Cooks Global Foods (CGF) has reaffirmed its 650-store budget for Esquires Coffee by March 2021, but has acknowledged that the growth path may not be smooth. The company needs to obtain additional funding to fuel this growth and in the short term has arranged a NZ$2m convertible loan facility from two of its largest shareholders. CGF also has shareholder approval to raise NZ$9m, and we understand the company is in discussions with strategic investors. The company’s auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers, has issued a disclaimer of opinion on CGF’s going concern status. Our forecasts and valuation are predicated on management’s budgets for store openings and sales, and the assumption that the company will secure the required funding.
