Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jan. 26, 2013

Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

National Beverage Corp. develops, manufactures, markets and sells a diverse portfolio of multi-flavored soft drinks, juice drinks, water and specialty beverages primarily in North America.  Incorporated in Delaware in 1985, National Beverage Corp. is a holding company for various operating subsidiaries.  When used in this report, the terms “we,”  “us,” “our,” “Company” and “National Beverage” mean National Beverage Corp. and its subsidiaries.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of National Beverage Corp. and all subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim financial reporting.  Accordingly, they do not include all information and notes presented in the annual consolidated financial statements.  The consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 28, 2012. The accounting policies used in these interim consolidated financial statements are consistent with those used in the annual consolidated financial statements.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  In our opinion, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results which might be expected for the entire fiscal year.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Presentation of Comprehensive Income

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended its guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income in financial statements to improve the comparability, consistency and transparency of financial reporting and to increase the prominence of items that are recorded in other comprehensive income. The new guidance requires entities to report components of comprehensive income in either a continuous statement of comprehensive income or two separate but consecutive statements.  The new guidance was effective as of the beginning of fiscal 2013 and was applied retrospectively. The Company’s adoption of the new guidance resulted in a change in the presentation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements but did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Derivative Financial Instruments

We use derivative financial instruments to partially mitigate our exposure to changes in raw material costs.  All derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The estimated fair value of derivative financial instruments is calculated based on market rates to settle the instruments.  We do not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.  Credit risk related to derivative financial instruments is managed by requiring high credit standards for counterparties and frequent cash settlements.  See Note 7.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing earnings applicable to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted earnings per common share is calculated in a similar manner, but includes the dilutive effect of stock options.