Note 1 - Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Financial Statement Preparation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements (the “balance sheet(s),” “statement(s) of operations,” “statement(s) of stockholders' equity,” and “statement(s) of cash flows,” collectively, the “financial statements”) include the accounts of Laird Superfood, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Picky Bars, LLC, (collectively, the “Company,” or “Laird Superfood”). The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as contained within the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Operating results include the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

Nature of Operations

Laird Superfood creates clean, plant-based, and functional foods, many of which incorporate adaptogens which may be beneficial in reducing stress, improving energy levels, enhancing mental performance, mood regulation, and immune system support. Our primary products include (i) coffee creamers, (ii) hydration and beverage enhancing products, (iii) harvest snacks and other food items, and (iv) coffee, tea, and hot chocolate products. The Company was founded in 2015.

The Company currently operates in one reportable segment. See Note 15 for additional information regarding this single segment.

Principles of Consolidation

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in our accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Although management believes its estimates and assumptions are reasonable when made, they are based upon information available at the time they are made. Management evaluates the estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis and, if necessary, makes adjustments. Due to the risks and uncertainties involved in the Company’s business and evolving market conditions and given the subjective element of the estimates and assumptions made, actual results may differ from estimated results. The most significant estimates and judgments include those related to allowances for credit losses and returns, inventory obsolescence, goodwill, intangible assets, valuation allowance for deferred taxes, reserves on prepaid expenses, variable consideration in contracts with customers, and fair value of stock-based compensation.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash are highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased. For the purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company includes cash on hand, cash in clearing accounts, cash on deposit with financial institutions, investments with an original maturity of three months or less, and restricted cash in determining the total balance.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consist principally of trade receivables, which are recorded at the invoiced amount, net of allowances for credit losses. Trade receivables do not bear interest. Receivables are considered past due or delinquent according to contract terms. Management closely monitors outstanding balances and writes off accounts receivable as they are determined uncollectible. The Company provides for estimated losses on accounts receivable based on a forward-looking expected credit loss models based on historical experience, current economic conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. These estimated allowances for credit losses include both allowances for non-payment as well as reserves for trade promotional contracts with wholesale customers. 

The following table summarizes the components of estimated allowances for credit losses:

	December 31,			December 31,
	2024			2023
Allowance for bad debts	$	16,107		$	37,201
Trade promotion reserves		953,061			901,917
Factoring payable (receivable)		(1,534	)		—
Total allowances for credit losses	$	967,634		$	939,118

Inventory

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, or the value of consideration that can be received upon sale of said product, and approximate costs determined on the first-in first-out basis and consists primarily of raw materials, packaging, and finished goods, which include co-packing fees, indirect labor and allocable overhead.

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses are recognized as an asset upon payment, prior to the realizability of the service or receipt of goods. They are subsequently amortized either on a straight-line basis according to contractual terms, when services or arrangements are rendered, or when goods are received. Deposits are recognized when paid and are relieved either upon refund or upon determining that the deposit will not be refunded. Other current assets are recognized when estimable and realizable. 

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are valued at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs that do not extend the useful life or increase the value of the assets are charged to expense in the period incurred. Additions and betterments are capitalized. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Estimated useful lives for depreciation purposes for furniture and equipment range from 2 to 5 years. The useful life for leasehold improvements is the lesser of the lease term or the useful life. Construction in progress is not depreciated until such a time that the assets are completed and placed into service.

Leases

In accordance with ASC 842, Leases (“ASC 842”), the Company accounts for a contract as a lease when it has the right to control the asset for a period of time while obtaining substantially all of the asset’s economic benefits. We categorize leases at their inception as either operating, finance, or short-term leases and determine if an arrangement contains an embedded lease. For arrangements that meet the definition of a lease, the Company determines the initial classification and measurement of its right-of-use asset and lease liability at the lease commencement date and, thereafter, if modified. The lease term includes any renewal options that the Company is reasonably assured to exercise. Lease agreements effective during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 cover, or covered, office space, and vehicles. All of our long-term leases are operating leases. Operating leases are included in right-of-use assets, current lease liabilities, and long-term lease liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets.

In addition to rent, the leases may require the Company to pay additional costs, such as utilities, maintenance, and other operating costs, which are generally referred to as non-lease components. The Company has elected to not separate lease and non-lease components. Only the fixed costs for lease components and their associated non-lease components are accounted for as a single lease component and recognized as part of a right-of-use asset and liability. Lease-related liabilities are recognized at the present value of the remaining contractual fixed lease payments, discounted using our incremental borrowing rate. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, while variable lease payments are expensed as incurred.

Leased assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. We use a secured incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate for the present value of lease payments when the rate implicit in the contract is not readily determinable. For operating leases with variable payments dependent upon an index or rate, we apply the active index or rate as of the lease commencement date. Variable lease payments not based on an index or rate are not included in the operating lease liability as they cannot be reasonably estimated and are recognized in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. Leases that have a term of twelve months or less upon commencement date are considered short-term in nature. Accordingly, short-term leases are not included on the consolidated balance sheets and are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term, which commences on the date we have the right to control the property.

We were the lessor in a sublease agreement. This lease was an operating lease and was recognized straight line over the lease term with a related sublease rental asset accounting for abatements and initial direct costs. Sublease income was recognized in other income and expenses in the statements of operations. The sublease was terminated without penalty effective October 31, 2024. 

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with the five-step model as prescribed by ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) in which the Company evaluates the transfer of promised goods or services and recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration which the Company expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for the arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. See Note 14 for additional information regarding revenue recognition. The Company has elected, as a practical expedient, to account for the shipping and handling as fulfillment costs, rather than as a separate performance obligation. Methodologies for determining these provisions are dependent on customer pricing and promotional practices. The Company records reductions to revenue and a refund liability for estimated product returns and pricing adjustments in the same period that the related revenue is recorded. These estimates will be based on industry-based historical data, historical sales returns, if any, analysis of credit memo data, and other factors known at the time.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold includes the cost of products purchased, packaging, co-packers' tolling fees, inbound and outbound freight costs, indirect labor, third party labor to store and ship our products, and overhead costs incurred in the storage and distribution of products sold in the period.  

Shipping and Handling

Costs of shipping and handling related to sales revenue are included in cost of goods sold. Shipping and handling costs totaled $5,189,469 and $5,223,257 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Income generated from shipping costs billed through to customers was included in Sales, net in the consolidated statements of operations. Shipping income totaled $506,732 and $899,921 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Research and Product Development

Amounts spent on research and development activities are expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expenses on the statements of operations. Research and product development expense was $114,144 and $219,723 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Marketing and advertising

Marketing and advertising costs are expensed when incurred. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, these costs amounted to $6,735,672 and $7,886,031, respectively, including related party marketing costs.

Income Taxes

Income taxes provide for the tax effects of transactions reported in the consolidated financial statements and consist of income taxes currently due and deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company may also be subject to interest and penalties from taxing authorities on underpayment of income taxes. In such an event, interest and penalties are included in income tax expense. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for differences between the basis of assets and liabilities for financial statement and income tax purposes. The differences relate primarily to depreciable and amortizable assets (use of different depreciation and amortization methods and lives for financial statement and income tax purposes), stock-based compensation, operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, and net operating losses. The deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax return consequences of those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. 

Stock Incentive Plan

The compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions is recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The cost is measured based on the grant date fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. Compensation cost for all employee stock awards is calculated and recognized over the employees’ service period, generally defined as the vesting period. For awards with graded-vesting, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. Compensation cost for all consultant stock awards is calculated and recognized over the consultant’s service period based on the grant date fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. Upon exercise of stock option awards or vesting of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and market-based stock units (“MSUs”), recipients are issued shares of common stock. Pre-vesting forfeitures result in the reversal of all compensation cost as of the date of termination; post-vesting cancellation does not.

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock that were outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is similarly determined, except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if all dilutive potential common stock and preferred stock had been issued and are calculated under the treasury stock method. Due to the Company’s net loss, all stock options, unvested restricted stock, and convertible preferred stock are anti-dilutive and excluded.

Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets

Indefinite lived intangible assets are valued at cost. The Company assesses qualitative factors each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances exist that indicate that the fair values of the indefinite lived intangible assets are less than the carrying amounts. Upon considering these factors, the Company determines whether or not it is more likely than not that the fair values of the assets are less than the carrying amounts. If the fair value is less than the carrying value, impairment would be recognized.

Definite Lived Intangible Assets, net

Definite lived intangible assets are valued at cost, net of accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Estimated useful lives for amortization purposes range between 3 and 10 years. Amortization expense is allocated to general and administrative expense. The Company assesses qualitative factors each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances exist that indicate that the fair values of the definite lived intangible assets were less than the carrying amounts.

Employee Benefit Plan

The Company sponsors a defined contribution 401(k) plan (the “401(k) plan”) for all employees 18 years of age or older. Employee contributions may be made on a before-tax basis, limited by Internal Revenue Service regulations. Contributions of $136,074 were remitted during the year ended December 31, 2024. No contributions were remitted during the year ended December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were $129,301 and $155,815 of employer 401(k) contribution liabilities, respectively, included in accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets.

JOBS Act Accounting Election

The Company qualifies as an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. An emerging growth company can elect to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that it (i) is no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opts out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. Currently, the Company has elected to file as an emerging growth company defined under the JOBS Act, and as such, these consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

Loss Contingencies

We may be subject to contingencies arising in the ordinary course of business, such as product liability and other product-related litigation, commercial litigation, environmental claims and proceedings, government investigations and guarantees and indemnifications. In assessing contingencies related to legal and environmental proceedings that are pending against the Company, or unasserted claims that are probable of being asserted, we record accruals for these contingencies to the extent that we conclude that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable. If some amount within a range of loss appears to be a better estimate than any other amount within the range, we accrue that amount. Alternatively, when no amount within a range of loss appears to be a better estimate than any other amount, we accrue the lowest amount in the range. We record anticipated recoveries under existing insurance contracts when recovery is assured.

Recoveries on claims for business interruptions

In the first quarter of 2023, we discovered a product quality issue with coconut milk powder from one of our suppliers and immediately initiated a voluntary product withdrawal and contacted all impacted wholesale customers and e-commerce consumers to aggressively pull back as much as of the affected product as possible. In connection with this withdrawal, we incurred costs associated with inventory obsolescence, quality testing, and remedial discounts and replacement orders of $0.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2023. In the third quarter of 2023 and the third quarter of 2024, we reached settlement agreements with the vendor, in connection with which we recovered approximately $0.5 million. We implemented a robust new sensory testing program to prevent future quality issues.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which expanded annual and interim disclosure requirements for reportable segments, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The expanded annual disclosures are effective for our year ended December 31, 2024, and the expanded interim disclosures are effective in 2025 and were applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented. See Note 15 for further information on our reportable segment. 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), which requires, among other things, additional disclosures primarily related to the income tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. The expanded annual disclosures are effective for our year ending December 31, 2025. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2023-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and whether we will apply the standard prospectively or retrospectively.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement -Reporting Comprehensive Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses ("ASU 2024-03"). ASU 2024-03 requires additional disclosures about the nature of expenses included in the income statement, such as purchases of inventory, employee compensation, and depreciation. ASU 2024-03 is effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2024-03 on its financial statements and related disclosures.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent events are events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the consolidated financial statements are available to be issued. The Company has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2024 for potential recognition of disclosure in the financial consolidated statements.