PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

We have defined benefit retirement plans ("plans") for eligible salaried and hourly employees. Benefits are based on years of credited service and average compensation or stated amounts for each year of service. We also sponsor postretirement plans which provide certain medical and dental benefits ("other postretirement benefits") to qualifying U.S. employees.

Components of pension benefit and other postretirement benefit costs included:



	Pension Benefits
	Thirteen weeks ended						Twenty-six weeks ended
	November 23, 2014			November 24, 2013			November 23, 2014			November 24, 2013
Service cost	$	22.2		$	22.2		$	44.3		$	44.5
Interest cost	40.3			37.8			80.7			75.6
Expected return on plan assets	(67.0		)	(63.2		)	(134.0		)	(126.4		)
Amortization of prior service cost	0.9			0.9			1.8			1.8
Special termination benefits	—			—			6.9			—
Benefit cost — Company plans	(3.6		)	(2.3		)	(0.3		)	(4.5		)
Pension benefit cost — multi-employer plans	3.5			3.6			6.7			6.7
Total benefit cost	$	(0.1	)	$	1.3		$	6.4		$	2.2



	Postretirement Benefits
	Thirteen weeks ended						Twenty-six weeks ended
	November 23, 2014			November 24, 2013			November 23, 2014			November 24, 2013
Service cost	$	0.2		$	0.2		$	0.3		$	0.4
Interest cost	2.5			2.4			5.0			4.8
Amortization of prior service benefit	(1.9		)	(1.8		)	(3.9		)	(3.6		)
Recognized net actuarial loss	0.8			1.7			1.7			3.4
Total cost	$	1.6		$	2.5		$	3.1		$	5.0

During the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2015, we contributed $3.4 million and $6.4 million, respectively, to our pension plans and contributed $5.6 million and $10.5 million, respectively, to our other postretirement plans. Based upon the current funded status of the plans and the current interest rate environment, we anticipate making further contributions of approximately $6.5 million to our pension plans for the remainder of fiscal 2015. We anticipate making further contributions of $15.0 million to our other postretirement plans during the remainder of fiscal 2015. These estimates are based on ERISA guidelines, current tax laws, plan asset performance, and liability assumptions, which are subject to change.

Special termination benefits granted in connection with the formation of Ardent Mills resulted in the recognition of $6.9 million of expense in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. This expense was included in results of discontinued operations.