HelloFresh forecast 2023 profit below analysts' expectations on Tuesday, sending its shares down as much as 12.7%, as fewer people order its meal kits in re-opening economies and as inflation trims household budgets.
Meal kit and food delivery firms were among the big winners of the pandemic lockdowns, but with food and energy bills rising and people returning to offices, they are facing higher marketing costs to retain customers.
Germany's HelloFresh sees adjusted core profit (AEBITDA) of between €460 million and €540 million ($492 million and $577 million) in 2023, compared with analysts' estimate of €547 million.
HelloFresh shares, already down more than 50% in the past 12 months, tumbled 12.7% to €19.86 soon after opening on Tuesday but pared most losses and were down 3% by 0839 GMT.
Customer Base Decline
The company expects its number of active customers to decline slightly in the first half of 2023 before improving again in the second, after dropping to 7.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 from 8 million in the third quarter.
HelloFresh said in a media call that it would focus on controlling costs and stabilising its customer base, as it aims to increase profitability.
"Price increases is one tool in our toolbox," Dominik Richter, chief executive said, but added the company aimed to keep price rises below the overall food price inflation level.
He said HelloFresh was not planning any lay-offs at the moment, and refrained from giving an update on the mid-term outlook.
Food delivery firms from US rival Blue Apron to online takeaway companies Just Eat Takeaway and Deliveroo have recently cut their workforces due to slowing demand.
Revenue Forecast
HelloFresh expects its revenue to grow 2% to 10% on a constant-currency basis this year, compared with growth of 18% in 2022.
It cited expectations of a weaker consumer environment and 'reasonably tough' comparison figures with the first quarter of the last year, when it still benefited from lockdowns.
The company also forecast "relatively muted" order growth for 2023.
HelloFresh reported annual AEBITDA of €477.4 million, above the €464.5 million expected by analysts.
News by Reuters, edited by Donna Ahern, Checkout. For more A-brand news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
