Litigation and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 24, 2012

Litigation and Contingencies [Abstract]

LITIGATION AND CONTINGENCIES

10. LITIGATION AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company is involved in various environmental claims and other legal actions arising in the normal course of business. The environmental claims include sites where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has notified the Company that it is a potentially responsible party with respect to environmental remediation. These remediation claims are subject to ongoing environmental impact studies, assessment of remediation alternatives, allocation of costs between responsible parties and concurrence by regulatory authorities and have not yet advanced to a stage where the Company’s liability is fixed. However, after taking into consideration legal counsel’s evaluation of all actions and claims against the Company, it is management’s opinion that the outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company is involved in routine litigation incidental to its business and is a party to legal actions and claims, including, but not limited to, those related to employment and intellectual property. Some of the legal proceedings include claims for compensatory as well as punitive damages. While the final outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, considering, among other things, the meritorious legal defenses available and liabilities that have been recorded along with applicable insurance, it is management’s opinion that the outcome of these items will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company has future minimum royalty and advertising obligations due under the terms of certain licenses held by the Company. These minimum future obligations are as follows:

	2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		Thereafter
Minimum royalties	$	750	$	900	$	1,200	$	1,500	$	—	$	—
Minimum advertising	$	2,360	$	2,645	$	2,724	$	2,806	$	2,890	$	5,236

Minimum royalties are based on both fixed obligations and assumptions regarding the consumer price index. Royalty obligations in excess of minimum requirements are based upon future sales levels. In accordance with these agreements, the Company incurred royalty expense of $481 and $953, respectively, for the 12 weeks ended March 24, 2012 and March 26, 2011, respectively.

The terms of certain license agreements also require the Company to make advertising expenditures based on the level of sales. In accordance with these agreements, the Company incurred advertising expense of $978 and $834 for the 12 weeks ended March 24, 2012 and March 26, 2011, respectively.