HAMILTON, Mont., May 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Local Bounti Corporation (NYSE:LOCL) ("Local Bounti" or the "Company"), a breakthrough U.S. indoor agriculture company currently servicing approximately 13,000 retail doors, today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2026.
Kathleen Valiasek, President and CEO of Local Bounti, stated, "Our first quarter results reflect the operating discipline this team has built over the past several quarters, 15% revenue growth, a 35% improvement in adjusted EBITDA loss, and a 30% reduction in adjusted G&A year-over-year. The improvement is grounded in tangible operating progress as our network is now running at full utilization, and the tower upgrades completed across our facilities last year are delivering an approximate 10% increase in run-rate yield capacity, with additional gains expected from the targeted investments we're making in California to support our leading market position in living butterhead lettuce. On the commercial side, the two new retail accounts we secured this quarter, including a national rollout across more than 250 stores, and expansion of an existing relationship, speak to a meaningful improvement in channel mix and to the caliber of partners now choosing to grow with us. Each quarter brings us closer to positive adjusted EBITDA, and I'm proud of the consistency our team continues to deliver."
Craig Hurlbert, Executive Chairman of Local Bounti, stated, "Two developments this quarter reinforce the long-term thesis for Local Bounti. The U.S. patent issued in February for our AI-driven growing optimization supports the competitive advantages we have built around our Stack & Flow platform, and the additional $15 million committed by an existing strategic investor signals continued conviction in where we're headed. We continue to advance strategic partnership discussions and believe that we are in great position to capture demand for efficient capacity as the industry continues its migration to CEA products."
First Quarter 2026 Financial Summary
Sales increased 15% to $13.3 million in the first quarter of 2026, as compared to $11.6 million in the prior year period. The increase was due to increased production and growth in sales from the facilities in Georgia, Texas, and Washington.
Gross profit was stable versus the prior year period at $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2026. Adjusted gross margin percentage1, which excludes depreciation and stock-based compensation, and other non-core items, was also stable at 29%, relative to both the prior year period and the fourth quarter of 2025.
General and administrative expenses decreased by $0.6 million to $7.5 million in the first quarter of 2026, as compared to $8.1 million in the prior year period. The decrease was primarily driven by general cost savings measures. Adjusted general and administrative expense1, which excludes stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization, and other non-core items decreased 30% to $4.1 million, as compared to $5.8 million in the prior year period.
Net loss decreased to $12.7 million in the first quarter of 2026 as compared to net loss of $37.7 million for the prior year period, primarily due to a $14.8 million reduction in net interest expense resulting from the debt restructuring activities the Company completed in the first quarter of 2025.
Adjusted EBITDA1 loss improved 35% to $5.7 million, as compared to a loss of $8.8 million in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA loss for the first quarter of 2026 excludes $1.0 million in stock-based compensation, $4.0 million in interest expense, $5.6 million of depreciation and amortization, $5.2 million gain on change in fair value of warrant liability, and other non-core items.
1See the reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures at the end of this press release for more information.
Product Development
Local Bounti's launch of its family-sized 10-ounce Romano Caesar Salad Kit in the Pacific Northwest continues to build momentum with consumers at retail. After realizing a 75% increase in its baseline velocity (units sold per store per week) during the fourth quarter of 2025, Local Bounti was awarded an additional distribution center with a national retailer in the first quarter of 2026 that is set to launch in May of 2026.
The Company continues to pursue growth of its Arugula offering following its successful launch at both its Pasco, WA and Mount Pleasant, TX facilities in 2025. Conventional arugula is often unreliable and insufficient and is a category that the Company believes it can continue to address through leveraging its baby leaf capabilities.
Distribution
The Company currently services approximately 13,000 retail doors and expanded its retail presence in select southern markets with a new national retailer in the fourth quarter of 2025. During the first quarter of 2026, the Company secured and launched programs with two additional accounts, including a large premier retail customer covering across more than 250 stores with a six SKU rollout, and a large regional retailer. The Company's quarterly sales to a major e-commerce and DTC customer continue to perform strongly following growth of more than 600% during 2025.
The Company continues to benefit from strong demand and ongoing support from its long-standing customer base. In the first and early second quarter of 2026, the Company was awarded bids that extend supply programs with multiple national retail accounts through the first quarter of 2027. These commitments span several of the Company's key product lines, including baby leaf lettuce and organic butter lettuce. The awards underscore the strength of the Company's relationships with blue-chip retail partners and reflect those customers' continued confidence in Local Bounti's ability to deliver consistent, high-quality products over the long term.
Commercial Facilities Update
Yield Enhancement
The Company continues to advance its yield improvement and cost reduction initiatives across its facility network. Tower upgrades were completed at its Georgia, Texas and Washington facilities during the fourth quarter of 2025, which resulted in enhanced production efficiency and an approximate 10% increase in run-rate yield capacity to reach the Company's highest yields in the Company's history.
The Company is also making select investments in its California facilities to improve operational efficiency, which it believes can improve yields by as much as 20%, resulting in increased throughput and enhanced margins.
Capacity Expansion Project
Plans remain in place to build additional capacity across the Company's network of facilities enabled with its patented Stack & Flow Technology®. The expansions are designed to provide additional capacity and allow for the Company's growing product assortment to meet existing demand from Local Bounti's direct relationships with blue-chip retailers and distributors. The timing and scope of these projects, including plans to expand into the Midwest, remain under review pending ongoing discussions with retailers to optimize those facilities for specific products in support of retail commitments and strategies to expand distribution.
Intellectual Property
In February 2026, Local Bounti was issued U.S. Patent No. 12,557,741, titled "Optimizing Growing Process in a Hybrid Growing Environment Using Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence." The patent covers the Company's proprietary methods for using computer vision, machine learning, and automated environmental controls to optimize plant growth across its hybrid vertical and greenhouse growing phases. This is a significant milestone that strengthens the competitive moat around Local Bounti's patented Stack & Flow Technology platform and underscores the Company's technology leadership in controlled environment agriculture. The Company has been deploying these capabilities across its Stack & Flow Technology–enabled facilities with tangible results, using AI-driven analysis of plant growth and environmental data to drive improved consistency and yield.
Capital Structure
The Company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of $18.8 million as of March 31, 2026.
As previously disclosed, in March 2026, the Company received a $15 million investment from an existing strategic investor, further demonstrating continued confidence in Local Bounti's business and long-term growth trajectory. Combined with the transactions the Company executed in 2025, Local Bounti has the financial flexibility to be strategic with partnerships and growth investments as it advances toward profitability.
As of March 31, 2026, Local Bounti had approximately 22.8 million shares outstanding, 6.8 million common shares under warrants outstanding, and approximately 2.4 million restricted stock units outstanding. The Company also has out-of-the-money convertible notes that, if converted, would result in the issuance of approximately 9.7 million common shares. Including the shares issuable in the event of conversion of the convertible note, as well as the warrants and restricted stock units, the Company had a fully diluted share count of approximately 41.6 million shares outstanding as of March 31, 2026.
Financial Outlook
The Company expects continued sequential improvements in revenue and adjusted EBITDA loss rate in 2026, driven by ongoing sales growth, cost reduction initiatives, and the ramp of its facilities network. Achieving positive adjusted EBITDA remains a key priority, and management believes the trajectory of financial performance demonstrated over the past several quarters position the Company to reach this objective.
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call with members of the Local Bounti executive management team. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. To participate on the live call, listeners in North America may dial (877) 514-3623 and international listeners may dial +1 (201) 689-8768. The Conference ID is 13760159.
In addition, the call will be broadcast live via webcast, hosted at the "Investors" section of the Company's website at localbounti.com and will be archived online.
About Local Bounti
Local Bounti is redefining indoor farming with an innovative method, its patented Stack & Flow Technology®, that significantly improves crop turns, increases output and improves unit economics. Local Bounti operates advanced indoor growing facilities across the United States, servicing approximately 13,000 retail doors. Local Bounti grows healthy food utilizing a hybrid approach that integrates the best attributes of controlled environment agriculture with natural elements. Local Bounti's sustainable growing methods are better for the planet, using 90% less land and 90% less water than conventional farming methods. With a mission to 'revolutionize agriculture, ensuring accessibility to fresh, sustainable, locally grown produce and nourishing communities everywhere for generations to come,' Local Bounti's food is fresher, more nutritious, and lasts longer than traditional agriculture. To find out more, visit localbounti.com or follow Local Bounti on LinkedIn for the latest news and developments.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of terms such as "expect," "will," "continue," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "intend," "should," "is to be," or similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to statements regarding improving revenue, sales, costs, margins, and financial metrics; product and customer expansions and related timing; facility operations and adjustments; deployment of new technologies; strategic partnership discussions; commercial opportunities; financial guidance; timing for reaching positive adjusted EBITDA; lowering cost of capital; and sufficiency of capital. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from results expressed or implied in this press release. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: Local Bounti's ability to continue as a going concern and the risk that Local Bounti will fail to obtain additional necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms or at all; Local Bounti's ability to generate significant revenue; restrictions and covenants contained in Local Bounti's debt facility agreements with Cargill Financial Services International, Inc. and Local Bounti's ability to comply therewith; the risk that the concentrated ownership of our common stock will prevent other stockholders from influencing significant decisions; the risk that Local Bounti may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that Local Bounti could fail to effectively manage its future growth; Local Bounti's ability to complete the build out of its current or additional facilities in the future; Local Bounti's reliance on third parties for construction, the risk of delays relating to material delivery and supply chains, and ...
