The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 28, 2022

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Use of estimates and assumptions

Use of estimates and assumptions

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make certain 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, as well as the reported revenues and expenses during the respective reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Amounts estimated related to liabilities for pension benefits, self-insured workers’ compensation and employee healthcare benefits are subject to inherent uncertainties and these estimated liabilities may ultimately settle at amounts which may vary from current estimates. Other areas with underlying estimates include realization of deferred tax assets, cash surrender or contract value of life insurance policies, promotional allowances and the allowance for doubtful accounts and inventory reserves. Management believes its current estimates are reasonable and based on the best information available at the time.

We test long-lived assets for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If an impairment is indicated, we measure the fair value of assets to determine if and when adjustments are recorded.

Subsequent events

Subsequent events

Management has evaluated events subsequent to October 28, 2022, through the date the accompanying consolidated financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for transactions and other events that may require adjustment of and/or disclosure in such financial statements.

Based on management’s review, no material subsequent events were identified that require adjustment to the consolidated financial statements or additional disclosure.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivables are recorded at net realizable value. The value is presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts and promotional incentives. Our accounts receivable consists mainly of trade receivables from customer sales. We evaluate the collectability of our accounts receivable based on several factors. The provision for doubtful accounts receivable is based on historical trends and current collectability risk. Our provision for doubtful accounts was $177 and $127 as of October 28, 2022, and October 29, 2021, respectively.

Concentrations of credit risk

Concentrations of credit risk

Our credit risk is diversified across a broad range of customers and geographic regions. Losses due to credit risk have recently been immaterial. The carrying amount of cash equivalents, accounts and other receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair market value due to the short maturity of these instruments. We maintain cash balances at financial institutions, which may at times exceed the amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Management does not believe there is significant credit risk associated with these financial institutions.

Sales to Wal-Mart® comprised 29.8% of revenues in fiscal year 2022 and 26.1% of total accounts receivable was due from Wal-Mart® as of October 28, 2022. Sales to Wal-Mart® comprised 35.7% of revenues in fiscal year 2021 and 5.5% of total accounts receivable was due from Wal-Mart® as of October 29, 2021. The increase in accounts receivable from Wal-Mart® as of October 28, 2022 versus October 29, 2021 is attributable to the Company no longer accelerating payments from Wal-Mart®. Sales to Dollar General® comprised 16.9% of revenues in fiscal year 2022 and 19.9% of total accounts receivable was due from Dollar General® as of October 28, 2022. Sales to Dollar General® comprised 14.5% of revenues in fiscal year 2021 and 35.9% of total accounts receivable was due from Dollar General® as of October 29, 2021.

COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 pandemic

We have considered the impact of federal, state, and local government actions related to the global novel coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19” or “pandemic”) on our consolidated financial statements. The business disruptions associated with the pandemic had a significant negative impact on our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 29, 2021 and to a lesser extent for the fiscal year ended October 28, 2022. We expect these events to have future business impact, the extent of which is uncertain and largely subject to whether the severity worsens. These impacts could include but may not be limited to risks and uncertainty related to shifts in demand between sales channels, market volatility, constraints in our supply chain, our ability to operate production facilities and worker availability. These unknowns may subject the Company to future risks related to long-lived asset impairments, increased reserves for uncollectible accounts, price and availability of ingredients and raw materials used in our products and adjustments to reflect the market value of our inventory.

Business segments

Business segments

The Company and its subsidiaries operate in two business segments - the processing and distribution of frozen foods products, and the processing and distribution of snack food products. See Note 7 for further information.

Fiscal year

Fiscal year

We maintain our accounting records on a 52-53-week fiscal basis ending on the Friday closest to October 31. As part of the regular accounting cycle, fiscal years 2022 and 2021 included 52 weeks.

Revenues

Revenues

The Company recognizes revenue for the sale of the product at the point in time when our performance obligation has been satisfied and control of the product has transferred to our customer, which generally occurs upon shipment, pickup or delivery to a customer based on terms of the sale. Contracts with customers are typically short-term in nature with completion of a single performance obligation. Product is sold to foodservice, retail, institutional and other distribution channels. Products are delivered to customers primarily through our own long-haul fleet, common carrier or through a Company owned direct store delivery system. These delivery costs, $6,661 and $5,299 for fiscal years 2022 and 2021, respectively, are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Shipping and handling that occurs after the customer has obtained control of the product is recorded as a fulfillment cost rather than an additional assured service. Costs paid to third party brokers to obtain contracts are recognized as part of selling expenses. Other sundry items in context of the contract are also recognized as selling expense. Any taxes collected on behalf of the government are excluded from net revenue.

We record revenue at the transaction price which is measured as the amount of consideration we anticipate to receive in exchange for providing product to our customers. Revenue is recognized as the net amount estimated to be received after deducting estimated or known amounts including variable consideration for discounts, trade allowances, consumer incentives, coupons, volume-based incentives, cooperative advertising, product returns and other such programs. Promotional allowances, including customer incentive and trade promotion activities, are recorded as a reduction to sales based on amounts estimated being due to customers, based primarily on historical utilization and redemption rates. Estimates are reviewed regularly until incentives or product returns are realized and the result of any such adjustments are known. Promotional allowances deducted from sales for fiscal years 2022 and 2021 were $15,762 and $12,787, respectively.

Advertising expenses

Advertising expenses

Advertising and other promotional expenses are recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses. Advertising expenses for fiscal years 2022 and 2021 were $2,603 and $2,340, respectively.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents

We consider all investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents include money market funds and treasury bills. Cash equivalents totaled $16,333 as of October 28, 2022. As of October 29, 2021, the Company had a book overdraft of $469. The book overdraft was recorded as a liability in accounts payable on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. All cash and cash equivalents balance as of October 28, 2022, were held at Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

Restricted cash

Restricted cash

The Company has no restricted cash as of October 28, 2022 and had $375 of restricted cash as of October 29, 2021.

Fair value measurements

Fair value measurements

We classify levels of inputs to measure the fair value of financial assets as follows:

● Level 1 inputs: Level 1 inputs are quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.

● Level 2 inputs: Level 2 inputs are from other than quoted market prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

● Level 3 inputs: Level 3 inputs are unobservable and should be used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available.

The hierarchy noted above requires us to minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to use observable market data, if available, when determining fair value.

The Company does not have any assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis for the fiscal years ended October 28, 2022, and October 29, 2021, except for pension plan investments.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (which approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out basis) or net realizable value. Inventories include the cost of raw materials, labor, and manufacturing overhead. We regularly review inventory quantities on hand and write down any excess or obsolete inventories to net realizable value. An inventory reserve is created when potentially slow-moving or obsolete inventories are identified in order to reflect the appropriate inventory value. Changes in economic conditions, production requirements, and lower than expected customer demand could result in additional obsolete or slow-moving inventory that cannot be sold or must be sold at reduced prices and could result in additional reserve provisions. The Company recorded a net realizable value reserve of $131 and $2,353 at October 28, 2022 and October 29, 2021, respectively, after determining that the market value on some meat products was less than the costs associated with completion and sale of the product.

Property, plant, and equipment

Property, plant, and equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Major renewals and improvements are charged to the asset accounts while the cost of maintenance and repairs is charged to expense as incurred. When assets are sold or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts and the resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to income. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over 10 to 20 years for buildings and improvements, 5 to 10 years for machinery and equipment, and 3 to 5 years for transportation equipment. We built a processing plant from the ground up and as such have attributed long useful lives accordingly to these types of assets employed at the new facility in Chicago. The Company incurred interest costs of $1,107 for fiscal year 2022, all of which was recorded as interest expense in relation to the construction of the new facility in Chicago.

Leases

Leases

Leases are recognized in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02 Leases (“ASC 842”) which requires a lessee to recognize assets and liabilities with lease terms of more than 12 months. We lease or rent property for such operations as storing inventory and equipment. We analyze our agreements to evaluate whether or not a lease exists by determining what assets exist for which we control usage for a period of time in exchange for consideration. In the event a lease exists, we classify it as a finance or operating lease and record a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and the corresponding lease liability at the inception of the lease. In the case of month-to-month lease or rental agreements with terms of 12 months or less, we made an accounting policy election to not recognize lease assets and liabilities and record them on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The storage units rented on a month-to-month basis for use by our Snack Food Product segment direct store delivery route system are not costly to relocate and contain no significant leasehold improvements or degree of integration over leased assets. Orders can be fulfilled by another route storage unit interchangeably. No specialized assets exist in the rental storage units. Market price is paid for storage units. No guarantee of debt is made.

Finance lease assets are recorded within property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. The Company’s leases of long-haul trucks used in its Frozen Food Products segment qualify as finance leases. Finance lease liabilities are recorded under other liabilities. The consolidated balance sheets reflect both the current and long-term obligation. The classification as a finance or operating lease determines whether the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows are considered operating or financing.

Life insurance policies

Life insurance policies

We record the cash surrender value or contract value for life insurance policies as an adjustment of premiums paid in determining the expense or income to be recognized under the contract for the period. The cash surrender value is included in other non-current assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Expected proceeds from life insurance are recorded under prepaid expenses and other current assets (refer to Note 2 – Composition of Certain Financial Statement Captions).

Income taxes

Income taxes

Deferred taxes are provided for items whose financial and tax bases differ. A valuation allowance is provided against deferred tax assets when it is expected that it is more likely than not that the related asset will not be fully realized. The determination as to whether or not a deferred tax asset can be fully realized is subject to a significant degree of judgment, based at least partially upon a projection of future taxable income, which takes into consideration past and future trends in profitability, customer demand, supply costs, and multiple other factors, which are inherently difficult to predict.

We provide tax accruals for federal, state, and local exposures relating to audit results, tax planning initiatives and compliance responsibilities. The development of these accruals requires judgments about tax issues, potential outcomes, and timing. (See Note 4 for further information). Although the outcome of these tax audits is uncertain, in management’s opinion adequate provisions for income taxes have been made for potential liabilities emanating from these reviews. If actual outcomes differ materially from these estimates, they could have a material impact on our results of operations.

Stock-based compensation

Stock-based compensation

We measure and recognize compensation expense for all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, in the financial statements based on the fair value at the date of the grant. We have not issued, awarded, granted, or entered into any stock-based payment agreements since April 29, 1999, and no such expense was recognized in fiscal years 2022 and 2021.

Comprehensive income or loss

Comprehensive income or loss

Comprehensive income or loss consists of net income and additional minimum pension liability adjustments.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements and regulations

Recently issued accounting pronouncements and regulations

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases”, which requires a lessee to recognize assets and liabilities with lease terms of more than twelve months. Both capital and operating leases are to be recognized on the balance sheet. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, which was our first quarter of fiscal year 2020. We have analyzed all lease transactions during fiscal years 2020 and 2021 and the first and second quarters of fiscal year 2022. The Company elected not to reassess expired contracts or adjust comparative periods. The Company determined that no change to current accounting treatment is warranted for most transactions due to the underlying nature of our leases. In the case of month-to-month lease or rental agreements with terms of twelve months or less, the Company made an accounting policy election to not recognize lease assets and liabilities. The Company performed a detailed analysis and determined that there were two significant -term leases which are the leases with Hogshed Ventures, LLC and Racine Partners 4333 LLC. The accounting treatment of this lease for warehouse storage included establishing a right-of-use asset and the corresponding liability was recorded for the Company’s lease with Hogshed Ventures, LLC for property located at 40th Street in Chicago during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and with Racine Partners 4333 LLC during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2022. The application of this pronouncement resulted in additional disclosures detailing our lease arrangements. The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (ASC 326), which provides guidance on measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. This ASU adds a current expected credit loss impairment model to GAAP that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses whereby a broader range of reasonable and supportable information is required to be utilized in order to derive credit loss estimates.  The effective date of the new guidance as amended by ASU No. 2019-10 is fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard, but does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.