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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended April 20, 2024

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 1-16247

 

FLOWERS FOODS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Georgia

 

58-2582379

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

1919 FLOWERS CIRCLE, THOMASVILLE, Georgia

(Address of principal executive offices)

31757

(Zip Code)

(229)-226-9110

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value

 

FLO

 

NYSE

 

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 ☒

As of May 10, 2024, the registrant had 211,141,599 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.

 

 


 

FLOWERS FOODS, INC.

INDEX

 

 

 PAGE

NUMBER

PART I. Financial Information

4

Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

4

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023

4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the Sixteen Weeks Ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023

5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Sixteen Weeks Ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023

6

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Sixteen Weeks Ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023

7

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Sixteen Weeks Ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023

8

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

9

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

34

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

45

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

45

PART II. Other Information

47

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

47

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

47

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, Use of Proceeds, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

47

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

47

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

47

 

Item 5.

Other Information

47

Item 6.

Exhibits

48

Signatures

49

 

 


Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this filing and certain other written or oral statements made from time to time by Flowers Foods, Inc. (the “company”, “Flowers Foods”, “Flowers”, “us”, “we”, or “our”) and its representatives that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to current expectations regarding our business and our future financial condition and results of operations and are often identified by the use of words and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “is likely to,” “is expected to” or “will continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions we believe are reasonable.

Forward-looking statements are based on current information and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected. Certain factors that may cause actual results, performance, liquidity, and achievements to differ materially from those projected are discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”) and may include, but are not limited to:

unexpected changes in any of the following: (i) general economic and business conditions; (ii) the competitive setting in which we operate, including advertising or promotional strategies by us or our competitors, as well as changes in consumer demand; (iii) interest rates and other terms available to us on our borrowings; (iv) supply chain conditions and any related impact on energy and raw materials costs and availability and hedging counter-party risks; (v) relationships with or increased costs related to our employees and third-party service providers; (vi) laws and regulations (including environmental and health-related issues); and (vii) accounting standards or tax rates in the markets in which we operate;
the loss or financial instability of any significant customer(s), including as a result of product recalls or safety concerns related to our products;
changes in consumer behavior, trends and preferences, including health and whole grain trends, and the movement toward less expensive store branded products;
the level of success we achieve in developing and introducing new products and entering new markets;
our ability to implement new technology and customer requirements as required;
our ability to operate existing, and any new, manufacturing lines according to schedule;
our ability to implement and achieve our corporate responsibility goals in accordance with regulatory requirements and expectations of stakeholders, suppliers, and customers;
our ability to execute our business strategies which may involve, among other things, (i) the ability to realize the intended benefits of completed, planned or contemplated acquisitions, dispositions or joint ventures, (ii) the deployment of new systems (e.g., our enterprise resource planning ("ERP") system), distribution channels and technology, and (iii) an enhanced organizational structure (e.g., our sales and supply chain reorganization);
consolidation within the baking industry and related industries;
changes in pricing, customer and consumer reaction to pricing actions (including decreased volumes), and the pricing environment among competitors within the industry;
our ability to adjust pricing to offset, or partially offset, inflationary pressure on the cost of our products, including ingredient and packaging costs;
disruptions in our direct-store-delivery distribution model, including litigation or an adverse ruling by a court or regulatory or governmental body that could affect the independent contractor classifications of the independent distributor partners, and changes to our direct-store-delivery distribution model in California;
increasing legal complexity and legal proceedings that we are or may become subject to;
labor shortages and turnover or increases in employee and employee-related costs;
the credit, business, and legal risks associated with independent distributor partners and customers, which operate in the highly competitive retail food and foodservice industries;
any business disruptions due to political instability, pandemics, armed hostilities (including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East), incidents of terrorism, natural disasters, labor strikes or work stoppages, technological breakdowns, product contamination, product recalls or safety concerns related to our products, or the responses to or repercussions from any of these or similar events or conditions and our ability to insure against such events;

2


the failure of our information technology (“IT”) systems to perform adequately, including any interruptions, intrusions, cyber-attacks or security breaches of such systems or risks associated with the implementation of the upgrade of our ERP system; and
the potential impact of climate change on the company, including physical and transition risks, availability or restriction of resources, higher regulatory and compliance costs, reputational risks, and availability of capital on attractive terms.

The foregoing list of important factors does not include all such factors, nor does it necessarily present them in order of importance. In addition, you should consult other disclosures made by the company (such as in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or in company press releases) for other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected by the company. Refer to Part I, Item 1A., Risk Factors, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2023 (the “Form 10-K”) for additional information regarding factors that could affect the company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as they speak only as of the date made and are inherently uncertain. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update such statements, except as required by law. You are advised, however, to consult any further public disclosures by the company (such as in our filings with the SEC or in company press releases) on related subjects.

We own or have rights to trademarks or trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business, including our corporate names, logos and website names. In addition, we own or have the rights to copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary rights that protect the content of our products and the formulations for such products. Solely for convenience, some of the trademarks, trade names and copyrights referred to in this Form 10-Q are listed without the © , ® and ™ symbols, but we will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights to our trademarks, trade names and copyrights.

 

3


PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

FLOWERS FOODS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

15,818

 

 

$

22,527

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net of allowances of $32,810 and $33,386, respectively

 

 

359,481

 

 

 

328,246

 

Inventories, net:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raw materials

 

 

63,610

 

 

 

72,941

 

Packaging materials

 

 

27,518

 

 

 

28,743

 

Finished goods

 

 

84,875

 

 

 

82,813

 

Inventories, net

 

 

176,003

 

 

 

184,497

 

Spare parts and supplies

 

 

88,579

 

 

 

86,386

 

Other

 

 

48,523

 

 

 

66,057

 

Total current assets

 

 

688,404

 

 

 

687,713

 

Property, plant and equipment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

 

2,531,910

 

 

 

2,500,531

 

Less: accumulated depreciation

 

 

(1,572,814

)

 

 

(1,537,550

)

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

959,096

 

 

 

962,981

 

Financing lease right-of-use assets

 

 

336

 

 

 

130

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

 

294,203

 

 

 

276,734

 

Notes receivable from independent distributor partners

 

 

118,191

 

 

 

123,571

 

Assets held for sale

 

 

26,769

 

 

 

21,799

 

Other assets

 

 

14,245

 

 

 

18,487

 

Goodwill

 

 

679,896

 

 

 

677,796

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

 

648,026

 

 

 

657,742

 

Total assets

 

$

3,429,166

 

 

$

3,426,953

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

$

 

 

$

 

Current maturities of financing leases

 

 

153

 

 

 

99

 

Current maturities of operating leases

 

 

57,610

 

 

 

47,507

 

Accounts payable

 

 

303,583

 

 

 

318,600

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

261,048

 

 

 

292,946

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

622,394

 

 

 

659,152

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncurrent long-term debt

 

 

1,043,543

 

 

 

1,048,144

 

Noncurrent financing lease obligations

 

 

40

 

 

 

23

 

Noncurrent operating lease obligations

 

 

247,387

 

 

 

236,872

 

Total long-term debt and right-of-use lease liabilities

 

 

1,290,970

 

 

 

1,285,039

 

Other liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postretirement/post-employment obligations

 

 

5,700

 

 

 

5,798

 

Deferred taxes

 

 

98,373

 

 

 

91,245

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

35,849

 

 

 

33,937

 

Total other long-term liabilities

 

 

139,922

 

 

 

130,980

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock — $100 stated par value, 200,000 authorized shares and none issued

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock — $.01 stated par value, 800,000 authorized shares and none issued

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock — $.01 stated par value and $.001 current par value, 500,000,000
   authorized shares and
228,729,585 shares issued

 

 

199

 

 

 

199

 

Treasury stock — 17,587,986 shares and 18,309,359 shares, respectively

 

 

(273,115

)

 

 

(281,318

)

Capital in excess of par value

 

 

693,855

 

 

 

699,808

 

Retained earnings

 

 

954,409

 

 

 

932,472

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

532

 

 

 

621

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

1,375,880

 

 

 

1,351,782

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

3,429,166

 

 

$

3,426,953

 

 

(See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

4


FLOWERS FOODS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

Sales

 

$

1,576,818

 

 

$

1,534,493

 

Materials, supplies, labor and other production costs (exclusive
   of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

 

 

797,186

 

 

 

800,852

 

Selling, distribution and administrative expenses

 

 

625,251

 

 

 

591,943

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

48,235

 

 

 

43,735

 

Impairment of assets

 

 

4,000

 

 

 

 

Restructuring charges

 

 

598

 

 

 

4,195

 

Income from operations

 

 

101,548

 

 

 

93,768

 

Interest expense

 

 

11,301

 

 

 

10,837

 

Interest income

 

 

(5,690

)

 

 

(6,951

)

Other components of net periodic pension and postretirement
   benefit plans credit

 

 

(158

)

 

 

(83

)

Income before income taxes

 

 

96,095

 

 

 

89,965

 

Income tax expense

 

 

23,052

 

 

 

19,255

 

Net income

 

$

73,043

 

 

$

70,710

 

Net income per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per common share

 

$

0.35

 

 

$

0.33

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

211,078

 

 

 

211,769

 

Diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per common share

 

$

0.34

 

 

$

0.33

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

212,114

 

 

 

213,397

 

Cash dividends paid per common share

 

$

0.2300

 

 

$

0.2200

 

 

(See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

5


FLOWERS FOODS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

Net income

 

$

73,043

 

 

$

70,710

 

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and postretirement plans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of prior service credit included in net income

 

 

(41

)

 

 

(42

)

Amortization of actuarial gain included in net income

 

 

(32

)

 

 

(17

)

Pension and postretirement plans, net of tax

 

 

(73

)

 

 

(59

)

Derivative instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in fair value of derivatives

 

 

(566

)

 

 

(3,044

)

Loss reclassified to net income

 

 

550

 

 

 

940

 

Derivative instruments, net of tax

 

 

(16

)

 

 

(2,104

)

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

 

(89

)

 

 

(2,163

)

Comprehensive income

 

$

72,954

 

 

$

68,547

 

 

(See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

6


FLOWERS FOODS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Amounts in thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended April 20, 2024

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Capital in

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

 

 

Excess

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares
Issued

 

 

Par
Value

 

 

of Par
Value

 

 

Retained
Earnings

 

 

Comprehensive
Income

 

 

Number of
Shares

 

 

Cost

 

 

Total

 

Balances at December 30, 2023

 

 

228,729,585

 

 

$

199

 

 

$

699,808

 

 

$

932,472

 

 

$

621

 

 

 

(18,309,359

)

 

$

(281,318

)

 

$

1,351,782

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

73,043

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

73,043

 

Derivative instruments, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16

)

Pension and postretirement
   plans, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(73

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(73

)

Amortization of stock-based
   compensation awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,129

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,129

 

Issuance of deferred compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(19

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,259

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

 

Time-based restricted stock units issued
   (Note 17)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,849

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

250,501

 

 

 

3,849

 

 

 

 

Performance-contingent restricted stock
   awards issued (Note 17)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12,884

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

836,621

 

 

 

12,884

 

 

 

 

Issuance of deferred stock awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(330

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,283

 

 

 

330

 

 

 

 

Share repurchases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(388,291

)

 

 

(8,879

)

 

 

(8,879

)

Dividends paid on vested
   stock-based payment awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,546

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,546

)

Dividends paid — $0.2300 per
   common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(48,560

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(48,560

)

Balances at April 20, 2024

 

 

228,729,585

 

 

$

199

 

 

$

693,855

 

 

$

954,409

 

 

$

532

 

 

 

(17,587,986

)

 

$

(273,115

)

 

$

1,375,880

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended April 22, 2023

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Capital in

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

 

 

Excess

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares
Issued

 

 

Par
Value

 

 

of Par
Value

 

 

Retained
Earnings

 

 

Comprehensive
Income

 

 

Number of
Shares

 

 

Cost

 

 

Total

 

Balances at December 31, 2022

 

 

228,729,585

 

 

$

199

 

 

$

689,959

 

 

$

1,004,271

 

 

$

1,474

 

 

 

(17,595,619

)

 

$

(252,613

)

 

$

1,443,290

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

70,710

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

70,710

 

Derivative instruments, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,104

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,104

)

Pension and postretirement
   plans, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(59

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(59

)

Amortization of stock-based
   compensation awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,836

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,836

 

Issuance of deferred compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(13

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

852

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

 

Time-based restricted stock awards issued
   (Note 17)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,986

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

207,892

 

 

 

2,986

 

 

 

 

Performance-contingent restricted stock
   awards issued (Note 17)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12,508

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

867,944

 

 

 

12,508

 

 

 

 

Issuance of deferred stock awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(134

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,324

 

 

 

134

 

 

 

 

Share repurchases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(385,882

)

 

 

(10,981

)

 

 

(10,981

)

Dividends paid on vested share-based
   payment awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,498

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,498

)

Dividends paid — $0.2200 per
   common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(46,602

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(46,602

)

Balances at April 22, 2023

 

 

228,729,585

 

 

$

199

 

 

$

684,154

 

 

$

1,025,881

 

 

$

(689

)

 

 

(16,895,489

)

 

$

(247,953

)

 

$

1,461,592

 

 

 

(See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

7


FLOWERS FOODS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (DISBURSED FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

73,043

 

 

$

70,710

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

11,129

 

 

 

9,836

 

Loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income

 

 

886

 

 

 

1,407

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

48,235

 

 

 

43,735

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

6,951

 

 

 

1,868

 

Impairment of assets

 

 

4,000

 

 

 

 

Provision for inventory obsolescence

 

 

3,971

 

 

 

921

 

Allowances for accounts receivable

 

 

2,445

 

 

 

4,341

 

Pension and postretirement plans cost

 

 

123

 

 

 

182

 

Other

 

 

481

 

 

 

685

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

(32,833

)

 

 

(18,201

)

Inventories

 

 

4,523

 

 

 

(14,552

)

Hedging activities

 

 

(1,202

)

 

 

(2,334

)

Accounts payable

 

 

(16,499

)

 

 

(9,285

)

Other assets and accrued liabilities

 

 

(104

)

 

 

(31,361

)

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

105,149

 

 

 

57,952

 

CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (DISBURSED FOR) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 

 

(33,332

)

 

 

(33,958

)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

 

60

 

 

 

96

 

Repurchase of independent distribution rights

 

 

(5,524

)

 

 

(2,150

)

Cash paid at issuance of notes receivable

 

 

(5,071

)

 

 

(6,887

)

Principal payments from notes receivable

 

 

7,932

 

 

 

12,113

 

Acquisition of business

 

 

 

 

 

(270,451

)

Other investing activities

 

 

8

 

 

 

30

 

NET CASH DISBURSED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

(35,927

)

 

 

(301,207

)

CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (DISBURSED FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends paid, including dividends on stock-based payment awards

 

 

(51,106

)

 

 

(49,100

)

Stock repurchases

 

 

(8,879

)

 

 

(10,981

)

Change in bank overdrafts

 

 

(10,701

)

 

 

(4,261

)

Proceeds from debt borrowings

 

 

117,500

 

 

 

487,900

 

Debt obligation payments

 

 

(122,500

)

 

 

(316,900

)

Payments on financing leases

 

 

(95

)

 

 

(599

)

Payments for financing fees

 

 

(150

)

 

 

(218

)

NET CASH (DISBURSED FOR) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

(75,931

)

 

 

105,841

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(6,709

)

 

 

(137,414

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

22,527

 

 

 

165,134

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

15,818

 

 

$

27,720

 

 

(See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

 

8


FLOWERS FOODS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

BASIS OF ACCOUNTING — The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Flowers Foods, Inc. (the “company”, “Flowers Foods”, “Flowers”, “us”, “we”, or “our”) have been prepared by the company’s management in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for audited financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to state fairly the company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The results of operations for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full fiscal year. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 30, 2023 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2023 (the “Form 10-K”).

INFLATIONARY ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT AND MACROECONOMIC FACTORS — We continue to monitor the impact of the inflationary economic environment, supply chain disruptions, increased labor costs, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East on our business. Our results through the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 have continued to benefit from a more optimized sales mix of branded retail products as compared to pre-pandemic periods. However, we have experienced significant input cost inflation during the previous two fiscal years which has partially offset the more optimized sales mix. We implemented price increases during the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 and in the second quarter of Fiscal 2023 to mitigate these cost pressures. Commodity cost inflation began to moderate in the latter half of Fiscal 2023 and has continued during the first quarter of Fiscal 2024.

INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATE — In the second quarter of Fiscal 2022, we invested $9.0 million in Base Culture, a Clearwater, Florida-based company with one manufacturing facility. We made an additional investment of $2.0 million in Base Culture during the second quarter of Fiscal 2023. Base Culture's product offerings include better-for-you, gluten-free, and grain-free sliced breads and baked goods and are all-natural, 100% Paleo-certified, kosher-certified, dairy-free, soy-free, and non-GMO verified. The investment is being accounted for at cost, less any impairment, adjusted for changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions involving the affiliate, as we do not control nor do we have the ability to significantly influence the affiliate, nor is there a readily determinable fair value. Should circumstances indicate a change in the fair value, a fair value adjustment may be necessary.

During the first quarter of Fiscal 2024, the company's qualitative assessment of the fair value of Base Culture indicated the investment may be impaired. Additional quantitative analysis of Base Culture indicated a fair value of approximately $1.5 million of the company’s interest. The company recognized an impairment loss of $4.0 million during the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 which is reported in the Impairment of assets line item of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The company also recognized an impairment loss of $5.5 million during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2023. The losses recognized represent the difference between the estimated fair value and the company’s original carrying value. The current carrying value is approximately $1.5 million.

ESTIMATES — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 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. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The company believes the following critical accounting estimates affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements: revenue recognition, derivative financial instruments, valuation of long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets, leases, self-insurance reserves, income tax expense and accruals, postretirement plans, stock-based compensation, and commitments and contingencies. These estimates are summarized in Form 10-K.

REPORTING PERIODS — Fiscal Year End. Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest December 31, resulting in a 53rd reporting week every five or six years. The last 53-week year was our Fiscal 2020. The next 53-week year will be Fiscal 2025. Our internal financial results and key performance indicators are reported on a weekly calendar basis to ensure the same numbers of Saturdays and Sundays in comparable months and to allow for a consistent four-week progression analysis. The company has elected the first quarter to report the extra four-week period. As such, our quarters are divided as follows:

 

Quarter

 

Number of Weeks

First Quarter

 

Sixteen

Second Quarter

 

Twelve

Third Quarter

 

Twelve

Fourth Quarter

 

Twelve (or Thirteen in fiscal years with an extra week)

 

9


Accordingly, interim results may not be indicative of subsequent interim period results, or comparable to prior or subsequent interim period results, due to differences in the lengths of the interim periods.

Fiscal 2024 consists of 52 weeks, with the company’s quarterly reporting periods as follows: first quarter ended April 20, 2024 (sixteen weeks), second quarter ending July 13, 2024 (twelve weeks), third quarter ending October 5, 2024 (twelve weeks) and fourth quarter ending December 28, 2024 (twelve weeks).

REPORTING SEGMENT — The company has one operating segment based on the nature of products the company sells, intertwined production and distribution model, the internal management structure and information that is regularly reviewed by the chief executive officer (“CEO”), who is the chief operating decision maker, for the purpose of assessing performance and allocating resources.

 

SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER — Below is the effect that our largest customer, Walmart/Sam’s Club, had on the company’s sales for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023. Walmart/Sam’s Club is the only customer to account for greater than 10% of the company’s sales.

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 

 

(% of Sales)

 

Total

 

 

22.5

 

 

 

22.1

 

Walmart/Sam’s Club is our only customer with greater than 10% of outstanding trade receivables, representing 19.8% and 20.3%, on a consolidated basis, as of April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively, of our trade receivables.

 

BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT COSTS — In the second half of Fiscal 2020, we launched initiatives to transform our business operations, which include upgrading our information system to a more robust platform, as well as investments in e-commerce, autonomous planning, and our “bakery of the future” initiatives. These costs may be expensed as incurred, capitalized, recognized as a cloud computing arrangement, or recognized as a prepaid service contract. The expensed portion of these costs incurred related to these initiatives was $3.7 million and $6.2 million for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023, respectively. These costs are reflected in the selling, distribution and administrative expenses line item of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

2. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

The company did not adopt any accounting pronouncements during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024.

Accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

On August 23, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-05, "Business Combinations - Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60): Recognition and Initial Measurement", which requires a joint venture to initially measure all contributions received upon its formation at fair value. This accounting will largely be consistent with ASC 805, Business Combinations, although there are some specific exceptions. This new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice and provide users of the joint venture’s financial statements with more decision-useful information. It may also reduce the amount of basis differences that an investor in a joint venture needs to track. The standard is effective for all joint venture entities with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted. Joint ventures formed prior to the adoption date may elect to apply the new guidance retrospectively back to their original formation date. The company is determining the impact on our business.

On November 27, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, "Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires public entities to disclose, on an annual and interim basis, significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss. All public entities will be required to report segment information in accordance with the new guidance starting in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The company is determining the impact on our business.

On December 14, 2023, The FASB issued ASU 2023-09, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which enhances the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures by requiring; (1) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and (2) income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. It also includes certain other amendments to improve the effectiveness of income tax disclosures. For public business entities, the standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The company is determining the impact on our business.

10


On March 29, 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-02, "Codification Improvements - Amendments to Remove References to the Concepts Statements" which removes references to the Board's concepts statements from the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The ASU is part of the Board's standing project to make codification updated for technical corrections such as conforming amendments, clarifications to guidance, simplifications to wording or structure guidance, and other minor improvements. The amendments in this update are effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The company is determining the impact on our business.

We have reviewed other recently issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that either they are not applicable to our business, or no material effect is expected upon future adoption.

3. RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES

In April 2024, the company announced a cost savings program to improve operational performance, which includes employee termination benefits associated with a reduction-in-force ("2024 RIF") and other optimization initiatives expected to be completed in Fiscal 2024. The company expects additional 2024 RIF and other restructuring costs of approximately $7.0 million to $10.0 million. The company also incurred consulting costs associated with implementing the restructuring program.

In February 2023, to improve operational effectiveness, increase profitable sales, and better meet customer requirements, the company announced a restructuring of plant operation responsibilities from the sales function to the supply chain function. As part of that restructuring, we incurred costs for employee termination benefits and other cash charges, which were primarily related to the voluntary employee separation incentive plan (the "2023 VSIP"), reduction-in-force, and employee relocation costs. There were no additional costs incurred during Fiscal 2024.

The table below presents the components of costs associated with the restructuring programs detailed above (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

Restructuring charges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

2023 VSIP

 

$

 

 

$

3,927

 

2024 RIF

 

 

598

 

 

 

 

Relocation costs

 

 

 

 

 

268

 

Restructuring charges (1)

 

 

598

 

 

 

4,195

 

Restructuring-related implementation costs (2)

 

 

1,344

 

 

 

 

Total restructuring charges

 

$

1,942

 

 

$

4,195

 

 

(1)
Presented on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
(2)
Costs are recorded in the selling, distribution and administrative expenses line item of our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

The table below presents the components of, and changes in, our restructuring accruals (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

2023
VSIP

 

 

2024
 RIF

 

 

Total

 

Liability balance at December 30, 2023

 

$

1,429

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,429

 

Charges

 

 

 

 

 

598

 

 

 

598

 

Cash payments

 

 

(1,429

)

 

 

(242

)

 

 

(1,671

)

Liability balance at April 20, 2024

 

$

 

 

$

356

 

 

$

356

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11


4. ACQUISITION

On February 17, 2023, the company completed the acquisition of the Papa Pita for total consideration of approximately $274.8 million, inclusive of net working capital adjustments. Papa Pita is a manufacturer and distributor of bagels, tortillas, breads, buns, English muffins, and flat breads with one production facility in West Jordan, Utah and, prior to the acquisition, Papa Pita co-manufactured certain products for the company. Papa Pita has direct-store-delivery distribution in the western U.S., expanding our geographic reach. We incurred additional acquisition costs of $3.2 million during the sixteen weeks ended April 22, 2023. These costs are reflected in the selling, distribution, and administrative expenses line item of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The company also recognized a $2.1 million goodwill measurement period adjustment related to an environmental and emissions liability during the first quarter of Fiscal 2024.

The following table summarizes the consideration paid for Papa Pita based on the fair value at the acquisition date. This table is based on the valuations for the assets acquired (the company did not acquire any cash), liabilities assumed, and the allocated intangible assets and goodwill (amounts in thousands):

 

Fair Value of consideration transferred:

 

 

 

Cash consideration paid

 

$

270,258

 

Working capital adjustments

 

 

4,497

 

Total consideration

 

$

274,755

 

 

 

 

Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and
   liabilities assumed:

 

 

 

Property, plant, and equipment

 

$

104,118

 

Identifiable intangible assets

 

 

27,100

 

Financial assets

 

 

14,250

 

Liabilities assumed

 

 

(5,365

)

Net recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired

 

 

140,103

 

Goodwill

 

$

134,652

 

 

The following table presents the acquired intangible assets subject to amortization (amounts in thousands, except amortization periods):

 

 

 

Total

 

 

Weighted average amortization years

 

 

Amortization Method

Trademarks

 

$

4,600

 

 

 

20.0

 

 

Straight-line

Customer relationships

 

 

22,200

 

 

 

25.0

 

 

Sum of year digits

Noncompete agreements

 

 

300

 

 

 

4.0

 

 

Straight-line

Total intangible assets

 

$

27,100

 

 

 

23.9

 

 

 

 

5. LEASES

The company’s leases consist of the following types of assets: two bakeries, corporate office space, warehouses, bakery equipment, transportation and IT equipment. The quantitative disclosures for our leases follow below.

The following table details lease modifications and renewals and lease terminations (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

Lease modifications and renewals

 

$

16,465

 

 

$

17,348

 

Lease terminations

 

$

1,331

 

 

$

36

 

 

The lease modifications and renewals for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 include renewals of multiple warehouse leases. The lease modifications and renewals for the sixteen weeks ended April 22, 2023 include $10.6 million related to a 10-year extension for a freezer storage lease that occurred during our first quarter of Fiscal 2023.

 

12


Lease costs incurred by lease type, and/or type of payment, and other supplemental quantitative disclosures as of and for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023 were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

Lease cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of right-of-use assets

 

$

87

 

 

$

524

 

Interest on lease liabilities

 

 

2

 

 

 

16

 

Operating lease cost

 

 

21,079

 

 

 

19,318

 

Short-term lease cost

 

 

703

 

 

 

825

 

Variable lease cost

 

 

13,777

 

 

 

10,924

 

Total lease cost

 

$

35,648

 

 

$

31,607

 

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating cash flows from financing leases

 

$

2

 

 

$

16

 

Operating cash flows from operating leases

 

$

22,461

 

 

$

21,134

 

Financing cash flows from financing leases

 

$

95

 

 

$

599

 

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new financing lease liabilities

 

$

140

 

 

$

 

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities

 

$

27,003

 

 

$

17,628

 

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term (years):

 

 

 

Financing leases

 

 

1.5

 

Operating leases

 

 

7.1

 

Weighted-average IBR (percentage):

 

 

 

Financing leases

 

 

2.9

 

Operating leases

 

 

4.3

 

 

Estimated undiscounted future lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases and financing leases, along with a reconciliation of the undiscounted cash flows to operating and financing lease liabilities, respectively, as of April 20, 2024 (in thousands) were as follows:

 

 

 

Operating lease
liabilities

 

 

Financing lease
liabilities

 

Remainder of 2024

 

$

47,991

 

 

$

142

 

2025

 

 

68,777

 

 

 

26

 

2026

 

 

50,752

 

 

 

15

 

2027

 

 

42,644

 

 

 

10

 

2028

 

 

33,239

 

 

 

4

 

2029 and thereafter

 

 

111,647

 

 

 

 

Total minimum lease payments

 

 

355,050

 

 

 

197

 

Less: amount of lease payments representing interest

 

 

(50,053

)

 

 

(4

)

Present value of future minimum lease payments

 

 

304,997

 

 

 

193

 

Less: current obligations under leases

 

 

(57,610

)

 

 

(153

)

Long-term lease obligations

 

$

247,387

 

 

$

40

 

 

13


6. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (“AOCI”)

The company’s total comprehensive income presently consists of net income, adjustments for our derivative financial instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges, and various pension and other postretirement benefit related items.

During the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023, reclassifications out of AOCI were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Amount Reclassified from AOCI

 

 

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

Affected Line Item in the Statement

Details about AOCI Components (Note 2)

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 

Where Net Income is Presented

Derivative instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

$

153

 

 

$

153

 

 

Interest expense

Commodity contracts

 

 

(886

)

 

 

(1,407

)

 

Cost of sales, Note 3

Total before tax

 

 

(733

)

 

 

(1,254

)

 

Total before tax

Tax benefit

 

 

183

 

 

 

314

 

 

Income tax expense

Total net of tax

 

 

(550

)

 

 

(940

)

 

Net of tax

Pension and postretirement plans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prior-service credits

 

 

54

 

 

 

55

 

 

Note 1

Actuarial gain losses

 

 

42

 

 

 

23

 

 

Note 1

Total before tax

 

 

96

 

 

 

78

 

 

Total before tax

Tax expense

 

 

(23

)

 

 

(19

)

 

Income tax expense

Total net of tax

 

 

73

 

 

 

59

 

 

Net of tax

Total reclassifications

 

$

(477

)

 

$

(881

)

 

Net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note 1: These items are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost and are reported in the other components of net periodic pension and postretirement benefits credit line item on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. See Note 18, Postretirement Plans, for additional information.

Note 2: Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to determine net income.

Note 3: Amounts are presented as an adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

During the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, changes to AOCI, net of income tax, by component were as follows (amounts in thousands and parentheses denote a debit balance):

 

 

 

Cash Flow
Hedge Items

 

 

Defined
Benefit
Pension
Plan Items

 

 

Total

 

AOCI at December 30, 2023

 

$

963

 

 

$

(342

)

 

$

621

 

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

 

 

(566

)

 

 

 

 

 

(566

)

Reclassified to earnings from AOCI

 

 

550

 

 

 

(73

)

 

 

477

 

AOCI at April 20, 2024

 

$

947

 

 

$

(415

)

 

$

532

 

 

During the sixteen weeks ended April 22, 2023, changes to AOCI, net of income tax, by component were as follows (amounts in thousands and parentheses denote a debit balance):

 

 

 

Cash Flow
Hedge Items

 

 

Defined
Benefit
Pension
Plan Items

 

 

Total

 

AOCI at January 1, 2022

 

$

2,099

 

 

$

(625

)

 

$

1,474

 

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

 

 

(3,044

)

 

 

 

 

 

(3,044

)

Reclassified to earnings from AOCI

 

 

940

 

 

 

(59

)

 

 

881

 

AOCI at April 22, 2023

 

$

(5

)

 

$

(684

)

 

$

(689

)

 

14


Amounts reclassified out of AOCI to net income that relate to commodity contracts are presented as an adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The following table presents the net of tax amount reclassified from AOCI for our commodity contracts (amounts in thousands and positive value indicates credits to determine net income):

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 Gross loss reclassified from AOCI into net
   income

 

$

(886

)

 

$

(1,407

)

Tax benefit

 

 

221

 

 

 

352

 

Net of tax

 

$

(665

)

 

$

(1,055

)

 

7. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The table below summarizes our goodwill and other intangible assets at April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively, each of which is explained in additional detail below (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

Goodwill

 

$

679,896

 

 

$

677,796

 

Amortizable intangible assets, net

 

 

520,926

 

 

 

530,642

 

Indefinite-lived intangible assets

 

 

127,100

 

 

 

127,100

 

Total goodwill and other intangible assets

 

$

1,327,922

 

 

$

1,335,538

 

 

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, during which time we finalized the purchase accounting for the acquisition of Papa Pita, are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Total

 

Balance as of December 30, 2023

 

$

677,796

 

Measurement period adjustment (see Note 4, Acquisition)

 

 

2,100

 

Balance as of April 20, 2024

 

$

679,896

 

 

On February 17, 2023, the company completed the acquisition of Papa Pita for total consideration of $274.8 million, inclusive of a net working capital adjustment payment. The acquisition included several amortizable intangible assets which total $27.1 million and are included in the table below. See Note 4, Acquisition, for details of the assets and the respective amortization period by category.

 

As of April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively, the company had the following amounts related to amortizable intangible assets (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

Asset

 

Cost

 

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

 

Net
Value

 

 

Cost

 

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

 

Net
Value

 

Trademarks

 

$

481,715

 

 

$

112,137

 

 

$

369,578

 

 

$

481,715

 

 

$

107,562

 

 

$

374,153

 

Customer relationships

 

 

340,221

 

 

 

189,309

 

 

 

150,912

 

 

 

340,221

 

 

 

184,222

 

 

 

155,999

 

Non-compete agreements

 

 

5,454

 

 

 

5,229

 

 

 

225

 

 

 

5,454

 

 

 

5,206

 

 

 

248

 

Distributor relationships

 

 

4,123

 

 

 

3,912

 

 

 

211

 

 

 

4,123

 

 

 

3,881

 

 

 

242

 

Total

 

$

831,513

 

 

$

310,587

 

 

$

520,926

 

 

$

831,513

 

 

$

300,871

 

 

$

530,642

 

 

Aggregate amortization expense for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023 was as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Amortization
Expense

 

For the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024

 

$

9,716

 

For the sixteen weeks ended April 22, 2023

 

$

9,723

 

 

15


Estimated amortization of intangibles for each of the next five years is as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Amortization of
Intangibles

 

Remainder of 2024

 

$

21,691

 

2025

 

$

30,747

 

2026

 

$

28,891

 

2027

 

$

27,242

 

2028

 

$

25,610

 

There were $127.1 million of indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets separately identified from goodwill at April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023. These trademarks are classified as indefinite-lived because we believe they are well established brands with a long history and well-defined markets. We believe these factors support an indefinite life. We perform an annual impairment analysis, or on an interim basis if the facts and circumstances change, to determine if the trademarks are realizing their expected economic benefits.

8. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and short-term debt approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of the instruments. Notes receivable are entered into in connection with the purchase of independent distributors’ distribution rights by independent distributor partners (“IDPs”). These notes receivable are recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at carrying value, which represents the closest approximation of fair value. Fair value 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. The company financed approximately 2,900 and 3,000 IDPs’ distribution rights as of April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively, all with varied financial histories and credit risks. However, the current stated interest rates used to record the carrying values are appropriately reflective of our estimated interest rates that would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings for the remaining maturities of the distributor notes receivable. The distribution rights are generally purchased by the IDP with a 5% down payment with the remainder financed for up to 10 years. The distributor notes receivable are collateralized by the IDPs’ distribution rights. The company maintains a wholly-owned subsidiary to assist in financing the distribution rights purchase activities if requested by new IDPs, using the distribution rights and certain associated assets as collateral. These notes receivable earn interest at a fixed rate.

Interest income was primarily related to the IDPs’ notes receivable and was as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Interest
Income

 

For the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024

 

$

5,690

 

For the sixteen weeks ended April 22, 2023

 

$

6,951

 

 

At April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively, the carrying value of the distributor notes receivable was as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

Distributor notes receivable

 

$

128,802

 

 

$

133,335

 

Less: current portion of distributor notes receivable recorded in
   accounts and notes receivable, net

 

 

(10,611

)

 

 

(9,764

)

Long-term portion of distributor notes receivable

 

$

118,191

 

 

$

123,571

 

 

The distributor notes receivable balance as of April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023 include a reserve of $13.4 million and $14.8 million, respectively, related to a legal settlement. See Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies, for additional information.

The fair value of the company’s variable rate debt at April 20, 2024 approximates the recorded value. The fair value of the company’s 2.400% senior notes due 2031 (the "2031 notes") and 3.500% senior notes due 2026 (the “2026 notes”), as discussed in Note 13, Debt and Other Obligations, of this Form 10-Q, are estimated using yields obtained from independent pricing sources for similar types of borrowing arrangements and are considered a Level 2 valuation. The fair value of the 2031 notes and 2026 notes are presented in the table below (amounts in thousands, except level classification):

 

 

 

Carrying Value

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Level

2031 notes

 

$

494,947

 

 

$

407,195

 

 

2

2026 notes

 

$

398,596

 

 

$

380,500

 

 

2

 

For fair value disclosure information about our derivative assets and liabilities see Note 9, Derivative Financial Instruments.

16


9. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The company measures the fair value of its derivative portfolio by using the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal market for that asset or liability. These measurements are classified into a hierarchy by the inputs used to perform the fair value calculation as follows:

Level 1: Fair value based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date

Level 2: Modeled fair value with model inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly

Level 3: Modeled fair value with unobservable model inputs that are used to estimate the fair value of the asset or liability

Commodity Risk

The company enters into commodity derivatives designated as cash-flow hedges of existing or future exposure to changes in commodity prices. The company’s primary raw materials are flour, sweeteners and shortening, along with pulp, paper and petroleum-based packaging products. Natural gas, which is used as oven fuel, and diesel fuel are also important commodity inputs.

As of April 20, 2024, the company’s hedge portfolio contained commodity derivatives, which are recorded in the following accounts with fair values measured as indicated (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other current

 

$

16

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

16

 

Other long-term

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other current

 

 

(1,675

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,675

)

Other long-term

 

 

(26

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(26

)

Total

 

 

(1,701

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,701

)

Net Fair Value

 

$

(1,685

)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

(1,685

)

 

As of December 30, 2023, the company’s hedge portfolio contained commodity derivatives, which are recorded in the following accounts with fair values measured as indicated (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other current

 

$

55

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

55

 

Other long-term

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other current

 

 

(1,918

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,918

)

Other long-term

 

 

(2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2

)

Total

 

 

(1,920

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,920

)

Net Fair Value

 

$

(1,865

)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

(1,865

)

 

The positions held in the portfolio are used to hedge economic exposure to changes in various raw material prices and effectively fix, or limit increases in, prices for a period extending into Fiscal 2025. These instruments are designated as cash-flow hedges. The change in the fair value for these derivatives is reported in AOCI. All the company-held commodity derivatives at April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively, qualified for hedge accounting.

Interest Rate Risk

During the first quarter of Fiscal 2021, the company entered into treasury locks to fix the interest rate for the 2031 notes issued on March 9, 2021. The derivative positions were closed when the debt was priced on March 2, 2021 with a cash settlement net receipt of $3.9 million that offset changes in the benchmark treasury rate between execution of the treasury rate locks and the debt pricing date. These rate locks were designated as a cash flow hedge and the deferred amount reported in AOCI is being reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the notes through the maturity date.

17


The company previously entered into treasury rate locks at the time we executed the 2026 notes. These rate locks were designated as a cash flow hedge and the fair value at termination was deferred in AOCI. The deferred amount reported in AOCI is being reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the related notes through the maturity date.

Derivative Assets and Liabilities

The company has the following derivative instruments located on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, which are utilized for the risk management purposes detailed above (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Derivative Assets

 

 

Derivative Liabilities

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

Derivatives Designated as
Hedging Instruments

 

Balance
Sheet
Location

 

Fair Value

 

 

Balance
Sheet
Location

 

Fair Value

 

 

Balance
Sheet
Location

 

Fair Value

 

 

Balance
Sheet
Location

 

Fair Value

 

Commodity contracts

 

Other
current
assets

 

$

16

 

 

Other
current
assets

 

$

55

 

 

Other
accrued
liabilities

 

$

1,675

 

 

Other
accrued
liabilities

 

$

1,918

 

Commodity contracts

 

Other
assets

 

 

 

 

Other
assets

 

 

 

 

Other
long-term
liabilities

 

 

26

 

 

Other
long-term
liabilities

 

 

2

 

Total

 

 

 

$

16

 

 

 

 

$

55

 

 

 

 

$

1,701

 

 

 

 

$

1,920

 

 

Derivative AOCI transactions

The company had the following derivative instruments for deferred gains and (losses) on closed contracts and the effective portion for changes in fair value recorded in AOCI (no amounts were excluded from the effectiveness test), all of which are utilized for the risk management purposes detailed above (amounts in thousands and net of tax):

 

 

 

Amount of (Loss) or Gain

 

 

 

 

Amount of Gain or (Loss)

 

 

 

Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives

 

 

 

 

Reclassified from AOCI

 

 

 

(Effective Portion)

 

 

Location of Gain or (Loss)

 

into Income (Effective Portion)

 

Derivatives in Cash Flow

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

Reclassified from AOCI

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

Hedge Relationships(1)

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 

into Income (Effective Portion)(2)

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

Interest rate contracts

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

Interest expense

 

$

115

 

 

$

115

 

Commodity contracts

 

 

(566

)

 

 

(3,044

)

 

Production costs(3)

 

 

(665

)

 

 

(1,055

)

Total

 

$

(566

)

 

$

(3,044

)

 

 

 

$

(550

)

 

$

(940

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.
Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to determine net income.
2.
Amounts in parentheses, if any, indicate credits to determine net income.
3.
Included in materials, supplies, labor and other production costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately).

There was no hedging ineffectiveness, and no amounts were excluded from the ineffectiveness testing, during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023, respectively, related to the company’s commodity risk hedges.

At April 20, 2024, the balance in AOCI related to commodity price risk and interest rate risk derivative transactions that closed or will expire over the following years are as follows (amounts in thousands and net of tax) (amounts in parenthesis indicate a debit balance):

 

 

 

Commodity
Price Risk
Derivatives

 

 

Interest
Rate Risk
Derivatives

 

 

Totals

 

Closed contracts

 

$

10

 

 

$

2,202

 

 

$

2,212

 

Expiring in 2024

 

 

(1,235

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,235

)

Expiring in 2025

 

 

(30

)

 

 

 

 

 

(30

)

Total

 

$

(1,255

)

 

$

2,202

 

 

$

947

 

 

18


Derivative Transactions Notional Amounts

As of April 20, 2024, the company had the following outstanding financial contracts that were entered to hedge commodity risk (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Notional
Amount

 

Wheat contracts

 

$

10,565

 

Soybean oil contracts

 

 

11,412

 

Natural gas contracts

 

 

1,693

 

Corn contracts

 

 

398

 

Total

 

$

24,068

 

 

The company’s derivative instruments contain no credit-risk related contingent features at April 20, 2024. As of April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, the company had $5.5 million and $6.3 million, respectively, in other current assets representing collateral for hedged positions. As of April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, the company had $2.1 million and $3.2 million, respectively, recorded in other accrued liabilities representing collateral due to counterparties for hedged positions.

10. OTHER CURRENT AND NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Other current assets consist of (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

Prepaid assets

 

$

2,559

 

 

$

4,042

 

Service contracts

 

 

24,473

 

 

 

27,102

 

Prepaid insurance

 

 

2,790

 

 

 

6,546

 

Prepaid marketing and promotions

 

 

1,386

 

 

 

4,458

 

Collateral to counterparties for derivative positions

 

 

5,450

 

 

 

6,333

 

Income taxes receivable

 

 

10,770

 

 

 

17,362

 

Other

 

 

1,095

 

 

 

214

 

Total

 

$

48,523

 

 

$

66,057

 

 

Other non-current assets consist of (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

Unamortized financing fees

 

$

1,109

 

 

$

1,125

 

Investments

 

 

2,426

 

 

 

2,443

 

Investment in unconsolidated affiliate

 

 

1,481

 

 

 

5,481

 

Deposits

 

 

2,665

 

 

 

2,789

 

Noncurrent postretirement benefit plan asset

 

 

6,428

 

 

 

6,494

 

Other

 

 

136

 

 

 

155

 

Total

 

$

14,245

 

 

$

18,487

 

 

 

19


11. OTHER ACCRUED LIABILITIES AND OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

Other accrued liabilities consist of (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

Employee compensation

 

$

28,311

 

 

$

28,000

 

Employee vacation

 

 

20,526

 

 

 

17,699

 

VSIP

 

 

 

 

 

1,429

 

Employee bonus

 

 

12,632

 

 

 

28,004

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

 

1,675

 

 

 

1,918

 

Self-insurance reserves

 

 

34,121

 

 

 

38,003

 

Bank overdraft

 

 

7,479

 

 

 

18,180

 

Accrued interest

 

 

2,200

 

 

 

7,516

 

Accrued utilities

 

 

5,729

 

 

 

6,121

 

Accrued taxes

 

 

11,257

 

 

 

7,984

 

Accrued advertising

 

 

3,169

 

 

 

2,333

 

Accrued legal settlements

 

 

55,000

 

 

 

55,000

 

Accrued legal costs

 

 

4,928

 

 

 

3,798

 

Accrued short-term deferred income

 

 

2,894

 

 

 

3,217

 

Collateral due to counterparties for derivative positions

 

 

2,081

 

 

 

3,230

 

Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal liability

 

 

 

 

 

1,297

 

Repurchase obligations of distribution rights

 

 

60,608

 

 

 

64,583

 

Other

 

 

8,438

 

 

 

4,634

 

Total

 

$

261,048

 

 

$

292,946

 

 

The repurchase of distribution rights is part of a legal settlement which requires a phased repurchase of approximately 350 distribution rights. The company estimated the cost of these repurchases, and an additional 50 other California distribution rights that are not part of the settlement, in accordance with the settlement agreement and the amount is net of the remaining notes receivable balance. The repurchases began at the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 and are anticipated to be completed by the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2025. See Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies, for details on this settlement.

 

Other long-term liabilities consist of (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

Deferred income

 

$

6,485

 

 

$

7,222

 

Deferred compensation

 

 

26,777

 

 

 

26,207

 

Other

 

 

2,587

 

 

 

508

 

Total

 

$

35,849

 

 

$

33,937

 

 

 

12. ASSETS HELD FOR SALE

The company may repurchase distribution rights from IDPs for a variety of reasons, including when the company decides to exit a territory or, in some cases, when the IDP elects to terminate its relationship with the company. In most of the distributor agreements, if the company decides to exit a territory or stop using the independent distribution model in a territory, the company is contractually required to purchase the distribution rights from the IDP. In the event an IDP terminates its relationship with the company, the company, although not legally obligated, may repurchase and operate those distribution rights as a company-owned territory. The IDPs may also sell their distribution rights to another person or entity. Distribution rights purchased from IDPs and operated as company-owned territories are recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets in the line item assets held for sale while the company actively seeks another IDP to purchase the distribution rights for the territory. Distribution rights held for sale and operated by the company are sold to IDPs at fair market value pursuant to the terms of a distributor agreement. There are multiple versions of the distributor agreement in place at any given time and the terms of such distributor agreements vary.

20


Additional assets recorded in assets held for sale are for property, plant and equipment. The carrying values of assets held for sale are not amortized and are evaluated for impairment as required at the end of the reporting period. The table below presents the assets held for sale as of April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

Distribution rights

 

$

25,445

 

 

$

20,587

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

 

1,324

 

 

 

1,212

 

Total assets held for sale

 

$

26,769

 

 

$

21,799

 

 

13. DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

Long-term debt (net of issuance costs and debt discounts excluding line-of-credit arrangements) (leases are separately discussed in Note 5, Leases) consisted of the following at April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

Unsecured credit facility

 

$

 

 

$

 

2031 notes

 

 

494,947

 

 

 

494,723

 

2026 notes

 

 

398,596

 

 

 

398,421

 

Accounts receivable repurchase facility

 

 

150,000

 

 

 

155,000

 

 

 

 

1,043,543

 

 

 

1,048,144

 

Less current maturities of long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

 

$

1,043,543

 

 

$

1,048,144

 

 

Bank overdrafts occur when checks have been issued but have not been presented to the bank for payment. Certain banks allow us to delay funding of issued checks until the checks are presented for payment. The delay in funding results in a temporary source of financing from the bank. The activity related to bank overdrafts is shown as a financing activity in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Bank overdrafts are included in other accrued liabilities on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The company also had standby letters of credit (“LOCs”) outstanding of $8.4 million at April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, which reduce the availability of funds under the senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the "credit facility"). The outstanding LOCs are for the benefit of certain insurance companies and lessors. None of the outstanding LOCs are recorded as a liability on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

2031 Notes, 2026 Notes, Accounts Receivable Repurchase Facility, Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, and Credit Facility

2031 Notes. On March 9, 2021, the company issued $500.0 million of senior notes. The company will pay semiannual interest on the 2031 notes on each March 15 and September 15 and the 2031 notes will mature on March 15, 2031. The notes bear interest at 2.400% per annum. On any date prior to December 15, 2030, the company may redeem some or all of the notes at a price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed and (2) a “make-whole” amount plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest. The make-whole amount is equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the 2031 notes to be redeemed that would be due if such notes matured December 15, 2030 (exclusive of interest accrued to, but not including, the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at a rate equal to the sum of the applicable treasury rate (as defined in the indenture governing the notes), plus 20 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest. At any time on or after December 15, 2030, the company may redeem some or all of the 2031 notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest. If the company experiences a “change of control triggering event” (which involves a change of control of the company and the related rating of the notes below investment grade), it is required to offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon unless the company has exercised its option to redeem the notes in whole. The 2031 notes are also subject to customary restrictive covenants for investment grade debt, including certain limitations on liens and sale and leaseback transactions.

21


The face value of the 2031 notes is $500.0 million. There was a debt discount of $2.4 million representing the difference between the net proceeds, after expenses, received upon issuance of debt and the amount repayable at its maturity. The company also accrued issuance costs of $4.8 million (including underwriting fees and other fees) on the 2031 notes. Debt issuance costs and the debt discount are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the 2031 notes. As of April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under the indenture governing the 2031 notes.

2026 Notes. On September 28, 2016, the company issued $400.0 million of senior notes. The company pays semiannual interest on the 2026 notes on each April 1 and October 1 and the 2026 notes will mature on October 1, 2026. The notes bear interest at 3.500% per annum. The 2026 notes are subject to interest rate adjustments if either Moody’s or S&P downgrades (or downgrades and subsequently upgrades) the credit rating assigned to the 2026 notes. On any date prior to July 1, 2026, the company may redeem some or all of the notes at a price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed and (2) a “make-whole” amount plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest. The make-whole amount is equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the 2026 notes to be redeemed that would be due if such notes matured July 1, 2026 (exclusive of interest accrued to, but not including, the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the treasury rate (as defined in the indenture governing the notes), plus 30 basis points, plus in each case accrued and unpaid interest. At any time on or after July 1, 2026, the company may redeem some or all of the 2026 notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest. If the company experiences a “change of control triggering event” (which involves a change of control of the company and the related rating of the notes below investment grade), it is required to offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon unless the company exercised its option to redeem the notes in whole. The 2026 notes are also subject to customary restrictive covenants for investment grade debt, including certain limitations on liens and sale and leaseback transactions.

The face value of the 2026 notes is $400.0 million. There was a debt discount of $2.1 million representing the difference between the net proceeds, after expenses, received upon issuance of debt and the amount repayable at its maturity. The company also paid issuance costs of $3.6 million (including underwriting fees and other fees) on the 2026 notes. Debt issuance costs and the debt discount are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the 2026 notes. As of April 20, 2024, and December 30, 2023, respectively, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under the indenture governing the 2026 notes.

Accounts Receivable Repurchase Facility. On April 14, 2023, the company terminated the accounts receivable securitization facility (the "securitization facility") and entered into a two-year $200.0 million accounts receivable repurchase facility (the "repurchase facility"). On April, 15, 2024, the company entered into the First Omnibus Amendment to amend the repurchase facility and extend the scheduled facility expiration date from April 14, 2025 to April 14, 2026. Under the repurchase facility, certain subsidiaries of the company sell or distribute, on an ongoing basis, substantially all of their trade receivables to the company. The company may at its option onward sell all of its qualifying receivables to the funding parties under the repurchase facility with an agreement to repurchase the receivables on a monthly basis for a repurchase price equal to the purchase price paid and an interest component based on Term SOFR (as defined below) plus a margin. There is an unused fee applicable on the daily unused portion of the repurchase facility. The repurchase facility contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, and events of default. As of April 20, 2024, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under the repurchase facility.

The table below presents the borrowings and repayments under the repurchase facility during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024:

 

 

 

Amount
(thousands)

 

Balance at December 30, 2023

 

$

155,000

 

Borrowings

 

 

80,000

 

Payments

 

 

(85,000

)

Balance at April 20, 2024

 

$

150,000

 

The table below presents the net amount available for working capital and general corporate purposes under the repurchases facility as of April 20, 2024:

 

 

 

Amount
(thousands)

 

Gross amount available

 

$

200,000

 

Outstanding

 

 

(150,000

)

Available for withdrawal

 

$

50,000

 

 

22


Amounts available for withdrawal under the repurchase facility are determined as the lesser of the total repurchase facility limit and a formula derived amount based on qualifying trade receivables. The table below presents the highest and lowest outstanding balance under the repurchase facility during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024:

 

 

 

Amount
(thousands)

 

High balance

 

$

175,000

 

Low balance

 

$

105,000

 

Financing costs paid at inception of the repurchase facility and when amendments are executed are being amortized over the life of the repurchase facility. The company incurred $0.2 million in financing costs during the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 related to the amendment and $0.8 million in financing costs at inception during the first quarter of Fiscal 2023. The balance of unamortized financing costs was $0.4 million and $0.3 million on April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively, and is recorded in other assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. On July 17, 2013, the company entered into the securitization facility. The company had previously amended the securitization facility 11 times since execution and most recently on February 13, 2023. On April 14, 2023, the company terminated the securitization facility with no outstanding borrowings and recognized a charge of $0.3 million to write-off the unamortized loan costs upon the early extinguishment of the securitization facility.

Credit Facility. The company is party to an amended and restated credit agreement, dated as of October 24, 2003, with the lenders party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent, (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “amended and restated credit agreement”). The company has amended the amended and restated credit agreement eight times since execution, most recently on April 12, 2023 (the “eighth amendment”). Under the amended and restated credit agreement, our credit facility is a five-year, $500.0 million senior unsecured revolving loan facility with the following terms and conditions: (i) a maturity date of July 30, 2026; (ii) an applicable margin for revolving loans maintained as (1) base rate loans and swingline loans with a range of 0.00% to 0.525% and (2) SOFR loans with a range of 0.815% to 1.525%, in each case, based on the more favorable (to the company) of (x) the leverage ratio of the company and its subsidiaries and (y) the company’s debt rating; (iii) an applicable facility fee with a range of 0.06% to 0.225%, due quarterly on all commitments under the amended and restated credit agreement, based on the more favorable (to the company) of (x) the leverage ratio of the company and its subsidiaries and (y) the company’s debt rating; and (iv) a maximum leverage ratio covenant to permit the company, at its option, in connection with certain acquisitions and investments and subject to the terms and conditions provided in the amended and restated credit agreement, to increase the maximum ratio permitted thereunder on one or more occasions to 4.00 to 1.00 for a period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, including and/or immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such acquisitions or investments were completed (the “covenant holiday”), provided that each additional covenant holiday will not be available to the company until it has achieved and maintained a leverage ratio of at least 3.75 to 1.00 and has been complied with for at least two fiscal quarters. Additionally, the eighth amendment replaced the benchmark rate at which borrowings under the amended and restated credit agreement bear interest from LIBOR to the forward-looking SOFR term rate administered by CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited ("Term SOFR"). As a result of these amendments and with respect to SOFR Loans, we can borrow at Term SOFR, plus a credit spread adjustment of 0.10% subject to a floor of zero.

In addition, the credit facility contains a provision that permits the company to request up to $200.0 million in additional revolving commitments, for a total of up to $700.0 million, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. Proceeds from the credit facility may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures, acquisition financing, refinancing of indebtedness, dividends and share repurchases. The credit facility includes certain customary restrictions, which, among other things, require maintenance of financial covenants and limit encumbrance of assets and creation of indebtedness. Restrictive financial covenants include such ratios as a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. The company believes that, given its current cash position, its cash flow from operating activities and its available credit capacity, it can comply with the current terms of the amended credit facility and can meet its presently foreseeable financial requirements. As of April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under the credit facility.

Financing costs paid at inception of the credit facility and at the time amendments are executed are being amortized over the life of the credit facility. The company incurred additional financing costs of $0.1 million during the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 for the eighth amendment. The balance of unamortized financing costs was $0.8 million and $0.9 million on April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively, and is recorded in other assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Amounts outstanding under the credit facility can vary daily. Changes in the gross borrowings and repayments can be caused by cash flow activity from operations, capital expenditures, acquisitions, dividends, share repurchases, and tax payments, as well as derivative transactions, which are part of the company’s overall risk management strategy as discussed in Note 9, Derivative Financial

23


Instruments, of this Form 10-Q. The table below presents the borrowings and repayments under the credit facility during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024.

 

 

 

Amount
(thousands)

 

Balance at December 30, 2023

 

$

 

Borrowings

 

 

37,500

 

Payments

 

 

(37,500

)

Balance at April 20, 2024

 

$

 

 

The table below presents the net amount available under the credit facility as of April 20, 2024:

 

 

 

Amount
(thousands)

 

Gross amount available

 

$

500,000

 

Outstanding

 

 

 

Letters of credit

 

 

(8,400

)

Available for withdrawal

 

$

491,600

 

 

The table below presents the highest and lowest outstanding balance under the credit facility during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024:

 

 

 

Amount
(thousands)

 

High balance

 

$

17,500

 

Low balance

 

$

 

 

Aggregate maturities of debt outstanding as of April 20, 2024 are as follows (excluding unamortized debt discount and issuance costs) (amounts in thousands):

 

Remainder of 2024

 

$

 

2025

 

 

 

2026

 

 

550,000

 

2027

 

 

 

2028

 

 

 

2029 and thereafter

 

 

500,000

 

Total

 

$

1,050,000

 

 

Debt discount and issuance costs are being amortized straight-line (which approximates the effective method) over the term of the underlying debt outstanding. The table below reconciles the debt issuance costs and debt discounts to the net carrying value of each of our debt obligations (excluding line-of-credit arrangements) at April 20, 2024 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt Issuance Costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Face Value

 

 

and Debt Discount

 

 

Net Carrying Value

 

2031 notes

 

$

500,000

 

 

$

5,053

 

 

$

494,947

 

2026 notes

 

 

400,000

 

 

 

1,404

 

 

 

398,596

 

Total

 

$

900,000

 

 

$

6,457

 

 

$

893,543

 

 

The table below reconciles the debt issuance costs and debt discounts to the net carrying value of each of our debt obligations (excluding line-of-credit arrangements) at December 30, 2023 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt Issuance Costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Face Value

 

 

and Debt Discount

 

 

Net Carrying Value

 

2031 notes

 

$

500,000

 

 

$

5,277

 

 

$

494,723

 

2026 notes

 

 

400,000

 

 

 

1,579

 

 

 

398,421

 

Total

 

$

900,000

 

 

$

6,856

 

 

$

893,144

 

 

24


14. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

Distribution rights agreement VIE analysis

The incorporated IDPs qualify as variable interest entities ("VIEs"). The IDPs who are formed as sole proprietorships are excluded from the following VIE accounting analysis and discussion.

Incorporated IDPs acquire distribution rights and enter into a contract with the company to sell the company’s products in the IDPs’ defined geographic territory. The incorporated IDPs have the option to finance the acquisition of their distribution rights with the company. They can also pay cash or obtain external financing at the time they acquire the distribution rights. The combination of the company’s loans to the incorporated IDPs and the ongoing distributor arrangements with the incorporated IDPs provide a level of funding to the equity owners of the various incorporated IDPs that would not otherwise be available. As of April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, there was $130.7 million and $134.4 million, respectively, in gross distribution rights notes receivable outstanding from incorporated IDPs.

The company is not considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIEs because the company does not (i) have the ability to direct the significant activities of the VIEs that would affect their ability to operate their respective businesses and (ii) provide any implicit or explicit guarantees or other financial support to the VIEs, other than the financing described above, for specific return or performance benchmarks. The activities controlled by the incorporated IDPs that are deemed to most significantly impact the ultimate success of the incorporated IDP entities relate to those decisions inherent in operating the distribution business in the territory, including acquiring trucks and trailers, managing fuel costs, employee matters and other strategic decisions. In addition, we do not provide, nor do we intend to provide, financial or other support to the IDP. The IDPs are responsible for the operations of their respective territories.

The company’s maximum contractual exposure to loss for the incorporated IDP relates to the distributor rights note receivable for the portion of the territory the incorporated IDPs financed at the time they acquired the distribution rights. The incorporated IDPs remit payment on their distributor rights note receivable each week during the settlement process of their weekly activity. The company will operate a territory on behalf of an incorporated IDP in situations where the IDP has abandoned its distribution rights. Any remaining balance outstanding on the distribution rights notes receivable is relieved once the distribution rights have been sold on the IDPs behalf. The company’s collateral from the territory distribution rights mitigates the potential losses.

15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Self-insurance reserves and other commitments and contingencies

The company records self-insurance reserves as an other accrued liability on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The reserves include an estimate of expected settlements on pending claims, defense costs and a provision for claims incurred but not reported. These estimates are based on the company’s assessment of potential liability using an analysis of available information with respect to pending claims, historical experience and current cost trends. The amount of the company’s ultimate liability in respect of these matters may differ materially from these estimates.

In the event the company ceases to utilize the independent distributor model or exits a geographic market, the company is contractually required in some situations to purchase the distribution rights from the independent distributor. The company expects to continue operating under this model and has concluded for the litigation described below that none require loss contingency recognition pursuant to our policy. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of our Form 10-K.

The company’s facilities are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding the discharge of material into the environment and the protection of the environment in other ways. The company is not a party to any material proceedings arising under these laws and regulations. The company believes that compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations will not materially affect the consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or the competitive position of the company. The company believes it is currently in substantial compliance with all material environmental laws and regulations affecting the company and its properties.

25


Litigation

The company and its subsidiaries from time to time are parties to, or targets of, lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings, including personal injury, commercial, contract, environmental, antitrust, product liability, health and safety and employment matters, which are being handled and defended in the ordinary course of business. At this time, the company is defending twenty complaints filed by IDPs alleging that such distributors were misclassified as independent contractors. Six of these lawsuits seek class and/or collective action treatment. The remaining fourteen cases either allege individual claims or do not seek class or collective action treatment or, in cases in which class treatment was sought, the court denied class certification. The respective courts have ruled on plaintiffs’ motions for class certification in two of the pending cases, each of which is discussed below. Unless otherwise noted, a class was conditionally certified under the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") in each of the cases described below, although the company has the ability to petition the court to decertify that class at a later date:

 

Case Name

 

Case No.

 

Venue

 

Date Filed

 

Status

Richard et al. v. Flowers Foods, Inc., Flowers Baking Co. of Lafayette,
LLC, Flowers Baking Co. of Baton
Rouge, LLC, Flowers Baking Co. of
Tyler, LLC and Flowers Baking Co.
of New Orleans, LLC

 

6:15-cv-02557

 

U.S. District Court Western
District of Louisiana

 

10/21/2015

 

On April 9, 2021, the court decertified the FLSA collective action and denied plaintiffs' motion to certify under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 a state law class of distributors who operated in the state of Louisiana.

Martins v. Flowers Foods, Inc.,
Flowers Baking Co. of Bradenton,
LLC and Flowers Baking Co.
of Villa Rica, LLC

 

8:16-cv-03145

 

U.S. District Court Middle
District of Florida

 

11/8/2016

 

 

 

The company and/or its respective subsidiaries contest the allegations and are vigorously defending all of these lawsuits. Given the stage of the complaints and the claims and issues presented, except for lawsuits disclosed herein that have reached a settlement or agreement in principle, the company cannot reasonably estimate at this time the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from the unresolved lawsuits.

Since the beginning of Fiscal 2023, the company has settled, and the appropriate court has approved, the following collective/class action lawsuits filed by IDPs alleging that such IDPs were misclassified as independent contractors:

 

Case Name

 

Case No.

 

Venue

 

Date Filed

 

Comments

Ludlow et al. v. Flowers Foods, Inc., Flowers Bakeries, LLC and Flowers Finance, LLC

 

3:18-cv-01190

 

U.S. District Court Southern District of California

 

6/6/2018

 

On March 18, 2024, the court approved a settlement to settle this lawsuit and two companion cases – Maciel et al. v. Flowers Foods, Inc. et al., No. 3:20-cv-02059-JO-JLB (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California) and Maciel v. Flowers Foods, Inc. et al., No. 20-CIV-02959 (Superior Court of San Mateo County, California). The settlement provides for a $55 million common fund to cover settlement payments to a class of approximately 475 plaintiffs, service awards, attorneys’ fees and settlement administration expenses. The settlement also requires a phased repurchase of distribution rights associated with approximately 350 territories in California. Once completed, the company plans to service its California market with an employment model. The repurchase of distribution rights is anticipated to be completed by the first quarter of Fiscal 2025. The company estimates the repurchase cost of the 350 territories, along with 50 additional

26


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

California territories that are not part of the settlement, to be approximately $80.2 million (of which $65.3 million was originally included in other accrued liabilities and the remaining $14.9 million in a contra account to notes receivable). These amounts were recorded in the selling, distribution, and administrative expenses line item of the Consolidated Statements of Income during Fiscal 2023.

See Note 13, Debt and Other Obligations, for additional information on the company’s commitments.

16. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following is a reconciliation of net income and weighted average shares for calculating basic and diluted earnings per common share for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023, respectively (amounts and shares in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

Net income

 

$

73,043

 

 

$

70,710

 

Basic Earnings Per Common Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding for common stock

 

 

211,078

 

 

 

211,769

 

Basic earnings per common share

 

$

0.35

 

 

$

0.33

 

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding for common stock

 

 

211,078

 

 

 

211,769

 

Add: Shares of common stock assumed issued upon exercise of
   stock options and vesting of restricted stock

 

 

1,036

 

 

 

1,628

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for common stock

 

 

212,114

 

 

 

213,397

 

Diluted earnings per common share

 

$

0.34

 

 

$

0.33

 

 

There were 407,670 and 326,690 anti-dilutive shares during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023, respectively.

 

17. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

On March 5, 2014, our Board of Directors approved and adopted the 2014 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (“Omnibus Plan”). The Omnibus Plan was approved by our shareholders on May 21, 2014 and authorized 8,000,000 shares to be used for awards under the Omnibus Plan. The Omnibus Plan authorizes the compensation committee of the Board of Directors to provide equity-based compensation in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, dividend equivalents and other awards to provide our officers, key employees, and non-employee directors’ incentives and rewards for performance. Equity awards granted after May 21, 2014 are governed by the Omnibus Plan. On May 25, 2023, the company amended and restated the Omnibus Plan to register an additional 9,340,000 shares.

The following is a summary of restricted stock and deferred stock outstanding under the Omnibus Plan described above. Information relating to the company’s stock appreciation rights, which were issued under a separate stock appreciation right plan, is also described below. The company typically grants awards at the beginning of its fiscal year. Information on grants to employees during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 is discussed below.

 

27


Performance-Contingent Restricted Stock Awards

Performance-Contingent Total Shareholder Return Shares (“TSR Shares”)

Certain key employees have been granted performance-contingent restricted stock under the Omnibus Plan in the form of TSR Shares. The awards vest approximately three years from the date of grant (after the filing of the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K), and the shares become non-forfeitable if, and to the extent that, on that date the vesting conditions are satisfied. The total shareholder return (“TSR”) is the percent change in the company’s stock price over the measurement period plus the dividends paid to shareholders. The performance payout is calculated at the end of each of the last four quarters (averaged) in the measurement period. Once the TSR is determined for the company (“Company TSR”), it is compared to the TSR of our food company peers (“Peer Group TSR”). The Company TSR compared to the Peer Group TSR will determine the payout as set forth below:

 

Percentile

 

Payout as %
of Target

 

90th

 

 

200

%

70th

 

 

150

%

50th

 

 

100

%

30th

 

 

50

%

Below 30th

 

 

0

%

 

For performance between the levels described above, the degree of vesting is interpolated on a linear basis.

The TSR Shares vest immediately if the grantee dies or becomes disabled. For awards granted starting in Fiscal 2024, if the grantee retires after attaining at least age 55, provided that the sum of the grantee's age plus years of service is an amount equal to or greater than 65, on the normal vesting date the grantee will receive a pro-rated number of shares based upon the retirement date and measured at the actual performance for the entire performance period. For awards granted prior to Fiscal 2024, if the grantee retires at age 65 (or age 55 with at least 10 years of service with the company) or later, on the normal vesting date the grantee will receive a pro-rated number of shares based upon the retirement date and measured at the actual performance for the entire performance period. In addition, if the company undergoes a change in control, the TSR Shares will immediately vest at the target level, provided that if 12 months of the performance period have been completed, vesting will be determined based on Company TSR as of the date of the change in control without application of four-quarter averaging. During the vesting period, the grantee has none of the rights of a shareholder. Dividends declared during the vesting period will accrue and will be paid at vesting on the TSR Shares that ultimately vest. The fair value estimate was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model, which utilizes multiple input variables to estimate the probability of the company achieving the market condition discussed above. Inputs into the model included the following for the company and comparator companies: (i) TSR from the beginning of the performance cycle through the measurement date; (ii) volatility; (iii) risk-free interest rates; and (iv) the correlation of the comparator companies’ TSR. The inputs are based on historical capital market data.

The following performance-contingent TSR Shares have been granted during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 under the Omnibus Plan (amounts in thousands, except price data):

 

Grant Date

 

Shares
Granted

 

 

Vesting Date

 

Fair Value
per Share

 

12/31/2023

 

 

272

 

 

2/28/2027

 

$

26.07

 

 

28


Performance-Contingent Return on Invested Capital Shares (“ROIC Shares”)

Certain key employees have been granted performance-contingent restricted stock under the Omnibus Plan in the form of ROIC Shares. The awards generally vest approximately three years from the date of grant (after the filing of the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K), and the shares become non-forfeitable if, and to the extent that, on that date, the vesting conditions are satisfied. Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”) is calculated by dividing our profit, as defined, by the invested capital. Generally, the performance condition requires the company’s average ROIC to exceed its average weighted cost of capital (“WACC”) by between 1.50 to 4.50 percentage points for the Fiscal 2024 awards and 1.75 to 4.75 percentage points for the Fiscal 2023 and Fiscal 2022 awards (the “ROI Target”) over the three fiscal year performance period. If the lowest ROI Target is not met, the awards are forfeited. The ROIC Shares can be earned based on a ranges of target as defined below:

 

Difference of ROIC minus WACC

 

2024 Award

Less than 150 basis points

 

0%

150 basis points

 

50%

300 basis points

 

100%

450+ basis points

 

150%

 

 

 

Difference of ROIC minus WACC

 

2023 and 2022 Award

Less than 175 basis points

 

0%

175 basis points

 

50%

375 basis points

 

100%

475+ basis points

 

125%

For performance between the levels described above, the degree of vesting is interpolated on a linear basis.

The ROIC Shares vest immediately if the grantee dies or becomes disabled. For awards granted starting in Fiscal 2024, if the grantee retires after attaining at least age 55, provided that the sum of the grantee's age plus years of service is an amount equal to or greater than 65, on the normal vesting date the grantee will receive a pro-rated number of shares based upon the retirement date and measured at the actual performance for the entire performance period. For awards granted prior to Fiscal 2024, if the grantee retires at age 65 (or age 55 with at least 10 years of service with the company) or later, on the normal vesting date the grantee will receive a pro-rated number of ROIC Shares based upon the retirement date and actual performance for the entire performance period. In addition, if the company undergoes a change in control, the ROIC Shares will immediately vest at the target level. During the vesting period, the grantee has none of the rights of a shareholder. Dividends declared during the vesting period will accrue and will be paid at vesting on the ROIC Shares that ultimately vest. The fair value of this type of award is equal to the stock price on the grant date. Since these awards have a performance condition feature, the expense associated with these awards may change depending on the expected ROI Target attained at each reporting period. The 2022 award is being expensed at our current estimated payout percentage of 125% of ROI Target, and the 2023 and 2024 awards are being expensed at 100%.

The following performance-contingent ROIC Shares have been granted under the Omnibus Plan during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 (amounts in thousands, except price data):

 

Grant Date

 

Shares
Granted

 

 

Vesting Date

 

Fair Value
per Share

 

12/31/2023

 

 

272

 

 

2/28/2027

 

$

22.51

 

 

Performance-Contingent Restricted Stock

 

The table below presents the TSR modifier share adjustment (a 127.69% final payout), ROIC modifier share adjustment (a 125% final payout), accumulated dividends on vested shares, and the tax benefit at vesting of the performance-contingent restricted stock awards (amounts in thousands, except per share data):

 

Award Granted

 

 

Fiscal Year
Vested

 

 

TSR Modifier
Increase
Shares

 

 

ROIC Modifier
Increase
Shares

 

 

Dividends at
Vesting

 

 

Tax
Benefit

 

 

Fair Value at
Vesting

 

 

2021

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

92,775

 

 

 

83,835

 

 

$

2,173

 

 

$

40

 

 

$

19,159

 

 

29


The company’s performance-contingent restricted stock activity for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 is presented below (amounts in thousands, except price data):

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

 

Nonvested shares at December 30, 2023

 

 

2,017

 

 

$

27.70

 

Granted

 

 

544

 

 

$

24.29

 

Grant increase for achieving the ROIC modifier

 

 

84

 

 

$

22.51

 

Grant increase for achieving the TSR modifier

 

 

93

 

 

$

26.07

 

Vested

 

 

(848

)

 

$

24.40

 

Forfeited

 

 

(8

)

 

$

28.94

 

Nonvested shares at April 20, 2024

 

 

1,882

 

 

$

27.89

 

 

As of April 20, 2024, there was $29.8 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock granted under the Omnibus Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.11 years.

Time-Based Restricted Stock Units

Certain key employees have been granted time-based restricted stock units (“TBRSU Shares”) at the beginning of the year. These awards vest on January 5th each year in equal installments over a three-year period which began in Fiscal 2021. Occasionally, awards may be issued that have a vesting period of less than three years. Dividends earned on shares will be held by the company during the vesting period and paid in cash when the awards vest and shares are distributed.

The following TBRSU Shares have been granted under the Omnibus Plan during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 (amounts in thousands, except price data):

 

Grant Date

 

Shares Granted

 

 

Vesting Date

 

Fair Value
per Share

 

12/31/2023

 

 

818

 

 

Equally over 3 years

 

$

22.51

 

2/16/2024

 

 

7

 

 

Equally over 3 years

 

$

22.42

 

 

The TBRSU Shares activity for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 is set forth below (amounts in thousands, except price data):

 

 

 

TBRSU Shares

 

 

Weighted
Average
Fair
Value

 

 

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Years)

 

 

Unrecognized
Compensation
Cost

 

Nonvested shares at December 30, 2023

 

 

473

 

 

$

26.67

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested

 

 

(249

)

 

$

25.75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

825

 

 

$

22.53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeitures

 

 

(11

)

 

$

24.55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonvested shares at April 20, 2024

 

 

1,038

 

 

$

23.62

 

 

 

2.40

 

 

$

21,345

 

 

The table below presents the accumulated dividends on vested shares and the tax (expense)/benefit at vesting of the time-based restricted stock units (amounts in thousands).

 

Award Granted

 

 

Fiscal Year
Vested

 

 

Dividends at
Vesting

 

 

Tax
(Expense) Benefit

 

 

Fair Value at
Vesting

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

$

73

 

 

$

(137

)

 

$

2,612

 

 

2022

 

 

 

2024

 

 

$

103

 

 

$

(69

)

 

$

1,348

 

 

2021

 

 

 

2024

 

 

$

197

 

 

$

3

 

 

$

1,734

 

 

30


Deferred Stock

Non-employee directors may convert their annual board retainers into deferred stock equal in value to 100% of the cash payments directors would otherwise receive and the vesting period is a one-year period to match the period that cash would have been received if no conversion existed. Accumulated dividends are paid upon delivery of the shares. During the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, non-employee directors elected to receive, and were granted, an aggregate grant of 6,663 common shares for board retainer deferrals pursuant to the Omnibus Plan. During the first quarter of Fiscal 2023, non-employee directors elected to receive, and were granted, an aggregate grant of 3,479 shares for board retainer deferrals pursuant to the Omnibus Plan which vested during the first quarter of Fiscal 2024. Non-employee directors received 14,764 shares of previously deferred board retainer deferrals during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024.

Non-employee directors also receive annual grants of deferred stock. This deferred stock vests one year from the grant date. The deferred stock will be distributed to the grantee at a time designated by the grantee at the date of grant. Compensation expense is recorded on this deferred stock over the one-year vesting period. During the second quarter of Fiscal 2023, non-employee directors were granted 59,400 shares for their annual grant pursuant to the Omnibus Plan. Additionally, during the third quarter of Fiscal 2023, an aggregate of 4,660 shares were granted to two newly elected non-employee directors, representing a prorated portion of the annual grant pursuant to the Omnibus Plan. Non-employee directors received 5,700 shares of previously deferred annual grant awards during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024.

The deferred stock activity for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 is set forth below (amounts in thousands, except price data):

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Weighted
Average
Fair
Value

 

 

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Years)

 

 

Unrecognized
compensation
cost

 

Nonvested shares at December 30, 2023

 

 

68

 

 

$

26.26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested

 

 

(4

)

 

$

28.74

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

7

 

 

$

22.51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonvested shares at April 20, 2024

 

 

71

 

 

$

25.75

 

 

 

0.35

 

 

$

253

 

 

Stock-Based Payments Compensation Expense Summary

The following table summarizes the company’s stock-based compensation expense for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023, respectively (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

Performance-contingent restricted stock awards

 

$

7,250

 

 

$

7,510

 

TBRSU Shares

 

 

3,360

 

 

 

1,837

 

Deferred and restricted stock

 

 

519

 

 

 

489

 

Total stock-based compensation

 

$

11,129

 

 

$

9,836

 

 

 

18. POSTRETIREMENT PLANS

The following summarizes the company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets related pension and other postretirement benefit plan accounts at April 20, 2024 compared to accounts at December 30, 2023 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

Noncurrent benefit asset

 

$

6,428

 

 

$

6,494

 

Current benefit liability

 

$

699

 

 

$

699

 

Noncurrent benefit liability

 

$

5,700

 

 

$

5,798

 

AOCI, net of tax

 

$

(415

)

 

$

(342

)

 

Defined Benefit Plans and Nonqualified Plan

The company sponsors two pension plans, the Flowers Foods, Inc. Retirement Plan No. 2, and the Tasty Baking Company Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“Tasty SERP”). The Tasty SERP is frozen and has only retirees and beneficiaries remaining in the plan.

31


The company used a measurement date of December 31, 2023 for the defined benefit and postretirement benefit plans described below.

There were no contributions made by the company to any plan during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023.

The net periodic pension cost for the company’s plans include the following components (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

Service cost

 

$

224

 

 

$

210

 

Interest cost

 

 

362

 

 

 

401

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(494

)

 

 

(480

)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

 

18

 

 

 

18

 

Amortization of net loss

 

 

13

 

 

 

53

 

Total net periodic pension cost

 

$

123

 

 

$

202

 

 

The components of total net periodic benefit cost other than the service cost are included in the other components of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit plans credit line item on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Postretirement Benefit Plan

The company provides certain health care and life insurance benefits for eligible retired employees covered under the active medical plans. The plan incorporates an up-front deductible, coinsurance payments and retiree contributions at various premium levels. Eligibility and maximum period of coverage is based on age and length of service.

The net periodic postretirement expense for the company includes the following components (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

Service cost

 

$

56

 

 

$

55

 

Interest cost

 

 

70

 

 

 

73

 

Amortization of prior service credit

 

 

(72

)

 

 

(72

)

Amortization of net gain

 

 

(55

)

 

 

(76

)

Total net periodic postretirement credit

 

$

(1

)

 

$

(20

)

 

The components of total net periodic postretirement benefits credit other than the service cost are included in the other components of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit plans credit line item on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

The Flowers Foods, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan covers substantially all the company’s employees who have completed certain service requirements. The total cost and employer contributions were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

Total cost and employer contributions

 

$

10,520

 

 

$

9,974

 

 

Multi-employer Pension Plan

On July 19, 2022, the company announced the closure of the Holsum Bakery in Phoenix, Arizona. The bakery produced bread and bun products and ceased production on October 31, 2022. As a result, the union participants of the IAM National Pension Fund (the “IAM Fund”) at the Phoenix bakery will withdraw from the IAM Fund. During the third quarter of Fiscal 2022, the company recorded a liability of $1.3 million for the withdrawal from the IAM Fund. During the first quarter of Fiscal 2024, the company paid $1.4 million for the withdrawal and recorded additional expense of $0.1 million which is included in the selling, distribution and administrative expenses line item of our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. While this is our best estimate of the ultimate cost of the withdrawal from this plan, additional withdrawal liability may be incurred in the event of a mass withdrawal, as defined by statute, occurring anytime within the next three years following our complete withdrawal.

32


19. INCOME TAXES

The company’s effective tax rate for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 was 24.0% compared to 21.4% for the sixteen weeks ended April 22, 2023. The increase in the rate was primarily due to a reduction in the discrete tax benefit in the current quarter when compared to the discrete tax benefit for the prior year quarter. During the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, the primary differences in the effective rate and the statutory rate were state income taxes.

During the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, the company’s activity with respect to its uncertain tax positions and related interest expense accrual was not significant to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. As of April 20, 2024, we do not anticipate significant changes to the amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits over the next twelve months.

20. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The company has evaluated subsequent events since April 20, 2024, the date of these financial statements. We believe there were no material events or transactions discovered during this evaluation that require recognition or disclosure in the financial statements other than the item discussed below.

On May 9, 2024, the company paid $55.0 million for a legal settlement recognized in the third quarter of Fiscal 2023. See Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies, for additional details on this settlement.

33


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

The following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of the company as of and for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 should be read in conjunction with the Form 10-K.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is segregated into four sections, including:

Executive overview — provides a summary of our business, operating performance and cash flows, and strategic initiatives.
Critical accounting estimates — describes the accounting areas where management makes critical estimates to report our financial condition and results of operations. There have been no changes to this section from the Form 10-K.
Results of operations — an analysis of the company’s consolidated results of operations for the comparative period presented in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Liquidity and capital resources — an analysis of cash flow, contractual obligations, and certain other matters affecting the company’s financial position.

Matters Affecting Comparability

Comparative results from quarter to quarter are impacted by the company's fiscal reporting calendar. Internal financial results and key performance indicators are reported on a weekly basis to ensure the same number of Saturdays and Sundays in comparable months to allow for consistent four-week progression analysis. This structure results in our first quarter consisting of sixteen weeks while the remaining three quarters have twelve weeks (except in cases where there is an extra week every five or six years). Accordingly, interim results may not be indicative of subsequent interim period results, or comparable to prior or subsequent interim period results, due to differences in the lengths of the interim periods.

Additionally, detailed below are expense items affecting comparability that will provide greater context while reading this discussion:

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

Footnote

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 

Disclosure

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

Business process improvement costs

$

3,683

 

 

$

6,219

 

 

Note 1

Restructuring charges

 

598

 

 

 

4,195

 

 

Note 3

Restructuring-related implementation costs

 

1,344

 

 

 

 

 

Note 3

Impairment of assets

 

4,000

 

 

 

 

 

Note 1

Acquisition-related costs

 

 

 

 

3,223

 

 

Note 4

 

$

9,625

 

 

$

13,637

 

 

 

Business process improvement costs related to the transformation strategy initiatives In the second half of Fiscal 2020, we launched initiatives to transform our business, including upgrading our information system to a more robust platform, as well as investments in e-commerce, autonomous planning, and our "bakery of the future" initiatives. Implementation of the ERP upgrade is anticipated to be completed in Fiscal 2026. These initiatives are further discussed in the “Transformation Strategy Initiatives” section below. The expensed portion of costs incurred related to these initiatives, which was primarily consulting costs, was $3.7 million during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 compared to $6.2 million in the first quarter of the prior year. These costs are reflected in the selling, distribution, and administrative expenses line item of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. We currently expect costs (a portion of which may be expensed as incurred, capitalized, recognized as a cloud computing arrangement, or recognized as a prepaid service contract) related to the upgrade of our ERP system to be approximately $25.0 million to $35.0 million for Fiscal 2024.
Restructuring charges In April 2024, the company announced a cost savings program to improve operational performance, which includes employee termination benefits associated with a reduction-in-force ("RIF") and other optimization initiatives. The company also incurred consulting costs of $1.3 million associated with implementing the restructuring program which are included in the selling, distribution, and administrative expenses line item of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. In the first quarter of Fiscal 2024, the company incurred $0.6 million of restructuring charges for the RIF and made $0.2 million of RIF payments. The company expects to incur additional RIF and other restructuring costs of approximately $7.0 million to $10.0 million in Fiscal 2024.

In February 2023, to improve operational effectiveness, increase profitable sales, and better meet customer requirements, the company announced a restructuring of plant operation responsibilities from the sales function to the supply chain

34


function. As part of that restructuring, we incurred costs for employee termination benefits and other cash charges, which were primarily related to the voluntary employee separation incentive plan (the "VSIP"), RIF, and employee relocation costs. During the first quarter of Fiscal 2023, we recorded VSIP-related charges of $3.9 million and made VSIP-related payments of $0.5 million. Relocation costs incurred and paid during the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 were $0.3 million. These costs are recorded in the restructuring charges line item of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. In the first quarter of Fiscal 2024, we paid the remaining VSIP payments of $1.4 million.

Impairment of assets During the second quarter of the Fiscal 2022, we invested $9.0 million in Base Culture, a Clearwater, Florida-based company with one manufacturing facility. We made an additional investment of $2.0 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2023. Base Culture's product offerings include better-for-you, gluten-free, and grain-free sliced breads and baked goods and are all-natural, 100% Paleo-certified, kosher-certified, dairy-free, soy-free, and non-GMO verified. These investments are being accounted for at cost, less any impairment, as we do not control, nor do we have the ability to significantly influence Base Culture. In the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2023, we recognized an impairment loss of $5.5 million on this investment and recognized an additional impairment of $4.0 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2024.
Acquisition-related costs On February 17, 2023, the company completed the acquisition of the Papa Pita bakery business ("Papa Pita") for total consideration of approximately $274.8 million, inclusive of a net working capital purchase price adjustment. We funded the purchase price with cash on-hand and from our existing credit facilities. Papa Pita is a manufacturer and distributor of bagels, tortillas, breads, buns, English muffins, and flat breads with one production facility in West Jordan, Utah and, prior to the acquisition, Papa Pita co-manufactured certain products for us. Papa Pita has direct-store-delivery distribution in the western United States ("U.S."), expanding our geographic reach. We incurred additional acquisition costs during the sixteen weeks ended April 23, 2023 of $3.2 million and these costs are reflected in the selling, distribution, and administrative expenses line item of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Executive Overview

Business

Flowers is the second-largest producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods in the U.S. Our principal products include breads, buns, rolls, snack items, bagels, English muffins, and tortillas and are sold under a variety of brand names, including Nature’s Own, Dave's Killer Bread ("DKB"), Wonder, Canyon Bakehouse, Tastykake, and Mrs. Freshley’s. Our brands are among the best known in the U.S. baking industry. Many of our brands have a major presence in the product categories in which they compete. We manage our business as one operating segment. The company defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Flowers’ strategic priorities include developing our team, focusing on our brands, prioritizing our margins, and proactively seeking smart, disciplined acquisitions in the grain-based foods category. We believe executing on our strategic priorities will drive future growth and margin expansion and deliver meaningful shareholder value over time allowing us to achieve our long-term financial targets of 1% to 2% sales growth, 4% to 6% EBITDA growth, and 7% to 9% EPS growth.

Optimization initiatives in our procurement, distribution, operations, and administrative functions are projected to save $40 million to $50 million in Fiscal 2024. In the second quarter of Fiscal 2023, we completed the build phase of our ERP upgrade project and began the deployment, which is anticipated to be completed in Fiscal 2026. Additionally, we continue to implement our digital strategy initiatives as discussed further in the “Transformation Strategy Initiatives” section below.

Highlights

Nature’s Own is the best-selling loaf bread in the U.S., DKB is the #1 selling organic brand in the U.S., and Canyon Bakehouse is the #1 selling gluten-free bread brand in the U.S. (Source: Circana Total US MultiOutlet+C-Store 16 Weeks Ended 4/21/24).
Our branded retail sales comprised 64.4% of total sales for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 as compared to 63.9% for the sixteen weeks ended April 22, 2023.
As of April 20, 2024, we operated 46 bakeries, which produce fresh and frozen breads, buns, and rolls, as well as snack items, bagels, English muffins, and tortillas.
We distribute our fresh bakery foods through a direct-store-delivery ("DSD") distribution system, whereby product is primarily sold by a network of independent distributor partners to retail and foodservice customers with access to more than 85% of the U.S. population. In certain markets, we utilize a sales employee model to facilitate the distribution of product through our DSD distribution system.
We offer nationwide distribution of certain fresh snack items and frozen breads and rolls via contract carriers.

35


Impact of the Inflationary Economic Environment and Other Macroeconomic Factors on Our Business

We continue to monitor the impact of a variety of factors on our business, including the inflationary economic environment, supply chain disruptions, increased labor costs, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the conflict in the Middle East. Our results through the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 have continued to benefit from a more optimized sales mix of branded retail products as compared to pre-pandemic periods. However, we experienced significant input cost inflation during the previous two fiscal years which has partially offset the improved sales mix. We implemented price increases to mitigate these cost pressures during the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 and midway through the second quarter of Fiscal 2023. Commodity cost inflation began to moderate in the latter half of Fiscal 2023, though it remains above pre-pandemic levels, and we expect that trend to continue throughout the remainder of Fiscal 2024.

Additionally, in the prior year period, capacity constraints, largely for gluten-free production, resulted in lower production volumes and sales. These supply chain and other disruptions could continue to negatively impact production volumes as the global and U.S. supply chain remains uncertain. Although the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East have not impacted our operations directly, we are closely monitoring the impact of these conflicts on the broader economy, including on the availability and price of commodities used in or for the production of our products. Disruptions in our operations, related to factors including, but not limited to, the procurement of raw materials and packaging items, transport of our products, and available workforce, have negatively impacted, and could continue to negatively impact, our operations, results of operations, cash flows, and liquidity.

Labor shortages and turnover at some bakeries has negatively impacted our results in the current and prior year periods. These and other factors, including, but not limited to, high employment rates and additional government regulations, may continue to adversely affect labor availability and labor costs. These challenges may negatively impact the efficiency of our production lines and our ability to operate at, or near, full capacity, and could result in increased labor costs, including additional overtime to meet demand, and higher wage rates to attract and retain workers. An overall labor shortage, lack of skilled labor, or increased turnover has and could continue to have a negative impact on the company’s operations, results of operations, liquidity, or cash flows.

We believe we have sufficient liquidity to satisfy our cash needs and we continue to execute on our strategic priorities, including our transformation strategy initiatives, as further discussed in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section below.

Summary of Operating Results, Cash Flows and Financial Condition

Sales increased 2.8% for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 compared to the same quarter in the prior year, with price/mix contributing 3.1% and the Papa Pita acquisition contributing 0.5% (cycled on February 17, 2024), partially offset by volume declines of 0.8%. The benefits of inflation-driven pricing actions implemented in the prior year were partially offset by softer volumes. Volume declines were concentrated in our Other sales category, where we exited certain lower margin foodservice business in the second half of Fiscal 2023. Those declines were partially offset by volume increases in Branded Retail sales from execution in the marketplace. Sales of DKB continued to grow on higher volumes and sales of Nature's Own improved on positive price/mix, partially offset by lower volumes.

For the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, income from operations was $101.5 million compared to $93.8 million in the prior year quarter. The improvement resulted from moderating input costs, sales price increases implemented in the prior year, and the prior year acquisition costs, partially offset by increased workforce-related, repairs and maintenance, and depreciation expenses and lower production volumes (excluding the acquisition impact) quarter over quarter.

Net income for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 was $73.0 million compared to $70.7 million in the prior year period. The increase resulted primarily from the increase in income from operations, as described above, net of increased interest expense and a higher effective tax rate quarter over quarter.

During the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, we generated net cash flows from operations of $105.1 million, invested $33.3 million in capital expenditures, decreased our indebtedness by $5.0 million, and paid $51.1 million in dividends to our shareholders. On April 15, 2024, we amended the two-year $200.0 million accounts receivable repurchase facility (the "repurchase facility") to extend the scheduled facility expiration date to April 14, 2026. During the sixteen weeks ended April 22, 2023, we generated net cash flows from operations of $58.0 million, paid $270.5 million for the Papa Pita acquisition (an additional $4.3 million net working capital purchase price adjustment was paid in the second quarter of Fiscal 2023), invested $34.0 million in capital expenditures, increased our indebtedness $171.0 million, and paid $49.1 million in dividends to our shareholders.

Transformation Strategy Initiatives

In the second half of Fiscal 2020, we launched initiatives to transform our business operations. The primary goals of these initiatives are: (1) enable a more agile business model, empowering the organization by fundamentally redesigning core business

36


processes; (2) embed digital capabilities and transform the way we engage with our consumers, customers and employees; and (3) modernize and simplify our application and technology infrastructure landscape, inclusive of the upgrade of our ERP system.

As discussed above, in February 2023, we announced a restructuring of plant operation responsibilities from the sales function to the supply chain function to improve operational effectiveness, increase profitable sales, and better meet customer requirements. This restructuring has transitioned to digitally enabling these key functions, driving accountability, and improving operational performance and sales execution.

Digital Strategy Initiatives

Our digital strategy initiatives include investments in digital domains of e-commerce, autonomous planning, bakery of the future, digital logistics, and digital sales. In e-commerce, we strive to become a category and market share leader, engage with the consumer through digital platforms and marketplaces, and support our retail partners’ omnichannel strategies. The autonomous planning domain encompasses predictive ordering, cost-to-serve modeling, integrated business planning, and supply and demand forecasting, among other areas. Bakery of the future involves transforming our current manufacturing processes and operational visibility to apply industry-leading digital manufacturing tools, such as real-time performance management and visibility, automation of repetitive processes, standardization of processes and procedures, and sensor-based quality monitoring tools to improve consistency and quality. Digital logistics includes real-time operational visibility, improving our routing efficiency, and automating the freight bill pay audit process. Finally, digital sales is focused on improving our sales execution through improved visibility to in-store activities, streamlined reporting, focusing in-store priorities, and improved collaboration tools across our sales ecosystem.

These digital domains are expected to improve data visibility and efficiencies while automating many of our processes. When fully implemented, we expect this work will further our brand efforts, bring us closer to the consumer, increase operational efficiencies, and deliver higher-quality, real-time insights, which will in turn enable more predictive business decision-making. We transitioned into the implementation phase for the e-commerce, autonomous planning, and bakery of the future domains and selected two bakeries for the pilot program for bakery of the future and autonomous planning in Fiscal 2021. To date, we have rolled out bakery of the future to 35 bakeries, digital logistics to all bakery locations, and autonomous planning and our digital sales tools across our entire sales organization. Costs related to the digital initiatives are fluid and cannot be currently estimated.

 

ERP Upgrade

Our ERP initiative, which includes upgrading our information system platform, is expected to improve data management and efficiencies while automating many of our processes. We completed the initial planning and road mapping phase of the ERP upgrade at the end of Fiscal 2020. In the first quarter of Fiscal 2021, we transitioned into the design phase and engaged a leading, global consulting firm to assist us in designing and implementing the upgrade of our ERP platform and to serve as the system integrator for the project. We transitioned into the build phase at the beginning of Fiscal 2022 and during the second quarter of Fiscal 2023, we began deploying the ERP upgrade. The deployment is anticipated to be completed in Fiscal 2026. We currently estimate total costs for the upgrade of our ERP system will be approximately $350 million (of which approximately 34% has been or is anticipated to be capitalized). As of April 20, 2024, we have incurred costs related to the project of approximately $223 million.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("GAAP"). These principles are numerous and complex. Our significant accounting policies are summarized in the Form 10-K. In many instances, the application of GAAP requires management to make estimates or to apply subjective principles to particular facts and circumstances. A variance in the estimates used or a variance in the application or interpretation of GAAP could yield a materially different accounting result. Refer to the Form 10-K for a discussion of the areas where we believe that the estimates, judgments or interpretations that we have made, if different, could yield the most significant differences in our financial statements. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies from those disclosed in the Form 10-K.

37


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:

Results of operations, expressed as a percentage of sales and the dollar and percentage change from period to period, for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023, respectively, are set forth in the table below (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage of Sales

 

 

Increase (Decrease)

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 

Dollars

 

 

%

 

Sales

 

$

1,576,818

 

 

$

1,534,493

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

$

42,325

 

 

 

2.8

 

Materials, supplies, labor and other production costs
   (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown
   separately below)

 

 

797,186

 

 

 

800,852

 

 

 

50.6

 

 

 

52.2

 

 

 

(3,666

)

 

 

(0.5

)

Selling, distribution and administrative expenses

 

 

625,251

 

 

 

591,943

 

 

 

39.7

 

 

 

38.6

 

 

 

33,308

 

 

 

5.6

 

Restructuring charges

 

 

598

 

 

 

4,195

 

 

 

0.0

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

(3,597

)

 

NM

 

Impairment of assets

 

 

4,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,000

 

 

NM

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

48,235

 

 

 

43,735

 

 

 

3.1

 

 

 

2.9

 

 

 

4,500

 

 

 

10.3

 

Income from operations

 

 

101,548

 

 

 

93,768

 

 

 

6.4

 

 

 

6.1

 

 

 

7,780

 

 

 

8.3

 

Other components of net periodic pension and
   postretirement benefit plans credit

 

 

(158

)

 

 

(83

)

 

 

(0.0

)

 

 

(0.0

)

 

 

(75

)

 

NM

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

5,611

 

 

 

3,886

 

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

1,725

 

 

 

44.4

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

96,095

 

 

 

89,965

 

 

 

6.1

 

 

 

5.9

 

 

 

6,130

 

 

 

6.8

 

Income tax expense

 

 

23,052

 

 

 

19,255

 

 

 

1.5

 

 

 

1.3

 

 

 

3,797

 

 

 

19.7

 

Net income

 

$

73,043

 

 

$

70,710

 

 

 

4.6

 

 

 

4.6

 

 

$

2,333

 

 

 

3.3

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

72,954

 

 

$

68,547

 

 

 

4.6

 

 

 

4.5

 

 

$

4,407

 

 

 

6.4

 

NM - the computation is not meaningful.

Percentages may not add due to rounding.

SIXTEEN WEEKS ENDED APRIL 20, 2024 COMPARED TO SIXTEEN WEEKS ENDED APRIL 22, 2023

Sales (dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage of Sales

 

 

Increase (Decrease)

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 

Dollars

 

 

%

 

Branded Retail

 

$

1,014,901

 

 

$

980,479

 

 

 

64.4

 

 

 

63.9

 

 

$

34,422

 

 

 

3.5

 

Other

 

 

561,917

 

 

 

554,014

 

 

 

35.6

 

 

 

36.1

 

 

 

7,903

 

 

 

1.4

 

Total

 

$

1,576,818

 

 

$

1,534,493

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

$

42,325

 

 

 

2.8

 

(The table above presents certain sales by category that have been reclassified from amounts previously reported to conform to the current period presentation.)

The change in sales was generally attributable to the following:

 

Percentage Point Change in Sales Attributed to:

 

Branded Retail

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Favorable (Unfavorable)

 

Pricing/Mix*

 

 

2.6

 

 

 

3.3

 

 

 

3.1

 

Volume*

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

(2.2

)

 

 

(0.8

)

Acquisition until cycled on February 17, 2024

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

0.5

 

Total percentage change in sales

 

 

3.5

 

 

 

1.4

 

 

 

2.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Computations above are calculated as follows (the Total column is consolidated and is not adding the Branded Retail and Other columns):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Price/Mix $ = Current year period units x change in price per unit

 

Price/Mix % = Price/Mix $ ÷ Prior year period Sales $

 

 

 

Volume $ = Prior year period price per unit x change in units

 

Volume % = Volume $ ÷ Prior year period Sales $

 

 

The company disaggregates its sales into two categories, Branded Retail and Other. These categories align with our brand-focused strategy to drive above-market growth via innovation and focusing on higher-margin products. The Other category includes store branded retail and non-retail sales (foodservice, restaurant, institutional, vending, thrift stores, and contract manufacturing).

38


 

Sales increased quarter over quarter due to positive pricing actions implemented in the first and second quarters of the prior year to mitigate considerable cost inflation, and, to a lesser extent, the Papa Pita acquisition contribution. These increases were partially offset by volume declines, largely for non-retail items and, to a lesser extent, for branded retail traditional loaf breads. Our promotional activity increased quarter over quarter largely due to inflationary pressure on consumer spending but remained lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Branded Retail Sales

Branded retail sales grew 3.5% quarter over quarter due to favorable price/mix, the acquisition contribution, and volume growth. Price/mix benefitted from inflation-driven pricing actions taken in the second quarter of the prior year and improved mix from greater branded organic product sales. Volumes improved mainly as a result of efficient sales execution in a competitive marketplace. Volume growth in branded organic products, branded buns and rolls, and branded Keto bread was partially offset by softer volumes primarily for branded traditional loaf breads. Our Nature's Own and DKB brands continued to perform well benefiting from inflation-driven price increases and growth from more recently introduced products, such as Nature's Own Keto bread and Hawaiian and Everything bun varieties, all introduced in the second quarter of Fiscal 2023, and DKB snack bars and bites. Nature's Own did experience volume declines quarter over quarter largely due to inflationary pressure on consumer spending.

Other Sales

Sales in the Other category increased 1.4% due to positive price/mix from price increases implemented in the prior year, and the acquisition contribution, partially offset by volume declines. Store branded retail sales increased largely due to volume growth in store branded traditional loaf breads, partially offset by negative price/mix. Non-retail sales increased quarter over quarter due to inflation-driven pricing actions in the prior year and the acquisition contribution, offset mostly by volume declines. Foodservice drove most of the volume decrease as we exited certain lower margin business in the second half of Fiscal 2023. Declines in vending also contributed to lower volumes, partially offset by increased contract manufacturing volume.

We anticipate our Fiscal 2024 sales will be flat to higher than Fiscal 2023 sales due to price increases implemented in Fiscal 2023, however, this benefit could be offset by changes in consumer buying patterns, changes in promotional activity, and the impact of cycling certain exits of lower margin business that occurred in Fiscal 2023.

Materials, Supplies, Labor and Other Production Costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately; as a percent of sales)

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

Increase

 

Line Item Component

 

April 20, 2024
% of Sales

 

 

April 22, 2023
% of Sales

 

 

(Decrease) as a
% of Sales

 

Ingredients and packaging

 

 

30.0

 

 

 

32.7

 

 

 

(2.7

)

Workforce-related costs

 

 

14.3

 

 

 

13.5

 

 

 

0.8

 

Other

 

 

6.3

 

 

 

6.0

 

 

 

0.3

 

Total

 

 

50.6

 

 

 

52.2

 

 

 

(1.6

)

 

Materials, supplies, labor and other production costs as a percent of sales decreased quarter over quarter due to the benefit of prior year inflation-driven pricing actions, moderating ingredient and packaging costs, and decreased product returns. Lower production volumes (excluding the acquisition impact) and higher workforce-related and bakery maintenance costs, reflected in the Other line item, partially offset the overall improvement. The decrease in ingredient and packaging costs was mostly attributed to lower pricing for commodities such as flour, fats and oils, and eggs, and packaging items including bags and corrugated containers. Wage inflation, higher employee compensation costs, and lower production volumes resulted in the increase in workforce-related costs as a percent of sales. We expect the impact of lower production volumes (excluding the acquisition impact) and the competitive labor market to continue to negatively impact our operations.

Prices of ingredient and packaging materials fluctuate due to government policy and regulation, weather conditions, domestic and international demand, or other unforeseen circumstances, and we monitor these markets closely. Ingredient and packaging costs continued to experience volatility in the current quarter and are expected to remain volatile for the remainder of Fiscal 2024. We enter into forward purchase agreements and other financial instruments to manage the impact of volatility in certain raw material prices. Any decrease in the availability of these agreements and instruments could increase the cost of these raw materials and significantly affect our earnings.

39


Selling, Distribution and Administrative Expenses (as a percent of sales)

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

Increase

 

Line Item Component

 

April 20, 2024
% of Sales

 

 

April 22, 2023
% of Sales

 

 

(Decrease) as a
% of Sales

 

Workforce-related costs

 

 

11.9

 

 

 

10.8

 

 

 

1.1

 

Distributor distribution fees

 

 

13.8

 

 

 

14.1

 

 

 

(0.3

)

Other

 

 

14.0

 

 

 

13.7

 

 

 

0.3

 

Total

 

 

39.7

 

 

 

38.6

 

 

 

1.1

 

 

Workforce-related costs increased as a percent of sales due to higher employee compensation costs quarter over quarter, a shift from distributor distribution fees, and a competitive labor market. Distributor distribution fees decreased as a percent of sales primarily due to a smaller portion of our sales being made through IDPs. We anticipate a continued shift from distributor distribution fees to workforce-related costs and territory-related logistics costs, among others, as the company completes a phased repurchase of the California distribution rights and converts to an employee-based model in that state. The repurchases began at the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 and are anticipated to be completed by the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2025. The increase in the Other line item mostly reflects increased amortization of cloud-based applications, increased rent expense, and lower scrap dough income, partially offset by reduced transportation costs and the prior year quarter acquisition costs. See the “Matters Affecting Comparability” section above for a discussion of the acquisition-related costs.

Restructuring Charges and Impairment of Assets

Refer to the discussion in the “Matters Affecting Comparability” section above regarding these items.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation and amortization expense for the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 increased in dollars and as a percent of sales as compared to the prior year period primarily due to ERP assets being placed in service in the second quarter of Fiscal 2023 and, to a lesser extent, the Papa Pita assets acquired midway through the first quarter of Fiscal 2023, partially offset by assets becoming fully depreciated.

Income from Operations

Income from operations for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 increased as a percent of sales compared to the prior year quarter due primarily to moderating input costs, partially offset by lower production volumes (excluding the acquisition impact), increased selling, distribution, and administrative expenses, and increased depreciation and amortization expense, as discussed above.

Net Interest Expense

Net interest expense increased in dollars and as a percent of sales as compared to the prior year quarter largely due to higher average amounts outstanding under our borrowing arrangements primarily from funding the Papa Pita acquisition in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 and increased interest rates on our variable rate debt. Decreased interest income also contributed to the overall increase in net interest expense. We anticipate higher net interest expense year over year due to funding payments associated with the legal settlement and related costs, all accrued for in Fiscal 2023, and lower interest income resulting from decreases in distributor notes receivable outstanding.

Income Tax Expense

The effective tax rate for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 was 24.0% compared to 21.4% in the prior year quarter. The increase in the rate quarter over quarter was primarily due to a decrease in windfall tax benefits on stock-based compensation. For both periods presented, the primary differences in the effective rate and statutory rate were state income taxes and windfall/shortfall tax impacts related to stock-based compensation.

Comprehensive Income

The increase in comprehensive income quarter over quarter resulted primarily from increased net earnings and changes in the fair value of derivatives.

40


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES:

Strategy and Update on Impact of the Inflationary Economic Environment and Other Macroeconomic Factors on Our Business

We believe that our ability to consistently generate cash flows from operating activities to meet our liquidity needs is one of our key financial strengths. Furthermore, we strive to maintain a conservative financial position as we believe it allows us flexibility to make investments and acquisitions and is a strategic competitive advantage. Currently, our liquidity needs arise primarily from working capital requirements, capital expenditures, and obligated debt repayments. We believe that we currently have access to available funds and financing sources to meet our short and long-term capital requirements. The company’s strategy for use of its excess cash flows includes:

implementing our strategic priorities, including our transformation strategy initiatives;
paying dividends to our shareholders;
maintaining a conservative financial position;
making strategic acquisitions; and
repurchasing shares of our common stock.

Although there has been no material adverse impact on our results of operations, liquidity or cash flows for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, volatility in global and U.S. economic environments, as a result of, among other things, the inflationary economic environment, supply chain disruptions, increased labor costs, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the conflict in the Middle East, could significantly impact our ability to generate future cash flows and we continue to evaluate these various potential business risks. Potential risks include the possibility of future economic downturns that could shift consumer demand away from our branded retail products to store branded products, supply chain disruptions that have impacted, and could continue to impact, the procurement of raw materials and packaging items, the available workforce, and our ability to implement additional pricing actions to offset inflation.

The macroeconomic-related factors discussed above remain fluid and the future impact on our business, results of operations, liquidity or capital resources cannot be reasonably estimated with any degree of certainty. In the event of a significant reduction in revenues, we would have additional alternatives to maintain liquidity, including the availability on our debt facilities, capital expenditure reductions, adjustments to our capital allocation policy, and cost reductions. Although we do not currently anticipate a need, we also believe that we could access the capital markets to raise additional funds. During the first quarter of Fiscal 2024, we amended the two-year $200.0 million trade receivable repurchase facility (the "repurchase facility") to extend the maturity date to April 14, 2026. We believe that we have sufficient liquidity on hand to continue business operations during this time of volatility in the global and U.S. economic environments. As of April 20, 2024, we had total available liquidity of $557.4 million, consisting of cash on hand and the available balances under the senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the "credit facility") and repurchase facility.

Liquidity Discussion for the Sixteen Weeks Ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023

Cash and cash equivalents were $15.8 million at April 20, 2024 and $22.5 million at December 30, 2023. The cash and cash equivalents were derived from the activities presented in the tables below (amounts in thousands):

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

 

Cash Flow Component

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 

Change

 

Cash provided by operating activities

 

$

105,149

 

 

$

57,952

 

 

$

47,197

 

Cash disbursed for investing activities

 

 

(35,927

)

 

 

(301,207

)

 

 

265,280

 

Cash (disbursed for) provided by financing activities

 

 

(75,931

)

 

 

105,841

 

 

 

(181,772

)

Total change in cash

 

$

(6,709

)

 

$

(137,414

)

 

$

130,705

 

 

41


Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities consisted of the following items for non-cash adjustments to net income (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 

Change

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

$

48,235

 

 

$

43,735

 

 

$

4,500

 

Impairment of assets

 

 

4,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,000

 

Loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive
   income to net income

 

 

886

 

 

 

1,407

 

 

 

(521

)

Allowances for accounts receivable

 

 

2,445

 

 

 

4,341

 

 

 

(1,896

)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

11,129

 

 

 

9,836

 

 

 

1,293

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

6,951

 

 

 

1,868

 

 

 

5,083

 

Other non-cash items

 

 

4,575

 

 

 

1,788

 

 

 

2,787

 

Net non-cash adjustment to net income

 

$

78,221

 

 

$

62,975

 

 

$

15,246

 

 

Refer to the Impairment of assets discussion in the “Matters Affecting Comparability” section above for additional information regarding this item.
For the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, deferred income tax activity was composed of changes in temporary differences year over year, including the current year impact of a payment for a previously accrued legal settlement for the repurchase of distribution rights. For the current and prior year quarters ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023, deferred income tax activity was composed of changes in temporary differences year over year, including the impact of the vesting of stock equity awards and activity related to the capitalization of research and development expenses as defined under Internal Revenue Code Section 174.
Other non-cash items include non-cash interest expense for the amortization of debt discounts and deferred financing costs (including $0.3 million related to the write-off of unamortized loan costs upon the early extinguishment of the accounts receivable securitization facility in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023) and gains or losses on the sale of assets.

Net changes in working capital consisted of the following items (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 

Change

 

Changes in accounts receivable

 

$

(32,833

)

 

$

(18,201

)

 

$

(14,632

)

Changes in inventories

 

 

4,523

 

 

 

(14,552

)

 

 

19,075

 

Changes in hedging activities

 

 

(1,202

)

 

 

(2,334

)

 

 

1,132

 

Changes in accounts payable

 

 

(16,499

)

 

 

(9,285

)

 

 

(7,214

)

Changes in other assets and accrued liabilities

 

 

(104

)

 

 

(31,361

)

 

 

31,257

 

Net changes in working capital

 

$

(46,115

)

 

$

(75,733

)

 

$

29,618

 

 

Changes in accounts receivable were mainly attributable to sales increases period over period. Changes in inventories resulted primarily from volatility in input costs. Changes in accounts payable were mainly attributable to higher capital spending in the prior year period largely due to the upgrade of the ERP system and volatility in input costs.
Hedging activities change due to market movements that affect the fair value and the associated required collateral of positions and the timing and recognition of deferred gains or losses. We expect these changes will continue to occur as part of our hedging program, though the degree and financial impact cannot be currently estimated.
The change in other assets primarily resulted from changes in prepaid assets and income tax receivables in each respective period. Changes in employee compensation and legal settlement accruals primarily resulted in the change in other accrued liabilities. During the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, we paid $31.9 million and $32.1 million, respectively, including our share of employment taxes, in performance-based cash awards under our bonus plans. An additional $1.9 million and $2.2 million was paid during the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, respectively, for our share of employment taxes on the vesting of employee restricted stock awards in each respective year. During the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, the company paid $1.3 million related to territory repurchase obligations recognized as part of a legal settlement recognized in the third quarter of Fiscal 2023, and on May 9, 2024, subsequent to the first quarter of Fiscal 2024, paid $55.0 million to the legal settlement fund. The company expects to complete the territory repurchases by the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2025. During the sixteen weeks ended April 22, 2023, the company paid $5.5 million of legal settlements that had been accrued for in a prior period.

42


Cash Flows Disbursed for Investing Activities. The table below presents net cash disbursed for investing activities for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023, respectively (amounts in thousands):

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 

Change

 

Purchases of property, plant, and equipment

 

$

(33,332

)

 

$

(33,958

)

 

$

626

 

Principal payments from notes receivable, net of repurchases of
   independent distribution rights

 

 

(2,655

)

 

 

3,106

 

 

 

(5,761

)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

 

60

 

 

 

96

 

 

 

(36

)

Acquisition of business

 

 

 

 

 

(270,451

)

 

 

270,451

 

Net cash disbursed for investing activities

 

$

(35,927

)

 

$

(301,207

)

 

$

265,280

 

 

We currently anticipate capital expenditures of $145.0 million to $155.0 million for Fiscal 2024 (inclusive of expenditures for the ERP upgrade of $3.0 million to $6.0 million).
As discussed in the Executive Overview section above, on February 17, 2023, we completed the Papa Pita acquisition. We paid $270.5 million of the total purchase price in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 and $4.3 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2023 for a net working capital purchase price adjustment. Papa Pita operates one manufacturing facility in West Jordan, Utah.

Cash Flows Disbursed for Financing Activities. The table below presents net cash disbursed for financing activities for the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023, respectively (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

April 22, 2023

 

 

Change

 

Dividends paid, including dividends on stock-based
   payment awards

 

$

(51,106

)

 

$

(49,100

)

 

$

(2,006

)

Payments for financing fees

 

 

(150

)

 

 

(218

)

 

 

68

 

Stock repurchases

 

 

(8,879

)

 

 

(10,981

)

 

 

2,102

 

Change in bank overdrafts

 

 

(10,701

)

 

 

(4,261

)

 

 

(6,440

)

Net change in debt obligations

 

 

(5,000

)

 

 

171,000

 

 

 

(176,000

)

Payments on financing leases

 

 

(95

)

 

 

(599

)

 

 

504

 

Net cash (disbursed for) provided by financing activities

 

$

(75,931

)

 

$

105,841

 

 

$

(181,772

)

 

Our Board of Directors declared the following quarterly dividend during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 (amounts in thousands, except per share data):

 

Date Declared

 

Record Date

 

Payment Date

 

Dividend per
Common Share

 

 

Dividends
Paid

 

February 16, 2024

 

March 1, 2024

 

March 15, 2024

 

$

0.2300

 

 

$

48,560

 

 

Additionally, we paid dividends of $2.5 million at the time of vesting of certain restricted stock awards. The increase in dividends paid resulted from an increase in the dividend rate compared to the prior year. While there are no requirements to increase our dividend rate, we have shown a recent historical trend to do so. We anticipate funding future dividend payments from cash flows from operations.

During the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, we paid financing fees for the amendment of the repurchase facility. In the prior year period, we paid financing fees associated with executing the repurchase facility and for the amendment to the credit facility.
Stock repurchase decisions are made based on our stock price, our belief of relative value, and our cash projections at any given time. During the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 and April 22, 2023, we repurchased 388,291 and 385,882 shares of our common stock for $8.9 million and $11.0 million, respectively, under a share repurchase plan approved by our Board of Directors. These shares were acquired to satisfy employees’ tax withholding and payment obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards, which are repurchased by the company based on the fair market value on the vesting date.
Changes in debt obligations primarily related to drawdowns made to fund the Papa Pita acquisition in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023. See the discussion below under the “Capital Structure” section for additional details regarding changes in debt obligations.

43


Capital Structure

Long-term debt and right-of-use lease obligations and stockholders’ equity were as follows at April 20, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively. For additional information regarding our debt and right-of-use lease obligations, see Note 5, Leases, and Note 13, Debt and Other Obligations, of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-Q.

 

 

 

Balance at

 

 

Fixed or

 

Final

 

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

December 30, 2023

 

 

Variable Rate

 

Maturity

Long-term debt and right-of-use lease obligations

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

2031 notes

 

$

494,947

 

 

$

494,723

 

 

Fixed Rate

 

2031

2026 notes

 

 

398,596

 

 

 

398,421

 

 

Fixed Rate

 

2026

Unsecured credit facility

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variable Rate

 

2026

Accounts receivable repurchase facility

 

 

150,000

 

 

 

155,000

 

 

Variable Rate

 

2026

Right-of-use lease obligations

 

 

305,190

 

 

 

284,501

 

 

 

 

2036

 

 

1,348,733

 

 

 

1,332,645

 

 

 

 

 

Less: Current maturities of long-term debt and right-
   of-use lease obligations

 

 

(57,763

)

 

 

(47,606

)

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt and right-of-use lease obligations

 

$

1,290,970

 

 

$

1,285,039

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

$

1,375,880

 

 

$

1,351,782

 

 

 

 

 

The repurchase facility and the credit facility are generally used for short-term liquidity needs. On April 15, 2024, we amended the repurchase facility to extend the scheduled facility expiration date to April 14, 2026. See Note 13, Debt and Other Obligations, of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-Q for additional information.

We believe we have sufficient liquidity to satisfy our cash needs, however, we continue to closely monitor our liquidity in light of the continued economic uncertainty in the U.S. and throughout the world due to, among other things, the impact of the inflationary economic environment, supply chain disruptions, increased labor costs, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the conflict in the Middle East on our business. There is no current portion payable over the next year for our debt obligations. Amounts available for withdrawal under the repurchase facility are determined as the lesser of the total facility limit and a formula derived amount based on qualifying trade receivables.

The following table details the amounts available under the repurchase facility and the credit facility and the highest and lowest balances outstanding under these arrangements during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024:

 

 

 

Amount Available

 

 

For the Sixteen Weeks Ended April 20, 2024

 

 

 

for Withdrawal at

 

 

Highest

 

 

Lowest

 

Facility

 

April 20, 2024

 

 

Balance

 

 

Balance

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

Accounts receivable repurchase facility

 

$

50,000

 

 

$

175,000

 

 

$

105,000

 

Unsecured credit facility (1)

 

 

491,600

 

 

 

17,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

541,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)
Amount excludes a provision in the credit facility agreement which allows the company to request an additional $200.0 million in additional revolving commitments.

Amounts outstanding under the credit facility can vary daily. Changes in the gross borrowings and repayments can be caused by cash flow activity from operations, capital expenditures, acquisitions, dividends, share repurchases, and tax payments, as well as derivative transactions which are part of the company’s overall risk management strategy as discussed in Note 9, Derivative Financial Instruments, of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-Q. During the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, the company made $37.5 million in revolving borrowings and $37.5 million in payments on revolving borrowings under the credit facility. The amount available under the credit facility is reduced by $8.4 million for letters of credit.

The repurchase facility and the credit facility are variable rate debt and provide us the greatest direct exposure to changing interest rates. In periods of rising interest rates, like we experienced in Fiscal 2023 and Fiscal 2022, the cost of using these facilities becomes more expensive and results in increased interest expense.

44


Restrictive financial covenants for our borrowings can include such ratios as a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. Our debt may also contain certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, and events of default. The company believes that, given its current cash position, its cash flow from operating activities, and its available credit capacity, it can comply with the current terms of the debt agreements and can meet presently foreseeable financial requirements. As of April 20, 2024, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under our debt agreements.

At April 20, 2024, the company did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which are established to facilitate off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.

Under our share repurchase plan, the company may repurchase its common stock in the open market or privately negotiated transactions at such times and at such prices as determined to be in the company’s best interest. These repurchases may be commenced or suspended without prior notice depending on then-existing business or market conditions and other factors. During the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, 388,291 shares, at a cost of $8.9 million, of the company’s common stock were repurchased under the share repurchase plan. From the inception of the share repurchase plan through April 20, 2024, 72.4 million shares, at a cost of $742.2 million, have been repurchased.

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted and Not Yet Adopted

See Note 2, Recent Accounting Pronouncements, of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-Q for information regarding recently adopted accounting pronouncements and accounting pronouncements not yet adopted.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The company uses derivative financial instruments as part of an overall strategy to manage market risk. The company uses forward, futures, swap and option contracts to hedge existing or future exposure to changes in interest rates and commodity prices. The company does not enter into these derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those anticipated, raw material prices could increase significantly, adversely affecting the margins from the sale of our products.

Commodity Price Risk

The company enters into commodity forward, futures and option contracts and swap agreements for wheat and, to a lesser extent, other commodities in an effort to provide a predictable and consistent commodity price and thereby reduce the impact of market volatility in its raw material and packaging prices. As of April 20, 2024, the company’s hedge portfolio contained commodity derivatives with a fair value (liability) of $(1.7) million, based on quoted market prices. All of this amount relates to instruments that will be utilized in Fiscal 2024 except for an immaterial amount that will be utilized in Fiscal 2025.

A sensitivity analysis has been prepared to quantify the company’s potential exposure to commodity price risk with respect to the derivative portfolio. Based on the company’s derivative portfolio as of April 20, 2024, a hypothetical ten percent increase (decrease) in commodity prices would increase (decrease) the fair value of the derivative portfolio by $2.2 million. The analysis disregards changes in the exposures inherent in the underlying hedged items; however, the company expects that any increase (decrease) in fair value of the portfolio would be substantially offset by increases (decreases) in raw material and packaging prices.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Management’s Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We have established and maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that material information relating to the company, which is required to be timely disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), is accumulated and communicated to management in a timely fashion and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer ("CFO and CAO”), we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation and as of the end of the period covered by this report, the CEO and the CFO and CAO concluded that the company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure in its reports that the company files or submits to the SEC under the Exchange Act.

45


Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended April 20, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.

46


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

For a description of all material pending legal proceedings, see Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies, of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-Q.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Refer to Part I, Item 1A., Risk Factors, in the Form 10-K for information regarding factors that could affect the company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may affect us. The occurrence of any of these known or unknown risks could have a material adverse ultimate impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES, USE OF PROCEEDS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

As originally announced on December 19, 2002, and subsequently increased, our Board of Directors had approved a plan that authorized share repurchases of up to 74.6 million shares. On May 26, 2022, the company announced that the Board of Directors increased the company's share repurchase authorization by 20.0 million shares. Under the share repurchase plan, the company may repurchase its common stock in open market or privately negotiated transactions or under an accelerated share repurchase program at such times and at such prices as determined to be in the company’s best interest. These repurchases may be commenced or suspended without prior notice depending on then-existing business or market conditions and other factors.

During the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024, 388,291 million shares, at a cost of $8.9 million, of the company’s common stock were repurchased under the share repurchase plan. From the inception of the share repurchase plan through April 20, 2024, 72.4 million shares, at a cost of $742.2 million, have been repurchased. The company currently has 22.1 million shares remaining available for repurchase under the share repurchase plan. The table below sets forth the common stock repurchased by the company during the sixteen weeks ended April 20, 2024 (amounts in thousands, except share price data):

Period

 

Total Number
of Shares
Purchased

 

 

Weighted
Average Price
Per Share

 

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs

 

 

Maximum Number
of Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under
the Plans or
Programs

 

December 31, 2023 — January 27, 2024

 

 

78

 

*

$

22.80

 

 

 

78

 

*

 

22,451

 

January 28, 2024 — February 24, 2024

 

 

310

 

*

$

22.88

 

 

 

310

 

*

 

22,141

 

February 25, 2024 — March 23, 2024

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

22,141

 

March 24, 2024 — April 20, 2024

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

22,141

 

Total

 

 

388

 

 

$

22.87

 

 

 

388

 

 

 

 

* These shares were acquired to satisfy employees' tax withholding and payment obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards, which are repurchased by the company based on the fair market value on the vesting date.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None of the company's directors or officers adopted, modified, or terminated a "Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement" or a "non-rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement," as each term is defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K, during the company's fiscal quarter ended April 20, 2024.

47


ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

The following documents are filed as exhibits hereto:

 

Exhibit

No

Name of Exhibit

3.1

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Flowers Foods, Inc., as amended through May 21, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Flowers Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 28, 2020, File No. 1-16247).

3.2

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Flowers Foods, Inc., as amended through August 18, 2023 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Flowers Foods’ Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 21, 2023, File No. 1-16247).

10.1

*

 

First Omnibus Amendment, dated as of April 15, 2024, including Amendment No. 1 to the Master Framework Agreement, by and among Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch, and the other financial institutions listed on the signature pages thereof as “Buyer Funding Parties,” Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch, as repo counterparty, on behalf of itself and the other Buyer Funding Parties, the subsidiaries of Flowers Foods, Inc. listed on the signature pages thereof, as Originators, and Flowers Foods, Inc., as repo seller, and Amendment No. 1 to the Master Repurchase Agreement, between Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch and Flowers Foods, Inc.

31.1

*

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2

*

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32

*

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by A. Ryals McMullian, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and R. Steve Kinsey, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, for the quarter ended April 20, 2024.

101.INS

*

Inline 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 Linkbase.

101.CAL

*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.

101.DEF

*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.

101.LAB

*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.

101.PRE

*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.

104

The cover page from Flowers Foods' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 20, 2024 has been formatted in Inline XBRL.

 

* Filed herewith

48


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.

 

 

FLOWERS FOODS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ A. RYALS MCMULLIAN

 

Name:

 

A. Ryals McMullian

 

Title:

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

By:

 

/s/ R. STEVE KINSEY

 

Name:

 

R. Steve Kinsey

 

Title:

 

Chief Financial Officer and

Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

Date: May 16, 2024

49