for purposes of testing goodwill for impairment due to similar economic characteristics of our businesses reviewed by our segment manager.

We review the carrying value of goodwill whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that such carrying values may not be recoverable and annually for goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets as required by ASC Topic 350, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other. Factors that may be considered a change in circumstances, indicating that the carrying value of our goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets may not be recoverable, include a decline in stock price and market capitalization, reduced future cash flow estimates and slower growth rates in our industry. This guidance provides the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If, based on a review of qualitative factors, it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, we perform a quantitative analysis. If the quantitative analysis indicates the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, we measure any goodwill impairment losses as the amount by which the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

A quantitative goodwill impairment analysis requires valuation of the respective reporting unit, which requires complex analysis and judgment. We use a combination of discounted cash flow (“DCF”) models and market data, such as earnings-based multiples for comparable companies. DCF models require detailed forecasts of cash flows, including assumptions such as revenue growth rates, margin rates and capital investments, and estimates of weighted-average cost of capital which we believe approximates the rate from a market participant’s perspective. These estimates incorporate many uncertain factors which could be impacted by changes in market conditions, interest rates, growth rate, tax rates, costs, customer behavior, regulatory environment and other macroeconomic changes. We categorize the fair value determination as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy due to its use of internal projections and unobservable measurement inputs.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, we considered the decline of the trading price of our common stock to be a triggering event, performed a quantitative impairment assessment considering expected future cash flows, including consideration of market conditions and expectations of increases in interest rates. We also prepared a comparable company analysis and comparable acquisition analysis and weighted the income approach and market approaches equally to determine fair value. The results of testing as of December 31, 2022, concluded that the estimated fair value exceeded carrying value, and no impairment existed as of that date. In addition, we corroborated the reasonableness of the total fair value of the reporting unit by assessing the implied control premium based on our market capitalization. Our market capitalization is calculated using the number of common shares outstanding and common stock publicly traded price. We also consider the amount of headroom for the reporting unit when determining whether an impairment existed. Headroom is the difference between the fair value of a reporting unit and its carrying value. No goodwill impairment was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2021. See Note 9 - Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.

If, in future periods, the financial performance of the reporting unit does not meet forecasted expectations, or a decline occurs in the market price of our common stock, it may cause a change in the results of the impairment assessment and, as such, could result in an impairment of goodwill.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

We assess our long-lived assets such as property and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Factors which may indicate potential impairment include a significant underperformance related to the historical or projected future operating results or a significant negative industry or economic trend. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparison of their carrying amounts to future undiscounted cash flows which the assets are expected to generate. If property and equipment and intangible assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized equals the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds their fair value.

We impaired our acquired developed technology and recognized impairment expense of $0.4 million in distribution, selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations during the year ended December 31, 2022. We did not record any impairment loss on our long-lived assets during the year ended December 31, 2021.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

Interest Rate Risk

Our debt exposes us to risk of fluctuations in interest rates. Floating rate debt, where the interest rate fluctuates periodically, exposes us to short-term changes in market interest rates. Fixed rate debt, where the interest rate is fixed over the life of the instrument, exposes us to changes in market interest rates reflected in the fair value of the debt and to the risk that we may need to refinance maturing debt with new debt at higher rates. We manage our debt portfolio to achieve an overall desired proportion of fixed and floating rate debts and may employ interest rate swaps as a tool from time to time to achieve that position. To manage our interest rate risk exposure, we entered into three interest rate swap contracts to hedge the floating rate term loans. See Note 10 - Derivative Financial Instruments to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.

As of December 31, 2022, our aggregate floating rate debt’s outstanding principal balance without hedging was $164.8 million, or 94.1% of total debt, consisting of long-term debt and revolving line of credit (see Note 11 - Debt to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K). Our floating rate debt interest is based on the floating 1-month SOFR plus a predetermined credit adjustment rate plus the bank spread. The remaining 5.9% of our debt are on a fixed rate or a floating rate with hedging. In a hypothetical scenario, a 1% change in the applicable rate would cause the interest expense on our floating rate debt to change by approximately $1.6 million per year.

Fuel Price Risk

We are also exposed to fluctuations risk in the price and availability of diesel fuel. We require significant quantities of diesel fuel for our vehicle fleet, and the inbound delivery of the products we sell is also dependent upon shipment by diesel-fueled vehicles. We currently are able to obtain adequate supplies of diesel fuel, and average prices in 2022 increased 52.1%, compared to average prices in 2021. However, it is impossible to predict the future availability or price of diesel fuel. The price and supply of diesel fuel fluctuates based on external factors not within our control, including geopolitical developments, supply and demand for oil and gas, regional production patterns, weather conditions and environmental concerns. Increases in the cost of diesel fuel could increase our cost of goods sold and operating costs to deliver products to our customers.

We do not actively hedge the price fluctuation of diesel fuel in general. Instead, we seek to minimize fuel cost risk through delivery route optimization and fleet utilization improvement.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

HF Foods Group Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Financial Statements

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

Page

Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated Balance Sheets 41

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) 42

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 43

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity 45

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 46

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Shareholders and Board of Directors

HF Foods Group Inc.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of HF Foods Group Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the two years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) and our report dated March 31, 2023 expressed an adverse opinion thereon.

Restatement

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the 2020 financial statements have been restated to correct errors.

We have also audited the adjustments described in Note 1 that were applied to restate the 2020 consolidated financial statements to correct errors. In our opinion, such adjustments are appropriate and have been properly applied. We were not engaged to audit, review, or apply any procedures to the 2020 consolidated financial statements of the Company other than with respect to the adjustments and, accordingly, we do not express any opinion or any other form of assurance on the 2020 consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 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.

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.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Consolidated Financial Statements - Impact of Control Environment and Information Technology General Controls

The completeness and accuracy of the consolidated financial statements, including the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, is dependent on, in part, the Company’s ability to (i) design and maintain an effective control environment, including maintaining a sufficient complement of resources with an appropriate level of controls knowledge and expertise

commensurate with financial reporting requirements, (ii) design and maintain effective information technology general controls for certain information systems relevant to the preparation of the financial statements, including user access controls, program change management controls and computer operations controls, and (iii) journal entries being completely and accurately recorded to the appropriate accounts.

We identified a critical audit matter over the completeness and accuracy of the consolidated financial statements. The ineffective control environment and the ineffective information technology general controls resulted in several material weaknesses. Designing the appropriate procedures and evaluating audit evidence to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the consolidated financial statements, including higher risk areas, with an ineffective control environment and with ineffective information technology general controls, required especially challenging and subjective auditor judgment due to the increased extent of audit effort.

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:

•We applied significant auditor judgment to determine the nature and extent of procedures to be performed over material accounts and or disclosures, including higher risk areas such as revenue, receivables, inventory, and journal entries.

•We increased the number of selections to perform certain audit procedures and lowered the testing thresholds for investigating differences,

•We utilized source documents, including third party support for audit evidence rather than relying on system reports, and

•We evaluated the overall sufficiency of audit evidence obtained based on the procedures performed.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.

Troy, Michigan

March 31, 2023

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

HF Foods Group Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited, before the effects of the adjustments the Company identified during 2022 to restate the financial statements as described in Note 1, the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows of HF Foods Group Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”) (the 2020 financial statements before the effects of the adjustments the Company identified during 2022 to restate the financial statements as described in Note 1 are not presented herein). In our opinion, except for the effects of the adjustments the Company identified during 2022 to restate the financial statements as described in Note 1, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We were not engaged to audit, review or apply any procedures to the adjustments the Company identified during 2022 to restate the financial statements as described in Note 1, accordingly, we do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance about whether such adjustments are appropriate and have been properly applied. Those adjustments were audited by other auditors.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s 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.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

/s/ Friedman LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor from 2017 through 2021.

New York, New York

March 16, 2021

HF FOODS GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:

Accounts receivable - related parties 213 249

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 8,937 5,559

Trademarks and other intangibles, net 36,343 35,891

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

Checks issued not presented for payment $ 21,946 $ 17,834

Accounts payable - related parties 1,529 1,941

Current portion of long-term debt, net 6,266 5,557

Current portion of obligations under finance leases 2,254 2,274

Current portion of obligations under operating leases 3,676 2,482

Accrued expenses and other liabilities 19,648 12,138

Promissory note payable - related party — 4,500

Obligations under finance leases, non-current 11,441 11,676

Obligations under operating leases, non-current 10,591 9,251

Lease guarantee liability, net of current portion 5,472 —

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 17)

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO HF FOODS GROUP INC. 291,813 290,948

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ 637,529 $ 596,946

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

HF FOODS GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

Year Ended December 31,

Goodwill impairment loss — — 338,191

Other expenses (income):

Change in fair value of interest rate swap contracts (817) (1,425) 920

Lease guarantee expense 5,744 — —

Less: net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests (225) 676 293

EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC $ 0.01 $ 0.43 $ (6.59)

EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED $ 0.01 $ 0.43 $ (6.59)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

HF FOODS GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

Year Ended December 31,

Cash flows from operating activities:

Goodwill impairment loss — — 338,191

Gain from disposal of property and equipment (1,327) (1,636) (140)

Change in fair value of interest rate swap contracts 817 (1,425) 920

Stock-based compensation 1,257 635 —

Lease guarantee expense 5,744 — —

Other non-cash expense (income) 156 (85) (81)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities (excluding effects of acquisitions):

Accounts receivable - related parties 36 1,020 2,964

Advances to suppliers - related parties — 197 548

Prepaid expenses and other current assets (4,008) (944) (204)

Accounts payable - related parties (412) (365) (2,215)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchase of property and equipment (6,287) (2,205) (664)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 7,794 3,246 257

Payment made for acquisition of B&R Realty — — (94,004)

Payment made for acquisition of Sealand (34,848) — —

Payment made for acquisition of Great Wall Group (17,445) (37,841) —

Payment made for acquisition of noncontrolling interests — (5,000) —

Settlement of interest rate swap contracts — 718 —

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

HF FOODS GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

Year Ended December 31,

Cash flows from financing activities:

Checks issued not presented for payment 4,112 2,994 (113)

Payment of debt financing costs (544) —

Repayment of obligations under finance leases (2,626) (2,135) (1,840)

Repayment of promissory note payable - related party (4,500) (2,500) —

Proceeds from noncontrolling interests shareholders 240 480 —

Cash distribution to shareholders (187) (338) (175)

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow data:

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

Notes payable related to property and equipment purchases — 257 2,528

Intangible asset acquired in exchange for noncontrolling interests 566 — —

Deferred consideration from Great Wall Acquisition — 17,330 —

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

HF FOODS GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

(In thousands, except share data)

Shares Amount Shares Amount

Distribution to shareholders — — — — — — — (175) (175)

Capital contribution by shareholders — — — — — — — 480 480

Distribution to shareholders — — — — — — — (338) (338)

Stock-based compensation — — — — 635 — 635 — 635

Capital contribution by shareholders — — — — — — — 806 806

Distribution to shareholders — — — — — — — (186) (186)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

HF FOODS GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1 - Description of Business

Organization and General

HF Foods Group Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively “HF Group”, or the “Company”) is an Asian foodservice distributor that markets and distributes fresh produce, seafood, frozen and dry food, and non-food products to primarily Asian restaurants and other foodservice customers throughout the United States. The Company's business consists of one operating segment, which is also its one reportable segment: HF Group, which operates solely in the United States. The Company's customer base consists primarily of Chinese and Asian restaurants, and it provides sales and service support to customers who mainly converse in Mandarin or Chinese dialects.

Corporate History

HF Group Holding Corporation ("HF Holding") was incorporated as a holding company to acquire and consolidate the various pre-merger operating entities.On January 1, 2018, HF Holding entered into a Share Exchange Agreement with the controlling shareholders in exchange for all of HF Holding’s outstanding shares.

On August 22, 2018, Atlantic Acquisition Corp. ("Atlantic") consummated a reverse acquisition transaction resulting in HF Holding becoming the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlantic (the “Atlantic Acquisition”). The shareholders of HF Holding became the majority shareholders of Atlantic, and the Company changed its name to HF Foods Group Inc. (collectively, these transactions are referred to as the “Atlantic Transactions”).

The Atlantic Acquisition was treated as a reverse acquisition under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). For accounting purposes, HF Holding was considered to be acquiring Atlantic in this transaction, as such, the aggregate consideration paid in connection with the business combination was allocated to Atlantic’s tangible and intangible assets and liabilities based on their fair market values. The assets and liabilities and results of operations of Atlantic were consolidated into the balance sheet and results of operations of HF Holding as of the completion of the Atlantic Transactions.

On November 4, 2019, HF Group consummated a merger transaction resulting in B&R Global Holdings, Inc. ("B&R Global") becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the "Business Combination"). At closing, the Company issued 30,700,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company to the shareholders of B&R Global in exchange for the 100% equity interest of B&R Global.

On January 17, 2020, the Company acquired 100% equity membership interest in nine subsidiaries under B&R Group Realty Holding, LLC ("BRGR"), which owned ten warehouses that were being leased by the Company for its operations in California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Washington, and Montana for purchase consideration of $101.3 million.

On December 30, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of Great Wall Seafood Supply, Inc., Great Wall Restaurant Supplier, Inc., and First Mart Inc. (collectively the “Great Wall Group”), and substantially all of the operating assets of the Great Wall Group’s seafood and restaurant products sales, marketing, and distribution businesses (the “Great Wall Acquisition”). The acquisition was completed as part of the Company’s strategy to develop a national footprint through expansion into the Midwest, Southwest and Southern regions of the United States.

On April 29, 2022, the Company completed the acquisition of substantially all of the operating assets of Sealand Food, Inc. ("Sealand") including equipment, machinery and vehicles. The acquisition was completed to expand the Company's territory along the East Coast, from Massachusetts to Florida, as well as Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

See Note 8 - Acquisitions for additional information on recent acquisitions.

Restatement of Previously Issued Consolidated Financial Statements

As previously disclosed in Note 1 of the Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company identified certain errors impacting the financial statements, including disclosures, which the company analyzed using Staff

Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 99, “Materiality” and SAB No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements,” and determined the errors were material. Accordingly, the Company restated the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020 and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related interim financial statements periods within the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections. For the year ended December 31, 2020 the errors related to the identification of and accounting for operating and finance leases, the incorrect identification and disclosure of certain related party relationships including the identification of VIEs, the timing of revenue recognition for rental income received from a related party, the accounting for the self-insurance liability for automobile insurance, classification errors in the financial statements, and an error in the calculation of earnings per share. In addition, certain errors were identified during an independent investigation by a Special Investigation Committee commissioned by the Company’s Board of Directors (see Note 17) such as unrecorded executive compensation to a certain executive and immediate family members, and related party disclosures. For the year ended December 31, 2020 the nature of these error corrections is as follows:

a.Certain operating and finance leases were not properly identified and accounted for upon the adoption of ASC Topic 842 (“ASC 842”), Leases and adjustments have been made to correct these errors.

b.Four entities previously disclosed as related parties were determined not to be related parties. The four related party entities that were reclassified in the financial statements from related party to third party for were EMC Rowland, LLC; The Big Catch Alhambra, LLC; Winfar Foods, Inc; and Wokcano Carlsbad Partner LLP.

c.The Company identified an error related to the timing of revenue recognition for rental income received from UGO (a related party). Rental income received from UGO, which was previously recognized in error, was recognized in the appropriate accounting period as part of the error corrections. Please refer to Note 14 - Related Party Transactions for additional information on the lease arrangement with UGO.

d.The Company determined that certain payments made by the Company in prior years to related parties should have been accounted for in the Company's consolidated financial statements as executive compensation. The Company made payments for inventory to Revolution Industry, which were diverted to Revolution Automotive to make car lease payments for the benefit of Mr. Ni and his family. The Company also made payments to UGO for marketing services, which services were determined as part of the independent investigation to have not been received commensurate to the amounts paid. Please refer to Note 14 - Related Party Transactions for further details on Revolution Automotive, Revolution Industry and UGO. The Company has recorded an uncertain tax position liability associated with the reclassification of certain amounts as executive compensation as discussed further in j. below.

e.The Company had not previously recorded a liability (including incurred but not reported "IBNR") related to the self-insured portion of its automobile insurance policy.

f.The 2020 goodwill impairment loss, which was previously misclassified as other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), was revised to be included in income (loss) from operations.

g.The gain/loss on sale of fixed assets, which was previously misclassified in other income (expense), net was revised to be included in distribution, selling and administrative expenses.

h.As part of the error corrections being made, the resultant earnings per share was corrected.

i.As a result of the executive compensation described in d. above, the Company recorded an uncertain tax position liability to account for potential implications to previously filed tax returns.

j.In the Company’s December 31, 2020 financial statements, the Company did not disclose NC Good Taste Noodle, Inc. as a related party since Mr. Zhou Min Ni reported that he sold his ownership effective January 1, 2020. However, the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Jian Ming Ni, continues to own a portion of NC Good Taste Noodle, Inc. and as a result, the Company has concluded that NC Good Taste Noodle, Inc. still meets the definition of a related party. See Note 14 - Related Party Transactions for additional information

The corresponding footnotes have been restated for the adjustments noted above.

The following table summarizes the effect of the restatements on each affected financial statement line item for the year ended December 31, 2020, impacting the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The footnotes correspond to the error descriptions above:

Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Cost of revenue - third parties 453,706 94 (b)

Distribution, selling and administrative expenses 106,126 (476) (a)

EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC (6.58) (0.01) (h) (6.59)

EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED (6.58) (0.01) (h) (6.59)

The following table summarizes the effect of the restatements on each category of cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2020, impacting the consolidated statements of cash flows:

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(In thousands) As Previously Reported Adjustment As Restated

Net cash provided by operating activities $ 44,131 $ 1,562 (a) $ 45,693

Net cash used in investing activities (94,411) — (94,411)

The effect of the restatements on the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity for the year ended December 31, 2020 is as follows:

(In thousands, except share data) Shares Amount Shares Amount

As Previously Reported

Distribution to shareholders — — — — — — — (175) (175)

Restatement Impacts

Net (loss) income — — — — — (538) (538) — (538)

Escrow shares transferred to and recorded as treasury stock — — — — — — — — —

Retirement of treasury stock — — — — — — — — —

Distribution to shareholders — — — — — — — — —

As Restated

Distribution to shareholders — — — — — — — (175) (175)

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of HF Group, its subsidiaries and FUSO Trucking LLC ("FUSO") and the Staffing Agencies (through December 31, 2021), which the Company has determined to be VIEs that requires consolidation. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Variable Interest Entities

GAAP provides guidance on the identification of VIEs and financial reporting for entities over which control is achieved through means other than voting interests. The Company evaluates each of its interests in an entity to determine whether or not the investee is a VIE and, if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of such VIE. In determining whether the Company is the primary beneficiary, the Company considers if the Company (1) has power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIE, and (2) has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive the economic benefits of the VIE that could be potentially significant to the VIE. If deemed the primary beneficiary, the Company consolidates the VIE. See Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities for additional information.

Noncontrolling Interests

GAAP requires that noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries and affiliates be reported in the equity section of the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. In addition, the amounts attributable to the net income (loss) of those noncontrolling interests are reported separately in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

On May 28, 2021, the Company purchased the remaining 33.33% noncontrolling equity interests in Kirnland Food Distribution, Inc. ("Kirnland") for $5.0 million, making Kirnland a wholly-owned subsidiary. In accordance with ASC 810, changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary shall be accounted for as equity transactions. No gain or loss was recognized. As a result of this transaction, noncontrolling interests and additional paid-in capital were reduced by $1.1 million and $3.9 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, noncontrolling interest equity consisted of the following:

HF Foods Industrial, LLC ("HFFI") 45.00 % $ 204 $ 462

Uses of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during each reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, allowance for expected credit losses, inventory reserves, useful lives of property and equipment, lease assumptions, impairment of long-lived assets, impairment of long-term investments, impairment of goodwill, the purchase price allocation and fair value of assets and liabilities acquired with respect to business combinations, realization of deferred tax assets, uncertain income tax positions, the liability for self-insurance and stock-based compensation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or shorter as cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had no cash equivalents. Accounts at banks with an aggregate excess of the amount of outstanding checks over the cash balances are included in checks issued not presented for payment in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

Accounts Receivable, net

Accounts receivable represent amounts due from customers in the ordinary course of business and are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Receivables are presented net of the allowance for expected credit losses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company evaluates the collectability of its accounts receivable and determines the appropriate allowance for expected credit losses based on a combination of factors. The Company maintains an allowance for expected credit losses based on historic collection trends, write-offs and the aging of receivables. The Company uses specific criteria to determine uncollectible receivables to be written off, including, bankruptcy filings, the referral of customer accounts to outside parties for collection, and the length that accounts remain past due. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, allowances for expected credit losses were $1.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

Inventories

The Company’s inventories, consisting mainly of food and other foodservice-related products, are considered finished goods. Inventory costs, including the purchase price of the product and freight charges to deliver it to the Company’s warehouses, are net of certain cash consideration received from vendors, primarily in the form of rebates. The Company adjusted its inventory balance for slow-moving, excess and obsolete inventories to the net recoverable value of such goods based upon inventory category, inventory age, specifically identified items, and overall economic conditions. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Following are the estimated useful lives of the Company’s property and equipment:

Estimated Useful Lives

Automobiles 3 to 7 years

Buildings and improvements 7 to 39 years

Furniture and fixtures 4 to 10 years

Machinery and equipment 3 to 10 years

Repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred, whereas the cost of renewals and betterment that extends the useful lives of property and equipment are capitalized as additions to the related assets. Retirements, sales and disposals of assets are recorded by removing the cost and accumulated depreciation from the asset and accumulated depreciation accounts with any resulting gain or loss reflected in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) in distribution, selling and administrative expenses.

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for its business combinations using the purchase method of accounting in accordance with ASC Topic 805 (“ASC 805”), Business Combinations. The purchase method of accounting requires that the consideration transferred be allocated to the assets, including separately identifiable assets and liabilities the Company acquired, based on their estimated fair values. The consideration transferred in an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the fair values at the date of exchange of the assets given, liabilities incurred, and equity instruments issued as well as the contingent considerations and all contractual contingencies as of the acquisition date. Identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired or assumed are measured separately at their fair value as of the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any noncontrolling interests. The excess of (i) the total of cost of acquisition, fair value of the noncontrolling interests and acquisition date fair value of any previously held equity interest in the acquiree over, (ii) the fair value of the identifiable net assets of the acquiree, is recorded as

goodwill. If the cost of acquisition is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognized directly in earnings.

The Company estimates the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. While the Company uses its best estimates and assumptions to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, its estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. Significant estimates in valuing certain intangible assets include, but are not limited to future expected revenues and cash flows, useful lives, discount rates, and selection of comparable companies. Although the Company believes the assumptions and estimates it has made in the past have been reasonable and appropriate, they are based in part on historical experience and information obtained from management of the acquired companies and are inherently uncertain. During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. On the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Transaction costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred, and are included in distribution, selling and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The results of operations of the businesses that the Company acquired are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in a business combination. The Company tests goodwill for impairment at least annually, as of December 31, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired.

The Company's policy is to test goodwill for impairment annually in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if certain triggering events or circumstances indicate it could be impaired. Potential impairment indicators include (but are not limited to) macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance, other relevant entity-specific events, specific events affecting the reporting unit, or sustained decrease in share price. This guidance provides the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If, based on a review of qualitative factors, it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company performs a quantitative analysis. If the quantitative analysis indicates the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company measures any goodwill impairment losses as the amount by which the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company has one reporting unit. See Note 9 - Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets for additional information.

Determining the fair value of a reporting unit requires the application of judgment and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions including, projections of future cash flows, which include forecasted revenue, discount rate, and other factors which can be affected by changes in business climate, economic conditions, the competitive environment and other factors. The Company also considers the use of market approaches, such as the comparable public company analysis and comparable acquisitions analysis, to estimate the fair value of the reporting unit. The Company bases these fair value estimates on assumptions management believes to be reasonable but which are unpredictable and inherently uncertain. A change in underlying assumptions would cause a change in the results of the tests and, as such, could cause fair value to be less than the carrying amounts and result in an impairment of goodwill in the future. Additionally, if actual results are not consistent with the estimates and assumptions or if there are significant changes to the Company’s planned strategy, it may cause the fair value of the reporting unit to be less than its carrying amount and result in additional impairments of goodwill in the future. The Company corroborates the reasonableness of the total fair value of the reporting unit by assessing the implied control premium based on the Company’s market capitalization. The Company’s market capitalization is calculated using the relevant shares outstanding and stock price of the Company’s publicly traded shares. In the event of a goodwill impairment, the Company would be required to record an impairment, which would impact earnings and reduce the carrying amounts of goodwill on the consolidated balance sheet.

Intangible Assets, net

Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The Company determines the appropriate useful life of its intangible assets by measuring the expected cash flows of acquired assets. The estimated useful lives of intangible assets are as follows:

Estimated Useful Lives

Non-competition agreement 3 years

Tradenames 10 years

Customer relationships 10 to 20 years

Long-term Investments

The Company’s investments in unconsolidated entities consist of an equity investment and an investment without readily determinable fair value.

The Company follows ASC Topic 321 (“ASC 321”), Investments – Equity Securities, using the measurement alternative to measure investments in investees that do not have readily determinable fair value and over which the Company does not have significant influence at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer, if any. The Company makes a qualitative assessment of whether the investment is impaired at each reporting date. If a qualitative assessment indicates that the investment is impaired, the Company has to estimate the investment’s fair value in accordance with the principles of ASC Topic 820 (“ASC 820”), Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. If the fair value is less than the investment’s carrying value, the entity has to recognize an impairment loss in earnings equal to the difference between the carrying value and fair value.

Investments in entities in which the Company can exercise significant influence but does not own a majority equity interest or control are accounted for using the equity method of accounting in accordance with ASC Topic 323 (“ASC 323”), Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures. Under the equity method, the Company initially records its investment at cost, which is included in the equity method investment on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company subsequently adjusts the carrying amount of the investment to recognize the Company’s proportionate share of each equity investee’s net income or loss into earnings after the date of investment. The Company evaluates the equity method investments for impairment under ASC 323. An impairment loss on the equity method investments is recognized in earnings when the decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary.

The Company did not record any impairment loss on its long-term investments during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The Company assesses its long-lived assets such as property and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Factors which may indicate potential impairment include a significant underperformance related to the historical or projected future operating results or a significant negative industry or economic trend. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparison of their carrying amounts to future undiscounted cash flows the assets are expected to generate. If property and equipment, and intangible assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized equals the amount by which the carrying value of the assets or asset group exceeds their fair value.

The Company impaired its acquired developed technology and recognized impairment expense of $0.4 million in distribution, selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations during the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company did not record any impairment loss on its long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Insurance and Claim Costs

The Company maintains workers compensation and general liability insurance with licensed insurance carriers. Beginning in April 2020, the Company is self-insured for auto claims less than $100,000 per claim. Insurance and claims expense represent premiums the Company paid and the accruals made for claims within the Company’s self-insured retention amounts. A liability is recognized for the estimated cost of all self-insured claims including an estimate of incurred but not reported claims based on historical experience and for claims expected to exceed the Company's policy limits.

The Company establishes reserves for anticipated losses and expenses related to auto liability claims. The reserves consist of specific reserves for all known claims and an estimate for claims incurred but not reported, and losses arising from known claims ultimately settling in excess of insurance coverage using loss development factors based upon industry data and past experience. In determining the liability, the Company specifically reviews all known claims and records a liability based upon

the Company’s best estimate of the amount to be paid. In making the estimate, the Company considers the amount and validity of the claim, as well as the Company’s past experience with similar claims. In establishing the reserve for claims incurred but not reported, the Company considers its past claims history, including the length of time it takes for claims to be reported to the Company. These reserves are periodically reviewed and adjusted to reflect the Company’s experience and updated information relating to specific claims. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company has recorded a self-insurance liability of $1.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively, which is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of products when control of each product passes to the customer and the customer accepts the goods, which occurs at delivery. Sales taxes invoiced to customers and remitted to government authorities are excluded from net sales.

The Company follows ASC Topic 606 ("ASC 606"), Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company recognizes revenue that represents the transfer of goods and services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in such exchange. This requires the Company to identify contractual performance obligations and determine whether revenue should be recognized at a point in time or over time, based on when control of goods and services transfer to a customer. The Company’s contracts contain performance obligations which are satisfied when customers have physical possession of each product. The Company’s revenue streams are recognized at a specific point in time.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue primarily includes inventory costs (net of vendor consideration, primarily in the form of rebates), inbound freight, customs clearance fees and other miscellaneous expenses.

Distribution, Selling and Administrative Expenses

Distribution, selling and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits for employees and contract laborers, trucking and fuel expenses for deliveries, utilities, maintenance and repair expenses, insurance expenses, depreciation and amortization expenses, selling and marketing expenses, professional fees and other operating expenses.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs, which include costs related to the selection of products and their delivery to customers, are included in distribution, selling and administrative expenses. Shipping and handling costs were $83.7 million, $58.3 million and $37.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and includes estimates for labor associated with shipping and handling activities.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, the Company determines deferred tax assets and liabilities on the basis of the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities by using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets to the extent that it believes that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. As of December 31, 2022, the Company does not have a deferred tax asset valuation allowance.

The Company records uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC Topic 740 (“ASC 740”), Income Taxes, on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) the Company determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. See Note 13 - Income Taxes for additional information.

The Company adopted ASU 2019-12 (“ASU 2019-12”), Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, on January 1, 2021. ASU 2019-12 is intended to simplify various aspects related to managerial accounting for income taxes. The adoption had no material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Leases

The Company accounts for leases following ASC 842, Leases ("ASC 842"). The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and also considers classification of leases as operating or finance. Operating leases are included in operating lease ROU assets, current portion of obligations under operating leases, and obligations under operating leases, non-current on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property and equipment, net, current portion of obligations under finance leases, and obligations under finance leases, non-current on the consolidated balance sheets.

Operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and initial direct costs incurred and excludes lease incentives. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable rent payments related to both operating and finance leases are expensed as incurred. The Company's variable lease payments primarily consist of real estate, maintenance and usage charges.

The Company has elected to exclude short-term leases from the recognition requirements of ASC 842. A lease is short-term if, at the commencement date, it has a term of less than or equal to one year. Lease expense related to short-term leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company has also elected to combine lease and non-lease components when measuring lease liabilities for vehicle and equipment leases.

Derivative Financial Instruments

In accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 815 ("ASC 815"), Derivatives and Hedging, derivative financial instruments are recognized as assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The Company has not designated its interest rate swap ("IRS") contracts as hedges for accounting treatment. Pursuant to GAAP, income or loss from fair value changes for derivatives that are not designated as hedges by management are reflected as income or loss on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Net amounts received or paid under the interest rate swap contracts are recognized as an increase or decrease to interest expense when such amounts are incurred. The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counterparty.

Concentrations and Credit Risk

Credit risk

Accounts receivable are typically unsecured and derived from revenue earned from customers, and thereby exposed to credit risk. The risk is mitigated by the Company’s assessment of its customers’ creditworthiness and its ongoing monitoring of outstanding balances.

The Company maintains cash balances with banks which at times exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts

Segment Reporting

ASC 280, Segment Reporting, establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments on a basis consistent with the Company’s internal organizational structure as well as information about geographical areas, business segments and major customers in financial statements for details on the Company’s business segments. The Company uses the “management approach” in determining reportable operating segments. The management approach considers the internal organization and reporting used by the Company’s operating decision makers for making operational decisions and assessing performance as the source for determining the Company’s reportable segments. In 2021, former co-CEO Zhou Min Ni resigned, and Xiao Mou Zhang assumed the role of sole CEO and sole Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM"). The CODM, reviews operating

results and makes resource allocations on a consolidated basis and thus the Company has concluded it has one operating and reportable segment.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13 (“ASU 2016-13”), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 requires companies to measure credit losses utilizing a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires a consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. ASU 2016-13 was further amended in November 2019 in “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit losses”. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including those interim periods within those fiscal years. For emerging growth companies, the effective date has been extended to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company adopted this ASU within the annual reporting period ending as of December 31, 2022. The adoption of this guidance resulted in an adjustment to retained earnings of $0.7 million as of January 1, 2022 as evidenced in the Company's consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting. In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848, deferring the sunset date of Topic 848 from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2024, after which entities will no longer be permitted to apply the relief in Topic 848. The Company adopted ASU 2020-04 during 2021. The ASU has not had a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers. The guidance requires an acquirer to, at the date of acquisition, recognize and measure the acquired contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in the same manner that they were recognized and measured in the acquiree's financial statements before the acquisition. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively to business combinations occurring on or after the effective date. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of this ASU on its future consolidated financial statements, but does not expect it to have a material impact.

Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities

The Company has VIEs for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary and therefore does not consolidate, and VIEs for which the Company is the primary beneficiary and consolidates. The VIEs are summarized as follows:

•Consolidated VIEs (collectively "Consolidated VIEs"):

•FUSO Trucking LLC (“FUSO”)

•13 staffing agencies (collectively, the “Staffing Agencies”) – Suppliers of staffing services through 2021:

◦Anfu, Inc.

◦Anshun, Inc.

◦Chen Enterprises (until December 2020)

◦Georgia Kam (until December 2020)

◦Inchoi, Inc.

◦Malways, Inc.

◦Rousafe

◦S&P

◦SNP

◦Suntone

◦THLI, Inc. (until December 2020)

◦THLR, Inc. (until December 2020)

◦TWRR, Inc. (until December 2020)

•Unconsolidated VIEs (collectively "Unconsolidated VIEs"):

•Revolution Industry, LLC (“Revolution Industry”) – Supplier of goods (until March 2021)

•UGO USA, Inc. (“UGO”) – Supplier of online goods, customer, and lessee (until April 2021)

•BRGR (until January 2020)

•AnHeart, Inc. (“AnHeart”)

Consolidated VIEs

FUSO

FUSO was established solely to provide exclusive trucking services to the Company. The entity lacks sufficient equity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from the Company, and the Company has the power to direct the VIEs’ activities. In addition, the Company receives economic benefits from the entity and has concluded that the Company is the primary beneficiary. The carrying amounts of the assets, liabilities, the results of operations and cash flows of the VIE included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and statements of cash flows are immaterial.

Staffing Agencies

The Staffing Agencies were set up by an employee of the Company, or their relatives, and provided temporary labor services exclusively to the Company at the direction of the Company. There were no other substantive business activities of the Staffing Agencies. There were immaterial assets held, or liabilities owed by the Staffing Agencies and immaterial equity. The Company determined it was the primary beneficiary for the Staffing Agencies through 2021 as it controlled how and when the labor force would be utilized. The Company consolidated the Staffing Agencies, recognizing compensation expense within distribution, selling, and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), and the related accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company did not have any guarantees, commitments or other forms of financing to the Staffing Agencies. As of December 31, 2021, the Company no longer had involvement with any of the Staffing Agencies and therefore was no longer considered a VIE and was no longer consolidated.

Unconsolidated VIEs

Revolution Industry and UGO

Revolution Industry was established to produce egg roll mix for the Company. UGO was originally designed to be an online marketplace for various Asian goods. Revolution Industry and UGO were thinly capitalized and were not able to finance their activities without additional subordinated support. The former Co-CEO's (Mr. Ni) son, as sole equity holder of Revolution Industry, had unilateral control over the ongoing activities of Revolution Industry and significantly benefited from their operations. Therefore, the Company was not the primary beneficiary for Revolution Industry. The former Co-CEO (Mr. Ni) and his niece, as equity holders, had unilateral control over the ongoing activities of UGO and significantly benefited from its operations. Therefore, the Company was not the primary beneficiary for UGO.

Revolution Industry and UGO are also related parties and were generally the Company’s suppliers or customers and the Company did not have other involvement with these entities. Therefore, the Company’s exposure to loss due to its involvement with these entities was limited to amounts due from these entities, which is included in Accounts receivable – related parties. The Company did not have any guarantees, commitments, or other forms of financing with these entities. All transactions with Revolution Industry and UGO ceased in 2021. Related party transactions with Revolution Industry and UGO are disclosed in Note 14 - Related Party Transactions.

BRGR

BRGR was established to hold real estate for rent primarily for the Company and BRGR was financed primarily through this rental income and proceeds from the real estate loan for which the Company was guarantor. The Company was not the primary beneficiary of BRGR as the Company did not have the power to direct or control the activities which most significantly influenced the performance of BRGR. On January 17, 2020, the Company acquired 100% equity membership interests of certain real estate subsidiaries of BRGR, as discussed in Note 8 - Acquisitions. The Company also entered into the Second Amended Credit Agreement, as discussed in Note 11 - Debt, which removed BRGR as a guarantor of its revolving credit facility and as a borrower under its real estate term loans. Related party transactions with BRGR are disclosed in Note 14 - Related Party Transactions.

For the period from January 1, 2020 through January 17, 2020, the Company recorded rent expense of $0.2 million related to its lease agreements with the realty subsidiaries of BRGR, which is included in distribution, selling, and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). As of December 31, 2019, the Company was a guarantor of BRGR and its subsidiaries’ mortgage-secured real estate term loan, which had an unpaid principal balance of $53.3 million. As of January 17, 2020, the Company had no remaining involvement with BRGR and therefore is no longer considered a VIE.

AnHeart

AnHeart was previously a subsidiary of the Company designed to sell traditional Chinese medicine, sold to a third-party in February 2019. As discussed in Note 7 - Leases, after the sale, the Company continued to provide a guarantee for all rent and related costs associated with two leases of AnHeart in Manhattan, New York. The Company has determined that AnHeart is a VIE as a result of the guarantee. However, the Company concluded it is not the primary beneficiary of AnHeart because it does not have the power to direct the activities of AnHeart that most significantly impact AnHeart's economic performance. Please refer to Note 7 - Leases for additional information regarding the Company's maximum exposure to loss to AnHeart.

The Company did not have any sales to or rental income from any of the other VIEs during the three years ended December 31, 2022.

Note 4 - Revenue

For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, revenue recognized from performance obligations related to prior periods was immaterial. Revenue expected to be recognized in any future periods related to remaining performance obligations is immaterial.

The following table presents the Company's net revenue disaggregated by principal product categories:

Year Ended December 31,

Due to system constraints prior to the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company did not present net revenue by principal product categories.

Note 5 - Balance Sheet Components

Accounts receivable, net consisted of the following:

Less: allowance for expected credit losses (1,442) (840)

Movement of allowance for expected credit losses was as follows:

Year Ended December 31,

Adjustment for adoption of the new CECL standard (Note 2) 690 — —

Increase (decrease) in provision for expected credit losses 82 (433) 1,338

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:

Depreciation expense was $9.2 million, $8.1 million and $8.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Long-term investments consisted of the following:

Asahi Food, Inc. ("Asahi") 49% $ 879 $ 662

Pt. Tamron Akuatik Produk Industri ("Tamron") 12% 1,800 1,800

Total long-term investments $ 2,679 $ 2,462

The investment in Tamron is accounted for using the measurement alternative under ASC 321, which is measured at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments, if any. The investment in Asahi is accounted for under the equity method due to the fact that the Company has significant influence but does not exercise control over this investee. There was no impairment during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 for these investments.

Accrued expenses and other liabilities consisted of the following:

Accrued income taxes — 1,908

Total accrued expenses and other liabilities $ 19,648 $ 12,138

Note 6 - Fair Value Measurements

The following table presents the Company's hierarchy for its assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated:

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total

(In thousands)

Assets:

Derivative instruments $ — $ 530 $ — $ 530 $ — $ — $ — $ —

Liabilities:

Derivative instruments $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 287 $ — $ 287

The Company follows the provisions of ASC Topic 820 ("ASC 820"), Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. ASC 820 clarifies the definition of fair value, prescribes methods for measuring fair value, and establishes a fair value hierarchy to classify the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

•Level 1 - Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities available at the measurement date.

•Level 2 - Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.

•Level 3 - Inputs are unobservable inputs which reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about what assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best available information.

Any transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy will be recognized at the end of the reporting period in which the transfer occurs. There were no transfers between fair value levels in any of the periods presented herein.

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash, accounts receivable, advances to suppliers, other current assets, accounts payable, checks issued not presented for payment and accrued expenses and other liabilities approximate their fair value based on the short-term maturity of these instruments.

Carrying Value and Estimated Fair Value of Outstanding Debt - The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company’s outstanding debt as described in Note 11 - Debt of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, including the current portion, as of the dates indicated:

Carrying Value Fair Value Level Carrying Value Fair Value Level

($ in millions)

Fixed rate debt:

Promissory note payable to related party $ — $ — $ 4.5 $ 3.4 Level 3

First Horizon Bank — — 4.5 3.6 Level 3

Other finance institutions 0.2 0.2 Level 3 0.8 0.8 Level 3

Variable rate debt:

The carrying value of the variable rate debt approximates its fair value because of the variability of interest rates associated with these instruments and the consistency in market conditions since the loans were entered into. For the Company's fixed rate debt, the fair values were estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on the current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

Please refer to Note 11 - Debt and Note 14 - Related Party Transactions for additional information regarding the Company's debt.

Note 7 - Leases

The Company leases office space, warehouses and vacant land under non-cancelable operating leases, with terms typically ranging from one to thirty years, as well as operating and finance leases for vehicles and delivery trucks, forklifts and computer equipment with various expiration dates through 2051. The Company determines whether an arrangement is or includes an embedded lease at contract inception.

Operating and finance lease assets and lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date and initially measured based on the present value of lease payments over the defined lease term. As of December 31, 2022, the balances for operating lease right-of-use ("ROU") assets and liabilities were $14.2 million and $14.3 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, the balances for operating lease ROU assets and liabilities were $11.7 million and $11.7 million, respectively.

Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For finance leases, the Company also recognizes finance lease assets and finance lease liabilities at inception, with lease expense recognized as interest expense and amortization of the lease payment. Variable lease costs were insignificant in the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

Operating Leases

The components of operating lease expense were as follows:

Year Ended December 31,

Weighted average remaining lease term (months) 47 56 40

Weighted average discount rate 3.8% 3.9% 5.6%

Year Ended December 31,

Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 4,005 $ 822 $ 799

Finance Leases

The components of lease expense were as follows:

Year Ended December 31,

Finance leases cost:

Supplemental cash flow information related to finance leases was as follows:

Year Ended December 31,

Operating cash flows from finance leases $ 670 $ 701 $ 492

Supplemental balance sheet information related to finance leases was as follows:

Weighted average remaining lease term (months) 215 215

Weighted average discount rate 5.7 % 5.8 %

Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows:

Operating Leases

(In thousands) Related Party(1) Third Party Total FinanceLeases

Year Ended December 31,

_______________

(1) See Note 14 - Related Party Transactions

AnHeart

As discussed in Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities, the Company provided a guarantee for two separate leases for two properties

located in Manhattan, New York, at 273 Fifth Avenue and 275 Fifth Avenue, for 30 years and 15 years, respectively.

On February 10, 2021, the Company entered into an Assignment and Assumption of Lease Agreement (“Assignment”), dated effective as of January 21, 2021, with AnHeart and Premier 273 Fifth, LLC, pursuant to which it assumed the lease of the premises at 273 Fifth Avenue (the “273 Lease Agreement”). At the same time, the closing documents were delivered to effectuate the amendment of the 273 Lease Agreement pursuant to an Amendment to Lease (the “Lease Amendment”). The Assignment and the Lease Amendment were negotiated in light of the Company’s guarantee obligations as guarantor under the Lease Agreement. The Company agreed to observe all the covenants and conditions of the Lease Agreement, as amended, including the payment of all rents due. Under the terms of the Lease Agreement and the Assignment, the Company has undertaken to construct, at its own expense, a building on the premises at a minimum cost of $2.5 million. The Lease Amendment permits subletting of the premises, and the Company intends to sublease the newly constructed premises to defray the rental expense undertaken pursuant to its guaranty obligations.

On January 17, 2022, the Company received notice that AnHeart had defaulted on its obligations as tenant under the lease for 275 Fifth Avenue. On February 7, 2022, the Company undertook its guaranty obligations by assuming responsibility for payment of monthly rent and other tenant obligations, including past due rent as well as property tax obligations beginning with the January 2022 rent due. On February 25, 2022, the Company instituted a legal action to pursue legal remedies against AnHeart and Minsheng. In March 2022, the Company agreed to stay litigation against AnHeart in exchange for AnHeart’s payment of certain back rent from January to April 2022 and its continued partial payment of monthly rent. While the case remains pending in New York, the Company is not actively litigating the claim.

In accordance with ASC 460, Guarantees, the Company has determined that its maximum exposure resulting from the 275 Fifth Avenue lease guarantee includes future minimum lease payments plus potential additional payments to satisfy maintenance, property tax and insurance requirements under the leases with a remaining term of approximately 11 years. The Company elected a policy to apply the discounted cash flow method to loss contingencies with more than 18 months of payments. AnHeart is obligated to pay all costs associated with the properties, including taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance and repairs. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had a lease guarantee liability of $5.8 million. The Company determined the discounted value of the lease guarantee liability using a discount rate of 4.55% and is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The current portion of the lease guarantee liability of $0.3 million is recorded in Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company's monthly rental payments range from approximately $42,000 per month to $63,000 per month, with the final payment due in 2034.

The estimated future minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2022 are presented below:

(In thousands) Amount

Year Ended December 31,

Less: Imputed interest (1,706)

Total minimum lease payments $ 5,760

Note 8 - Acquisitions

Acquisition of Sealand

On April 29, 2022, the Company completed the acquisition of substantially all of the operating assets of Sealand, including equipment, machinery and vehicles. The acquisition was completed to expand the Company's territory along the East Coast, from Massachusetts to Florida, as well as Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

The price for the purchased assets was $20.0 million paid in cash at closing. In addition to the closing cash payment, the Company separately acquired all of the sellers' saleable product inventory, for approximately $14.4 million and additional fixed assets for approximately $0.5 million. The Company finalized its purchase accounting as of December 31, 2022.

The Company accounted for this transaction under ASC 805, Business Combinations, by applying the acquisition method of accounting and established a new basis of accounting on the date of acquisition. The assets acquired by the Company were measured at their estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition. Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the purchase price over the net assets recognized and represent synergies and benefits expected as a result from combining operations with an emerging national presence. The transaction costs for the acquisition totaled approximately $0.7 million and were reflected in distribution, selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2022.

The information included herein has been prepared based on the allocation of the purchase price using estimates of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed which were determined using a combination of quoted market prices, discounted cash flows, and other estimates made by management. The purchase price allocation is subject to further adjustment until all pertinent information regarding the assets and liabilities acquired are fully evaluated by the Company, not to exceed one year as permitted under ASC 805.

Purchase Price Allocation

The total consideration paid to acquire the assets and liabilities of Sealand, as set forth below:

(In thousands) Amount

Property plant, and equipment 1,424

Right-of-use assets 127

Total assets acquired 30,114

Obligations under operating leases 127

Total liabilities assumed 127

Total consideration $ 34,848

The Company recorded acquired intangible assets of $14.7 million, which were measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs. These intangible assets include tradenames and trademarks of $4.4 million, customer relationships of $8.9 million and non-compete agreements of $1.4 million. The fair value of customer relationships was determined by applying the income approach utilizing the excess earnings methodology and Level 3 inputs including a discount rate. The fair value of tradenames and trademarks was determined by applying the income approach utilizing the relief from royalty methodology and Level 3 inputs including a royalty rate of 1% and a discount rate. The fair value of non-competition agreements was determined by applying the income approach and Level 3 inputs including a discount rate. Discount rates used in determining fair values for customer relationships, tradenames and trademarks, and non-competition agreements ranged from 17.5% to 18.0%. The useful lives of the tradenames and trademarks are ten years, customer relationships are ten years and non-compete agreements are three years, with a weighted average amortization period of approximately nine years. The associated goodwill is deductible for tax purposes.

Acquisition of Great Wall Group

On December 30, 2021, the Company executed an Asset Purchase Agreement with Great Wall Group to purchase substantially all of the operating assets of the Great Wall Group’s seafood and restaurant products sales, marketing, and distribution businesses. The acquisition was completed as part of the Company’s strategy to develop a national footprint through expansion into the Midwest, Southwest and Southern regions of the United States.

The final aggregate price for the purchased assets was $43.7 million with $30.8 million paid in cash at closing and the issuance of 1,792,981 shares of common stock of the Company (based on a 60-day VWAP of $7.36), with a fair value of $12.9 million based on the share price of $8.11 per share at closing and an 11.5% discount due to a lock-up restriction. In addition to the closing cash payment, the Company separately acquired all of the sellers’ saleable product inventory, for approximately $24.3 million of which approximately $6.8 million was paid during the year ended December 31, 2021 and $17.4 million was recorded in accounts payable on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021. The Company also acquired additional vehicles for approximately $0.2 million. As such, the total acquisition price for all operating assets and inventory was approximately $68.2 million.

The Company accounted for this transaction under ASC 805, Business Combinations, by applying the acquisition method of accounting and established a new basis of accounting on the date of acquisition. The assets acquired by the Company were measured at their estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition. Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the purchase price over the net assets recognized and represent synergies and benefits expected as a result from combining operations with an emerging national presence. For the year ended December 31, 2021, transaction costs for the acquisition totaled $0.9 million and were reflected in distribution, selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Purchase Price Allocation

The following table presents the allocation of the total consideration paid to acquire the assets and liabilities of the Great Wall Group:

(In thousands) Amount

Property plant, and equipment 1,537

Total assets acquired 56,410

Total consideration $ 68,155

The Company recorded acquired intangible assets of $30.1 million, which included tradenames and trademarks of $10.5 million, customer relationships of $17.2 million and non-competition agreements of $2.4 million. The fair value of customer relationships was determined by applying the income approach utilizing the excess earnings methodology using Level 3 inputs including a discount rate. The fair value of tradenames and trademarks was determined by applying the income approach utilizing the relief from royalty methodology and Level 3 inputs including a royalty rate of 1% and a discount rate.The fair value of non-competition agreements was determined by applying the income approach using Level 3 inputs including a discount rate. Discount rates used in determining fair values for customer relationships, tradenames and trademarks, and non-competition agreements ranged from 11.5% to 14.0%. The useful lives of the tradenames and trademarks are ten years, customer relationships are ten years and non-compete agreements are three years, with a weighted average amortization period of approximately nine years. The associated goodwill is deductible for tax purposes. See Note 9 - Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets for additional information on acquired intangibles in the Great Wall Acquisition.

Since the Great Wall Acquisition occurred on December 30, 2021, the amounts of revenue and earnings of the Great Wall Group included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) from the acquisition date to December 31, 2021 were immaterial.

Unaudited Supplemental Pro Forma Financial Information

The following table presents the Company’s unaudited pro forma results for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, as if the Great Wall Acquisition and the Sealand Acquisition had been consummated on January 1, 2021. The unaudited pro forma financial information presented includes the effects of adjustments related to the amortization of acquired

intangible assets and excludes other non-recurring transaction costs directly associated with the acquisition such as legal and other professional service fees. Statutory rates were used to calculate income taxes.

Year Ended December 31,

(In thousands, except share and per share data) 2022 2021

Pro forma net income attributable to HF Group $ 35 $ 33,724

Pro forma (loss) earnings per common share - basic $ — $ 0.65

Pro forma (loss) earnings per common share - diluted $ — $ 0.65

The revenue and operating income from Sealand from the date of acquisition through December 31, 2022 was $55.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively, and were included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Acquisition of Real Estate Companies

On January 17, 2020, the Company acquired 100% equity membership interest in nine subsidiaries of BRGR, which owned warehouse facilities that were being leased to B&R Global for its operations in California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Washington, and Montana (the "Realty Acquisition").

Then Co-CEO (and current CEO) of the Company, Xiao Mou Zhang ("Mr. Zhang"), managed and owned an 8.91% interest in BRGR. The total purchase price of the transaction was $101.3 million for which financing was provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("JPMorgan"), as Administrative Agent, and certain lender parties hereto, including Comerica Bank under an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement ("Credit Agreement"). The terms of which are set forth below, and the lender parties thereto relied upon the appraisals in determining to provide such financing. Based in part on the foregoing, the special transactions committee, composed of the Company’s independent directors, reviewed and approved the transaction and the related financing on behalf of HF Group’s board.

Consideration for the acquisition was funded by (1) $75.6 million in mortgage-backed term loans financed under the Second Amended Credit Agreement (see Note 11 - Debt for additional information), (2) issuance by B&R Global of a $7.0 million Unsecured Subordinated Promissory Note to BRGR maturing on January 17, 2030, and (3) payment of $18.7 million from funds drawn from the Company’s revolving credit facility. The reissuance of the mortgage-backed term loans released BRGR from its obligations to the lenders under the First Amended Credit Agreement and predecessor financing arrangements.

The majority of the assets acquired was concentrated in a group of similar assets, land and buildings, for the same purpose of warehousing and distribution. As such, the Realty Acquisition was deemed as an asset acquisition under ASC 805-10-55, and the total purchase price was allocated on a relative fair value basis to the net assets acquired.

The following table presents the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition:

(In thousands) Amount

Automobile 34

Prepaid expenses 39

Accounts payable and accrued expenses 1,367

Total liabilities assumed 1,367

HFFG US Equity

HFFG · 10-K · period ended 2022-12-31

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION ANDANALYSISOF FINANCIAL CONDITION ANDRESULTSOF OPERATIONS.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

HFFG US Equity☆

HFFG · 10-K · period ended 2022-12-31

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION ANDANALYSISOF FINANCIAL CONDITION ANDRESULTSOF OPERATIONS.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

HFFG US Equity