Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Jul. 28, 2023

2. Fair Value Measurements

Fair value for certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities 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 at the measurement date. In determining fair value, a three-level hierarchy for inputs is used. These levels are:

●	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (“Level 1”) – quoted prices (unadjusted) for an identical asset or liability in an active market.

●	Significant Other Observable Inputs (“Level 2”) – quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in an active market or model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

●	Significant Unobservable Inputs (“Level 3”) – unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement of the asset or liability.

The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at July 28, 2023 were as follows:

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Fair Value
Cash equivalents*	$	9,001	$	—	$	—	$	9,001
Total	$	9,001	$	—	$	—	$	9,001
Deferred compensation plan assets** measured at net asset value								27,129
Total assets at fair value	aa		aa		aa		$	36,130

The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at July 29, 2022 were as follows:

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Fair Value
Cash equivalents*	$	18,001	$	—	$	—	$	18,001
Total	$	18,001	$	—	$	—	$	18,001
Deferred compensation plan assets** measured at net asset value								27,843
Total assets at fair value	aa		aa		aaa		$	45,844

*Consists of money market fund investments.

**Represents plan assets invested in mutual funds established under a Rabbi Trust for the Company’s non-qualified savings plan and is included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as other assets (see Note 11).

The Company did not have any liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at July 28, 2023 and July 29, 2022. The Company’s money market fund investments are measured at fair value using quoted market prices. The Company’s deferred compensation plan assets are measured based on net asset value per share as a practical expedient to estimate fair value. The fair values of accounts receivable and accounts payable at July 28, 2023 and July 29, 2022, approximate their carrying amounts because of their short duration. The fair value of the Company’s variable rate debt, based on quoted market prices, which are considered Level 1 inputs, approximates its carrying amounts at July 28, 2023 and July 29, 2022.

The Company’s financial instruments that are not remeasured at fair value include the 0.625% convertible Senior Notes (see Note 4). The Company estimates the fair value of the Notes through consideration of quoted market prices of similar instruments, classified as Level 2 as described above. The estimated fair value of the Notes was $259,311 and $255,894 as of July 28, 2023 and July 29, 2022, respectively.

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

During 2023, six Cracker Barrel locations were determined to be impaired because of declining operating performance. Fair value of these locations was determined by sales prices of comparable assets or estimates of discounted future cash flows considering their highest and best use. Assumptions used in the cash flow model included projected annual revenue growth rates and projected cash flows, which can be affected by economic conditions and management’s expectations. Additionally, changes in the local and national economies and markets for real estate and other assets can impact the sales prices of the assets. The Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its long-lived assets held and used are unobservable inputs, and thus, are considered Level 3 inputs. Based on its analysis, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $11,692, which is included in the impairment and store closing costs line on the Consolidated Statement of Income.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details