Debra Borchardt
4Front Ventures Corp. (OTCQX:FFNTF) reported revenue of $12.7 million in the second quarter versus $2.5 million for the same time period as last year. However, sales at 4Front were flat quarter-over-quarter. The company said that it achieved positive operating cash flow in the month of August and expects a positive adjusted EBITDA starting in the third-quarter of 2020.
The loss from operations was $4.9 million. On the company earnings call Chief Investment Officer Andrew Thut said , “Our adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter was a loss of $400,000, as compared to a loss of $2.8 million in the first quarter and $5.8 million in the fourth quarter of last year.”
CEO Leo Gontmakher said, “Our strong business momentum leaving the second quarter will be aided by significant tailwinds as we enter the second half of this year. We welcomed the first adult-use sales in Massachusetts at our Georgetown facility on August 12th and anticipate final approvals for adult use sales at our Worcester facility imminently. Our cultivation/processing facility expansions in Massachusetts and Illinois as well as our second Illinois retail location are on-track for end of year completion. We continue to execute on our plans to flip to cash flow positive during the third quarter and have set the stage to exit this year in a position to drive meaningful operating leverage in our business.”
Washington
The company established itself in Washington state and has since been expanding into other states. With regards to Washington, 4Front said it is seeing a phenomenal market turnaround from where the industry was a year and a half ago. “We had record months back to back in July and August, with the July being the first month we’ve had over $4 million in wholesale revenue. Flower prices are still trending up over the last 8 to 10 months, and we’re currently selling packages delivered flower for $900 a pound on average as compared to $650 a pounds just 12 months ago.” The company also noted that it has record sales for vapes and edibles across the board without having to lower prices in any of those categories.
Massachusetts
The company said that its Georgetown, Massachusetts location began serving the adult-use market on August 14. Its first location to be approved in the state. 4Front said it is pleased with the steady progression of the sales ramps since launch, punctuated by a record weekend leaving the month of August. “We expect to be able to make an announcement about our Worcester location entering the adult use markets in the very near future as well, which provides a further tailwind to growth in the space.” The Worcester location for adult use and the third location in Brookline are expected to open in early 2021.
Illinois
The company was offline in Illinois in June and July as the stores were closed for looting during the protests. The company noted that Joe Epperson, who formerly led the flower team in Washington, moved to Illinois and took over leadership of the grow facilities in January, and since that time, they’ve seen the yield in Elk Grove improved from 250 grams per square foot to right around 350 grams per square foot.
4Front said it is on track with the reopening of our South Chicago dispensary. The Calumet City dispensary is also on track to open in the fourth quarter of this year. “This together with our project that’s currently underway to expand our Illinois cultivation facility, tripling our production capacity is expected to strengthen our foothold in the state and pave the way for both top-line and bottom-line growth.”
Looking Ahead
The company said it is in progressive discussions to strengthen its balance sheet through a financing/sale leaseback of its affiliated facilities in Washington state. It also expects to finalize the divestiture activities of non-core assets with the closing of Maryland in early September.
