Seneca Foods Reports Net Sales increase of $19.0 Million for the Quarter Ended September 28, 2013

MARION, N.Y. October 23, 2013 -- Seneca Foods Corporation (NASDAQ: SENEA, SENEB) reported for the second quarter of 2014, net earnings of $6.6 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, compared to $14.5 million, or $1.22 per diluted share, in the fiscal second quarter of 2013. Net sales for the second quarter ended September 28, 2013 increased from the second quarter ended September 29, 2012 by 6.0%, or $19.0 million to $336.6 million. The increase is attributable to a sales volume increase of $26.9 million partially offset by a less favorable sales mix and lower selling prices of $7.9 million. $15.0 million of the sales volume increase can be attributed to sales from the Green Giant Alliance which took place in the Company's third quarter during the prior year.
The Company reported net earnings for the fiscal six months ended September 28, 2013 of $8.0 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, compared to $22.7 million, or $1.89 per diluted share for the same period in the prior year. In the six months ended September 28, 2013, net sales increased $20.1 million, or 3.7% to $568.8 million. The increase in net sales is attributable to higher sales volume of $39.4 million partially offset by lower selling prices/unfavorable sales mix of $19.3 million.
Excluding a non-cash after-tax LIFO charge of $5.6 million, net earnings per diluted share were $1.09 during the quarter ended September 28, 2013 versus $1.02 during the quarter ended September 29, 2012, which included a non-cash LIFO credit of $2.4 million. Excluding a non-cash after-tax LIFO charge of $9.4 million, net earnings per diluted share were
$1.55 during the six months ended September 28, 2013, compared to $1.76 during the six months ended September 29,
2012 which included a non-cash LIFO credit of $1.6 million.

About Seneca Foods Corporation

Seneca Foods is a processor of canned fruits and vegetables with manufacturing facilities located throughout the United States. Its products are sold under the Libby's, Blue Boy, Aunt Nellie's Farm Kitchen, Stokely's, READ, Seneca Farms and Seneca labels as well as through the private label and industrial markets. In addition, under an alliance with General Mills Operations, LLC, a successor to the Pillsbury Company and a subsidiary of General Mills, Inc., Seneca produces canned and frozen vegetables, which are sold by General Mills Operations, LLC under the Green Giant label. Seneca's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Stock Market under the symbols "SENEA" and "SENEB". SENEA is included the S&P SmallCap 600, Russell 2000 and Russell 3000 indices.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures-Net Earnings Excluding LIFO Impact, EBITDA and FIFO EBITDA

Net Earnings excluding LIFO, EBITDA and FIFO EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide a basis for comparison to companies that do not use LIFO and enhance the understanding of the Company's historical operating performance. The Company does not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Set forth below is a reconciliation of reported net earnings and reported diluted earnings per share to net earnings excluding LIFO and diluted earnings per share excluding LIFO.

Quarter Ended



September 28, 2013 September 29, 2012

Income Diluted Income Diluted

(in millions) EPS (in millions) EPS

Net earnings, as reported: $ 6.6 $ 0.59 $ 14.5 $ 1.22

LIFO charge (credit), after tax at statutory federal rate $ 5.6 $ 0.50 $ (2.4) $ (0.20)



Net earnings, excluding LIFO impact $ 12.2 $ 1.09 $ 12.1 $ 1.02

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

(in thousands) 10,819 11,445

Six Months Ended



September 28, 2013 September 29, 2012

Income Diluted Income Diluted

(in millions) EPS (in millions) EPS

Net earnings, as reported: $ 8.0 $ 0.71 $ 22.7 $ 1.89

LIFO charge (credit), after tax at statutory federal rate $ 9.4 $ 0.84 $ (1.6) $ (0.13)



Net earnings, excluding LIFO impact $ 17.4 $ 1.55 $ 21.1 $ 1.76

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

(in thousands) 10,822 11,602



Set forth below is a reconciliation of reported net earnings to EBITDA and FIFO EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, non-cash charges and credits related to the LIFO inventory valuation method). The Company does not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Six Months Ended EBITDA and FIFO EBITDA: September 28, 2013 September 29, 2012


(In thousands)

Net earnings

$ 7,950

$ 22,712

Income taxes (benefit) expense

(754)

13,173

Interest expense, net of interest income

3,375

3,314

Depreciation and amortization

11,679

11,424

Interest amortization

(150)

(150)

EBITDA

22,100

50,473

LIFO charge (credit)

14,435

(2,444)

FIFO EBITDA

$ 36,535

$ 48,029

Forward-Looking Information

The information contained in this release contains, or may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements appear in a number of places in this release and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers (including statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates" or similar expressions) with respect to various matters.
Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are:
general economic and business conditions;
cost and availability of commodities and other raw materials such as vegetables, steel and packaging materials;
transportation costs;
climate and weather affecting growing conditions and crop yields;
availability of financing;
leverage and the Company's ability to service and reduce its debt;
foreign currency exchange and interest rate fluctuations;
effectiveness of the Company's marketing and trade promotion programs;
changing consumer preferences;
competition;
product liability claims;
the loss of significant customers or a substantial reduction in orders from these customers;
changes in, or the failure or inability to comply with, United States, foreign and local governmental regulations, including environmental and health and safety regulations; and
other risks detailed from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the SEC.
Except for ongoing obligations to disclose material information as required by the federal securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the filing of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contact:

Timothy J. Benjamin, Chief Financial Officer
315-926-8100

Seneca Foods Corporation

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings For the Periods Ended September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012 (In thousands of dollars, except share data)

Quarter Year-to-Date



Fiscal 2014 Fiscal 2013 Fiscal 2014 Fiscal 2013

Net sales

$ 336,628

$ 317,593

$ 568,755

$ 548,644

Plant restructuring expense (note 2)

$ 347

$ -

$ 501

$ -

Other operating income net (note 3)

$ (607)

$ (274)

$ (788)

$ (292)

Operating income (note 1)

$ 6,783

$ 24,934

$ 10,571

$ 39,199

Interest expense, net

1,548

1,836

3,375

3,314

Earnings before income taxes

$ 5,235

$ 23,098

$ 7,196

$ 35,885

Income taxes (benefit) expense

(1,368)

8,577

(754)

13,173

Net earnings

$ 6,603

$ 14,521

$ 7,950

$ 22,712

Earnings attributable to common stock (note 4)

$ 6,387

$ 14,010

$ 7,685

$ 21,920

Basic earnings per share

$ 0.59

$ 1.23

$ 0.71

$ 1.90

Diluted earnings per share

$ 0.59

$ 1.22

$ 0.71

$ 1.89

Weighted average shares outstanding basic

10,747,729

11,373,830

10,750,116

11,530,523

Weighted average shares outstanding diluted

10,819,217

11,445,146

10,821,604

11,601,839



Note 1: The effect of the LIFO inventory valuation method on second quarter pre-tax results was to decrease operating earnings by $8,637,000 for

the three month period ended September 28, 2013 and increase operating earnings by $3,706,000 for the three month period ended September

29, 2012. The effect of the LIFO inventory valuation method on year-to-date pre-tax results was to decrease operating earnings by

$14,435,000 for the six month period ended September 28, 2013 and increase operating earnings by $2,444,000 for the six month period ended September 29, 2012.

Note 2: The six month period ended September 28, 2013 included a restructuring charge for product rationalization costs of $501,000.

Note 3: Other income for the current year of $788,000 represents a net gain on the sale of unused fixed assets of $869,000 partially offset by a loss of $81,000 to adjust the bargain purchase gain on the Sunnyside acquisition.

Other income for the prior year of $292,000 represents a net gain on the sale of unused fixed assets.

Note 4: The Company uses the "two-class" method for basic earnings per share by dividing the earnings attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average of common shares outstanding during the period. The diluted earnings per share includes the effect of convertible shares for each period presented. Common and participating shares totaled 11,099,127 as of September 28, 2013.

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