WATERBURY , VT (December 9, 2010) – Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., (NASDAQ: GMCR), a leader in specialty coffee and coffeemakers, today announced its fiscal 2010 fourth quarter and year-end results for the thirteen weeks and fiscal year ended September 25, 2010.

Performance Highlights

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2010

• Net Sales up 73% over 2009
• GAAP EPS of $0.20; Non-GAAP EPS of $0.221
• GAAP Net Income up 92% over 2009

     
Fiscal 2010

• Net Sales up 73% over 2009
• GAAP EPS of $0.58; Non-GAAP EPS of $0.701
• GAAP Net Income up 46% over 2009

Restated Financial Results
As set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2010, the Company has restated its previously issued financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006, September 29, 2007, September 27, 2008 and September 26, 2009 and the first three quarters of fiscal 2010, including the quarterly data for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 and its selected financial data for the relevant periods. Any comparisons to prior periods reflect restated financial results for those periods. Accordingly, investors should no longer rely upon the Company's previously released financial statements for these periods and any earnings releases or other communications relating to these periods.

Fourth Quarter 2010 Results
Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 increased 73% to $373.1 million as compared to $216.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 totaled $27.0 million, or $0.20 per fully diluted share, representing an increase of 92% as compared to GAAP net income of $14.1 million, or $0.11 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

Excluding transaction-related expenses in the quarter, the Company’s non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 increased 112% to $29.8 million from $14.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.1 Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share increased 97% to $0.22 from $0.11 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.1

Fiscal Year 2010 Results
Net sales for the 2010 fiscal year increased 73% to $1,356.8 million as compared to $786.1 million for the 2009 fiscal year. Under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), net income for the 2010 fiscal year totaled $79.5 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, representing an increase of 46% as compared to GAAP net income of $54.4 million, or $0.45 per diluted share for the 2009 fiscal year.

Excluding transaction-related expenses incurred during fiscal 2010, and the $17.0 million pre-tax Kraft patent litigation settlement recorded in fiscal 2009, the Company’s non-GAAP net income for fiscal 2010 increased 119% to $96.3 million from $43.9 million in fiscal 2009.1  Non-GAAP earnings per fully diluted share increased 92% to $0.70 from $0.36 in fiscal 2009.1 Fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009 non-GAAP earnings per diluted share include $0.06 and $0.03 of amortization of identifiable intangibles related to the companies acquisitions per diluted share, respectively.

In alignment with its purpose: “To create the ultimate coffee experience in every life we touch from tree to cup – transforming the way the world views business,” GMCR allocates at least 5% of its pre-tax profits to socially and environmentally responsible initiatives.

“Our fiscal 2010 results demonstrate increasing consumer awareness of and interest in the convenience and value represented by the Keurig Single-Cup system,” said Lawrence J. Blanford, GMCR’s President and CEO. “We estimate Keurig systems are currently active in approximately 6% of the 90 million coffee-drinking households in the United States, and we believe there is room to expand our presence going forward.”

“The GMCR team remains focused, continuing to execute in a way that enables us to capitalize on what we believe is substantial opportunity for growth,” continued Blanford. “We are very excited about the 2010 Holiday season and the support we’re seeing from our customers and licensed-brand partners. We continue to expect a strong start to our fiscal 2011 and anticipate total consolidated net sales growth of 55% to 65% for the first quarter of 2011.”

Fiscal 2010 Fourth Quarter Financial Review

Key Business Drivers & Metrics

• Approximately 90% of consolidated net sales in the fourth quarter were from the Keurig brewing system and its recurring K-Cup portion pack revenue, including Keurig-related accessory sales and royalties from third party licensed roasters.
• Net sales from K-Cup portion packs totaled $249.5 million in the quarter, up 115%, or $133.5 million, over 2009.  Contributing to this increase was the introduction of Folgers Gourmet Selections and Millstone-branded K-Cups to grocery, mass and club outlets by The J.M. Smucker Company which represented approximately 6 percentage points of the increase this quarter. Also, on September 7, 2010, the Company announced a price increase on K-Cup portion packs beginning October 11, 2010. We believe the price increase may have contributed to stronger sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 ahead of the effective date of the increase.
• During the fiscal fourth quarter, 832 million K-Cup portion packs were shipped system-wide by all Keurig-licensed roasters, representing an increase of 80% over the year-ago quarter. K-Cup portion packs shipped system-wide include Specialty Coffee business unit (SCBU) and third party licensed roasters shipments to third party customers, as well as to Keurig for future sales to the At-Home channel and Keurig.com.
• Net sales from Keurig brewers and accessories totaled $82.2 million in the quarter, up 48%, or $26.7 million, from the prior year period.
• Supporting continued growth in K-Cup demand, there were 1.2 million brewers with Keurig-branded brewing technology, including third party brewers, shipped system-wide during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 compared to 719,000 shipped during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. This shipment data does not account for consumer returns to retailers. 
• Net sales related to Timothy’s and Diedrich, which are included in the Company’s fourth quarter results of fiscal 2010 since acquisition in November 2009 and May 2010, respectively, represented approximately 16 percentage points of the 73% increase in GMCR’s total net sales in the fourth quarter over the prior year quarter. 
• For the Keurig business unit, net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was $189.6 million, up 64% from net sales of $115.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.
• For the SCBU, net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was $183.5 million, up 83% from net sales of $100.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. 

Costs, Margins and Income

• Fourth quarter 2010 gross profit was 30.4% of total net sales compared to 31.9% for the corresponding quarter in 2009. The gross margin is lower than the year-ago period due to higher brewer sales returns, an increase in brewer warranty expense, and higher green coffee costs.  These negative impacts were somewhat offset by additional manufacturing margin resulting from the Company’s acquisition of Timothy’s and Diedrich.  
• Selling, general and administrative expense as a percentage of net sales for the fourth quarter was 19.2% as compared to 20.4% in the prior year. Fourth quarter 2010 general and administrative expenses included approximately $5.0 million of transaction-related expenses for the pending Van Houtte acquisition, as well as $5.5 million in amortization of identifiable intangibles related to the Company’s acquisitions, as compared to $1.5 million of amortization of identifiable intangibles in the prior year fourth quarter.
• The Company increased its GAAP operating income by 68%, to $41.7 million, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, as compared to $24.8 million in the year ago quarter. Excluding the impact of $5.0 million in transaction-related expenses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company’s non-GAAP operating income was $46.6 million, or 12.5% of net sales, as compared to $24.8 million, or 11.5% of net sales, in the prior year period.
• Interest expense was $1.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, compared to $1.2 million in the prior year quarter.
• Income before taxes for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 increased 71% to $39.7 million as compared to $23.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.  
• The Company’s tax rate for the fiscal fourth quarter was 32.0% as compared to 39.6% in the prior year quarter due to lower income tax rates in jurisdictions outside of the United States where the company has operations and as a result of significant federal and state manufacturing credits.
• Fourth quarter GAAP net income increased 92% to $27.0 million from $14.1 million and non-GAAP net income, when excluding the transaction-related expenses, increased 112% to $29.8 million from $14.1 million.1   

Balance Sheet Highlights

• Cash and short-term cash investments was $4.8 million at September 25, 2010, down from $10.0 million at June 26, 2010.
• Accounts receivable increased 88% year-over-year to $172.2 million at September 25, 2010, from $91.6 million at September 26, 2009, as a result of continuing strong sales during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, particularly within the retail channel where days sales outstanding is higher than other channels.
• Inventories increased 99% to $262.5 million at September 25, 2010 from $132.2 million at September 26, 2009, reflecting the Company’s effort to ensure sufficient inventories of brewers and K-Cup portion packs for the 2010 holiday season.
• Debt outstanding increased to $354.5 million at September 25, 2010 from $271.4 million at June 26, 2010 as a result of the Company’s increase in working capital during the fourth quarter.

Proposed Acquisition of Van Houtte

• On September 14, 2010, the Company announced it had entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire all the outstanding shares of Van Houtte for approximately $915.0 million Canadian dollars or $890.0 million U.S. dollars, based upon an exchange rate as of September 13, 2010, subject to adjustment. 
• The Company has secured a financing commitment for a new $1.45 billion senior secured credit facility to finance the Van Houtte acquisition and transaction expenses, as well as to refinance the Company’s existing outstanding indebtedness. 
• We have received two of the three required regulatory approvals necessary to complete this transaction. 
• We remain confident that we will receive the final regulatory approval in order to close the transaction by December 31, 2010. 
• GMCR anticipates that the acquisition of Van Houtte will be neutral to slightly dilutive to its earnings per share in the first twelve months after closing and accretive thereafter.

Business Outlook and Other Forward-Looking Information 

Company Estimates for Fiscal Year 2011
The Company provided the following revised and/or first issuance of estimates for its fiscal year 2011:

• Total consolidated net sales growth of 45% to 53%, up from prior estimates of 44% to 50% reflecting higher pricing and anticipated lower unit volume as a result of the previously announced price increase.

The Company is broadening its 2011 Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share to a range of $1.19 to $1.29 per diluted share from its comparable prior non-GAAP fiscal 2011 earnings estimate of $1.24 to $1.29 per diluted share to allow for expected volatility in coffee prices and flexibility to support anticipated new product launches.

For fiscal 2011, because it is a non-cash-related item, in an attempt to provide transparency to operating results, the Company expects to exclude amortization of identifiable intangible assets from its non-GAAP estimates and non-GAAP reporting. As a result, the fiscal 2011 estimate range excludes any acquisition-related transaction expenses, amortization of identifiable intangibles related to the Company’s acquisitions, foreign exchange impact of hedging the Canadian dollar purchase price of Van Houtte acquisition, and legal expenses related to the SEC inquiry or pending litigation.

The fiscal 2011 estimate excludes approximately $22.0 million, or approximately $0.09 per share, of non-cash amortization of identifiable intangibles related to the Company’s completed acquisitions and does not reflect any increase in non-cash amortization of identifiable intangibles for the pending Van Houtte acquisition. 

•  
• Capital expenditures for fiscal 2011 in the range of $215.0 million to $260.0 million, excluding capital expenditures related to the pending acquisition of Van Houtte.
• In addition, the Company’s prior estimate issued on July 28, 2010 of total K-Cup portion packs shipped system-wide to increase in the range of 64% to 68% in 2011 is not being updated and, therefore, investors should not rely on it. Going forward, the Company has determined that, consistent with the evolution of the business, it will not provide estimates with respect to brewers or K-Cup portion packs shipped. Instead, from time to time, the Company may comment on general shipment trends of both K-Cup portion packs and brewers when material to an understanding of its financial results. The Company will continue to provide historical net sales data for K-Cup portion packs and brewers.

Company Estimates for First Quarter Fiscal Year 2011
The Company also provided its first estimates for its first quarter of fiscal 2011:

• Total consolidated net sales growth of 55% to 65%.
• Non-GAAP earnings per share in the range of $0.14 to $0.18 per diluted share excluding any acquisition-related transaction expenses, amortization of identifiable intangibles related to the Company’s acquisitions, foreign exchange impact of hedging the Canadian dollar purchase price of the pending Van Houtte acquisition, and legal expenses related to the SEC inquiry or pending litigation. 

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company provides non-GAAP operating results that exclude certain charges or credits such as acquisition-related transaction expenses, the one-time operating income related to the settlement of the Company’s Kraft litigation, and non-cash related items such as amortization of identifiable intangibles. These amounts are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP. The Company’s management believes that these measures provide investors with transparency by helping illustrate the underlying financial and business trends relating to the Company’s results of operations and financial condition and comparability between current and prior periods.  Management uses the measures to establish and monitor budgets and operational goals and to evaluate the performance of the Company. Please see the “GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations” tables that accompany this press release for a full reconciliation the Company’s GAAP to non-GAAP results.

Conference Call and Webcast
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. will be discussing these financial results with analysts and investors in a conference call and live webcast available via the Internet at 5:30 p.m. ET today, December 9, 2010. Management’s prepared remarks on its quarterly and annual results will be provided via a Current Report on Form 8-K and also posted under the events link in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.GMCR.com. As a result, the conference call will include only brief remarks by management followed by a question and answer session. The call along with accompanying slides is accessible, via live webcast from the events link in the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website at http://investor.gmcr.com/events.cfm The Company archives the latest conference call for a period of time.  A replay of the conference call also will be available by telephone at (719) 457-0820, Passcode 4442884 from 9:00 p.m. ET on December 9th through 9:00 PM ET on Wednesday, December 15, 2010.

GMCR routinely posts information that may be of importance to investors in the Investor Relations section of its website, including news releases and its complete financial statements, as filed with the SEC.  The Company encourages investors to consult this section of its website regularly for important information and news.  Additionally, by subscribing to the Company’s automatic email news release delivery, individuals can receive news directly from GMCR as it is released.

About Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.
As a leader in the specialty coffee industry, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. is recognized for its award-winning coffees, innovative brewing technology, and socially responsible business practices. GMCR’s operations are managed through two business units. The Specialty Coffee business unit produces coffee, tea and hot cocoa from a family of brands, including Tully’s Coffee®, Green Mountain Coffee®, Newman’s Own® Organics coffee, Timothy’s World Coffee®  and Diedrich®, Coffee People® and Gloria Jeans®,  The Keurig business unit is a pioneer and leading manufacturer of gourmet single-cup brewing systems. K-Cup® portion packs for Keurig® Single-Cup Brewers are produced by a variety of roasters, including Green Mountain Coffee, Tully’s, Timothy’s and Diedrich. GMCR supports local and global communities by offsetting 100% of its direct greenhouse gas emissions, investing in Fair Trade Certified™ coffee, and donating at least five percent of its pre-tax profits to social and environmental projects.  Visit www.gmcr.com for more information.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained herein are not based on historical fact and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the applicable securities laws and regulations.  Generally, these statements can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “feel,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.  Owing to the uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, actual results could differ materially from those stated here.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the impact on sales and profitability of consumer sentiment in this difficult economic environment, the Company’s success in efficiently expanding operations and capacity to meet growth, the Company’s success in efficiently and effectively integrating Timothy’s and Diedrich’s wholesale operations and capacity into its Specialty Coffee business unit, the Company’s success in introducing and producing new product offerings, the ability of lenders to honor their commitments under the Company’s credit facility, competition and other business conditions in the coffee industry and food industry in general, fluctuations in availability and cost of high-quality green coffee, any other increases in costs including fuel, Keurig’s ability to continue to grow and build profits with its roaster partners in the At Home and Away from Home businesses, the Company experiencing product liability, product recall and higher than anticipated rates of warranty expense or sales returns associated with a product quality or safety issue, the impact of the loss of major customers for the Company or reduction in the volume of purchases by major customers, delays in the timing of adding new locations with existing customers, the Company’s level of success in continuing to attract new customers, sales mix variances, weather and special or unusual events, the impact of the inquiry initiated by the SEC and any related litigation or additional governmental investigative or enforcement proceedings, as well as other risks described more fully in the Company’s filings with the SEC.  Forward-looking statements reflect management’s analysis as of the date of this release.  The Company does not undertake to revise these statements to reflect subsequent developments, other than in its regular, quarterly earnings releases.

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¹ A complete reconciliation of the Company’s GAAP to non-GAAP results is provided with this announcement.