SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Shake Shack Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and on a basis consistent in all material respects with the accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2015 ("2015 Form 10-K"). In our opinion, all adjustments, which are normal and recurring in nature, necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and results of operation have been included. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current year presentation. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full fiscal year.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 30, 2015 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in our 2015 Form 10-K.

In February 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis ("ASU 2015-02"). ASU 2015-02 amended the existing guidance to, among other things, modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities, and eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. We adopted ASU 2015-02 on December 31, 2015. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2015-02, we consolidated SSE Holdings as a voting interest entity. Pursuant to the provisions of ASU 2015-02, SSE Holdings is now considered a VIE. Shake Shack Inc. is the primary beneficiary as we have the majority economic interest in SSE Holdings and, as the sole managing member, have decision making authority that significantly affects the economic performance of the entity, while the limited partners have no substantive kick-out or participating rights. As a result, we will continue to consolidate SSE Holdings. The assets and liabilities of SSE Holdings represent substantially all of our consolidated assets and liabilities with the exception of certain deferred taxes and liabilities under the Tax Receivable Agreement.

Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year

We operate on a 52/53 week fiscal year ending on the last Wednesday in December. Fiscal 2016 contains 52 weeks and ends on December 28, 2016. Fiscal 2015 contained 52 weeks and ended on December 30, 2015. Unless otherwise stated, references to years in this report relate to fiscal years.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us 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 sales and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements       

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-05, Customers' Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement ("ASU 2015-05"). ASU 2015-05 provides guidance in evaluating whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the software license element of the arrangement should be accounted for as an acquisition of a software license. If the arrangement does not contain a software license, it should be accounted for as a service contract. We adopted ASU 2015-05 on December 31, 2015 and elected to adopt the standard on a prospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2015-05 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements ("ASU 2015-15"), which clarifies the guidance set forth in Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs ("ASU 2015-03"), issued in April 2015. ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized liability be presented on the balance sheet as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected. ASU 2015-15 provides additional guidance regarding debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements, stating that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement. We adopted ASU 2015-03 and ASU 2015-15 on December 31, 2015 and the adoption did not have a material effect our consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements       

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Payments ("ASU 2016-15"). ASU 2016-15 provides guidance on eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing diversity in practice. ASU 2016-15 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and is to be applied retrospectively to each period presented. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2016-15 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting ("ASU 2016-09"). ASU 2016-09 simplifies certain aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and can be applied either retrospectively or prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2016-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-04, Recognition of Breakage for Certain Prepaid Stored-Value Products ("ASU 2016-04"). ASU 2016-04 entitles a company to derecognize amounts related to expected breakage in proportion to the pattern of rights expected to be exercised by the product holder to the extent that it is probable a significant reversal of the recognized breakage amount will not subsequently occur. ASU 2016-04 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and is to be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2016-04 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases ("ASU 2016-02"). ASU 2016-02 establishes a new lease accounting model, that, for many companies, eliminates the concept of operating leases and requires entities to record assets and liabilities related to leases on the balance sheet for certain types of leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires the entity to apply a modified retrospective transition method for existing leases subject to certain transition relief. Early adoption will be permitted for all entities. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities ("ASU 2016-01"). ASU 2016-01 requires: (i) equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (ii) simplification of the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment; (iii) elimination of the requirement for public entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet; (iv) public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; (v) an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments; (vi) separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (that is, securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements; and (vii) clarification that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. ASU 2016-01 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and amendments should be applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet at the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Early adoption is permitted, subject to certain conditions. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2016-01 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory ("ASU 2015-11"). Under ASU 2015-11 entities should measure inventory that is not measured using last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method, including inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost, at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. ASU 2015-11 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and is to be applied prospectively. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASU 2014-09"). ASU 2014-09 supersedes the existing revenue recognition guidance and clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. In March 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to ASU 2014-09 clarifying the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to ASU 2014-09 clarifying the considerations for identifying performance obligations and the implementation guidance for revenue recognized from licensing arrangements. In August 2015, the FASB issued an update to ASU 2014-09 deferring the effective date for public entities, on a retrospective basis, to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, subject to certain conditions. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements, as well as the expected timing and method of adoption.