Blue Apron to Cut 10% of Jobs as It Slashes Costs to Stay Afloat

Jonathan Roeder, Bloomberg News

Recipe cards from a Blue Apron Holdings Inc. meal-kit delivery are arranged for a photograph in Tiskilwa, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. Blue Apron Holdings Inc. filed for an initial public offering in the U.S., after reportedly delaying listing preparations while it worked to improve financials. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg , Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Meal-delivery company Blue Apron Holdings Inc. said it’s cutting about 10% of its corporate workforce — part of a plan to drastically reduce expenses amid stagnant sales.

The company expects to slash spending by as much as $50 million in 2023 and “create a more nimble, focused organization and to better align internal resources with strategic priorities,” according to a statement Thursday. Blue Apron said it will incur about $1.2 million in employee-related expenses from the job cuts. The company had 1,694 full-time workers as of June 30.

The savings will help the company strengthen its balance sheet to maintain compliance with its minimum liquidity covenant of $25 million. Blue Apron expects to stay compliant through at least the first quarter of 2023 and remains in talks with its financial advisers to evaluate financing and other alternatives.

The shares rose as much as 14% before paring gains. The company’s market capitalization stands at about $30 million — a far cry from its peak of almost $1.9 billion after its 2017 initial public offering. The shares are now trading below $1, putting them at risk for a potential delisting.

The precipitous decline in value underscores the fading appeal of the once-buzzy business model of delivering ingredients to busy consumers so they can prepare their own meals at home. Blue Apron’s quarterly revenue peaked at $238 million in 2017. It reported less than half that total in its most recent quarter.

The company entered into an agreement earlier this year with shareholder Joseph Sanberg to get funding through a private placement but reiterated Thursday that it hasn’t received the promised investment. The company said it “continues to assess the ability of Mr. Sanberg’s affiliate to meet its obligations,” but now has the right to foreclose on the pledged collateral.

(Adds share trading and additional details.)