Note A - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Notes to Financial Statements

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

NOTE A – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

J & J Snack Foods Corp. and Subsidiaries (“the Company”) manufactures, markets and distributes a variety of nutritional snack foods and beverages to the foodservice and retail supermarket industries. A summary of the significant accounting policies consistently applied in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements follows. Our 2023 fiscal year comprises 53 weeks. All references to 2023 fiscal year refer to that 53-week period. Fiscal years 2022 and 2021 comprised 52 weeks.

1. Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These financial statements include the accounts of J & J Snack Foods Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

2. Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue in accordance with ASC 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.”

When Performance Obligations Are Satisfied

A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account for revenue recognition. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied.

The singular performance obligation of our customer contracts for product and machine sales is determined by each individual purchase order and the respective products ordered, with revenue being recognized at a point-in-time when the obligation under the terms of the agreement is satisfied and product control is transferred to our customer. Specifically, control transfers to our customers when the product is delivered to, installed or picked up by our customers based upon applicable shipping terms, as our customers can direct the use and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from the product at this point in time. The performance obligations in our customer contracts for product are generally satisfied within 30 days.

The singular performance obligation of our customer contracts for time and material repair and maintenance equipment service is the performance of the repair and maintenance with revenue being recognized at a point-in-time when the repair and maintenance is completed.

The singular performance obligation of our customer repair and maintenance equipment service contracts is the performance of the repair and maintenance with revenue being recognized over the time the service is expected to be performed. Our customers are billed for service contracts in advance of performance and therefore we have a contract liability on our balance sheet.

Significant Payment Terms

In general, within our customer contracts, the purchase order identifies the product, quantity, price, pick-up allowances, payment terms and final delivery terms. Although some payment terms may be more extended, presently the majority of our payment terms are 30 days. As a result, we have used the available practical expedient and, consequently, do not adjust our revenues for the effects of a significant financing component.

Shipping

All amounts billed to customers related to shipping and handling are classified as revenues; therefore, we recognize revenue for shipping and handling fees at the time the products are shipped or when services are performed. The cost of shipping products to the customer is recognized at the time the products are shipped to the customer and our policy is to classify them as Distribution expenses.

Variable Consideration

In addition to fixed contract consideration, our contracts include some form of variable consideration, including sales discounts, trade promotions and certain other sales and consumer incentives, including rebates and coupon redemptions. In general, variable consideration is treated as a reduction in revenue when the related revenue is recognized. Depending on the specific type of variable consideration, we use the most likely amount method to determine the variable consideration. We believe there will be no significant changes to our estimates of variable consideration when any related uncertainties are resolved with our customers. We review and update our estimates and related accruals of variable consideration each period based on historical experience. Our recorded liability for allowances, end-user pricing adjustments and trade spending was approximately $18.9 million at September 30, 2023 and $14.7 million at September 24, 2022.

Warranties & Returns

We provide all customers with a standard or assurance type warranty. Either stated or implied, we provide assurance the related products will comply with all agreed-upon specifications and other warranties provided under the law. No services beyond an assurance warranty are provided to our customers.

We do not grant a general right of return. However, customers may return defective or non-conforming products. Customer remedies may include either a cash refund or an exchange of the product. We do not estimate a right of return and related refund liability as returns of our products are rare.

Contract Balances

Our customers are billed for service contracts in advance of performance and therefore we have a contract liability on our balance sheet as follows:

	Fiscal year ended
	September 30,			September 24,
	2023			2022
	(in thousands)
Beginning Balance	$	4,926		$	1,097
Additions to contract liability		6,802			9,163
Amounts recognized as revenue		(6,422	)		(5,334	)
Ending Balance	$	5,306		$	4,926

Disaggregation of Revenue

See Note N for disaggregation of our net sales by class of similar product and type of customer.

Allowance for Estimated Credit Losses

The Company continuously monitors collections and payments from its customers and maintains a provision for estimated credit losses. The allowance for estimated credit losses considers a number of factors including the age of receivable balances, the history of losses, expectations of future credit losses and the customers’ ability to pay off obligations. The allowance for estimated credit losses was $3.2 million and $2.2 million on September 30, 2023 and September 24, 2022, respectively.

3. Foreign Currency

Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average rate of exchange for the period. The cumulative translation adjustment is recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity and changes to such are included in comprehensive income.

4. Use of Estimates

In preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

5. Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

6. Concentrations and related risks

We maintain cash balances at financial institutions located in various states. We have cash balances at six banks totaling approximately $14 million that is in excess of federally insured limits.

Financial instruments that could potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk are trade accounts receivable; however, such risks are limited due to the large number of customers comprising our customer base and their dispersion across geographic regions. We have approximately 31 customers with accounts receivable balances of between $1 million and $10 million and five customers with a balance greater than $10 million, with the largest being approximately $24 million.

We have several large customers that account for a significant portion of our sales. Our top ten customers accounted for 43%, 43% and 43% of our sales during fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, with our largest customer accounting for 9% of our sales in 2023, 8% of our sales in 2022 and 11% of our sales in 2021. Five of the ten customers are food distributors who sell our product to many end users.

About 28% of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements.

None of our vendors supplied more than 10% of our ingredients and packaging in 2023, 2022 or 2021.

Virtually all of our accounts receivable are due from trade customers. Credit is extended based on evaluation of our customers’ financial condition and collateral is not required. Accounts receivable payment terms vary and are stated in the financial statements at amounts due from customers net of an allowance for estimated credit losses. At September 30, 2023 and September 24, 2022, our accounts receivables were $198.1 million and $208.2 million, net of an allowance for estimated credit losses of $3.2 million and $2.2 million. Accounts receivable outstanding longer than the payment terms are considered past due. We determine our allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time trade accounts receivable are past due, our previous loss history, customers’ current ability to pay their obligations to us, and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. We write off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to the allowance for estimated credit losses.

7. Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (determined by the first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value. We recognize abnormal amounts of idle facilities, freight, handling costs, and spoilage as charges of the current period. Additionally, we allocate fixed production overhead to inventories based on the normal capacity of our production facilities. We calculate normal capacity as the production expected to be achieved over a number of periods or seasons under normal circumstances, taking into account the loss of capacity resulting from planned maintenance. This requires us to use judgment to determine when production is outside the range of expected variation in production (either abnormally low or abnormally high). In periods of abnormally low production (for example, periods in which there is significantly lower demand, labor and material shortages exist, or there is unplanned equipment downtime) the amount of fixed overhead allocated to each unit of production is not increased. However, in periods of abnormally high production the amount of fixed overhead allocated to each unit of production is decreased to assure inventories are not measured above cost.

8. Investment Securities

We classify our investment securities in one of three categories: held to maturity, trading, or available for sale. We held no investment securities at September 30, 2023. Our investment portfolio at September 24, 2022 consisted of investments classified as held to maturity and available for sale. The securities that we have the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held to maturity and are stated at amortized cost. Investments classified as available for sale are reported at fair market value with unrealized gains and losses related to the changes in fair value of the securities recognized in investment income. The mutual funds and preferred stock in our available for sale portfolio do not have contractual maturities; however, we classify them as long-term assets as it is our intent to hold them for a period of over one year, although we may sell some or all of them depending on presently unanticipated needs for liquidity or market conditions. See Note C for further information on our holdings of investment securities.

9. Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation of equipment and buildings is provided for by the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives. We review our equipment and buildings to ensure that they provide economic benefit and are not impaired.

Amortization of leasehold improvements is provided for by the straight-line method over the term of the lease or the assets’ estimated useful lives, whichever is shorter. Licenses and rights, customer relationships, technology, non-compete agreements, and franchise agreements and certain tradenames are being amortized by the straight-line method over periods ranging from 2 to 20 years and amortization expense is reflected throughout operating expenses.

Long-lived assets, including fixed assets and amortizing intangibles, are reviewed for impairment as events or changes in circumstances occur indicating that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. Indefinite lived intangibles are reviewed annually for impairment. Cash flow and sales analyses are used to assess impairment. The estimates of future cash flows and sales involve considerable management judgment and are based upon assumptions about expected future operating performance. Assumptions used in these forecasts are consistent with internal planning. The actual cash flows and sales could differ from management’s estimates due to changes in business conditions, operating performance, economic conditions, competition, and consumer preferences.

10. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying value of our short-term financial instruments, such as accounts receivables and accounts payable, approximate their fair values, based on the short-term maturities of these instruments.

11. Income Taxes

We account for our income taxes under the liability method. Under the liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities as measured by the enacted tax rates that will be in effect when these differences reverse. Deferred tax expense is the result of changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Additionally, we recognize a liability for income taxes and associated penalties and interest for tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return which are more likely than not to be overturned by taxing authorities (“uncertain tax positions”). We have not recognized a tax benefit in our financial statements for these uncertain tax positions.

As of September 30, 2023 and September 24, 2022, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively, all of which would impact our effective tax rate over time, if recognized.  We recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters as a part of the provision for income taxes. As of September 30, 2023 and September 24, 2022, we had $0.3 million of accrued interest and penalties. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

	(in thousands)
Balance at September 24, 2022	$	343
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		-
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		-
Settlements		-
Balance at September 30, 2023	$	343

In addition to our federal tax return and tax returns for Mexico and Canada, we file tax returns in all states that have a corporate income tax. Virtually all the returns noted above are open for examination for three to four years.

Our effective tax rate in fiscal 2023 was 26.6%. Our effective tax rate in our fiscal 2022 year was 23.5% and in fiscal 2021 was 24.9%.

12. Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS takes into consideration the potential dilution that could occur if securities (stock options) or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised and converted into common stock.

Our calculation of EPS is as follows:

	Fiscal year ended September 30, 2023
	Income		Shares		Per Share
	(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic EPS
Net earnings available to common stockholders	$	78,906		19,257	$	4.10
Effect of dilutive securities
RSU's and options	$	-		67		(0.02	)
Diluted EPS
Net earnings available to common stockholders plus assumed conversions	$	78,906		19,324	$	4.08

252,044 anti-dilutive shares have been excluded in the computation of fiscal year 2023 diluted EPS.        

	Fiscal year ended September 24, 2022
	Income		Shares		Per Share
	(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic EPS
Net earnings available to common stockholders	$	47,235		19,148	$	2.47
Effect of dilutive securities
RSU's and options	$	-		65		(0.01	)
Diluted EPS
Net earnings available to common stockholders plus assumed conversions	$	47,235		19,213	$	2.46

287,558 anti-dilutive shares have been excluded in the computation of fiscal year 2022 diluted EPS.

	Fiscal year ended September 25, 2021
	Income		Shares		Per Share
	(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic EPS
Net earnings available to common stockholders	$	55,607		19,013	$	2.92
Effect of dilutive securities
RSU's and options	$	-		120		(0.01	)
Diluted EPS
Net earnings available to common stockholders plus assumed conversions	$	55,607		19,133	$	2.91

284,480 anti-dilutive shares have been excluded in the computation of fiscal year 2021 diluted EPS.

13. Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

At September 30, 2023, the Company has two stock-based employee compensation plans. Share-based compensation was recognized as follows:

	Fiscal year ended
	September 30,		September 24,		September 25,
	2023		2022		2021
	(in thousands)
Stock options	$	1,882	$	2,407	$	2,265
Stock purchase plan		555		389		573
Stock issued to outside directors		106		-		44
Service share units issued to employees		1,043		538		93
Performance share units issued to employees		633		-		-
Total share-based compensation	$	4,219	$	3,334	$	2,975
The above compensation is net of tax benefits	$	1,099	$	935	$	1,224

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes options-pricing model. No grants of options were made in fiscal 2023. The following weighted average assumptions were used for grants in fiscal 2022 and 2021: expected volatility of 25.8% for both fiscal years; weighted average risk-free interest rates of 0.8% for both fiscal years; dividend rate of 1.6% for fiscal 2022 and 1.4% for fiscal 2021; and expected lives ranging between 4 and 10 years for both fiscal years.

Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the price of our common shares over the past 51 months for 5-year options and 10 years for 10-year options. We use historical information to estimate expected life and forfeitures within the valuation model. The expected term of awards represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The risk-free rate for periods within the expected life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. Compensation cost is recognized using a straight-line method over the vesting or service period and is net of estimated forfeitures.

The Company issued 21,864 service share units (“RSU”)’s in fiscal 2023 and 9,200 RSUs in fiscal 2022. Each RSU entitles the awardee to one share of common stock upon vesting. The fair value of the RSU’s was determined based upon the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. No such RSU’s were issued in fiscal 2021.

The Company also issued 21,260 performance share units (“PSU”)’s in fiscal 2023 and 8,868 PSUs in fiscal 2022. Each PSU may result in the issuance of up to two shares of common stock upon vesting, dependent upon the level of achievement of the applicable performance goal. The fair value of the PSU’s was determined based upon the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Additionally, the Company applies a quarterly probability assessment in computing this non-cash compensation expense, and any change in estimate is reflected as a cumulative adjustment to expense in the quarter of the change. No such PSU’s were issued in fiscal 2021.

14. Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Total advertising expense was $9.7 million, $7.0 million, and $4.9 million for the fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

15. Commodity Price Risk Management

Our most significant raw material requirements include flour, packaging, shortening, corn syrup, sugar, juice, cheese, chocolate, and a variety of nuts. We attempt to minimize the effect of future price fluctuations related to the purchase of raw materials primarily through forward purchasing to cover future manufacturing requirements, generally for periods from 1 to 12 months. As of September 30, 2023, we have approximately $125 million of such commitments. Futures contracts are not used in combination with forward purchasing of these raw materials. Our procurement practices are intended to reduce the risk of future price increases, but also may potentially limit the ability to benefit from possible price decreases. At each of the last three fiscal year ends, we did not have any material losses on our purchase commitments.

16. Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Total research and development expense was $1.2 million, $0.7 million and $0.6 million for the fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

17. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-06, "Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848", to provide optional guidance to temporarily ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting. Preceding the issuance of ASU 2020-04, which established ASC 848, the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") announced that it would no longer need to persuade or compel banks to submit to LIBOR after December 31, 2021. In response, the FASB established December 31, 2022 as the expiration date for ASC 848. In March 2021, the FCA announced the intended cessation date of the overnight 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month USD LIBOR would be June 30, 2023. Because the current relief in Topic 848 may not cover a period of time during which a significant number of modifications may take place, this update deferred the sunset date in Topic 848 from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2024, after which entities will no longer be permitted to apply the relief in Topic 848. This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In September 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-04 “Liabilities – Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations”. This guidance requires annual and interim disclosures for entities that use supplier finance programs in connection with the purchase of goods and services. These amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, except for the amendment on rollforward information, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. We are currently assessing the impact of the guidance on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

18. Reclassifications

Certain prior year financial statement amounts have been reclassified to be consistent with the presentation for the current year.