LAS VEGAS, Jan. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HF Foods Group Inc. (NASDAQ: HFFG) (“HF Foods” or the “Company”), a leading distributor of international foodservice solutions to Asian restaurants and other businesses across the United States, today announced that the Company will participate in the ICR Conference in Orlando, FL. The HF Foods executive management team is hosting a fireside chat that is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. ET on Monday, January 12, 2026. The fireside chat will be webcast live and ma ...

Core Insights - Azalea Fresh Market, Atlanta's first government-operated grocery store, has successfully served over 20,000 customers since its opening last fall, addressing food access in a historically food desert area [1][2][3] Group 1: Store Operations and Community Impact - The grocery store operates daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., offering a variety of products including fresh produce, dairy, meats, and pantry staples, while sourcing from local farmers to support the regional economy [6] - Mayor Andre Dickens emphasized the store as a "community hub" aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles and supporting Georgia-grown products, contributing to local job growth and revitalizing the Downtown economy [5] - The initiative is seen as a model for addressing food insecurity and fostering sustainable community development, with other cities observing Atlanta's efforts closely [5][8] Group 2: Broader Context and Implications - The success of Azalea Fresh Market may influence other cities considering similar government-backed grocery stores, especially those that have struggled to maintain such initiatives [8] - The store's establishment aligns with broader trends in urban food access, as seen in discussions around city-owned grocery stores in other locations, such as New York City [9][11]

Core Insights - The study suggests that grocery receipts could potentially help build credit files for "credit invisible" borrowers, who currently lack credit records [1][2] - Researchers have found a correlation between grocery shopping behavior and bill payment reliability, indicating that shopping habits may serve as alternative data for credit scoring [3][4] Group 1: Research Findings - The research utilized data from Peruvian consumers, combining loyalty transactions, credit card repayment data, and administrative records to analyze the predictive power of grocery shopping behavior on payment reliability [3] - Consumers who purchased healthier foods were more likely to pay their bills on time, while those who bought less healthy items showed a higher likelihood of missed payments [4] - Consistent shopping patterns, such as shopping on the same day each week and spending similar amounts, were linked to timely bill payments [5] Group 2: Implications for Credit Scoring - The simulation conducted by researchers indicated that incorporating shopping data could increase credit approval rates for borrowers without credit files from 16% to between 31% and 48% [6] - For consumers with established credit histories, adding shopping data had minimal impact on approval outcomes, suggesting its primary use may be in identifying safe candidates for new credit lines [6]

Core Insights - HF Foods Group Inc. has appointed Jeffery Taylor to its Board of Directors, bringing extensive finance leadership experience to the company [1][2][3] Company Overview - HF Foods is a leading distributor of international foodservice solutions, primarily serving Asian restaurants and other businesses across the United States [1][9] - The company aims to meet the growing demand for Asian American cuisine through its nationwide distribution network and strong relationships with suppliers [9] Leadership Changes - Jeffery Taylor has over 27 years of senior finance leadership experience, including roles as CFO at Franklin Electric, where he led significant revenue and operating income growth [2][3][4] - The company has announced a CFO transition, appointing Paul McGarry as Interim CFO, effective October 15, 2025, while searching for a permanent successor [6][7] - McGarry has extensive finance experience and knowledge of HF Foods' operations, ensuring continuity during the transition [6][7] Strategic Goals - Taylor's expertise in M&A execution and capital markets is expected to support HF Foods' operational transformation and growth initiatives [2][3] - The company is focused on enhancing shareholder value and operational excellence, aligning with Taylor's experience in driving profitable growth [3][5]

Core Viewpoint - HF Foods Group Inc. has launched an At-The-Market (ATM) equity offering program to sell shares of its common stock for gross proceeds of up to $100 million [1][2]. Group 1: Equity Offering Details - The ATM program will allow HF Foods to sell shares through D.A. Davidson & Co. and Roth Capital Partners as sales agents [1]. - The proceeds from the ATM program will primarily be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures, and potential acquisitions or business expansion [2]. Group 2: Company Overview - HF Foods Group Inc. is a prominent distributor of fresh produce, frozen and dry food, and non-food products, primarily serving Asian restaurants and foodservice customers across the United States [5]. - The company aims to meet the growing demand for Asian American cuisine by leveraging its distribution network and strong relationships with suppliers in the US, South America, and Asia [5].

Core Insights - HF Foods Group Inc. reported record net revenue and gross profit for the second quarter of 2025, reflecting the success of its transformation initiatives and strategic priorities [3][4][10] Financial Performance - Net revenue for Q2 2025 was $314.9 million, an increase of $12.5 million or 4.1% from $302.3 million in Q2 2024, driven by volume increases and improved pricing in Meat & Poultry and Seafood [4][10] - Gross profit rose to $55.1 million, up $2.7 million or 5.1% from $52.5 million in the prior year, with a gross profit margin increase to 17.5% from 17.4% [5][10] - Net income surged 117.0% to $0.5 million compared to $0.2 million in the same quarter last year, primarily due to an increase in income from operations [7][10] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 31.1% to $13.8 million from $10.6 million in the prior year [8][10] Expense Management - Distribution, selling, and administrative expenses rose by $1.2 million or 2.4%, but as a percentage of net revenue, they decreased from 16.5% to 16.2% due to higher net revenue and lower professional fees [6][10] Cash Flow and Liquidity - Cash provided by operating activities was $10.5 million for the first half of 2025, significantly up from $1.9 million in the same period last year, attributed to an increase in non-cash expense add-backs [11][10] - As of June 30, 2025, the company had cash of $15.7 million and access to approximately $57.8 million in additional funds through a line of credit [11][10] Strategic Outlook - The company is focused on expanding its geographic footprint and enhancing product capabilities through strategic investments and potential M&A opportunities [3][10]

Core Points - A free farmers market for seniors aged 65 and older is being organized by Long Island Cares in partnership with PSEG Long Island, scheduled for July 9 [3][4] - The event will provide over a dozen locally sourced fresh produce items, supported by a grant from PSEG Long Island, along with cooking demonstrations by nutritionists [4][6] - The initiative aims to assist seniors in need of fresh food, with the event being first-come, first-served and running rain or shine [5][8] Partnership and Community Engagement - The collaboration between PSEG Long Island and Long Island Cares is highlighted as a successful example of community support [5] - PSEG Long Island has committed to sponsoring six community events, providing fresh produce and resources to seniors and veterans [7][8] - Long Island Cares serves over 1,500 seniors monthly through various programs, indicating a strong community focus [9] Additional Programs - Long Island Cares will showcase its "Farm to Truck" mobile farmers market during the event, funded by a $250K grant from Bank of America [6] - The partnership has been ongoing for four years, with each year seeing increased participation and improvement in services offered [6]

Core Insights - Healthy Choice Wellness Corp. reported record sales of $20.3 million for Q1 2025, a 27% increase compared to Q1 2024 [1][7] - The company achieved a gross profit of $7.9 million, reflecting a 30% year-over-year growth [1][7] - Positive adjusted EBITDA of $0.02 million was reported, marking a significant improvement from a loss of $0.2 million in the same period last year [1][7] Financial Performance - Net sales for Q1 2025 reached $20.3 million, up from $15.9 million in Q1 2024, representing an increase of approximately $4.4 million [6][7] - Gross profit increased by approximately $1.8 million, from $6.1 million in Q1 2024 to $7.9 million in Q1 2025 [6][7] - The net loss for Q1 2025 was approximately $0.7 million, unchanged from the prior year [7][8] Operational Highlights - The growth in revenue was attributed to successful acquisitions and same-store sales increases across all 19 stores [4] - The company emphasized improvements in buying efficiencies, which contributed to lower shrinkage and spoilage, enhancing gross profit [4] - The CEO expressed optimism about the company's expansion strategy and commitment to driving bottom-line profitability [4] Balance Sheet Overview - As of March 31, 2025, total assets were reported at $34.1 million, slightly down from $34.1 million at the end of 2024 [12] - Current liabilities increased to $13.4 million from $11.9 million at the end of 2024 [12] - Total stockholders' equity decreased to $2.1 million from $2.4 million at the end of 2024 [12] Company Background - Healthy Choice Wellness Corp. operates several subsidiaries focused on providing healthier lifestyle choices, including natural and organic grocery stores [17][18] - The company aims to leverage synergies across its brands to enhance shareholder value [4]