8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 14, 2024

GEN Restaurant Group, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware	001-41727	87-3424935
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
11480 South Street, Suite 205 Cerritos, CA		90703
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (562) 356-9929

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common stock, par value $0.001 per share	GENK	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (The Nasdaq Global Market)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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. ☐

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On May 14, 2024, GEN Restaurant Group, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

The information included or incorporated by reference in this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed herewith.

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press release, dated May 14, 2024, issued by GEN Restaurant Group, Inc.
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

1

SIGNATURES

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

	GEN RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
Date: May 14, 2024	By:	/s/ Thomas V. Croal
		Thomas V. Croal
		Chief Financial Officer

2

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

GEN Restaurant Group, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Cerritos, CA, May 14, 2024 - GEN Restaurant Group, Inc. (“GEN” or the “Company”), owner of GEN Korean BBQ, a fast-growing cook-it-yourself casual dining concept, is announcing financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

First Quarter 2024 Financial and Recent Operational Highlights

•Total revenue increased 16% to $50.8 million compared to the first quarter of 2023.

•Income from operations was $108 thousand and 0.2% of revenue.

•Restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA(1) was $8.4 million and 16.6% of revenue.

•Net Income was $3.7 million and 7.3% of revenue.

•Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $6.4 million and 12.5% of revenue inclusive of pre-opening expense of approximately $1.9 million.

•Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2024 was $28.1 million.

•Opened two new locations during the first quarter of 2024 in Seattle, Washington and Dallas, Texas. Opened a third location in Jacksonville, Florida during April 2024.

•Launched new Premium Menu at all 40 nationwide locations featuring 10 gourmet protein options at an additional cost of $20 per guest.

•Completed an acquisition to buy out the Company’s 50% partner in GKBH Restaurant LLC, which included acquiring the rights the partner had to participate in future GEN restaurants in the State of Hawaii, on February 19, 2024. The Company now wholly owns all 40 of its locations.

.

(1) Adjusted EBITDA and restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. For reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA and restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure see the accompanying financial tables. For definitions and a discussion of why we consider them useful, see “Non-GAAP Measures” below.

Management Commentary

“Our first quarter performance reflects continued execution on our strategic growth initiatives to rapidly expand GEN’s geographic coverage,” said David Kim, Co-Chief Executive Officer of GEN. “We opened two new restaurants during the first quarter that have been performing at or above our initial expectations and helped drive our 16% revenue increase. In addition, our third new location this year has also been performing well in the initial weeks since opening.

“In February, we bought out our partner in Hawaii and now own 100% of our 40 locations nationwide. As we move further into 2024, we remain focused on growing our restaurant count and providing a superior customer experience, like the recent launch of our new premium menu. Supported by a strong cash position and cost-efficient business model, we believe we are well positioned to continue increasing market share and maximize shareholder value over the long-term.”

First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Total revenue increased 16% to $50.8 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared to $43.9 million in the first quarter of 2023. Comparable restaurant sales decreased 1.8% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year.

Total restaurant operating expenses (excluding pre-opening expenses) as a percentage of revenue increased 327 basis points to 86.8% in the first quarter of 2024 from 83.5% in the first quarter of 2023, primarily driven by the following:

•Cost of goods sold increased 81 basis points primarily due to more restaurants in operation and the introduction of the Company's new premium menu.

•Payroll and benefits increased 70 basis points due to increases in minimum wage rates in certain markets in which the Company operates, primarily California; higher short-term labor costs in newly open restaurants as the Company trains staff and management; and an increase in manager training in preparation for the Company’s ramp-up in new restaurant development. On a sequential basis, payroll and benefits decreased by 26 basis points compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.

•Occupancy costs increased 63 basis points primarily due to new restaurant openings over the last twelve months.

•Other operating costs increased 64 basis points. On a sequential basis, other operating costs decreased 112 basis points compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.

•Depreciation and amortization increased 49 basis points.

•Restaurant pre-opening expenses increased to $1.9 million for the first quarter of 2024 from $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2023 due to the timing of new store openings.

General and administrative expenses increased by $3.9 million, excluding non-cash stock compensation expense, for the first quarter of 2024 including the addition of new personnel necessary for new restaurant development, along with public company costs which weren’t present in the prior year period. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses were 9.2% in the first quarter of 2024.

Net income was $3.7 million or 7.3% of revenue for the first quarter of 2024 compared to $4.5 million or 10.3% of revenue in the first quarter of 2023. The decline was largely due to increased expenses related to new restaurant development and increased general and administrative expenses associated with being a public company, partially offset by the $3.4 million gain on purchase related to the acquisition to buy out the Company’s 50% partner in GKBH Restaurant LLC.

Adjusted EBITDA increased to $6.4 million or 12.5% of revenue, inclusive of pre-opening expense of approximately $1.9 million for the first quarter of 2024, compared to $5.8 million or 13.3% of revenue, inclusive of pre-opening expenses of $0.5 million in the prior year period.

Non-GAAP Measures

Restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA represents income (loss) from operations plus adjustments to add-back the following expenses: depreciation and amortization, pre-opening costs, general and administrative expenses, related party consulting fees, management fees and non-cash lease expense. Management believes that restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors because this measure highlights trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent to investors when relying solely on GAAP financial measures and enabling investors to more effectively compare the Company’s performance to prior and future periods.

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and consulting fees paid to a related party and we also exclude non-recurring items, such as stock-based compensation expense, gain on extinguishment of debt, and Restaurant Revitalization Fund, or RRF, grants, employee retention credits, litigation accruals, aborted deferred IPO costs written off, non-cash lease expenses and non-cash lease expense related to pre-opening costs. Management believes that restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors because this measure highlights trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent to investors when relying solely on GAAP financial measures and enabling investors to more effectively compare the Company’s performance to prior and future periods .

Conference Call

GEN will conduct a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

David Kim, Co-Chief Executive Officer, and Tom Croal, Chief Financial Officer will host the conference call, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Date: Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time)

Toll-free dial-in number: 1-844-825-9789

International dial-in number: 1-412-317-5180

Conference ID: 10188729

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at 949-574-3860.

The conference call will be broadcast live here and available for replay via the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.genkoreanbbq.com.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available after 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through May 21, 2024.

Toll-free replay number: 1-844-512-2921

International replay number: 1-412-317-6671

Replay ID: 10188729

About GEN Restaurant Group, Inc.

GEN Korean BBQ is a fast-growing cook-it-yourself casual dining concept with over 40 locations in 8 states. The Company offers guests a unique dining experience where guests serve as their own chefs preparing meals on embedded grills in the center of each table. The extensive menu consists of traditional Korean and Korean-American food, including high-quality meats, poultry, seafood and mixed vegetables. With its unique culinary experience alongside its modern décor and lively atmosphere, GEN Korean BBQ delivers an engaging and interactive dining experience. For more information, please visit GEN’s website at www.genkoreanbbq.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “intend,” “expect”, “will,” “may”, and other similar words or expressions that predict or indicate future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding our strategy, future operations, and growth prospects, any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, any statements of belief or expectation, and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing or other future events. Forward-looking statements are based on current information available at the time the statements are made and on management’s reasonable belief or expectations with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from the belief or expectations expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Additional factors or events that could cause actual results to differ may also emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect future events, developments or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law. Investors are referred to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, for additional information regarding the risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

Investor Relations Contact:

Cody Slach and Cody Cree

Gateway Group, Inc.

1-949-574-3860

GENK@gateway-grp.com

GEN RESTAURANT GROUP

Condensed Consolidated Income Statements

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three months ended March 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2024			2023
	(unaudited)
Revenue	$	50,760		$	43,862
Restaurant operating expenses:
Food cost		16,968			14,305
Payroll and benefits		16,152			13,652
Occupancy expenses		4,293			3,432
Operating expenses		5,098			4,126
Depreciation and amortization		1,537			1,113
Pre-opening costs		1,901			519
Total restaurant operating expenses		45,949			37,147
General and administrative		4,674			2,055
Consulting fees - related party		—			880
Management fees		—			588
Depreciation and amortization - corporate		29			18
Total costs and expenses		50,652			40,688
Income from operations		108			3,174
Employee retention credits		—			1,165
Gain on remeasurement of previously held interest		3,402			—
Interest income (expense), net		276			(189	)
Equity in income (loss) of equity method investee		(17	)		381
Net income before income taxes		3,769			4,531
Provision for income taxes		(71	)		—
Net income		3,698			4,531
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		3,202			397
Net income attributable to GEN Restaurant Group, Inc.		496			4,134
Net income attributable to Class A common stock per share - basic and diluted (1)	$	496			—
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - basic (1)		4,324			—
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - diluted (2)		4,324			—
Net income per share of Class A common stock - basic	$	0.11			—
Net income per share of Class A common stock - diluted	$	0.11			—

(1) (2) Basic and diluted net income per share of Class A common stock is presented only for the period after the Company’s organization transactions.

GEN RESTAURANT GROUP

Selected Balance Sheet Data and Selected Operating Data

(in thousands, except restaurants and percentages)

	For the period ending
	31-Mar-24		31-Dec-23
(amounts in thousands)	(unaudited)
Selected Balance Sheet Data:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	28,122	$	32,631
Total assets	$	214,511	$	183,870
Total liabilities	$	172,649	$	146,352
Total Stockholders' equity	$	40,362	$	36,018

	Three months ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2024			2023
Selected Operating Data	(unaudited)
Restaurants at end of period		39			31
Comparable restaurant sales performance		-1.8	%		3.9	%
Net income		3,698			4,531
Net income margin		7.3	%		10.3	%
Adjusted EBITDA		6,366			5,845
Adjusted EBITDA margin		12.5	%		13.3	%
Income from operations		108			3,174
Income from operations margin		0.2	%		7.2	%
Restaurant level Adjusted EBITDA		8,433			8,407
Restaurant level Adjusted EBITDA margin		16.6	%		19.2	%

GEN RESTAURANT GROUP

Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

(in thousands)

(amounts in thousands)	Three months ended March 31,
	2024			2023
	(unaudited)
EBITDA:
Net income	$	3,698		$	4,531
Net Income Margin		7.3	%		10.3	%
Interest income (expense), net		(276	)		189
Provision for income taxes		71			—
Depreciation and amortization		1,566			1,131
EBITDA	$	5,059		$	5,851
EBITDA Margin		10.0	%		13.3	%
Adjustments to EBITDA:
EBITDA	$	5,059		$	5,851
Stock-based compensation expense (1)		759			—
Consulting fees - related party (2)		—			880
Employee retention credits (3)		—			(1,165	)
Non-cash lease expense (4)		184			60
Non-cash lease expense related to pre-opening costs (5)		364			219
Adjusted EBITDA	$	6,366		$	5,845
Adjusted EBITDA Margin		12.5	%		13.3	%

Reconciliation of Income from Operations to Restaurant-level Adjusted EBITDA

(in thousands)

(amounts in thousands)	Three months ended March 31,
	2024			2023
	(unaudited)
Income from Operations	$	108		$	3,174
Income Margin from Operations		0.2	%		7.2	%
Depreciation and amortization		1,566			1,131
Pre-opening costs		1,901			519
General and administrative		4,674			2,055
Consulting fees - related party		—			880
Management Fees		—			588
Non-cash lease expense		184			60
Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA	$	8,433		$	8,407
Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA Margin		16.6	%		19.2	%

(1) Stock-based compensation expense: During the first quarter of 2024, we incurred expenses related to the granting of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”") to employees.

(2) Consulting fees—related party: These costs ended following the completion of the IPO.

(3) Employee retention credits: These are refundable credits recognized under the provisions of the CARES Act.

(4) Non-cash lease expense: This reflects the extent to which lease expense is greater than or less than contractual rent.

(5) Non-cash lease expense related to pre-opening costs: Cost for stores in development in which the lease expense is greater than the contractual rent.

XML

Document and Entity Information	May 14, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001891856
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	May 14, 2024
Entity Registrant Name	GEN Restaurant Group, Inc.
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	001-41727
Entity Tax Identification Number	87-3424935
Entity Address, Address Line One	11480 South Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 205
Entity Address, City or Town	Cerritos
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	90703
City Area Code	(562)
Local Phone Number	356-9929
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Security 12b Title	Class A Common stock, par value $0.001 per share
Trading Symbol	GENK
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Entity Ex Transition Period	false