Star Metro - Wildpack Provides Update on Tariffs, Quarter Two Filling Production and Leadership Changes

Tariffs
The recent volatile trade tariff landscape has had a material impact on the price of aluminum which flows through to our largest input, beverage cans. Coupling this with tightening can supply due to demand trends, the price of cans has climbed. While we pass through metal price changes to our customers, there is timing risk associated with the pass-through mechanisms which may cause short-term negative impacts on our product margin impacts. While we continue mitigate these impacts, the volatility is difficult to predict and therefore manage.

Quarter Two Filling Production
In the second quarter 2025 our filling production reached record levels, with approximately 20 million units produced, a notable increase of three million units over our previous best quarter (Q1 2025). This milestone reflects strong operational performance and reinforces our ability to scale.

The production gains were driven by continued improvements in efficiency across our facilities and a more strategic customer mix, allowing for better utilization of our lines. These gains are the result of deliberate efforts to optimize processes and align capacity with demand.

Looking ahead, we expect output to continue increasing month-over-month through the end of the year. We expect based on current customer commitments and pipeline activity to have sufficient demand to support ongoing growth.

To enable and sustain this growth, we've deployed the first phase of packing robotics dedicated to variety packing. This automation targets a particularly labor-intensive area of our process and is expected to streamline operations significantly, freeing up our team to focus on core production tasks like can filling and throughput enhancement. The new line is also projected to reduce labor costs per can in the next 3-month period.

Leadership Changes
Mitch Barnard, Founder and Chief Executive Officer has stepped down from his role as CEO of Wildpack Beverage Inc. Mr. Barnard will remain a director of Wildpack Beverage Inc. The Board of Directors has appointed Travis Sarich as Chief Executive Officer of Wildpack Beverage Inc. "The board wishes to thank Mitch for his contributions to Wildpack and looks forward his continued voice on the board of directors. We are excited to have Travis join the Wildpack team, bringing a wealth of experience in commercialization within the manufacturing space."

Per: "Steve Fader"

Steve Fader
Board Chair

For further information, please contact us at:
[email protected]

Advisors

Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP is the legal advisor to Wildpack Beverage Inc.

Visit our investor website at:

https://investor.wildpackbev.com

About Wildpack

Wildpack provides beverage manufacturing and packaging to the middle market by providing sustainable aluminum can filling, decorating, packaging, brokering, and logistics to customers throughout the United States. Wildpack currently operates indirectly through its wholly owned subsidiaries and out of four facilities in Baltimore, Maryland; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Austin, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Wildpack commenced trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "CANS" on May 19, 2021.

Cautionary Statement on Forward Looking Information
This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "will", "could", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe", or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements expressed or implied by Wildpack are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and conditions, many of which are outside of Wildpack's control, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Although Wildpack has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties related to Wildpack's business. Except as required by securities law, Wildpack does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Wildpack Beverage Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

X.Gaboury--SMC