Same-Store Sales Increase 5.6%, Revenues Increase 32%

MINNEAPOLIS, July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARCI) today reported operating results for the second quarter of 2008 ended June 28, 2008.

Financial highlights for this period in comparison to the second quarter of 2007 include:

    -- Total revenues increased 32% to $29.9 million.
    -- ApplianceSmart(R) same-store sales rose 5.6% despite a difficult
       economic environment.
    -- Recycling revenues more than doubled to $7.3 million.
    -- Income before taxes of $1.1 million marked one of the strongest
       quarters in ARCA's history.
    -- ARCA's financial condition strengthened further in the second quarter.

Second Quarter Financial Overview

Total revenues for the second quarter of 2008 increased 32% to $29.9 million from $22.6 million in the comparable period of 2007. Operating income of $1.5 million increased 21% from $1.2 million during the same period last year. ARCA also generated net income of $837 thousand or $0.18 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2008, compared to $836 thousand or $0.19 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2007. Earnings for the current period included a tax provision of $293 thousand, mainly related to income generated from our Canadian operation, while no tax provision was recorded in the second quarter of 2007. Earnings in the second quarter of 2008 also included non-cash stock compensation expense of $0.03 per diluted share.

Same-store sales of the fourteen ApplianceSmart factory outlets that were open during the complete second quarters of 2008 and 2007 increased 5.6%, while total retail sales rose 13% to $21.2 million on a year-over-year basis, reflecting the impact of two factory outlets opened over the past year.

Second quarter recycling revenues increased 117% to $7.3 million from $3.4 million in the comparable period of 2007. This growth was generated by significant appliance recycling programs in Los Angeles and Ontario, Canada, in addition to other recycling programs in southern California, Wisconsin and Texas.

Year-to-Date 2008 Financial Results

Total revenues for the first six months of 2008 increased 31% to $55.7 million from $42.5 million in the comparable period of 2007. Operating income of $1.9 million increased 80% from $1.0 million during the same period last year. ARCA generated net income of $954 thousand or $0.21 per diluted share for the six months ended June 28, 2008 compared to $364 thousand or $0.08 per diluted share for the comparable period in 2007. This represented a 162% increase in earnings. Earnings for the six months ended June 28, 2008 included a tax provision of $180 thousand, mainly related to income generated from our Canadian operation, while no tax provision was recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The year-to-date earnings included non-cash stock compensation expense of $0.05 per diluted share. Year-to-date same-store sales of the fourteen ApplianceSmart factory outlets increased 3.7%.

Edward R. (Jack) Cameron, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: 'We are very encouraged by ARCA's strong performance in this year's second quarter. Unlike most appliance retailers, our ApplianceSmart operation is continuing to prosper despite ongoing weakness in the nation's residential construction sector and historically high fuel prices. We believe this positive sales trend reflects the benefits of ApplianceSmart's strong value proposition and strategic focus on the appliance replacement and home remodeling market. As a result, ApplianceSmart's sales are not dependent upon new residential construction. Consistent with our plans for ApplianceSmart's managed growth, we opened our sixth factory outlet in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market in the second quarter and plan to launch our third store in the San Antonio market in August. These new stores will bring the number of ApplianceSmart factory outlets to 17 nationally.'

He continued: 'Our large refrigerator recycling programs with the Ontario Power Authority and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power generated a substantial portion of the strong second quarter revenue growth of ARCA's recycling operation. During the quarter, we entered into a room air conditioner recycling program with The United Illuminating Company of Connecticut. Though relatively small and scheduled for completion by the end of the third quarter, this statewide recycling program signals the continuation of heightening interest in ARCA's appliance recycling capabilities, given the need of North American electric utilities and government agencies to conserve energy and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Reflecting this growing need, we are hopeful of winning additional recycling contracts.'

In July, ARCA entered into an agreement to become the exclusive North American distributor for UNTHA Recycling Technology (URT), one of the world's leading manufacturers of technologically advanced refrigerator recycling systems and recycling facilities for electrical household appliances and electronic scrap. In addition to marketing these systems to the recycling industry, ARCA intends to install a URT system at one of its higher volume appliance recycling facilities, where the system will treat entire refrigerators and separate the various metals, plastic and de-gassed polyurethane foam insulation into streams of fine and uniformly sized granules. By yielding a finer grade of steel, copper, aluminum and plastic, the URT system will enable ARCA to generate significantly greater revenues from the sales of these byproducts to scrap dealers and mills.

About ARCA

ARCA (www.arcainc.com) is one of the nation's largest recyclers of major household appliances for the energy conservation programs of electric utilities. Through its ApplianceSmart operation (www.appliancesmart.com), ARCA also is one of the nation's leading retailers of special-buy household appliances, primarily those manufactured by General Electric, Frigidaire and Whirlpool. These special-buy appliances, which include close-outs, factory overruns and scratch-and-dent units, typically are not integrated into the manufacturer's normal distribution channel. ApplianceSmart sells these virtually new appliances at a discount to full retail, offers a 100% money- back guarantee and provides warranties on parts and labor. As of July 2008, ApplianceSmart was operating 16 factory outlets: six in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market; four in the Columbus, Ohio, market; four in the Atlanta market; and two in San Antonio, Texas, with a third store opening in early August.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements as defined within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding ARCA's future success. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including the risks associated with general economic conditions, competition in the retail and recycling industries and regulatory risks. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in ARCA's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other risks may be detailed from time to time in reports to be filed with the SEC.

        Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and Subsidiaries
               Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations
                            Three months ended        Six months ended
                         June 28,       June 30,    June 28,      June 30,
                           2008           2007        2008          2007
    Revenues:
     Retail            $21,171,000    $18,743,000  $40,133,000  $36,432,000
     Recycling           7,289,000      3,353,000   13,233,000    5,247,000
     Byproduct           1,398,000        486,000    2,298,000      835,000
    Total revenues      29,858,000     22,582,000   55,664,000   42,514,000
    Costs of revenue    20,173,000     14,607,000   37,999,000   27,973,000
    Gross profit         9,685,000      7,975,000   17,665,000   14,541,000
    Selling, general
     and administrative
     expenses            8,228,000      6,768,000   15,807,000   13,510,000
    Operating income     1,457,000      1,207,000    1,858,000    1,031,000
    Other income (expense):
     Interest expense     (327,000)     (324,000)     (724,000)    (622,000)
     Other expenses, net         -       (47,000)            -      (45,000)
    Income before
     provision for
     income taxes        1,130,000       836,000     1,134,000      364,000
    Provision for income
     taxes                 293,000             -       180,000            -
    Net income            $837,000      $836,000      $954,000     $364,000
    Net income per share:
     Basic                   $0.18         $0.19         $0.21        $0.08
     Diluted                 $0.18         $0.19         $0.21        $0.08
    Weighted average number
     of shares outstanding:
     Basic               4,571,000     4,353,000     4,563,000    4,347,000
     Diluted             4,632,000     4,426,000     4,627,000    4,402,000

    Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
                                              June 28,         December 29,
                                               2007                2007
                                            (Unaudited)
    Cash and cash equivalents               $3,141,000          $2,777,000
    Current assets                         $27,344,000         $28,181,000
    Total assets                           $34,732,000         $35,532,000
    Line of credit                         $12,485,000         $13,585,000
    Total liabilities                      $26,108,000         $28,270,000
    Total shareholders' equity              $8,624,000          $7,262,000

SOURCE Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.