Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Apr. 03, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Accounting Policies

Accounting policies

Basis of presentation

The unaudited interim financial information of Kellogg Company (the Company) included in this report reflects all adjustments, all of which are of a normal and recurring nature, that management believes are necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations, comprehensive income, financial position, equity and cash flows for the periods presented. This interim information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying footnotes within the Company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The condensed balance sheet information at January 2, 2021 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The results of operations for the quarter ended April 3, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for other interim periods or the full year.

Accounts payable

The Company has agreements with third parties to provide accounts payable tracking systems which facilitate participating suppliers’ ability to monitor and, if elected, sell payment obligations from the Company to designated third-party financial institutions. Participating suppliers may, at their sole discretion, make offers to sell one or more payment obligations of the Company prior to their scheduled due dates at a discounted price to participating financial institutions. The Company’s goal is to capture overall supplier savings, in the form of payment terms or vendor funding, and the agreements facilitate the suppliers’ ability to sell payment obligations, while providing them with greater working capital flexibility. The Company has no economic interest in the sale of these suppliers’ receivables and no direct financial relationship with the financial institutions concerning these services. The Company’s obligations to its suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment dates, are not impacted by suppliers’ decisions to sell amounts under the arrangements. However, the Company’s right to offset balances due from suppliers against payment obligations is restricted by the agreements for those payment obligations that have been sold by suppliers. The payment of these obligations by the Company is included in cash used in operating activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. As of April 3, 2021, $913 million of the Company’s outstanding payment obligations had been placed in the accounts payable tracking system, and participating suppliers had sold $665 million of those payment obligations to participating financial institutions. As of January 2, 2021, $909 million of the Company’s outstanding payment obligations had been placed in the accounts payable tracking system, and participating suppliers had sold $670 million of those payment obligations to participating financial institutions.