07:56 AM EDT, 06/10/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Roots (ROOT.TO) fiscal first-quarter loss widened 12% as sales fell 9.7% on lower direct-to-consumer sales and other factors.

The outdoor lifestyle brand reported a first-quarter net loss of $8.9 million, or $0.22 per share, compared with a loss of $8 million, or $0.19 per share, a year earlier.

Sales for the quarter ended May 4 were $37.5 million, down 9.7% from $41.5 million a year earlier. Roots said that DTC sales (corporate retail store and e-commerce sales) fell 11% to $31.4 million. The decline in DTC sales was due to lower markdown sales.

Growth in full-price seasonal collection sales was offset by missed sales opportunities in certain core fleece collections, due to the lack of inventory as a result of stronger-than-expected demand in the previous quarter, $0.6 million of sales decline from temporary renovation closures of two larger corporate retail stores, and the tightening of consumer discretionary spending in the current macroeconomic environment, the company said.

Meanwhile, the Partners & Other sales (wholesale Roots branded products, licensing to select manufacturing partners and the sale of certain custom products) were $6.1 million in fiscal Q1 and the year-ago quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA loss for fiscal Q1 was $8 million, 36.1% wider than a loss of $5.8 million a year ago.