G. Willi-Food International Reports Major Improvements in All Major Operational Parameters in Second Quarter 2018 Compared to Second Quarter 2017

YAVNE, Israel, Aug. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- G. Willi-Food International Ltd. (NASDAQ: WILC) (the "Company" or "Willi-Food"), a global company that specializes in the development, marketing and international distribution of kosher foods, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018.

Willi-Food's operating divisions include Willi-Food, a distributor of a broad variety of kosher foods, and Gold Frost, its wholly-owned subsidiary, a designer, developer and distributor of branded kosher innovative dairy food products.

Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2018 Highlights

• Sales increased by 2.6% year-over-year to NIS 78.4 million (US$ 21.5 million).
• Gross profit increased by 51.8% year-over-year to NIS 22.2 million (US$ 6.1 million).
• Operating profit of NIS 7.6 million (US$ 2.1 million), or 9.7% of sales, compared to operating loss of NIS (1.6) million (US$ 0.4 million) in the comparable quarter of 2017.
• Net profit increased by 312% year-over-year to NIS 6.5 million (US$ 1.8 million), or 8.2% of sales.
• Net cash from operating activities of NIS 7.8 million (US$ 2.1 million).
• Cash and securities balance of NIS 270.8 million (US$ 74.2 million) as of June 30, 2018.
• Earnings per share of NIS 0.49(US$ 0.13).

Management Comment

Zwi Williger & Joseph Williger, Co-Chairmen of Willi-Food, commented: "We are pleased to present the second quarter 2018 financial results which show improvements in sales, gross profit, operating profit and net profit over the comparable period last year. Sales increased by 2.6% versus second quarter of 2017, gross profit increased by 51.8% versus second quarter of 2017, operating profit increased by 560% versus second quarter of 2017, and net profit increased by 312% versus second quarter of 2017.

This is the fourth consecutive quarter since the Company's control has been changed and new managers have been appointed in which the Company presents improvement in its operating results over the comparable quarter of the previous year. We believe that the activities we are taking will continue to generate steady growth and increase profitability over time.

We are happy to update that the Company has contracted with several European dairies to supply a range of alternative dairy products to the products previously provided by Arla Foods Amba (a former significant supplier of our dairy products segment). In August 2018, the Company launched a dairy line with the products from the European dairies under an independent brand called Euro Dairy Europe.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2018 Summary

Sales for the second quarter of 2018 increased by 2.6% to NIS 78.4 million (US$ 21.5 million) from NIS 76.4 million (US$ 20.9 million) recorded in the second quarter of 2017. Sales increased in the second quarter of 2018 primarily due to redirection of resources in favor of sales, increasing the range of the Company's products and proper inventory management.

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2018 increased by 51.8% to NIS 22.2 million (US$ 6.1 million) compared to NIS 14.6 million (US$ 4.0 million) recorded in the second quarter of 2017. Second quarter gross margin increased by 48.2% to 28.3% compared to gross margin of 19.1% for the same period in 2017. The increase in gross margin was the result of the Company's continued strategic focus on selling a favorable mix of products which generate a higher gross margin.

Willi-Food's operating profit for the second quarter of 2018 increased by 559.9% to NIS 7.6 million (US$ 2.1 million) compared to operating loss of NIS (1.6) million (US$ (0.4) million) in the second quarter of 2017.

Selling expenses decreased by 9% from the comparable quarter of 2017 primarily due to a decrease in promotional expenses. Selling expenses as a percentage of sales were 13.0%, compared to 14.6% in the second quarter of 2017.

General and administrative expenses were NIS 4.4 million (US$ 1.2 million) in the second quarter of 2018, a decrease of 17% compared to NIS 5.3 million (US$ 1.5 million) in the second quarter of 2017. This was primarily due to a decrease in legal and consulting expenses.

Willi-Food's operating income before taxes for the second quarter of 2018 was NIS 8.0 million (US$ 2.2 million) compared to operating income before taxes of NIS 1.0 million (US$ 0.3 million) in the second quarter of 2017.

Willi-Food's net profit in the second quarter of 2018 was NIS 6.5 million (US$ 1.8 million), or NIS 0.49(US$ 0.13) per share, compared to NIS 1.6 million (US$ 0.4 million), or NIS 0.12(US$ 0.03) per share, recorded in the second quarter of 2017.

Willi-Food ended the second quarter of 2018 with NIS 270.8 million (US$ 74.2 million) in cash and securities. Net cash from operating activities for the second quarter of 2018 was NIS 7.8 million (US$ 2.1 million). Willi-Food's shareholders' equity at the end of June 2018 was NIS 429.3 million (US$ 117.6 million).

First Half Fiscal 2018 Highlights

• Sales increased by 7.5% year-over-year to NIS 171.8 million (US$ 47.1 million).
• Gross profit increased by 28.2% year-over-year to NIS 46.9 million (US$ 12.8 million), or 10% of sales.
• Operating profit increased by 241.5% year-over-year to NIS 17.1 million (US$ 4.7 million), or 10% of sales.
• Net profit increased 133% to NIS 13.7 million (US$ 3.7 million), or 8% of sales.
• Net cash from operating activities of NIS 7.8 million (US$ 2.1 million).
• Earnings per share of NIS 1.03(US$ 0.28).

First Half Fiscal 2018 Summary

Willi-Food's sales for the six-month period ending June 30, 2018 increased by 7.5% to NIS 171.8 million (US$ 47.1 million) compared to sales of NIS 159.7 million (US$ 43.8 million) in the first half of 2017. Sales increased in the first half of 2018 primarily to due redirection of resources in favor of sales, increasing the range of the Company's products and proper inventory management.

Gross profit for the period increased by 28.2% to NIS 46.9 million (US$ 12.8 million) compared to gross profit of NIS 36.6 million (US$ 10.0 million) for the first half of 2017. First half 2018 gross margin was 27.3% compared to a gross margin of 22.9% for the same period in 2017. The increase in gross margin was the result of the Company's continued strategic focus on selling a favorable mix of products which generate a higher gross margin.

Operating income for the first half of 2018 increased by 241% to NIS 17.1 million (US$ 4.7 million) from NIS 5.0 million (US$ 1.4 million) reported in the comparable period of last year primarily due to the increase of gross profit and decrease of selling expenses.

First half 2018 income before taxes increased by 157.5% to NIS 17.6 million (US$ 4.8 million) compared to NIS 6.8 million (US$ 1.9 million) recorded in the first half of 2017.

Net income for the first half of 2018 increased by 133.5% to NIS 13.7 million (US$ 3.7 million), or NIS 1.03(US$ 0.28) per share, from NIS 5.9 million (US$ 1.6 million), or NIS 0.44(US$ 0.12) per share, recorded in the first half of 2017.

Convenience Translation to Dollars

The convenience translation of New Israeli Shekels (NIS) into U.S. dollars was made at the rate of exchange prevailing on June 30, 2018, U.S. $1.00 equals NIS 3.65. The translation was made solely for the convenience of the reader.

IFRS

The Company's consolidated financial results for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 are presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").

About G. Willi-Food International Ltd.:

G. Willi-Food International Ltd. (http://www.willi-food.com) is an Israeli-based company specializing in high-quality, great-tasting kosher food products. Willi-Food is engaged directly and through its subsidiaries in the design, import, marketing and distribution of over 600 food products worldwide. As one of Israel's leading food importers, Willi-Food markets and sells its food products to over 1,500 customers in Israel and around the world including large retail and private supermarket chains, wholesalers and institutional consumers. The company's operating divisions include Willi-Food in Israel and Gold Frost, a wholly owned subsidiary who designs, develops and distributes branded kosher, dairy-food products.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to future events or our future performance, such as statements regarding trends, demand for our products and expected sales, operating results, and earnings. Forward-looking 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 in those forward-looking statements. These risks and other factors include but are not limited to: monetary risks including changes in marketable securities or changes in currency exchange rates- especially the NIS/U.S. Dollar exchange rate, payment default by any of our major clients, the loss of one of more of our key personnel, changes in laws and regulations, including those relating to the food distribution industry, and inability to meet and maintain regulatory qualifications and approvals for our products, termination of arrangements with our suppliers, loss of one or more of our principal clients, increase or decrease in global purchase prices of food products, increasing levels of competition in Israel and other markets in which we do business, changes in economic conditions in Israel, including in particular economic conditions in the Company's core markets, our inability to accurately predict consumption of our products and changes in consumer preferences, our inability to protect our intellectual property rights, our inability to successfully integrate our recent acquisitions, insurance coverage not sufficient enough to cover losses of product liability claims and risks associated with product liability claims We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties summarized under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2018. These factors are updated from time to time through the filing of reports and registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

{FINANCIAL TABLES TO FOLLOW}

This information is intended to be reviewed in conjunction with the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company Contact:
G. Willi - Food International Ltd.
Amir Kaplan, Chief Financial Officer
(+972) 8-932-1000
amir.k@willi-food.co.il

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