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Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

_____________________________________________________________

FORM 10-Q

_____________________________________________________________

    ☒    QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 

For the quarterly period ended September 28, 2021

or

    ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to            

Commission File Number: 001-35987

___________________________________________________________

NOODLES & COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_____________________________________________________________

Delaware						84-1303469
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)						(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

520 Zang Street, Suite D
Broomfield, CO						80021
(Address of principal executive offices)						(Zip Code)

(720) 214-1900

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

Title of each class			Trading Symbol			Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share			NDLS			Nasdaq Global Select Market

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  ☒ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  

Yes  ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

☐

Accelerated Filer

☒

Non-accelerated filer

☐

Smaller reporting company

☒

Emerging growth company

☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes  ☐  No  ☒

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class						Outstanding at November 5, 2021
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share						45,689,485 shares

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Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

									Page
PART I
			Item 1.			Financial Statements (unaudited)			2
						Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets			2
						Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations			3
						Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity			4
						Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows			5
						Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements			6
			Item 2.			Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			14
			Item 3.			Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			26
			Item 4.			Controls and Procedures			26
PART II
			Item 1.			Legal Proceedings			28
			Item 1A.			Risk Factors			28
			Item 2.			Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			28
			Item 3.			Defaults Upon Senior Securities			28
			Item 4.			Mine Safety Disclosures			28
			Item 5.			Other Information			28
			Item 6.			Exhibits			29
SIGNATURES									30

1

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Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1. Financial Statements

Noodles & Company

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

						September 28, 2021						December 29, 2020
						(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents						$	3,149					$	7,840
Accounts receivable						3,852						3,428
Inventories						9,708						9,643
Prepaid expenses and other assets						4,686						2,759
Income tax receivable						66						44
Total current assets						21,461						23,714
Property and equipment, net						121,591						122,917
Operating lease assets, net						190,134						195,618
Goodwill						7,154						7,154
Intangibles, net						722						757
Other assets, net						3,437						3,471
Total long-term assets						323,038						329,917
Total assets						$	344,499					$	353,631
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable						$	12,440					$	6,402
Accrued payroll and benefits						15,169						12,876
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities						12,441						11,632
Current operating lease liabilities						26,757						26,094
Current portion of long-term debt						1,500						1,125
Total current liabilities						68,307						58,129
Long-term debt, net						20,789						40,949
Long-term operating lease liabilities, net						203,589						210,454
Deferred tax liabilities, net						281						240
Other long-term liabilities						10,431						14,160
Total liabilities						303,397						323,932
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock—$0.01 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized and undesignated as of September 28, 2021 and December 29, 2020; no shares issued or outstanding						—						—
Common stock—$0.01 par value, 180,000,000 shares authorized as of September 28, 2021 and December 29, 2020; 48,065,916 issued and 45,642,045 outstanding as of September 28, 2021 and 46,807,587 issued and 44,383,716 outstanding as of December 29, 2020						481						468
Treasury stock, at cost, 2,423,871 shares as of September 28, 2021 and December 29, 2020						(35,000)						(35,000)
Additional paid-in capital						205,957						202,970
Accumulated deficit						(130,336)						(138,739)
Total stockholders’ equity						41,102						29,699
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity						$	344,499					$	353,631

   See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

2

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Noodles & Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except share and per share data, unaudited)

						Fiscal Quarter Ended												Three Fiscal Quarters Ended
						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020
Revenue:
Restaurant revenue						$	123,094					$	104,413					$	354,553					$	283,150
Franchising royalties and fees, and other						2,032						1,569						5,799						3,337
Total revenue						125,126						105,982						360,352						286,487
Costs and expenses:
Restaurant operating costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Cost of sales						30,946						25,900						88,728						71,124
Labor						36,896						31,264						108,128						92,632
Occupancy						11,426						11,737						34,594						35,473
Other restaurant operating costs						21,529						19,383						62,816						51,861
General and administrative						12,187						10,827						36,094						31,415
Depreciation and amortization						5,571						5,541						16,734						16,273
Pre-opening						125						239						346						383
Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals						1,126						369						2,747						3,983
Total costs and expenses						119,806						105,260						350,187						303,144
Income (loss) from operations						5,320						722						10,165						(16,657)
Interest expense, net						594						822						1,714						2,710
Income (loss) before taxes						4,726						(100)						8,451						(19,367)
Provision for income taxes						29						27						48						73
Net income (loss)						$	4,697					$	(127)					$	8,403					$	(19,440)
Earnings (loss) per Class A and Class B common stock, combined
Basic						$	0.10					$	—					$	0.19					$	(0.44)
Diluted						$	0.10					$	—					$	0.18					$	(0.44)
Weighted average shares of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding, combined:
Basic						45,635,455						44,358,763						45,414,332						44,238,400
Diluted						46,382,509						44,358,763						46,134,994						44,238,400

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

3

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Table of Contents

Noodles & Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(in thousands, except share data, unaudited)

						Fiscal Quarter Ended
						Common Stock(1)												Treasury												Additional Paid-In Capital						Accumulated Deficit						Total Stockholders’ Equity
						Shares						Amount						Shares						Amount
Balance—June 29, 2021						48,011,761						$	480					2,423,871						$	(35,000)					$	204,996					$	(135,033)					$	35,443
Stock plan transactions and other						54,155						1						—						—						(203)						—						(202)
Stock-based compensation expense						—						—						—						—						1,164						—						1,164
Net income						—						—						—						—						—						4,697						4,697
Balance—September 28, 2021						48,065,916						$	481					2,423,871						$	(35,000)					$	205,957					$	(130,336)					$	41,102
Balance—June 30, 2020						46,778,682						$	468					2,423,871						$	(35,000)					$	201,601					$	(134,793)					$	32,276
Stock plan transactions and other						16,852						—						—						—						49						—						49
Stock-based compensation expense						—						—						—						—						664						—						664
Net loss						—						—						—						—						—						(127)						(127)
Balance—September 29, 2020						46,795,534						$	468					2,423,871						$	(35,000)					$	202,314					$	(134,920)					$	32,862
						Three Fiscal Quarters Ended
						Common Stock(1)												Treasury												Additional Paid-In Capital						Accumulated Deficit						Total Stockholders’ Equity
						Shares						Amount						Shares						Amount
Balance—December 29, 2020						46,807,587						$	468					2,423,871						$	(35,000)					$	202,970					$	(138,739)					$	29,699
L Catterton warrants exercised						975,458						10						—						—						(10)						—						—
Stock plan transactions and other						282,871						3						—						—						(484)						—						(481)
Stock-based compensation expense						—						—						—						—						3,481						—						3,481
Net income						—						—						—						—						—						8,403						8,403
Balance—September 28, 2021						48,065,916						$	481					2,423,871						$	(35,000)					$	205,957					$	(130,336)					$	41,102
Balance—December 31, 2019						46,557,934						$	466					2,423,871						$	(35,000)					$	200,585					$	(115,480)					$	50,571
Stock plan transactions and other						237,600						2						—						—						(225)						—						(223)
Stock-based compensation expense						—						—						—						—						1,954						—						1,954
Net loss						—						—						—						—						—						(19,440)						(19,440)
Balance—September 29, 2020						46,795,534						$	468					2,423,871						$	(35,000)					$	202,314					$	(134,920)					$	32,862

_____________

(1)Unless otherwise noted, activity relates to Class A common stock.

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

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Noodles & Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands, unaudited)

						Three Fiscal Quarters Ended
						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020
Operating activities
Net income (loss)						$	8,403					$	(19,440)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization						16,734						16,273
Deferred income taxes						41						72
Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals						1,441						3,034
Amortization of debt issuance costs						333						260
Stock-based compensation						3,436						1,904
Gain on insurance proceeds						(406)						—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable						(431)						230
Inventories						(221)						75
Prepaid expenses and other assets						(1,893)						(802)
Accounts payable						3,149						3,505
Income taxes						(22)						27
Operating lease assets and liabilities						(649)						4,034
Accrued expenses and other liabilities						(19)						(858)
Net cash provided by operating activities						29,896						8,314
Investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment						(12,965)						(9,887)
Insurance proceeds received for property damage						406						—
Net cash used in investing activities						(12,559)						(9,887)
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt						—						55,500
Payments on long-term debt						(20,118)						(54,125)
Payments on finance leases						(1,429)						(686)
Debt issuance costs						—						(731)
Stock plan transactions and tax withholding on share-based compensation awards						(481)						(223)
Net cash used in financing activities						(22,028)						(265)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents						(4,691)						(1,838)
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period						7,840						10,459
End of period						$	3,149					$	8,621

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

5

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Table of Contents

NOODLES & COMPANY

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

1. Business Summary and Basis of Presentation

Business

Noodles & Company (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, develops and operates fast casual restaurants that serve globally inspired noodle and pasta dishes, soups, salads and appetizers. As of September 28, 2021, the Company had 450 restaurants system-wide in 29 states, comprised of 374 company-owned restaurants and 76 franchise restaurants. The Company operates its business as one operating and reportable segment.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Noodles & Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. In the opinion of the Company, all adjustments considered necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods presented have been included and are of a normal, recurring nature. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the 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. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements on Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 29, 2020 was derived from audited financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2020.

Fiscal Year

The Company operates on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the Tuesday closest to December 31. The Company’s fiscal quarters each contain 13 operating weeks, with the exception of the fourth quarter of a 53-week fiscal year, which contains 14 operating weeks. Fiscal year 2021, which ends on December 28, 2021, and fiscal year 2020, which ended on December 29, 2020, both contain 52 weeks. The Company’s fiscal quarter that ended September 28, 2021 is referred to as the third quarter of 2021, and the fiscal quarter ended September 29, 2020 is referred to as the third quarter of 2020.

Risks and Uncertainties

We are subject to risks and uncertainties as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant disruption to the restaurant industry and adversely affected our business. The greatest impact to our sales and overall financial results was during the initial stages of the pandemic, beginning the third week of March 2020 through the second quarter of 2020. During this period, we temporarily closed nearly all of our dining rooms, driven by local government imposed restrictions in areas where we operate our restaurants and migrated to an almost completely off-premise model. Since the initial disruption, we have seen sequential improvement in our financial performance due in part to our investments in our off-premise and digital channels. In 2021, we saw further improvement as vaccine availability was more widespread and social distancing restrictions were softened.

The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and financial results depends on future developments and is highly uncertain due to the unknown duration and severity of the outbreak, including the potential impact of the COVID-19 delta variant. The situation is changing rapidly and future impacts may materialize that are not yet known. As of the date of this filing, substantially all of our restaurants continue to operate, with dining rooms open at varying capacities. We intend to continue to actively monitor the evolving situation and may take further actions that alter our business operations as may be required by federal, state or local authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our team members, customers, suppliers and shareholders.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (“ASU 2020-04”). ASU 2020-04 is intended to provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the U.S. GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. The Company may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance may have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”). ASU 2019-12 was issued as a means to reduce the complexity of accounting for income taxes for those entities that fall within the scope of the accounting standard. This guidance is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those reporting periods. Interim period adoption is permitted. The guidance is to be applied using a prospective method, excluding amendments related to franchise taxes, which should be applied on either a retrospective basis for all periods presented or a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company adopted this standard on December 30, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

2. Supplemental Financial Information

Accounts receivable consist of the following (in thousands):

						September 28, 2021						December 29, 2020
Delivery program receivables						$	1,592					$	1,268
Insurance receivable						—						74
Vendor rebate receivables						752						641
Franchise receivables						715						564
Other receivables						793						881
Accounts receivable						$	3,852					$	3,428

Prepaid expenses and other assets consist of the following (in thousands):

						September 28, 2021						December 29, 2020
Prepaid insurance						$	1,347					$	744
Prepaid occupancy related costs						60						884
Other prepaid expenses						3,162						1,092
Other current assets						117						39
Prepaid expenses and other assets						$	4,686					$	2,759

Property and equipment, net, consists of the following (in thousands):

						September 28, 2021						December 29, 2020
Leasehold improvements						$	200,574					$	199,782
Furniture, fixtures and equipment						137,311						132,756
Construction in progress						9,195						1,713
						347,080						334,251
Accumulated depreciation and amortization						(225,489)						(211,334)
Property and equipment, net						$	121,591					$	122,917

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Accrued payroll and benefits consist of the following (in thousands):

						September 28, 2021						December 29, 2020
Accrued payroll and related liabilities						$	6,243					$	6,812
Accrued bonus						5,474						2,364
Insurance liabilities						3,452						3,700
Accrued payroll and benefits						$	15,169					$	12,876

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

						September 28, 2021						December 29, 2020
Gift card liability						$	2,189					$	2,551
Occupancy related						2,109						1,322
Utilities						1,412						1,338
Current portion of finance lease liability						1,957						1,800
Accrued interest						316						375
Insurance liabilities						404						398
Other restaurant expense accruals						1,170						1,079
Other corporate expense accruals						2,884						2,769
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities						$	12,441					$	11,632

3. Long-Term Debt

On May 9, 2018, the Company entered into a credit facility with U.S. Bank National Association (the “2018 Credit Facility”). The 2018 Credit Facility consisted of a term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $25.0 million and a revolving credit facility of $65.0 million, which included a letter of credit subfacility in the amount of $15.0 million and a swingline subfacility in the amount of $10.0 million.

On November 20, 2019, the Company amended its 2018 Credit Facility by entering into the First Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Amendment” and the 2018 Credit Facility, as amended, the “First Amended Credit Facility”). Among other things, the Amendment: (i) extended the maturity date to November 20, 2024; (ii) increased the revolving credit facility from $65.0 million to $75.0 million; (iii) delayed step downs of the Company’s leverage covenant; and (iv) increased the limit on capital expenditures to $37.0 million in 2020 and to $45.0 million in 2021 and each fiscal year thereafter.

Borrowings under the First Amended Credit Facility, including the term loan facility, bear interest annually, at the Company’s option, at either (i) LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00% to 2.75% per annum, based upon the consolidated total lease-adjusted leverage ratio or (ii) the highest of the following base rates plus a margin of 1.00% to 1.75% per annum: (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%; (b) the U.S. Bank prime rate or (c) the one-month LIBOR plus 1.00%. The Amendment includes a commitment fee of 0.20% to 0.35% per annum, based upon the consolidated total lease-adjusted leverage ratio, on any unused portion of the revolving credit facility.

On June 16, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), the Company amended its First Amended Credit Facility by entering into the Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Second Amendment” and the First Amended Credit Facility, as amended, or the “Second Amended Credit Facility”). Beginning on the Effective Date and through the third quarter of 2021 (the “Amendment Period”), borrowings under the Second Amended Credit Facility, including the term loan facility, will bear interest at LIBOR plus 3.25% per annum. Following the Amendment Period, borrowings will bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00% to 3.00% per annum, based upon the consolidated total lease-adjusted leverage ratio. Among other things, the Second Amendment (i) waives the lease-adjusted leverage ratio and fixed charge ratio covenants through the first quarter of 2021; (ii) amends the Company’s lease-adjusted leverage ratio and fixed coverage ratio covenant thresholds beginning in the second quarter of 2021 through the third quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2022, respectively; and (iii) limits capital expenditures to $12.0 million in 2020, $12.0 million plus a liquidity-based performance basket up to an additional $12.0 million in 2021, $34.0 million in 2022, $37.0 million in 2023 and $45.0 million annually thereafter.

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As of September 28, 2021, the Company had $23.7 million of indebtedness (excluding $1.4 million of unamortized debt issuance costs) and $3.2 million of letters of credit outstanding under the Second Amended Credit Facility reflecting debt repayments of $20.1 million including $19.6 million on the revolver and $0.5 million on the term loan in the first three quarters of 2021. As of September 28, 2021, the Company had cash on hand of $3.1 million.

The term loan requires principal payments of $187,500 per quarter through the third quarter of 2021, $375,000 per quarter through the third quarter of 2022, $531,250 per quarter through the third quarter of 2023 and $625,000 per quarter thereafter through maturity.

Aggregate maturities for debt outstanding as of September 28, 2021 are as follows (in thousands):

Year 1			$	1,500
Year 2			2,125
Year 3			2,500
Year 4			17,563
Total			$	23,688

The Company’s outstanding indebtedness bore interest at rates between 3.33% to 3.52% during the first three quarters of 2021.

The Company also maintains outstanding letters of credit to secure obligations under its workers’ compensation program and certain lease obligations. The Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants as of September 28, 2021.

4. Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and all other current liabilities approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature. The carrying amounts of borrowings approximate fair value as the line of credit and term borrowings vary with market interest rates and negotiated terms and conditions are consistent with current market rates. The fair value of the Company’s line of credit and term borrowings are measured using Level 2 inputs.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

Assets recognized or disclosed at fair value in the condensed consolidated financial statements on a non-recurring basis include items such as leasehold improvements, property and equipment, operating lease assets, goodwill and other intangible assets. These assets are measured at fair value if determined to be impaired or when acquired.

Adjustments to the fair value of assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of September 28, 2021 and September 29, 2020 are discussed in Note 7, Restaurant Impairments, Closure Costs and Asset Disposals.

5. Income Taxes

The following table presents the Company’s provision for income taxes (in thousands):

						Fiscal Quarter Ended												Three Fiscal Quarters Ended
						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020
Provision for income taxes						$	29					$	27					$	48					$	73
Effective tax rate						0.6		%				(27.0)		%				0.6		%				(0.4)		%

The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2021 and the first three quarters of 2021 reflects the impact of the previously recorded valuation allowance. For the remainder of fiscal 2021, the Company does not anticipate material income tax expense or benefit as a result of the valuation allowance recorded. The Company will maintain the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets until there is sufficient evidence to support a full or partial reversal. The reversal of a previously recorded valuation allowance will generally result in a benefit from income tax.

6. Stock-Based Compensation

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The Company’s Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), as amended and restated in May of 2013, authorizes the grant of non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance share units and incentive bonuses to employees, officers, non-employee directors and other service providers. As of September 28, 2021, approximately 3.0 million share-based awards were available to be granted under the Plan.

The following table shows total stock-based compensation expense (in thousands):

			Fiscal Quarter Ended												Three Fiscal Quarters Ended
			September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020
Stock-based compensation expense			$	1,177					$	708					$	3,590					$	1,960
Capitalized stock-based compensation expense			$	11					$	12					$	45					$	50

7. Restaurant Impairments, Closure Costs and Asset Disposals

The following table presents restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals (in thousands):

			Fiscal Quarter Ended												Three Fiscal Quarters Ended
			September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020
Restaurant impairments (1)			$	536					$	113					$	1,216					$	2,375
Closure costs (1)			236						(168)						829						345
Loss on disposal of assets and other			354						424						702						1,263
			$	1,126					$	369					$	2,747					$	3,983

_____________________________

(1)Restaurant impairments and closure costs in all periods presented above include amounts related to restaurants previously impaired or closed.

The Company impaired one restaurant in the third quarter of 2021 and had no restaurant impairments in the third quarter of 2020. The Company impaired two restaurants in the first three quarters of 2021 and five restaurants in the first three quarters of 2020. Impairment is based on management’s current assessment of the expected future cash flows of a restaurant based on recent results and other specific market factors. Impairment expense is a Level 3 fair value measure and is determined by comparing the carrying value of restaurant assets to the estimated fair value of the restaurant assets at resale value and the right-of-use asset based on a discounted cash flow analysis utilizing market lease rates. The Company will continue to monitor the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to recoverability of long-lived assets. Although the Company has seen an improvement in sales, the Company is unable to predict how long these conditions will persist, what additional measures may be introduced by governments or what effect any such additional measures may have on restaurants and our business. Any measure that encourages consumers to stay in their homes, engage in social distancing or avoid larger gatherings of people for an extended period of time is and has been highly likely to continue to be harmful to the restaurant industry in general.

Closure costs in the third quarter of 2021 and the first three quarters of 2021 include ongoing costs related to restaurants closed in previous years as well as eight company-owned restaurant closures during the first three quarters of 2021. Closure costs in the third quarter and first three quarters of 2020 include ongoing costs related to restaurants closed in previous years as well as three company-owned restaurant closures during the third quarter of 2020. In addition, closure costs were offset by gains resulting from adjustments to liabilities as lease terminations occur. These gains included a total of $0.6 million in the third quarter and first three quarters of 2020.

Loss on disposal of assets and other for the first three quarters of 2021 includes a gain on insurance proceeds from property damage. Loss on disposal of assets and other includes expenses recognized during the first three quarters of 2020 related to the divestiture of company-owned restaurants to a franchisee.

These expenses are included in the “Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals” line in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

8. Earnings (Loss) Per Share

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Basic earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted EPS is calculated using net income (loss) available to common stockholders divided by diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Potentially dilutive securities include shares of common stock underlying stock options, warrants and RSUs. Diluted EPS considers the impact of potentially dilutive securities except in periods in which there is a loss because the inclusion of the potential common shares would have an anti-dilutive effect.

The following table sets forth the computations of basic and diluted EPS (in thousands, except share and per share data):

						Fiscal Quarter Ended												Three Fiscal Quarters Ended
						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020
Net income (loss)						$	4,697					$	(127)					$	8,403					$	(19,440)
Shares:
Basic weighted average shares outstanding						45,635,455						44,358,763						45,414,332						44,238,400
Effect of dilutive securities						747,054						—						720,662						—
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding						46,382,509						44,358,763						46,134,994						44,238,400
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic earnings (loss) per share						$	0.10					$	—					$	0.19					$	(0.44)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share						$	0.10					$	—					$	0.18					$	(0.44)

The Company computes the effect of dilutive securities using the treasury stock method and average market prices during the period. Potential common shares are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share when the effect would be anti-dilutive. The shares issuable on the vesting or exercise of share-based awards or exercise of outstanding warrants that were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because the effect of their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive totaled 359,211 and 3,107,448 for the third quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively, and totaled 479,494 and 3,251,799 for the first three quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

9. Leases

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows (in thousands):

Classification									September 28, 2021						December 29, 2020
Assets
Operating			Operating lease assets, net						$	190,134					$	195,618
Finance			Finance lease assets, net (1)						6,924						7,822
Total leased assets									$	197,058					$	203,440
Liabilities
Current lease liabilities
Operating			Current operating lease liabilities						$	26,757					$	26,094
Finance			Current finance lease liabilities (2)						1,957						1,800
Long-term lease liabilities
Operating			Long-term operating lease liabilities						203,589						210,454
Finance			Long-term finance lease liabilities (2)						5,149						6,056
Total lease liabilities									$	237,452					$	244,404

_____________________

(1)The finance lease assets are included in property and equipment, net in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(2)The current portion of the finance lease liabilities is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and the long-term portion was included in other long-term liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Sublease income recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations was $0.4 million and $0.2 million for the third quarter of 2021 and 2020, and $1.4 million and $0.7 million for the first three quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

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During 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Company’s business significantly, including temporary closures of our dining rooms starting in March 2020. During the second and third quarters of 2020, we were able to negotiate with the majority of our landlords to obtain rent abatements, or defer rent amounts due during the second quarter, and in some cases, the periods of the respective lease terms were extended earlier than as proscribed in the lease as part of the rent concessions. In the case where the lease term was extended, we remeasured the remaining consideration in the contract. The total rent that was deferred for lease amendments that have been executed was $4.2 million.

For certain of the Company’s restaurants, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the underlying asset values. In the first quarter of 2021, the Company recorded a right-of-use asset impairment charge for one restaurant to reduce the carrying value of operating lease assets to its respective estimated fair value. There was no impairment to the Company’s right-of-use assets during the second and third quarters of 2021. In the first three quarters of 2020, we recorded an impairment charge of $0.3 million on the right-of-use assets of one restaurant that was impaired in the second quarter of 2020.

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information related to leases are as follows (in thousands):

						Fiscal Quarter Ended												Three Fiscal Quarters Ended
						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020
Cash paid for lease liabilities:
Operating leases						$	11,285					$	14,784					$	30,880					$	28,358
Finance leases						583						324						1,807						776
						$	11,868					$	15,108					$	32,687					$	29,134
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:
Operating leases						$	4,110					$	108					$	10,806					$	10,388
Finance leases						—						545						700						3,387
						$	4,110					$	653					$	11,506					$	13,775

10. Supplemental Disclosures to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

The following table presents the supplemental disclosures to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three quarters ended September 28, 2021 and September 29, 2020 (in thousands):

						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020
Interest paid (net of amounts capitalized)						$	1,163					$	1,902
Income taxes paid (refunded)						30						(78)
Purchases of property and equipment accrued in accounts payable						3,777						2,818

11. Revenue Recognition

Revenue

Revenue consists of sales from restaurant operations, franchise royalties and fees, and sublease income. Revenue from the operation of company-owned restaurants is recognized when sales occur. The Company reports revenue net of sales tax collected from customers and remitted to governmental taxing authorities.

Gift Cards

The Company sells gift cards which do not have an expiration date, and it does not deduct non-usage fees from outstanding gift card balances. The Company recognizes revenue from gift cards when the gift card is redeemed by the customer or the Company determines the likelihood of the gift card being redeemed by the customer is remote (“gift card breakage”). The determination of the gift card breakage rate is based upon Company-specific historical redemption patterns. The Company has determined that approximately 9% of gift cards will not be redeemed and recognizes gift card breakage ratably over the estimated redemption period of the gift card, which is approximately 24 months. Gift card liability balances are typically highest at the end of each calendar year following increased gift card purchases during the holiday season.

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As of September 28, 2021 and December 29, 2020, the current portion of the gift card liability, $2.2 million and $2.6 million, respectively, was included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and the long-term portion, $0.4 million and $0.6 million, respectively, was included in other long-term liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Revenue recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the redemption of gift cards was $0.6 million for both the third quarter of 2021 and 2020, and $2.5 million and $2.8 million for the first three quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Franchise Fees

Royalties from franchise restaurants are based on a percentage of restaurant revenues and are recognized in the period the related franchised restaurants’ sales occur. In the second quarter of 2020, the Company forgave the franchise royalties due for the quarter due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Royalties were reinstated in the third quarter of 2020. Development fees and franchise fees, portions of which are collected in advance, are nonrefundable and are recognized in income ratably over the term of the related franchise agreement or recognized upon the termination of the agreement between the Company and the franchisee. The Company has determined that the initial franchise services are not distinct from the continuing rights or services offered during the term of the franchise agreement and should be treated as a single performance obligation; therefore, initial fees received from franchisees are recognized as revenue over the term of each respective franchise agreement, which is typically 20 years.

Loyalty Program

The Company operates the Noodles Rewards program, which is primarily a spend-based loyalty program. With each purchase, Noodles Rewards members earn loyalty points that can be redeemed for rewards, including free products. Using an estimate of the value of reward redemptions, we defer revenue associated with points earned, net of estimated points that will not be redeemed based upon the Company’s historical redemption patterns. Points generally expire after six months. Revenue is recognized in a future period when the reward points are redeemed. As of September 28, 2021 and December 29, 2020, the deferred revenue related to the rewards was $0.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively, and was included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

12. Commitments and Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to other proceedings, lawsuits and claims. Such matters are subject to many uncertainties, and outcomes are not predictable with assurance. Consequently, the Company is unable to ascertain the ultimate aggregate amount of monetary liability or financial impact with respect to these matters as of September 28, 2021. These matters could affect the operating results of any one financial reporting period when resolved in future periods. The Company believes that an unfavorable outcome with respect to these matters is remote or a potential range of loss is not material to its consolidated financial statements. Significant increases in the number of these claims, or one or more successful claims that result in greater liabilities than the Company currently anticipates, could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

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NOODLES & COMPANY

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Noodles & Company is a Delaware corporation that was organized in 2002. Noodles & Company and its subsidiaries are sometimes referred to as “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” in this report. The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes in Item 1 and with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 29, 2020. We operate on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the Tuesday closest to December 31. Our fiscal quarters each contain 13 operating weeks, with the exception of the fourth quarter of a 53-week fiscal year, which contains 14 operating weeks. Fiscal years 2021 and 2020 each contain 52 weeks.    

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties such as the number of restaurants we intend to open, projected capital expenditures and estimates of our effective tax rates. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “objective,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “design,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “plan” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information. Examples of forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts, such as statements regarding our ability to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, projected capital expenditures, the revenue and balance sheet impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, estimated costs associated with our closure of underperforming restaurants, the implementation and results of strategic initiatives and our future financial performance. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to reasons including, but not limited to, the extent, duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; governmental and customer response to the COVID-19 pandemic; other conditions beyond our control such as weather, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics impacting our customers or food supplies; consumer reaction to industry related public health issues and health pandemics and perceptions of food safety, our ability to achieve and maintain increases in comparable restaurant sales and to successfully execute our business strategy, including new restaurant initiatives and operational strategies to improve the performance of our restaurant portfolio; our ability to maintain compliance with debt covenants and continue to access financing necessary to execute our business strategy; the success of our marketing efforts; our ability to open new restaurants on schedule; current economic conditions; price and availability of commodities; our ability to adequately staff our restaurants; changes in labor costs; consumer confidence and spending patterns; seasonal factors; and those discussed in “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” as filed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 29, 2020 and those discussed in “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 30, 2021 and June 29, 2021.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Our Business

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant disruption to the restaurant industry and adversely affected our business. The greatest impact to our sales and overall financial results was during the initial stages of the pandemic, beginning the third week of March 2020 through the second quarter of 2020. During this period, we temporarily closed nearly all of our dining rooms, driven by local government imposed restrictions in areas where we operate our restaurants and migrated to an almost completely off-premise model. Since the initial disruption, we have seen sequential improvement in our financial performance due in part to our investments in our off-premise and digital channels. In 2021, we have seen further improvement as vaccine availability was more widespread and social distancing restrictions were softened.

The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and financial results, including the impact on labor and the cost and availability of products within our supplier network, depends on future developments and is highly uncertain due to the unknown duration and severity of the outbreak, including the impact of the COVID-19 delta variant. The situation is changing rapidly and future impacts may materialize that are not yet known. As of the date of this filing, substantially all of our restaurants continue to operate, with dining rooms open at varying capacities. We intend to continue to actively monitor the evolving situation and may take further actions that alter our business operations as may be required by federal, state or local authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our team members, customers, suppliers and shareholders.

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Recent Trends, Risks and Uncertainties

Revenue. In the third quarter of 2021, system-wide comparable restaurant sales increased 16.3%, comprised of a 15.3% increase for company-owned restaurants and a 21.0% increase for franchise restaurants. Our average unit volumes are trending higher over 2020 and pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels in 2019.

We also believe our comparable sales was aided by impressive digital growth, as evident by our strong brand positioning and ability to meet the needs of today's consumer for great tasting food served conveniently where and when guests want it. However, our ability to retain positive comparable sales depends, among other reasons, on (i) the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, (ii) limitations imposed by federal, state and local governments with respect to reduced seating capacity in our restaurants and other social distancing measures, (iii) our customers’ future willingness to eat at restaurants, (iv) staffing availability to maintain a normal course of business operations, and (v) macroeconomic conditions and the length of time required for the national and local economies to achieve economic recovery following the crisis. Average unit volume (“AUV”), which normalizes for the impact of temporary restaurant closures, increased year-over-year due to strong off-premise sales, including digital, and growth in dine-in sales as a result of dining rooms reopening.

Recent restaurant openings not in the Company’s comparable restaurant base, many of which offer order ahead drive-thru pick-up windows, continue to perform as a group at the highest sales level of any class of new restaurants in the Company’s history.

Cost of Sales. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have and expect to continue to incur incremental costs of sales, including the use of additional packaging supplies to support the continued increase in to-go and off-premise orders. Additionally, we have seen a shortage in labor at some of our food suppliers, which in some cases, has resulted in increased costs of food or transportation. Despite these market factors, we have continued to work with our suppliers for ongoing supply chain efficiencies, including adding additional suppliers as necessary, with a goal of maintaining adequate food supply to our restaurants. To date, there has been minimal disruption to cost of goods sold, including the supply of our ingredients, packaging or other sourced materials, though it is possible that more significant disruptions could occur if the COVID-19 pandemic and volatility in the labor markets continue. We are working closely with our distributors and contract manufacturers as the situation evolves. We intend to continue to actively monitor the situation, including the status of our supply chain, to determine the appropriate actions to minimize any supply chain interruptions.

Labor Costs. During the third quarter of 2021, we experienced a reduction in labor availability in some of the markets where we operate, which in some cases resulted in temporary closures of our restaurants, in addition to continued wage inflation within the industry. We were able to mitigate the impact of these market factors through a continued focus on optimizing our hiring process and retaining existing employees. Our focus on labor efficiencies within the restaurant, including a modified labor model to reduce the number of front of house hours, optimized food prep and simplified menu offerings, has mitigated disruption in our cost and availability of labor. Some jurisdictions in which we operate have recently increased their minimum wage and other jurisdictions are considering similar actions. Significant additional government-imposed increases could materially affect our labor costs.

Other Restaurant Operating Costs. We have and expect to continue to incur additional third-party delivery fees resulting from a significant expansion of our use of third-party delivery services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Certain Restaurant Closures. We permanently closed eight company-owned restaurants in the first three quarters of 2021. Two of those occurred in the third quarter of 2021, of which one was a relocation. We had one franchise location permanently close in the third quarter of 2021 due to eminent domain. We currently do not anticipate a significant number of permanent restaurant closures in the foreseeable future; however, we may from time to time permanently close certain restaurants, including permanent closures at, or near, the expiration of the leases for these restaurants.

Restaurant Development. In the first three quarters of 2021, we opened four new company-owned restaurants and one franchise restaurant. As of September 28, 2021, we had 374 company-owned restaurants and 76 franchise restaurants in 29 states. Given the Company’s strong financial performance trends, we have incorporated increased unit development into our strategic growth plan for 2021 and beyond with a system-wide unit growth target of at least 8% annually beginning in 2022, quickly reaching 10% annual growth on a path to at least 1,500 units nationwide.

Key Measures We Use to Evaluate Our Performance

To evaluate the performance of our business, we utilize a variety of financial and performance measures. These key measures include revenue, average unit volume, comparable restaurant sales, restaurant contribution, restaurant contribution margin, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA.

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Revenue

Revenue includes both restaurant revenue and franchise royalties and fees. Restaurant revenue represents sales of food and beverages in company-owned restaurants. Several factors affect our restaurant revenue in any period, including the number of restaurants in operation and per-restaurant sales. Franchise royalties and fees represent royalty income and initial franchise fees. While we expect that the majority of our revenue and net income growth will be driven by company-owned restaurants, our franchise restaurants remain an important factor impacting our revenue and financial performance.

Seasonal factors cause our revenue to fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Our revenue per restaurant is typically lower in the first and fourth quarters, due to reduced winter and holiday traffic, and is typically higher in the second and third quarters. As a result of these factors, as well as the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic on particular quarters, our quarterly operating results and comparable restaurant sales may fluctuate significantly.

Comparable Restaurant Sales

Comparable restaurant sales refer to year-over-year sales comparisons for the comparable restaurant base. We define the comparable restaurant base to include restaurants open for at least 18 full periods. This measure highlights performance of existing restaurants, as the impact of new restaurant openings is excluded. Changes in comparable restaurant sales are generated by changes in traffic, which we calculate as the number of entrées sold, or changes in per-person spend, calculated as sales divided by traffic. Per-person spend can be influenced by changes in menu prices and the mix and number of items sold per person. For fiscal year 2020, restaurants that were temporarily closed or operating at reduced hours or dining capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic remained in comparable restaurant sales.

Measuring our comparable restaurant sales allows us to evaluate the performance of our existing restaurant base. Various factors impact comparable restaurant sales, including:

•consumer recognition of our brand and our ability to respond to changing consumer preferences;

•overall economic trends, particularly those related to consumer spending;

•our ability to operate restaurants effectively and efficiently to meet consumer expectations;

•pricing;

•the number of restaurant transactions, per-person spend and average check amount;

•marketing and promotional efforts;

•abnormal weather patterns;

•food safety and foodborne illness concerns;

•the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;

•local competition;

•trade area dynamics;

•introduction of new and seasonal menu items and limited time offerings; and

•opening new restaurants in the vicinity of existing locations.

Consistent with common industry practice, we present comparable restaurant sales on a calendar-adjusted basis that aligns current year sales weeks with comparable periods in the prior year, regardless of whether they belong to the same fiscal period or not. Since opening new company-owned and franchise restaurants is a part of our long-term growth strategy and we anticipate new restaurants will be a component of our long-term revenue growth, comparable restaurant sales is only one measure of how we evaluate our performance.

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Average Unit Volume

AUV consists of the average annualized sales of all restaurants for a given time period. AUV is calculated by dividing restaurant revenue by the number of operating days within each time period and multiplying by the number of operating days we have in a typical year. This measurement allows management to assess changes in revenue patterns at our restaurants. In addition to the factors that impact comparable restaurant sales, AUVs can be further impacted by effective real estate site selection and maturity and trends within new markets.

Restaurant Contribution and Restaurant Contribution Margin

Restaurant contribution represents restaurant revenue less restaurant operating costs which are cost of sales, labor, occupancy and other restaurant operating costs. Restaurant contribution margin represents restaurant contribution as a percentage of restaurant revenue. We expect restaurant contribution to increase in proportion to the number of new restaurants we open and our comparable restaurant sales growth.

We believe that restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are important tools for investors and other interested parties because they are widely-used metrics within the restaurant industry to evaluate restaurant-level productivity, efficiency and performance. We also use restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin as metrics to evaluate the profitability of incremental sales at our restaurants, restaurant performance across periods and restaurant financial performance compared with competitors. Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are supplemental measures of the operating performance of our restaurants and are not reflective of the underlying performance of our business because corporate-level expenses are excluded from these measures.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

We define EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. We define adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals, certain litigation settlements, data breach assessments, non-recurring registration and related transaction costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, severance costs and stock-based compensation.

We believe that EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA provide clear pictures of our operating results by eliminating certain non-recurring and non-cash expenses that may vary widely from period to period and are not reflective of the underlying business performance.

The presentation of restaurant contribution, restaurant contribution margin, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or to be superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). We use these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. We believe that they provide useful information to management and investors about operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making.

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Results of Operations

The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA:

						Fiscal Quarter Ended												Three Fiscal Quarters Ended
						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020
						(in thousands, unaudited)
Net income (loss)						$	4,697					$	(127)					$	8,403					$	(19,440)
Depreciation and amortization						5,571						5,541						16,734						16,273
Interest expense, net						594						822						1,714						2,710
Provision for income taxes						29						27						48						73
EBITDA						$	10,891					$	6,263					$	26,899					$	(384)
Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals (1)						1,126						369						2,747						3,983
Stock-based compensation expense						1,177						708						3,590						1,960
Severance costs						—						365						—						454
Fees and costs related to transactions and other acquisition/disposition costs						—						—						—						162
Adjusted EBITDA						$	13,194					$	7,705					$	33,236					$	6,175

_____________________

(1)Restaurant impairments and closure costs in all periods presented above include amounts related to restaurants previously impaired or closed. See Note 7, Restaurant Impairments, Closure Costs and Asset Disposals.

Restaurant Openings, Closures and Relocations

The following table shows restaurants opened or closed during the periods indicated:

						Fiscal Quarter Ended												Three Fiscal Quarters Ended
						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020
Company-Owned Restaurant Activity
Beginning of period						374						380						378						389
Openings (1)						2						1						4						2
Closures and relocations (1)						(2)						(3)						(8)						(4)
Divestitures (2)						—						—						—						(9)
Restaurants at end of period						374						378						374						378
Franchise Restaurant Activity
Beginning of period						77						76						76						68
Openings						—						—						1						—
Acquisitions (2)						—						—						—						9
Closures						(1)						—						(1)						(1)
Restaurants at end of period						76						76						76						76
Total restaurants						450						454						450						454

_____________________________

(1)We account for relocated restaurants under both restaurant openings and closures and relocations. During the third quarter of 2021, we relocated one restaurant.

(2)Represents nine company-owned restaurants sold to a franchisee in 2020.

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Statement of Operations as a Percentage of Revenue

The following table summarizes key components of our results of operations for the periods indicated as a percentage of our total revenue, except for the components of restaurant operating costs, which are expressed as a percentage of restaurant revenue.

						Fiscal Quarter Ended												Three Fiscal Quarters Ended
						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020
						(unaudited)
Revenue:
Restaurant revenue						98.4		%				98.5		%				98.4		%				98.8		%
Franchising royalties and fees, and other						1.6		%				1.5		%				1.6		%				1.2		%
Total revenue						100.0		%				100.0		%				100.0		%				100.0		%
Costs and expenses:
Restaurant operating costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Cost of sales						25.1		%				24.8		%				25.0		%				25.1		%
Labor						30.0		%				29.9		%				30.5		%				32.7		%
Occupancy						9.3		%				11.2		%				9.8		%				12.5		%
Other restaurant operating costs						17.5		%				18.6		%				17.7		%				18.3		%
General and administrative						9.7		%				10.2		%				10.0		%				11.0		%
Depreciation and amortization						4.5		%				5.2		%				4.6		%				5.7		%
Pre-opening						0.1		%				0.2		%				0.1		%				0.1		%
Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals						0.9		%				0.3		%				0.8		%				1.4		%
Total costs and expenses						95.7		%				99.3		%				97.2		%				105.8		%
Income (loss) from operations						4.3		%				0.7		%				2.8		%				(5.8)		%
Interest expense, net						0.5		%				0.8		%				0.5		%				0.9		%
Income (loss) before taxes						3.8		%				(0.1)		%				2.3		%				(6.8)		%
Provision for income taxes						—		%				—		%				—		%				—		%
Net income (loss)						3.8		%				(0.1)		%				2.3		%				(6.8)		%

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Third Quarter Ended September 28, 2021 Compared to Third Quarter Ended September 29, 2020

The table below presents our unaudited operating results for the third quarters of 2021 and 2020, and the related quarter-over-quarter changes.

						Fiscal Quarter Ended												Increase / (Decrease)
						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020						$						%
						(in thousands, unaudited)
Revenue:
Restaurant revenue						$	123,094					$	104,413					$	18,681					17.9		%
Franchising royalties and fees, and other						2,032						1,569						463						29.5		%
Total revenue						125,126						105,982						19,144						18.1		%
Costs and expenses:
Restaurant operating costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Cost of sales						30,946						25,900						5,046						19.5		%
Labor						36,896						31,264						5,632						18.0		%
Occupancy						11,426						11,737						(311)						(2.6)		%
Other restaurant operating costs						21,529						19,383						2,146						11.1		%
General and administrative						12,187						10,827						1,360						12.6		%
Depreciation and amortization						5,571						5,541						30						0.5		%
Pre-opening						125						239						(114)						(47.7)		%
Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals						1,126						369						757						205.1		%
Total costs and expenses						119,806						105,260						14,546						13.8		%
Income from operations						5,320						722						4,598						636.8		%
Interest expense, net						594						822						(228)						(27.7)		%
Income (loss) before income taxes						4,726						(100)						4,826						*
Provision for income taxes						29						27						2						(7.4)		%
Net income (loss)						$	4,697					$	(127)					$	4,824					*
Company-owned:
Average unit volume						$	1,377					$	1,187					$	190					16.0		%
Comparable restaurant sales						15.3		%				(3.6)		%

________________

*Not meaningful.

Revenue

Total revenue increased $19.1 million in the third quarter of 2021, or 18.1%, to $125.1 million, compared to $106.0 million in the third quarter of 2020. This increase was primarily due to sales growth in the comparable restaurant base. System-wide comparable restaurant sales increased 16.3% in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same period of 2020, comprised of a 15.3% increase at company-owned restaurants and a 21.0% increase at franchise-owned restaurants. The comparable restaurant sales increase in the third quarter of 2021 reflect continued momentum in both digital and in-person channels.

AUV, which normalizes for the impact of temporary restaurant closures, increased year-over-year due to strong off-premise sales, including digital, and growth in dine-in sales as a result of dining rooms reopening.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales increased by $5.0 million, or 19.5%, in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same period of 2020, due primarily to the increase in restaurant revenue. As a percentage of restaurant revenue, cost of sales increased to 25.1% in the third quarter of 2021 compared to 24.8% in third quarter of 2020 primarily due to higher commodity pricing partially offset by ongoing supply chain initiatives, increased menu pricing and lower discounting.

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Labor Costs

Labor costs increased by $5.6 million, or 18.0%, in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same period of 2020, due primarily to the increase in restaurant revenue as well as team member bonuses and wage inflation. As a percentage of restaurant revenue, labor costs increased to 30.0% in the third quarter of 2021 from 29.9% in the third quarter of 2020 as a result of increases in incentive compensation and base wage inflation, which was offset by sales leverage on higher average unit volumes and ongoing labor initiatives.

Occupancy Costs

Occupancy costs decreased by $0.3 million, or 2.6%, in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020, primarily due to restaurants closed since the beginning of the third quarter of 2020. As a percentage of revenue, occupancy costs decreased to 9.3% in the third quarter of 2021, compared to 11.2% in the third quarter of 2020 as a result of sales leverage.

Other Restaurant Operating Costs

Other restaurant operating costs increased by $2.1 million, or 11.1%, in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020, due primarily to the growth in third-party delivery fees due to revenue increases, in addition to increases in repairs and maintenance and utilities. As a percentage of restaurant revenue, other restaurant operating costs decreased to 17.5% in the third quarter of 2021 compared to 18.6% in the third quarter of 2020, due primarily to sales leverage. Third-party delivery fees were 5.3% and 5.5% of total revenue for the third quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

General and Administrative Expense

General and administrative expense increased by $1.4 million, or 12.6% in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020, due primarily to increases in incentive compensation including stock-based compensation, partially offset by a decline in severance costs and COVID-19 related sick-pay. Stock-based compensation increased due to higher performance-based compensation, due to significantly improved results. As a percentage of revenue, general and administrative expense decreased to 9.7% in the third quarter of 2021 from 10.2% in the third quarter of 2020.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization remained relatively flat in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020, due primarily to new asset additions for restaurants opened offsetting restaurant closures since the third quarter of 2020. As a percentage of revenue, depreciation and amortization decreased to 4.5% in the third quarter of 2021 from 5.2% in the third quarter of 2020, due primarily to the increase in revenue.

Restaurant Impairments, Closure Costs and Asset Disposals

Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals increased $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020. There was one restaurant impaired in the third quarter of 2021 and no restaurants impaired in the third quarter of 2020.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased by $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020. The decrease was due to lower average borrowings during the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020.

Provision for Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2021 and for the third quarter of 2020 reflect the impact of the previously recorded valuation allowance. For the remainder of fiscal 2021, we do not anticipate material income tax expense or benefit as a result of the valuation allowance recorded. We will maintain a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets until there is sufficient evidence to support a full or partial reversal. The reversal of a previously recorded valuation allowance will generally result in a benefit from income tax.

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Three Quarters Ended September 28, 2021 Compared to Three Quarters Ended September 29, 2020

The table below presents our unaudited operating results for the first three quarters of 2021 and 2020, and the related period-over-period changes.

						Three Fiscal Quarters Ended												Increase / (Decrease)
						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020						$						%
						(in thousands, except percentages)
Revenue:
Restaurant revenue						$	354,553					$	283,150					$	71,403					25.2		%
Franchising royalties and fees, and other						5,799						3,337						2,462						73.8		%
Total revenue						360,352						286,487						73,865						25.8		%
Costs and expenses:
Restaurant operating costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Cost of sales						88,728						71,124						17,604						24.8		%
Labor						108,128						92,632						15,496						16.7		%
Occupancy						34,594						35,473						(879)						(2.5)		%
Other restaurant operating costs						62,816						51,861						10,955						21.1		%
General and administrative						36,094						31,415						4,679						14.9		%
Depreciation and amortization						16,734						16,273						461						2.8		%
Pre-opening						346						383						(37)						(9.7)		%
Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals						2,747						3,983						(1,236)						(31.0)		%
Total costs and expenses						350,187						303,144						47,043						15.5		%
Income (loss) from operations						10,165						(16,657)						26,822						*
Interest expense, net						1,714						2,710						(996)						(36.8)		%
Income (loss) before income taxes						8,451						(19,367)						27,818						*
Provision for income taxes						48						73						(25)						(34.2)		%
Net income (loss)						$	8,403					$	(19,440)					$	27,843					*
Company-owned:
Average unit volumes						$	1,298					$	1,037					$	261					25.2		%
Comparable restaurant sales						25.4		%				(14.0)		%

________________

*Not meaningful.

Revenue

Total revenue increased by $73.9 million, or 25.8%, in the first three quarters of 2021, to $360.4 million compared to $286.5 million in the same period of 2020. This increase was primarily due to the increase in comparable restaurant sales and new restaurant openings, as well as an increase in franchise royalties as a result of royalty relief during the second quarter of 2020.

Comparable restaurant sales increased by 25.4% at company-owned restaurants, increased by 29.4% at franchise-owned restaurants and increased by 26.0% system-wide in the first three quarters of 2021. The comparable restaurant sales improvement in the first three quarters of 2021 was primarily driven by lapping the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the strength of the brand resonating with our guests through a focus on innovative food, digital capabilities, best-in-class off-premise and team member culture as well as continued momentum in both digital and in-person channels.

AUV, which normalizes for the impact of temporary restaurant closures, increased year-over-year due to strong off-premise sales, including digital, and growth in dine-in sales as a result of dining rooms reopening.

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Cost of Sales

Cost of sales increased by $17.6 million, or 24.8%, in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to the same period of 2020, due primarily to the increase in restaurant sales. As a percentage of restaurant revenue, cost of sales decreased to 25.0% in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to 25.1% in the first three quarters of 2020, primarily due to increased menu pricing and cost saving initiatives partially offset by increases in certain commodity costs and higher packaging costs.

Labor Costs

Labor costs increased by $15.5 million, or 16.7%, in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to the same period of 2020, due primarily to the increase in restaurant sales in addition to team member bonuses and wage inflation. As a percentage of restaurant revenue, labor costs decreased to 30.5% in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to 32.7% in the first three quarters of 2020. The decrease as a percentage of restaurant revenue was primarily due to leverage on higher sales volumes and labor initiatives, including modifying our labor model to reduce the number of front of house hours in our restaurants.

Occupancy Costs

Occupancy costs decreased by $0.9 million, or 2.5%, in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to the first three quarters of 2020, due primarily to restaurants closed or impaired since the beginning of the third quarter of 2020. As a percentage of revenue, occupancy costs decreased to 9.8% in first three quarters of 2021, compared to 12.5% in the first three quarters of 2020, primarily due to sales leverage.

Other Restaurant Operating Costs

Other restaurant operating costs increased by $11.0 million, or 21.1%, in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to the first three quarters of 2020. As a percentage of restaurant revenue, other restaurant operating costs decreased to 17.7% in the first three quarters of 2021, compared to 18.3% in the first three quarters of 2020, due primarily to higher revenue partially offset by third-party delivery fees and increases in repairs and maintenance and utilities. Third-party delivery fees were 5.4% and 4.8% of total revenue for the first three quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

General and Administrative Expense

General and administrative expense increased by $4.7 million, or 14.9%, in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to the first three quarters of 2020, primarily due to increases in incentive compensation and stock-based compensation due to higher performance-based compensation, due to significantly improved results, partially offset by a decrease in severance costs, COVID-19 emergency sick-pay and marketing expenses. As a percentage of revenue, general and administrative expense decreased to 10.0% in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to 11.0% in the first three quarters of 2020, primarily due to increased revenue.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization increased by $0.5 million, or 2.8%, in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to the first three quarters of 2020, primarily due to new asset additions. As a percentage of revenue, depreciation and amortization decreased to 4.6% in the first three quarters of 2021, compared to 5.7% in the first three quarters of 2020, due primarily to the increase in revenue.

Restaurant Impairments, Closure Costs and Asset Disposals

Restaurant impairments, closure costs and asset disposals decreased by $1.2 million in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to the first three quarters of 2020. The decrease was largely due to less impairment and closure costs during the first three quarters of 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020. There was one restaurant impairment in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to five restaurant impairments in the first three quarters of 2020.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased by $1.0 million in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to the same period of 2020. The decrease was mainly due to lower average borrowings in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to the first three quarters of 2020.

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Provision for Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the first three quarters of 2021 and for the first three quarters of 2020 reflect the impact of the previously recorded valuation allowance. For the remainder of fiscal 2021, we do not anticipate material income tax expense or benefit as a result of the valuation allowance recorded. We will maintain a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets until there is sufficient evidence to support a full or partial reversal. The reversal of a previously recorded valuation allowance will generally result in a benefit from income tax. We estimate the annual effective tax rate for 2021 to be between 0.25% and 1.25%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Summary of Cash Flows

As of September 28, 2021, our cash and cash equivalents balance was $3.1 million and the amount available for future borrowings under our Second Amended Credit Facility was $71.8 million.

We have historically used cash and our revolving credit facility to fund capital expenditures for new restaurant openings, reinvest in our existing restaurants, invest in infrastructure and information technology and maintain working capital. Our working capital position benefits from the fact that we generally collect cash from sales to customers the same day, or in the case of credit or debit card transactions, within several days of the related sale, and we typically have up to 30 days to pay our vendors.

We believe that we will be in compliance with our debt covenants and have sufficient sources of cash to meet our liquidity needs and capital resource requirements for at least the next twelve months, primarily through currently available cash and cash equivalents and cash flows from operations.

Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities are shown in the following table (in thousands):

						Three Fiscal Quarters Ended
						September 28, 2021						September 29, 2020
Net cash provided by operating activities						$	29,896					$	8,314
Net cash used in investing activities						(12,559)						(9,887)
Net cash used in financing activities						(22,028)						(265)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents						$	(4,691)					$	(1,838)

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $29.9 million in the first three quarters of 2021 from net cash provided by operating activities of $8.3 million in the first three quarters of 2020. The increase in operating cash flows resulted primarily from an increase in net income due to the growth of average unit volumes in our restaurants during the first three quarters of 2021, in addition to a recovery from the initial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as working capital changes during the first three quarters of 2021 compared to the prior period of 2020.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities increased $2.7 million in the first three quarters of 2021 from $9.9 million in the first three quarters of 2020. This increase was primarily due to higher investments in new restaurant openings in the first three quarters of 2021 compared to 2020.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $22.0 million in the first three quarters of 2021 related to repayments on our long-term debt and finance leases. The first three quarters of 2020 included precautionary draws on our revolving credit facility of $55.5 million during the initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by repayments of $54.1 million and related debt issuance costs, as well as payments on finance leases.

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Capital Resources

Future Capital Expenditure Requirements. Our capital expenditure requirements are primarily dependent upon the pace of our real estate development program and resulting new restaurant openings, costs for maintenance and remodeling of our existing restaurants as well as information technology expenses and other general corporate capital expenditures.

We estimate capital expenditures will be approximately $20.0 million to $22.0 million for fiscal year 2021, primarily for the opening of five to seven company-owned restaurants, kitchen equipment initiatives and restaurant maintenance capital. We expect such capital expenditures to be funded by currently available cash and cash equivalents, cash flows from operations and if necessary, undrawn capacity under our revolving credit line.

Current Resources. Our operations have not historically required significant working capital and, like many restaurant companies, we operate with negative working capital. Restaurant sales are primarily paid for in cash or by credit or debit card, and restaurant operations do not require significant inventories or receivables. In addition, we receive trade credit for the purchase of food, beverages and supplies, therefore reducing the need for incremental working capital to support growth.

Liquidity. As of September 28, 2021, we had a cash balance of $3.1 million compared to $7.8 million as of December 29, 2020. We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, the expected cash flows from company-owned restaurant operations, the expected franchise fees and royalties and available borrowings under the credit facility will be sufficient to fund our cash requirements for working capital needs, new restaurant openings, and capital improvements and maintenance of existing restaurants for at least the next twelve months.

Credit Facility

In November of 2019, we amended our 2018 Credit Facility by entering into that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement (the “Amendment” and the 2018 Credit Facility, as amended, the “First Amended Credit Facility”). Among other things, the Amendment: (i) extended the maturity date to November 20, 2024; (ii) increased the revolving credit facility from $65.0 million to $75.0 million; (iii) delayed step downs of the Company’s leverage covenant; and (iv) increased the limit on capital expenditures to $37.0 million in 2020 and to $45.0 million in 2021 and each fiscal year thereafter. Upon execution of the First Amended Credit Facility, the Company repaid in full its outstanding indebtedness under its prior credit facility using funds drawn on the First Amended Credit Facility. Upon repayment, the prior credit facility and all related agreements were terminated.

On June 16, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), the Company amended its First Amended Credit Facility by entering into the Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Second Amendment” and the First Amended Credit Facility, as amended, the “Second Amended Credit Facility”). Beginning on the Effective Date and through the third quarter of 2021 (the “Amendment Period”), borrowings under the Second Amended Credit Facility, including the term loan facility, will bear interest at LIBOR plus 3.25% per annum. Following the Amendment Period, borrowings will bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00% to 3.00% per annum, based upon the consolidated total lease-adjusted leverage ratio. Among other things, the Second Amendment (i) waives the lease-adjusted leverage ratio and fixed charge ratio covenants through the first quarter of 2021; (ii) amends the Company’s lease-adjusted leverage ratio and fixed coverage ratio covenant thresholds beginning in the second quarter of 2021 through the third quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2022, respectively and (iii) limits capital expenditures to $12.0 million in 2020, $12.0 million plus a liquidity-based performance basket up to an additional $12.0 million in 2021, $34.0 million in 2022, $37.0 million in 2023 and $45.0 million annually thereafter. As of the second quarter of 2021, the Company had full access to its $12.0 million performance basket, and for the remainder of 2021, the Company expects to have access to the full $24.0 million in capital expenditures which includes the $12.0 million performance basket.

As of September 28, 2021, we had $23.7 million of indebtedness (excluding $1.4 million of unamortized debt issuance costs) and $3.2 million of letters of credit outstanding under the Second Amended Credit Facility. The term loan requires principal payments of $187,500 per quarter through the third quarter of 2021, $375,000 per quarter through the third quarter of 2022, $531,250 per quarter through the third quarter of 2023 and $625,000 per quarter thereafter through maturity.

Our Second Amended Credit Facility is secured by a pledge of stock of substantially all of our subsidiaries and a lien on substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ personal property assets.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We had no off-balance sheet arrangements or obligations as of September 28, 2021.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with GAAP. Preparing consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by the application of our accounting policies. Our significant accounting policies are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2020. Critical accounting estimates are those that require application of management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent periods. While we apply our judgment based on assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, actual results could vary from these assumptions. It is possible that materially different amounts would be reported using different assumptions. Our critical accounting estimates are identified and described in our annual consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 29, 2020.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on debt. Our exposure to interest rate fluctuations is limited to our outstanding bank debt, which bears interest at variable rates. As of September 28, 2021, we had $23.7 million of outstanding borrowings under our credit facility. An increase or decrease of 1.0% in the effective interest rate applied on these loans would have resulted in a pre-tax interest expense fluctuation of approximately $0.2 million on an annualized basis. There is currently uncertainty around whether LIBOR will continue to exist after 2021. If LIBOR ceases to exist, our lenders have the ability to choose an alternative index and we cannot predict what alternative index would be negotiated with our lenders.

Commodity Price Risk

We purchase certain products that are affected by commodity prices and are, therefore, subject to price volatility caused by weather, market conditions and other factors which are not considered predictable or within our control. Although these products are subject to changes in commodity prices, certain purchasing contracts or pricing arrangements contain risk management techniques designed to minimize price volatility. Typically, we use these types of purchasing techniques to control costs as an alternative to directly managing financial instruments to hedge commodity prices. In many cases, we believe we will be able to address material commodity cost increases by adjusting our menu pricing or changing our product delivery strategy. However, increases in commodity prices, without adjustments to our menu prices, have and could continue to increase restaurant operating costs as a percentage of restaurant revenue.

Inflation

The primary inflationary factors affecting our operations are food, labor costs, energy costs and materials used in the construction of new restaurants. Increases in the minimum wage requirements directly affect our labor costs. Many of our leases require us to pay taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance and utilities, all of which are generally subject to inflationary increases. Finally, the cost of constructing our restaurants is subject to inflationary increases in the costs of labor and material. Over the past five years, inflation has not significantly affected our operating results with the exception of increased wage inflation that affected our results from 2016 through the first three quarters of 2021. We expect wage inflation may continue to affect our results in the near future.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Our management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 28, 2021, pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.

Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules

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and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, we are subject to other proceedings, lawsuits and claims. Such matters are subject to many uncertainties, and outcomes are not predictable with assurance. Consequently, we are unable to ascertain the ultimate aggregate amount of monetary liability or financial impact with respect to these matters as of September 28, 2021. These matters could affect the operating results of any one financial reporting period when resolved in future periods. We believe that an unfavorable outcome with respect to these matters is remote or a potential range of loss is not material to our consolidated financial statements. Significant increases in the number of these claims, or one or more successful claims that result in greater liabilities than we currently anticipate, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

A description of the risk factors associated with our business is contained in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 29, 2020. There have been no material changes to our Risk Factors as previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 29, 2020.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

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Item 6. Exhibit Index

Exhibit Number						Description of Exhibit
31.1						Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2						Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1						Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)
101.INS						Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104.0						Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

NOODLES & COMPANY
By:			/s/  CARL LUKACH
			Carl Lukach Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer and duly authorized signatory for the registrant)
Date			November 9, 2021

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