Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions in the United States of America. Deposits in transit include sales through the end of the period, the majority of which were paid with credit and debit cards and settle within a few days of the sales transactions. The amounts due from banks for these transactions at each reporting date were as follows:


	As Of
	December 31, 2023		January 1, 2023
Due from banks for debit and credit card transactions	$	85,116	$	77,665

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Expenditures for major additions and improvements to facilities as well as significant component replacements are capitalized. All other maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When property is retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated statements of income. Depreciation expense, which includes the amortization of assets recorded as finance leases, is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the individual assets. Terms of leases used in the determination of estimated useful lives may include renewal options if the exercise of the renewal option is determined to be reasonably certain.

The following table includes the estimated useful lives of certain of the Company’s asset classes:


Computer hardware and software		3 to 5 years
Furniture, fixtures and equipment		7 to 20 years
Leasehold improvements		up to 15 years
Buildings		40 years

Store development costs, which include costs associated with the selection and procurement of real estate sites, are also included in property and equipment. These costs are included in leasehold improvements and are amortized over the remaining lease term of the successful sites with which they are associated.

Self-Insurance Reserves

The Company uses a combination of insurance and self-insurance programs to provide for costs associated with general liability, workers’ compensation and team member health benefits. Liabilities for self-insurance reserves are estimated based on independent actuarial estimates, which are based on historical information and assumptions about future events. The Company utilizes various techniques, including analysis of historical trends and actuarial valuation methods, to estimate the cost to settle reported claims and claims incurred but not yet reported as of the balance sheet date. The actuarial valuation methods consider loss development factors, which include the development time frame and expected claim reporting and settlement patterns, and expected loss costs, which include the expected frequency and severity of claim activity. Amounts expected to be recovered from insurance companies are included in the liability, with a corresponding amount recorded in accounts receivable.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the cost of acquired businesses in excess of the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired. The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of trade names related to “Sprouts Farmers Market,” liquor licenses and reacquired rights recognized in connection with the acquisition of Ronald Cohn, Inc. in 2023. See Note 28, “Business Combination” for more information on this acquisition.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth fiscal quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The Company’s impairment evaluation of goodwill consists of a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The Company’s qualitative assessment considered factors including changes in the competitive market, budget-to-actual performance, trends in market capitalization for the Company and its peers, turnover in key management personnel and overall changes in the macroeconomic environment. If this qualitative assessment indicates it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, no further analysis is required, and goodwill is not impaired. Otherwise, the Company compares the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount with an impairment loss recognized for the amount, if any, by which carrying value exceeds estimated fair value.

The impairment evaluation for the Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets consists of a qualitative assessment, similar to that for goodwill. If the qualitative assessment indicates it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value exceeds its carrying value, no further analysis is required, and the asset is not impaired. Otherwise, the Company compares the estimated fair value of the asset to its carrying amount with an impairment loss recognized for the amount, if any, by which carrying value exceeds estimated fair value.

The Company has determined its business consists of a single reporting unit. The Company has had no goodwill impairment charges for the past three fiscal years. See Note 8, “Intangible Assets” and Note 9, “Goodwill” for further discussion.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company assesses its long-lived assets, including property and equipment and right-of-use assets, for potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable. These events primarily include current period losses combined with a history of losses or a projection of continuing losses, a significant decrease in the market value of an asset or a decision to close or relocate a store. The Company groups and evaluates long-lived assets for impairment at the individual store level, which is the lowest level at which independent identifiable cash flows are available. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset group to the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset group. The Company’s impairment analysis contains management assumptions about key variables including sales growth rate, gross margin, payroll and other controllable expenses.

If impairment is indicated, a loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value of the asset group. The fair value of the asset group is estimated based on the discounted future cash flows using a discount rate commensurate with the related risk or comparable market values, if available. The Company recorded an impairment loss of $30.5 million in 2023, of which $27.8 million was in connection with the decision to close certain underperforming stores (see Note 27, "Store Closures") and $2.7 million was in the normal course of business primarily related to the write-down of right-of-use assets and leasehold improvements. The Company recorded an impairment loss of $8.1 million and $4.8 million in 2022 and 2021, respectively, as part of the normal course of business primarily related to the write-down of right-of-use assets and leasehold improvements. These charges are recorded as a component of Store closure and other costs, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Leases

The Company leases its stores, distribution centers, and administrative offices. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease assets, current portion of operating lease liabilities and noncurrent portion of operating lease liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property, plant, equipment, net, current portion of finance lease liabilities, and long-term debt and finance lease liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Operating lease payments are charged on a straight-line basis to rent expense, a component of selling, general and administrative expenses, over the lease term and finance lease payments are charged to interest expense and depreciation and amortization expense using a debt model over the lease term.

The Company’s lease assets represent a right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Lease assets and liabilities and the related rent expense are recognized at the lease commencement date (date on which the Company gains access to the property) based on the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term, net of landlord allowances expected to be received. The Company accounts for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component for all current classes of leases.

Most of the Company’s lease agreements include variable payments related to pass-through costs for common area maintenance ("CAM"), property taxes, and insurance. Additionally, some of the Company’s lease agreements include rental payments based on a percentage of retail sales over contractual levels. These variable payments are not included in the measurement of the lease liability or asset and are expensed as incurred.

As most of the Company’s lease agreements do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses an estimated incremental borrowing rate, which is derived from third-party information available at the lease commencement date, in determining the present value of lease payments. The rate used is for a secured borrowing of a similar term as the lease.

Most leases include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from one to twenty years or more. The exercise of lease renewal options is at the Company’s sole discretion. The lease term includes the initial contractual term as well as any options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Leases with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term leases”) are not recorded on the balance sheet. The Company does not currently have any material short-term leases. Additionally, the Company’s lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

The Company subleases certain real estate to third parties, which have all been classified as operating leases. The Company recognizes sublease income on a straight-line basis.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company records its financial assets and liabilities in accordance with the framework for measuring fair value in accordance with ASC 820. This framework establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value:

Level 1: Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

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

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

Fair value measurements of nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities are primarily used in the impairment analysis of goodwill, intangible assets, and long-lived assets. Impairment losses related to store-level assets are calculated using significant unobservable inputs including the present value of future cash flows expected to be generated using a risk-adjusted market based weighted-average cost of capital, comparable store sales growth assumptions, and third party property appraisal data. Therefore, these inputs are classified as a level 3 measurement in the fair value hierarchy.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company records derivatives at fair value. The designation of a derivative instrument as a hedge and its ability to meet the hedge accounting criteria determine how the Company reflects the change in fair value of the derivative instrument in its financial statements. A derivative qualifies for hedge accounting if, at inception, the derivative is expected to be highly effective in offsetting the underlying hedged cash flows, and the Company fulfills the hedge documentation standards at the time it enters into the derivative contract. The Company designates its hedge based on the exposure it is hedging. For qualifying cash flow hedges, the Company records changes in fair value in other comprehensive income (“OCI”). The Company releases the derivative’s gain or loss from OCI to match the timing of the underlying hedged item’s effect on earnings.

The Company reviews the effectiveness of its hedging instruments quarterly. The Company recognizes changes in the fair value for derivatives not designated as hedges or those not qualifying for hedge accounting in current period earnings. The Company discontinues hedge accounting for any hedge that is no longer evaluated to be highly effective.

The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes, and it monitors the financial stability and credit standing of its counterparties in these transactions. The Company had no active derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2023 or January 1, 2023.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company measures share-based compensation cost at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and recognizes share-based compensation cost as expense over the vesting period. As share-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of income is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, the amount of expense has been reduced for actual forfeitures as they occur. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the grant date fair value for each option grant. See Note 26, “Share-Based Compensation” for a discussion of assumptions used in the calculation of fair values. Application of alternative assumptions could produce different estimates of the fair value of share-based compensation and, consequently, the related amounts recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The grant date fair value of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance share awards (“PSAs”) is based on the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The Company recognizes compensation expense for time-based awards on a straight-line basis and for performance-based awards on the graded-vesting method over the vesting period of the awards.

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s performance obligations are satisfied upon the transfer of goods to the customer, which occurs at the point of sale, and payment from customers is also due at the time of sale. Proceeds from the sale of gift cards are recorded as a liability at the time of sale and recognized as sales when they are redeemed by the customer and the performance obligation is satisfied by the Company. The Company’s gift cards do not expire. Based on historical redemption rates, a small and relatively stable percentage of gift cards will never be redeemed, referred to as "breakage." Estimated breakage revenue is recognized over time in proportion to actual gift card redemptions and was not material in any period presented. A summary of the activity and balances in the gift card liability, net is as follows:


	Year Ended
	December 31, 2023			January 1, 2023			January 2, 2022
Beginning Balance	$	10,906		$	12,586		$	15,888
Gift cards issued during the period but not redeemed(1)		4,271			4,291			5,711
Revenue recognized from beginning liability		(4,611	)		(5,971	)		(9,013	)
Ending Balance	$	10,566		$	10,906		$	12,586

(1) net of estimated breakage

The nature of goods the Company transfers to customers at the point of sale are inventories, consisting of merchandise purchased for resale.

The Company does not have any material contract assets or receivables from contracts with customers, any revenue recognized in the current period from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods, any contract performance obligations, or any material costs to obtain or fulfill a contract as of December 31, 2023.

The Company’s largest supplier accounted for approximately 47%, 45% and 44% of total purchases during 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses primarily consist of salaries, wages and benefits costs, share-based compensation, occupancy costs (including rent, property taxes, utilities, CAM and insurance), advertising costs, buying costs, pre-opening and other administrative costs.

The Company charges certain vendors to place advertisements in the Company’s in-store guide and circulars under a cooperative advertising program. The Company records rebates received from vendors in connection with cooperative advertising programs as a reduction to advertising costs when the allowance represents a reimbursement of a specific incremental and identifiable cost. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense, net of rebates, was $45.8 million, $49.2 million and $45.9 million for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company’s deferred tax assets are subject to periodic recoverability assessments. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that more likely than not will be realized. Realization of the deferred tax assets is principally dependent upon achievement of projected future taxable income offset by deferred tax liabilities. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the judgment occurs.

The Company files income tax returns for federal purposes and in many states. The Company’s tax filings remain subject to examination by applicable tax authorities for a certain length of time, generally three years, following the tax year to which those filings relate.

The Company recognizes the effect of uncertain income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. The Company records interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as part of income tax expense.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Reference Rate Reform

In March 2020 and January 2021, the FASB issued ASU no. 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting” and ASU 2021-01, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope,” respectively. The amendments in these updates provide optional expedients and exceptions for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform. During 2022, the Company adopted certain optional expedients provided under Topic 848 that permitted its hedging relationships to continue without de-designation upon changes due to reference rate reform. The adoption of this guidance resulted in no material impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 22, “Derivative Financial Instruments” for more information on our hedging activities.

Income Taxes –Accounting for Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU no. 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.” Among other things, the amendment removes certain exceptions for periods with operating losses, and reduces the complexity surrounding franchise tax, step up in tax basis of goodwill in conjunction with a business combination, and timing of enacting changes in tax laws during interim periods. The Company adopted this standard effective January 4, 2021 on a prospective basis. There was no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

Segment Reporting – Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU no. 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280) Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures." The amendments in this update increase required disclosures about a public entity's reportable segments, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”). In addition, ASU 2023-07 will require the Company to disclose the title and position of its CODM. The guidance will be effective for the Company for its fiscal year 2024 and for interim periods starting in the first quarter of its fiscal year 2025. Early adoption is permitted, and the guidance is required to be applied retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Income Taxes – Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU no. 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures." The amendments in this update enhance a public entity's annual income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. The guidance will be effective for the Company for its fiscal year 2025. Early adoption is permitted, and the guidance should be applied prospectively, with an option to apply it retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

No other new accounting pronouncements issued or effective during 2023 had, or are expected to have, a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.