The Company operates on a fiscal calendar year, and each interim quarter is comprised of one 5-week period and two 4-week periods, with each week ending on a Saturday. The Company’s fiscal year always begins on January 1 and ends on December 31. As a result, the Company’s first and fourth fiscal quarters may have more or fewer days included than a traditional 91-day fiscal quarter.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant accounting estimates made by the Company include trade promotion accruals; useful lives of property, plant and equipment; valuation of deferred tax assets; valuation of inventory; and the valuation of the fair value of common stock and preferred stock used to determine stock compensation expense and in the remeasurement of warrants and liabilities. These estimates and assumptions are based on current facts, historical experience and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recording of expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences may be material to the financial statements.

On January 2, 2019, the Company effected a 3-to-2 reverse stock split of its outstanding common stock and convertible preferred stock, including outstanding stock options and common and convertible preferred stock warrants. The reverse stock split did not result in an adjustment to par value. All references in the accompanying financial statements and related notes to the number of shares of common stock, convertible preferred stock, warrants and options to purchase common stock and per share data reflect the effect of the reverse stock split.

The Company maintains cash balances at two financial institutions in the United States. The cash balances may, at times, exceed federally insured limits. Accounts are guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or FDIC up to $250,000. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturity dates of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of amounts invested in money market accounts. Prior to 2018, the Company did not hold any cash equivalents.

Inventories are recorded at lower of cost or net realizable value. The Company accounts for inventory using the weighted average cost method. In addition to product cost, inventory costs include expenditures such as direct labor and certain supply and overhead expenses including in-bound shipping and handling costs incurred in bringing the inventory to its existing condition and location. Inventories are comprised primarily of raw materials, direct labor, and overhead costs. Weighted average cost method is used to absorb raw materials, direct labor, and overhead into inventory. The Company reviews inventory quantities on hand and records a provision for excess and obsolete inventory based primarily on historical demand, and the age of the inventory, among other factors.

Leasehold improvements are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the estimated useful life of the asset or the remaining lease term. When assets are sold or retired, the asset and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective account balances and any gain or loss on disposal is included in loss from operations. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged directly to expense when incurred. See Note 5.

Long-lived assets, including property and equipment, are reviewed by management for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be fully recoverable. When events or circumstances indicate that impairment may be present, management evaluates the probability that future undiscounted net cash flows received will be less than the carrying amount of the asset. If projected future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of an asset, then such assets are written down to their fair values. Other than the write off of certain property, plant and equipment in connection with the restructuring efforts disclosed in Note 3, the Company concluded that no long-lived assets were impaired during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Offering costs, consisting primarily of legal, accounting, printing and filing services, and other direct fees and costs related to the IPO, were capitalized and offset against proceeds from the IPO. Total IPO issuance costs were $4.9 million, of which $2.4 million was incurred and paid as of December 31, 2018 and an additional $2.5 million was incurred and paid in 2019. Total Secondary Offering costs paid in 2019 were approximately $2.2 million, of which approximately $1.1 million was capitalized to reflect the costs associated with the issuance of new shares and offset against proceeds from the Secondary Offering.

The Company accounted for freestanding warrants outstanding to purchase shares of its common stock or, prior to its IPO, its convertible preferred stock or common stock, as a liability, as the underlying shares of convertible preferred stock and common stock were contingently redeemable and, therefore, could have obligated the Company to transfer assets at some point in the future. The warrants were recorded at fair value upon issuance and were subject to remeasurement at each balance sheet date. Any change in fair value has been recognized in the statements of operations in Total other expense, net.

Prior to the IPO, the Company had outstanding warrants to purchase an aggregate of 60,002 shares of its common stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share, 121,694 shares of its Series B convertible preferred stock at an exercise price of $1.07 per share and 39,073 shares of its Series E convertible preferred stock at an exercise price of $3.68 per share. On May 6, 2019, in connection with the IPO, the warrants exercisable for convertible preferred stock were automatically converted into warrants exercisable for a total of 160,767 shares of common stock at the same respective exercise price per share. Subsequent to the closing of the IPO, all outstanding warrants to purchase shares of common stock were cashless exercised.

The Company is subject to federal and state income taxes. The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes as set forth in the authoritative guidance for accounting for income taxes. Under this method, the Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the respective carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is established against the portion of deferred tax assets that the Company believes will not be realized on a more likely than not basis.

With respect to uncertain tax positions, the Company recognizes in its financial statements those tax positions determined to be more likely than not of being sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the positions. The Company’s policy is to recognize, when applicable, interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions as part of income tax expense. See Note 10.

The Company’s financial instruments include cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses, for which the carrying amounts approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for debt with similar terms, the carrying value of the line of credit, term debt with its bank, and equipment loan approximate fair value as well.

The Company had no financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2019, other than the liability classified share-settled obligation to one of the Company’s executive officers as discussed in Note 8 which represents a Level 1 financial instrument. Prior to the IPO, the stock warrant liability was measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs upon issuance and at each reporting date. Inputs used to determine the estimated fair value of the warrant liability as of the valuation date included expected term of the warrants, the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and the fair value of underlying shares.

The Company remeasured and reclassified the common stock warrant liability to additional paid-in-capital in connection with the IPO. The final re-measurement of the preferred stock warrant was based upon the publicly available stock price on the conversion date. Subsequent to the closing of the IPO, all outstanding warrants to purchase shares of common stock were cashless exercised and no warrants were outstanding as of December 31, 2019.

The Company leases certain equipment used for research and development and operations under both capital and operating lease agreements. An asset and a corresponding liability for the capital lease obligations are established for the cost of a capital lease. Capital lease assets are included in property, plant and equipment, net in the Company’s balance sheets. Operating lease costs are recognized as rent expense on a straight-line basis over the applicable lease terms. See Note 9.

The Company is subject to a range of claims, lawsuits, and administrative proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company accrues a liability (which amount includes litigation costs expected to be incurred) and charges operations for such matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated, in accordance with the recognition criteria of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 450, Contingencies. Estimating liabilities and costs associated with these matters require significant judgment based upon the professional knowledge and experience of management and its legal counsel. See Note 9.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”), which, along with subsequent ASUs, amends the existing accounting standards for revenue recognition (“Topic 606”). This guidance is based on principles that govern the recognition of revenue at an amount an entity expects to be entitled to receive when products are transferred to customers. ASU 2014-09 was effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019. The majority of the Company’s contracts with customers generally consist of a single performance obligation to transfer promised goods. Based on the Company’s evaluation process and review of its contracts with customers, the timing and amount of revenue recognized based on ASU 2014-09 is consistent with the Company’s revenue recognition policy under previous guidance. The Company has therefore concluded that the adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Revenue is recognized at the point in which the performance obligation under the terms of a contract with the customer have been satisfied and control has transferred. The Company’s performance obligation is typically defined as the accepted purchase order, or the contract, with the customer which requires the Company to deliver the requested products at agreed upon prices at the time and location of the customer’s choice. The Company does not offer warranties or a right to return on the products it sells except in the instance of a product recall.

Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for fulfilling the performance obligation. Sales and other taxes the Company collects concurrent with the sale of products are excluded from revenue. The Company's normal payment terms vary by the type and location of its customers and the products offered. The time between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant. None of the Company's customer contracts as of December 31, 2019 contains a significant financing component.

The Company routinely offers sales discounts and promotions through various programs to its customers and consumers. These programs include rebates, temporary on shelf price reductions, off invoice discounts, retailer advertisements, product coupons and other trade activities. Provision for discounts and incentives are recorded in the same period in which the related revenues are recognized. At the end of each accounting period, the Company recognizes a liability for estimated sales discounts that have been incurred but not paid which totaled $1.6 million and $0.8 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The offsetting charge is recorded as a reduction of revenues in the same period when the expense is incurred.

Two distributors accounted for approximately 17% and 16%, respectively, of the Company’s gross revenues in 2019; three distributors accounted for approximately 32%, 21% and 13%, respectively, of the Company’s gross revenues in 2018 and three distributors accounted for approximately 38%, 10% and 10%, respectively, of the Company’s gross revenues in 2017. No other distributor or customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s gross revenues in 2019, 2018 or 2017.

The Company’s international net revenues (which exclude revenues from Canada) are included in the Company’s retail and restaurant and foodservice channels and were approximately 16%, 7% and 1%, respectively, of the Company’s net revenues in 2019, 2018 and 2017. Net revenues from sales to the Canadian market are included with net revenues from sales to the United States market.

Earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) represents net income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS represents net income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, inclusive of the dilutive impact of potential common shares outstanding during the period. Such potential common shares include options, unvested restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), contracts classified as assets or liabilities that are required or assumed to be share-settled under the two-class method, warrants and convertible preferred stock.

The Company calculates basic and diluted EPS available to common stockholders in conformity with the two-class method required for companies with participating securities. The Company considers all series of convertible preferred stock issued and outstanding prior to the IPO to be participating securities. Under the two-class method, the net loss available to common stockholders is not allocated to the convertible preferred stock as the holders of convertible preferred stock issued and outstanding prior to the IPO did not have a contractual obligation to share in losses. Computation of EPS for the year ended December 31, 2019 also excludes adjustments under the two-class method relating to a liability classified, share-settled obligation to an executive officer to deliver a variable number of shares based on a fixed monetary amount because the shares to be delivered are not participating securities as they do not have voting rights and are not entitled to participate in dividends until they are issued.

Nonvested restricted stock awards (referred to as participating securities) are excluded from the dilutive impact of common equivalent shares outstanding in accordance with authoritative guidance under the two-class method. The nonvested restricted stockholders are entitled to participate in dividends declared on common stock as if the shares were fully vested and hence nonvested restricted stock shares are deemed to be participating securities. Under the two-class method, net income, but not net loss, available to nonvested restricted stockholders is excluded from net income available to common stockholders for purposes of calculating basic and diluted EPS. Net loss available to common stockholders is not allocated to unvested restricted stock as the holders of unvested restricted stock do not have a contractual obligation to share in losses. In periods when the Company records net loss, all potential common shares are excluded in the computation of EPS because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. See Note 11.

SG&A expenses are primarily comprised of selling, marketing expenses and administrative expenses, share-based compensation, outbound shipping and handling costs, non-manufacturing rent expense, depreciation and amortization expense on non-manufacturing assets and other non-production operating expenses. Selling and marketing expenses include share-based compensation awards to brand ambassadors, advertising costs, costs associated with consumer promotions, product samples and sales aids incurred to acquire new customers, retain existing customers and build brand awareness. Administrative expenses include the expenses related to management, accounting, legal, IT, and other office functions. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs in the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $0.3 million, $62,000 and $0.3 million, respectively. Non-advertising related components of the Company’s total marketing expenditures primarily include costs associated with consumer promotions, product sampling, and sales aids, which are also included in SG&A.

The Company does not bill its distributors or customers shipping and handling fees. The Company’s products are predominantly shipped to its distributors or customers as “FOB Destination,” with control of the products transferred to the customer at the destination. In-bound shipping and handling costs incurred in manufacturing a product are included in inventory and reflected in cost of goods sold when the sale of that product is recognized. Outbound shipping and handling costs are considered as fulfillment costs and are recorded in SG&A expenses. Outbound shipping and handling costs included in SG&A expenses in 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $10.9 million, $6.1 million and $3.4 million, respectively. Outbound shipping and handling costs in the year ended December 31, 2017 included $0.8 million related to the termination of the exclusive supply agreement with a co-manufacturer. There were no such costs in 2019 or 2018.

Research and development costs, which includes enhancements to existing products and new product development, are expensed in the period incurred. Research and development expenses primarily consist of personnel and related expenses for the Company’s research and development staff, including salaries, benefits, bonuses, and share-based compensation, scale-up expenses, and depreciation and amortization expense on research and development assets. Research and development expenses in the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, were $20.7 million, $9.6 million, and $5.7 million, respectively.

The Company measures all share-based compensation cost at the grant date, based on the fair values of the awards that are ultimately expected to vest, and recognizes that cost as an expense in its statements of operations over the requisite service period. The Company estimates the fair value of option awards using the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which requires management to make certain assumptions for estimating the fair value of stock options at the date of grant including the fair value and projected volatility of the underlying common stock and the expected term of the award. The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Because the Company’s stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimates, in management’s opinion, the existing models may not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of the Company’s stock options. Although the fair value of stock options is determined using an option valuation model, that value may not be indicative of the fair value observed in a willing buyer/willing seller market transaction.

In addition, the Company estimates the expected impact of forfeited awards and recognizes share-based compensation cost only for those awards ultimately expected to vest. If actual forfeiture rates differ materially from the Company’s estimates, share-based compensation expense could differ significantly from the amounts the Company has recorded in the current period. The Company periodically reviews actual forfeiture experience and will revise its estimates, as necessary. The Company will recognize as compensation cost the cumulative effect of the change in estimated forfeiture rates on current and prior periods in earnings of the period of revision. As a result, if the Company revises its assumptions and estimates, the Company’s share-based compensation expense could change materially in the future. See Note 8.

The Company accounts for exit or disposal of activities in accordance with ASC 420, Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations. The Company defines a business restructuring as an exit or disposal activity that includes but is not limited to a program which is planned and controlled by management and materially changes either the scope of a business or the manner in which that business is conducted. Business restructuring charges may include (i) contract termination costs and (ii) other related costs associated with exit or disposal activities.

Effective February 27, 2020, Seth Goldman resigned as Executive Chair of the Company. Upon such resignation, Mr. Goldman will continue to serve in his capacity as a Class I director and Chairman of the Board of the Company. In connection with Mr. Goldman’s resignation as Executive Chair, the Company and Mr. Goldman terminated the consulting agreement effective as of February 27, 2020. Total consulting fees paid to Mr. Goldman under the consulting agreement prior to its termination in 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $265,548, $189,583 and $160,417, respectively. In addition, Mr. Goldman is entitled to receive a bonus for service in 2019 in the amount of $121,260, which was paid in the first quarter of 2020.

The Company first entered into an advisor agreement with Food System Strategies, LLC in October 2015. Bernhard van Lengerich. Ph.D., a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, is the Chief Executive Officer of Food System Strategies, LLC. Pursuant to this advisor agreement, the Company paid Food System Strategies, LLC $4,000 for each day Dr. van Lengerich provided services, provided the Company paid Food System Strategies, LLC for at least two days of services per month. In February 2016, the Company entered into a new advisor agreement with Food System Strategies, LLC, which superseded the original agreement and provided for a $25,000 monthly retainer and a non-qualified stock option covering 532,590 shares, which vested in equal monthly installments over three years in consideration of Dr. van Lengerich providing services as the Company’s interim Chief Technical Officer and head of research and development, and the increased time commitment associated with these roles. In December 2016, the advisor agreement was amended to provide for a $10,000 monthly retainer to reflect the fact that Dr. van Lengerich would only be providing advisory services five to six days a month going forward.

In connection with the issuance of restricted stock and for value received, in December 2015, the nonemployee members of our Board of Directors entered into a promissory note to pay the Company the principal sum of $951,245 with interest at a fixed rate of 1.68% per annum, compounded annually, on the unpaid balance of such principal sum. The promissory notes were secured by a pledge of the common stock issued to the nonemployee board members. In determining the accounting for the promissory notes, management evaluated the legal provisions of the promissory notes as well as the Company’s intent to fully collect on the outstanding note amounts. The Company collected on the promissory notes in their entirety in 2018.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“ASU 2016-01”), which makes amendments to the guidance in GAAP on the classification and measurement of financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 significantly revises an entity’s accounting related to (1) the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and (2) the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. It also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. The Company adopted and implemented ASU 2016-01 for the year ended December 31, 2019. Adoption of ASU 2016-01 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Statements of Cash Flows (Topic 230) Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” or ASU 2016-15, which addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statements of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 is effective for annual periods (including interim periods) beginning after December 15, 2018 for business entities that are not public, should be applied retrospectively, and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 for the year ended December 31, 2019. Adoption of 2016-15 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, “Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2018-07”). Under ASU 2018-07, the measurement of equity-classified nonemployee awards will be fixed at the grant date, and nonpublic entities are allowed to account for nonemployee awards using certain practical expedients that are already available for employee awards. The amendments in ASU 2018-07 are effective for nonpublic business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than the Company’s adoption date of Topic 606. The Company early adopted ASU 2018-07 beginning January 1, 2019 along with its adoption of ASU 2014-09. Pursuant to ASU 2018-07, the measurement of equity classified nonemployee awards will be fixed at the grant date, as compared to the previous requirement to remeasure the awards through the performance completion date.

As an “emerging growth company,” (“EGC”) the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, (the “JOBS Act”), allows the Company to delay adoption of new or revised accounting pronouncements applicable to public companies until such pronouncements are made applicable to private companies. The Company expects to lose its EGC status upon the filing of the Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2020,

when it expects to qualify as a Large Accelerated Filer based upon the current market capitalization of the Company according to Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Therefore, the Company has elected to use the adoption dates applicable to public companies beginning in the first quarter of 2020 and the adoption dates for the new accounting pronouncements disclosed below have been evaluated under such premise.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02” or “ASC 842”). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to generally recognize most operating leases on the balance sheets but record expenses on the income statements in a manner similar to current accounting. ASU 2016-02 along with subsequent ASU’s on Topic 842 is effective for public companies for the annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2018. As described above, the Company has elected to use the adoption dates applicable to public companies beginning in the first quarter of 2020, and, therefore, effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020.

The Company plans to elect the package of practical expedients available under the transition provisions of ASC 842, including (i) not reassessing whether expired or existing contracts contain leases, (ii) lease classification, and (iii) not revaluing initial direct costs for existing leases. Also, the Company plans to elect the practical expedient which will allow aggregation of non-lease components with the related lease components. Lastly, the Company will apply the modified retrospective adoption method, utilizing the simplified transition option available in ASC 842, which allows entities to continue to apply the legacy guidance in ASC 840, including its disclosure requirements, in the comparative periods presented in the year of adoption.

The impact of applying ASC 842 effective as of January 1, 2020 to the Company’s statements of operations and cash flows is not expected to be significant. The Company currently expects the adoption to result in an increase of between $11 million and $13 million in operating lease liabilities based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments using discount rates as of the effective date and an increase of between $11 million and $13 million in operating right-of-use assets.

In December 18, 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740)” (“ASU 2019-12”). ASU 2019-12 eliminates the need for an organization to analyze whether the following apply in a given period (1) exception to the incremental approach for intra-period tax allocation (2) exceptions to accounting for basis differences when there are ownership changes in foreign investments and (3) exceptions in interim period income tax accounting for year-to-date losses that exceed anticipated losses. ASU 2019-12 also is designed to improve financial statement preparers’ application of income tax-related guidance and simplify GAAP for (1) franchise taxes that are partially based on income, (2) transactions with a government that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill, (3) separate financial statements of legal entities that are not subject to tax, and (4) enacted changes in tax laws in interim periods. For public business entities, the amendments in ASU 2019-12 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption of the amendments is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for public business entities for periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. An entity that elects to early adopt the amendments in an interim period should reflect any adjustments as of the beginning of the annual period that includes that interim period. Additionally, an entity that elects early adoption must adopt all the amendments in the same period. ASU 2019-12 is effective for the Company beginning in January 1, 2021. Adoption of ASU 2019-12 is not expected to result in any material changes to the way the tax provision is prepared and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.