mmmb-20250131
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the year ended January 31, 2025
OR
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
MAMA'S CREATIONS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
25 Branca Road
East Rutherford, NJ07073
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
(201)531-1212
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class Trading Symbol Name of Each Exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.00001 MAMA The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes oNox
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes oNox
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yesx No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yesx No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer x Emerging Growth Company o
Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company x
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. x
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. o
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No x
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant on July 31, 2024, based on a closing price of $7.62 was approximately $285,315,972.
As of April 7, 2025, there were 37,596,000 shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding.
Documents Incorporated by Reference: The information called for by Part III will be incorporated by reference from the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A or will be included in an amendment to this Form 10-K.
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PART I 3
ITEM 1. BUSINESS. 3
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS. 8
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS. 16
ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY. 16
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES. 16
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. 16
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES. 16
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]. 17
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK. 21
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 21
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. 22
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION. 23
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN Jurisdictions THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS 23
PART III 24
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE. 24
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION. 25
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. 25
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULES. 26
SIGNATURES 28
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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Included in this Form 10-K are “forward-looking statements,” as well as historical information. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including matters described in the section titled “Risk Factors.” Forward-looking statements include those that use forward-looking terminology, such as the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “project,” “plan,” “will,” “shall,” “should,” and similar expressions, including when used in the negative. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable and achievable, these statements involve risks and uncertainties and we cannot assure you that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect events or circumstances after the date initially filed or published, to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise.
PART I
Item 1. Business.
Our Company
Mama’s Creations, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the "Company") is a leading marketer and manufacturer of fresh deli-prepared foods, found in over 10,000 grocery, mass, club and convenience stores nationally. The Company’s broad product portfolio, born from MamaMancini’s rich history in Italian foods, now consists of a variety of high-quality, fresh, clean and easy-to-prepare foods to address the needs of both our consumers and retailers. Our vision is to become a one-stop-shop deli solutions platform, leveraging vertical integration and a diverse family of brands to offer a wide array of prepared foods to meet the changing demands of the modern consumer.
MamaMancini’s roots go back to our founder, Dan Dougherty, whose grandmother Anna “Mama” Mancini emigrated from Bari, Italy to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn in 1921. Our products were developed using her old-world Italian recipes that were handed down to her grandson, Dan Dougherty. Over time, we have expanded our core product lines through acquisitions and internal development and today our product line includes all-natural specialty prepared refrigerated foods for sale in retailers around the country. Our primary products include beef and turkey meatballs, meat loaf, chicken, sausage-related products and pasta and rice entrees.
Our products include the MamaMancini's brand featuring many all-natural meals that contain a minimum number of ingredients, many of which are derived from the original recipes of Anna “Mama” Mancini. Our products appeal to health-conscious consumers who seek to avoid artificial flavors, synthetic colors and preservatives that are used in many conventional packaged foods.
The United States Department of Agriculture (the “USDA”) defines “all-natural” as a product that contains no artificial ingredients, coloring ingredients or chemical preservatives and is minimally processed. Many of MamaMancini’s products were submitted to the USDA and approved as all-natural. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (“FSIS”) Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book (2003) requires meat and poultry labels to include a brief statement directly beneath or beside the “natural” label claim that “explains what is meant by the term natural, i.e., that the product is a natural food because it contains no artificial ingredients and is only minimally processed.” The term “natural” may be used on a meat label or poultry label if the product does not contain any artificial flavor or flavoring, coloring ingredient, chemical preservative, or any other artificial or synthetic ingredient. Additionally, the term “all-natural” can be used if the FSIS approves your product and label claims. The Company’s all-natural product and label claims have been approved by the FSIS to contain the all-natural label.
Our products are principally sold to supermarkets, club chains, mass-market retailers, and food distributors. We currently have more than 100 product offerings across our beef, chicken, salad and olive portfolios that are packaged in different sized retail and bulk packages. Our products are principally sold in the deli section of the supermarket, including hot bars, salad bars, prepared foods (meals), sandwich, as well as cold deli and foods-to-go sections.
Olive Branch, LLC (“OB” or “Olive Branch”) concentrates on selling olives, olive mixes, and savory products to a limited number of large retail customers, primarily in pre-packaged containers. Olive Branch products are manufactured at the same facility as T&L Creative Salads (“T&L” or “T&L Creative Salads”) in Farmingdale, NY.
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Our History
The Company was originally organized on July 22, 2009 as a Nevada corporation called Mascot Properties, Inc. (“Mascot”).
In February 2010, MamaMancini’s LLC was formed as a limited liability company under the laws of the state of New Jersey in order to commercialize our initial products. In March 2012, the members of MamaMancini’s LLC exchanged their equity for shares in MamaMancini's Inc., a Delaware Corporation ("MamaMancini's").
In January 2013, MamaMancini's became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company via a merger transaction. Effective March 11, 2013, Mascot began trading under the name, “MamaMancini’s Holdings, Inc.” and the symbol “MMMB.”
The Company acquired Joseph Epstein Food Enterprises, Inc., a New Jersey corporation and manufacturer of food products (“JEFE”), pursuant to a merger transaction in November 2017.
In December 2021, the Company acquired both T&L and Olive Branch, related gourmet food manufacturers based in New York, for a combined purchase price of $14 million, including $11 million in cash at closing and $3 million in a promissory note (the “Note”). The promissory note requires annual principal payments of $750,000 payable on each anniversary of the closing, together with accrued interest at a rate of three and one-half percent (3.5%) per annum. The Note holder is T&L Creative Salads Inc., and it is guaranteed by the Company. The cash payment was funded through cash on hand and a $7.5 million acquisition loan from M&T Bank. Anthony Morello, Jr. remained as President of T&L.
On June 28, 2022, the Company acquired a 24% minority interest in Chef Inspirational Foods, LLC (“CIF”), a leading developer, innovator, marketer and sales company selling prepared foods, for an investment of $1.2 million. On June 28, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of the remaining 76% of CIF, for $3.7 million, including approximately $1.0 million in cash at closing and a $2.7 million promissory note.
Reflecting the evolution of the Company from its origins as a home-style, old world Italian food company to a broader provider of products featuring all-natural specialty prepared refrigerated foods for sale in retailers around the country, on July 31, 2023, the Company adopted its current name “Mama’s Creations, Inc.,” and began trading under the ticker symbol "MAMA" on August 2, 2023.
Industry Overview
Our products are considered specialty prepared foods, in that they taste great, are authentic and are made with high-quality ingredients. The market for specialty and prepared foods spans several sections of the supermarket, including deli-prepared foods and the specialty meat segment of the meat department.
Our Strengths
We believe that the following strengths differentiate our products and our brands:
•Authentic recipes and great taste. Our MamaMancini’s products are founded upon Anna “Mama” Mancini’s old-world Italian recipes. We believe the authenticity of our products has enabled us to build and maintain loyalty and trust among our current customers and will help us attract new customers. Additionally, we continuously receive positive customer testimonials regarding the great taste and quality of our products.
•Healthy and convenient. Our products are made only from high-quality natural ingredients and are simple to prepare. Virtually every product we offer is ready-to-serve within 10 minutes, thereby providing quick and easy meal solutions for our customers. By including the sauce and utilizing a tray with our packaging, our products can be prepared quickly and easily.
•Great value. We strive to provide our customers with great-tasting products using healthy ingredients at an affordable price, many of which are all-natural. Typical retail prices range from $7.99 to $9.99 per pound for freshly prepared products sold in delis or hot bars. We believe the sizes of our product offerings represent a great value for the price.
•New products and innovation. Since our inception, we have continued to introduce new and innovative products. While we pride ourselves on our traditional beef and turkey meatballs and grilled chicken offerings, we have continuously made efforts to grow and diversify our line of products while maintaining our high standards for healthy ingredients and great taste.
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Customers/Management
•Strong consumer loyalty. Many of our consumers are loyal and enthusiastic brand advocates. Our consumers trust us to deliver great-tasting products made with healthy or all-natural ingredients. They have actively communicated with us through our website and/or social media channels. We believe that this interaction has generated interest in our products and has inspired enthusiasm for our brand. We also believe that enthusiasm for our products has led and will continue to lead to repeat purchases and new consumers trying our products.
•Agile customer support: We meet the needs of not just our end consumers but also our customers and retail partners. Having a strong track record of more than 15 years, our retail partners trust our quality and can rely on our service. Through T&L Creative Salads and Olive Branch, we now serve as a “one-stop-shop” deli solution for them. Tangibly, this means that retail buyers don’t need to manage dozens of regional, specialty suppliers on a daily basis, but rather call Mama’s Creations to deliver all of their proteins, salads, sandwiches and entertaining needs nationwide.
•Experienced leadership. We have a proven and experienced senior management team. Our leadership team includes Adam L. Michaels, Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Anthony Gruber, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”).
Our Growth Strategy
We are actively executing a strategy to build our brand’s reputation, grow sales and improve our product and operating margins by pursuing the following growth initiatives:
•Build Breadth & Depth of Distribution: We believe our brands, MamaMancini’s, T&L Creative Salads and Olive Branch, are still under-penetrated in existing sales channels, under-SKU’d in existing stores and have the potential to enter new channels. We will leverage our strong brand, superior quality and high-touch service to list more of our items in existing customers as well as enter new customers. In addition, we will be leveraging our existing customer relationships to cross-sell our newly acquired brands, thereby driving larger consumer baskets, expanding promotional opportunities, and driving down freight charges, as we are shipping more Mama’s items to the same locations.
•Launch Consumer-Driven Innovation: As we become even more consumer-focused, we seek to understand consumers’ unmet deli needs. We will passionately understand our consumers and develop incremental sales opportunities. We will seek to develop products that capture incremental occasions, consumer groups and sales channels. For example, our Meatballs in a Cup solutions, as well as our retail-pack paninis, provide (1) for a “new for us” snacking occasion incremental to our current meal offerings, (2) an attraction to a younger, on-the-go consumer audience, and (3) for an incremental sales channel with entry into the Convenience Store channel.
•Pursue Accretive, Complementary Acquisitions: We plan to identify and integrate major acquisitions in new deli categories when opportunities arise, capitalizing on the highly fragmented nature of the fresh prepared foods space. Ideal acquisition opportunities might bring incremental/accretive manufacturing capabilities and product capabilities within a new deli sub-category, strengthen our distribution capabilities, and/or enhance our management capabilities.
•Become the One-Stop-Shop Deli Solution: We believe the Company has the potential to achieve $1 billion in sales through a combination of accretive acquisitions of complementary companies and organic growth, spurred by cross-selling and new product innovation. As the Company builds national scale, expands its breadth of deli offerings and maintains exceptional quality and service, the Company believes it will realize this vision.
Pricing
Our pricing strategy focuses on being competitively priced with other premium brands. Since our products are positioned in the authentic premium prepared food category, we maintain prices competitive with those of similar products and prices slightly higher than those in the commodity prepared foods section. This pricing strategy also provides greater long-term flexibility as we grow our product line through the growth curve of our products. Current typical retail prices range from $7.99 to $9.99 for prepared food products sold to delis or hot bars. Increases in commodity costs, among other factors, may lead us to consider price increases in the future.
Suppliers/Manufacturers
As of January 31, 2025, approximately 95% of our products are internally produced in our East Rutherford, NJ or Farmingdale, NY facilities. None of our raw materials or ingredients are directly grown or produced by us. From time-to-time we negotiate with other manufacturers to supplement the Company’s manufacturing capability. We currently purchase
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modest quantities from other manufacturers. Substantially all of the raw materials and ingredients in our products are domestically sourced and are readily available by our suppliers. We have not experienced any material shortages of ingredients or other products necessary to our operations and do not anticipate such shortages in the foreseeable future.
Sales/Brokers
Our products are sold primarily through a commission broker network. We sell to large retail chains who direct our products to their own warehouses or to large food distributors.
The Company increased its sales management efforts with the result that the Company is now actively soliciting business with almost every major retail supermarket chain in the country. The Company’s products are currently sold nationwide.
Marketing
The majority of our marketing activity has been generated through promotional discounts, consumer trials, consumer product tastings and demonstrations, in-store merchandising and signage, couponing, word of mouth, consumer public relations, social media, special merchandising events with retailers and consumer advertising.
Based on the Company’s metrics for determining brand awareness, which include market studies and analysis of consumer recognition of the MamaMancini’s brand, the Company believes that brand awareness for MamaMancini’s has grown in the past 12 months.
Competition
The gourmet and specialty prepared food industry is fragmented and has many private competitors specializing in various types of cuisine from all over the world. While our product lines have historically been concentrated on Italian specialty foods, with our recent acquisitions, we have moved beyond Italian to provide a "one-stop-shop" for our deli partners. While it is our contention that our competition is much more limited than the prepared food industry based on our products’ niche market, there can be no assurances that we do not compete with the entire pre-packaged food industry. We believe our principal competitors include Amylu, Bakkavor, Blount Fine Foods, DeLallo Foods, Hormel, Premium Brands, Reser's, Sandridge, Spring Glen, and Taylor Farms.
Intellectual Property
Our current intellectual property consists of trade secret recipes and cooking processes for our products and five trademarks for “MamaMancini’s,” “The Meatball Lovers Meatball,” “The Original Meatball in a Cup,” "The Olive Branch," and “Mama's Creations.” The recipes and use of the trademarks have been assigned in perpetuity to the Company.
We rely on a combination of trademark, copyright and trade secret laws to establish and protect our proprietary rights. We will also use technical measures to protect our proprietary rights.
Human Capital
As of January 31, 2025, we had 305 full-time employees and no part-time employees. Currently, none are covered by collective bargaining agreements. We believe that our relations with our employees are good. Our human capital resources objectives include, as applicable, identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing and integrating our existing and additional employees. The principal purposes of our equity incentive plans are to attract, retain and reward personnel through grants of equity-based compensation awards in order to emphasize increasing stockholder value and our success by motivating such individuals to perform to the best of their abilities and achieve our objectives.
We recognize that a significant part of our success is the continued ability to execute our human capital strategy of attracting, developing and retaining talent. We also offer a robust set of benefits in order to recruit and retain employees, and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment designed to make employees and consultants feel comfortable and accepted. We continue to take action to help ensure our practices, policies, and processes are inclusive and equitable for all colleagues.
Royalty Agreement
In accordance with a Development and License Agreement (the "Development and License Agreement") entered into on January 1, 2009 with Dan Dougherty relating to the use of his grandmother’s recipes for the products to be created by Mama’s, Mr. Dougherty granted us a 50-year exclusive license (subject to certain minimum payments being made), with a
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25-year extension option, to use and commercialize the licensed items. Under the terms of the Development and License Agreement, Mr. Dougherty shall develop a line of beef meatballs with sauce, turkey meatballs with sauce and other similar meats and sauces for commercial manufacture, distribution and sale (each a “Licensor Product” and collectively the “Licensor Products”). Mr. Dougherty shall work with us to develop Licensor Products that are acceptable to the Company. Upon acceptance of a Licensor Product by us, Mr. Dougherty’s trade secret recipes, formulas, methods and ingredients for the preparation and production of such Licensor Products shall be subject to the Development and License Agreement.
USDA Approval/Regulations
Our food products, which are manufactured both in our own manufacturing facilities and in third-party facilities, are subject to various federal, state and local regulations and inspections regarding sanitation, quality, packaging and labeling. In order to distribute and sell our products outside the State of New Jersey and the State of New York, the third-party food processing facilities must meet the standards promulgated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (the “USDA”). Our manufacturing processing facilities and products are subject to periodic inspection by federal, state, and local authorities. The facilities in which our products are manufactured are inspected regularly and comply with all the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration ("the FDA") and USDA.
We are subject to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and regulations promulgated thereunder by the FDA as well as related legislation, including the Food Safety Modernization Act. This comprehensive regulatory program governs, among other things, the manufacturing, composition and ingredients, packaging, and safety of food. Under this program, the FDA regulates manufacturing practices for foods through, among other things, its current “good manufacturing practices” regulations, or GMPs, and specifies the recipes for certain foods. Specifically, the USDA defines “all-natural” as a product that contains no artificial ingredients, coloring ingredients or chemical preservatives and is minimally processed. Many of our Mama Mancini’s products were submitted to the USDA and approved as “all-natural.” However, should the USDA change its definition of “all-natural” at some point in the future, or should Mama’s change these existing recipes to include ingredients that do not meet the USDA’s definition of “all-natural,” we may need to modify our labeling and our results of operations could be adversely affected.
The Federal Trade Commission ("the FTC") and other authorities regulate how we market and advertise our products, and we are currently in compliance with all regulations related thereto, although we could be the target of claims relating to alleged false or deceptive advertising under federal and state laws and regulations. Changes in these laws or regulations or the introduction of new laws or regulations could increase the costs of doing business for us or our customers or suppliers or restrict our actions, causing our results of operations to be adversely affected.
Quality Assurance
We take precautions designed to ensure the quality and safety of our products. In addition to routine third-party inspections of our manufacturing facilities, we have instituted regular audits to address topics such as allergen control, ingredient, packaging and product specifications, and sanitation. Under the FDA Food Modernization Act, both our own manufacturing facilities and each of our contract manufacturers are required to have a hazard analysis critical control points plan that identifies critical pathways for contaminants and mandates control measures that must be used to prevent, eliminate or reduce relevant food-borne hazards.
Our manufacturing facilities are certified in the Safe Quality Food Program ("SQF") as level II facilities. These standards are integrated food safety and quality management protocols designed specifically for the food sector and offer a comprehensive methodology to manage food safety and quality simultaneously. Certification provides an independent and external validation that a product, process or service complies with applicable regulations and standards.
Where You Can Find More Information
Our website address is https://mamascreations.com, where we make available free of charge our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, including any amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Reports of beneficial ownership filed by our directors and executive officers pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act are also available on our website. We are not including the information contained on our website as part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These filings are also available to the public at www.sec.gov.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
Risks Related to our Business
We have a limited history of profitability.
Since inception on February 22, 2010 and through January 31, 2025, we have raised approximately $23.3 million in capital. During this same period, we have recorded net profit totaling approximately $0.2 million. As of January 31, 2025, we had working capital of approximately $4.9 million. Our net income for the three most recent fiscal years ended January 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 has been approximately $3.7 million, $6.6 million, and $2.3 million, respectively. Our ability to achieve continued profitability depends upon many factors, including our ability to develop and commercialize products. There can be no assurance that we will be able to achieve growth and profitability consistent with historical performance.
We may need additional capital, which may be difficult to raise for a variety of reasons.
While we believe that we have adequate financing to execute our current growth plan, in the case that we exceed our expected growth, we will need to raise additional capital and/or significantly cut expenses and overhead in order to operate the business through such date. Currently, we have no plan to raise additional capital, and our access to funding is always uncertain. There is no assurance that additional equity or debt financing will be available to us when needed, on acceptable terms or even at all. In the event that we are not able to secure financing, we may have to scale back our development plans or operations.
The majority of our business depends on a limited number of principal customers.
Because we depend on a limited number of customers for a significant portion of our sales, a loss of a small number of these customers could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition. During the year ended January 31, 2025, the Company earned revenues from one customer representing approximately 44% of gross sales. As of January 31, 2025, two customers represented approximately 38% and 16% of total gross outstanding receivables, respectively. During the year ended January 31, 2024, the Company earned revenues from three customers representing approximately 26%, 11%, and 10% of gross sales, respectively. As of January 31, 2024, four customers represented approximately 20%, 15%, 13% and 10% of total gross outstanding receivables. During the year ended January 31, 2023 two customers represented approximately 25% and 13% of gross sales, respectively.If these principal customers cease ordering products from us, our business could be materially adversely affected.
Competitive product and pricing pressures in the food industry and the financial condition of customers and suppliers could adversely affect our ability to gain or maintain market share and/or profitability.
We currently operate in the highly competitive food industry, competing with other companies that have varying abilities to withstand changing market conditions. Any significant change in our relationship with a major customer, including changes in product prices, sales volume, or contractual terms may impact financial results. Such changes may result because our competitors may have substantial financial, marketing, and other resources that may change the competitive environment. If we are unable to establish economies of scale, marketing expertise, product innovation, and category leadership positions to respond to changing market trends, or increase prices while maintaining a customer base, our profitability and volume growth could be impacted in a materially adverse way. The success of our business depends, in part, upon the financial strength and viability of our suppliers and customers. The financial condition of those suppliers and customers is affected in large part by conditions and events that are beyond our control. A significant deterioration of their financial condition would adversely affect our financial results.
We face competition from companies who produce similar products and other prepared foods, many of whom have longer operating histories or have substantially more financial resources.
Many of our competitors have been in business for a significantly longer period of time than we have and have learned manufacturing techniques which can aid in efficiently producing their products. Additionally, many of these companies have successfully acquired a loyal customer base that would be difficult for us to compete with. Such customers may be unwilling to purchase our products due to brand loyalty or uncertainty in the highly competitive market in which we compete. In addition, if we gain traction in our particular niche of creating gourmet prepared foods, major food companies with substantial marketing and financial resources may attempt to compete more directly with us. In the event that such large companies do directly compete with us, our business may be adversely affected.
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Our operations are subject to regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and other governmental entities and such regulations are subject to change from time to time, which could impact how we manage our production and sale of products. Federal budget cuts could result in furloughs for government employees, including inspectors and reviewers for our suppliers' plants and products, which could materially impact our ability to manufacture regulated products.
Our food products are manufactured in facilities that are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA, the USDA and other national, state, and local authorities. For example, we are subject to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and regulations promulgated thereunder by the FDA. This comprehensive regulatory program governs, among other things, the manufacturing, composition and ingredients, packaging, and safety of food. Under this program, the FDA regulates manufacturing practices for foods through, among other things, its current “good manufacturing practices” regulations, or GMPs, and specifies the recipes for certain foods. Specifically, the USDA defines “all-natural” as a product that contains no artificial ingredients, coloring ingredients or chemical preservatives and is minimally processed. Many of our MamaMancini's products were submitted to the USDA and approved as “all-natural.” However, should the USDA change its definition of “all-natural” at some point in the future, or should the Company change these existing recipes to include ingredients that do not meet the USDA’s definition of “all-natural,” we may need to change our labeling and our results of operations could be adversely affected.
The FTC and other authorities regulate how we market and advertise our products, and we could be the target of claims relating to alleged false or deceptive advertising under federal and state laws and regulations. Changes in these laws or regulations or the introduction of new laws or regulations could increase the costs of doing business for us or our customers or suppliers or restrict our actions, causing our results of operations to be adversely affected.
The need for and effect of product recalls could have a material adverse impact on our business.
We could be required, and in some instances have in the past been required to, recall certain products due to labeling, contamination, damage, or tampering, whether caused by us or someone in our supply chain. A widespread recall or market withdrawal could result in significant losses due to the cost of a recall or withdrawal, the destruction of inventory, potential liability claims, and lost sales. The costs associated with recalls could be impacted by issues encountered in tracing products within our facilities or in the supply chain. In addition, a product recall or withdrawal could also result in adverse publicity and a loss of confidence in our products, which could have a material impact on our business.
In addition, we purchase ingredients from third-party suppliers. If these materials include contaminants that impact the safety or quality of our products, we may need to find alternate materials, delay production, or dispose of our inventory, which could impact our operations. Additionally, if this occurs after the product has been distributed, we may need to withdraw or recall the affected product and we may be subject to liability claims. We cannot assure that we will not be required to perform recalls, or that liability claims will not be asserted against us in the future.
We may be subject to significant liability if the consumption of any of our products causes illness or physical harm.
The sale of food products for human consumption involves the risk of injury or illness to consumers. Such injuries or illness may result from inadvertent mislabeling, tampering or product contamination or spoilage. Under certain circumstances, we may be required to recall or withdraw products, which may have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if a situation does not necessitate a recall or market withdrawal, product liability claims may be asserted against us. If the consumption of any of our products causes, or is alleged to have caused, a health-related illness, we may become subject to claims or lawsuits relating to such matters. Even if a product liability claim is unsuccessful, the negative publicity surrounding any assertion that our products caused illness or physical harm could adversely affect our reputation with existing and potential distributors, retailers and consumers and our corporate image and brand equity. Moreover, claims or liabilities of this sort might not be covered by insurance or by any rights of indemnity or contribution that we may have against others. A product liability judgment against us or a product recall or market withdrawal could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation and operating results.
The impact of various food safety issues, environmental, legal, tax, and other regulations and related developments could adversely affect our sales and profitability.
Our products are subject to numerous food safety and other laws and regulations regarding the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of food products, particularly by the USDA and state and local agencies. These regulations govern matters such as ingredients, advertising, taxation, relations with distributors and retailers, health and safety matters, and environmental concerns. The ineffectiveness of our manufacturer’s planning and policies with respect to these matters, and the need to comply with new or revised laws or regulations with regard to licensing requirements, trade and pricing
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practices, environmental permitting, or other food or safety matters, or new interpretations or enforcement of existing laws and regulations, as well as any related litigation, may have a material adverse effect on our sales and profitability.
Increases in the cost and restrictions on the availability of raw materials could adversely affect our financial results.
Our products include agricultural commodities such as tomatoes, onions, poultry, meats and other items such as spices and flour, as well as packaging materials such as plastic, metal, paper, fiberboard, and other materials and inputs such as water, in order to manufacture products. The availability or cost of such commodities may fluctuate widely due to government policy and regulation, crop failures or shortages due to plant disease or insect and other pest infestation, weather conditions, potential impact of climate change, increased demand for biofuels, or other unforeseen circumstances. To the extent that any of the foregoing or other unknown factors increase the prices of such commodities or materials and we are unable to increase our prices or adequately hedge against such changes in a manner that offsets such changes, the results of our operations could be materially and adversely affected. Similarly, if supplier arrangements and relationships result in increased and unforeseen expenses, our financial results could be materially and adversely impacted.
Disruption of our supply chain could adversely affect our business.
Damage or disruption to our manufacturing or distribution capabilities due to weather, natural disaster, fire, terrorism, pandemic, strikes, the financial and/or operational instability of key suppliers, distributors, warehousing and transportation providers, or brokers, or any other reasons could impair our ability to manufacture or sell our products. To the extent that we are unable to, or cannot financially mitigate the likelihood or potential impact of such events, or to effectively manage such events if they occur, particularly when a product is sourced from a single location, our business and results of operations may be materially adversely affected, and additional resources could be required to restore our supply chain.
Higher energy costs and other factors affecting the cost of producing, transporting, and distributing our products could adversely affect our financial results.
Rising fuel and energy costs may have a significant impact on our cost of operations, including the manufacture, transportation, and distribution of products. Fuel costs may fluctuate due to a number of factors outside of our control, including government policy and regulation and weather conditions. Additionally, we may be unable to maintain favorable arrangements with respect to the manufacturing costs of our products as a result of the rise in costs of procuring raw materials and transportation by our manufacturers. This may result in increased expenses and negatively affect operations.
Global economic uncertainties continue to affect consumers’ purchasing habits and customer financial stability, which may affect sales volume and profitability on some of our products and have other impacts that we cannot fully predict.
As a result of continuing global economic uncertainties, price-conscious consumers may replace their purchases of our premium and value-added products with lower-cost alternatives, which may impact the price and volume of some of these products. The volume or profitability of our products may be impacted if consumers are reluctant to pay a premium for higher quality foods or if they replace purchases of our products with cheaper alternatives. Additionally, distributors and retailers may become more conservative in response to these conditions and seek to reduce their inventories. Our results of operations depend upon, among other things, our ability to maintain and increase sales volume with our existing distributors and retailers, to attract new consumers and to provide products that appeal to consumers at prices they are willing and able to pay. Prolonged unfavorable economic conditions may impact our sales and profitability.
We rely on key personnel and, if we are unable to retain, motivate key personnel, or hire qualified personnel, we may not be able to grow effectively.
Our success depends in large part upon the abilities and continued service of our executive officers and other key employees, particularly Mr. Adam L. Michaels, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman and Anthony Gruber, our Chief Financial Officer. There can be no assurance that we will be able to retain the services of such officers and employees. Our failure to retain the services of our key personnel could have a materially adverse effect on our business. In order to support our projected growth, we will be required to effectively recruit, hire, train, and retain additional qualified management personnel. Our inability to attract and retain necessary personnel could have a materially adverse effect on our business.
The failure of new product or packaging introductions to gain trade and consumer acceptance and address changes in consumer preferences could adversely affect our sales.
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Our success is dependent upon anticipating and reacting to changes in consumer preferences, including health and wellness. There are inherent marketplace risks associated with new product or packaging introductions, including uncertainties about trade and consumer acceptance. Moreover, success is dependent upon our ability to identify and respond to consumer trends through innovation. We may be required to increase expenditures for new product development, and there is no guarantee that we will be successful in developing new products or improving upon products already in existence. Additionally, our new products may not achieve consumer acceptance and could materially negatively impact sales.
Changes in our promotional activities may impact, and may have a disproportionate effect on, our overall financial condition and results of operations.
We offer a variety of sales and promotion incentives to our customers and to consumers, such as price discounts, consumer coupons, volume rebates, cooperative marketing programs, slotting fees, and in-store displays. Our net sales may periodically be influenced by the introduction and discontinuance of sales and promotion incentives. Reductions in overall sales and promotion incentives could impact our net sales and affect our results of operations in any particular fiscal quarter.
We may not be able to successfully implement our growth strategy on a timely basis or at all.
Our future success depends, in large part, on our ability to implement our growth strategy of expanding distribution and improving placement of our products, attracting new consumers to our brand and introducing new product lines and product extensions. Our ability to implement this growth strategy depends, among other things, on our ability to:
•enter into distribution and other strategic arrangements with third-party retailers and other potential distributors of our products;
•continue to compete in conventional grocery and mass merchandiser retail channels in addition to the natural and organic channel;
•secure shelf space in key supermarket locations;
•increase our brand awareness;
•expand and maintain brand loyalty; and
•develop new product lines and extensions.
We may not be able to successfully implement our growth strategy. Our sales and operating results will be adversely affected if we fail to implement our growth strategy or if we invest resources in a growth strategy that ultimately proves unsuccessful.
We are currently selling products in food retailers in the United States. If we are unable to expand into additional mass-market retailers or sell products in a greater number of supermarkets, we will fall short of our projections and our business and financial condition would be adversely affected.
As a smaller supplier, we may not sell enough items in certain stores, and as such as our products may not be placed in the most ideal locations to catch the attention of end consumers. If we are unable to gain significant sales growth, our products may never be displayed in the most attractive locations in stores and our sales may suffer.
We may be unable to successfully execute our identified growth strategies or other growth strategies that we determine to pursue.
We currently have a limited corporate infrastructure. In order to pursue growth strategies, we will need to continue to build our infrastructure and operational capabilities. Our ability to do any of these successfully could be affected by one or more of the following factors:
•our ability to raise substantial amounts of additional capital if needed to fund the implementation of our business plan;
•our ability to execute our business strategy;
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•the ability of our products to achieve market acceptance;
•our ability to manage the expansion of our operations and any acquisitions we may make, which could result in increased costs, high employee turnover or damage to customer relationships;
•our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;
•our ability to manage our third-party relationships effectively; and
•our ability to accurately predict and respond to the rapid market changes in our industry and the evolving demands of the markets we serve.
Our failure to adequately address any one or more of the above factors could have a significant impact on our ability to implement our business plan and our ability to pursue other opportunities that arise.
We may be unable to maintain quality control.
Although we have entered into raw material supply agreements specifying certain minimum acceptable quality standards, there is no assurance that our current quality assurance procedures will be able to effectively monitor compliance. Additionally, in the event that we expand our operations and increase our output volume, including securing third-party manufacturers, there is no assurance that we will be able to adequately maintain quality controls or that our current manufacturing process is scalable.
There may be product liability and other legal claims.
We currently carry product liability insurance. Although we believe that the amount of insurance coverage is sufficient for our operations, there is no assurance that the coverage will be adequate.
Our brand and reputation may suffer from real or perceived issues involving the labeling and marketing of our products as “natural.”
Although the FDA and USDA have each issued statements regarding the appropriate use of the word “natural,” there is no single, U.S. government-regulated definition of the term “natural” for use in the food industry. The resulting uncertainty has led to consumer confusion, distrust and legal challenges. Plaintiffs have commenced legal actions against a number of food companies that market “natural” products, asserting false, misleading and deceptive advertising, and labeling claims. Should we become subject to similar claims, consumers may avoid purchasing products from us or seek alternatives, even if the basis for the claim is unfounded. Adverse publicity about these matters may discourage consumers from buying our products. The cost of defending against any such claims could be significant. Any loss of confidence on the part of consumers in the truthfulness of our labeling or ingredient claims would be difficult and costly to overcome and may significantly reduce our brand value. Uncertainty as to the ingredients used in our products, regardless of the cause, may have a substantial and adverse effect on our brand and our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our finished goods inventory is located in a small number of warehouse facilities. Any damage or disruption at a storage facility would have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our finished goods inventory is located in a small number of warehouse facilities. A natural disaster, fire, power interruption, work stoppage, or other unanticipated catastrophic event at these facilities would significantly disrupt our ability to deliver our products and operate our business. If any material amount of our inventory were damaged, we would be unable to meet our contractual obligations and, as a result, our business, results of operations and financial condition would suffer.
We may be unable to defend our intellectual property.
Our business could be adversely affected if we are unable to adequately protect our intellectual property. Our current intellectual property consists of trade secret recipes and cooking processes for our products and trademarks. We rely on a combination of trademark, copyright and trade secret laws to establish and protect our proprietary rights. We will also use technical measures to protect our proprietary rights. We may, however, not be able to secure significant protection for service marks or trademarks that we obtain. Our inability to protect our intellectual property from others may impede our brand identity and could lead to consumer confusion.
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Our intellectual property rights are valuable, and any inability to protect them could reduce the value of our services and brand.
Our business is largely based upon our recipes, which are trade secrets and are not patentable. We may be unable to keep other companies from copying our recipes, or we may be subject to legal actions alleging intellectual property infringement, unfair competition or similar claims against us. Companies may have intellectual property rights covering aspects of our technologies or businesses. Defending ourselves against intellectual property infringement or similar claims would be expensive and would divert management’s attention. Additionally, there is no assurance that we would be successful in defending ourselves against such claims.
Cyberattacks impacting our computer networks or information technology systems could have an adverse impact on our business.
Cyberattacks, including through the use of ransomware, denial of service attacks, malware, computer viruses, and other means for obtaining unauthorized access to or disrupting the operation of our computer networks or information technology systems and those of our suppliers and/or vendors, could have an adverse impact on our business. Cyberattacks may cause equipment failures, loss of information, as well as disruptions to our or our customers’ operations. Cyberattacks against companies have increased in frequency, scope, and potential harm in recent years. While, to date, we have not been subject to cyberattacks that, individually or in the aggregate, have been material to our operations, the preventive actions we take to reduce the risks associated with cyberattacks, including protection of our systems and networks, may be insufficient in the future. In addition, as our company grows in size, we may become more of a target for these types of attacks. Moreover, the rapid evolution and increased adoption of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, may intensify our cybersecurity risks.
The inability to operate or use our information technology systems or those of our suppliers or vendors, even for a limited period of time, may result in significant expenses and/or a loss of market share.
Damage to our reputation can adversely impact our business
Maintaining a positive reputation is important to selling our products. Our reputation could in the future be adversely impacted by a variety of factors including: any failure by us, a business partner, or other actors in the supply chain to maintain our standards. Any failure or perception of a failure can result in damage to our reputation, which could in the future decrease demand for our products, thereby impacting our business.
Political and social conditions can impact our business
Political and social conditions in the United States of America could be difficult to predict, impacting our business. The results of elections, and other political conditions including: government shutdowns, wars and other military conflicts could impact how existing laws, regulations and government programs or policies are implemented and/or result in uncertainty as to how such laws and regulations may change, including environmental and climate change policies, taxes, tariffs, and governmental benefit programs.
Increases in income tax rates, changes in income tax laws or disagreements with tax authorities may impact our financial performance
Increases in income tax rates or changes in tax laws, including how existing laws are interpreted, may impact our financial performance. For example, economic and political conditions in the United States may result in significant changes in tax legislation and regulation. We are subject to regular examinations by numerous taxing authorities with respect to income taxes. Pressure to increase tax revenues in locations where we operate may make resolving tax disputes more difficult and impact our financial performance.
Risks Related To Our Securities
We currently have a limited trading volume, which can result in higher price volatility for, and reduced liquidity of, our common stock.
Our shares of common stock traded on the OTCQB from 2013 to July 2021 and on the Nasdaq Capital Market from July 2021 to the present date. While we have upgraded our listing, historically there has been limited daily volume of trading in our common stock, which has limited the overall and perceived liquidity of our common stock on that market.
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A more active trading market for our shares may never develop or be sustained. Active trading markets generally result in lower price volatility and more efficient execution of buy and sell orders. The absence of an active trading market increases price volatility and reduces the liquidity of our common stock. As long as this condition continues, the sale of a significant number of shares of common stock at any particular time could be difficult to achieve at the market prices prevailing immediately before such shares are offered and, if an active market for our common stock does not develop, it may be difficult to sell shares without depressing the market price for the shares, or at all. In addition, in the event that an active trading market does not develop, the price of our common stock may not be a reliable indicator of the fair value of our common stock.
Furthermore, if our common stock ceases to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market or other national exchange, holders may find it more difficult to dispose of, or to obtain accurate quotations as to the market value of, our common stock, and the market value of our common stock would likely decline.
You may experience dilution of your ownership interest because of the future issuance of additional shares of our common stock and our preferred stock.
In the future, we may issue our authorized but previously unissued equity securities, resulting in the dilution of the ownership interests of our present stockholders. We are currently authorized to issue an aggregate of 270 million shares of capital stock, consisting of 20 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.00001 per share and 250 million shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share.
We may also issue additional shares of our common stock or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for common stock in connection with hiring or retaining employees or consultants, future acquisitions, future sales of our securities for capital raising purposes, or for other business purposes. The future issuance of any such additional shares of our common stock or other securities may create downward pressure on the trading price of our common stock. There can be no assurance that we will not be required to issue additional shares, warrants or other convertible securities in the future in conjunction with hiring or retaining employees or consultants, future acquisitions, future sales of our securities for capital raising purposes or for other business purposes, including at a price (or exercise prices) below the price at which shares of our common stock are trading.
If and when a larger trading market for our common stock develops, the market price of our common stock is still likely to be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations, and you may be unable to resell your shares at or above the price at which you acquired them.
The market price of our common stock is likely to be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a number of factors that are beyond our control, including, but not limited to:
•variations in our revenue and operating expenses;
•market conditions in our industry and the economy as a whole;
•actual or expected changes in our growth rates or our competitors’ growth rates;
•announcements of innovations or new products or services by us or our competitors;
•announcements by the government relating to regulations that govern our industry;
•sales of our common stock or other securities by us or in the open market; and
•changes in the market valuations of other comparable companies.
In addition, if the market for food industry stocks or the stock market in general experiences loss of investor confidence, the trading price of our common stock could decline for reasons unrelated to our business, financial condition or operating results. The trading price of our shares might also decline in reaction to events that affect other companies in our industry, even if these events do not directly affect us. Each of these factors, among others, could harm the value of your investment in our common stock. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market, securities class-action litigation has often been instituted against companies. Such litigation, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs and diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
We do not expect to pay dividends.
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We have never declared or paid any cash dividends or distributions on our common stock. We currently intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to support operations and to finance expansion, and therefore we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
The declaration, payment, and amount of any future dividends will be made at the discretion of the Board of Directors, and will depend upon, among other things, the results of our operations, cash flows and financial condition, operating and capital requirements, and other factors as the Board of Directors considers relevant. There is no assurance that future dividends will be paid, and, if dividends are paid, there is no assurance with respect to the amount of any such dividend. If the Company does not pay dividends, the Company’s common stock may be less valuable because a return on an investor’s investment will only occur if the Company’s stock price appreciates.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about us, our business or our market, or if they change their recommendations regarding our stock adversely, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us, our business, our market or our competitors. If any of the analysts who may cover us change their recommendation regarding our stock adversely, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, our stock price would likely decline. If any analyst who may cover us were to cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If remediation of these material weaknesses is not effective, or if we identify additional material weaknesses in the future or otherwise fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately or timely report our financial condition or results of operations, which may adversely impact investor confidence and, as a result, the value of our common stock.
In connection with the preparation of our financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, we identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weaknesses identified generally relate to (1) inadequate segregation of duties between the IT and accounting functions, (2) not maintaining adequate support for authorization and approval of certain transactions recorded in the Company’s IT systems, including those obtained through electronic data interface, and (3) inadequate documentation of review procedures, including those associated with level of precision, investigating and resolving outliers, and evaluating the completeness and accuracy of information produced by the entity, including those obtained from certain service organizations which require that complementary user entity controls are suitably designed and operating effectively.
We may not be able to fully remediate the identified material weaknesses. If the steps we take do not correct the material weaknesses in a timely manner, we will be unable to conclude that the Company maintains effective internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, there could continue to be a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our financial statements would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. We also may incur significant costs to execute various aspects of our remediation plan but cannot provide a reasonable estimate of such costs at this time.
In the future, it is possible that additional material weaknesses or significant deficiencies may be identified that we may be unable to remedy before the requisite deadline for these reports. Our ability to comply with the annual internal control reporting requirements will depend on the effectiveness of our financial reporting and data systems and controls across the Company. Any weaknesses or deficiencies or any failure to implement new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in the implementation or operation of these controls, could harm our operating results and cause us to fail to meet our financial reporting obligations, or result in material misstatements in our consolidated financial statements, which could adversely impact our business and reduce our stock price.
If we are unable to conclude that we have effective internal control over financial reporting, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our common shares. Failure to remedy any material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, or to implement or maintain other effective control systems required of public companies, could also restrict our future access to the capital markets.
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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None
Item 1C. Cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity is an important part of our risk management program for our Board of Directors and management.Our Board of Directors, through the Audit Committee, oversees management's approach to managing cybersecurity risks. The Audit Committee, comprised solely of independent directors, is charged with overseeing the Company’s risk management program, including cybersecurity matters.
The Company also maintains a robust cybersecurity infrastructure to safeguard our operations, networks and data through internal management and external service providers. Our cybersecurity risk management and strategy processes are led by our Chief Administrative Officer.This individual has over 30 years of prior work experience in various roles involving managing information systems and security, developing information security strategy, implementing effective information and cybersecurity programs, as well as a degree focusing on computer science.The Chief Administrative Officer is informed about and monitors the prevention, mitigation, detection, and remediation of cybersecurity incidents through their management and participation in the Company’s cybersecurity risk management and strategy processes including the operation of our incident response plan. This management team member routinely discusses trends in cyber risks and our strategy with management and reports to the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors about cybersecurity threat risks, among other cybersecurity related matters, on a quarterly basis.
We use a risk-based approach to identify, assess, protect, detect, respond to and recover from cybersecurity threats. Our information security program includes, among other aspects, antivirus and malware protection, encryption and access control, and employee training. Risks identified by the Chief Administrative Officer and other cybersecurity personnel are analyzed to determine the potential impact on us and the likelihood of occurrence. Such risks are continuously monitored to ensure that the circumstances and severity of such risks have not changed.
In addition, we engage independent third-party cybersecurity providers for testing and vulnerability detection. We regularly engage with these providers to aid in the identification and remediation of potential threats. We also endeavor to apprise employees of emerging risks and provide security awareness training and supplemental training as needed.
Material cybersecurity incidents are required to be reported to the Board of Directors.As of the date of this report, we are not aware of any risks from cybersecurity threats that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition.
Item 2. Properties.
Our principal executive office is located at 25 Branca Road, East Rutherford, NJ 07073. We currently lease 43,250 square feet of space located in East Rutherford, NJ from Joseph Branca Partnership, Ltd. for a current rent of $73,325 per month. The lease term runs through February 2030. In addition, we lease an additional 6,413 square feet of space at 355 Murray Hill Parkway, NJ from CLN Associates, LLC for a current rent of $9,867 per month. We currently lease 20,188 square feet in a fully contained facility at 148 Allen Boulevard, Farmingdale, NY from 148 Allen Blvd LLC for production and distribution of T&L Creative Salads and Olive Branch products. This property is owned by Anthony Morello, Jr., President of T&L, as well as individuals related to Mr. Morello. This lease term is through November 30, 2031 with the option to extend the lease for two additional ten-year terms with current rent of $20,200 per month. In addition, we lease 10,000 square feet of space at 155-B Allen Blvd, NY from 1320 Entertainment Inc. for a current rate of $17,166 per month. The lease term runs through April 30, 2029.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
We are not currently involved in any material litigation. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of our Company or any of our subsidiaries, threatened against or affecting our Company, our common stock, any of our subsidiaries or of our Company’s or our Company’s subsidiaries’ officers or directors in their capacities as such, in which an adverse decision could have a material adverse effect.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
(a)Market Information
Our shares of common stock are currently quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MAMA.” From July 2021 to July 2023 shares of our common stock were quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "MMMB."
(b)Holders
As of April 7, 2025, there were approximately 43 record holders of our common stock and there were 37,596,000 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding. This figure does not take into account those shareholders whose certificates are held in the name of broker-dealers or other nominees.
(c)Dividends
Series B Preferred Stock. The holders of Series B Preferred Stock, while outstanding, were entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for such purpose, an accruing cumulative dividend, in preference to any dividend on the common stock, at an annual rate of eight percent (8%) of the Original Purchase Price, payable monthly. As of January 31, 2025 there are no shares of Series B Preferred stock issued and outstanding.
Common Stock. The declaration of any future cash dividends is at the discretion of our Board of Directors and depends upon our earnings, if any, our capital requirements and financial position, general economic conditions, and other pertinent conditions. We have not paid any cash dividends to the holders of our common stock, and it is not our present intention to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future, but rather to reinvest earnings, if any, in our business operations.
Item 6. [Reserved]
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION OF OUR PLAN OF OPERATION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS REPORT. THIS DISCUSSION CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT RELATE TO FUTURE EVENTS OR OUR FUTURE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE. THESE STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE OUR ACTUAL RESULTS, LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE RISKS AND OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, THOSE LISTED UNDER “FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS” AND “RISK FACTORS” AND THOSE INCLUDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS REPORT.
Overview
Mama’s Creations, Inc. (“Mama’s,” “Mama’s Creations” or the “Company”) is a leading marketer and manufacturer of fresh deli prepared foods, found in over 10,000 grocery, mass, club and convenience stores nationally. The Company’s broad product portfolio, born from MamaMancini’s rich history in Italian foods, now consists of a variety of high-quality, fresh, clean and easy to prepare foods to address the needs of both our consumers and retailers. Our vision is to become a one-stop-shop deli solutions platform, leveraging vertical integration and a diverse family of brands to offer a wide array of prepared foods to meet the changing demands of the modern consumer.
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Results of Operations for the Years Ended January 31, 2025 and 2024
The following table sets forth the summary of the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended January 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands):
For the Years Ended
Other Income (Expenses) $ (171) $ (544)
Income Tax Provision $ (995) $ (2,008)
Income from equity method investment in Chef Inspirational Foods, LLC $ — $ 223
For the years ended January 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company reported net income of approximately $3.7 million and $6.6 million, respectively. The change in net income between the years ended January 31, 2025 and 2024 reflects strong revenue growth offset by manufacturing inefficiencies related to the capital improvement project at the Company's Farmingdale, New York facility and increased costs of commodities, primarily the cost of chicken, and other materials.
Net Sales: Net Sales increased by approximately 19% to $123.3 million for the year ended January 31, 2025, from $103.3 million for the year ended January 31, 2024. The increase is due to higher volume of sales of existing products due to higher production capacity, introductions at new customers, introduction of new products at existing customers and successful pricing actions to recover the increased cost of commodities.
Gross Profit: The gross profit margin was 25% and 29% for the years ended January 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The decrease in gross profit margin is due to inefficiencies related to the capital improvement project at the Company's Farmingdale, New York facility and increased costs of commodities, primarily chicken, and other materials.
Operating Expenses: Operating expenses increased by 20% during the year ended January 31, 2025, as compared to the year ended January 31, 2024. Operating expenses as a percentage of sales remained relatively consistent at 21% in both fiscal year 2025 and 2024. The approximate $4.2 million increase in total operating expenses is primarily attributable to the following:
•Advertising expenses increased by approximately $1.1 million due to new digital strategies and an enhanced focus on marketing to help drive increased velocities of our existing products;
•One-time legal settlement expense of approximately $900 thousand, due to the Settlement Agreement with directors;
•Commission and royalty expenses rose by approximately $568 thousand due to increased sales;
•Professional fees increased by approximately $474 thousand due to increased corporate activity due to the growth of the Company and fees associated with Sarbanes-Oxley 404(b) implementation;
•Amortization of intangible assets increased by approximately $463 thousand due to the CIF Acquisition in the prior fiscal year;
•Office and computer-related expenses increased by approximately $300 thousand due to growth of the company, increased office space, and investment in new software to drive efficiencies;
•Travel-related expenses increased by approximately $170 thousand, due to a larger sales team and increased travel to national retailers;
•Freight-related expenses increased by approximately $71 thousand due to increased sales offset by load-sharing between the Company's two manufacturing facilities; and
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•Insurance expenses decreased by approximately $204 thousand due to consolidation of policies.
Other Income (Expenses): Other expenses decreased by approximately $373 thousand to approximately $171 thousand for the year ended January 31, 2025, as compared to approximately $544 thousand for the year ended January 31, 2024. The decrease is mainly due to a decrease in net interest expense of approximately $290 thousand, which was a result of lower debt balances outstanding as well as higher interest earned on Company cash balances.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We finance our operations with internally generated funds, supplemented by credit arrangements with third parties, and, potentially, capital market financing.
Working Capital:
The following table summarizes total current assets, liabilities and working capital at January 31, 2025 compared to January 31, 2024 (in thousands):
As of January 31, 2025, we had working capital of approximately $4.9 million as compared to working capital of approximately $6.9 million as of January 31, 2024, a decrease of approximately $2.0 million. The decrease in working capital is primarily attributable to a decrease in cash of approximately $3.9 million, which was used to purchase approximately $5.1 million of property plant and equipment, an increase in operating lease liabilities of approximately $414 thousand, and an increase in Promissory notes – related parties of approximately $300 thousand, offset by an increase in inventory of approximately $1.5 million due to increased sales, and a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses of approximately $373 thousand due to lower accrued taxes.
Long-term Requirements:
As of January 31, 2025, we have $0 outstanding under our Line of Credit Agreement, with a maximum capacity of $5.5 million, and approximately $2.9 million outstanding under our Term Loan Agreement with M&T Bank (the "Term Loan Agreement"). The Term Loan Agreement has a maturity date of January 17, 2027. In addition, we have payments of $750 thousand (plus accrued interest) due on December 29, 2025 pursuant to promissory notes issued to the sellers of T&L Creative Salads ("T&L") and Olive Branch LLC ("Olive Branch"), as discussed in Item 8, Note 6. In addition, we have a promissory note with a balance of $1.5 million with the sellers of CIF as discussed in Item 8, Note 6. This note is payable in common stock on June 28, 2025. We also have operating leases for offices and other facilities used for our operations, and finance leases comprised primarily of machinery and equipment, as discussed in Item 8, Note 11.
Cash Flows:
The following table summarizes the key components of our cash flows for the years ended January 31, 2025 and January 31, 2024 (in thousands).
For the Years Ended January 31,
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $ 5,177 $ 11,621
Net Cash (Used in) Investing Activities (5,095) (1,432)
Net Cash (Used in) Financing Activities (3,954) (3,545)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 11,022 4,378
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 7,150 $ 11,022
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Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended January 31, 2025 was approximately $5.2 million compared to net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended January 31, 2024 of approximately $11.6 million. Net income for the years ended January 31, 2025 and 2024 was approximately $3.7 million and $6.6 million, respectively. During the year ended January 31, 2025, net income was affected by non-cash adjustments of approximately $2.9 million and by changes in operating activities which used cash of approximately $1.4 million. During the year ended January 31, 2024, net income was affected by non-cash adjustments of approximately $2.8 million and changes in operating activities which provided cash of approximately $2.2 million.
Net cash used in investing activities for the years ended January 31, 2025 was approximately $5.1 million as compared to approximately $1.4 million for the year ended January 31, 2024. For the year ended January 31, 2025, the Company used cash of approximately $5.1 million to purchase new machinery and equipment. For the year ended January 31, 2024, the cash used in investing activities consisted of approximately $786 thousand to purchase new machinery and equipment and $646 thousand for the acquisition of the remaining interest in CIF.
Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended January 31, 2025 was approximately $4.0 million as compared to $3.5 million for the year ended January 31, 2024. During the year ended January 31, 2025, the Company had payments on the term loan, related party loans, and finance lease liabilities of approximately $1.7 million, $2.0 million, and $397 thousand, respectively. During the year ended January 31, 2024, the Company had payments on the term loan, line of credit, related party loans, and finance lease liabilities of approximately $1.7 million, $890 thousand, $750 thousand, and $272 thousand, respectively.
Although the expected revenue growth and control of expenses lead management to believe that it is probable that the Company’s cash resources will be sufficient to meet its cash requirements through at least the next twelve months, based on current and projected levels of operations, the Company may require additional funding to finance growth and achieve its strategic objectives. If such financing is required, there can be no assurance that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all. In the event funding is not available on reasonable terms, the Company might be required to change its growth strategy and/or seek funding on an alternative basis, but there is no guarantee it will be able to do so.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding recently issued accounting pronouncements.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”) requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and related notes. Critical accounting estimates are those estimates that, in accordance with GAAP, involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Management has determined that our most critical accounting estimates are those relating to the fair value of stock-based compensation, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, and estimates for unrealized returns, discounts, and other allowances that are netted against revenue. Although we believe that the estimates we use are reasonable, actual results reported in future periods could differ materially from those estimates. The following is a summary of certain accounting estimates we consider critical. For further discussion about our accounting policies, see Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Goodwill
Goodwill is the excess of the consideration paid for a business over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. Goodwill and other indefinite lived intangible assets are not amortized. Instead, these assets are reviewed at least annually for impairment. The Company has the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test. However, the Company may elect to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test even if no indications of a potential impairment exist.
When performing its quantitative annual goodwill impairment test, the Company is comparing the fair value with its carrying amount. The Company would recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value; however, the loss recognized would not exceed the total amount of goodwill. Additionally, the Company considers income tax effects from any tax-deductible goodwill on the carrying amount when measuring the
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goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. The fair value is estimated using discounted cash flow methodologies, as well as considering third party market value indicators. The Company’s use of a discounted cash flow methodology includes estimates of future revenue based upon budgets and projections. The Company also develops estimates for future levels of gross and operating profits and projected capital expenditures. The Company’s methodology also includes the use of estimated discount rates based upon industry and competitor analysis as well as other factors. Calculating the fair value requires significant estimates and assumptions by management. Should the estimates and assumptions regarding the fair value of the reporting units prove to be incorrect, the Company may be required to record impairments to its goodwill in future periods and such impairments could be material.
As of January 31, 2025, there were no impairment losses recognized for goodwill.
Other Intangibles
Amortizable intangible assets, including tradenames and trademarks, are amortized on a straight-line basis over 3 years. Customer relationships are amortized on a straight-line basis over 4 to 5 years.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with FASB Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).
The Company’s sales are primarily generated from the sale of finished products to customers. Revenue is recognized when the performance obligation is satisfied, and the promised goods have been transferred. Control transfers when the product is shipped or delivered based upon applicable shipping terms. For each contract, the Company considers the transfer of product to be the performance obligation. Although some payment terms may be extended, generally the Company’s payment terms are approximately 15- 30 days. Accordingly, there is no significant financing components to consider when determining the transaction price. The Company elected to treat shipping and handling activities as fulfillment activities, and the related costs are recorded as selling expenses in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The Company promotes its products with trade incentives and promotions. These programs include discounts, slotting fees, coupons, rebates, in-store display incentives and volume-based incentives. The trade incentives and promotions are recorded as a reduction to the transaction price based on amounts estimated as being due to customers at the end of the period. The Company derives these estimates based on historical experience. The Company does not receive a distinct service in relation to the trade incentives and promotions. The Company’s contracts are all short term in nature; therefore, there are no unsatisfied performance obligations requiring disclosure as of January 31, 2025.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model or Monte Carlo simulation to determine the fair value of equity-based grants, excluding restricted stock. In estimating fair value, management is required to make certain assumptions and estimates such as the expected life of units, volatility of the Company’s future share price, risk-free rates, future dividend yields and estimated forfeitures at the initial grant date. Changes in assumptions used to estimate fair value could result in materially different results.
Item 7A. Qualitative And Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are a smaller reporting company as defined in Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are not required to provide the information under this item.
Item 8. Financial Statements.
Our consolidated financial statements appear at the end of this Annual Report.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
There are no reportable events under this item for the year ended January 31, 2025.
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Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure controls and procedures consist of our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that necessary information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Due to the inherent limitations of control systems, not all misstatements may be detected. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, a control or procedure can be circumvented by individual acts of even one person, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. Controls and procedures can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the above objectives are met.
Our management, under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer), evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of January 31, 2025, at the reasonable assurance level, in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
MANAGEMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act.
Our internal control over financial reporting is a set of processes designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:
•Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;
•Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the Board of Directors of the Company; and
•Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risk that a control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or because of declines in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.
Our management, under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In making this assessment, they used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013).
Based on the evaluation under such framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of January 31, 2025, due to the existence of material weaknesses.
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A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of a company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Our management identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting relating to (1) inadequate segregation of duties between the IT and accounting functions, (2) not maintaining adequate support for authorization and approval of certain transactions recorded in the Company’s IT systems, including those obtained through electronic data interface, and (3) inadequate documentation of review procedures, including those associated with level of precision, investigating and resolving outliers, and evaluating the completeness and accuracy of information produced by the entity, including those obtained from certain service organizations which require that complementary user entity controls are suitably designed and operating effectively.
None of the identified material weaknesses resulted in a material misstatement to our annual or interim consolidated financial statements for the year ended January 31, 2025. However, because the underlying deficiencies could have resulted in a material misstatement, management determined that each constitutes a material weakness.
Our independent registered public accounting firm, UHY LLP, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2025. UHY LLP’s report appears on page 28 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Implemented and Planned Remediation Measures
We are committed to establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and promptly remediating the identified material weaknesses. Management continues to work to strengthen supporting procedures and documentation to ensure a strong control environment.
To address the identified material weaknesses, remediation actions are in the process of being implemented during the fiscal year ending January 31, 2026, including the following:
•review and enhancement of the structure of our organization, including our finance and information technology functions, to clarify roles and responsibilities and ensure appropriate segregation of duties;
•enhance the documentary support for authorization and approval of transactions recorded in the Company’s IT systems, including those obtained through electronic data interface;
•continued evaluation of existing personnel and their roles and responsibilities, with appropriate realignments and supplemental internal and external personnel and resources focused on ensuring compliance with our policies and procedures and reliable evidence and documentation of the same.
Management believes the actions described above will strengthen our internal control over financial reporting and will be sufficient to remediate the identified material weaknesses as soon as January 31, 2026. However, there can be no guarantee that such remediation efforts will be sufficient by the end of the current fiscal year or at all. Management will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the Company’s procedures and internal control over financial reporting and intends to make further changes as may be necessary or appropriate to reasonably ensure their effectiveness.
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Except as described above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information.
During the three months ended January 31, 2025, no director or officer of the Company adopted, modified or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions That Prevent Inspections.
None.
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PART III
Certain information required by Part III is incorporated by reference from our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Proxy Statement"), which we intend to file with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after January 31, 2025. Except for those portions specifically incorporated by reference from our Proxy Statement, no other portions of the Proxy Statement are deemed to be filed as part of this report.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Information about our Executive Officers
The following table discloses our executive officers as of April 7, 2025.
Name Age Position
Anthony J. Gruber 56 Chief Financial Officer
Moore (Skip) Tappan 58 Chief Operating Officer
Steven Burns 64 Chief Administrative Officer and Director
Adam Michaels was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective September 6, 2022 .
Mr. Michaels is an experienced food industry executive and former management consultant. Prior to joining the Company, Adam worked at Mondelez International, a multinational food and beverage company. Over nine years, he held numerous roles with increasing responsibility at Mondelez across Supply Chain, Commercial Sales & Marketing, and Strategy. Adam was most recently responsible for M&A and Commercial activities within North American Ventures – a business unit comprised of smaller, high-growth brands. Before joining Mondelez, Adam was a Principal at Booz & Company, a management consulting firm, for seven years, where he specialized in the Food & Beverage sector.
Adam holds an MBA in Marketing & Management from Columbia Business School and a BSE in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Anthony J. Gruber was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company in September 2022. Mr. Gruber served as Chief Financial Officer from 2019 to 2021 of De’Longhi America, Inc., an appliance manufacturer known for its espresso machines, which is the North American subsidiary of the Italian parent, De’Longhi S.p.A. He successfully restructured the Finance function for the 120-employee company with annual revenues of approximately $400 million.
From 2018-2019, he served as Chief Financial Officer of LBM Advantage, Inc., a member-owned lumber and building materials buying cooperative with 500+ members and revenues of approximately $2.2 billion.
From 2014-2017, he served as Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Richemont North America, Inc., which is the North American subsidiary of the Swiss-based luxury goods company, with 2017 revenues of approximately $2.0 billion and 2000 employees. Richemont’s Brands include Cartier, Chloe, Dunhill, MontBlanc and Piaget, among others.
From 2005-2014, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Montblanc North America, LLC, prior to its integration into Richemont North America Inc. He previously served as a Senior Accountant with Ernst & Young LLP.
Mr. Gruber earned a BS, Accounting from the University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT.
Moore (Skip) Tappan was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Company in September 2024. Mr. Tappan brings over 30 years of broad cross-functional operational experience to the Company. Prior to joining the Company, he was Chief Supply Chain Officer at Gordon Food Service. Previously he was Vice President, Supply Chain Northeast Division of Walmart. He also served with Campbell Soup Company as Vice President, North American Logistics. Mr. Tappan
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started his career at Procter & Gamble (P&G), spending over 20 years with the company in roles with increasing responsibilities, leaving as the Distribution Network Leader for its North American Beauty/Health & Wellness business. Mr. Tappan holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of South Florida – Tampa.
Steven Burns has been Executive Vice President of the Company since February 1, 2020. He was appointed the Company's Chief Administrative Officer of the Company on October 9, 2023. He has over 30 years of experience in investment, management and operations transformation across industries including high-quality and healthy food services, real estate, clean and efficient energy sources and healthcare technology. Mr. Burns has served as a director of the Company from February 2010 through the present. Prior to that, for a period of 24 years, he worked at and was a senior executive at Accenture, where he led the U.S. Health Insurance Industry Program comprised of approximately 600 professionals. He also has sat on various financial committees and boards of directors throughout his career.
Mr. Burns received his B.S. in Business Management from Boston College in 1982.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all of our directors and officers and other employees, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer. This code is publicly available through the Governance section of our website at https://ir.mamascreations.com. To the extent permissible under the applicable law, the rules of the SEC or Nasdaq listing standards, we intend to post on our website any amendment to the code of business conduct and ethics, or any grant of a waiver from a provision of the code of business conduct and ethics, that requires disclosure under the applicable law, the rules of the SEC or Nasdaq listing standards.
Insider Trading Policy
We have adopted insider trading policies and procedures governing the purchase, sale, and/or other dispositions of the Company's securities by directors, officers and employees that are reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and any listing standards applicable to the Company. A copy of the Company's Trading Policy has been filed as Exhibit 19 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Other Information
The disclosures in the Proxy Statement under the headings “Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors,” “Corporate Governance,” “How do I submit a stockholder proposal or director nomination for the next Annual Meeting,” and, if applicable “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” are incorporated into this Item by reference.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Incorporated into this Item by reference is the information in the Proxy Statement regarding the compensation of our named executive officers appearing under the heading “Executive Compensation” (excluding information under the caption “Pay versus Performance”), and the information regarding compensation of non-employee directors under the heading “Director Compensation.”
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Incorporated into this Item by reference is the information in the Proxy Statement appearing under the headings “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information.”
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Incorporated into this Item by reference is the information in the Proxy Statement regarding director independence under the heading “Corporate Governance” and the information under the heading “Transactions with Related Persons.”
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Incorporated into this Item by reference is the information in the Proxy Statement under the headings “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees” and “Audit Committee Pre-Approval.”
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PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statements Schedules
Exhibit No. Description
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19.1* Insider Trading Policy.
23.1* Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2* Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
24.1* Powers of Attorney
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
*Filed herewith
+Denotes management contract or compensatory arrangement
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
MAMA'S CREATIONS, INC.
Date: April 8, 2025 By: /s/ Adam L. Michaels
Name: Adam L. Michaels
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
/s/ Adam L. Michaels Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the April 8, 2025
Adam L. Michaels Board of Directors (principal executive officer)
Anthony Gruber
Steven Burns
Alfred D’Agostino
Tom Toto
Dean Janeway
Meghan Henson
Shirley Romig
Lynn Blake
Date: April 8, 2025 By: /s/ Adam L. Michaels
Adam L. Michaels
Attorney in Fact
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and
Stockholders of Mama’s Creations, Inc.
Adverse Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Mama's Creations, Inc.’s (the Company’s) internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, because of the effect of the material weaknesses described in the following paragraph on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, the Company has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
A material weakness is a control deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Management identified material weaknesses due to the Company’s lack of sufficient accounting and finance personnel to support and provide appropriate oversight and accountability over the performance of controls. This resulted in material weaknesses noted across significant business processes that related to (1) inadequate segregation of duties between the IT and accounting functions, (2) not maintaining adequate support for authorization and approval of certain transactions recorded in the Company’s IT systems, including those obtained through electronic data interface, and (3) inadequate documentation of review procedures, including those associated with level of precision, investigating and resolving outliers, and evaluating the completeness and accuracy of information produced by the entity, including those obtained from certain service organizations which require that complementary user entity controls are suitably designed and operating effectively.
These material weaknesses were considered in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the fiscal year 2025 consolidated financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated April 8, 2025, on those financial statements.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of the Company, and our report dated April 8, 2025, expressed an unqualified opinion.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Item 9A, Controls and Procedures: Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and
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procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ UHY LLP
New York, New York
April 8, 2025
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MAMA'S CREATIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 31, 2025
Page(s)
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 1195) F-2
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 89) F-3
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2025 and 2024 F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-11
F-1
Table of Contents
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and
Stockholders of Mama’s Creations, Inc.
Opinion of the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Mama’s Creations, Inc. (the Company) as of January 31, 2025, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 31, 2025, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, 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 January 31, 2025 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 April 8, 2025 expressed an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting because of the existence of material weaknesses.
We also have audited the adjustments to the fiscal 2024 and 2023 consolidated financial statements of the Company to retrospectively apply the change in accounting related to the Company’s adoption of ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280) – Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures as described in Notes 2 and 13. 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 fiscal 2024 and 2023 consolidated financial statements of the Company other than with respect to the adjustments and, accordingly, we do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on the fiscal 2024 and 2023 consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s 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 audit 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 financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the 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 financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the 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 financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Variable Consideration Related to Customer Incentives
As described in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company recognizes revenue net of estimates for variable consideration related to customer incentives in the form of discounts, slotting fees, coupons, rebates, in-store display incentives and volume-based incentives. The estimated portion of variable consideration at period-end amounted to $0.6
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million as of January 31, 2025. Customer incentives are estimated at period-end based on historical experience and assumptions of future promotional activity.
We identified the auditing of variable consideration related to customer incentives as a critical audit matter. Specifically, variable consideration is estimated based on historical experience and assumptions of future promotional activity. Auditing these estimates involved especially challenging and subjective auditor judgment due to the level of uncertainty involved in management’s assumptions.
The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:
•Evaluating the appropriateness of the Company’s estimation methodology and testing significant inputs and assumptions used in the calculations;
•Developing an expectation for estimated variable consideration and the allowance for customer incentives using sales data, historical activity of customer incentives as a percentage of revenue, and activity subsequent to period end; and
•Inquiring and obtaining information from management and sales department representatives to assess historical activity and assumptions of future promotional activity.
/s/ UHY LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2024.
New York, New York
April 8, 2025
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and
Stockholders of Mama's Creations, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited, before the effects of the adjustment to retrospectively apply the change in accounting for ASU 2023-07 Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures described in Notes 2 and 13, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Mama's Creations, Inc. (the Company) as of January 31, 2024 and 2023, and the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended January 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements, before the effects of the adjustments to retrospectively apply the change in accounting for ASU 2023-07 Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures described in Notes 2 and 13 (the 2024 financial statements before the effects of the adjustments discussed in Notes 2 and 13 are not presented herein), present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended January 31, 2024, 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 to retrospectively apply the change in accounting for ASU 2023-07 Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures as described in Notes 2 and 13 and, 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.To the Board of Directors and
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 audit 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.
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 Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate 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 matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.
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/s/ Rosenberg Rich Baker Berman, P.A.
We have served as the Company’s auditor from 2011 to 2024.
Somerset, New Jersey
April 24, 2024
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Mama's Creations, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Assets:
Current Assets:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,779 1,375
Property, plant, and equipment, net 9,387 4,436
Operating lease right of use assets, net 3,376 2,889
Security deposits 95 95
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
Liabilities:
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 12,052 $ 12,425
Term loan, net of debt discount of $22 and $38, respectively 1,530 1,514
Operating leases liabilities 848 434
Promissory notes – related parties 2,250 1,950
Line of credit — —
Operating leases liability – net of current 2,600 2,515
Finance leases payable – net of current 1,199 1,062
Promissory notes – related parties, net of current — 2,250
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10 and 11)
Stockholders’ Equity:
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) 164 (3,547)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 47,062 $ 45,101
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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Mama's Creations, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
For the Years EndedJanuary 31,
Operating expenses:
Other income (expenses)
Interest income 218 — —
Amortization of debt discount (16) (22) (22)
Income from equity method investment — 223 143
Less: series B preferred dividends — (49) (34)
Net income available to common stockholders 3,711 6,512 2,270
Net income per common share
Weighted average common shares outstanding
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See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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Mama's Creations, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity