Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 01, 2019

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated and its wholly owned subsidiaries (referred to herein as the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”) prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).  All intercompany accounts and transactions for the periods presented have been eliminated in consolidation.

We utilize a 52/53-week fiscal year ending on the Tuesday closest to December 31 for financial reporting purposes.  Fiscal years 2018 and 2017 each consisted of 52 weeks, while fiscal year 2016 consisted of 53 weeks.  

In fiscal 2018, we separately disclosed our investments in unconsolidated affiliates on the consolidated balance sheet and our related share of losses on the consolidated statement of income and statement of cash flow. Corresponding prior year balances were reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, it was determined that complimentary meals had not been appropriately presented in our consolidated statements of income, resulting in an overstatement of our revenue and operating expenses. The Company corrected the error related to prior interim periods during 2018 by reclassifying complimentary meals out of revenue and other operating expenses in the amount of $23.3 million for fiscal 2018. Further, the associated cost of complimentary meals was reclassified as other operating expenses versus cost of sales and labor in the amount of $5.8 million and $4.4 million, respectively. The reclassifications had no impact on previously reported income from operations, net income, or net income per share. The Company did not correct the 2017 and 2016 annual financial statements as the Company does not consider the impact of the prior period error to be material to the 2017 and 2016 consolidated financial statements. 

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions for the reporting periods covered by the financial statements.  These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities.  Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Amounts receivable from credit card processors, totaling $17.3 million and $13.8 million at January 1, 2019 and January 2, 2018, respectively, are considered cash equivalents because they are both short-term and highly liquid in nature and are typically converted to cash within three days of the sales transaction. Our cash management system provides for the funding of all major bank disbursement accounts on a daily basis as checks are presented for payment. Under this system, outstanding checks are in excess of the cash balances at certain banks, which creates book overdrafts. Book overdrafts are presented as a current liability in other accrued expenses on our consolidated balance sheet.

Accounts and Other Receivables

Accounts and Other Receivables

Our accounts receivable principally result from credit sales to bakery customers.  Other receivables consist primarily of amounts due from our gift card distributors and landlords.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to a concentration of credit risk are cash and cash equivalents and receivables.  We maintain our day-to-day operating cash balances in non-interest-bearing transaction accounts, which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000.  We invest our excess cash in a money market deposit account, which is insured by the FDIC up to $250,000.  Although we maintain balances that exceed the federally insured limit, we have not experienced any losses related to this balance, and we believe credit risk to be minimal.

We consider the concentration of credit risk for accounts receivable to be minimal due to the payment histories and general financial condition of our larger bakery customers.  Concentration of credit risk related to other receivables is limited as this balance is comprised primarily of amounts due from our gift card distributors and landlords.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

For cash equivalents, the carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. The fair value of deemed landlord financing liabilities is determined using current applicable rates for similar instruments as of the balance sheet date in accordance with Level 2 of a three-level hierarchy established by accounting standards. Level 2 inputs are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities.  At January 1, 2019, the fair value of our deemed landlord financing liabilities was $117.0 million versus a carrying value of $118.6 million.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories consist of restaurant food and other supplies, bakery raw materials, and bakery finished goods and are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value on an average cost basis at the restaurants and on a first-in, first-out basis at the bakeries.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

We record property and equipment at cost less accumulated depreciation.  Improvements are capitalized while repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.  Depreciation and amortization are calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the assets or the lease term, whichever is shorter.  Leasehold improvements include the cost of our internal development and construction department.  Depreciation and amortization periods are as follows:

Buildings and land improvements	25 to 30 years
Leasehold improvements	10 to 30 years
Furnishings, fixtures and equipment	3 to 15 years
Computer software and equipment	5 years

Gains and losses related to property and equipment disposals are recorded in depreciation and amortization expenses.

Intangible assets, net

Intangible assets, net

Our leasehold acquisition assets and non-transferable alcoholic beverage licenses are amortized over the associated lease term and are tested for impairment using the methodology discussed in impairment of long-lived assets and lease terminations. At January 1, 2019 and January 2, 2018, the amounts included in intangibles, net for these items were $9.1 million and $8.9 million, respectively. Amortization expenses related to these assets was $0.6 million for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016.

Our trademarks and transferable alcoholic beverage licenses have indefinite lives and, therefore, are not subject to amortization.  At January 1, 2019 and January 2, 2018, the amounts included in intangibles, net for these items were $17.1 million and $15.2 million, respectively.  We test these assets for impairment at least annually by comparing the fair value of each asset with its carrying amount.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Lease Terminations

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Lease Terminations

We assess the potential impairment of our long-lived assets on an annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets or asset group may not be recoverable.  Factors considered include, but are not limited to, negative cash flow, significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner in which an asset is being used, an expectation that an asset will be disposed of significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life and significant negative industry or economic trends.  At any given time, we may be monitoring a small number of locations, and future impairment charges could be required if individual restaurant performance does not improve or we make the decision to close or relocate a restaurant.

We have determined that our asset group for impairment testing is comprised of the assets and liabilities of each of our individual restaurants, as this is the lowest level of identifiable cash flows.  We have identified leasehold improvements as the primary asset because it is the most significant component of our restaurant assets, it is the principal asset from which our restaurants derive their cash flow generating capacity and it has the longest remaining useful life.  The recoverability is assessed by comparing the carrying value of the assets to the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by these assets.  Impairment losses are measured as the amount by which the carrying values of the assets exceed their fair values.

In fiscal 2018, we recorded $17.9 million of lease termination costs and impairment expense in fiscal 2018 related to three The Cheesecake Factory restaurants, including two closures, one Grand Lux Cafe and one RockSugar Southeast Asian Kitchen. In fiscal 2017, we recorded $10.3 million of accelerated depreciation and impairment expense related to three The Cheesecake Factory restaurants, including one relocation and one lease expiration, and one Grand Lux Cafe. In fiscal 2016, we recorded $0.1 million of accelerated depreciation expense related to the planned relocation of one The Cheesecake Factory restaurant, which subsequently took place in fiscal 2017.

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

During fiscal years 2018, 2017 and 2016, we made minority equity investments in two restaurant concepts, North Italia and Flower Child, bringing our percentage of ownership to 49% and 46%, respectively, at January 1, 2019. Since we hold a number of rights with regard to participation in policy-making processes, but do not control these entities, we account for these investments under the equity method.  Accordingly, we recognize our proportionate share of the reported earnings or losses of these entities on the consolidated statements of income and as an adjustment to our investments on the consolidated balance sheets.

We assess the potential impairment of our equity investments whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that a decrease in value of the investment has occurred that is other than temporary, in which case we would recognize the decrease even though it is in excess of what would otherwise be recognized by application of the equity method.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Our revenues consist of sales at our Company-owned restaurants, sales from our bakery operations to our licensees and other third-party customers, royalties from our licensees’ restaurant sales and from consumer packaged goods sales, and licensee development and site fees. Revenues are presented net of sales taxes. Sales tax collected is included in other accrued expenses until the taxes are remitted to the appropriate taxing authorities.

Revenues from restaurant sales are recognized when payment is tendered at the point of sale. Revenues from bakery sales are recognized upon transfer of title and risk to customers. Royalty revenues are recognized in the period the related sales occur, utilizing the sale-based royalty exception available under current accounting guidance. Our consumer packaged goods minimum guarantees do not require distinct performance obligations. Therefore, related revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the applicable agreements, ranging from one to three years. As our development and site fee agreements do not contain distinct performance obligations, related revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the applicable agreements, ranging from eight to 30 years.

In fiscal 2018, we deferred revenue of $0.9 million for new minimum guarantees for consumer packaged goods and recognized minimum guarantee revenue of $0.8 million. In fiscal 2018, we deferred revenue of $0.2 million for new site and development agreements and recognized revenue of $0.4 million. Prior to the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard, we recognized revenue for development fees upon execution of new development agreements and for site fees upon our approval of new restaurant sites. Under previous guidance, we would have recognized site and development fee revenue of $0.2 million during fiscal 2018.

We recognize a liability upon the sale of our gift cards and recognize revenue when these gift cards are redeemed in our restaurants.  Based on our historical redemption patterns, we can reasonably estimate the amount of gift cards for which redemption is remote, which is referred to as “breakage.”  Breakage is recognized over a three-year period in proportion to historical redemption trends and is classified as revenues in our consolidated statements of income.  We recognized $8.0 million, $7.9 million and $7.6 million of gift card breakage in fiscal years 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  Incremental direct costs related to gift card sales, including commissions and credit card fees, are deferred and recognized in earnings in the same pattern as the related gift card revenue. There were no changes to our accounting for gift card revenue and related costs upon adoption of the new revenue recognition standard.

Certain of our promotional programs include multiple element arrangements that incorporate various performance obligations. We allocate revenue using the relative selling price of each performance obligation considering the likelihood of redemption and recognize revenue upon satisfaction of each performance obligation. During fiscal 2018, we deferred revenue of $7.0 million related to promotional programs and recognized $5.9 million of previously deferred revenue related to promotional programs.

(See Recent Accounting Pronouncements for further discussion of our adoption of the new revenue recognition accounting guidance.)

Leases

Leases

We currently lease all of our restaurant locations.  We evaluate each lease to determine its appropriate classification as an operating or capital lease for financial reporting purposes.  All of our restaurant leases are classified as operating leases.  Minimum base rent, which generally escalates over the term of the lease, is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term.  The lease term includes the build-out period for our leases, where no rent payments are typically due under the terms of the lease. Contingent rent expense, which is based on a percentage of revenues, is recorded as incurred to the extent it exceeds minimum base rent per the lease agreement.

We expend cash for leasehold improvements and furnishings, fixtures and equipment to build out and equip our leased premises.  We may also expend cash for structural additions that we make to leased premises.  Generally a portion of the leasehold improvements and building costs are reimbursed to us by our landlords as construction contributions.  If obtained, landlord construction contributions usually take the form of up-front cash, full or partial credits against our future minimum or percentage rents, or a combination thereof.  Depending on the specifics of the leased space and the lease agreement, amounts paid for structural components are recorded during the construction period as either prepaid rent or property and equipment and the landlord construction contributions are recorded as either an offset to prepaid rent or as a deemed landlord financing liability.

For those leases for which we are deemed the owner of the property during construction, upon completion, we perform an analysis to determine if they qualify for sale-leaseback treatment.  For those qualifying leases, the deemed landlord financing liability and the associated property and equipment are removed and the difference is reclassified to either prepaid or deferred rent and amortized over the lease term as an increase or decrease to rent expense.  If the lease does not qualify for sale-leaseback treatment, the deemed landlord financing liability is amortized over the lease term based on the rent payments designated in the lease agreement.

Self-Insurance Liabilities

Self-Insurance Liabilities

We retain the financial responsibility for a significant portion of our risks and associated liabilities with respect to workers’ compensation, general liability, staff member health benefits, employment practices and other insurable risks.  The accrued liabilities associated with our self-insured programs are based on our estimate of the ultimate costs to settle known claims, as well as claims incurred but not yet reported to us (“IBNR”) as of the balance sheet date and are recorded in other accrued expenses. Our estimated liabilities, which are not discounted, are based on information provided by our insurance brokers and insurers, combined with our judgment regarding a number of assumptions and factors, including the frequency and severity of claims, claims development history, case jurisdiction, applicable legislation and our claims settlement practices.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

We maintain stock-based incentive plans under which equity awards may be granted to staff members and consultants.  We account for the awards based on fair value measurement guidance and amortize to expense over the vesting period using a straight-line or graded-vesting schedule, as applicable. (See Note 13 for further discussion of our stock-based compensation.)

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs

We expense advertising production costs at the time the advertising first takes place. All other advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Most of our advertising costs are included in other operating costs and expenses and were $6.1 million, $6.1 million and $7.4 million in fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Preopening Costs

Preopening Costs

Preopening costs include all costs to relocate and compensate restaurant management staff members during the preopening period, costs to recruit and train hourly restaurant staff members, and wages, travel and lodging costs for our opening training team and other support staff members.  Also included are expenses for maintaining a roster of trained managers for pending openings, the associated temporary housing and other costs necessary to relocate managers in alignment with future restaurant opening and operating needs, and corporate travel and support activities.  We expense preopening costs as incurred.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

We provide for federal, state and foreign income taxes currently payable and for deferred taxes that result from differences between financial accounting rules and tax laws governing the timing of recognition of various income and expense items. We recognize deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the future tax effects of such temporary differences based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of existing assets and liabilities using the statutory rates expected in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred taxes of any enacted change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Income tax credits are recorded as a reduction of tax expense.

We account for uncertain tax positions under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance, which requires that a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return be recognized (or derecognized) in the financial statements when it is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50%) that the position would be sustained on its technical merits upon examination by tax authorities, taking into account available administrative remedies and litigation. A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate resolution. We recognize interest related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.  Penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recorded in general and administrative expenses.

Net Income per Share

Net Income per Share

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, reduced by unvested restricted stock awards. At January 1, 2019, January 2, 2018 and January 3, 2017, 1.7 million, 1.7 million and 1.9 million shares, respectively, of restricted stock issued to staff members were unvested and, therefore, excluded from the calculation of basic earnings per share for the fiscal years ended on those dates.  Diluted net income per share includes the dilutive effect of outstanding equity awards, calculated using the treasury stock method. Shares of common stock equivalents of 1.5 million, 1.6 million and 1.4 million for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, were excluded from the diluted calculation due to their anti-dilutive effect.

	Fiscal Year
	2018		2017		2016
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Net income	$	99,035	$	157,392	$	139,494
Basic weighted average shares outstanding		45,263		46,930		47,981
Dilutive effect of equity awards		952		1,222		1,391
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		46,215		48,152		49,372
Basic net income per share	$	2.19	$	3.35	$	2.91
Diluted net income per share	$	2.14	$	3.27	$	2.83

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investment by and distribution to owners.  For fiscal year 2016, our comprehensive income consisted solely of net income. In fiscal years 2018 and 2017, comprehensive income also included translation gains and losses related to our Canadian restaurant operations.

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency

The Canadian dollar is the functional currency for our Canadian restaurant operations. Revenue and expense accounts are translated into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rates during the reporting period. Assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rates in effect at the reporting period end date. Equity accounts are translated at historical rates, except for the change in retained earnings which is the result of the income statement translation process. Translation gains and losses are reported as a separate component in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income and would only be realized upon the sale or upon complete or substantially complete liquidation of the business. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are recognized in our consolidated statements of income in interest and other expense, net.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued a new standard on the recognition and measurement of leases, which requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and a corresponding right-of-use asset on the balance sheet for most leases. The guidance does not make significant changes to the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows by a lessee. The standard requires certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases and is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 with early adoption permitted. We will adopt the standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and plan to utilize the alternative transition method, whereby an entity records a cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings in the year of adoption without restating prior periods. We plan to elect the package of practical expedients which allows us to carryforward our historical lease classification, our assessment on whether a contract is or contains a lease and our initial direct costs for any leases that exist prior to adoption of the new standard, as well as the practical expedient which allows the use of hindsight in determining our lease terms. We expect the adoption will result in the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities of approximately $1 billion on our consolidated balance sheet. We also expect approximately $4 million of additional expense on our fiscal 2019 statement of operations due primarily to our election of the hindsight practical expedient.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In August 2018, the FASB issued accounting guidance that requires implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements to be deferred and recognized over the term of the arrangement if those costs would be capitalized by the customer in a software licensing arrangement under the current internal-use software standard. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. We implemented this guidance on a prospective basis in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and, as a result, capitalized $0.6 million of implementation costs during fiscal 2018.

In May 2014, the FASB issued accounting guidance that provides a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that supersedes most of the existing revenue recognition requirements and requires entities to recognize revenue at an amount that reflects the consideration to which a company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. We implemented this standard as of the first day of fiscal 2018. Utilizing the cumulative-effect method of adoption, we recorded a $4.8 million increase to deferred revenue and a corresponding reduction of $3.6 million, net of tax, to retained earnings to reverse a portion of the previously-recognized development and site fees from our international licensees. Whereas previously we recognized income and received payment upon execution of the agreements and approval of new restaurant sites, respectively, future revenue for these items will be recorded on a straight-line basis over the life of the applicable license agreements as the agreements do not contain distinct performance obligations. Comparative financial information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. The impact of adopting this standard as compared to the previous revenue recognition guidance was not material to our consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.