10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☒ Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended December 30, 2023

☐ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission File Number: 1-14222

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	22-3410353
(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	Identification No.)

240 Route 10 West

Whippany, NJ 07981

(973) 887-5300

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol	Name of exchange on which registered
Common Units	SPH	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐	Smaller reporting company	☐
		Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

At February 5, 2024, there were 64,020,164 Common Units of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. outstanding.

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

		Page
	PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION	1
ITEM 1.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)	1
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023	1
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022	2
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022	3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Partners’ Capital for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022	5
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	6
ITEM 2.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS	22
ITEM 3.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK	30
ITEM 4.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	31
	PART II. OTHER INFORMATION	32
ITEM 1.	LEGAL PROCEEDINGS	32
ITEM 1A.	RISK FACTORS	32
ITEM 2.	UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS	32
ITEM 3.	DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES	32
ITEM 4.	MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES	32
ITEM 5.	OTHER INFORMATION	32
ITEM 6.	EXHIBITS	33
SignaturEs		34

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements (“Forward-Looking Statements”) as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, relating to future business expectations and predictions, project developments, and financial condition and results of operations of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”). Some of these statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “prospects,” “outlook,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “anticipates,” “expects” or “plans” or the negative or other variation of these or similar words, or by discussion of trends and conditions, strategies or risks and uncertainties. These Forward-Looking Statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed or implied in such Forward-Looking Statements (statements contained in this Quarterly Report identifying such risks and uncertainties are referred to as “Cautionary Statements”). The risks and uncertainties that could impact the Partnership’s results include, but are not limited to, the following:

•The impact of weather conditions on the demand for propane, renewable propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels, natural gas, renewable natural gas (“RNG”) and electricity;

•The impact of climate change and potential climate change legislation on the Partnership and demand for propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels, natural gas, RNG and electricity;

•Volatility in the unit cost of propane, renewable propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels, natural gas, RNG and electricity, the impact of the Partnership’s hedging and risk management activities, and the adverse impact of price increases on volumes sold as a result of customer conservation;

•The ability of the Partnership to compete with other suppliers of propane, renewable propane, fuel oil, RNG and other energy sources;

•The impact on the price and supply of propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels from the political, military or economic instability of the oil producing nations, including hostilities in the Middle East, Russian military action in Ukraine, global terrorism and other general economic conditions, including the economic instability resulting from natural disasters;

•The ability of the Partnership to acquire and maintain sufficient volumes of, and the costs to the Partnership of acquiring, reliably transporting and storing, propane, renewable propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels;

•The ability of the Partnership to attract and retain employees and key personnel to support the growth of our business;

•The ability of the Partnership to retain customers or acquire new customers;

•The impact of customer conservation, energy efficiency, general economic conditions and technology advances on the demand for propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels, natural gas, RNG and electricity;

•The ability of management to continue to control expenses and manage inflationary increases in fuel, labor and other operating costs;

•Risks related to the Partnership’s renewable fuel projects and investments, including the willingness of customers to purchase fuels generated by the projects, the permitting, financing, construction, development and operation of supporting facilities, the Partnership’s ability to generate a sufficient return on its renewable fuel projects, the Partnership’s dependence on third-party partners to help manage and operate renewable fuel investment projects, and increased regulation and dependence on government funding for commercial viability of renewable fuel investment projects;

•The generation and monetization of environmental attributes produced by the Partnership’s renewable fuel projects, changes to legislation and/or regulations concerning the generation and monetization of environmental attributes and pricing volatility in the open markets where environmental attributes are traded;

•The impact of changes in applicable statutes and government regulations, or their interpretations, including those relating to the environment and climate change, human health and safety laws and regulations, derivative instruments, the sale or marketing of propane and renewable propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels, natural gas, RNG and electricity and other regulatory developments that could impose costs and liabilities on the Partnership’s business;

•The impact of changes in tax laws that could adversely affect the tax treatment of the Partnership for income tax purposes;

•The impact of legal risks and proceedings on the Partnership’s business;

•The impact of operating hazards that could adversely affect the Partnership’s reputation and its operating results to the extent not covered by insurance;

•The Partnership’s ability to make strategic acquisitions, successfully integrate them and realize the expected benefits of those acquisitions;

•The ability of the Partnership and any third-party service providers on which it may rely for support or services to continue to combat cybersecurity threats to their respective and shared networks and information technology;

•Risks relating to the Partnership’s plans to diversify its business;

•The impact of current conditions in the global capital, credit and environmental attribute markets, and general economic pressures; and

•Other risks referenced from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and those factors listed or incorporated by reference into the Partnership’s most recent Annual Report under “Risk Factors.”

Some of these Forward-Looking Statements are discussed in more detail in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Quarterly Report. Reference is also made to the risk factors discussed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. On different occasions, the Partnership or its representatives have made or may make Forward-Looking Statements in other filings with the SEC, press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of the Partnership’s authorized executive officers. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Statements, which reflect management’s view only as of the date made. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to update any Forward-Looking Statement or Cautionary Statement, except as required by law. All subsequent written and oral Forward-Looking Statements attributable to the Partnership or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary Statements in this Quarterly Report and in future SEC reports. For a more complete discussion of specific factors which could cause actual results to differ from those in the Forward-Looking Statements or Cautionary Statements, see “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

	December 30,			September 30,
	2023			2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	6,280		$	3,514
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,966 and    $4,449, respectively		118,737			67,687
Inventories		60,970			61,828
Other current assets		35,654			30,973
Total current assets		221,641			164,002
Property, plant and equipment, net		643,220			646,054
Operating lease right-of-use assets		138,269			142,940
Goodwill		1,148,776			1,148,776
Other intangible assets, net		77,671			80,553
Other assets		90,026			88,150
Total assets	$	2,319,603		$	2,270,475
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	72,219		$	40,043
Accrued employment and benefit costs		33,733			45,138
Customer deposits and advances		112,195			127,311
Operating lease liabilities		33,471			33,562
Other current liabilities		57,955			61,764
Total current liabilities		309,573			307,818
Long-term borrowings		1,243,778			1,188,210
Accrued insurance		49,249			49,632
Operating lease liabilities		103,852			108,495
Other liabilities		63,263			69,964
Total liabilities		1,769,715			1,724,119
Commitments and contingencies
Partners’ capital:
Common Unitholders (64,015 and 63,521 units issued and outstanding at    December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively)		560,386			557,023
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(10,498	)		(10,667	)
Total partners’ capital		549,888			546,356
Total liabilities and partners’ capital	$	2,319,603		$	2,270,475

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

1

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per unit amounts)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,		December 24,
	2023		2022
Revenues
Propane	$	313,358	$	342,353
Fuel oil and refined fuels		23,898		30,141
Natural gas and electricity		6,493		8,690
All other		22,085		16,286
		365,834		397,470
Costs and expenses
Cost of products sold		153,053		182,653
Operating		122,070		115,711
General and administrative		25,570		23,012
Depreciation and amortization		16,393		13,779
		317,086		335,155
Operating income		48,748		62,315
Interest expense, net		18,192		15,994
Other, net		5,853		975
Income before provision for (benefit from) income taxes		24,703		45,346
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		249		(48	)
Net income	$	24,454	$	45,394
Net income per Common Unit - basic	$	0.38	$	0.71
Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - basic		64,064		63,634
Net income per Common Unit - diluted	$	0.38	$	0.71
Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - diluted		64,381		63,933

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

2

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,		December 24,
	2023		2022
Net income	$	24,454	$	45,394
Other comprehensive income:
Amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service    credits into earnings		169		164
Other comprehensive income		169		164
Total comprehensive income	$	24,623	$	45,558

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

3

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	24,454		$	45,394
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization		16,393			13,779
Compensation costs recognized under Restricted Unit Plan		2,645			2,471
Other, net		5,950			714
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(51,050	)		(55,383	)
Inventories		858			(4,271	)
Other current and noncurrent assets		(2,944	)		(723	)
Accounts payable		32,594			47,160
Accrued employment and benefit costs		(11,551	)		(15,788	)
Customer deposits and advances		(15,116	)		(13,936	)
Contributions to defined benefit pension plan		—			(1,000	)
Other current and noncurrent liabilities		(15,008	)		(12,145	)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(12,775	)		6,272
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(11,150	)		(10,780	)
Investments in and acquisitions of businesses		(3,250	)		(4,354	)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment		486			743
Net cash (used in) investing activities		(13,914	)		(14,391	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit facility		148,400			140,600
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility		(93,600	)		(106,700	)
Partnership distributions		(20,645	)		(20,471	)
Other, net		(3,541	)		(3,332	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		30,614			10,097
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		3,925			1,978
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		14,074			4,100
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	17,999		$	6,078
Less: restricted cash		11,719			—
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	6,280		$	6,078

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended December 30, 2023
						Accumulated
						Other			Total
	Number of		Common			Comprehensive			Partners’
	Common Units		Unitholders			(Loss)			Capital
Balance, beginning of period		63,521	$	557,023		$	(10,667	)	$	546,356
Net income				24,454			—			24,454
Other comprehensive income				—			169			169
Partnership distributions				(20,645	)		—			(20,645	)
Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plan		494		(3,091	)		—			(3,091	)
Compensation costs recognized under Restricted Unit Plan				2,645			—			2,645
Balance, end of period		64,015	$	560,386		$	(10,498	)	$	549,888

	Three Months Ended December 24, 2022
						Accumulated
						Other			Total
	Number of		Common			Comprehensive			Partners’
	Common Units		Unitholders			(Loss)			Capital
Balance, beginning of period		62,987	$	510,126		$	(12,596	)	$	497,530
Net income				45,394			—			45,394
Other comprehensive income				—			164			164
Partnership distributions				(20,471	)		—			(20,471	)
Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plan		499		(2,732	)		—			(2,732	)
Compensation costs recognized under Restricted Unit Plan				2,471			—			2,471
Balance, end of period		63,486	$	534,788		$	(12,432	)	$	522,356

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

5

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(dollars in thousands, except unit and per unit amounts)

(unaudited)

1.Partnership Organization and Formation

Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership principally engaged, through its operating partnership and subsidiaries, in the retail marketing and distribution of propane, renewable propane, renewable natural gas (“RNG”), fuel oil and refined fuels, as well as the marketing of natural gas and electricity in deregulated markets and producer of and investor in low-carbon fuel alternatives. In addition, to complement its core marketing and distribution businesses, the Partnership services a wide variety of home comfort equipment, particularly for heating and ventilation. The publicly traded limited partner interests in the Partnership are evidenced by common units traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“Common Units”), with 64,015,004 Common Units outstanding at December 30, 2023. The holders of Common Units are entitled to participate in distributions and exercise the rights and privileges available to limited partners under the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”), as amended. Rights and privileges under the Partnership Agreement include, among other things, the election of all members of the Board of Supervisors and voting on the removal of the general partner.

Suburban Propane, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), a Delaware limited partnership, is the Partnership’s operating subsidiary formed to operate the propane business and assets. In addition, Suburban Sales & Service, Inc. (the “Service Company”), a subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, was formed to operate the service work and appliance and parts businesses of the Partnership. The Operating Partnership, together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, accounts for substantially all of the Partnership’s assets, revenues and earnings. The Partnership, the Operating Partnership and the Service Company commenced operations in March 1996 in connection with the Partnership’s initial public offering.

Suburban Renewable Energy, LLC (“Suburban Renewable Energy”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership that was formed in January 2022. Suburban Renewable Energy serves as the platform for the Partnership’s investments in innovative, renewable energy technologies and businesses.

The general partner of both the Partnership and the Operating Partnership is Suburban Energy Services Group LLC (the “General Partner”), a Delaware limited liability company, the sole member of which is the Partnership’s Chief Executive Officer. Other than as a holder of 784 Common Units that will remain in the General Partner, the General Partner does not have any economic interest in the Partnership or the Operating Partnership.

The Partnership’s fuel oil and refined fuels, natural gas and electricity, services, and renewable energy businesses are structured as either limited liability companies that are treated as corporations or corporate entities (collectively referred to as the “Corporate Entities”) and, as such, are subject to corporate level U.S. income tax.

Suburban Energy Finance Corp., a direct 100%-owned subsidiary of the Partnership, was formed on November 26, 2003 to serve as co-issuer, jointly and severally with the Partnership, of the Partnership’s senior notes.

2.Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated. The Partnership consolidates the results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of the Operating Partnership as a result of the Partnership’s 100% limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). They include all adjustments that the Partnership considers necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Such adjustments consist only of normal recurring items, unless otherwise disclosed. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. Due to the seasonal nature of the Partnership’s operations, the results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year.

6

Fiscal Period. The Partnership uses a 52/53-week fiscal year which ends on the last Saturday in September. The Partnership’s fiscal quarters are generally thirteen weeks in duration. When the Partnership’s fiscal year is 53 weeks long, as was the case for fiscal 2023, the corresponding fourth quarter is fourteen weeks in duration.

Revenue Recognition. Revenue is recognized by the Partnership when goods or services promised in a contract with a customer have been transferred, and no further performance obligation on that transfer is required, in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received. Performance obligations are determined and evaluated based on the specific terms of the arrangements and the distinct products and services offered. Due to the nature of the retail business of the Partnership, there are no remaining or unsatisfied performance obligations as of the end of the reporting period, except for tank rental agreements, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs, as described below. The performance obligation associated with sales of propane, fuel oil and refined fuels is met at the time product is delivered to the customer. Revenue from the sale of appliances and equipment is recognized at the time of sale or when installation is complete, as defined by the performance obligations included within the related customer contract. Revenue from repairs, maintenance and other service activities is recognized upon completion of the service. Revenue from the sale of natural gas and electricity is recognized based on customer usage as determined by meter readings for amounts delivered, an immaterial amount of which may be unbilled at the end of each accounting period.

The Partnership defers the recognition of revenue for annually billed tank rent, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs where customer consideration is received at the start of the contract period, establishing contract liabilities which are disclosed as customer deposits and advances on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Deliveries to customers enrolled in budgetary programs that exceed billings to those customers establish contract assets which are included in accounts receivable on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Partnership ratably recognizes revenue over the applicable term for tank rent and maintenance service agreements, which is generally one year, and at the time of delivery for fixed price contracts and budgetary programs.

The Partnership incurs incremental direct costs, such as commissions to its salesforce, to obtain certain contracts. These costs are expensed as incurred, consistent with the practical expedients issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), since the expected amortization period is one year or less. The Partnership generally determines selling prices based on, among other things, the current weighted average cost and the current replacement cost of the product at the time of delivery, plus an applicable margin. Except for tank rental agreements, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs, customer payments for the satisfaction of a performance obligation are due upon receipt.

Revenues from the Partnership’s renewable energy platform, as described further in Note 4, “Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses,” consist of in-take and off-take revenues. In-take revenues are generated from tipping fees charged to third parties who deliver feedstocks, including food and beverage waste, to the Partnership’s facilities. These feedstocks, as well as manure from dairy cattle, are then anaerobically digested and converted into RNG and fertilizer. Off-take revenues are generated through the sale of RNG and the related environmental attributes, including renewable identification numbers (“RINs”) and low carbon fuel standard (“LCFS”) credits that are generated from the production and distribution of RNG, and revenues generated from the sales of fertilizers and other byproducts produced in the RNG production process. Revenues from the Partnership’s renewable energy platform are reported within the “all other” segment (refer to Note 18, “Segment Information” for more information).

In-take revenues are recognized at the point in time when the feedstocks are delivered to the Partnership because that is when the performance obligations have been satisfied. Off-take revenues are recognized at the point in time when the Partnership delivers the RNG to the customer because that is when the performance obligations have been satisfied.

Fair Value Measurements. The Partnership measures certain of its assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants – in either the principal market or the most advantageous market. The principal market is the market with the greatest level of activity and volume for the asset or liability.

The common framework for measuring fair value utilizes a three-level hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in the valuation techniques to derive fair values. The basis for fair value measurements for each level within the hierarchy is described below with Level 1 having the highest priority and Level 3 having the lowest.

•Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

•Level 2: Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets.

•Level 3: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

7

Business Combinations. The Partnership accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method and accordingly, the assets and liabilities of the acquired entities are recorded at their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired, including the amount assigned to identifiable intangible assets. The primary drivers that generate goodwill are the value of synergies between the acquired entities and the Partnership, and the acquired assembled workforce, neither of which qualifies as an identifiable intangible asset. Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives. The results of operations of acquired businesses are included in the condensed consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date. The Partnership expenses all acquisition-related costs as incurred.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been made by management in the areas of RNG revenue recognition, self-insurance and litigation reserves, pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities and costs, valuation of derivative instruments, depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets, asset impairment assessments, tax valuation allowances, allowances for doubtful accounts, and purchase price allocation for acquired businesses. The Partnership uses Society of Actuaries life expectancy information when developing the annual mortality assumptions for the pension and postretirement benefit plans, which are used to measure net periodic benefit costs and the obligation under these plans. Actual results could differ from those estimates, making it reasonably possible that a material change in these estimates could occur in the near term.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, “Segment Reporting: Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“Topic 280”). This update will require public entities to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within segment profit and loss. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. Topic 280 will first be effective for the Partnership’s fiscal 2025 annual report and should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Partnership is assessing the effect of this update on its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes: Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“Topic 740”). This update requires disclosure of specific categories and disaggregation of information in the income tax rate reconciliation table. Topic 740 also requires disclosure of disaggregated information related to income taxes paid, income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit, and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations. The requirements of Topic 740 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, which will be the Partnership’s fiscal 2026 annual report. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments should be applied on a prospective basis with retrospective application also being permitted. The Partnership is assessing the effect of this update on its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

3.Disaggregation of Revenue

The following table disaggregates revenue for each customer type. See Note 18, “Segment Information” for more information on segment reporting wherein it is disclosed that the Partnership’s Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels and Natural Gas and Electricity reportable segments generated approximately 86%, 7% and 2%, respectively, of the Partnership’s revenue from its reportable segments for all periods presented. The propane segment contributes the majority of the Partnership’s revenue and the concentration of revenue by customer type for the propane segment is not materially different from the consolidated revenue.

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,		December 24,
	2023		2022
Retail
Residential	$	195,895	$	218,123
Commercial		98,453		108,688
Industrial		31,746		35,378
Government		17,073		18,008
Agricultural		13,450		14,351
Wholesale		9,217		2,922
Total revenues	$	365,834	$	397,470

The Partnership recognized $37,474 and $37,115 of revenue during the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022, respectively, for annually billed tank rent, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs where customer consideration was received at the start of the contract period, and which was included in contract liabilities as of the beginning of each

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respective period. Contract assets of $6,119 and $4,844 relating to deliveries to customers enrolled in budgetary programs that exceeded billings to those customers were included in accounts receivable as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

4.Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses

On December 28, 2022, Suburban Renewable Energy acquired a platform of RNG production assets from Equilibrium Capital Group (“Equilibrium”), a leading sustainability-driven asset management firm. In addition, the parties formed a partnership to serve as a long-term growth platform for the identification, development and operation of additional RNG projects, including an existing pipeline of identified RNG projects that are in various stages of development (the “RNG Acquisition”).

The following table presents unaudited pro forma combined financial information as if the aforementioned acquisition had occurred on September 25, 2022, the first day of the Partnership’s 2023 fiscal year:

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,		December 24,
	2023		2022
Revenues	$	365,834	$	401,400
Net income		24,454		35,390

Suburban Renewable Energy owns a 25% equity stake in Independence Hydrogen, Inc. (“IH”) based in Ashburn, VA. IH is a veteran-owned and operated, privately held company developing a gaseous hydrogen ecosystem to deliver locally sourced hydrogen to local markets, with a primary focus on material handling and backup power applications.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2022, Suburban Renewable Energy announced an agreement to construct, own and operate a new biodigester system with Adirondack Farms, a family dairy farm located in Clinton County, New York, for the production of RNG. Construction of the assets began during the first quarter of fiscal 2023, and is expected to be completed during fiscal 2025.

The Operating Partnership owns a 38% equity stake in Oberon Fuels, Inc. (“Oberon”) based in San Diego, California and has also purchased certain secured convertible notes issued by Oberon. Oberon, a development-stage producer of low-carbon, renewable dimethyl ether (“rDME”) transportation fuel, is focused on the research and development of practical and affordable pathways to zero-emission transportation through its proprietary production process. Oberon’s rDME fuel is a low-carbon, zero-soot alternative to petroleum diesel, and when blended with propane can significantly reduce the carbon intensity of propane. Additionally, rDME is a carrier for hydrogen, making it easy to deliver this renewable fuel for the growing hydrogen fuel cell vehicle industry. During the first quarter of fiscal 2024, the Operating Partnership purchased one additional secured convertible note issued by Oberon.

The RNG Acquisition, investments and partnerships were made in line with the Partnership’s Go Green with Suburban Propane corporate pillar, which focuses on advocating for the clean-burning and versatile nature of propane and renewable propane as a solution to a lower carbon future and investing in innovative, renewable energy alternatives to lower greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. The investments in IH and Oberon are being accounted for under the equity method of accounting and were included in “Other assets” within the condensed consolidated balance sheets, and the Partnership’s equity in their earnings were included in “Other, net” within the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

5.Financial Instruments and Risk Management

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash. The Partnership considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. In accordance with the indenture, as amended, and loan agreement, as amended, governing the Green Bonds assumed in the RNG Acquisition (see Notes 4 and 10), the Partnership is required to maintain certain funds in various accounts that are held with a third-party trustee for debt service and other purposes. The amounts deposited in those accounts is considered Restricted Cash and is reported within other current assets (or other assets, as applicable). The balance classified as short-term included accounts for which the cash will be used within one year, and are related to interest payments as well as operating and maintenance activities for the RNG facility in Arizona. The balance classified as long-term represented cash held in a debt service fund for future debt repayments on the Green Bonds for which the first debt redemption payment is due on October 1, 2028. Refer to Note 6, “Selected Balance Sheet Information” for a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash. The carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Commodity Price Risk. Given the retail nature of its operations, the Partnership maintains a certain level of priced physical inventory to help ensure its field operations have adequate supply commensurate with the time of year. The Partnership’s strategy is to keep its

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physical inventory priced relatively close to market for its field operations. The Partnership enters into a combination of exchange-traded futures and option contracts and, in certain instances, over-the-counter options and swap contracts (collectively, “derivative instruments”) to hedge price risk associated with propane and fuel oil physical inventories, as well as future purchases of propane or fuel oil used in its operations, and to help ensure adequate supply during periods of high demand. In addition, the Partnership sells propane and fuel oil to customers at fixed prices, and enters into derivative instruments to hedge a portion of its exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices as a result of selling the fixed price contracts. Under this risk management strategy, realized gains or losses on derivative instruments will typically offset losses or gains on the physical inventory once the product is sold or delivered as it pertains to fixed price contracts. All of the Partnership’s derivative instruments are reported on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at their fair values. In addition, in the course of normal operations, the Partnership routinely enters into contracts such as forward priced physical contracts for the purchase or sale of propane and fuel oil that qualify for and are designated as normal purchase or normal sale contracts. Such contracts are exempted from the fair value accounting requirements and are accounted for at the time product is purchased or sold under the related contract. The Partnership does not use derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes. Market risks associated with derivative instruments are monitored daily for compliance with the Partnership’s Hedging and Risk Management Policy which includes volume limits for open positions. Priced on-hand inventory is also reviewed and managed daily as to exposures to changing market prices.

On the date that derivative instruments are entered into, other than those designated as normal purchases or normal sales, the Partnership makes a determination as to whether the derivative instrument qualifies for designation as a hedge. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recorded each period in current period earnings or other comprehensive income (“OCI”), depending on whether the derivative instrument is designated as a hedge and, if so, the type of hedge. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the Partnership formally assesses, both at the hedge contract’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the hedge contract is highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are reported in OCI to the extent effective and reclassified into earnings during the same period in which the hedged item affects earnings. The mark-to-market gains or losses on ineffective portions of cash flow hedges are recognized in earnings immediately. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges, and that do not meet the normal purchase and normal sale exemption, are recorded within earnings as they occur. Cash flows associated with derivative instruments are reported as operating activities within the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Interest Rate Risk. A portion of the Partnership’s borrowings bear interest at prevailing interest rates based upon, at the Operating Partnership’s option, Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus an applicable margin or the base rate, defined as the higher of the Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1% or the agent bank’s prime rate, or SOFR plus 1%, plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin is dependent on the level of the Partnership’s total leverage (the ratio of total debt to income before deducting interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), as adjusted pursuant to the Credit Agreement). Therefore, the Partnership is subject to interest rate risk on the variable component of the interest rate. From time to time, the Partnership manages part of its variable interest rate risk by entering into interest rate swap agreements. The Partnership did not enter into any interest rate swap agreements during the first quarter of fiscal 2024 or in fiscal 2023.

Valuation of Derivative Instruments. The Partnership measures the fair value of its exchange-traded options and futures contracts using quoted market prices found on the New York Mercantile Exchange (the “NYMEX”) (Level 1 inputs); the fair value of its swap contracts using quoted forward prices and the fair value of its interest rate swaps using model-derived valuations driven by observable projected movements of the 3-month SOFR (Level 2 inputs); and the fair value of its over-the-counter options contracts using Level 3 inputs. The Partnership’s over-the-counter options contracts are valued based on an internal option model. The inputs utilized in the model are based on publicly available information as well as broker quotes. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements of the Partnership’s over-the-counter options contracts are interest rate and market volatility.

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The following summarizes the fair value of the Partnership’s derivative instruments and their location in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively:

	As of December 30, 2023			As of September 30, 2023
Asset Derivatives	Location	Fair Value		Location	Fair Value
Derivatives not designated as    hedging instruments:
Commodity-related derivatives	Other current assets	$	2,345	Other current assets	$	18,538
	Other assets		—	Other assets		8
		$	2,345		$	18,546
Liability Derivatives	Location	Fair Value		Location	Fair Value
Derivatives not designated as    hedging instruments:
Commodity-related derivatives	Other current liabilities	$	3,118	Other current liabilities	$	2,427
	Other liabilities		—	Other liabilities		4,784
		$	3,118		$	7,211

The following summarizes the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs:

	Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Three Months Ended					Three Months Ended
	December 30, 2023					December 24, 2022
	Assets		Liabilities			Assets			Liabilities
Beginning balance of over-the-counter options	$	—	$	806		$	222		$	3,408
Beginning balance realized during the period		—		(613	)		(46	)		(298	)
Contracts purchased during the period		—		—			—			—
Change in the fair value of outstanding contracts		—		25			(65	)		308
Ending balance of over-the-counter options	$	—	$	218		$	111		$	3,418

As of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, the Partnership’s outstanding commodity-related derivatives had a weighted average maturity of approximately four and six months, respectively.

The effect of the Partnership’s derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022 are as follows:

	Three Months Ended December 30, 2023				Three Months Ended December 24, 2022
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	Unrealized Gains (Losses)  Recognized in Income				Unrealized Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income
	Location	Amount			Location	Amount
Commodity-related derivatives	Cost of products sold	$	(10,786	)	Cost of products sold	$	(13,706	)

The following table presents the fair value of the Partnership’s recognized derivative assets and liabilities on a gross basis and amounts offset on the condensed consolidated balance sheets subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements:

	As of December 30, 2023							As of September 30, 2023
						Net amounts							Net amounts
						presented in the							presented in the
	Gross amounts		Effects of netting			balance sheet		Gross amounts		Effects of netting			balance sheet
Asset Derivatives
Commodity-related derivatives	$	7,047	$	(4,702	)	$	2,345	$	35,339	$	(16,793	)	$	18,546
Liability Derivatives
Commodity-related derivatives	$	7,820	$	(4,702	)	$	3,118	$	24,004	$	(16,793	)	$	7,211

The Partnership had $4,836 and $-0- posted cash collateral as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively, with its brokers for outstanding commodity-related derivatives.

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Bank Debt, Green Bonds and Senior Notes. The fair value of the Revolving Credit Facility approximates the carrying value since the interest rates are adjusted quarterly to reflect market conditions. The fair values of the Senior Notes are based upon quoted market prices (a Level 1 input) and the fair value of the Green Bonds is based upon a valuation model (a Level 3 input). Senior Notes, Revolving Credit Facility and Green Bonds are defined below in Note 10 (“Long-Term Borrowings”) and the fair values of the Senior Notes and Green Bonds are as follows:

	As of
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
5.875% Senior Notes due March 1, 2027	$	349,125	$	334,250
5.00% Senior Notes due June 1, 2031		586,918		541,658
5.50% Green Bonds due October 1, 2028 through October 1, 2033		66,131		63,031
	$	1,002,174	$	938,939

6.Selected Balance Sheet Information

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash. Restricted cash consists of amounts deposited in various bank accounts held by a trustee, as required for operating, maintenance and debt service purposes, all of which is stipulated in the loan agreement under the indenture to the Green Bonds. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets that aggregates to the total shown on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows:

	As of
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
Cash and cash equivalents	$	6,280	$	3,514
Restricted cash included in other current assets		3,454		2,392
Restricted cash included in other assets (noncurrent)		8,265		8,168
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows	$	17,999	$	14,074

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using a weighted average method for propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas, and a standard cost basis for appliances, which approximates average cost. Inventories consist of the following:

	As of
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
Propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas	$	57,471	$	58,565
Appliances		3,499		3,263
	$	60,970	$	61,828

7.Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is subject to an impairment review at a reporting unit level, on an annual basis as of the end of fiscal July of each year, or when an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate potential impairment.

The Partnership has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing an impairment test is unnecessary. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, then it is required to perform an impairment test.

Under an impairment test, the Partnership assesses the carrying value of goodwill at a reporting unit level based on an estimate of the fair value of the respective reporting unit. Fair value of the reporting unit is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses taking into consideration estimated cash flows in a ten-year projection period and a terminal value calculation at the end of the projection period. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, the goodwill associated with the reporting unit is not considered to be

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impaired. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, up to the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.

The carrying values of goodwill assigned to the Partnership’s operating segments are as follows:

			Fuel oil and			Natural gas
	Propane		refined fuels			and electricity		All other		Total
Balance as of September 30, 2023
Goodwill	$	1,105,179	$	10,900		$	7,900	$	31,259	$	1,155,238
Accumulated adjustments		—		(6,462	)		—		—		(6,462	)
	$	1,105,179	$	4,438		$	7,900	$	31,259	$	1,148,776
Fiscal 2024 Activity
Goodwill acquired	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—
Balance as of December 30, 2023
Goodwill	$	1,105,179	$	10,900		$	7,900	$	31,259	$	1,155,238
Accumulated adjustments		—		(6,462	)		—		—		(6,462	)
	$	1,105,179	$	4,438		$	7,900	$	31,259	$	1,148,776

Other intangible assets consist of the following:

	As of
	December 30,			September 30,
	2023			2023
Customer relationships	$	572,347		$	572,347
Non-compete agreements		40,955			40,840
Other		7,067			7,067
		620,369			620,254
Less: accumulated amortization
Customer relationships		(505,035	)		(502,436	)
Non-compete agreements		(35,237	)		(35,011	)
Other		(2,426	)		(2,254	)
		(542,698	)		(539,701	)
	$	77,671		$	80,553

8.Leases

The Partnership leases certain property, plant and equipment, including portions of its vehicle fleet, for various periods under noncancelable leases all of which were determined to be operating leases. The Partnership determines if an agreement contains a lease at inception based on the Partnership’s right to the economic benefits of the leased assets and its right to direct the use of the leased asset. Right-of-use assets represent the Partnership’s right to use an underlying asset, and right-of-use liabilities represent the Partnership’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. As most of the Partnership’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Partnership uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date, adjusted for the lease term, to determine the present value of the lease payments. This rate is calculated based on a collateralized rate for the specific leasing activities of the Partnership.

Some leases include one or more options to renew at the Partnership’s discretion, with renewal terms that can extend the lease from one to fifteen additional years. The renewal options are included in the measurement of the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities if the Partnership is reasonably certain to exercise the renewal options. Short-term leases are leases having an initial term of twelve months or less. The Partnership recognizes expenses for short-term leases on a straight-line basis and does not record a lease asset or lease liability for such leases.

The Partnership has residual value guarantees associated with certain of its operating leases, related primarily to transportation equipment. See Note 14, “Guarantees” for more information.

The Partnership does not have any material lease obligations that were signed, but not yet commenced as of December 30, 2023.

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Quantitative information on the Partnership’s lease population is as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Lease expense	$	10,753		$	10,060
Other information:
Cash payments for operating leases		10,804			10,064
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange    for new operating lease liabilities		4,033			5,228
Weighted-average remaining lease term	5.5 years			5.8 years
Weighted-average discount rate		5.9	%		5.3	%

The following table summarizes future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of December 30, 2023:

Fiscal Year	Operating Leases
2024 (remaining)	$	30,801
2025		37,404
2026		31,920
2027		21,469
2028		16,333
2029 and thereafter		25,808
Total future minimum lease payments	$	163,735
Less: interest		(26,412	)
Total lease obligations	$	137,323

9.Net Income Per Common Unit

Computations of basic income per Common Unit are performed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of outstanding Common Units, and vested (and unissued) restricted units granted under the Partnership’s Restricted Unit Plan, as defined below, to retirement-eligible grantees. Computations of diluted income per Common Unit are performed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of outstanding Common Units and unissued restricted units granted under the Restricted Unit Plan. In computing diluted net income per Common Unit, weighted average units outstanding used to compute basic net income per Common Unit were increased by 316,563 and 298,953 units for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022, respectively, to reflect the potential dilutive effect of the unvested restricted units outstanding using the treasury stock method.

10.Long-Term Borrowings

Long-term borrowings consist of the following:

	As of
	December 30,			September 30,
	2023			2023
5.875% Senior Notes due March 1, 2027		350,000			350,000
5.00% Senior Notes due June 1, 2031		650,000			650,000
5.50% Green Bonds due October 1, 2028 through October 1, 2033, net of unaccreted fair value adjustment of $13,540 and $13,879		67,105			66,766
Revolving Credit Facility, due March 5, 2025		186,800			132,000
Subtotal		1,253,905			1,198,766
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs		(10,127	)		(10,556	)
	$	1,243,778		$	1,188,210

Senior Notes

2027 Senior Notes. On February 14, 2017, the Partnership and its 100%-owned subsidiary, Suburban Energy Finance Corp., completed a public offering of $350,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior notes due March 1, 2027 (the “2027 Senior Notes”). The

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2027 Senior Notes were issued at 100% of the principal amount and require semi-annual interest payments in March and September. The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2027 Senior Notes, along with borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, were used to repurchase, satisfy and discharge all of the Partnership’s then-outstanding 7.375% senior notes due in 2021.

2031 Senior Notes. On May 24, 2021, the Partnership and its 100%-owned subsidiary, Suburban Energy Finance Corp., completed a private offering of $650,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.0% senior notes due June 1, 2031 (the “2031 Senior Notes”) to “qualified institutional buyers,” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and non-U.S. persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act. The 2031 Senior Notes were issued at 100% of the principal amount and require semi-annual interest payments in June and December. The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2031 Senior Notes, along with borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, were used to repurchase, satisfy and discharge all of the Partnership’s then-outstanding 5.5% senior notes due in 2024 and 5.75% senior notes due in 2025.

The Partnership’s obligations under the 2027 Senior Notes and 2031 Senior Notes (collectively, the “Senior Notes”) are unsecured and rank senior in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness and equally in right of payment with any future senior indebtedness. The Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to, which means they rank effectively behind, any debt and other liabilities of the Operating Partnership. The Partnership is permitted to redeem some or all of the Senior Notes at redemption prices and times as specified in the indentures governing the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes each have a change of control provision that would require the Partnership to offer to repurchase the notes at 101% of the principal amount repurchased, if a change of control, as defined in the indentures governing the terms of the Senior Notes, occurs and is followed by a rating decline (a decrease in the rating of the notes by either Moody’s Investors Service or Standard and Poor’s Rating Group by one or more gradations) within 90 days of the consummation of the change of control.

Green Bonds. On December 28, 2022, the Partnership assumed the loan agreement under the Indentures of Trust, issued by The Industrial Development Authority of the County of Pinal (“Green Bonds”) from Equilibrium in conjunction with the RNG Acquisition. The proceeds of the Green Bonds, which bear interest at 5.5%, were loaned to and used by Equilibrium to construct the RNG production facility in Arizona and are secured by all of the assets at that location. The Green Bonds have a par value of $80,645 and require semi-annual interest payments in April and October. Principal payments begin on October 1, 2028 and continue annually through October 1, 2033. The Green Bonds were initially recorded at fair value at the time of the RNG Acquisition and will be accreted to par value over the term of the bonds using the effective interest method.

Credit Agreement. The Operating Partnership has an amended and restated credit agreement dated March 5, 2020 (the “Credit Agreement”) that provides for a $500,000 revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), of which $186,800 and $132,000 was outstanding as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively. On December 28, 2022, the Operating Partnership amended the Credit Agreement to, among other things, modify certain restrictive and affirmative covenants applicable to the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries to provide for additional investment capacity to allow for future investments by Suburban Renewable Energy and to permit the assumption of debt in connection with the acquisition of the RNG platform from Equilibrium, and replaced the LIBOR component of the borrowing rate with a rate based on SOFR. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on March 5, 2025. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility may be used for general corporate purposes; including working capital, capital expenditures and acquisitions. The Operating Partnership has the right to prepay any borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, in whole or in part, without penalty at any time prior to maturity.

The Credit Agreement contains certain restrictive and affirmative covenants applicable to the Operating Partnership, its subsidiaries and the Partnership, as well as certain financial covenants, including (a) requiring the Partnership’s Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, to be not less than 2.5 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter, (b) prohibiting the Total Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, of the Partnership from being greater than 5.75 to 1.0, and (c) prohibiting the Senior Secured Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, of the Operating Partnership from being greater than 3.25 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter.

The Partnership and certain subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership act as guarantors with respect to the obligations of the Operating Partnership under the Credit Agreement pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth therein. The obligations under the Credit Agreement are secured by liens on substantially all of the personal property of the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries, as well as mortgages on certain real property.

As of December 30, 2023, borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at prevailing interest rates based upon, at the Operating Partnership’s option, SOFR plus the Applicable Rate, or the base rate, defined as the higher of the Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1%, the administrative agent bank’s prime rate, or SOFR plus 1%, plus in each case the Applicable Rate. The Applicable Rate is dependent upon the Partnership’s Total Consolidated Leverage Ratio. As of December 30, 2023, the interest rate for borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility was approximately 7.90%. The interest rate and the Applicable Rate will be reset following the end of each calendar quarter.

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As of December 30, 2023, the Partnership had standby letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility of $33,586 which expire periodically through November 1, 2024.

The Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes both contain various restrictive and affirmative covenants applicable to the Operating Partnership, its subsidiaries and the Partnership, respectively, including (i) restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, and (ii) restrictions on certain liens, investments, guarantees, loans, advances, payments, mergers, consolidations, distributions, sales of assets and other transactions. Under the Credit Agreement and the indentures governing the Senior Notes, the Operating Partnership and the Partnership are generally permitted to make cash distributions equal to available cash, as defined, as of the end of the immediately preceding quarter, if no event of default exists or would exist upon making such distributions, and with respect to the indentures governing the Senior Notes, the Partnership’s Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as defined, is greater than 1.75 to 1. The Partnership and the Operating Partnership were in compliance with all covenants and terms of the Senior Notes and the Credit Agreement as of December 30, 2023.

The aggregate amounts of long-term debt maturities subsequent to December 30, 2023 are as follows: fiscal 2024: $-0-; fiscal 2025: $186,800; fiscal 2026: $-0-; fiscal 2027: $350,000; fiscal 2028: $-0-; and thereafter: $730,645.

11.Distributions of Available Cash

The Partnership makes distributions to its partners no later than 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter in an aggregate amount equal to its Available Cash for such quarter. Available Cash, as defined in the Partnership Agreement, generally means all cash on hand at the end of the respective fiscal quarter less the amount of cash reserves established by the Board of Supervisors in its reasonable discretion for future cash requirements. These reserves are retained for the proper conduct of the Partnership’s business, the payment of debt principal and interest and for distributions during the next four quarters.

On January 25, 2024, the Partnership announced a quarterly distribution of $0.325 per Common Unit, or $1.30 per Common Unit on an annualized basis, in respect of the first quarter of fiscal 2024, payable on February 13, 2024 to holders of record on February 6, 2024.

12.Unit-Based Compensation Arrangements

The Partnership recognizes compensation cost over the respective service period for employee services received in exchange for an award of equity, or equity-based compensation, based on the grant date fair value of the award. The Partnership measures liability awards under an equity-based payment arrangement based on remeasurement of the award’s fair value at the conclusion of each interim and annual reporting period until the date of settlement, taking into consideration the probability that the performance conditions will be satisfied.

Restricted Unit Plan. At the Partnership’s Tri-Annual Meeting held on May 15, 2018, the Unitholders approved and the Partnership adopted the Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. 2018 Restricted Unit Plan (the “Restricted Unit Plan”) authorizing the issuance of up to 1,800,000 Common Units to executives, managers and other employees and members of the Board of Supervisors of the Partnership. The Restricted Unit Plan was amended and restated to authorize the issuance of an additional 1,725,000 Common Units for a total of 3,525,000 Common Units by approval of the Unitholders at the Partnership’s Tri-Annual Meeting held on May 18, 2021. Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee of the Partnership’s Board of Supervisors (the “Compensation Committee”) on or before the grant date, one-third of all outstanding awards under the Restricted Unit Plan will vest on each of the first three anniversaries of the award grant date. Participants in the Restricted Unit Plan are not eligible to receive quarterly distributions on, or vote, their respective restricted units until vested. Restricted units cannot be sold or transferred prior to vesting. The value of each restricted unit is established by the market price of the Common Unit on the date of grant, net of estimated future distributions during the vesting period. Restricted units are subject to forfeiture in certain circumstances as defined in the Restricted Unit Plan. Compensation expense for the unvested awards is recognized ratably over the vesting periods and is net of estimated forfeitures.

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During the three months ended December 30, 2023, the Partnership awarded 452,952 restricted units under the Restricted Unit Plan at an aggregate grant date fair value of $6,640. The following is a summary of activity for the Restricted Unit Plan for the three months ended December 30, 2023:

				Weighted Average
	Restricted			Grant Date Fair
	Units			Value Per Unit
Outstanding September 30, 2023		1,366,362		$	12.94
Awarded		452,952			14.66
Forfeited		—			—
Vested (1)		(674,389	)		(13.52	)
Outstanding December 30, 2023		1,144,925		$	13.28

(1)During fiscal 2024, the Partnership withheld 180,787 Common Units from participants for income tax withholding purposes for those executive officers of the Partnership whose shares of restricted units vested during the period.

As of December 30, 2023, unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted units awarded under the Restricted Unit Plan amounted to $7,621. Compensation cost associated with unvested awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately one year. Compensation expense for the Restricted Unit Plan, net of forfeitures, for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022 was $2,645 and $2,471, respectively.

Phantom Equity Plan. At its November 8, 2022 meeting, the Compensation Committee adopted the Phantom Equity Plan (the “PEP”) to incentivize behaviors that will lead to the creation of long-term value for the Partnership’s Unitholders by functioning as a cash-settled corollary plan to the Partnership’s Restricted Unit Plan. The executive officers of the Partnership, the members of the Board, and other employees of the Partnership are eligible for awards of phantom units under the PEP. Unless otherwise stipulated by the Compensation Committee, the standard vesting schedule for awards under the PEP will be one-third of each award on each of the first three anniversaries of the award grant date, subject to continuous employment or service from the grant date through the applicable payment date. Unvested awards are subject to forfeiture in certain circumstances, as defined in the PEP document and the applicable award agreements. Upon vesting, phantom units are automatically converted into cash equal to the average of the highest and lowest trading prices of the Partnership’s Common Units on the vesting date.

Compensation expense, which includes adjustments to previously recognized compensation expense for current period changes in the fair value of unvested awards, for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022 was $2,019 and $652, respectively. As of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, the Partnership had a liability included within accrued employment and benefit costs (or other liabilities, as applicable) of $3,955 and $3,668, respectively, related to the estimated future payments under the PEP.

Distribution Equivalent Rights Plan. On January 17, 2017, the Partnership adopted the Distribution Equivalent Rights Plan (the “DER Plan”), as amended on November 8, 2022, which gives the Compensation Committee discretion to award distribution equivalent rights (“DERs”) to executive officers of the Partnership. Once awarded, DERs entitle the grantee to a cash payment each time the Board of Supervisors declares a cash distribution on the Partnership’s Common Units, which cash payment will be equal to an amount calculated by multiplying the number of unvested restricted units and unvested phantom units which are held by the grantee on the record date of the distribution, by the amount of the declared distribution per Common Unit. Compensation expense recognized under the DER Plan for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022 was $375 and $335, respectively.

Long-Term Incentive Plan. On November 10, 2020, the Partnership adopted the 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“the LTIP”). The LTIP is a non-qualified, unfunded, long-term incentive plan for executive officers and key employees that provides for payment, in the form of cash, of an award of equity-based compensation at the end of a three-year performance period. The LTIP document governs the terms and conditions of the outstanding awards with the level of compensation earned being based on the Partnership’s average distribution coverage ratio over the three-year measurement period. The Partnership’s average distribution coverage ratio was calculated as the Partnership’s average distributable cash flow, as defined by the LTIP, for the three years in the measurement period, subject to certain adjustments as set forth in the LTIP document, divided by the amount of annualized cash distributions to be paid by the Partnership. The level of compensation earned under the fiscal 2021 award is evaluated using two separate measurement components: (i) 75% weight based on the level of average distributable cash flow of the Partnership over the three-year measurement period; and (ii) 25% weight based on the achievement of certain operating and strategic objectives, set by the Compensation Committee, over that award’s three-year measurement period. The level of compensation earned under the fiscal 2022 award and awards thereafter, is also evaluated using two separate measurement components: (i) 50% weight based on the level of average distributable cash flow of the Partnership over the three-year measurement period; and (ii) 50% weight based on the achievement of certain operating and strategic objectives, set by the Compensation Committee for that award’s three-year measurement period.

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As a result of the quarterly remeasurement of the liability for awards under the LTIP, compensation expense recognized for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022 was $2,462 and $1,896, respectively. As of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, the Partnership had a liability included within accrued employment and benefit costs (or other liabilities, as applicable) of $10,009 and $11,952, respectively, related to estimated future payments under the LTIP. In the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023, cash payouts totaling $4,405 and $3,129 were made relating to the fiscal 2021 and 2020 awards, respectively.

13.Commitments and Contingencies

Accrued Insurance. The Partnership is self-insured for general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined amounts above which third party insurance applies. As of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, the Partnership had accrued liabilities of $61,019 and $61,182, respectively, representing the total estimated losses for known and anticipated or unasserted general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile claims. For the portion of the estimated liability that exceeds insurance deductibles, the Partnership records an asset within other assets (or prepaid expenses and other current assets, as applicable) related to the amount of the liability expected to be covered by insurance which amounted to $15,448 as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023.

Legal Matters. The Partnership’s operations are subject to operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing and delivering combustible liquids such as propane. The Partnership has been, and will continue to be, a defendant in various legal proceedings and litigation as a result of these operating hazards and risks, and as a result of other aspects of its business. In this regard, the Partnership’s natural gas and electricity (“AES”) business was sued in a putative class action suit in the Northern District of New York. The complaint alleged a number of claims under various consumer statutes and common law in New York and Pennsylvania regarding pricing offered to electricity customers in those states. The case was dismissed in part by the district court, but causes of action based on the New York consumer statute and breach of contract were allowed to proceed. On April 12, 2022, the court granted summary judgment in favor of the Partnership on the remaining counts and the complaint was dismissed in full. The plaintiff appealed the judgment to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. On December 12, 2023, the Court of Appeals issued an Order and Decision affirming the decision of the lower court granting judgment to Agway and dismissing the plaintiff’s claims. Plaintiff has 90 days from the date of the Second Circuit’s decision to file a petition with the United States Supreme Court.

14.Guarantees

The Partnership has residual value guarantees associated with certain of its operating leases, related primarily to transportation equipment, with remaining lease periods scheduled to expire periodically through fiscal 2032. Upon completion of the lease period, the Partnership guarantees that the fair value of the equipment will equal or exceed the guaranteed amount, or the Partnership will pay the lessor the difference. Although the fair value of equipment at the end of its lease term has historically exceeded the guaranteed amounts, the maximum potential amount of aggregate future payments the Partnership could be required to make under these leasing arrangements, assuming the equipment is deemed worthless at the end of the lease term, was $39,442 as of December 30, 2023. The fair value of residual value guarantees for outstanding operating leases was de minimis as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023.

15.Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit costs:

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Interest cost	$	805		$	827
Expected return on plan assets		(315	)		(339	)
Amortization of net loss		425			482
Net periodic benefit cost	$	915		$	970

	Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Interest cost	$	36		$	41
Amortization of prior service credits		(65	)		(124	)
Amortization of net (gain)		(191	)		(194	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	(220	)	$	(277	)

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The Partnership expects to contribute approximately $4,000 to the defined benefit pension plan during fiscal 2024. The projected annual contribution requirements related to the Partnership’s postretirement health care and life insurance benefit plan for fiscal 2024 is $422, of which $75 was contributed during the three months ended December 30, 2023. The components of net periodic benefit cost are included in the line item “Other, net” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The Partnership contributes to multi-employer pension plans (“MEPPs”) in accordance with various collective bargaining agreements covering union employees. As one of the many participating employers in these MEPPs, the Partnership is responsible with the other participating employers for any plan underfunding. As of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, the Partnership’s estimated obligation to these MEPPs was $21,078 and $21,398, respectively, as a result of its voluntary full withdrawal from certain MEPPs.

16.Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following table summarizes amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022:

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Pension Benefits
Balance, beginning of period	$	(15,190	)	$	(17,797	)
Reclassifications to earnings:
Amortization of net loss (1)		425			482
Other comprehensive income		425			482
Balance, end of period	$	(14,765	)	$	(17,315	)
Postretirement Benefits
Balance, beginning of period	$	4,523		$	5,201
Reclassifications to earnings:
Amortization of net gain and prior service credits (1)		(256	)		(318	)
Other comprehensive loss		(256	)		(318	)
Balance, end of period	$	4,267		$	4,883
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance, beginning of period	$	(10,667	)	$	(12,596	)
Reclassifications to earnings		169			164
Other comprehensive income		169			164
Balance, end of period	$	(10,498	)	$	(12,432	)

(1)These amounts are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. See Note 15, “Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits.”

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17.Income Taxes

For federal income tax purposes, as well as for state income tax purposes in the majority of the states in which the Partnership operates, the earnings attributable to the Partnership and the Operating Partnership are not subject to income tax at the partnership level. With the exception of those states that impose an entity-level income tax on partnerships, the taxable income or loss attributable to the Partnership and to the Operating Partnership, which may vary substantially from the income (loss) before income taxes reported by the Partnership in the condensed consolidated statement of operations, are includable in the federal and state income tax returns of the Common Unitholders. The aggregate difference in the basis of the Partnership’s net assets for financial and tax reporting purposes cannot be readily determined as the Partnership does not have access to each Common Unitholder’s basis in the Partnership.

As described in Note 1, “Partnership Organization and Formation,” the earnings of the Corporate Entities are subject to U.S. corporate level income tax. However, based upon past performance, the Corporate Entities are currently reporting an income tax provision composed primarily of minimum state income taxes. A full valuation allowance has been provided against the deferred tax assets (with the exception of certain net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) that arose after 2017) based upon an analysis of all available evidence, both negative and positive at the balance sheet date, which, taken as a whole, indicates that it is more likely than not that sufficient future taxable income will not be available to utilize the assets. Management’s periodic reviews include, among other things, the nature and amount of the taxable income and expense items, the expected timing of when assets will be used or liabilities will be required to be reported and the reliability of historical profitability of businesses that are expected to provide future earnings. Furthermore, management considered tax-planning strategies it could use to increase the likelihood that the deferred tax assets will be realized.

As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, NOLs generated by the Corporate Entities beginning in 2018 may be carried forward indefinitely. The Corporate Entities generated a taxable loss during the 2022 tax year, which resulted in a $295 deferred tax benefit recorded during the first quarter of fiscal 2023.

18.Segment Information

The Partnership manages and evaluates its operations in four operating segments, three of which are reportable segments: Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels, and Natural Gas and Electricity. The chief operating decision maker evaluates performance of the operating segments using a number of performance measures, including gross margins and income before interest expense and provision for income taxes (operating profit). Costs excluded from these profit measures are captured in Corporate and include corporate overhead expenses not allocated to the operating segments. Unallocated corporate overhead expenses include all costs of back office support functions that are reported as general and administrative expenses within the condensed consolidated statements of operations. In addition, certain costs associated with field operations support that are reported in operating expenses within the condensed consolidated statements of operations, including purchasing, training and safety, are not allocated to the individual operating segments. Thus, operating profit for each operating segment includes only the costs that are directly attributable to the operations of the individual segment. The accounting policies of the operating segments are otherwise the same as those described in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

The propane segment is primarily engaged in the retail distribution of propane and renewable propane to residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and government customers and, to a lesser extent, wholesale distribution to large industrial end users. In the residential, commercial and government markets, propane is used primarily for space heating, water heating, cooking and clothes drying. Industrial customers use propane generally as a motor fuel burned in internal combustion engines that power over-the-road vehicles, forklifts and stationary engines, to fire furnaces and as a cutting gas. In the agricultural markets, propane is primarily used for tobacco curing, crop drying, poultry brooding and weed control. In addition, the Partnership’s equity investment in Oberon is included within the propane segment.

The fuel oil and refined fuels segment is primarily engaged in the retail distribution of fuel oil, diesel, kerosene and gasoline to residential and commercial customers for use primarily as a source of heat in homes and buildings.

The natural gas and electricity segment is engaged in the marketing of natural gas and electricity to residential and commercial customers in the deregulated energy markets of New York and Pennsylvania. Under this operating segment, the Partnership owns the relationship with the end consumer and has agreements with the local distribution companies to deliver the natural gas or electricity from the Partnership’s suppliers to the customer.

Activities in the “all other” category include the Partnership’s service business, which is primarily engaged in the sale, installation and servicing of a wide variety of home comfort equipment, particularly in the areas of heating and ventilation. In addition, the Partnership’s platform of RNG businesses and the equity investment in IH are included within “all other.”

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The following table presents certain data by reportable segment and provides a reconciliation of total operating segment information to the corresponding condensed consolidated amounts for the periods presented:

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Revenues:
Propane	$	313,358		$	342,353
Fuel oil and refined fuels		23,898			30,141
Natural gas and electricity		6,493			8,690
All other		22,085			16,286
Total revenues	$	365,834		$	397,470
Operating income (loss):
Propane	$	87,176		$	94,408
Fuel oil and refined fuels		2,172			2,082
Natural gas and electricity		1,568			1,092
All other		(7,181	)		(5,775	)
Corporate		(34,987	)		(29,492	)
Total operating income		48,748			62,315
Reconciliation to net income:
Interest expense, net		18,192			15,994
Other, net		5,853			975
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		249			(48	)
Net income	$	24,454		$	45,394
Depreciation and amortization:
Propane	$	11,859		$	11,890
Fuel oil and refined fuels		444			409
Natural gas and electricity		—			3
All other		2,700			43
Corporate		1,390			1,434
Total depreciation and amortization	$	16,393		$	13,779

	As of
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
Assets:
Propane	$	1,952,507	$	1,924,304
Fuel oil and refined fuels		51,192		46,341
Natural gas and electricity		12,461		11,255
All other		241,055		239,691
Corporate		62,388		48,884
Total assets	$	2,319,603	$	2,270,475

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following is a discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership as of and for the three months ended December 30, 2023, seen from our perspective. The discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the historical consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

Executive Overview

The following are factors that regularly affect our operating results and financial condition. Our business is subject to the risks and uncertainties described in Item 1A included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 and in this Quarterly Report. Management currently considers the following events, trends, and uncertainties to be most important to understanding our financial condition and operating performance:

Product Costs and Supply

The level of profitability in the retail propane, fuel oil, natural gas and electricity businesses is largely dependent on the difference between retail sales price and our costs to acquire and transport products. The unit cost of our products, particularly propane, fuel oil and natural gas, is subject to volatility as a result of supply and demand dynamics or other market conditions, including, but not limited to, economic and political factors impacting crude oil and natural gas supply or pricing. We enter into product supply contracts that are generally one-year agreements subject to annual renewal, and also purchase product on the open market. We attempt to reduce price risk by pricing product on a short-term basis. Our propane supply contracts typically provide for pricing based upon index formulas using the posted prices established at major supply points such as Mont Belvieu, Texas, or Conway, Kansas (plus transportation costs) at the time of delivery.

To supplement our annual purchase requirements, we may utilize forward fixed price purchase contracts to acquire a portion of the propane that we resell to our customers, which allows us to manage our exposure to unfavorable changes in commodity prices and to assure adequate physical supply. The percentage of contract purchases, and the amount of supply contracted for under forward contracts at fixed prices, will vary from year to year based on market conditions.

Changes in our costs to acquire and transport products can occur rapidly over a short period of time and can impact profitability. There is no assurance that we will be able to pass on product acquisition and transportation cost increases fully or immediately, particularly when such costs increase rapidly. Therefore, average retail sales prices can vary significantly from year to year as our costs fluctuate with the propane, fuel oil, crude oil and natural gas commodity markets and infrastructure conditions. In addition, periods of sustained higher commodity and/or transportation prices can lead to customer conservation, resulting in reduced demand for our product.

According to the Energy Information Administration, U.S. propane inventory levels at the end of December 2023 were 82.6 million barrels, which was 2.4% higher than December 2022 levels and 7.6% higher than the five-year average for December. These higher inventory levels contributed to declines in average posted propane prices (basis Mont Belvieu, Texas) of 16.7% compared to the prior year first quarter.

Seasonality

The retail propane and fuel oil distribution businesses, as well as the retail natural gas marketing business, are seasonal because these fuels are primarily used for heating in residential and commercial buildings. Historically, approximately two‑thirds of our retail propane volume is sold during the six-month peak heating season from October through March. The fuel oil business tends to experience greater seasonality given its more limited use for space heating and approximately three-fourths of our fuel oil volumes are sold between October and March. Consequently, sales and operating profits are concentrated in our first and second fiscal quarters. Cash flows from operations, therefore, are greatest during the second and third fiscal quarters when customers pay for product purchased during the winter heating season. We expect lower operating profits and either net losses or lower net income during the period from April through September (our third and fourth fiscal quarters). To the extent necessary, we will reserve cash from the second and first quarters for distribution to holders of our Common Units in the fourth quarter and the following fiscal year first quarter.

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Weather

Weather conditions have a significant impact on the demand for our products, in particular propane, fuel oil and natural gas, for both heating and agricultural purposes. Many of our customers rely heavily on propane, fuel oil or natural gas as a heating source. Accordingly, the volume sold is directly affected by the severity of the winter weather in our service areas, which can vary substantially from year to year. In any given area, sustained warmer than normal temperatures will tend to result in reduced propane, fuel oil and natural gas consumption, while sustained colder than normal temperatures will tend to result in greater consumption.

Hedging and Risk Management Activities

We engage in hedging and risk management activities to reduce the effect of price volatility on our product costs and to ensure the availability of product during periods of short supply. We enter into propane forward, options and swap agreements with third parties, and use futures and options contracts traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) to purchase and sell propane, fuel oil, crude oil and natural gas at fixed prices in the future. The majority of the futures, forward and options agreements are used to hedge price risk associated with propane and fuel oil physical inventory, as well as, in certain instances, forecasted purchases of propane or fuel oil. In addition, we sell propane and fuel oil to customers at fixed prices, and enter into derivative instruments to hedge a portion of our exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices as a result of selling the fixed price contracts. Forward contracts are generally settled physically at the expiration of the contract whereas futures, options and swap contracts are generally settled at the expiration of the contract through a net settlement mechanism. Although we use derivative instruments to reduce the effect of price volatility associated with priced physical inventory and forecasted transactions, we do not use derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes. Risk management activities are monitored by an internal Commodity Risk Management Committee, made up of six members of management and reporting to our Audit Committee, through enforcement of our Hedging and Risk Management Policy.

Inflation and Other Cost Increases

We are experiencing inflationary pressures in the costs of various goods and services we use to operate our business, including volatile wholesale costs for the products we distribute. Although we have not experienced significant disruptions with securing the products we sell, inflationary factors and competition for resources across the supply chain has resulted in increased costs in a wide variety of areas, including labor, transportation costs, operating costs and the cost of tanks and other equipment. These and other factors may continue to impact our product costs, expenses, and capital expenditures, and could continue to have an impact on consumer demand as consumers manage the impact of inflation on their resources.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” included within the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

Certain amounts included in or affecting our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures must be estimated, requiring management to make certain assumptions with respect to values or conditions that cannot be known with certainty at the time the financial statements are prepared. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We are also subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ from estimated results. Estimates are used when accounting for depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets, employee benefit plans, self-insurance and litigation reserves, environmental reserves, allowances for doubtful accounts, asset valuation assessments and valuation of derivative instruments. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Any effects on our business, financial position or results of operations resulting from revisions to these estimates are recorded in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known to us. Management has reviewed these critical accounting estimates and related disclosures with the Audit Committee of our Board of Supervisors.

Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 was $24.5 million, or $0.38 per Common Unit, compared to net income of $45.4 million, or $0.71 per Common Unit, in the fiscal 2023 first quarter. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA, as defined and reconciled below) for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 was $75.2 million, compared to $90.0 million in the prior year first quarter.

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Retail propane gallons sold in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 of 106.5 million gallons decreased 2.0% compared to the prior year, primarily due to an inconsistent and warmer weather pattern that adversely impacted heat-related demand. Average temperatures (as measured by heating degree days) across all of our service territories during the first quarter were 9% warmer than normal and 6% warmer than the prior year first quarter. Average temperatures for the month of December, which is the most critical month of the first quarter for heat-related demand, were 10% warmer than both normal and December 2022.

Average propane prices (basis Mont Belvieu, Texas) for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 decreased 16.7% compared to the prior year first quarter. Total gross margin of $212.8 million for the fiscal 2024 first quarter decreased $2.0 million, or 0.9%, compared to the prior year first quarter. Gross margin for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 included a $10.8 million unrealized loss attributable to the mark-to-market adjustment for derivative instruments used in risk management activities, compared to a $13.7 million unrealized loss in the prior year first quarter. These non-cash adjustments, which were reported in cost of products sold, were excluded from Adjusted EBITDA for both periods. Excluding the impact of the mark-to-market adjustments, total gross margin decreased $4.9 million, or 2.2%, compared to the prior year first quarter, primarily due to lower propane volumes sold and lower propane unit margins, offset to an extent by margin contribution from the RNG assets acquired in December 2022. Excluding the impact of the unrealized mark-to-market adjustments, propane unit margins for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 decreased $0.05 per gallon, or 2.8%, compared to the prior year first quarter, primarily due to higher demand from our commercial and industrial customer base that tend to be less weather sensitive.

Combined operating and general and administrative expenses of $147.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 6.4% compared to the prior year first quarter, primarily due to higher payroll and benefit-related expenses, and operating costs associated with the RNG production facilities. In addition, included within general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of the prior year were fees and expenses of $0.9 million associated with the acquisition of the RNG assets. These acquisition-related costs were excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.

Total debt outstanding as of December 2023 increased $54.8 million compared to September 2023, due to seasonal borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below) to help fund working capital needs. Our Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as defined in our credit agreement, for the twelve-month period ending December 30, 2023 was 4.72x.

As previously announced on January 25, 2024, the Partnership’s Board of Supervisors declared a quarterly distribution of $0.325 per Common Unit for the three months ended December 30, 2023. On an annualized basis, this distribution rate equates to $1.30 per Common Unit. The distribution is payable on February 13, 2024 to Common Unitholders of record as of February 6, 2024.

Our anticipated cash requirements for the remainder of fiscal 2024 include: (i) maintenance and growth capital expenditures of approximately $14.9 million and $42.0 million, respectively; (ii) interest and income tax payments of approximately $55.2 million; and (iii) cash distributions of approximately $62.4 million to our Common Unitholders based on the quarterly distribution rate of $0.325 per Common Unit. Based on our liquidity position, which includes cash on hand, availability of funds under our Revolving Credit Facility and expected cash flow from operating activities, we expect to have sufficient funds to meet our current and future obligations.

Three Months Ended December 30, 2023 Compared to Three Months Ended December 24, 2022

Revenues

(Dollars and gallons in thousands)	Three Months Ended							Percent
	December 30,		December 24,		Increase			Increase
	2023		2022		(Decrease)			(Decrease)
Revenues
Propane	$	313,358	$	342,353	$	(28,995	)		(8.5	)%
Fuel oil and refined fuels		23,898		30,141		(6,243	)		(20.7	)%
Natural gas and electricity		6,493		8,690		(2,197	)		(25.3	)%
All other		22,085		16,286		5,799			35.6	%
Total revenues	$	365,834	$	397,470	$	(31,636	)		(8.0	)%
Retail gallons sold
Propane		106,545		108,764		(2,219	)		(2.0	)%
Fuel oil and refined fuels		5,256		5,563		(307	)		(5.5	)%

Our fiscal 2024 heating season started off with favorable weather and active crop drying demand, but was followed by unseasonably warm weather that persisted across the country during the last six weeks of the quarter which negatively impacted customer demand for heating purposes. Average temperatures (as measured by heating degree days) across all of our service territories during the first quarter of fiscal 2024 were 9% and 6% warmer than normal and the prior year first quarter, respectively. Average temperatures

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for the month of December, which is the most critical month of the first quarter for heat-related demand, were 10% warmer than both normal and December 2022.

Revenues from the distribution of propane and related activities of $313.4 million decreased $29.0 million, or 8.5%, compared to the prior year, primarily due to lower average retail selling prices and lower volumes sold. Average propane selling prices decreased 7.2% compared to the prior year, reflecting lower average wholesale costs, resulting in a $24.0 million decrease in revenues. Retail propane gallons sold decreased 2.2 million gallons, or 2.0%, compared to the prior year, primarily due to lower heat-related demand as described above, resulting in a $6.9 million decrease in revenues. Included within the propane segment are revenues from risk management activities, which increased $1.9 million primarily due to a higher notional amount of hedging contracts used in risk management activities that were settled physically.

Revenues from the distribution of fuel oil and refined fuels of $23.9 million were $6.2 million, or 20.7%, lower than the prior year, primarily due to lower average retail selling prices and lower volumes sold. Average fuel oil and refined fuels selling prices decreased 18.0% compared to the prior year, reflecting lower average wholesale costs, resulting in a $4.6 million decrease in revenues. Fuel oil and refined fuels gallons sold decreased 0.3 million gallons, or 5.5%, resulting in a $1.6 million decrease in revenues.

Revenues in our natural gas and electricity segment of $6.5 million were $2.2 million, or 25.3%, lower than the prior year, primarily due to lower natural gas average selling prices, reflecting lower average wholesale costs, and to a lesser extent, lower volumes sold, primarily due to warmer temperatures in our operating territories and a lower customer base.

Revenues in our all other segment of $22.1 million were $5.8 million, or 35.6%, higher than the prior year, primarily due to the impact of the RNG Acquisition, which closed at the beginning of our fiscal 2023 second quarter. Revenue from the RNG production assets primarily consist of sales of RNG and the associated environmental attributes, and tipping fees charged to third parties for various waste feedstocks.

Cost of Products Sold

(Dollars in thousands)	Three Months Ended									Percent
	December 30,			December 24,			Increase			Increase
	2023			2022			(Decrease)			(Decrease)
Cost of products sold
Propane	$	127,772		$	149,840		$	(22,068	)		(14.7	)%
Fuel oil and refined fuels		16,721			22,372			(5,651	)		(25.3	)%
Natural gas and electricity		3,518			5,940			(2,422	)		(40.8	)%
All other		5,042			4,501			541			12.0	%
Total cost of products sold	$	153,053		$	182,653		$	(29,600	)		(16.2	)%
As a percent of total revenues		41.8	%		46.0	%

The cost of products sold reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations represents the weighted average unit cost of propane, fuel oil and refined fuels, and natural gas and electricity sold, including transportation costs to deliver product from our supply points to storage or to our customer service centers. Cost of products sold also includes the cost of appliances and related parts sold or installed by our customer service centers computed on a basis that approximates the average cost of the products.

Given the retail nature of our operations, we maintain a certain level of priced physical inventory to help ensure that our field operations have adequate supply commensurate with the time of year. Our strategy has been, and will continue to be, to keep our physical inventory priced relatively close to market for our field operations. Consistent with past practices, we principally utilize futures and/or options contracts traded on the NYMEX to mitigate the price risk associated with our priced physical inventory, as well as, in certain instances, forecasted purchases of propane or fuel oil. In addition, we sell propane and fuel oil to customers at fixed prices, and enter into derivative instruments to hedge a portion of our exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices as a result of selling the fixed price contracts. At expiration, the derivative contracts are settled by the delivery of the product to the respective party or are settled by the payment to the respective party of a net amount equal to the difference between the then market price and the fixed contract price or option exercise price. Under this risk management strategy, realized gains or losses on futures or options contracts, which are reported in cost of products sold, will typically offset losses or gains on the physical inventory once the product is sold or delivered as it pertains to fixed price contracts (which may or may not occur in the same accounting period). We do not use futures or options contracts, or other derivative instruments, for speculative trading purposes. Unrealized non-cash gains or losses from changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges are recorded within cost of products sold. Cost of products sold excludes depreciation and amortization; these amounts are reported separately within the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

25

From a commodity perspective, as discussed above, wholesale prices trended lower during the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Average posted propane prices (basis Mont Belvieu, Texas) and fuel oil prices were 16.7% and 25.0% lower than the prior year first quarter, respectively. The net change in the fair value of derivative instruments resulted in a $10.8 million unrealized non-cash loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to a $13.7 million unrealized non-cash loss in the prior year first quarter, resulting in a net decrease of $2.9 million in cost of products sold year-over-year, all of which was reported within the propane segment. These unrealized mark-to-market adjustments are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA for both periods.

Cost of products sold associated with the distribution of propane and related activities of $127.8 million decreased $22.1 million, or 14.7%, compared to the prior year first quarter. Lower average wholesale costs contributed to a decrease in cost of products sold of $15.8 million, while lower volumes sold contributed a $2.8 million decrease. Included within the propane segment are costs from other propane activities, which decreased $0.6 million compared to the prior year, as well as the net decrease of $2.9 million resulting from the mark-to-market adjustments on derivative instruments in both periods discussed above.

Cost of products sold associated with our fuel oil and refined fuels segment of $16.7 million decreased $5.7 million, or 25.3%, compared to the prior year first quarter. Lower average wholesale costs and lower volumes sold contributed to decreases of $4.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

Cost of products sold in our natural gas and electricity segment of $3.5 million decreased $2.4 million, or 40.8%, compared to the prior year primarily due to lower average wholesale costs, and to a lesser extent, lower usage.

Operating Expenses

(Dollars in thousands)	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,					Percent
	2023			2022			Increase		Increase
Operating expenses	$	122,070		$	115,711		$	6,359		5.5	%
As a percent of total revenues		33.4	%		29.1	%

All costs of operating our retail distribution and appliance sales and service operations, as well as the RNG production facilities, are reported within operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. These operating expenses include the compensation and benefits of field and direct operating support personnel, costs of operating and maintaining our vehicle fleet, overhead and other costs of our purchasing, training and safety departments and other direct and indirect costs of operating our customer service centers and RNG production facilities.

Operating expenses of $122.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 increased $6.4 million, or 5.5%, compared to the prior year first quarter, primarily due to higher payroll and benefit-related costs, as well as the operating costs associated with our RNG production facilities and other inflationary effects on our operating costs, offset to an extent by lower fleet vehicle fuel costs.

General and Administrative Expenses

(Dollars in thousands)	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,					Percent
	2023			2022			Increase		Increase
General and administrative expenses	$	25,570		$	23,012		$	2,558		11.1	%
As a percent of total revenues		7.0	%		5.8	%

All costs of our back office support functions, including compensation and benefits for executives and other support functions, as well as other costs and expenses to maintain finance and accounting, treasury, legal, human resources, corporate development and the information systems functions are reported within general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

General and administrative expenses of $25.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 increased $2.6 million, or 11.1%, compared to the prior year first quarter, primarily due to higher payroll and benefit-related costs and other inflationary factors. During the prior year first quarter, we incurred $0.9 million in fees and expenses associated with our RNG Acquisition.

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Depreciation and Amortization

(Dollars in thousands)	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,					Percent
	2023			2022			Increase		Increase
Depreciation and amortization	$	16,393		$	13,779		$	2,614		19.0	%
As a percent of total revenues		4.5	%		3.5	%

Depreciation and amortization expense of $16.4 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 increased $2.6 million, or 19.0%, compared to the prior year first quarter, primarily as a result of depreciation and amortization from the tangible and intangible assets from the RNG Acquisition.

Interest Expense, net

(Dollars in thousands)	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,					Percent
	2023			2022			Increase		Increase
Interest expense, net	$	18,192		$	15,994		$	2,198		13.7	%
As a percent of total revenues		5.0	%		4.0	%

Net interest expense of $18.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 increased $2.2 million, or 13.7%, compared to the prior year first quarter, due to a higher level of average outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility to fund the RNG Acquisition, coupled with higher benchmark interest rates for borrowings under that facility, as well as the impact of the $80.6 million in Green Bonds assumed in the RNG Acquisition. See Liquidity and Capital Resources below for additional discussion.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

EBITDA represents net income before deducting interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA excluding the unrealized net gain or loss on mark-to-market activity for derivative instruments and other items, as applicable, as provided in the table below. Our management uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental measures of operating performance and we are including them because we believe that they provide our investors and industry analysts with additional information that we determined is useful to evaluate our operating results. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not recognized terms under US GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or net cash provided by operating activities determined in accordance with US GAAP. Because EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as determined by us excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income, they may not be comparable to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA or similarly titled measures used by other companies.

The following table sets forth our calculations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:

(Dollars in thousands)	Three Months Ended
	December 30,		December 24,
	2023		2022
Net income	$	24,454	$	45,394
Add:
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		249		(48	)
Interest expense, net		18,192		15,994
Depreciation and amortization		16,393		13,779
EBITDA		59,288		75,119
Unrealized non-cash losses on changes in fair value of derivatives		10,786		13,706
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates		5,158		282
Acquisition-related costs		—		935
Adjusted EBITDA	$	75,232	$	90,042

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We also reference gross margins, computed as revenues less cost of products sold as those amounts are reported on the condensed consolidated financial statements. Our management uses gross margin as a supplemental measure of operating performance and we are including it as we believe that it provides our investors and industry analysts with additional information that we determined is useful to evaluate our operating results. As cost of products sold does not include depreciation and amortization expense, the gross margin we reference is considered a non-GAAP financial measure.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Analysis of Cash Flows

Operating Activities. Net cash used in operating activities for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 was $12.8 million compared to $6.3 million provided by operating activities in the corresponding prior year period. The change was primarily due to lower earnings including higher interest expense on outstanding borrowings.

Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities of $13.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 consisted of capital expenditures of $11.2 million (including approximately $6.1 million to support the growth of operations and $5.1 million for maintenance expenditures), $3.2 million used to fund an additional investment in a privately held start-up entity and an additional investment in Oberon, partially offset by approximately $0.5 million in proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment. See Item 1, Note 4 of this Quarterly Report.

Net cash used in investing activities of $14.4 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2023 consisted of capital expenditures of $10.8 million (including approximately $5.1 million to support the growth of operations and $5.7 million for maintenance expenditures), a $3.0 million investment in a privately held start-up entity (plus direct transactions costs) and an additional investment in Oberon, partially offset by approximately $0.7 million in proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment.

Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities of $30.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 reflected $54.8 million in net borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility, which were used to fund a portion of our seasonal working capital needs and the capital expenditures and investments noted above, offset to an extent by $20.6 million paid for the quarterly distributions to Common Unitholders at a rate of $0.325 per Common Unit paid in respect of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 and other financing activities of $3.6 million.

Net cash provided by financing activities of $10.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2023 reflected $33.9 million in net borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility which were used to fund a portion of our seasonal working capital needs and the capital expenditures and investments noted above, offset to an extent by $20.5 million paid for the quarterly distributions to Common Unitholders at a rate of $0.325 per Common Unit paid in respect of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 and other financing activities of $3.3 million.

Summary of Long-Term Debt Obligations and Revolving Credit Facility

As of December 30, 2023, our long-term debt consisted of $350.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.875% Senior Notes due March 1, 2027, $650.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.0% Senior Notes due June 1, 2031, $80.6 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.5% Green Bonds due October 1, 2028 through October 1, 2033 and $186.8 million outstanding under our $500.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility”) provided by our credit agreement. Total long-term borrowings as of December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022 was $1,267.4 million and $1,123.5 million, respectively. See Item 1, Note 10 of this Quarterly Report.

The aggregate amounts of long-term debt maturities subsequent to December 30, 2023 are as follows: fiscal 2024: $-0-; fiscal 2025: $186.8 million; fiscal 2026: $-0-; fiscal 2027: $350.0 million; fiscal 2028: $-0- million; and thereafter: $730.6 million.

Total Consolidated Leverage Ratio. Total Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as defined by our credit agreement, represents total indebtedness as of the balance sheet date divided by Adjusted EBITDA calculated on a trailing twelve-month basis plus non-cash compensation costs recognized under our Restricted Unit Plans for the same period and other items. The measurement of the Total Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the trailing twelve-month periods ended December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023 was as follows:

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(Dollars in thousands)	Twelve Months Ended
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
Total indebtedness	$	1,267,445	$	1,212,645
Adjusted EBITDA		260,215		275,025
Compensation costs recognized under Restricted Unit Plans		8,434		8,260
Other		—		168
Adjusted EBITDA for use in calculation		268,649		283,453
Total Consolidated Leverage Ratio	4.72 x		4.28 x

Partnership Distributions

We are required to make distributions in an amount equal to all of our Available Cash, as defined in our Third Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, as amended (the “Partnership Agreement”), no more than 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter to holders of record on the applicable record dates. Available Cash, as defined in the Partnership Agreement, generally means all cash on hand at the end of the respective fiscal quarter less the amount of cash reserves established by the Board of Supervisors in its reasonable discretion for future cash requirements. These reserves are retained for the proper conduct of our business, the payment of debt principal and interest and for distributions during the next four quarters. The Board of Supervisors reviews the level of Available Cash on a quarterly basis based upon information provided by management.

On January 25, 2024, we announced a quarterly distribution of $0.325 per Common Unit, or $1.30 on an annualized basis, in respect of the first quarter of fiscal 2024, payable on February 13, 2024 to holders of record on February 6, 2024.

Other Commitments

We have a noncontributory, cash balance format, defined benefit pension plan which was frozen to new participants effective January 1, 2000. Effective January 1, 2003, the defined benefit pension plan was amended such that future service credits ceased and eligible employees would receive interest credits only toward their ultimate retirement benefit. We also provide postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for certain retired employees under a plan that was frozen to new participants effective March 31, 1998. At December 30, 2023, we had a liability for the defined benefit pension plan and accrued retiree health and life benefits of $18.5 million and $4.6 million, respectively.

We are self-insured for general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined thresholds above which third party insurance applies. At December 30, 2023, we had accrued insurance liabilities of $61.0 million, and a receivable of $15.4 million related to the amount of the liability expected to be covered by insurance.

Legal Matters

See Item 1, Note 13, “Commitments and Contingencies,” Legal Matters subsection of this Quarterly Report.

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Commodity Price Risk

We enter into product supply contracts that are generally one-year agreements subject to annual renewal, and also purchase product on the open market. Our propane supply contracts typically provide for pricing based upon index formulas using the posted prices established at major supply points such as Mont Belvieu, Texas, or Conway, Kansas (plus transportation costs) at the time of delivery. In addition, to supplement our annual purchase requirements, we may utilize forward fixed price purchase contracts to acquire a portion of the propane that we resell to our customers, which allows us to manage our exposure to unfavorable changes in commodity prices and to ensure adequate physical supply. The percentage of contract purchases, and the amount of supply contracted for under forward contracts at fixed prices, will vary from year to year based on market conditions. In certain instances, and when market conditions are favorable, we are able to purchase product under our supply arrangements at a discount to the market.

Product cost changes can occur rapidly over a short period of time and can impact profitability. We attempt to reduce commodity price risk by pricing product on a short-term basis. The level of priced, physical product maintained in storage facilities and at our customer service centers for immediate sale to our customers will vary depending on several factors, including, but not limited to, price, supply and demand dynamics for a given time of the year. Typically, our on hand priced position does not exceed more than four to eight weeks of our supply needs, depending on the time of the year. In the course of normal operations, we routinely enter into contracts such as forward priced physical contracts for the purchase or sale of propane and fuel oil that, under accounting rules for derivative instruments and hedging activities, qualify for and are designated as normal purchase or normal sale contracts. Such contracts are exempted from fair value accounting and are accounted for at the time product is purchased or sold under the related contract.

Under our hedging and risk management strategies, we enter into a combination of exchange-traded futures and options contracts and, in certain instances, over-the-counter options and swap contracts (collectively, “derivative instruments”) to manage the price risk associated with physical product and with future purchases of the commodities used in our operations, principally propane and fuel oil, as well as to help ensure the availability of product during periods of high demand. In addition, we sell propane and fuel oil to customers at fixed prices, and enter into derivative instruments to hedge a portion of our exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices as a result of selling the fixed price contracts. We do not use derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes. Futures and swap contracts require that we sell or acquire propane or fuel oil at a fixed price for delivery at fixed future dates. An option contract allows, but does not require, its holder to buy or sell propane or fuel oil at a specified price during a specified time period. However, the writer of an option contract must fulfill the obligation of the option contract, should the holder choose to exercise the option. At expiration, the contracts are settled by the delivery of the product to the respective party or are settled by the payment of a net amount equal to the difference between the then market price and the fixed contract price or option exercise price. To the extent that we utilize derivative instruments to manage exposure to commodity price risk and commodity prices move adversely in relation to the contracts, we could suffer losses on those derivative instruments when settled. Conversely, if prices move favorably, we could realize gains. Under our hedging and risk management strategy, realized gains or losses on derivative instruments will typically offset losses or gains on the physical inventory once the product is sold to customers at market prices, or delivered to customers as it pertains to fixed price contracts.

Futures are traded with brokers of the NYMEX and require daily cash settlements in margin accounts. Forward contracts are generally settled at the expiration of the contract term by physical delivery, and swap and options contracts are generally settled at expiration through a net settlement mechanism. Market risks associated with our derivative instruments are monitored daily for compliance with our Hedging and Risk Management Policy which includes volume limits for open positions. Open inventory positions are reviewed and managed daily as to exposures to changing market prices.

Credit Risk

Exchange-traded futures and options contracts are guaranteed by the NYMEX and, as a result, have minimal credit risk. We are subject to credit risk with over-the-counter forward, swap and options contracts to the extent the counterparties do not perform. We evaluate the financial condition of each counterparty with which we conduct business and establish credit limits to reduce exposure to the risk of non-performance by our counterparties.

Interest Rate Risk

A portion of our borrowings bear interest at prevailing interest rates based upon, at the Operating Partnership’s option, SOFR, plus an applicable margin or the base rate, defined as the higher of the Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1% or the agent bank’s prime rate, or SOFR plus 1%, plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin is dependent on the level of our total consolidated leverage (the total ratio of debt to consolidated EBITDA). Therefore, we are subject to interest rate risk on the variable component of the interest rate. From time to time, we enter into interest rate swap agreements to manage a part of our variable interest rate risk. The interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. At December 30, 2023, we were not party to an interest rate swap agreement.

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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

All of our derivative instruments are reported on the balance sheet at their fair values. On the date that derivative instruments are entered into, we make a determination as to whether the derivative instrument qualifies for designation as a hedge. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recorded each period in current period earnings or OCI, depending on whether a derivative instrument is designated as a hedge and, if so, the type of hedge. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, we formally assess, both at the hedge contract’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the hedge contract is highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are reported in OCI to the extent effective and reclassified into earnings during the same period in which the hedged item affects earnings. The mark-to-market gains or losses on ineffective portions of cash flow hedges are immediately recognized in earnings. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges, and that do not meet the normal purchase and normal sale exemption, are recorded in earnings as they occur. Cash flows associated with derivative instruments are reported as operating activities within the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Sensitivity Analysis

In an effort to estimate our exposure to unfavorable market price changes in commodities related to our open positions under derivative instruments, we developed a model that incorporates the following data and assumptions:

A.The fair value of open positions as of December 30, 2023.

B.The market prices for the underlying commodities used to determine A. above were adjusted adversely by a hypothetical 10% change and compared to the fair value amounts in A. above to project the potential negative impact on earnings that would be recognized for the respective scenario.

Based on the sensitivity analysis described above, the hypothetical 10% adverse change in market prices for open derivative instruments as of December 30, 2023 indicates an increase in potential future net losses of $3.4 million. See also Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. The above hypothetical change does not reflect the worst case scenario. Actual results may be significantly different depending on market conditions and the composition of the open position portfolio.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Partnership maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the Partnership’s filings and submissions under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Partnership’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

The Partnership completed an evaluation under the supervision and with participation of the Partnership’s management, including the Partnership’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 30, 2023. Based on this evaluation, the Partnership’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of December 30, 2023, such disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide the reasonable assurance described above.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended December 30, 2023 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect its internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

None.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(c) The following table provides information about deemed purchases by the Partnership during the three months ended December 30, 2023 of its Common Units:

					Number of Shares	Approximate Dollar Value
	Total Number		Average		Purchased as Part of	of Shares that May
	of Shares		Price Paid		Publicly Announced	Yet be Purchased
Period	Purchased (1)		per Share		Program	under the Program
October 1, 2023 through October 28, 2023		—	$	—	N/A	N/A
October 29, 2023 through November 25, 2023		180,787		17.10	N/A	N/A
November 26, 2023 through December 30, 2023		—		—	N/A	N/A
Total		180,787	$	17.10	N/A	N/A

(1) This represents the number of Common Units withheld from participants for income tax withholding purposes for those executive officers of the Partnership whose shares of restricted units vested during the period. Such restricted units were issued to participants pursuant to the Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. 2018 Restricted Unit Plan that was adopted by the Partnership on June 1, 2018.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

(a)Exhibits

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

The exhibits listed on this Exhibit Index are filed as part of this Quarterly Report. Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K, which are not listed below, are not applicable.

Exhibit Number	Description
31.1	Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (Filed herewith).
31.2	Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (Filed herewith).
32.1	Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (Furnished herewith).
32.2	Certification of the Chief Financial Officer and Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (Furnished herewith).
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema With Embedded Linkbases Document
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

33

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P.
February 8, 2024	By:	/s/ MICHAEL A. KUGLIN
Date		Michael A. Kuglin
		Chief Financial Officer
February 8, 2024	By:	/s/ DANIEL S. BLOOMSTEIN
Date		Daniel S. Bloomstein
		Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

34

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Michael A. Stivala, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s Board of Supervisors:

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

February 8, 2024	By:	/s/ MICHAEL A. STIVALA
		Michael A. Stivala
		President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Michael A. Kuglin, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s Board of Supervisors:

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

February 8, 2024	By:	/s/ MICHAEL A. KUGLIN
		Michael A. Kuglin
		Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to

18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906

of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 30, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Michael A. Stivala, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership.

By:	/s/ MICHAEL A. STIVALA
	Michael A. Stivala
	President and Chief Executive Officer
	February 8, 2024

EX-32.2

EXHIBIT 32.2

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer

18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906

of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 30, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Michael A. Kuglin, Chief Financial Officer of the Partnership, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership.

By:	/s/ MICHAEL A. KUGLIN
	Michael A. Kuglin
	Chief Financial Officer
	February 8, 2024

XML

Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Feb. 05, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS LP
Entity Central Index Key	0001005210
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-28
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		64,020,164
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2024
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Type	10-Q
Trading Symbol	SPH
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 30, 2023
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Title of 12(g) Security	Common Units
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity File Number	1-14222
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	22-3410353
Entity Address, Address Line One	240 Route 10 West
Entity Address, City or Town	Whippany
Entity Address, State or Province	NJ
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	07981
City Area Code	973
Local Phone Number	887-5300
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 6,280	$ 3,514
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,966 and $4,449, respectively	118,737	67,687
Inventories	60,970	61,828
Other current assets	35,654	30,973
Total current assets	221,641	164,002
Property, plant and equipment, net	643,220	646,054
Operating lease right-of-use assets	138,269	142,940
Goodwill	1,148,776	1,148,776
Other intangible assets, net	77,671	80,553
Other assets	90,026	88,150
Total assets	2,319,603	2,270,475
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	72,219	40,043
Accrued employment and benefit costs	33,733	45,138
Customer deposits and advances	112,195	127,311
Operating lease liabilities	33,471	33,562
Other current liabilities	57,955	61,764
Total current liabilities	309,573	307,818
Long-term borrowings	1,243,778	1,188,210
Accrued insurance	49,249	49,632
Operating lease liabilities	103,852	108,495
Other liabilities	63,263	69,964
Total liabilities	1,769,715	1,724,119
Commitments and contingencies
Partners’ capital:
Common Unitholders (64,015 and 63,521 units issued and outstanding at December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively)	560,386	557,023
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10,498)	(10,667)
Total partners’ capital	549,888	546,356
Total liabilities and partners’ capital	$ 2,319,603	$ 2,270,475

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Current assets:
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 4,966	$ 4,449
Partners’ capital:
Common units issued (in units)	64,015,000	63,521,000
Common units outstanding (in units)	64,015,004	63,521,000

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022
Revenues
Total Revenues	$ 365,834	$ 397,470
Costs and expenses
Cost of products sold	153,053	182,653
Operating	122,070	115,711
General and administrative	25,570	23,012
Depreciation and amortization	16,393	13,779
Total Expenses	317,086	335,155
Operating income	48,748	62,315
Interest expense, net	18,192	15,994
Other, net	5,853	975
Income before provision for (benefit from) income taxes	24,703	45,346
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	249	(48)
Net Income	$ 24,454	$ 45,394
Net Income per Common Unit - basic	$ 0.38	$ 0.71
Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - basic	64,064	63,634
Net Income per Common Unit - diluted	$ 0.38	$ 0.71
Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - diluted	64,381	63,933
Propane [Member]
Revenues
Total Revenues	$ 313,358	$ 342,353
Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels [Member]
Revenues
Total Revenues	23,898	30,141
Natural Gas and Electricity [Member]
Revenues
Total Revenues	6,493	8,690
All Other [Member]
Revenues
Total Revenues	$ 22,085	$ 16,286

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 24,454	$ 45,394
Other comprehensive income:
Amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service credits into earnings	169	164
Other comprehensive income	169	164
Total comprehensive income	$ 24,623	$ 45,558

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 24,454	$ 45,394
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization	16,393	13,779
Compensation costs recognized under Restricted Unit Plan	2,645	2,471
Other, net	5,950	714
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(51,050)	(55,383)
Inventories	858	(4,271)
Other current and noncurrent assets	(2,944)	(723)
Accounts payable	32,594	47,160
Accrued employment and benefit costs	(11,551)	(15,788)
Customer deposits and advances	(15,116)	(13,936)
Contributions to defined benefit pension plan	0	(1,000)
Other current and noncurrent liabilities	(15,008)	(12,145)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(12,775)	6,272
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(11,150)	(10,780)
Investment in and acquisition of businesses	(3,250)	(4,354)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	486	743
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(13,914)	(14,391)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit facility	148,400	140,600
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility	(93,600)	(106,700)
Partnership distributions	(20,645)	(20,471)
Other, net	(3,541)	(3,332)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	30,614	10,097
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	3,925	1,978
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	14,074	4,100
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	17,999	6,078
Less: restricted cash	11,719	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 6,280	$ 6,078

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Unitholders [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) [Member]
Balance, beginning of period at Sep. 24, 2022	$ 497,530	$ 510,126	$ (12,596)
Balance (in units) at Sep. 24, 2022		62,987
Net income	45,394	$ 45,394
Other comprehensive income	164		164
Partnership distributions	(20,471)	(20,471)
Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans	(2,732)	$ (2,732)
Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans (in units)		499
Compensation costs recognized under Restricted Unit Plans	2,471	$ 2,471
Balance, end of period at Dec. 24, 2022	522,356	$ 534,788	(12,432)
Balance (in units) at Dec. 24, 2022		63,486
Balance, beginning of period at Sep. 30, 2023	546,356	$ 557,023	(10,667)
Balance (in units) at Sep. 30, 2023		63,521
Net income	24,454	$ 24,454
Other comprehensive income	169		169
Partnership distributions	(20,645)	(20,645)
Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans	(3,091)	$ (3,091)
Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans (in units)		494
Compensation costs recognized under Restricted Unit Plans	2,645	$ 2,645
Balance, end of period at Dec. 30, 2023	$ 549,888	$ 560,386	$ (10,498)
Balance (in units) at Dec. 30, 2023		64,015

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Partnership Organization and Formation

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Partnership Organization And Formation [Abstract]

Partnership Organization and Formation

1.Partnership Organization and Formation

Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership principally engaged, through its operating partnership and subsidiaries, in the retail marketing and distribution of propane, renewable propane, renewable natural gas (“RNG”), fuel oil and refined fuels, as well as the marketing of natural gas and electricity in deregulated markets and producer of and investor in low-carbon fuel alternatives. In addition, to complement its core marketing and distribution businesses, the Partnership services a wide variety of home comfort equipment, particularly for heating and ventilation. The publicly traded limited partner interests in the Partnership are evidenced by common units traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“Common Units”), with 64,015,004 Common Units outstanding at December 30, 2023. The holders of Common Units are entitled to participate in distributions and exercise the rights and privileges available to limited partners under the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”), as amended. Rights and privileges under the Partnership Agreement include, among other things, the election of all members of the Board of Supervisors and voting on the removal of the general partner.

Suburban Propane, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), a Delaware limited partnership, is the Partnership’s operating subsidiary formed to operate the propane business and assets. In addition, Suburban Sales & Service, Inc. (the “Service Company”), a subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, was formed to operate the service work and appliance and parts businesses of the Partnership. The Operating Partnership, together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, accounts for substantially all of the Partnership’s assets, revenues and earnings. The Partnership, the Operating Partnership and the Service Company commenced operations in March 1996 in connection with the Partnership’s initial public offering.

Suburban Renewable Energy, LLC (“Suburban Renewable Energy”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership that was formed in January 2022. Suburban Renewable Energy serves as the platform for the Partnership’s investments in innovative, renewable energy technologies and businesses.

The general partner of both the Partnership and the Operating Partnership is Suburban Energy Services Group LLC (the “General Partner”), a Delaware limited liability company, the sole member of which is the Partnership’s Chief Executive Officer. Other than as a holder of 784 Common Units that will remain in the General Partner, the General Partner does not have any economic interest in the Partnership or the Operating Partnership.

The Partnership’s fuel oil and refined fuels, natural gas and electricity, services, and renewable energy businesses are structured as either limited liability companies that are treated as corporations or corporate entities (collectively referred to as the “Corporate Entities”) and, as such, are subject to corporate level U.S. income tax.

Suburban Energy Finance Corp., a direct 100%-owned subsidiary of the Partnership, was formed on November 26, 2003 to serve as co-issuer, jointly and severally with the Partnership, of the Partnership’s senior notes.

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Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

2.Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated. The Partnership consolidates the results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of the Operating Partnership as a result of the Partnership’s 100% limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). They include all adjustments that the Partnership considers necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Such adjustments consist only of normal recurring items, unless otherwise disclosed. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. Due to the seasonal nature of the Partnership’s operations, the results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year.

Fiscal Period. The Partnership uses a 52/53-week fiscal year which ends on the last Saturday in September. The Partnership’s fiscal quarters are generally thirteen weeks in duration. When the Partnership’s fiscal year is 53 weeks long, as was the case for fiscal 2023, the corresponding fourth quarter is fourteen weeks in duration.

Revenue Recognition. Revenue is recognized by the Partnership when goods or services promised in a contract with a customer have been transferred, and no further performance obligation on that transfer is required, in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received. Performance obligations are determined and evaluated based on the specific terms of the arrangements and the distinct products and services offered. Due to the nature of the retail business of the Partnership, there are no remaining or unsatisfied performance obligations as of the end of the reporting period, except for tank rental agreements, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs, as described below. The performance obligation associated with sales of propane, fuel oil and refined fuels is met at the time product is delivered to the customer. Revenue from the sale of appliances and equipment is recognized at the time of sale or when installation is complete, as defined by the performance obligations included within the related customer contract. Revenue from repairs, maintenance and other service activities is recognized upon completion of the service. Revenue from the sale of natural gas and electricity is recognized based on customer usage as determined by meter readings for amounts delivered, an immaterial amount of which may be unbilled at the end of each accounting period.

The Partnership defers the recognition of revenue for annually billed tank rent, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs where customer consideration is received at the start of the contract period, establishing contract liabilities which are disclosed as customer deposits and advances on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Deliveries to customers enrolled in budgetary programs that exceed billings to those customers establish contract assets which are included in accounts receivable on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Partnership ratably recognizes revenue over the applicable term for tank rent and maintenance service agreements, which is generally one year, and at the time of delivery for fixed price contracts and budgetary programs.

The Partnership incurs incremental direct costs, such as commissions to its salesforce, to obtain certain contracts. These costs are expensed as incurred, consistent with the practical expedients issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), since the expected amortization period is one year or less. The Partnership generally determines selling prices based on, among other things, the current weighted average cost and the current replacement cost of the product at the time of delivery, plus an applicable margin. Except for tank rental agreements, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs, customer payments for the satisfaction of a performance obligation are due upon receipt.

Revenues from the Partnership’s renewable energy platform, as described further in Note 4, “Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses,” consist of in-take and off-take revenues. In-take revenues are generated from tipping fees charged to third parties who deliver feedstocks, including food and beverage waste, to the Partnership’s facilities. These feedstocks, as well as manure from dairy cattle, are then anaerobically digested and converted into RNG and fertilizer. Off-take revenues are generated through the sale of RNG and the related environmental attributes, including renewable identification numbers (“RINs”) and low carbon fuel standard (“LCFS”) credits that are generated from the production and distribution of RNG, and revenues generated from the sales of fertilizers and other byproducts produced in the RNG production process. Revenues from the Partnership’s renewable energy platform are reported within the “all other” segment (refer to Note 18, “Segment Information” for more information).

In-take revenues are recognized at the point in time when the feedstocks are delivered to the Partnership because that is when the performance obligations have been satisfied. Off-take revenues are recognized at the point in time when the Partnership delivers the RNG to the customer because that is when the performance obligations have been satisfied.

Fair Value Measurements. The Partnership measures certain of its assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants – in either the principal market or the most advantageous market. The principal market is the market with the greatest level of activity and volume for the asset or liability.

The common framework for measuring fair value utilizes a three-level hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in the valuation techniques to derive fair values. The basis for fair value measurements for each level within the hierarchy is described below with Level 1 having the highest priority and Level 3 having the lowest.

•Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

•Level 2: Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets.

•Level 3: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

Business Combinations. The Partnership accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method and accordingly, the assets and liabilities of the acquired entities are recorded at their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired, including the amount assigned to identifiable intangible assets. The primary drivers that generate goodwill are the value of synergies between the acquired entities and the Partnership, and the acquired assembled workforce, neither of which qualifies as an identifiable intangible asset. Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives. The results of operations of acquired businesses are included in the condensed consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date. The Partnership expenses all acquisition-related costs as incurred.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been made by management in the areas of RNG revenue recognition, self-insurance and litigation reserves, pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities and costs, valuation of derivative instruments, depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets, asset impairment assessments, tax valuation allowances, allowances for doubtful accounts, and purchase price allocation for acquired businesses. The Partnership uses Society of Actuaries life expectancy information when developing the annual mortality assumptions for the pension and postretirement benefit plans, which are used to measure net periodic benefit costs and the obligation under these plans. Actual results could differ from those estimates, making it reasonably possible that a material change in these estimates could occur in the near term.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, “Segment Reporting: Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“Topic 280”). This update will require public entities to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within segment profit and loss. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. Topic 280 will first be effective for the Partnership’s fiscal 2025 annual report and should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Partnership is assessing the effect of this update on its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes: Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“Topic 740”). This update requires disclosure of specific categories and disaggregation of information in the income tax rate reconciliation table. Topic 740 also requires disclosure of disaggregated information related to income taxes paid, income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit, and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations. The requirements of Topic 740 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, which will be the Partnership’s fiscal 2026 annual report. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments should be applied on a prospective basis with retrospective application also being permitted. The Partnership is assessing the effect of this update on its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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Disaggregation of Revenue

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Disaggregation of Revenue

3.Disaggregation of Revenue

The following table disaggregates revenue for each customer type. See Note 18, “Segment Information” for more information on segment reporting wherein it is disclosed that the Partnership’s Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels and Natural Gas and Electricity reportable segments generated approximately 86%, 7% and 2%, respectively, of the Partnership’s revenue from its reportable segments for all periods presented. The propane segment contributes the majority of the Partnership’s revenue and the concentration of revenue by customer type for the propane segment is not materially different from the consolidated revenue.

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,		December 24,
	2023		2022
Retail
Residential	$	195,895	$	218,123
Commercial		98,453		108,688
Industrial		31,746		35,378
Government		17,073		18,008
Agricultural		13,450		14,351
Wholesale		9,217		2,922
Total revenues	$	365,834	$	397,470

The Partnership recognized $37,474 and $37,115 of revenue during the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022, respectively, for annually billed tank rent, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs where customer consideration was received at the start of the contract period, and which was included in contract liabilities as of the beginning of each

respective period. Contract assets of $6,119 and $4,844 relating to deliveries to customers enrolled in budgetary programs that exceeded billings to those customers were included in accounts receivable as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

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Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses

4.Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses

On December 28, 2022, Suburban Renewable Energy acquired a platform of RNG production assets from Equilibrium Capital Group (“Equilibrium”), a leading sustainability-driven asset management firm. In addition, the parties formed a partnership to serve as a long-term growth platform for the identification, development and operation of additional RNG projects, including an existing pipeline of identified RNG projects that are in various stages of development (the “RNG Acquisition”).

The following table presents unaudited pro forma combined financial information as if the aforementioned acquisition had occurred on September 25, 2022, the first day of the Partnership’s 2023 fiscal year:

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,		December 24,
	2023		2022
Revenues	$	365,834	$	401,400
Net income		24,454		35,390

Suburban Renewable Energy owns a 25% equity stake in Independence Hydrogen, Inc. (“IH”) based in Ashburn, VA. IH is a veteran-owned and operated, privately held company developing a gaseous hydrogen ecosystem to deliver locally sourced hydrogen to local markets, with a primary focus on material handling and backup power applications.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2022, Suburban Renewable Energy announced an agreement to construct, own and operate a new biodigester system with Adirondack Farms, a family dairy farm located in Clinton County, New York, for the production of RNG. Construction of the assets began during the first quarter of fiscal 2023, and is expected to be completed during fiscal 2025.

The Operating Partnership owns a 38% equity stake in Oberon Fuels, Inc. (“Oberon”) based in San Diego, California and has also purchased certain secured convertible notes issued by Oberon. Oberon, a development-stage producer of low-carbon, renewable dimethyl ether (“rDME”) transportation fuel, is focused on the research and development of practical and affordable pathways to zero-emission transportation through its proprietary production process. Oberon’s rDME fuel is a low-carbon, zero-soot alternative to petroleum diesel, and when blended with propane can significantly reduce the carbon intensity of propane. Additionally, rDME is a carrier for hydrogen, making it easy to deliver this renewable fuel for the growing hydrogen fuel cell vehicle industry. During the first quarter of fiscal 2024, the Operating Partnership purchased one additional secured convertible note issued by Oberon.

The RNG Acquisition, investments and partnerships were made in line with the Partnership’s Go Green with Suburban Propane corporate pillar, which focuses on advocating for the clean-burning and versatile nature of propane and renewable propane as a solution to a lower carbon future and investing in innovative, renewable energy alternatives to lower greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. The investments in IH and Oberon are being accounted for under the equity method of accounting and were included in “Other assets” within the condensed consolidated balance sheets, and the Partnership’s equity in their earnings were included in “Other, net” within the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

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Financial Instruments and Risk Management

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Financial Instruments and Risk Management

5.Financial Instruments and Risk Management

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash. The Partnership considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. In accordance with the indenture, as amended, and loan agreement, as amended, governing the Green Bonds assumed in the RNG Acquisition (see Notes 4 and 10), the Partnership is required to maintain certain funds in various accounts that are held with a third-party trustee for debt service and other purposes. The amounts deposited in those accounts is considered Restricted Cash and is reported within other current assets (or other assets, as applicable). The balance classified as short-term included accounts for which the cash will be used within one year, and are related to interest payments as well as operating and maintenance activities for the RNG facility in Arizona. The balance classified as long-term represented cash held in a debt service fund for future debt repayments on the Green Bonds for which the first debt redemption payment is due on October 1, 2028. Refer to Note 6, “Selected Balance Sheet Information” for a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash. The carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Commodity Price Risk. Given the retail nature of its operations, the Partnership maintains a certain level of priced physical inventory to help ensure its field operations have adequate supply commensurate with the time of year. The Partnership’s strategy is to keep its

physical inventory priced relatively close to market for its field operations. The Partnership enters into a combination of exchange-traded futures and option contracts and, in certain instances, over-the-counter options and swap contracts (collectively, “derivative instruments”) to hedge price risk associated with propane and fuel oil physical inventories, as well as future purchases of propane or fuel oil used in its operations, and to help ensure adequate supply during periods of high demand. In addition, the Partnership sells propane and fuel oil to customers at fixed prices, and enters into derivative instruments to hedge a portion of its exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices as a result of selling the fixed price contracts. Under this risk management strategy, realized gains or losses on derivative instruments will typically offset losses or gains on the physical inventory once the product is sold or delivered as it pertains to fixed price contracts. All of the Partnership’s derivative instruments are reported on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at their fair values. In addition, in the course of normal operations, the Partnership routinely enters into contracts such as forward priced physical contracts for the purchase or sale of propane and fuel oil that qualify for and are designated as normal purchase or normal sale contracts. Such contracts are exempted from the fair value accounting requirements and are accounted for at the time product is purchased or sold under the related contract. The Partnership does not use derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes. Market risks associated with derivative instruments are monitored daily for compliance with the Partnership’s Hedging and Risk Management Policy which includes volume limits for open positions. Priced on-hand inventory is also reviewed and managed daily as to exposures to changing market prices.

On the date that derivative instruments are entered into, other than those designated as normal purchases or normal sales, the Partnership makes a determination as to whether the derivative instrument qualifies for designation as a hedge. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recorded each period in current period earnings or other comprehensive income (“OCI”), depending on whether the derivative instrument is designated as a hedge and, if so, the type of hedge. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the Partnership formally assesses, both at the hedge contract’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the hedge contract is highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are reported in OCI to the extent effective and reclassified into earnings during the same period in which the hedged item affects earnings. The mark-to-market gains or losses on ineffective portions of cash flow hedges are recognized in earnings immediately. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges, and that do not meet the normal purchase and normal sale exemption, are recorded within earnings as they occur. Cash flows associated with derivative instruments are reported as operating activities within the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Interest Rate Risk. A portion of the Partnership’s borrowings bear interest at prevailing interest rates based upon, at the Operating Partnership’s option, Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus an applicable margin or the base rate, defined as the higher of the Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1% or the agent bank’s prime rate, or SOFR plus 1%, plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin is dependent on the level of the Partnership’s total leverage (the ratio of total debt to income before deducting interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), as adjusted pursuant to the Credit Agreement). Therefore, the Partnership is subject to interest rate risk on the variable component of the interest rate. From time to time, the Partnership manages part of its variable interest rate risk by entering into interest rate swap agreements. The Partnership did not enter into any interest rate swap agreements during the first quarter of fiscal 2024 or in fiscal 2023.

Valuation of Derivative Instruments. The Partnership measures the fair value of its exchange-traded options and futures contracts using quoted market prices found on the New York Mercantile Exchange (the “NYMEX”) (Level 1 inputs); the fair value of its swap contracts using quoted forward prices and the fair value of its interest rate swaps using model-derived valuations driven by observable projected movements of the 3-month SOFR (Level 2 inputs); and the fair value of its over-the-counter options contracts using Level 3 inputs. The Partnership’s over-the-counter options contracts are valued based on an internal option model. The inputs utilized in the model are based on publicly available information as well as broker quotes. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements of the Partnership’s over-the-counter options contracts are interest rate and market volatility.

The following summarizes the fair value of the Partnership’s derivative instruments and their location in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively:

	As of December 30, 2023			As of September 30, 2023
Asset Derivatives	Location	Fair Value		Location	Fair Value
Derivatives not designated as    hedging instruments:
Commodity-related derivatives	Other current assets	$	2,345	Other current assets	$	18,538
	Other assets		—	Other assets		8
		$	2,345		$	18,546
Liability Derivatives	Location	Fair Value		Location	Fair Value
Derivatives not designated as    hedging instruments:
Commodity-related derivatives	Other current liabilities	$	3,118	Other current liabilities	$	2,427
	Other liabilities		—	Other liabilities		4,784
		$	3,118		$	7,211

The following summarizes the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs:

	Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Three Months Ended					Three Months Ended
	December 30, 2023					December 24, 2022
	Assets		Liabilities			Assets			Liabilities
Beginning balance of over-the-counter options	$	—	$	806		$	222		$	3,408
Beginning balance realized during the period		—		(613	)		(46	)		(298	)
Contracts purchased during the period		—		—			—			—
Change in the fair value of outstanding contracts		—		25			(65	)		308
Ending balance of over-the-counter options	$	—	$	218		$	111		$	3,418

As of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, the Partnership’s outstanding commodity-related derivatives had a weighted average maturity of approximately four and six months, respectively.

The effect of the Partnership’s derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022 are as follows:

	Three Months Ended December 30, 2023				Three Months Ended December 24, 2022
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	Unrealized Gains (Losses)  Recognized in Income				Unrealized Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income
	Location	Amount			Location	Amount
Commodity-related derivatives	Cost of products sold	$	(10,786	)	Cost of products sold	$	(13,706	)

The following table presents the fair value of the Partnership’s recognized derivative assets and liabilities on a gross basis and amounts offset on the condensed consolidated balance sheets subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements:

	As of December 30, 2023							As of September 30, 2023
						Net amounts							Net amounts
						presented in the							presented in the
	Gross amounts		Effects of netting			balance sheet		Gross amounts		Effects of netting			balance sheet
Asset Derivatives
Commodity-related derivatives	$	7,047	$	(4,702	)	$	2,345	$	35,339	$	(16,793	)	$	18,546
Liability Derivatives
Commodity-related derivatives	$	7,820	$	(4,702	)	$	3,118	$	24,004	$	(16,793	)	$	7,211

The Partnership had $4,836 and $-0- posted cash collateral as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively, with its brokers for outstanding commodity-related derivatives.

Bank Debt, Green Bonds and Senior Notes. The fair value of the Revolving Credit Facility approximates the carrying value since the interest rates are adjusted quarterly to reflect market conditions. The fair values of the Senior Notes are based upon quoted market prices (a Level 1 input) and the fair value of the Green Bonds is based upon a valuation model (a Level 3 input). Senior Notes, Revolving Credit Facility and Green Bonds are defined below in Note 10 (“Long-Term Borrowings”) and the fair values of the Senior Notes and Green Bonds are as follows:

	As of
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
5.875% Senior Notes due March 1, 2027	$	349,125	$	334,250
5.00% Senior Notes due June 1, 2031		586,918		541,658
5.50% Green Bonds due October 1, 2028 through October 1, 2033		66,131		63,031
	$	1,002,174	$	938,939

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Selected Balance Sheet Information

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]

Selected Balance Sheet Information

6.Selected Balance Sheet Information

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash. Restricted cash consists of amounts deposited in various bank accounts held by a trustee, as required for operating, maintenance and debt service purposes, all of which is stipulated in the loan agreement under the indenture to the Green Bonds. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets that aggregates to the total shown on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows:

	As of
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
Cash and cash equivalents	$	6,280	$	3,514
Restricted cash included in other current assets		3,454		2,392
Restricted cash included in other assets (noncurrent)		8,265		8,168
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows	$	17,999	$	14,074

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using a weighted average method for propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas, and a standard cost basis for appliances, which approximates average cost. Inventories consist of the following:

	As of
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
Propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas	$	57,471	$	58,565
Appliances		3,499		3,263
	$	60,970	$	61,828

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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

7.Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is subject to an impairment review at a reporting unit level, on an annual basis as of the end of fiscal July of each year, or when an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate potential impairment.

The Partnership has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing an impairment test is unnecessary. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, then it is required to perform an impairment test.

Under an impairment test, the Partnership assesses the carrying value of goodwill at a reporting unit level based on an estimate of the fair value of the respective reporting unit. Fair value of the reporting unit is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses taking into consideration estimated cash flows in a ten-year projection period and a terminal value calculation at the end of the projection period. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, the goodwill associated with the reporting unit is not considered to be

impaired. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, up to the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.

The carrying values of goodwill assigned to the Partnership’s operating segments are as follows:

			Fuel oil and			Natural gas
	Propane		refined fuels			and electricity		All other		Total
Balance as of September 30, 2023
Goodwill	$	1,105,179	$	10,900		$	7,900	$	31,259	$	1,155,238
Accumulated adjustments		—		(6,462	)		—		—		(6,462	)
	$	1,105,179	$	4,438		$	7,900	$	31,259	$	1,148,776
Fiscal 2024 Activity
Goodwill acquired	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—
Balance as of December 30, 2023
Goodwill	$	1,105,179	$	10,900		$	7,900	$	31,259	$	1,155,238
Accumulated adjustments		—		(6,462	)		—		—		(6,462	)
	$	1,105,179	$	4,438		$	7,900	$	31,259	$	1,148,776

Other intangible assets consist of the following:

	As of
	December 30,			September 30,
	2023			2023
Customer relationships	$	572,347		$	572,347
Non-compete agreements		40,955			40,840
Other		7,067			7,067
		620,369			620,254
Less: accumulated amortization
Customer relationships		(505,035	)		(502,436	)
Non-compete agreements		(35,237	)		(35,011	)
Other		(2,426	)		(2,254	)
		(542,698	)		(539,701	)
	$	77,671		$	80,553

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Leases

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Lessee Disclosure [Abstract]

Leases

8.Leases

The Partnership leases certain property, plant and equipment, including portions of its vehicle fleet, for various periods under noncancelable leases all of which were determined to be operating leases. The Partnership determines if an agreement contains a lease at inception based on the Partnership’s right to the economic benefits of the leased assets and its right to direct the use of the leased asset. Right-of-use assets represent the Partnership’s right to use an underlying asset, and right-of-use liabilities represent the Partnership’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. As most of the Partnership’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Partnership uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date, adjusted for the lease term, to determine the present value of the lease payments. This rate is calculated based on a collateralized rate for the specific leasing activities of the Partnership.

Some leases include one or more options to renew at the Partnership’s discretion, with renewal terms that can extend the lease from one to fifteen additional years. The renewal options are included in the measurement of the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities if the Partnership is reasonably certain to exercise the renewal options. Short-term leases are leases having an initial term of twelve months or less. The Partnership recognizes expenses for short-term leases on a straight-line basis and does not record a lease asset or lease liability for such leases.

The Partnership has residual value guarantees associated with certain of its operating leases, related primarily to transportation equipment. See Note 14, “Guarantees” for more information.

The Partnership does not have any material lease obligations that were signed, but not yet commenced as of December 30, 2023.

Quantitative information on the Partnership’s lease population is as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Lease expense	$	10,753		$	10,060
Other information:
Cash payments for operating leases		10,804			10,064
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange    for new operating lease liabilities		4,033			5,228
Weighted-average remaining lease term	5.5 years			5.8 years
Weighted-average discount rate		5.9	%		5.3	%

The following table summarizes future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of December 30, 2023:

Fiscal Year	Operating Leases
2024 (remaining)	$	30,801
2025		37,404
2026		31,920
2027		21,469
2028		16,333
2029 and thereafter		25,808
Total future minimum lease payments	$	163,735
Less: interest		(26,412	)
Total lease obligations	$	137,323

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Net Income Per Common Unit

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Net Income Per Common Unit

9.Net Income Per Common Unit

Computations of basic income per Common Unit are performed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of outstanding Common Units, and vested (and unissued) restricted units granted under the Partnership’s Restricted Unit Plan, as defined below, to retirement-eligible grantees. Computations of diluted income per Common Unit are performed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of outstanding Common Units and unissued restricted units granted under the Restricted Unit Plan. In computing diluted net income per Common Unit, weighted average units outstanding used to compute basic net income per Common Unit were increased by 316,563 and 298,953 units for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022, respectively, to reflect the potential dilutive effect of the unvested restricted units outstanding using the treasury stock method.

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Long-Term Borrowings

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long Term Borrowings

10.Long-Term Borrowings

Long-term borrowings consist of the following:

	As of
	December 30,			September 30,
	2023			2023
5.875% Senior Notes due March 1, 2027		350,000			350,000
5.00% Senior Notes due June 1, 2031		650,000			650,000
5.50% Green Bonds due October 1, 2028 through October 1, 2033, net of unaccreted fair value adjustment of $13,540 and $13,879		67,105			66,766
Revolving Credit Facility, due March 5, 2025		186,800			132,000
Subtotal		1,253,905			1,198,766
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs		(10,127	)		(10,556	)
	$	1,243,778		$	1,188,210

Senior Notes

2027 Senior Notes. On February 14, 2017, the Partnership and its 100%-owned subsidiary, Suburban Energy Finance Corp., completed a public offering of $350,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior notes due March 1, 2027 (the “2027 Senior Notes”). The

2027 Senior Notes were issued at 100% of the principal amount and require semi-annual interest payments in March and September. The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2027 Senior Notes, along with borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, were used to repurchase, satisfy and discharge all of the Partnership’s then-outstanding 7.375% senior notes due in 2021.

2031 Senior Notes. On May 24, 2021, the Partnership and its 100%-owned subsidiary, Suburban Energy Finance Corp., completed a private offering of $650,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.0% senior notes due June 1, 2031 (the “2031 Senior Notes”) to “qualified institutional buyers,” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and non-U.S. persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act. The 2031 Senior Notes were issued at 100% of the principal amount and require semi-annual interest payments in June and December. The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2031 Senior Notes, along with borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, were used to repurchase, satisfy and discharge all of the Partnership’s then-outstanding 5.5% senior notes due in 2024 and 5.75% senior notes due in 2025.

The Partnership’s obligations under the 2027 Senior Notes and 2031 Senior Notes (collectively, the “Senior Notes”) are unsecured and rank senior in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness and equally in right of payment with any future senior indebtedness. The Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to, which means they rank effectively behind, any debt and other liabilities of the Operating Partnership. The Partnership is permitted to redeem some or all of the Senior Notes at redemption prices and times as specified in the indentures governing the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes each have a change of control provision that would require the Partnership to offer to repurchase the notes at 101% of the principal amount repurchased, if a change of control, as defined in the indentures governing the terms of the Senior Notes, occurs and is followed by a rating decline (a decrease in the rating of the notes by either Moody’s Investors Service or Standard and Poor’s Rating Group by one or more gradations) within 90 days of the consummation of the change of control.

Green Bonds. On December 28, 2022, the Partnership assumed the loan agreement under the Indentures of Trust, issued by The Industrial Development Authority of the County of Pinal (“Green Bonds”) from Equilibrium in conjunction with the RNG Acquisition. The proceeds of the Green Bonds, which bear interest at 5.5%, were loaned to and used by Equilibrium to construct the RNG production facility in Arizona and are secured by all of the assets at that location. The Green Bonds have a par value of $80,645 and require semi-annual interest payments in April and October. Principal payments begin on October 1, 2028 and continue annually through October 1, 2033. The Green Bonds were initially recorded at fair value at the time of the RNG Acquisition and will be accreted to par value over the term of the bonds using the effective interest method.

Credit Agreement. The Operating Partnership has an amended and restated credit agreement dated March 5, 2020 (the “Credit Agreement”) that provides for a $500,000 revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), of which $186,800 and $132,000 was outstanding as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively. On December 28, 2022, the Operating Partnership amended the Credit Agreement to, among other things, modify certain restrictive and affirmative covenants applicable to the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries to provide for additional investment capacity to allow for future investments by Suburban Renewable Energy and to permit the assumption of debt in connection with the acquisition of the RNG platform from Equilibrium, and replaced the LIBOR component of the borrowing rate with a rate based on SOFR. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on March 5, 2025. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility may be used for general corporate purposes; including working capital, capital expenditures and acquisitions. The Operating Partnership has the right to prepay any borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, in whole or in part, without penalty at any time prior to maturity.

The Credit Agreement contains certain restrictive and affirmative covenants applicable to the Operating Partnership, its subsidiaries and the Partnership, as well as certain financial covenants, including (a) requiring the Partnership’s Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, to be not less than 2.5 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter, (b) prohibiting the Total Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, of the Partnership from being greater than 5.75 to 1.0, and (c) prohibiting the Senior Secured Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, of the Operating Partnership from being greater than 3.25 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter.

The Partnership and certain subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership act as guarantors with respect to the obligations of the Operating Partnership under the Credit Agreement pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth therein. The obligations under the Credit Agreement are secured by liens on substantially all of the personal property of the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries, as well as mortgages on certain real property.

As of December 30, 2023, borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at prevailing interest rates based upon, at the Operating Partnership’s option, SOFR plus the Applicable Rate, or the base rate, defined as the higher of the Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1%, the administrative agent bank’s prime rate, or SOFR plus 1%, plus in each case the Applicable Rate. The Applicable Rate is dependent upon the Partnership’s Total Consolidated Leverage Ratio. As of December 30, 2023, the interest rate for borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility was approximately 7.90%. The interest rate and the Applicable Rate will be reset following the end of each calendar quarter.

As of December 30, 2023, the Partnership had standby letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility of $33,586 which expire periodically through November 1, 2024.

The Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes both contain various restrictive and affirmative covenants applicable to the Operating Partnership, its subsidiaries and the Partnership, respectively, including (i) restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, and (ii) restrictions on certain liens, investments, guarantees, loans, advances, payments, mergers, consolidations, distributions, sales of assets and other transactions. Under the Credit Agreement and the indentures governing the Senior Notes, the Operating Partnership and the Partnership are generally permitted to make cash distributions equal to available cash, as defined, as of the end of the immediately preceding quarter, if no event of default exists or would exist upon making such distributions, and with respect to the indentures governing the Senior Notes, the Partnership’s Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as defined, is greater than 1.75 to 1. The Partnership and the Operating Partnership were in compliance with all covenants and terms of the Senior Notes and the Credit Agreement as of December 30, 2023.

The aggregate amounts of long-term debt maturities subsequent to December 30, 2023 are as follows: fiscal 2024: $-0-; fiscal 2025: $186,800; fiscal 2026: $-0-; fiscal 2027: $350,000; fiscal 2028: $-0-; and thereafter: $730,645.

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Distributions of Available Cash

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Distributions Made to Members or Limited Partners [Abstract]

Distributions of Available Cash

11.Distributions of Available Cash

The Partnership makes distributions to its partners no later than 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter in an aggregate amount equal to its Available Cash for such quarter. Available Cash, as defined in the Partnership Agreement, generally means all cash on hand at the end of the respective fiscal quarter less the amount of cash reserves established by the Board of Supervisors in its reasonable discretion for future cash requirements. These reserves are retained for the proper conduct of the Partnership’s business, the payment of debt principal and interest and for distributions during the next four quarters.

On January 25, 2024, the Partnership announced a quarterly distribution of $0.325 per Common Unit, or $1.30 per Common Unit on an annualized basis, in respect of the first quarter of fiscal 2024, payable on February 13, 2024 to holders of record on February 6, 2024.

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Unit-Based Compensation Arrangements

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Unit-Based Compensation Arrangements

12.Unit-Based Compensation Arrangements

The Partnership recognizes compensation cost over the respective service period for employee services received in exchange for an award of equity, or equity-based compensation, based on the grant date fair value of the award. The Partnership measures liability awards under an equity-based payment arrangement based on remeasurement of the award’s fair value at the conclusion of each interim and annual reporting period until the date of settlement, taking into consideration the probability that the performance conditions will be satisfied.

Restricted Unit Plan. At the Partnership’s Tri-Annual Meeting held on May 15, 2018, the Unitholders approved and the Partnership adopted the Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. 2018 Restricted Unit Plan (the “Restricted Unit Plan”) authorizing the issuance of up to 1,800,000 Common Units to executives, managers and other employees and members of the Board of Supervisors of the Partnership. The Restricted Unit Plan was amended and restated to authorize the issuance of an additional 1,725,000 Common Units for a total of 3,525,000 Common Units by approval of the Unitholders at the Partnership’s Tri-Annual Meeting held on May 18, 2021. Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee of the Partnership’s Board of Supervisors (the “Compensation Committee”) on or before the grant date, one-third of all outstanding awards under the Restricted Unit Plan will vest on each of the first three anniversaries of the award grant date. Participants in the Restricted Unit Plan are not eligible to receive quarterly distributions on, or vote, their respective restricted units until vested. Restricted units cannot be sold or transferred prior to vesting. The value of each restricted unit is established by the market price of the Common Unit on the date of grant, net of estimated future distributions during the vesting period. Restricted units are subject to forfeiture in certain circumstances as defined in the Restricted Unit Plan. Compensation expense for the unvested awards is recognized ratably over the vesting periods and is net of estimated forfeitures.

During the three months ended December 30, 2023, the Partnership awarded 452,952 restricted units under the Restricted Unit Plan at an aggregate grant date fair value of $6,640. The following is a summary of activity for the Restricted Unit Plan for the three months ended December 30, 2023:

				Weighted Average
	Restricted			Grant Date Fair
	Units			Value Per Unit
Outstanding September 30, 2023		1,366,362		$	12.94
Awarded		452,952			14.66
Forfeited		—			—
Vested (1)		(674,389	)		(13.52	)
Outstanding December 30, 2023		1,144,925		$	13.28

(1)During fiscal 2024, the Partnership withheld 180,787 Common Units from participants for income tax withholding purposes for those executive officers of the Partnership whose shares of restricted units vested during the period.

As of December 30, 2023, unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted units awarded under the Restricted Unit Plan amounted to $7,621. Compensation cost associated with unvested awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately one year. Compensation expense for the Restricted Unit Plan, net of forfeitures, for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022 was $2,645 and $2,471, respectively.

Phantom Equity Plan. At its November 8, 2022 meeting, the Compensation Committee adopted the Phantom Equity Plan (the “PEP”) to incentivize behaviors that will lead to the creation of long-term value for the Partnership’s Unitholders by functioning as a cash-settled corollary plan to the Partnership’s Restricted Unit Plan. The executive officers of the Partnership, the members of the Board, and other employees of the Partnership are eligible for awards of phantom units under the PEP. Unless otherwise stipulated by the Compensation Committee, the standard vesting schedule for awards under the PEP will be one-third of each award on each of the first three anniversaries of the award grant date, subject to continuous employment or service from the grant date through the applicable payment date. Unvested awards are subject to forfeiture in certain circumstances, as defined in the PEP document and the applicable award agreements. Upon vesting, phantom units are automatically converted into cash equal to the average of the highest and lowest trading prices of the Partnership’s Common Units on the vesting date.

Compensation expense, which includes adjustments to previously recognized compensation expense for current period changes in the fair value of unvested awards, for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022 was $2,019 and $652, respectively. As of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, the Partnership had a liability included within accrued employment and benefit costs (or other liabilities, as applicable) of $3,955 and $3,668, respectively, related to the estimated future payments under the PEP.

Distribution Equivalent Rights Plan. On January 17, 2017, the Partnership adopted the Distribution Equivalent Rights Plan (the “DER Plan”), as amended on November 8, 2022, which gives the Compensation Committee discretion to award distribution equivalent rights (“DERs”) to executive officers of the Partnership. Once awarded, DERs entitle the grantee to a cash payment each time the Board of Supervisors declares a cash distribution on the Partnership’s Common Units, which cash payment will be equal to an amount calculated by multiplying the number of unvested restricted units and unvested phantom units which are held by the grantee on the record date of the distribution, by the amount of the declared distribution per Common Unit. Compensation expense recognized under the DER Plan for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022 was $375 and $335, respectively.

Long-Term Incentive Plan. On November 10, 2020, the Partnership adopted the 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“the LTIP”). The LTIP is a non-qualified, unfunded, long-term incentive plan for executive officers and key employees that provides for payment, in the form of cash, of an award of equity-based compensation at the end of a three-year performance period. The LTIP document governs the terms and conditions of the outstanding awards with the level of compensation earned being based on the Partnership’s average distribution coverage ratio over the three-year measurement period. The Partnership’s average distribution coverage ratio was calculated as the Partnership’s average distributable cash flow, as defined by the LTIP, for the three years in the measurement period, subject to certain adjustments as set forth in the LTIP document, divided by the amount of annualized cash distributions to be paid by the Partnership. The level of compensation earned under the fiscal 2021 award is evaluated using two separate measurement components: (i) 75% weight based on the level of average distributable cash flow of the Partnership over the three-year measurement period; and (ii) 25% weight based on the achievement of certain operating and strategic objectives, set by the Compensation Committee, over that award’s three-year measurement period. The level of compensation earned under the fiscal 2022 award and awards thereafter, is also evaluated using two separate measurement components: (i) 50% weight based on the level of average distributable cash flow of the Partnership over the three-year measurement period; and (ii) 50% weight based on the achievement of certain operating and strategic objectives, set by the Compensation Committee for that award’s three-year measurement period.

As a result of the quarterly remeasurement of the liability for awards under the LTIP, compensation expense recognized for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022 was $2,462 and $1,896, respectively. As of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, the Partnership had a liability included within accrued employment and benefit costs (or other liabilities, as applicable) of $10,009 and $11,952, respectively, related to estimated future payments under the LTIP. In the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023, cash payouts totaling $4,405 and $3,129 were made relating to the fiscal 2021 and 2020 awards, respectively.

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Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

13.Commitments and Contingencies

Accrued Insurance. The Partnership is self-insured for general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined amounts above which third party insurance applies. As of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, the Partnership had accrued liabilities of $61,019 and $61,182, respectively, representing the total estimated losses for known and anticipated or unasserted general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile claims. For the portion of the estimated liability that exceeds insurance deductibles, the Partnership records an asset within other assets (or prepaid expenses and other current assets, as applicable) related to the amount of the liability expected to be covered by insurance which amounted to $15,448 as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023.

Legal Matters. The Partnership’s operations are subject to operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing and delivering combustible liquids such as propane. The Partnership has been, and will continue to be, a defendant in various legal proceedings and litigation as a result of these operating hazards and risks, and as a result of other aspects of its business. In this regard, the Partnership’s natural gas and electricity (“AES”) business was sued in a putative class action suit in the Northern District of New York. The complaint alleged a number of claims under various consumer statutes and common law in New York and Pennsylvania regarding pricing offered to electricity customers in those states. The case was dismissed in part by the district court, but causes of action based on the New York consumer statute and breach of contract were allowed to proceed. On April 12, 2022, the court granted summary judgment in favor of the Partnership on the remaining counts and the complaint was dismissed in full. The plaintiff appealed the judgment to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. On December 12, 2023, the Court of Appeals issued an Order and Decision affirming the decision of the lower court granting judgment to Agway and dismissing the plaintiff’s claims. Plaintiff has 90 days from the date of the Second Circuit’s decision to file a petition with the United States Supreme Court.

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Guarantees

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Guarantees [Abstract]

Guarantees

14.Guarantees

The Partnership has residual value guarantees associated with certain of its operating leases, related primarily to transportation equipment, with remaining lease periods scheduled to expire periodically through fiscal 2032. Upon completion of the lease period, the Partnership guarantees that the fair value of the equipment will equal or exceed the guaranteed amount, or the Partnership will pay the lessor the difference. Although the fair value of equipment at the end of its lease term has historically exceeded the guaranteed amounts, the maximum potential amount of aggregate future payments the Partnership could be required to make under these leasing arrangements, assuming the equipment is deemed worthless at the end of the lease term, was $39,442 as of December 30, 2023. The fair value of residual value guarantees for outstanding operating leases was de minimis as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023.

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Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

15.Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit costs:

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Interest cost	$	805		$	827
Expected return on plan assets		(315	)		(339	)
Amortization of net loss		425			482
Net periodic benefit cost	$	915		$	970

	Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Interest cost	$	36		$	41
Amortization of prior service credits		(65	)		(124	)
Amortization of net (gain)		(191	)		(194	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	(220	)	$	(277	)

The Partnership expects to contribute approximately $4,000 to the defined benefit pension plan during fiscal 2024. The projected annual contribution requirements related to the Partnership’s postretirement health care and life insurance benefit plan for fiscal 2024 is $422, of which $75 was contributed during the three months ended December 30, 2023. The components of net periodic benefit cost are included in the line item “Other, net” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The Partnership contributes to multi-employer pension plans (“MEPPs”) in accordance with various collective bargaining agreements covering union employees. As one of the many participating employers in these MEPPs, the Partnership is responsible with the other participating employers for any plan underfunding. As of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, the Partnership’s estimated obligation to these MEPPs was $21,078 and $21,398, respectively, as a result of its voluntary full withdrawal from certain MEPPs.

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Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]

Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

16.Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following table summarizes amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022:

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Pension Benefits
Balance, beginning of period	$	(15,190	)	$	(17,797	)
Reclassifications to earnings:
Amortization of net loss (1)		425			482
Other comprehensive income		425			482
Balance, end of period	$	(14,765	)	$	(17,315	)
Postretirement Benefits
Balance, beginning of period	$	4,523		$	5,201
Reclassifications to earnings:
Amortization of net gain and prior service credits (1)		(256	)		(318	)
Other comprehensive loss		(256	)		(318	)
Balance, end of period	$	4,267		$	4,883
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance, beginning of period	$	(10,667	)	$	(12,596	)
Reclassifications to earnings		169			164
Other comprehensive income		169			164
Balance, end of period	$	(10,498	)	$	(12,432	)

(1)These amounts are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. See Note 15, “Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits.”

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Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

17.Income Taxes

For federal income tax purposes, as well as for state income tax purposes in the majority of the states in which the Partnership operates, the earnings attributable to the Partnership and the Operating Partnership are not subject to income tax at the partnership level. With the exception of those states that impose an entity-level income tax on partnerships, the taxable income or loss attributable to the Partnership and to the Operating Partnership, which may vary substantially from the income (loss) before income taxes reported by the Partnership in the condensed consolidated statement of operations, are includable in the federal and state income tax returns of the Common Unitholders. The aggregate difference in the basis of the Partnership’s net assets for financial and tax reporting purposes cannot be readily determined as the Partnership does not have access to each Common Unitholder’s basis in the Partnership.

As described in Note 1, “Partnership Organization and Formation,” the earnings of the Corporate Entities are subject to U.S. corporate level income tax. However, based upon past performance, the Corporate Entities are currently reporting an income tax provision composed primarily of minimum state income taxes. A full valuation allowance has been provided against the deferred tax assets (with the exception of certain net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) that arose after 2017) based upon an analysis of all available evidence, both negative and positive at the balance sheet date, which, taken as a whole, indicates that it is more likely than not that sufficient future taxable income will not be available to utilize the assets. Management’s periodic reviews include, among other things, the nature and amount of the taxable income and expense items, the expected timing of when assets will be used or liabilities will be required to be reported and the reliability of historical profitability of businesses that are expected to provide future earnings. Furthermore, management considered tax-planning strategies it could use to increase the likelihood that the deferred tax assets will be realized.

As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, NOLs generated by the Corporate Entities beginning in 2018 may be carried forward indefinitely. The Corporate Entities generated a taxable loss during the 2022 tax year, which resulted in a $295 deferred tax benefit recorded during the first quarter of fiscal 2023.

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Segment Information

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Information

18.Segment Information

The Partnership manages and evaluates its operations in four operating segments, three of which are reportable segments: Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels, and Natural Gas and Electricity. The chief operating decision maker evaluates performance of the operating segments using a number of performance measures, including gross margins and income before interest expense and provision for income taxes (operating profit). Costs excluded from these profit measures are captured in Corporate and include corporate overhead expenses not allocated to the operating segments. Unallocated corporate overhead expenses include all costs of back office support functions that are reported as general and administrative expenses within the condensed consolidated statements of operations. In addition, certain costs associated with field operations support that are reported in operating expenses within the condensed consolidated statements of operations, including purchasing, training and safety, are not allocated to the individual operating segments. Thus, operating profit for each operating segment includes only the costs that are directly attributable to the operations of the individual segment. The accounting policies of the operating segments are otherwise the same as those described in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

The propane segment is primarily engaged in the retail distribution of propane and renewable propane to residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and government customers and, to a lesser extent, wholesale distribution to large industrial end users. In the residential, commercial and government markets, propane is used primarily for space heating, water heating, cooking and clothes drying. Industrial customers use propane generally as a motor fuel burned in internal combustion engines that power over-the-road vehicles, forklifts and stationary engines, to fire furnaces and as a cutting gas. In the agricultural markets, propane is primarily used for tobacco curing, crop drying, poultry brooding and weed control. In addition, the Partnership’s equity investment in Oberon is included within the propane segment.

The fuel oil and refined fuels segment is primarily engaged in the retail distribution of fuel oil, diesel, kerosene and gasoline to residential and commercial customers for use primarily as a source of heat in homes and buildings.

The natural gas and electricity segment is engaged in the marketing of natural gas and electricity to residential and commercial customers in the deregulated energy markets of New York and Pennsylvania. Under this operating segment, the Partnership owns the relationship with the end consumer and has agreements with the local distribution companies to deliver the natural gas or electricity from the Partnership’s suppliers to the customer.

Activities in the “all other” category include the Partnership’s service business, which is primarily engaged in the sale, installation and servicing of a wide variety of home comfort equipment, particularly in the areas of heating and ventilation. In addition, the Partnership’s platform of RNG businesses and the equity investment in IH are included within “all other.”

The following table presents certain data by reportable segment and provides a reconciliation of total operating segment information to the corresponding condensed consolidated amounts for the periods presented:

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Revenues:
Propane	$	313,358		$	342,353
Fuel oil and refined fuels		23,898			30,141
Natural gas and electricity		6,493			8,690
All other		22,085			16,286
Total revenues	$	365,834		$	397,470
Operating income (loss):
Propane	$	87,176		$	94,408
Fuel oil and refined fuels		2,172			2,082
Natural gas and electricity		1,568			1,092
All other		(7,181	)		(5,775	)
Corporate		(34,987	)		(29,492	)
Total operating income		48,748			62,315
Reconciliation to net income:
Interest expense, net		18,192			15,994
Other, net		5,853			975
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		249			(48	)
Net income	$	24,454		$	45,394
Depreciation and amortization:
Propane	$	11,859		$	11,890
Fuel oil and refined fuels		444			409
Natural gas and electricity		—			3
All other		2,700			43
Corporate		1,390			1,434
Total depreciation and amortization	$	16,393		$	13,779

	As of
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
Assets:
Propane	$	1,952,507	$	1,924,304
Fuel oil and refined fuels		51,192		46,341
Natural gas and electricity		12,461		11,255
All other		241,055		239,691
Corporate		62,388		48,884
Total assets	$	2,319,603	$	2,270,475

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Basis of Presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated. The Partnership consolidates the results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of the Operating Partnership as a result of the Partnership’s 100% limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). They include all adjustments that the Partnership considers necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Such adjustments consist only of normal recurring items, unless otherwise disclosed. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. Due to the seasonal nature of the Partnership’s operations, the results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year.

Fiscal Period

Fiscal Period. The Partnership uses a 52/53-week fiscal year which ends on the last Saturday in September. The Partnership’s fiscal quarters are generally thirteen weeks in duration. When the Partnership’s fiscal year is 53 weeks long, as was the case for fiscal 2023, the corresponding fourth quarter is fourteen weeks in duration.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition. Revenue is recognized by the Partnership when goods or services promised in a contract with a customer have been transferred, and no further performance obligation on that transfer is required, in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received. Performance obligations are determined and evaluated based on the specific terms of the arrangements and the distinct products and services offered. Due to the nature of the retail business of the Partnership, there are no remaining or unsatisfied performance obligations as of the end of the reporting period, except for tank rental agreements, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs, as described below. The performance obligation associated with sales of propane, fuel oil and refined fuels is met at the time product is delivered to the customer. Revenue from the sale of appliances and equipment is recognized at the time of sale or when installation is complete, as defined by the performance obligations included within the related customer contract. Revenue from repairs, maintenance and other service activities is recognized upon completion of the service. Revenue from the sale of natural gas and electricity is recognized based on customer usage as determined by meter readings for amounts delivered, an immaterial amount of which may be unbilled at the end of each accounting period.

The Partnership defers the recognition of revenue for annually billed tank rent, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs where customer consideration is received at the start of the contract period, establishing contract liabilities which are disclosed as customer deposits and advances on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Deliveries to customers enrolled in budgetary programs that exceed billings to those customers establish contract assets which are included in accounts receivable on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Partnership ratably recognizes revenue over the applicable term for tank rent and maintenance service agreements, which is generally one year, and at the time of delivery for fixed price contracts and budgetary programs.

The Partnership incurs incremental direct costs, such as commissions to its salesforce, to obtain certain contracts. These costs are expensed as incurred, consistent with the practical expedients issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), since the expected amortization period is one year or less. The Partnership generally determines selling prices based on, among other things, the current weighted average cost and the current replacement cost of the product at the time of delivery, plus an applicable margin. Except for tank rental agreements, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs, customer payments for the satisfaction of a performance obligation are due upon receipt.

Revenues from the Partnership’s renewable energy platform, as described further in Note 4, “Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses,” consist of in-take and off-take revenues. In-take revenues are generated from tipping fees charged to third parties who deliver feedstocks, including food and beverage waste, to the Partnership’s facilities. These feedstocks, as well as manure from dairy cattle, are then anaerobically digested and converted into RNG and fertilizer. Off-take revenues are generated through the sale of RNG and the related environmental attributes, including renewable identification numbers (“RINs”) and low carbon fuel standard (“LCFS”) credits that are generated from the production and distribution of RNG, and revenues generated from the sales of fertilizers and other byproducts produced in the RNG production process. Revenues from the Partnership’s renewable energy platform are reported within the “all other” segment (refer to Note 18, “Segment Information” for more information).

In-take revenues are recognized at the point in time when the feedstocks are delivered to the Partnership because that is when the performance obligations have been satisfied. Off-take revenues are recognized at the point in time when the Partnership delivers the RNG to the customer because that is when the performance obligations have been satisfied.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements. The Partnership measures certain of its assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants – in either the principal market or the most advantageous market. The principal market is the market with the greatest level of activity and volume for the asset or liability.

The common framework for measuring fair value utilizes a three-level hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in the valuation techniques to derive fair values. The basis for fair value measurements for each level within the hierarchy is described below with Level 1 having the highest priority and Level 3 having the lowest.

•Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

•Level 2: Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets.

•Level 3: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

Business Combinations

Business Combinations. The Partnership accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method and accordingly, the assets and liabilities of the acquired entities are recorded at their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired, including the amount assigned to identifiable intangible assets. The primary drivers that generate goodwill are the value of synergies between the acquired entities and the Partnership, and the acquired assembled workforce, neither of which qualifies as an identifiable intangible asset. Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives. The results of operations of acquired businesses are included in the condensed consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date. The Partnership expenses all acquisition-related costs as incurred.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been made by management in the areas of RNG revenue recognition, self-insurance and litigation reserves, pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities and costs, valuation of derivative instruments, depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets, asset impairment assessments, tax valuation allowances, allowances for doubtful accounts, and purchase price allocation for acquired businesses. The Partnership uses Society of Actuaries life expectancy information when developing the annual mortality assumptions for the pension and postretirement benefit plans, which are used to measure net periodic benefit costs and the obligation under these plans. Actual results could differ from those estimates, making it reasonably possible that a material change in these estimates could occur in the near term.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, “Segment Reporting: Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“Topic 280”). This update will require public entities to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within segment profit and loss. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. Topic 280 will first be effective for the Partnership’s fiscal 2025 annual report and should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Partnership is assessing the effect of this update on its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes: Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“Topic 740”). This update requires disclosure of specific categories and disaggregation of information in the income tax rate reconciliation table. Topic 740 also requires disclosure of disaggregated information related to income taxes paid, income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit, and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations. The requirements of Topic 740 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, which will be the Partnership’s fiscal 2026 annual report. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments should be applied on a prospective basis with retrospective application also being permitted. The Partnership is assessing the effect of this update on its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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Disaggregation of Revenue (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Schedule of Revenue Disaggregation for Customer Type

The following table disaggregates revenue for each customer type.

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,		December 24,
	2023		2022
Retail
Residential	$	195,895	$	218,123
Commercial		98,453		108,688
Industrial		31,746		35,378
Government		17,073		18,008
Agricultural		13,450		14,351
Wholesale		9,217		2,922
Total revenues	$	365,834	$	397,470

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Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Schedule of unaudited pro forma combined financial information

The following table presents unaudited pro forma combined financial information as if the aforementioned acquisition had occurred on September 25, 2022, the first day of the Partnership’s 2023 fiscal year:

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,		December 24,
	2023		2022
Revenues	$	365,834	$	401,400
Net income		24,454		35,390

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Financial Instruments and Risk Management (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value of the Partnership's Derivative Instruments and their Location in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

The following summarizes the fair value of the Partnership’s derivative instruments and their location in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively:

	As of December 30, 2023			As of September 30, 2023
Asset Derivatives	Location	Fair Value		Location	Fair Value
Derivatives not designated as    hedging instruments:
Commodity-related derivatives	Other current assets	$	2,345	Other current assets	$	18,538
	Other assets		—	Other assets		8
		$	2,345		$	18,546
Liability Derivatives	Location	Fair Value		Location	Fair Value
Derivatives not designated as    hedging instruments:
Commodity-related derivatives	Other current liabilities	$	3,118	Other current liabilities	$	2,427
	Other liabilities		—	Other liabilities		4,784
		$	3,118		$	7,211

Reconciliation of the Beginning and Ending Balances of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs

The following summarizes the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs:

	Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Three Months Ended					Three Months Ended
	December 30, 2023					December 24, 2022
	Assets		Liabilities			Assets			Liabilities
Beginning balance of over-the-counter options	$	—	$	806		$	222		$	3,408
Beginning balance realized during the period		—		(613	)		(46	)		(298	)
Contracts purchased during the period		—		—			—			—
Change in the fair value of outstanding contracts		—		25			(65	)		308
Ending balance of over-the-counter options	$	—	$	218		$	111		$	3,418

Effect of the Partnership's Derivative Instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

The effect of the Partnership’s derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022 are as follows:

	Three Months Ended December 30, 2023				Three Months Ended December 24, 2022
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	Unrealized Gains (Losses)  Recognized in Income				Unrealized Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income
	Location	Amount			Location	Amount
Commodity-related derivatives	Cost of products sold	$	(10,786	)	Cost of products sold	$	(13,706	)

Fair Value of Partnership's Recognized Derivative Assets and Liabilities on a Gross Basis and Amounts Offset on Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

The following table presents the fair value of the Partnership’s recognized derivative assets and liabilities on a gross basis and amounts offset on the condensed consolidated balance sheets subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements:

	As of December 30, 2023							As of September 30, 2023
						Net amounts							Net amounts
						presented in the							presented in the
	Gross amounts		Effects of netting			balance sheet		Gross amounts		Effects of netting			balance sheet
Asset Derivatives
Commodity-related derivatives	$	7,047	$	(4,702	)	$	2,345	$	35,339	$	(16,793	)	$	18,546
Liability Derivatives
Commodity-related derivatives	$	7,820	$	(4,702	)	$	3,118	$	24,004	$	(16,793	)	$	7,211

Fair Value of the Partnership's Senior Notes

The fair values of the Senior Notes are based upon quoted market prices (a Level 1 input) and the fair value of the Green Bonds is based upon a valuation model (a Level 3 input). Senior Notes, Revolving Credit Facility and Green Bonds are defined below in Note 10 (“Long-Term Borrowings”) and the fair values of the Senior Notes and Green Bonds are as follows:

	As of
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
5.875% Senior Notes due March 1, 2027	$	349,125	$	334,250
5.00% Senior Notes due June 1, 2031		586,918		541,658
5.50% Green Bonds due October 1, 2028 through October 1, 2033		66,131		63,031
	$	1,002,174	$	938,939

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Inventories (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Inventories

Inventories consist of the following:

	As of
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
Propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas	$	57,471	$	58,565
Appliances		3,499		3,263
	$	60,970	$	61,828

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Selected Balance Sheet Information (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets that aggregates to the total shown on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows:

	As of
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
Cash and cash equivalents	$	6,280	$	3,514
Restricted cash included in other current assets		3,454		2,392
Restricted cash included in other assets (noncurrent)		8,265		8,168
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows	$	17,999	$	14,074

Inventories

Inventories consist of the following:

	As of
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
Propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas	$	57,471	$	58,565
Appliances		3,499		3,263
	$	60,970	$	61,828

XML

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Carrying Values of Goodwill Assigned to the Partnership's Operating Segments

The carrying values of goodwill assigned to the Partnership’s operating segments are as follows:

			Fuel oil and			Natural gas
	Propane		refined fuels			and electricity		All other		Total
Balance as of September 30, 2023
Goodwill	$	1,105,179	$	10,900		$	7,900	$	31,259	$	1,155,238
Accumulated adjustments		—		(6,462	)		—		—		(6,462	)
	$	1,105,179	$	4,438		$	7,900	$	31,259	$	1,148,776
Fiscal 2024 Activity
Goodwill acquired	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—
Balance as of December 30, 2023
Goodwill	$	1,105,179	$	10,900		$	7,900	$	31,259	$	1,155,238
Accumulated adjustments		—		(6,462	)		—		—		(6,462	)
	$	1,105,179	$	4,438		$	7,900	$	31,259	$	1,148,776

Other Intangible Assets

Other intangible assets consist of the following:

	As of
	December 30,			September 30,
	2023			2023
Customer relationships	$	572,347		$	572,347
Non-compete agreements		40,955			40,840
Other		7,067			7,067
		620,369			620,254
Less: accumulated amortization
Customer relationships		(505,035	)		(502,436	)
Non-compete agreements		(35,237	)		(35,011	)
Other		(2,426	)		(2,254	)
		(542,698	)		(539,701	)
	$	77,671		$	80,553

XML

Leases (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Lessee Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Quantitative Information on the Partnership's Lease Population

Quantitative information on the Partnership’s lease population is as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Lease expense	$	10,753		$	10,060
Other information:
Cash payments for operating leases		10,804			10,064
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange    for new operating lease liabilities		4,033			5,228
Weighted-average remaining lease term	5.5 years			5.8 years
Weighted-average discount rate		5.9	%		5.3	%

Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Non-cancelable Operating Lease

The following table summarizes future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of December 30, 2023:

Fiscal Year	Operating Leases
2024 (remaining)	$	30,801
2025		37,404
2026		31,920
2027		21,469
2028		16,333
2029 and thereafter		25,808
Total future minimum lease payments	$	163,735
Less: interest		(26,412	)
Total lease obligations	$	137,323

XML

Long-Term Borrowings (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-term borrowings

Long-term borrowings consist of the following:

	As of
	December 30,			September 30,
	2023			2023
5.875% Senior Notes due March 1, 2027		350,000			350,000
5.00% Senior Notes due June 1, 2031		650,000			650,000
5.50% Green Bonds due October 1, 2028 through October 1, 2033, net of unaccreted fair value adjustment of $13,540 and $13,879		67,105			66,766
Revolving Credit Facility, due March 5, 2025		186,800			132,000
Subtotal		1,253,905			1,198,766
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs		(10,127	)		(10,556	)
	$	1,243,778		$	1,188,210

XML

Unit-Based Compensation Arrangements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Summary of activity In the Restricted Unit Plans

The following is a summary of activity for the Restricted Unit Plan for the three months ended December 30, 2023:

				Weighted Average
	Restricted			Grant Date Fair
	Units			Value Per Unit
Outstanding September 30, 2023		1,366,362		$	12.94
Awarded		452,952			14.66
Forfeited		—			—
Vested (1)		(674,389	)		(13.52	)
Outstanding December 30, 2023		1,144,925		$	13.28

(1)During fiscal 2024, the Partnership withheld 180,787 Common Units from participants for income tax withholding purposes for those executive officers of the Partnership whose shares of restricted units vested during the period.

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Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Costs

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit costs:

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Interest cost	$	805		$	827
Expected return on plan assets		(315	)		(339	)
Amortization of net loss		425			482
Net periodic benefit cost	$	915		$	970

	Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Interest cost	$	36		$	41
Amortization of prior service credits		(65	)		(124	)
Amortization of net (gain)		(191	)		(194	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	(220	)	$	(277	)

XML

Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table summarizes amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended December 30, 2023 and December 24, 2022:

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Pension Benefits
Balance, beginning of period	$	(15,190	)	$	(17,797	)
Reclassifications to earnings:
Amortization of net loss (1)		425			482
Other comprehensive income		425			482
Balance, end of period	$	(14,765	)	$	(17,315	)
Postretirement Benefits
Balance, beginning of period	$	4,523		$	5,201
Reclassifications to earnings:
Amortization of net gain and prior service credits (1)		(256	)		(318	)
Other comprehensive loss		(256	)		(318	)
Balance, end of period	$	4,267		$	4,883
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance, beginning of period	$	(10,667	)	$	(12,596	)
Reclassifications to earnings		169			164
Other comprehensive income		169			164
Balance, end of period	$	(10,498	)	$	(12,432	)

(1)These amounts are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. See Note 15, “Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits.”

XML

Segment Information (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2023

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Disclosure by reportable segment and reconciliation of total operating segment information

The following table presents certain data by reportable segment and provides a reconciliation of total operating segment information to the corresponding condensed consolidated amounts for the periods presented:

	Three Months Ended
	December 30,			December 24,
	2023			2022
Revenues:
Propane	$	313,358		$	342,353
Fuel oil and refined fuels		23,898			30,141
Natural gas and electricity		6,493			8,690
All other		22,085			16,286
Total revenues	$	365,834		$	397,470
Operating income (loss):
Propane	$	87,176		$	94,408
Fuel oil and refined fuels		2,172			2,082
Natural gas and electricity		1,568			1,092
All other		(7,181	)		(5,775	)
Corporate		(34,987	)		(29,492	)
Total operating income		48,748			62,315
Reconciliation to net income:
Interest expense, net		18,192			15,994
Other, net		5,853			975
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		249			(48	)
Net income	$	24,454		$	45,394
Depreciation and amortization:
Propane	$	11,859		$	11,890
Fuel oil and refined fuels		444			409
Natural gas and electricity		—			3
All other		2,700			43
Corporate		1,390			1,434
Total depreciation and amortization	$	16,393		$	13,779

	As of
	December 30,		September 30,
	2023		2023
Assets:
Propane	$	1,952,507	$	1,924,304
Fuel oil and refined fuels		51,192		46,341
Natural gas and electricity		12,461		11,255
All other		241,055		239,691
Corporate		62,388		48,884
Total assets	$	2,319,603	$	2,270,475

XML

Partnership Organization and Formation - Additional Information (Details) - shares	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Effects Of Changes Net [Line Items]
Common units outstanding (in units)	64,015,004	63,521,000
Ownership interest in Suburban Energy Finance Corp (in hundredths)	100.00%
General Partner [Member] | Common Unitholders [Member]
Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Effects Of Changes Net [Line Items]
Common units outstanding (in units)	784

XML

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023 USD ($) wk
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]
Minimum number of weeks in the fiscal year reporting calendar	52
Maximum number of weeks in the fiscal year reporting calendar	53
Minimum number of weeks in a fiscal quarter	13
Maximum number of weeks in a fiscal quarter	14
Remaining or unsatisfied performance obligations | $	$ 0
Tank Rent and Maintenance Service [Member]
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]
Revenue recognition, recognition period	1 year
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. [Member]
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]
Limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership (in hundredths)	100.00%

XML

Disaggregation of Revenue - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Contract with customer, liability revenue recognized	$ 37,474	$ 37,115
Contract assets	$ 6,119		$ 4,844
Propane [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Segment reporting, percentage of revenue	86.00%	86.00%
Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Segment reporting, percentage of revenue	7.00%	7.00%
Natural Gas and Electricity [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Segment reporting, percentage of revenue	2.00%	2.00%

XML

Disaggregation of Revenue - Schedule of Revenue Disaggregation for Customer Type (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 365,834	$ 397,470
Retail [Member] | Residential [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	195,895	218,123
Retail [Member] | Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	98,453	108,688
Retail [Member] | Industrial [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	31,746	35,378
Retail [Member] | Government [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	17,073	18,008
Retail [Member] | Agricultural [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	13,450	14,351
Wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 9,217	$ 2,922

XML

Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash paid to acquire business	$ 3,250	$ 4,354
Oberon
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest	38.00%
Independence Hydrogen Inc
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest	25.00%

XML

Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses - schedule of condensed consolidated balance sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill	$ 1,148,776	$ 1,148,776

XML

Investments in and Acquisitions of Businesses - Schedule of unaudited pro forma combined financial information (Details) - Pro Forma [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 365,834	$ 401,400
Net income	$ 24,454	$ 35,390

XML

Financial Instruments and Risk Management - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Maximum maturity period of highly liquid investment considered as cash equivalents	3 months
Interest Rate Risk [Abstract]
Cash collateral	$ 4,836	$ 0
Commodity Contract [Member]
Interest Rate Risk [Abstract]
Weighted average maturity of outstanding commodity-related derivatives	4 months	6 months
Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Interest Rate Risk [Abstract]
Description of applicable interest rate on borrowings	Federal Funds Rate
Basis spread (in hundredths)	0.50%
SOFR [Member]
Interest Rate Risk [Abstract]
Description of applicable interest rate on borrowings	SOFR
Basis spread (in hundredths)	1.00%

XML

Financial Instruments and Risk Management - Fair Value of the Partnership's Derivative Instruments and their Location in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Commodity-Related Derivatives [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - assets	$ 7,047	$ 35,339
Fair value - liabilities	7,820	24,004
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - assets	2,345	18,546
Fair value - liabilities	3,118	7,211
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Commodity-Related Derivatives [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - assets	2,345	18,538
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Commodity-Related Derivatives [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - assets	0	8
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Commodity-Related Derivatives [Member] | Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - liabilities	3,118	2,427
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Commodity-Related Derivatives [Member] | Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value - liabilities	$ 0	$ 4,784

XML

Financial Instruments and Risk Management - Reconciliation of the Beginning and Ending Balances of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Details) - Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022
Reconciliation of beginning and ending balances of assets measured at fair value on recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs [Rollforward]
Beginning balance of over-the-counter options	$ 0	$ 222
Beginning balance realized during the period	0	(46)
Contracts purchased during the period	0	0
Change in the fair value of outstanding contracts	0	(65)
Ending balance of over-the-counter options	0	111
Reconciliation of beginning and ending balances of liabilities measured at fair value on recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs [Rollforward]
Beginning balance of over-the-counter options	806	3,408
Beginning balance realized during the period	(613)	(298)
Contracts purchased during the period	0	0
Change in the fair value of outstanding contracts	(25)	(308)
Ending balance of over-the-counter options	$ 218	$ 3,418

XML

Financial Instruments and Risk Management - Effect of the Partnership's Derivative Instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Details) - Commodity-Related Derivatives [Member] - Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Unrealized Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income	$ (10,786)	$ (13,706)
Cost of Products Sold [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative, Gain (Loss), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]	Costs and Expenses	Costs and Expenses

XML

Financial Instruments and Risk Management - Fair Value of Partnership's Recognized Derivative Assets and Liabilities on a Gross Basis and Amounts Offset on Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - Commodity-Related Derivatives [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Asset Derivatives [Abstracts]
Gross amounts	$ 7,047	$ 35,339
Effects of netting	(4,702)	(16,793)
Net amounts presented in the balance sheet	2,345	18,546
Liability Derivatives [Abstracts]
Gross amounts	7,820	24,004
Effects of netting	(4,702)	(16,793)
Net amounts presented in the balance sheet	$ 3,118	$ 7,211

XML

Financial Instruments and Risk Management - Fair Value of the Partnership's Senior Notes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Bank Debt and Senior Notes [Abstract]
Fair value of Senior Notes	$ 1,002,174	$ 938,939
5.875% Senior Notes due March 1, 2027 [Member]
Bank Debt and Senior Notes [Abstract]
Fair value of Senior Notes	349,125	334,250
5.00% Senior Notes due June 1, 2031 [Member]
Bank Debt and Senior Notes [Abstract]
Fair value of Senior Notes	586,918	541,658
5.50% Green Bonds Due October 1, 2028 through October 1, 2033 [Member]
Bank Debt and Senior Notes [Abstract]
Fair value of Senior Notes	$ 66,131	$ 63,031

XML

Financial Instruments and Risk Management - Fair Value of the Partnership's Senior Notes (Parenthetical) (Details)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 28, 2022
Bank Debt and Senior Notes [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)			5.50%
5.875% Senior Notes due March 1, 2027 [Member]
Bank Debt and Senior Notes [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.875%	5.875%
Maturity date	Mar. 01, 2027	Mar. 01, 2027
5.00% Senior Notes due June 1, 2031 [Member]
Bank Debt and Senior Notes [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.00%	5.00%
Maturity date	Jun. 01, 2031	Jun. 01, 2031
5.50% Green Bonds Due October 1, 2028 through October 1, 2033 [Member]
Bank Debt and Senior Notes [Abstract]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	5.50%	5.50%
Maturity date	Oct. 01, 2028	Oct. 01, 2028

XML

Selected Balance Sheet Information - Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022	Sep. 24, 2022
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 6,280	$ 3,514	$ 6,078
Restricted cash included in other current assets	3,454	2,392
Restricted cash included in other assets (noncurrent)	8,265	8,168
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows	$ 17,999	$ 14,074	$ 6,078	$ 4,100

XML

Selected Balance Sheet Information - Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Inventory, Net [Abstract]
Propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas	$ 57,471	$ 58,565
Appliances	3,499	3,263
Total inventory	$ 60,970	$ 61,828

XML

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Projection period for discounted cash flow analyses to estimate reporting unit fair value	10 years

XML

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Carrying Values of Goodwill Assigned to Partnership's Operating Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 1,155,238	$ 1,155,238
Accumulated adjustments	(6,462)	(6,462)
Goodwill, net	1,148,776	1,148,776
Goodwill acquired	0
Propane [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,105,179	1,105,179
Accumulated adjustments	0	0
Goodwill, net	1,105,179	1,105,179
Goodwill acquired	0
Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	10,900	10,900
Accumulated adjustments	(6,462)	(6,462)
Goodwill, net	4,438	4,438
Goodwill acquired	0
Natural Gas and Electricity [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	7,900	7,900
Accumulated adjustments	0	0
Goodwill, net	7,900	7,900
Goodwill acquired	0
All Other [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	31,259	31,259
Accumulated adjustments	0	0
Goodwill, net	31,259	$ 31,259
Goodwill acquired	$ 0

XML

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Summary of Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Other intangible assets, gross	$ 620,369	$ 620,254
Accumulated amortization	(542,698)	(539,701)
Other intangible assets, net	77,671	80,553
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Other intangible assets, gross	572,347	572,347
Accumulated amortization	(505,035)	(502,436)
Non-compete Agreements [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Other intangible assets, gross	40,955	40,840
Accumulated amortization	(35,237)	(35,011)
Other [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Other intangible assets, gross	7,067	7,067
Accumulated amortization	$ (2,426)	$ (2,254)

XML

Leases - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, assumptions and judgments, discount rate, description	As most of the Partnership’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Partnership uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date, adjusted for the lease term, to determine the present value of the lease payments. This rate is calculated based on a collateralized rate for the specific leasing activities of the Partnership.
Operating lease renewal term description	Some leases include one or more options to renew at the Partnership’s discretion, with renewal terms that can extend the lease from one to fifteen additional years. The renewal options are included in the measurement of the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities if the Partnership is reasonably certain to exercise the renewal options.
Minimum [Member]
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Operating lease renewal term	1 year
Maximum [Member]
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Operating lease renewal term	15 years
Operating short term leases term	12 months

XML

Leases - Schedule of Quantitative Information on the Partnership's Lease Population (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022
Lessee Disclosure [Abstract]
Lease expense	$ 10,753	$ 10,060
Other information:
Cash payments for operating leases	10,804	10,064
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	$ 4,033	$ 5,228
Weighted-average remaining lease term	5 years 6 months	5 years 9 months 18 days
Weighted-average discount rate	5.90%	5.30%

XML

Leases - Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Non-cancelable Operating Lease (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2023 USD ($)
Lessee Disclosure [Abstract]
2024 (remaining)	$ 30,801
2025	37,404
2026	31,920
2027	21,469
2028	16,333
2029 and thereafter	25,808
Total future minimum lease payments	163,735
Less: interest	(26,412)
Total lease obligations	$ 137,323

XML

Net Income Per Common Unit - Additional Information (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Increase in weighted average units outstanding used to compute basic net income per Common Unit to reflect the potential dilutive effect of the unvested restricted units outstanding (in units)	316,563	298,953

XML

Long-Term Borrowings - Summary of Long-Term Borrowings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 28, 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings, subtotal	$ 1,253,905	$ 1,198,766	$ 80,645
Long-term borrowings	1,243,778	1,188,210
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs	(10,127)	(10,556)
Long-term borrowings	1,243,778	1,188,210
5.50% Green Bonds Due October 1, 2028 through October 1, 2033 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	67,105	66,766
Senior Notes [Member] | 5.875% Senior Notes due March 1, 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings, subtotal	350,000	350,000
Senior Notes [Member] | 5.00% Senior Notes due June 1, 2031 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings, subtotal	650,000	650,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings, subtotal	$ 186,800	$ 132,000

XML

Long-Term Borrowings - Summary of Long-Term Borrowings (Parenthetical) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 05, 2020	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 28, 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)				5.50%
5.875% Senior Notes due March 1, 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)		5.875%	5.875%
Maturity date		Mar. 01, 2027	Mar. 01, 2027
5.00% Senior Notes due June 1, 2031 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)		5.00%	5.00%
Maturity date		Jun. 01, 2031	Jun. 01, 2031
5.50% Green Bonds Due October 1, 2028 through October 1, 2033 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)		5.50%	5.50%
Maturity date		Oct. 01, 2028	Oct. 01, 2028
Unaccreted fair value adjustments		$ 13,540	$ 13,879
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity date	Mar. 05, 2025	Mar. 05, 2025

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Long-Term Borrowings - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 05, 2020	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 28, 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)				5.50%
Ownership interest in Suburban Energy Finance Corp (in hundredths)		100.00%
Long-term borrowings		$ 1,253,905	$ 1,198,766	$ 80,645
Consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, minimum		1.75
Long-term debt maturities, 2024		$ 0
Long-term debt maturities, 2025		186,800
Long-term debt maturities, 2026		0
Long-term debt maturities, 2027		350,000
Long-term debt maturities, 2028		0
Long-term debt maturities, 2028 and thereafter		$ 730,645
Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Description of applicable interest rate on borrowings		Federal Funds Rate
Margin over basis rate (in hundredths)		0.50%
Amended Credit Agreement Due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Margin over basis rate (in hundredths)		1.00%
Weighted average interest rate (in hundredths)		7.90%
Amended Credit Agreement Due 2025 [Member] | Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Description of applicable interest rate on borrowings		Federal Funds Rate
Margin over basis rate (in hundredths)		0.50%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity date	Mar. 05, 2025	Mar. 05, 2025
Long-term borrowings		$ 186,800	132,000
Consolidated interest coverage ratio, minimum		2.5
Total consolidated leverage ratio		5.75
Senior secured unconsolidated leverage ratio maximum		3.25
Standby letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility		$ 33,586
Standby letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility, expiration date		Nov. 01, 2024
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Third Amended and Restated Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings		$ 186,800	$ 132,000
Credit Facility, maximum amount	$ 500,000
5.875% Senior Notes due March 1, 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)		5.875%	5.875%
Maturity date		Mar. 01, 2027	Mar. 01, 2027
5.00% Senior Notes due June 1, 2031 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)		5.00%	5.00%
Maturity date		Jun. 01, 2031	Jun. 01, 2031
Date public offering completed		May 24, 2021
Ownership interest in Suburban Energy Finance Corp (in hundredths)		100.00%
Percentage of principal amount at which debt was issued (in hundredths)		100.00%
Aggregate principal amount		$ 650,000
5.5% Senior Notes due June 1, 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)		5.50%
5.75% Senior Notes due March 1, 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)		5.75%
Senior Notes [Member] | 5.875% Senior Notes due March 1, 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)		5.875%
Maturity date		Mar. 01, 2027
Date public offering completed		Feb. 14, 2017
Ownership interest in Suburban Energy Finance Corp (in hundredths)		100.00%
Long-term borrowings		$ 350,000	$ 350,000
Percentage of principal amount at which debt was issued (in hundredths)		100.00%
Percentage of the principal amount repurchase offer under change of control provision (in hundredths)		101.00%
Repurchase of debt due to decline in rating after consummation of change of control, period		90 days
Senior Notes [Member] | 7.375% Senior Notes due August 1, 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)		7.375%
Senior Notes [Member] | 5.00% Senior Notes due June 1, 2031 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings		$ 650,000	$ 650,000
Percentage of the principal amount repurchase offer under change of control provision (in hundredths)		101.00%
Repurchase of debt due to decline in rating after consummation of change of control, period		90 days

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Distributions of Available Cash - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023 $ / shares
Distributions Made to Members or Limited Partners [Abstract]
Distributions to its partners	45 days
Declaration date of quarterly distribution	Jan. 25, 2024
Distributions paid (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.325
Common Unit distribution on an annualized basis (in dollars per unit)	$ 1.3
Distribution date of quarterly distribution	Feb. 13, 2024
Date of record of quarterly distribution	Feb. 06, 2024

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Unit-Based Compensation Arrangements - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted unit awards vesting percentage	33.33%
Distribution Equivalent Rights Plan [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense	$ 375	$ 335
Distribution Equivalent Rights Plan, terms	On January 17, 2017, the Partnership adopted the Distribution Equivalent Rights Plan (the “DER Plan”), as amended on November 8, 2022, which gives the Compensation Committee discretion to award distribution equivalent rights (“DERs”) to executive officers of the Partnership. Once awarded, DERs entitle the grantee to a cash payment each time the Board of Supervisors declares a cash distribution on the Partnership’s Common Units, which cash payment will be equal to an amount calculated by multiplying the number of unvested restricted units and unvested phantom units which are held by the grantee on the record date of the distribution, by the amount of the declared distribution per Common Unit.
Phantom Equity Plan [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense	$ 2,019	652
Liability included within accrued employment and benefit costs (or other liabilities, as applicable) related to estimated future payments under the LTIP	3,955		$ 3,668
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 7,621
Weighted-average recognition period of compensation cost	1 year
Compensation expense	$ 2,645	2,471
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total number of Common Units authorized for issuance (in units)	1,800,000
2018 Restricted Unit Plan [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Additional number of Common Units authorized for issuance (in units)	1,725,000
Restricted Unit Plans, terms of award	Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee of the Partnership’s Board of Supervisors (the “Compensation Committee”) on or before the grant date, one-third of all outstanding awards under the Restricted Unit Plan will vest on each of the first three anniversaries of the award grant date. Participants in the Restricted Unit Plan are not eligible to receive quarterly distributions on, or vote, their respective restricted units until vested. Restricted units cannot be sold or transferred prior to vesting. The value of each restricted unit is established by the market price of the Common Unit on the date of grant, net of estimated future distributions during the vesting period. Restricted units are subject to forfeiture in certain circumstances as defined in the Restricted Unit Plan. Compensation expense for the unvested awards is recognized ratably over the vesting periods and is net of estimated forfeitures.
Awards Granted	452,952
Aggregate grant date fair value of restricted units awarded	$ 6,640
2018 Restricted Unit Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total number of Common Units authorized for issuance (in units)	3,525,000
Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Long-Term Incentive Plan, terms of award	The LTIP is a non-qualified, unfunded, long-term incentive plan for executive officers and key employees that provides for payment, in the form of cash, of an award of equity-based compensation at the end of a three-year performance period.
Measurement period of average distribution coverage ratio	3 years
Long-Term Incentive Plan, compensation earned, description	The level of compensation earned under the fiscal 2021 award is evaluated using two separate measurement components: (i) 75% weight based on the level of average distributable cash flow of the Partnership over the three-year measurement period; and (ii) 25% weight based on the achievement of certain operating and strategic objectives, set by the Compensation Committee, over that award’s three-year measurement period. The level of compensation earned under the fiscal 2022 award and awards thereafter, is also evaluated using two separate measurement components: (i) 50% weight based on the level of average distributable cash flow of the Partnership over the three-year measurement period; and (ii) 50% weight based on the achievement of certain operating and strategic objectives, set by the Compensation Committee for that award’s three-year measurement period.
Compensation expense (income)	$ 2,462	1,896
Liability included within accrued employment and benefit costs (or other liabilities, as applicable) related to estimated future payments under the LTIP	10,009		$ 11,952
Cash payouts	$ 4,405	$ 3,129

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Unit-Based Compensation Arrangements - Summary of Activity For Restricted Units Plans (Details) - 2018 Restricted Unit Plan [Member]	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023 $ / shares shares
Units [Rollforward]
Outstanding, beginning of period (in units) | shares	1,366,362
Awarded (in units) | shares	452,952
Forfeited (in units) | shares	0
Vested (in units) | shares	(674,389)	[1]
Outstanding, ending of period (in units) | shares	1,144,925
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Unit [Abstract]
Outstanding, beginning of period (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	$ 12.94
Awarded (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	14.66
Forfeited (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	0
Vested (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	(13.52)	[1]
Outstanding, end of period (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	$ 13.28

[1] During fiscal 2024, the Partnership withheld 180,787 Common Units from participants for income tax withholding purposes for those executive officers of the Partnership whose shares of restricted units vested during the period.

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Unit-Based Compensation Arrangements - Summary of Activity For Restricted Units Plans (Parenthetical) (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023 shares
2018 Restricted Unit Plan [Member] | Executive Officer [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common units withheld for income tax withholding purposes	180,787

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Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Accrued insurance liabilities	$ 61,019	$ 61,182
Portion of the estimated liability that exceeds insurance deductibles	$ 15,448	$ 15,448

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Guarantees - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023 USD ($)
Guarantees [Abstract]
Transportation equipment remaining lease periods	2032
Maximum potential amount of aggregate future payments Partnership could be required to make	$ 39,442,000

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Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits - Components of Net Periodic Benefit Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022
Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest cost	$ 805	$ 827
Expected return on plan assets	(315)	(339)
Amortization of net (gain)	425	482
Net periodic benefit cost	915	970
Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest cost	36	41
Amortization of prior service credits	(65)	(124)
Amortization of net (gain)	(191)	(194)
Net periodic benefit cost	$ (220)	$ (277)

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Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023
Components of net periodic benefit costs included in operating expenses [Abstract]
Contribution to defined pension benefit plan	$ 0	$ 1,000
Estimated obligation due to full withdrawal multi employer pension plans	21,078		$ 21,398
Pension Plans Defined Benefit [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit costs included in operating expenses [Abstract]
Defined benefit plan expected future benefit payments	4,000
Post-Retirement Benefits [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit costs included in operating expenses [Abstract]
Defined benefit plan expected future benefit payments	422
Post-Retirement Benefits [Member] | Other, Net [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit costs included in operating expenses [Abstract]
Employer contribution for postretirement health care and life insurance	$ 75

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Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Balance beginning		$ (10,667)	$ (12,596)
Reclassifications to earnings		169	164
Other comprehensive income		169	164
Balance ending		(10,498)	(12,432)
Pension Benefits [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Balance beginning		(15,190)	(17,797)
Reclassifications to earnings	[1]	425	482
Other comprehensive income		425	482
Balance ending		(14,765)	(17,315)
Post-Retirement Benefits [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Balance beginning		4,523	5,201
Other comprehensive income		(256)	(318)
Balance ending		4,267	4,883
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Prior Service Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Amortization of net gain and prior service credits	[1]	$ (256)	$ (318)

[1] These amounts are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. See Note 15, “Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits.”

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Income Taxes - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 24, 2022 USD ($)
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Discrete deferred tax benefit	$ (295)

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Segment Information - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023 Segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating segments	4
Number of reportable segments	3

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Segment Information - Disclosure by Reportable Segment and Reconciliation of Total Operating Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2023	Dec. 24, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 365,834	$ 397,470
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income	48,748	62,315
Reconciliation to net (loss) income:
Interest expense, net	18,192	15,994
Other, net	5,853	975
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	249	(48)
Net Income	24,454	45,394
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	16,393	13,779
Assets:
Total assets	2,319,603		$ 2,270,475
Operating/Reportable Segments [Member] | Propane [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	313,358	342,353
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income	87,176	94,408
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	11,859	11,890
Assets:
Total assets	1,952,507		1,924,304
Operating/Reportable Segments [Member] | Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	23,898	30,141
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income	2,172	2,082
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	444	409
Assets:
Total assets	51,192		46,341
Operating/Reportable Segments [Member] | Natural Gas and Electricity [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	6,493	8,690
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income	1,568	1,092
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	0	3
Assets:
Total assets	12,461		11,255
Operating/Reportable Segments [Member] | All Other [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	22,085	16,286
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income	(7,181)	(5,775)
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	2,700	43
Assets:
Total assets	241,055		239,691
Operating/Reportable Segments [Member] | Corporate [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income	(34,987)	(29,492)
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	1,390	$ 1,434
Assets:
Total assets	$ 62,388		$ 48,884