UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

For the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017

OR

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 1-16247

 

FLOWERS FOODS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(229) 226-9110

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 232.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Based on the closing sales price on the New York Stock Exchange on July 15, 2017 the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $3,472,632,171.

On February 15, 2018, the number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value, was 210,609,122.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 24, 2018, which is expected to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about April 2, 2018, have been incorporated by reference into Part III, Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

 

 

 

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FORM 10-K REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this filing and certain other written or oral statements made from time to time by Flowers Foods, Inc. (the “company”, “Flowers Foods”, “Flowers”, “us”, “we”, or “our”) and its representatives that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to current expectations regarding our future financial condition and results of operations and are often identified by the use of words and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “is likely to,” “is expected to” or “will continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions we believe are reasonable.

Forward-looking statements are based on current information and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected. Certain factors that may cause actual results, performance, liquidity, and achievements to differ materially from those projected are discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K”) and may include, but are not limited to:

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The foregoing list of important factors does not include all such factors, nor necessarily present them in order of importance. In addition, you should consult other disclosures made by the company (such as in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or in company press releases) for other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected by the company. Refer to Part I, Item 1A., Risk Factors, of this Form 10-K for additional information regarding factors that could affect the company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as they speak only as of the date made and are inherently uncertain. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update such statements, except as required by law. You are advised, however, to consult any further public disclosures by the company (such as in our filings with the SEC or in company press releases) on related subjects.

We own or have rights to trademarks or trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business, including our corporate names, logos and website names. In addition, we own or have the rights to copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary rights that protect the content of our products and the formulations for such products. Solely for convenience, some of the trademarks, trade names and copyrights referred to in this Form 10-K are listed without the ^©, ^® and ™ symbols, but we will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights to our trademarks, trade names and copyrights.

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PART I

The Company

Flowers Foods, Inc. (references to “we,” “our,” “us,” the “company,” “Flowers” or “Flowers Foods” ) was founded in 1919 as a Georgia corporation when two brothers — William Howard and Joseph Hampton Flowers — opened Flowers Baking Company in Thomasville, Georgia. Flowers’ operating strategy from the beginning was to invest in efficient and technologically advanced bakeries, offer excellent baked foods, build strong brands, provide extraordinary service to customers, offer a workplace that fosters a team spirit, develop innovations to improve the business, and grow through strategic acquisitions.

Flowers is focused on opportunities for growth within the baked foods category and seeks to have its products available wherever bakery foods are sold or consumed — whether in homes, supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, fast food outlets, institutions, or vending machines. The company produces a wide range of breads, buns, rolls, snack cakes, and tortillas.  

Project Centennial

In June 2016, the company launched Project Centennial, an enterprise-wide business and operational review to evaluate opportunities to streamline our operations, drive efficiencies, and invest in strategic capabilities that we believe will strengthen our competitive position and drive profitable revenue growth. Based upon the results of this review, Flowers has begun executing on four primary strategic initiatives:

The company implemented a plan to transition to these primary strategies beginning in fiscal 2017, with the transition intended to be completed by fiscal 2021. By executing on Project Centennial, the company expects to deliver on its stated long-term goals of sales growth in the range of 2% to 4% and EBITDA margins in the range of 12% to 14%.  The company defines EBITDA as earnings from continuing operations before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Flowers' priorities for fiscal 2018 are to simplify and streamline our brand assortment, provide additional tools to distributors to enable them to grow their businesses, reduce costs of purchased goods and services, and put in place a more efficient operating model for a national branded food company.

In fiscal 2019 and beyond, Flowers expects to fully realize the benefits of a lower-cost operating model, stronger brand architecture, and increased strategic investments. These benefits are expected to drive sales growth in the range of 3% to 4% and EBITDA margins in the range of 13% to 14%.

As of the end of fiscal 2017, the company made progress in key Project Centennial initiatives, including the following accomplishments:

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In the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the company announced an enhanced organizational structure designed to emphasize brand growth and innovation in line with a national branded food company, drive enhanced accountability, reduce costs, strengthen long-term strategy and provide greater focus on the strategic initiatives under Project Centennial. The company made substantial progress transitioning to the new structure over the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2017 and continues to target full implementation to be completed early in fiscal 2019. Prior to that time, the company will continue to manage the business and report segment information based on our current segments, the DSD Segment and the Warehouse Segment.

The new organizational structure establishes two business units (“BU”), Fresh Packaged Bread and Snacking/Specialty, and realigns key leadership roles. The new structure also provides for centralized marketing, sales, supply chain, shared-services/administrative, and corporate strategy functions.  We continue to explore additional opportunities to streamline our core operations.  Although we anticipate consulting fees in fiscal 2018 of approximately $8.0 million to $10.0 million, we cannot estimate the non-consulting costs expected to be incurred related to these initiatives.

Segments

We currently manage our business by product delivery method.  Our two operating segments reflect our two distinct methods of delivering products to the market:  

Direct-Store-Delivery Segment (the “DSD Segment”)

Warehouse Delivery Segment (the “Warehouse Segment”)

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The table below presents the sales, percent of total sales, and the number of plants by each segment:

 

See Note 24, Segment Reporting, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K for more detailed financial information about our segments.  Our brands are among the best known in the baking industry. Many of our DSD Segment’s brands have a major presence in the product categories in which they compete. They have a leading share of fresh packaged branded sales measured in both dollars and units in the major metropolitan areas we serve in Southern markets.  

Operating Strategies

Flowers Foods has focused on developing and refining operating strategies to create competitive advantages in the marketplace. We believe these operating strategies help us achieve our long-term objectives and work to build value for our shareholders. Put simply, our strategies are to:

Strengths and core competencies

We aim to achieve consistent and sustainable growth in sales and earnings by focusing on improvements in the operating results of our existing bakeries and, after detailed analysis, acquiring companies and properties that add value to the company. We believe this strategy has resulted in consistent and sustainable growth that builds value for our shareholders.

We regularly articulate our core business strategies to the investment community and internally to our team members, including long-term (five-year) goals. Compensation and bonus programs are linked to the company’s short and long-term goals. The majority of our employees participate in an annual formula-driven, performance-based cash bonus program. In addition, certain employees participate in a long-term incentive program that provides performance-contingent common stock awards that generally vest over a two-year period. We believe these incentive programs provide both a short and long-term goal for our most senior management team and aligns their interests with those of our shareholders.

Grow Sales

This strategy encompasses specific efforts for growth through acquisitions, market expansions, product innovation, and core markets.  As a leading U.S. baker, our products are available to consumers through traditional supermarkets, foodservice distributors, convenience stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, wholesalers, casual dining and quick-serve restaurants, schools, hospitals, dollar stores, and vending machines. To enhance our ability to grow sales, we develop bakery foods that meet changing consumer needs and preferences using market research and the strength of our well-established brands. We maintain and strengthen our brands in both existing and new markets by focusing on consistent product quality, a broad and diverse product line, and exceptional customer service. We expand our geographic reach through strategic acquisitions and by expanding the market reach of our existing bakeries. We believe our growth strategy has been successful, as evidenced by our sales compound average annual growth rate of 5.3% over the last five years.

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Acquisitions

Acquisitions have been an important component of our growth strategy. Since our initial public offering in 1968, we have made more than 100 acquisitions. Since 2003, we have completed 16 acquisitions that, in the aggregate, added approximately $2.0 billion in annual revenue. Our primary acquisition targets have historically been independent/regional baking companies in areas of the country where our fresh products have not had access to those markets. See Note 10, Acquisitions, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K for more details of each of the acquisitions described below.

Dave’s Killer Bread acquisition (2015)

On September 12, 2015, the company completed the acquisition of Dave’s Killer Bread (“DKB”), the nation’s best-selling organic bread.  The DKB acquisition not only gave us the top organic bread brand in the country, it also gave our DSD Segment access to the Pacific Northwest market.

Alpine Valley Bread acquisition (2015)

On October 13, 2015, the company completed the acquisition of Alpine Valley Bread Company (“Alpine”), a family-owned producer of certified organic and all natural breads in the U.S. The acquisition expanded our penetration into the fast growing organic market and provided additional organic production capacity.

Core Markets

Core markets are those served by our DSD Segment for more than five years. These are markets where our brands are established. Our primary growth strategy for core markets is product innovation. We strive to develop innovative, new products for both retail and foodservice customers that will drive excitement and consumers to our brands and products. In addition, in conjunction with the independent distributors, we focus on continually building relationships with both new and potential retail and foodservice customers, which helps grow sales.

Expansion Markets

Expansion markets are defined as new DSD Segment markets entered within the last five fiscal years. In 2011, we announced a DSD market expansion goal to serve a geographical area reaching at least 75% of the U.S. population by 2016. At the end of fiscal 2016, we had exceeded that goal and currently serve more than 85% of the U.S. population.  

Our market expansion efforts are driven by our bakery subsidiaries.  They accomplish this by reaching out to new and existing retail and foodservice customers in the new territory and expanding the DSD model by creating new territories and new independent distributor partnerships.

Invest Wisely and Bake Smart

Throughout our history, we have devoted significant resources to automate our bakeries and improve our distribution capabilities. We believe these investments have made us one of the most efficient, low-cost producers of packaged bakery products in the United States. We believe our capital investments yield valuable long-term benefits, such as more consistent product quality and greater production volume at a lower cost per unit.

From 2013 through 2017, we invested $450.7 million in capital projects. We believe our annual capital investments have given us a competitive edge and we are committed to maintaining that advantage by investing in new technologies and improved processes.

We have established a reciprocal baking system that allows us to shift production among our DSD Segment bakeries. Because of this system, we have the flexibility to meet changing market needs, can respond effectively to hurricanes and other wide-spread natural disasters, and be a low-cost producer and marketer of a full line of bakery products both regionally and nationally. For efficient movement of products from bakery to market, we use company-owned and leased warehouses and distribution centers.

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We believe our company also invests wisely and bakes smart by:

Give Extraordinary Service

When it comes to our retail and foodservice partnerships, our strategy is simple: Go beyond the expected. Our bakery, sales, and corporate national account teams forge strong business relationships built on providing the best quality products at the best price when and where our customers need them. Focusing on extraordinary service helps grow sales in both core and new markets. Also critical to this strategy within our DSD Segment is the professionalism and service provided by the independent distributors who provide daily customer service and build strong retail and foodservice relationships.

Appreciate the Team

We strive to treat all our team members and associates with respect and dignity and work to maintain good relationships and open communication. We are committed to equal employment opportunities and operating our facilities under all federal and state employment laws and regulations. In addition, our subsidiaries provide:

We employ approximately 9,800 people. Approximately 1,160 of these employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements.

Brands & Products

The company reports sales (consolidated and by segment) as branded retail, store branded retail, or non-retail and other.  The non-retail and other category includes foodservice, restaurant, institutional, vending, thrift stores, and contract manufacturing.  The table below presents our major brands and the geographic locations in the U.S. in which our products are available:

 

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Brand Highlights

Our Warehouse Segment markets a line of specialty and organic breads and rolls, including the Alpine Valley Bread brand, for retail and foodservice customers. It also produces proprietary breads, buns, and rolls for specific foodservice customers. This segment’s snack cakes are sold under the Mrs. Freshley’s and store brands. Warehouse Segment products are fresh and frozen and distributed nationally through retail, foodservice and vending customer warehouses.

The table below presents our sales by product mix for fiscal 2017 on a consolidated basis (internal sales data warehouse – “SDW”):

 

 

The table below presents our sales by channel for fiscal 2017 on a consolidated basis (internal sales data warehouse – “SDW”):

 

 

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Marketing

We support our key brands with an advertising and marketing effort that reaches out to consumers through electronic and in-store coupons, social media (such as Facebook and Twitter), digital media (including e-newsletters to consumers), websites (our brand sites and third-party sites), event and sports marketing, on-package promotional offers and sweepstakes, and print advertising. When appropriate, we may join other sponsors with promotional tie-ins. We often focus our marketing efforts on specific products and holidays, such as hamburger and hot dog bun sales during Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day, and snack cakes for specific seasons.

Customers

Our top 10 customers in fiscal 2017 accounted for 48.5% of sales. During fiscal 2017, our largest customer, Walmart/Sam’s Club, represented 20% of the company’s sales. The loss of, or a material negative change in our relationship with, Walmart/Sam’s Club or any other major customer could have a material adverse effect on our business. Walmart/Sam’s Club was the only customer to account for 10.0% or more of our sales during fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Fresh baked foods’ customers include mass merchandisers, supermarkets and other retailers, restaurants, quick-serve chains, food wholesalers, institutions, dollar stores, and vending companies. We also sell returned and surplus product through a system of discount bakery stores. The company currently operates 292 such stores, and reported sales of $75.4 million during fiscal 2017 from these outlets.

Our Warehouse Segment supplies national and regional restaurants, institutions and foodservice distributors, and retail in-store bakeries with breads and rolls. It also sells packaged bakery products to wholesale distributors for ultimate sale to a wide variety of food outlets. It sells packaged snack cakes primarily to customers who distribute the product nationwide through multiple channels of distribution, including mass merchandisers, supermarkets, vending outlets and convenience stores. In certain circumstances, we enter into co-packing arrangements with retail customers or other food companies, some of which are competitors.

Distribution

Distributing fresh bakery foods through a DSD model is a complex process. It involves determining appropriate order levels and delivering products from bakeries to independent distributors for sale and direct delivery to customer stores. The independent distributors are responsible for ordering products, stocking shelves, maintaining special displays, and developing and maintaining good customer relations to ensure adequate inventory and removing unsold goods.

The company has sold the majority of the distribution rights for these territories to independent distributors under long-term financing arrangements. Independent distributors, highly motivated by financial incentives from their distribution rights ownership, strive to increase sales by offering outstanding service and merchandising. Independent distributors have the opportunity to benefit directly from the enhanced value of their distribution rights resulting from higher branded sales volume.

Our DSD model is comprised of three types of territories. Independent distributors who own the rights to distribute certain brands of our fresh packaged bakery foods in defined geographic markets. Company-owned and operated territories with the distribution rights that are classified as available for sale and company owned and operated territories with the distribution rights that are classified as held and used.  The table below presents the approximate number of territories used by the company on December 30, 2017:

 

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The company has developed proprietary software on the hand-held computers that independent distributors use for ordering, sales transactions, and to manage their businesses. The company provides these hand-held computers to the independent distributors and charges them an administrative fee for their use and other administrative services.  This fee is recognized as a reduction to the company’s selling, distribution and administrative expenses.  Our proprietary software permits distributors to track and communicate inventory data to bakeries and to calculate recommended order levels based on historical sales data and recent trends. These orders are electronically transmitted to the appropriate bakery on a nightly basis. We believe this system assists us in minimizing returns of unsold goods.  The fees collected for each of the last three fiscal years were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

In addition to hand-held computers, we maintain an information technology (“IT”) platform that allows us to track sales, product returns, and profitability by selling location, bakery, day, and other criteria. The system provides us with daily, on-line access to sales and gross margin reports, allowing us to make prompt operational adjustments when appropriate. It also permits us to better forecast sales and improve distributors’ in-store product ordering by customer. This IT platform is integral to our hand-held computers.

We also use scan-based trading technology (referred to as “pay by scan” or “PBS”) to track and monitor sales and inventories more effectively. PBS allows the independent distributors to bypass the often lengthy product check-in at retail stores, which gives them more time to service customers and merchandise products. PBS also benefits retailers, who only pay suppliers for what they actually sell, or what is scanned at checkout. During the last three fiscal years, PBS sales were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

Our Warehouse Segment distributes a portion of our packaged bakery snack products from a central distribution facility located near our Crossville, Tennessee snack cake bakery. We believe this centralized distribution method allows us to achieve both production and distribution efficiencies. Products coming from different bakeries are then cross-docked and shipped directly to customers’ warehouses nationwide. Our frozen bread and roll products are shipped to various outside freezer facilities for distribution to our customers.

Intellectual Property

We own a number of trademarks, trade names, patents, and licenses. The company also sells products under franchised and licensed trademarks and trade names that we do not own (Sunbeam, Bunny, and Sara Lee – only in California – among others). We consider all of our trademarks and trade names important to our business since we use them to build strong brand awareness and consumer loyalty.

Raw Materials

Our primary baking ingredients are flour, sweeteners, shortening, and water. We also use paper products, such as corrugated cardboard, films and plastics to package our bakery foods. We strive to maintain diversified sources for all of our baking ingredients and packaging products.  In addition, we are dependent on natural gas or propane as fuel for firing our ovens.

Commodities, such as our baking ingredients, periodically experience price fluctuations. The cost of these inputs may fluctuate widely due to government policy and regulation, weather conditions, domestic and international demand, or other unforeseen circumstances. We enter into forward purchase agreements and other derivative financial instruments in an effort to manage the impact of such volatility in raw material prices, but some organic and specialty ingredients do not offer the same hedging opportunities to reduce the impact of price volatility.  Any decrease in the supply available under these agreements and instruments could increase the effective price of these raw materials to us and significantly impact our earnings.

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Regulations

As a producer and marketer of food items, our operations are subject to regulation by various federal governmental agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Labor (the “DOL”).  We also are subject to the regulations of various state agencies, with respect to production processes, product quality, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, labor, and local regulations regarding the licensing of bakeries and the enforcement of state standards and facility inspections.  Under various statutes and regulations, these federal and state agencies prescribe requirements and establish standards for quality, purity, and labeling.  Failure to comply with one or more regulatory requirements could result in a variety of sanctions, including monetary fines or compulsory withdrawal of products from store shelves.  On August 9, 2016, the DOL notified the company that it was scheduled for a compliance review under the Fair Labor Standards Act.  The company is cooperating with the DOL.

Advertising of our businesses is subject to regulation by the Federal Trade Commission, and we are subject to certain health and safety regulations, including those issued under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

The cost of compliance with such laws and regulations has not had a material adverse effect on the company’s business.  We believe that we are currently in material compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.  

Our operations, like those of similar businesses, are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations with respect to environmental matters, including air and water quality and underground fuel storage tanks, as well as other regulations intended to protect public health and the environment.  The company is not a party to any material proceedings arising under these laws and regulations.  We believe compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations will not materially affect the Consolidated Financial Statements or the competitive position of the company.  The company is currently in substantial compliance with all material environmental laws and regulations affecting the company and its properties.

Competitive Overview

The U.S. market for fresh and frozen bakery products is estimated at $36 billion at retail. This category is intensely competitive and has experienced significant change in the last several years. From a national standpoint, Flowers Foods is currently the second largest company in the U.S. fresh baking industry based on market share as presented in the following chart:

 

The current competitive landscape for breads and rolls in the U.S. baking industry now consists of Bimbo Bakeries USA, Flowers Foods, and Campbell Soup Company (Pepperidge Farm) along with smaller independent regional bakers, local bakeries, and retailer-owned bakeries.

There are a number of smaller regional bakers in the U.S. Some of these do not enjoy the competitive advantages of larger operations, including greater brand awareness and economies of scale in purchasing, distribution, production, information technology, advertising and marketing. However, size alone is not sufficient to ensure success in our industry. The company faces significant competition from regional and independent bakeries in certain geographic areas.

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Competition in the baking industry continues to be driven by a number of factors. These include the ability to serve consolidated retail and foodservice customers, generational changes in family-owned businesses, and competitors’ promotional efforts on branded bread and store brands. Competition typically is based on product availability, product quality, brand loyalty, price, effective promotions, and the ability to target changing consumer preferences. Customer service, including frequent deliveries to keep store shelves well-stocked, is also a competitive factor.

The company also faces competition from store brands that are produced either by us or our competitors. Store brands (also known as “private label”) have been offered by food retailers for decades. With the growth of mass merchandisers like Walmart and the ongoing consolidation of regional supermarkets into larger operations, store brands have become a significant competitor to the company in those areas where the company does not have the contract to produce the store brand. In general, the store brand share of retail fresh packaged bread in the U.S. accounts for approximately 24% of the dollar sales and approximately 34% of unit sales and has steadily declined over the past five years.

Other Available Information

Throughout this Form 10-K, we incorporate by reference information from parts of other documents filed with the SEC. The SEC allows us to disclose important information by referring to it in this manner, and you should review this information in addition to the information contained in this report.

Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and proxy statement for the annual shareholders’ meeting, as well as any amendments to those reports, are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file them with the SEC. You can learn more about us by reviewing our SEC filings in the Investor Center on our website at www.flowersfoods.com.

The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about SEC registrants, including the company. You may also obtain these materials at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.  Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the information contained on our website is neither included nor incorporated by reference herein.

The following corporate governance documents may be obtained free of charge through our website in the “Corporate Governance” section of the “Investor Center” tab (unless otherwise specified) or by sending a written request to Flowers Foods, Inc., 1919 Flowers Circle, Thomasville, GA 31757, Attention: Investor Relations.

You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all of the other information included in this report, in considering our business and prospects. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing us. These risk factors are not listed in any order of significance.  Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently deem insignificant, may also impair our business operations. The occurrence of any of the following risks could harm our business, financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.

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Economic conditions may negatively impact demand for our products, which could adversely impact our sales and operating profit.

The willingness of our customers and consumers to purchase our products may depend in part on economic conditions. Continuing or worsening economic challenges could have a negative impact on our business. Economic uncertainty may increase pressure to reduce the prices of some of our products, limit our ability to increase or maintain prices, and reduce sales of higher margin products or shift our product mix to low-margin products. In addition, changes in tax or interest rates, whether due to recession, financial and credit market disruptions or other reasons, could negatively impact us. If any of these events occurs, or if economic conditions become unfavorable, our sales and profitability could be adversely affected.

Increases in costs and/or shortages of raw materials, fuels and utilities could adversely impact our profitability.

Commodities, such as flour, sweeteners, shortening and water, which are used in our bakery products, are subject to price fluctuations. The cost of these inputs may fluctuate widely due to foreign and domestic government policies and regulations, weather conditions, domestic and international demand, or other unforeseen circumstances. Any substantial change in the prices or availability of raw materials may have an adverse impact on our profitability. We enter into forward purchase agreements and other derivative financial instruments from time to time to manage the impact of such volatility in raw materials prices; however, these strategies may not be adequate to overcome increases in market prices or availability. Our failure to enter into hedging or fixed price arrangements or any decrease in the availability or increase in the cost of these agreements and instruments could increase the price of these raw materials and significantly affect our earnings.

In addition, we are dependent upon natural gas or propane for firing ovens. The independent distributors and third-party transportation companies are dependent upon gasoline and diesel for their vehicles. The cost of fuel may fluctuate widely due to economic and political conditions, government policy and regulation, war, or other unforeseen circumstances. Substantial future increases in prices for, or shortages of, these fuels could have a material adverse effect on our profitability, financial condition or results of operations. There can be no assurance that we can cover these potential cost increases through future pricing actions. Also, as a result of these pricing actions, consumers could purchase less or move from purchasing high-margin products to lower-margin products.

Competition could adversely impact revenues and profitability.

The United States bakery industry is highly competitive. Our principal competitors in these categories all have substantial financial, marketing, and other resources. In most product categories, we compete not only with other widely advertised branded products, but also with store branded products that are generally sold at lower prices. Competition is based on product availability, product quality, price, effective promotions, and the ability to target changing consumer preferences. We experience price pressure from time to time due to competitors’ promotional activity and other pricing efforts. This pricing pressure is particularly strong during adverse economic periods. Increased competition could result in reduced sales, margins, profits and market share.

A disruption in the operation of our DSD distribution system could negatively affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

We believe that our DSD distribution system is a significant competitive advantage. A material negative change in our relationship with the independent distributors, litigation or one or more adverse rulings by courts or regulatory or governmental bodies regarding our independent distributorship model, including actions or decisions that could affect the independent contractor classifications of the independent distributors, or an adverse judgment against the company for actions taken by the independent distributors, could materially and negatively affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The costs of maintaining and enhancing the value and awareness of our brands are increasing, which could have an adverse impact on our revenues and profitability.

We rely on the success of our well-recognized brand names and we intend to maintain our strong brand recognition by continuing to devote resources to advertising, marketing and other brand building efforts. Brand value could diminish significantly due to several factors, including consumer perception that we have acted in an irresponsible manner, adverse publicity about our products (whether or not valid), our failure to maintain the quality of our products, the failure of our products to deliver consistently positive consumer experiences, or the products becoming unavailable to consumers. Our marketing investments may not prove successful in maintaining or increasing our market share. If we are not able to successfully maintain our brand recognition, our revenues and profitability could be adversely affected.

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We rely on several large customers for a significant portion of sales and the loss of one of our large customers could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We have several large customers that account for a significant portion of sales, and the loss of one of our large customers could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Our top ten customers accounted for 48.5% of sales during fiscal 2017. Our largest customer, Walmart/Sam’s Club, accounted for 20% of sales during this period. These customers do not typically enter long-term sales contracts, and instead make purchase decisions based on a combination of price, product quality, consumer demand, and customer service performance. At any time, they may use more of their shelf space, including space currently used for our products, for store branded products or for products from other suppliers. Additionally, our customers may face financial or other difficulties that may impact their operations and their purchases from us. Disputes with significant suppliers could also adversely affect our ability to supply products to our customers. If our sales to one or more of these customers are reduced, this reduction may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our inability to execute our business strategy could adversely affect our business.

We employ various operating strategies to maintain our position as one of the nation’s leading producers and marketers of bakery products available to customers through multiple channels of distribution.  In particular, we have initiated under Project Centennial, among other things, (i) the integration of acquisitions or the acquisition or disposition of assets at presently targeted values, (ii) the deployment of new systems and technology, and (iii) an enhanced organizational structure.  If we are unsuccessful in implementing or executing Project Centennial or one or more of our business strategies, our business could be adversely affected.

Inability to anticipate or respond to changes in consumer preferences may result in decreased demand for our products, which could have an adverse impact on our future growth and operating results.

Our success depends in part on our ability to respond to current market trends and to anticipate the tastes and dietary habits of consumers, including concerns of consumers regarding health and wellness, obesity, product attributes, and ingredients. Introduction of new products and product extensions requires significant development and marketing investment. If our products fail to meet consumer preferences, or we fail to introduce new and improved products on a timely basis, then the return on that investment will be less than anticipated and our strategy to grow sales and profits with investments in marketing and innovation will be less successful. If we fail to anticipate, identify, or react to changes in consumer preferences, or if we fail to introduce new and improved products on a timely basis, we could experience reduced demand for our products, which could in turn cause our operating results to suffer.

We may be adversely impacted by the failure to successfully execute acquisitions and divestitures and integrate acquired operations.

From time to time, the company undertakes acquisitions or divestitures. The success of any acquisition or divestiture depends on the company’s ability to identify opportunities that help us meet our strategic objectives, consummate a transaction on favorable contractual terms, and achieve expected returns and other financial benefits.

Acquisitions, including future acquisitions and acquisitions completed in the last several years, require us to efficiently integrate the acquired business or businesses, which involves a significant degree of difficulty, including the following:

Divestitures have operational risks that may include impairment charges. Divestitures also present unique financial and operational risks, including diverting management attention from the existing core business, separating personnel and financial data and other systems, and adversely affecting existing business relationships with suppliers and customers.

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In situations where acquisitions or divestitures are not successfully implemented or completed, or the expected benefits of such acquisitions or divestitures are not otherwise realized, the company’s business or financial results could be negatively impacted.

We are subject to increasing legal complexity and could be party to litigation that may adversely affect our business.

Increasing legal complexity may continue to affect our operations and results in material ways. We are or could be subject to legal proceedings that may adversely affect our business, including class actions, administrative proceedings, government investigations, securities laws, employment and personal injury claims, disputes with current or former suppliers, claims by current or former distributors, and intellectual property claims (including claims that we infringed another party’s trademarks, copyrights, or patents). Inconsistent standards imposed by governmental authorities can adversely affect our business and increase our exposure to litigation. Litigation involving our independent distributor model and the independent contractor classification of the independent distributors, as well as litigation related to disclosure made by us in connection therewith, if determined adversely, could increase costs, negatively impact our business prospects and the business prospects of our distributors and subject us to incremental liability for their actions. We are also subject to the legal and compliance risks associated with privacy, data collection, protection and management, in particular as it relates to information we collect when we provide products to customers.

Future product recalls or safety concerns could adversely impact our results of operations.

We may be required to recall certain of our products should they be mislabeled, contaminated, spoiled, tampered with or damaged. We may become involved in lawsuits and legal proceedings alleging that the consumption of any of our products causes or caused injury, illness or death. A product recall or an adverse result in any such litigation could have a material adverse effect on our operating and financial results, depending on the costs of the recall, the destruction of product inventory, contractual and other claims made by customers that we supply, competitive reaction and consumer attitudes. Even if a product liability, consumer fraud or other claim is unsuccessful or without merit, the negative publicity surrounding such assertions regarding our products could adversely affect our reputation and brand image. We also could be adversely affected if our customers or consumers in our principal markets lose confidence in the safety and quality of our products.

Consolidation in the retail and foodservice industries could adversely affect our sales and profitability.

If our retail and foodservice customers continue to grow larger due to consolidation in their respective industries, they may demand lower pricing and increased promotional programs. Meeting these demands could adversely affect our sales and profitability.

Our large customers may impose requirements on us that may adversely affect our results of operations.

From time to time, our large customers may re-evaluate or refine their business practices and impose new or revised requirements on us, the distributors, and the customers’ other suppliers. The growth of large mass merchandisers, supercenters and dollar stores, together with changes in consumer shopping patterns, have produced large, sophisticated customers with increased buying power and negotiating strength. Current trends among retailers and foodservice customers include fostering high levels of competition among suppliers, demanding new products or increased promotional programs, requiring suppliers to maintain or reduce product prices, reducing shelf space for our products, and requiring product delivery with shorter lead times. These business changes may involve inventory practices, logistics, or other aspects of the customer-supplier relationship. Compliance with requirements imposed by large customers may be costly and may have an adverse effect on our margins and profitability. However, if we fail to meet a large customer’s demands, we could lose that customer’s business, which also could adversely affect our results of operations.

Increases in employee and employee-related costs could have adverse effects on our profitability.

Pension, health care, and workers’ compensation costs are increasing and will likely continue to do so. Any substantial increase in pension, health care or workers’ compensation costs may have an adverse impact on our profitability. The company records pension costs and the liabilities related to its benefit plans based on actuarial valuations, which include key assumptions determined by management. Material changes in pension costs may occur in the future due to changes in these assumptions. Future annual amounts could be impacted by various factors, such as changes in the number of plan participants, changes in the discount rate, changes in the expected long-term rate of return, changes in the level of contributions to the plan, and other factors. In addition, legislation or regulations involving labor and employment and employee benefit plans (including employee health care benefits and costs) may impact our operational results.

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We have risks related to our pension plans, which could impact the company’s liquidity.

The company has noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering certain employees maintained under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). The funding obligations for our pension plans are impacted by the performance of the financial markets, including the performance of our common stock, which comprised approximately 11.5% of all the pension plan assets as of December 30, 2017.

If the financial markets do not provide the long-term returns that are expected, the likelihood of the company being required to make larger contributions will increase, which could impact our liquidity. The equity markets can be, and recently have been, very volatile, and therefore our estimate of future contribution requirements can change dramatically in relatively short periods of time. Similarly, changes in interest rates can impact our contribution requirements. In a low interest rate environment, the likelihood of larger required contributions increases. Adverse developments in any of these areas could adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.  

Disruption in our supply chain or distribution capabilities from political instability, armed hostilities, incidents of terrorism, natural disasters, weather or labor strikes could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our ability to make, move and sell products is critical to our success. Damage or disruption to our manufacturing or distribution capabilities, or the manufacturing or distribution capabilities of our suppliers due to weather, natural disaster, fire or explosion, terrorism, pandemics, labor strikes or work stoppages, or adverse outcomes in litigation involving our independent distributor model, could impair our ability to make, move or sell our products. Moreover, terrorist activity, armed conflict, political instability or natural disasters that may occur within or outside the U.S. may disrupt manufacturing, labor, and other business operations. Failure to take adequate steps to mitigate the likelihood or potential impact of such events, or to effectively manage such events if they occur, could adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations.

We may be adversely impacted if our information technology systems fail to perform adequately, including with respect to cybersecurity issues.

The efficient operation of our business depends on our information technology systems. We rely on our information technology systems to effectively manage our business data, communications, supply chain, order entry and fulfillment, and other business processes. The failure of our information technology systems (including those provided to us by third parties) to perform as we anticipate could disrupt our business and could result in billing, collecting and ordering errors, processing inefficiencies, and the loss of sales and customers, causing our business and results of operations to suffer.

In addition, our information technology systems may be vulnerable to damage or interruption from circumstances beyond our control, including fire, natural disasters, systems failures, security breaches or intrusions (including theft of customer, consumer or other confidential data), and viruses. If we are unable to prevent physical and electronic break-ins, cyber-attacks and other information security breaches, we may suffer financial and reputational damage, be subject to litigation or incur remediation costs or penalties because of the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information belonging to us or to our partners, customers, suppliers or employees.

Government regulation could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.

As a producer and marketer of food items, our production processes, product quality, packaging, labeling, storage, and distribution are subject to regulation by various federal, state and local government entities and agencies. In addition, the marketing and labeling of food products has come under increased scrutiny in recent years, and the food industry has been subject to an increasing number of legal proceedings and claims relating to alleged false or deceptive marketing and labeling under federal, state or local laws or regulations. Uncertainty regarding labeling standards has led to customer confusions and legal challenges.

Compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations is costly and time consuming. Failure to comply with, or violations of, applicable laws and the regulatory requirements of one or more of these entities and agencies could subject us to civil remedies, including fines, injunctions, recalls or seizures, as well as potential criminal sanctions, any of which could result in increased operating costs and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Legal proceedings or claims related to our marketing could damage our reputation and/or adversely affect our business or financial results.  

Executive Offices

The address and telephone number of our principal executive offices are 1919 Flowers Circle, Thomasville, Georgia 31757, (229) 226-9110.

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Executive Officers of Flowers Foods

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the persons who currently serve as the executive officers of Flowers Foods. Our Board of Directors (the “Board”) elects our Executive Chairman of the Board for a one-year term. The Board of Directors has granted the Executive Chairman of the Board the authority to appoint the executive officers to hold office until they resign or are removed.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

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None

The company currently operates 47 bakeries, of which 45 are owned and two are leased. We believe our properties are in good condition, well maintained, and sufficient for our present operations. During fiscal 2017, DSD Segment facilities, taken as a whole, operated moderately above capacity and Warehouse Segment facilities operated moderately below capacity. Our production plant locations are:

 

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In Thomasville, Georgia, the company leases properties that house shared services functions and our information technology group, and owns several properties for our corporate offices.

For a description of all material pending legal proceedings, See Note 23, Commitments and Contingencies, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K.

Not Applicable

PART II

Market Information

Shares of the company’s common stock are quoted on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “FLO.” The following table sets forth quarterly dividend information and the high and low sales prices of the company’s common stock on the NYSE as reported in published sources.

 

 

Holders

As of February 15, 2018, there were approximately 3,552 holders of record of the company’s common stock.

Dividends

The payment of dividends is subject to the discretion of the Board. The Board bases its decisions regarding dividends on, among other things, general business conditions, our financial results, contractual, legal and regulatory restrictions regarding dividend payments and any other factors the Board may consider relevant.

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Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

The following chart sets forth the amounts of securities authorized for issuance under the company’s compensation plans as of December 30, 2017 (amounts in thousands, except per share data).

 

 

Under the company’s 2014 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”), the Board is authorized to grant a variety of stock-based awards, including stock options, restricted stock and deferred stock, to its directors and certain of its employees. The number of securities set forth in column (c) above reflects securities available for issuance as stock options, restricted stock and deferred stock under the company’s compensation plans. The number of shares originally available under the Omnibus Plan is 8,000,000 shares. The Omnibus Plan replaced the Flowers Foods’ 2001 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as of April 1, 2009 (“EPIP”), the Stock Appreciation Rights Plan, and the Annual Executive Bonus Plan. As a result, no additional shares will be issued under the EPIP. See Note 18, Stock-Based Compensation, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K for additional information on equity compensation plans.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer

The company did not purchase any shares of its common stock during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

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Stock Performance Graph

The chart below is a comparison of the cumulative total return (assuming the reinvestment of all dividends paid) of our common stock, Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, Standard & Poor’s 500 Packaged Foods and Meats Index, and Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index for the period December 29, 2012 through December 30, 2017, the last day of our 2017 fiscal year.

 

 

 

Companies in the S&P 500 Index, the S&P 500 Packaged Foods and Meats Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index are weighted by market capitalization and indexed to $100 at December 29, 2012. Flowers Foods’ share price is also indexed to $100 at December 29, 2012. These prices have been adjusted for stock splits.

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The selected consolidated historical financial data presented below as of and for the fiscal years 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013 have been derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the company. The results of operations presented below are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any future period and should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and our Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K (amounts in thousands, except per share data).

 

 

Notes to the Selected Financial Data table for additional context

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The following discussion should be read in conjunction with Item 1., Business, and the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K. The following information contains forward-looking statements which involve certain risks and uncertainties. See Forward-Looking Statements at the beginning of this Form 10-K.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is segregated into four sections, including:

MATTERS AFFECTING COMPARABILITY

Detailed below are matters affecting comparability as well as other significant events that will provide additional context while reading this discussion:

 

 

In fiscal 2017, we recognized an income tax benefit of $48.2 million related to the estimated benefit of the Act, which partially offset the net expense amount of the pre-tax items detailed above.

Project Centennial consulting costs.  During the second quarter of fiscal 2016, we partnered with a globally recognized consulting firm and launched Project Centennial, an enterprise-wide business and operational review.  As of the end of fiscal 2016, we had completed the diagnostic phase and entered the implementation phase of the project.  Key initiatives of the project are outlined in Item 1., Business, of this Form 10-K.  Consulting costs associated with the project in fiscal 2017 and 2016 were $37.3 million and $6.3 million, respectively.  We anticipate consulting costs to be in the range of $8.0 million to $10.0 million in fiscal 2018.  These costs were and will continue to be reflected in the selling, distribution and administrative expenses line item of the Consolidated Statements of Income.  

 

Gain on divestiture of the non-core mix manufacturing business.  On January 14, 2017, we completed the sale of our non-core mix manufacturing business located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and received proceeds, net of a working capital adjustment, of $41.2 million and recognized a gain of $28.9 million in our fiscal 2017 results of operations.  The mix manufacturing business was previously included in our Warehouse Segment.

 

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Restructuring and related impairment charges associated with Project Centennial.  The following table details charges recorded by segment in fiscal 2017 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Employee termination benefits and other cash charges recorded in fiscal 2017 included the VSIP, severance related to other reorganizational initiatives, severance related to the plant closure, and relocation costs due to the ongoing company reorganization.  The VSIP was made available to certain employees who met the VSIP’s age, length-of-service, and business function criteria.  Approximately 325 employees elected to participate in the VSIP and they accrued enhanced separation benefits totaling $29.7 million.  We paid $4.6 million of these benefits in fiscal 2017 and the remainder has been or will be paid in the first quarter of fiscal 2018.  Other reorganizational initiatives we completed during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 resulted in severance charges of $2.0 million.  Additionally, on August 9, 2017, the company announced the closure of a Warehouse Segment snack cake plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as part of its supply chain optimization initiative under Project Centennial.  The facility closed in November of fiscal 2017 and a portion of the production was transitioned to other facilities.  Closure costs included the recognition of impairments related to property, plant and equipment of $3.4 million and severance costs of $1.0 million.  We incurred additional reorganization costs, primarily relocation costs, of $1.9 million during fiscal 2017 and anticipate incurring an additional $4.0 million to $5.0 million in fiscal 2018.  We substantially completed the brand rationalization study in the third quarter of fiscal 2017, which resulted in impairment charges for certain trademarks that we either no longer intend to use or plan to use on a more limited basis.

 

Impairment of assets.  The table below details asset impairments recorded in 2016 and 2015, all of which related to assets of the DSD Segment.  In fiscal 2016, we recorded asset impairment charges for certain trademarks acquired in the Lepage and Acquired Hostess Bread Assets acquisitions, primarily resulting from a brand rationalization study we began in fiscal 2016 as part of Project Centennial.  This study was substantially completed in the third quarter of fiscal 2017.  We also recorded impairments on certain assets held for sale, which were subsequently sold for proceeds of $7.4 million.  Asset impairment charges recorded in fiscal 2015 related to assets held for sale and a production line that we no longer intended to use.  

 

 

Issuance of $400.0 million of senior notes and payoff of existing term loans.  On September 28, 2016, we issued $400.0 million of ten year senior notes (the “2026 notes”) which bear interest at 3.50% per annum.  Proceeds from the 2026 notes were used to repay debt currently outstanding under our existing term loan facilities and for general corporate purposes, including repayment of a portion of our accounts receivable securitization facility (“the facility”).  Debt issuance costs of $1.9 million associated with the term loan facilities were recorded as interest expense in our fiscal 2016 results of operations.  See Note 14, Debt, Lease and Other Commitments, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K for additional information.

Pension plan settlement losses.  At the beginning of fiscal 2016, the company began offering retired and terminated vested pension plan participants not yet receiving their benefit payments the option to elect to receive their benefit as a single lump sum payment.  Settlement charges of $4.6 million and $6.6 million for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively, were triggered as a result of lump sum distributions paid in each fiscal year.  Settlement charges will be recorded in fiscal 2018 due to the level of lump sum payments that have occurred in early fiscal 2018.  

Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal costs (“MEPP” costs).  On August 18, 2017, the union participants of the Bakery and Confectionary Union and Industry International Pension Fund (the “Fund”) at our Lakeland, Florida plant voted to withdraw from the Fund in the most recent collective bargaining agreement.  This resulted in the recognition of an $18.3 million pension plan withdrawal liability, including transition payments, in the DSD Segment. The transition payments were made on November 3, 2017, and we anticipate the withdrawal liability to be paid in fiscal 2018.

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Legal settlements.  In fiscal 2017, we reached agreements to settle distributor-related litigation in the aggregate amount of $6.0 million, including attorney’s fees.  Of this amount, $0.25 million was paid in fiscal 2017 and the remainder is expected to be paid in fiscal 2018.  In fiscal 2016, we reached agreements to settle distributor-related litigation in the aggregate amount of $10.5 million, including attorney’s fees and related tax liabilities, all of which was paid in fiscal 2017.  All of these settlements were recorded in our DSD Segment’s selling, distribution and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income.  

Income tax benefit related to the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.  In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, we recognized an income tax benefit of $48.2 million related to the estimated benefit of the Act which was enacted on December 22, 2017.  The benefit primarily resulted from the revaluation of the company’s net deferred tax liability as of a result of the decrease in the corporate tax rate.

Nationwide launch of Dave’s Killer Bread brand.  At the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2016, we began the national rollout of our organic, non-GMO DKB brand on our DSD network and had completed the rollout as of the end of fiscal 2016.  Sales of the DKB brand, including sales from the nationwide launch, were included in acquisition sales until the first anniversary of the acquisition on September 12, 2016.  After this date, these sales were and will continue to be included in core or expansion markets (defined as markets we entered in the last five years) as determined by the market in which they are sold.

Alpine Valley Bread Company acquisition.  On October 13, 2015, we completed the acquisition of Alpine, a family-owned producer of certified organic and all-natural breads located in Mesa, Arizona, for $121.9 million in cash and stock.  Alpine is included in our Warehouse Segment.  The acquisition expanded our penetration into the organic market and provides additional organic production capacity.  We funded the cash portion of the purchase price for the Alpine acquisition with our existing credit facilities and also issued 12,602 shares of our common stock to fund the equity portion of the purchase price.

Dave’s Killer Bread acquisition.  On September 12, 2015, we completed the acquisition of DKB for total cash payments of $282.1 million inclusive of payments for certain tax benefits.  We believe the acquisition strengthened our position as the second-largest baker in the U.S. by giving us greater access to the fast growing organic bread category and expanding our geographic reach into the Pacific Northwest. DKB operates one production facility in Milwaukie, Oregon and is included in our DSD Segment. We funded the purchase price of the DKB acquisition with cash on hand and borrowings from our existing credit facilities.

Reporting Periods.    The company operates on a 52-53 week fiscal year ending the Saturday nearest December 31. Fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 consisted of 52 weeks.  Fiscal 2018 will consist of 52 weeks.

 

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

We are the second largest producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods in the U.S. with fiscal 2017 sales of $3.9 billion.  We operate in the highly competitive fresh bakery market and our product offerings include fresh breads, buns, rolls, snack cakes and tortillas, as well as frozen breads and rolls.  Our business is currently managed based on delivery method of our products and we have two segments:  DSD Segment and Warehouse Segment.  We operate 47 plants in 18 states that produce a wide range of breads, buns, rolls, snack cakes, and tortillas.  See Item 1., Business, of this Form 10-K for information regarding our segments, customers and brands, business strategies, strengths and core competencies, and competition and risks.  

Summary of Operating Results, Cash Flows and Financial Condition:

Sales in fiscal 2017 decreased 0.2% as compared to fiscal 2016 primarily as a result of the divestiture of the mix manufacturing business in January 2017 and softness in the fresh bakery category, partially offset by significant sales growth for our branded organic products.  Sales increased 3.9% in fiscal 2016 due to the DKB and Alpine acquisitions, both of which were completed in the second half of fiscal 2015, and the nationwide launch of the DKB brand in our DSD markets in fiscal 2016.  

Net income decreased 8.3% in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016 primarily due to the restructuring and related impairment charges, the MEPP costs and incremental Project Centennial consulting costs, partially offset by the income tax benefit recognized from passage of the Act, the current year gain on divestiture and the prior year asset impairment charges.  Net income in fiscal 2016 decreased 13.4% as compared to fiscal 2015 primarily due to higher asset impairment charges, and increased legal costs attributable to ongoing and additional litigation, including distributor lawsuits, and related legal settlements.  Additionally, increased consulting costs and pension settlement losses incurred in fiscal 2016 negatively impacted net income, partially offset by acquisition-related costs incurred in fiscal 2015.  

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In fiscal 2017, we generated net cash flows from operations of $297.4 million and invested $75.2 million in capital expenditures.  We reduced our total indebtedness $124.0 million, and extended the maturity dates of the facility and the credit facility to September 28, 2019 and November 29, 2022, respectively.  We paid $141.0 million in dividends to our shareholders in fiscal 2017.  In fiscal 2016, we generated net cash flows from operations of $356.6 million and invested $101.7 million in capital expenditures.  We converted certain of our variable rate, shorter-term debt arrangements to significantly longer-term, fixed rate debt with the issuance of the 2026 notes and the payoff of our term loans, and reduced our total indebtedness $55.6 million.  Additionally, in fiscal 2016, we repurchased 6.9 million shares of our common stock for $126.3 million and paid $131.1 million in dividends to our shareholders.  

Industry Trends

The chart below details the sales change in dollars and units of the Fresh Packaged Breads category for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017:  

 

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

The company’s discussion and analysis of its results of operations and financial condition are based upon the Consolidated Financial Statements of the company, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires the company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of the revenues, expenses, and cash flows during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, the company evaluates its estimates, including those related to customer programs and incentives, bad debts, raw materials, inventories, long-lived assets, intangible assets, income taxes, restructuring, pensions and other post-retirement benefits, and contingencies and litigation. The company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

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The selection and disclosure of the company’s critical accounting estimates have been discussed with the company’s audit committee. Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K includes a summary of the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements.  The following table lists, in no particular order of importance, areas of critical assumptions and estimates used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements.  Additional detail can be found in the following notes:

 

 

Revenue Recognition.    The company recognizes revenue from the sale of its products when title and risk of loss pass to the customer or consumer. The company records both direct and estimated reductions to gross revenue for customer programs and incentive offerings at the time the incentive is offered or at the time of revenue recognition for the underlying transaction that results in progress by the customer towards earning the incentive. These allowances include price promotion discounts, coupons, customer rebates, cooperative advertising, and product returns. Price promotion discount expense is recorded as a reduction to gross sales when the discounted product is sold to the customer. Although we do not expect it to be material, see Note 3, Recent Accounting Pronouncements, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K for information regarding the FASB’s revenue recognition guidance issued in May 2014, which is effective for the company beginning in fiscal 2018.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments.    The company’s cost of primary raw materials is highly correlated to certain commodities markets. Commodities, such as our baking ingredients, experience price fluctuations. If actual market conditions become significantly different than those anticipated, raw material prices could increase significantly, adversely affecting our results of operations. We enter into forward purchase agreements and other derivative financial instruments qualifying for hedge accounting to manage the impact of volatility in raw material prices. The company measures the fair value of its derivative portfolio using fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal market for that asset or liability. When quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities are not available, the company bases fair value on internally developed models that use current market observable inputs, such as exchange-quoted futures prices and yield curves.  See Note 3, Recent Accounting Pronouncements, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K for information regarding the FASB’s hedge accounting guidance issued in August 2017, which the company plans to early adopt in the first quarter of fiscal 2018.

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.    The company records an impairment charge to property, plant and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with applicable accounting standards when, based on certain indicators of impairment, it believes such assets have experienced a decline in value that is other than temporary. Future adverse changes in market conditions or poor operating results of these underlying assets could result in losses or an inability to recover the carrying value of the asset that may not be reflected in the asset’s current carrying value, thereby possibly requiring impairment charges in the future. Impairment charges recorded in fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 are discussed above in the “Matters Affecting Comparability” section.

The company evaluates the recoverability of the carrying value of its goodwill on an annual basis or at a time when events occur that indicate the carrying value of the goodwill may be impaired using a two-step process. We have elected not to perform the qualitative approach. The first step of this evaluation is performed by calculating the fair value of the business segment, or reporting unit, with which the goodwill is associated. Our reporting units are at the segment level. Each segment consists of several components. These components are aggregated by their respective delivery method into the Warehouse Segment and DSD Segment. These segments rely on reciprocal baking among their components, cross-selling their products/brands within the segment, and utilizing the same delivery method. Marketing, research and development and capital projects are measured at the segment level. We believe these factors support our reporting unit classifications. This fair value is compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit, and if less than the carrying value, the goodwill is evaluated for potential impairment under step two. Under step two of this calculation, goodwill is measured for potential impairment by comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill, determined in the same manner as a business combination, with the carrying amount of the goodwill.

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Our annual evaluation of goodwill impairment requires management judgment and the use of estimates and assumptions to determine the fair value of our reporting units. Fair value is estimated using standard valuation methodologies incorporating market participant considerations and management’s assumptions on revenue, revenue growth rates, operating margins, discount rates, and EBITDA (defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). Our estimates can significantly affect the outcome of the test. We perform the fair value assessment using the income and market approach. We use this data to complete a separate fair value analysis for each reporting unit. Changes in our forecasted operating results and other assumptions could materially affect these estimates. This test is performed in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year unless circumstances require this analysis to be completed sooner. The income approach is tested using a sensitivity analysis to changes in the discount rate and yield a sufficient buffer to significant variances in our estimates. The estimated fair values of our reporting units exceeded our carrying values in excess of $400 million in each reporting unit in fiscal 2017. Based on management’s evaluation, no impairment charges relating to goodwill were recorded for the fiscal years 2017, 2016 or 2015.

In connection with acquisitions, the company has acquired trademarks, customer lists, and non-compete agreements, a portion of which are amortizable. The company evaluates these assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The undiscounted future cash flows of each intangible asset are compared to the carrying amount, and if less than the carrying value, the intangible asset is written down to the extent the carrying amount exceeds the fair value. The fair value is computed using the same approach described above for goodwill and includes the same risks and estimates. The fair value of the trademarks could be less than our carrying value if any of our four material assumptions in our fair value analysis: (a) weighted average cost of capital; (b) long-term sales growth rates; (c) forecasted operating margins; and (d) market multiples do not meet our expectations, thereby requiring us to record an asset impairment. We use the multi-period excess earnings and relief from royalty methods to value these intangibles. The method used for impairment testing purposes is consistent with the valuation method employed at acquisition of the intangible asset.  Impairment charges recorded in fiscal 2017 related to amortizable intangible assets totaled $47.7 million and are discussed above in the “Matters Affecting Comparability” section.  There were no impairment charges related to amortizable intangible assets for fiscal years 2016 or 2015.

As of December 30, 2017, the company also owns $206.6 million of trademarks acquired in acquisitions that are indefinite-lived intangible assets not subject to amortization. The company evaluates the recoverability by comparing the fair value to the carrying value of these intangible assets on an annual basis or at a time when events occur that indicate the carrying value may be impaired. In addition, the assets are evaluated to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite life. The fair value is compared to the carrying value of the intangible asset, and if less than the carrying value, the intangible asset is written down to fair value. There are certain inherent risks included in our expectations about the performance of acquired trademarks and brands. If we are unable to implement our growth strategies for these acquired intangible assets as expected, it could adversely impact the carrying value of the brands. The fair value of the trademarks could be less than our carrying value if any of our four material assumptions in our fair value analysis: (a) weighted average cost of capital; (b) long-term sales growth rates; (c) forecasted operating margins; and (d) market multiples do not meet our expectations, thereby requiring us to record an asset impairment.  As discussed above, during fiscal years 2017 and 2016, we recorded asset impairment charges of $18.5 million and $15.0 million, respectively, on certain indefinite-lived trademarks and determined these trademarks no longer are deemed to have an indefinite life.  During fiscal 2015, in conjunction with the DKB and Alpine acquisitions, we determined that the Barowsky’s trademark acquired in the Lepage acquisition would be used on a more regional basis as an organic brand rather than distributed nationally, and therefore, this intangible asset was deemed to have a finite life and was assigned a life of 35 years.  

Self-Insurance Reserves.    We are self-insured for various levels of general liability, auto liability, workers’ compensation, and employee medical and dental coverage. Insurance reserves are calculated on an undiscounted basis and are based on actual claim data and estimates of incurred but not reported claims developed utilizing historical claim trends. Projected settlements and incurred but not reported claims are estimated based on pending claims and historical trends and data. Though the company does not expect them to do so, actual settlements and claims could differ materially from those estimated. Material differences in actual settlements and claims could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit) and Accruals.    The annual tax rate is based on our income, statutory tax rates, and tax planning opportunities available to us in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Changes in statutory rates and tax laws in jurisdictions in which we operate may have a material effect on the annual tax rate. The effect of these changes, if any, would be recognized as a discrete item upon enactment.

Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences between the tax and financial statement recognition of revenues and expenses. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured based on the enacted tax rates that will apply in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid. As such, in December 2017, the company revalued its deferred tax assets and liabilities as a result of passage of the Act.  Additional information on the tax impacts of the Act is presented in Note 22, Income Taxes, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K.

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Our income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and reserve for uncertain tax benefits reflect our best assessment of future taxes to be paid in the jurisdictions in which we operate. The company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets if we believe it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred assets will not be realized. While the company considers future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance, if these estimates and assumptions change in the future, the company may be required to adjust its valuation allowance, which could result in a charge to, or an increase in, income in the period such determination is made.  

Periodically, we face audits from federal and state tax authorities, which can result in challenges regarding the timing and amount of income or deductions. We provide reserves for potential exposures when we consider it more likely than not that a taxing authority may take a sustainable position on a matter contrary to our position. We evaluate these reserves on a quarterly basis to ensure that they have been appropriately adjusted for events, including audit settlements that may impact the ultimate payment of such potential exposures. While the ultimate outcome of audits cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not currently believe that current or future audits will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations. The company is no longer subject to federal examination for years prior to fiscal 2015.

Postretirement Plans.    The company records pension costs and benefit obligations related to its defined benefit plans based on actuarial valuations. These valuations reflect key assumptions determined by management, including the discount rate, expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and mortality. Material changes in pension costs and in benefit obligations may occur in the future due to experience that is different than assumed and changes in these assumptions.

Effective January 1, 2006, the company curtailed its largest defined benefit plan (“Plan No. 1”) that covered the majority of its workforce. Benefits under this plan are frozen, and no future benefits will accrue under this plan.  In addition to Plan No. 1, the company sponsors an ongoing defined benefit pension plan for union employees (“Plan No. 2”) and a frozen nonqualified plan covering former Tasty executives.

On January 1, 2016, the company began providing retired and terminated vested pension plan participants who have not yet started their payments the option to receive their benefit as a single lump sum payment.  Participants can elect this option when they retire or when they leave the company.  This change supports our long-term pension risk management strategy.  Lump sum payments made in 2017 and 2016 triggered settlement charges as detailed in the table below (amounts in thousands).  Based on known activity in 2018, primarily related to the VSIP, the company expects to record settlement charges beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2018.  The company recorded pension income on our qualified defined benefit plans and nonqualified plan in fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 as detailed in the table below (amounts in thousands).  We expect pension income of approximately $1.7 million on our qualified defined benefit plans and nonqualified plan for fiscal 2018 excluding any potential settlement losses.  

 

 

In 2016, we refined the method used to estimate service cost and interest cost components of net periodic benefit costs.  Historically, we estimated the service cost and interest cost components using a single weighted average discount rate derived from the yield curve used to measure the benefit obligation at the beginning of the period.  Currently, we use a spot rate approach to estimate these components of benefit cost by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve to the relevant projected cash flows, as we believe this provides a better estimate of service and interest costs.  We considered this a change in estimate and accordingly, accounted for it on a prospective basis beginning in 2016.  This change does not affect the measurement of our total benefit obligation.  

On December 31, 2017, the company adopted a de-risking investment strategy for its pension assets.  As the funded status of the plans increases, over time the targeted allocation to return seeking assets will be reduced and the targeted allocation to fixed-income assets will be increased to better manage the company’s pension liability and reduce funded status volatility.  Based on the funded status of the plans as of December 31, 2017, the asset allocation for the Flowers Foods’ pension plans has been adjusted to 35% equity securities, 35% fixed-income securities, 25% other diversifying strategies (including absolute return funds and hedged equity funds), and 5% short-term investments and cash.  For the details of our pension plan assets, see Note 21, Postretirement Plans, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K.

In developing the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets at each measurement date, the company considers the plan assets’ historical actual returns, targeted asset allocations, and the anticipated future economic environment and long-term performance of the individual asset classes, based on the company’s investment strategy.  While appropriate consideration is given to recent and historical investment performance, the assumption represents management’s best estimate of the long-term prospective

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return.  Further, pension costs do not include an explicit expense assumption, and therefore the return on assets rate reflects the long-term expected return, net of expenses.  Based on these factors, the long-term rate of return assumption for the plans was set at 8.0% for fiscal 2017 and 6.4% for fiscal 2018.  The change in assumption from fiscal 2017 to fiscal 2018 was the result of the change in the asset allocation referenced above.  The de-risking investment strategy may result in additional changes in 2018 as the company explores the option of making additional contributions.

The company utilizes the Society of Actuaries’ (“SOA”) published mortality tables and improvement scales in developing their best estimates of mortality. In October 2014, the SOA published final reports on their “standard” mortality table (“RP-2014”) and mortality improvement scale (“MP-2014”).  In 2017, the SOA published a revised mortality improvement scale (“MP-2017”).  Based on an evaluation of the information released in 2017, the company updated the mortality assumptions for purposes of measuring pension benefit obligations at year-end 2017. The company will continue to use the standard mortality tables and mortality improvement scale with adjustments to the base table as applicable: 30% adjustment for Plan No. 1, based on experience within the plan, blue collar adjustment for Plan No. 2 and no adjustment for the nonqualified plan.

The company determines the fair value of substantially all of its plans’ assets utilizing market quotes rather than developing “smoothed” values, “market related” values, or other modeling techniques.  Plan asset gains or losses in a given year are included with other actuarial gains and losses due to remeasurement of the plans’ projected benefit obligations (“PBO”). If the total unrecognized gain or loss exceeds 10% of the larger of (i) the PBO or (ii) the market value of plan assets, the excess of the total unrecognized gain or loss is amortized over the expected average future lifetime of participants in the frozen pension plans.  Prior service cost or credit, which represents the effect on plan liabilities due to plan amendments, is amortized over the average remaining service period of active covered employees. The total unrecognized loss and prior service cost in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) as of December 30, 2017 for the pension plans the company sponsors is $131.4 million. Amortization of this unrecognized loss and prior service cost during fiscal 2018 is expected to be approximately $6.4 million. To the extent that this unrecognized loss and prior service cost is subsequently recognized, the loss will increase the company’s pension costs in the future.

A sensitivity analysis of fiscal 2017 pension costs on a pre-tax basis and year-end benefit obligations for our qualified plans is presented in the table below (amounts in thousands) to changes in the discount rate and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets (“EROA”):

 

 

In January of fiscal 2018, the company made a $10.0 million contribution to our qualified pension plans, and expects to pay $0.3 million in nonqualified pension benefits from corporate assets during fiscal 2018.

Stock-based compensation.    Stock-based compensation expense for all share-based payment awards granted is determined based on the grant date fair value. The company recognizes these compensation costs net of an estimated forfeiture rate, and recognizes compensation cost only for those shares expected to vest on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the vesting term of the share-based payment award.

We grant performance stock awards that separately have a market and performance condition. The expense computed for the total shareholder return shares (“TSR”) is fixed and recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The expense computed for the return on invested capital (“ROIC”) shares can change depending on the attainment of performance condition goals. The expense for the ROIC shares can be within a range of 0% to 125% of the target. There is a possibility that this expense component will change in subsequent quarters depending on how the company performs relative to the ROIC target. The payouts for the TSR and ROIC shares to be issued in fiscal 2018 (on the 2016 awards) are estimated to be 12.5% and 70%, respectively.  See Note 18, Stock-Based Compensation, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K for additional information.

Commitments and contingencies.  The company and its subsidiaries from time to time are parties to, or targets of, lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings, including personal injury, commercial, contract, environmental, antitrust, product liability, health and safety and employment matters, including lawsuits related to the independent distributors, which are being handled and defended in the ordinary course of business.  Loss contingencies are recorded at the time it is probable an asset is impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated.  For litigation claims, the company considers the degree of probability of an unfavorable outcome and the ability to make a reasonable estimate of the loss.  Losses are recorded in selling, distribution and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

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Results of Operations

The company’s results of operations, expressed as a percentage of sales, are set forth below for fiscal 2017 and 2016 (by segment):

 

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NM – the computation is not meaningful

Percentages may not add due to rounding.

The company’s results of operations, expressed as a percentage of sales, are set forth below for fiscal 2016 and 2015 (by segment):

 

NM – the computation is not meaningful

Percentages may not add due to rounding.

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Consolidated and Segment Results - Fiscal 2017 compared to Fiscal 2016

Sales

Consolidated

 

 

The change in sales was attributable to the following:

 

 

The divestiture of the mix manufacturing business combined with softness in the fresh bakery category and a competitive marketplace resulted in the overall sales decline, mostly offset by significant sales growth for our DKB branded organic products.  Sales of DKB branded products grew due to volume and price increases as well as the introduction of DKB branded breakfast items in the second quarter of fiscal 2017.  Branded retail sales increased mainly due to significant growth in branded organic products, partially offset by volume declines in other branded retail products, most significantly branded cake, branded buns and rolls, and branded soft variety bread.  Non-retail and other sales, which include contract manufacturing, vending and foodservice, decreased largely due to the impact of the mix manufacturing business divestiture as well as decreased sales for contract manufacturing and bakery outlet stores, partially offset by increases in vending sales.

DSD Segment

 

 

The change in sales was attributable to the following:

 

 

Branded retail sales increased due to significant sales growth of the DKB brand since its national rollout in our DSD markets at the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2016 and, to a lesser extent, the introduction of DKB branded breakfast items in the second half of fiscal 2017.  Declines in other branded items, most notably buns and rolls, soft variety bread and cake, partially offset the increase in branded retail sales.  Increased sales of store branded buns and rolls mostly resulted in the increase in store branded retail sales.  Lower foodservice and bakery outlet store sales primarily resulted in the decrease in non-retail and other sales.

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Warehouse Segment

 

 

The change in sales was attributable to the following:

 

 

The impact of our mix manufacturing business divestiture, sales declines for warehouse-delivered branded organic breads, and lower snack cake sales resulted in the sales decrease.  The sales related to the mix manufacturing business were included in the non-retail and other category.  The significant decline in branded retail sales was mostly due to volume declines for warehouse-delivered branded organic bread and, to a lesser extent, branded cake.  The Warehouse Segment’s Mesa, Arizona plant significantly increased production of DKB organic breads for the DSD Segment during the second quarter of fiscal 2016 and this trend has continued.  These intercompany sales are not included in the Warehouse Segment’s sales above.  Volume declines mostly resulted in the decrease in branded retail cake.  Store branded retail sales decreased mainly due to volume decreases in store branded cake.  The decrease in non-retail and other sales was largely due to the mix manufacturing business divestiture and to a much lesser extent lost contract manufacturing business, partially offset by volume gains in foodservice and vending sales.

Materials, Supplies, Labor, and Other Production Costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately; as a percent of sales)

Consolidated

 

 

Overall, costs were lower as percent of sales mainly due to a reduction in outside purchases of products and improvements in manufacturing efficiency.  As of the beginning of fiscal 2017, we had completed the transition from purchasing certain DKB bread products from co-manufacturers to producing these items ourselves due to the added production capacity provided by our Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Mesa, Arizona plants.  Also, in the prior year, we incurred $2.2 million of start-up costs related to converting the Tuscaloosa plant to an all-organic plant.  This decrease in outside product purchases is reflected in the other line item in the table above.  

Commodities, such as our baking ingredients, periodically experience price fluctuations. The cost of these inputs may fluctuate widely due to government policy and regulation, weather conditions, domestic and international demand, or other unforeseen circumstances. We enter into forward purchase agreements and other derivative financial instruments in an effort to manage the impact of such volatility in raw material prices. Any decrease in the availability of these agreements could increase the effective price of these raw materials to us and significantly affect our earnings. We currently anticipate a significant increase in ingredient costs in fiscal 2018 relative to fiscal 2017 primarily resulting from a rise in flour prices.  

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DSD Segment

 

 

During the prior fiscal year, a portion of the DKB products were produced by co-manufacturers due to capacity constraints, but in the current fiscal year, most of these products were produced in two plants in the DSD Segment and the Mesa, Arizona plant in the Warehouse Segment.  The other line item reflects this decrease in outside purchases of product, somewhat offset by increased intercompany purchases of product from the Warehouse Segment.  Additionally, in the prior year, we incurred $2.2 million of start-up costs related to converting the Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant to an all-organic plant.  

Warehouse Segment

 

 

Ingredient costs were higher as a percent of sales due to increased intercompany sales of organic products to the DSD Segment (ingredient costs with no associated sales) combined with decreased outside purchases of product (sales with no associated ingredient costs), partially offset by the impact of the mix manufacturing business divestiture.  Workforce-related and packaging costs were also higher as a percent of sales due to increased intercompany sales of product to the DSD Segment (costs with no associated sales) and significant sales declines.  The other line item in the table above mostly reflects the increase in intercompany sales of product to the DSD Segment, largely the DKB organic products, and the decrease in outside purchases of product.

Selling, Distribution and Administrative Expenses (as a percent of sales)   

Consolidated

 

 

The increase in distributor distribution fees as a percent of sales mostly resulted from converting territories from company-operated to independent distributors, and the national rollout of the DKB brand in our DSD markets at the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2016.  The DKB products were sold primarily by warehouse delivery prior to the national rollout.  Workforce-related costs were lower due to transitioning to independent distributors, somewhat offset by higher employee incentive costs.  As discussed in the “Matters Affecting Comparability” section above, consulting costs associated with Project Centennial were $31.0 million higher in the current year as compared to the prior year and are reflected in the other line item in the table above.  Cost savings programs that we have implemented and the benefit recognized related to the early lease terminations, as discussed in the DSD Segment below, partially offset the overall increase in selling, distribution and administrative expenses.    

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DSD Segment

 

 

In the current year, distributor distribution fees were higher as a percentage of sales due to a larger portion of our sales being sold through independent distributors as we converted territories from company-owned to independent distributors.  Additionally, the national rollout of the DKB brand in our DSD markets at the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2016 contributed to the increase year over year.  The DKB products were sold mostly by warehouse delivery prior to the national rollout.  The transition to independent distributors resulted in decreased workforce-related costs, somewhat offset by higher employee incentive costs.  The decrease in the other line item as a percentage of sales in the table above resulted from the implementation of cost savings programs and the immediate recognition of deferred credits, net of lease termination costs, associated with the early termination of certain leases.  Additionally, legal costs and related settlements were lower in the current year as compared to the prior year; see Note 23, Commitments and Contingencies, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K for additional information.

Warehouse Segment

 

 

Selling, distribution and administrative expenses increased as a percent of sales primarily from significantly lower sales which spread the costs over a smaller sales base and higher bad debt expense in the current year.  Lower distribution costs due to the divestiture of the mix manufacturing business, and decreased marketing costs partially offset the overall increase.  

Gain on Divestiture, MEPP Costs, Pension Plan Settlement Loss, Restructuring and Related Impairment Charges and Impairment of Assets

Refer to the discussion in the “Matters Affecting Comparability” section above regarding these items.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation expense increased primarily due to the accelerated depreciation of certain leasehold improvements in conjunction with the early lease terminations as well as the retirement of certain right to use assets, all in the DSD Segment.  Amortization expense was higher due to commencing amortization of certain trademarks of the DSD Segment in the current fiscal year which had previously been deemed indefinite-lived intangible assets.

The Warehouse Segment’s depreciation and amortization expense increase in dollars and as a percent of sales was mostly due to higher depreciation expenses on lower sales.

Income from Operations

 

 

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The significant decrease in the DSD Segment’s operating income as a percent of sales was primarily driven by $80.0 million of restructuring and related impairment charges and $18.3 million of MEPP costs, partially offset by sales growth from positive pricing/mix, a reduction in outside purchases of product and legal costs and settlements, and the prior year asset impairment charge of $24.9 million.  The Warehouse Segment’s operating income as a percent of sales was relatively unchanged year over year; the gain on divestiture of the mix manufacturing business of $28.9 million in the current fiscal year was offset by $20.1 million of restructuring and related impairment charges and sales declines in the current year.  The unfavorable change in unallocated corporate expenses was primarily due to consulting costs associated with Project Centennial increasing $31.0 million compared to the prior year, restructuring charges incurred in the current year of $4.0 million and higher employee incentive and legal costs in the current year, partially offset by a $2.0 million decrease in pension plan settlement losses in the current year.  

Net Interest Expense

Net interest expense was relatively unchanged compared to the same period in the prior year.  Higher average interest rates on debt outstanding due to converting certain variable rate debt to longer-term, fixed rate debt with the issuance of the 2026 notes in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 were mostly offset by lower average amounts outstanding under the company’s debt arrangements in the current fiscal year compared to the prior year and the $1.9 million loss on early extinguishment recorded in the prior year.  

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

The effective tax rate for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016 was -0.6% and 34.4%, respectively.  The effective tax rate for fiscal 2017 includes an estimated tax benefit of $48.2 million due to the Act, which was enacted on December 22, 2017.  The revaluation of the company’s net deferred tax liability from 35% to the newly enacted U.S. corporate income tax rate of 21% primarily resulted in the decrease in the effective rate.  Other favorable discrete items, including a net windfall on stock compensation of $1.0 million, also contributed to the lower rate.  Other than tax reform, the most significant differences in the effective rate and the statutory rate were the benefit from Section 199 qualifying domestic production activities deduction and state income tax expense.  

 

The company recognized a provisional reduction to current tax expense of approximately $8.3 million attributable to pension contributions and bonus depreciation on certain assets placed into service during 2017. A provisional income tax expense of $0.7 million for the corresponding impact on the 2017 domestic manufacturing deduction was also recognized. These provisional adjustments resulted in a decrease in income taxes payable of $7.6 million. The income tax effects for these positions require further analysis, and the ultimate impact may differ from these provisional amounts due to this analysis, changes to estimates, additional regulatory guidance that may be issued by federal or state jurisdictions, changes in interpretations and assumptions the company has made, and actions the company may take because of tax reform. This analysis is expected to be completed in the second half of 2018.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we anticipate a tax shortfall ranging from $2.1 million to $2.3 million to be recognized in income tax expense in the Consolidated Financial Statements upon the vesting of our performance-based share-based payment awards.  

Comprehensive Income

The decrease in comprehensive income year over year resulted primarily from the decline in net income and net changes in the fair value of derivatives of $14.6 million.

Consolidated and Segment Results - Fiscal 2016 compared to Fiscal 2015

Sales

Consolidated

 

 

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The change in sales was attributable to the following:

 

 

The overall sales increase resulted primarily from increased sales due to the DKB and Alpine acquisitions.  Declines in pricing/mix were mostly in the non-retail and other category, partially offset by positive pricing/mix in the branded retail category.  Branded retail sales increased due to the contribution from the DKB and Alpine acquisitions, the national rollout of the DKB brand, sales growth in our expansion markets (defined as new markets we entered into in the last five years) and positive pricing/mix.  Partially offsetting the increase was softer sales for other branded retail products, most significantly branded soft variety bread, due to softness in the packaged bread category and reductions in the company’s promotional activities in the first half of fiscal 2016.  Increases in sales of store branded variety bread, cake and buns and rolls resulted in the increase in the store branded retail category.  The modest increase in non-retail and other sales, which include contract manufacturing, vending and foodservice, was primarily due to volume increases in foodservice and vending, mostly offset by decreases in pricing/mix.

DSD Segment

 

 

The change in sales was attributable to the following:

 

 

Sales from the DKB acquisition drove the overall sales increase in the DSD Segment, partially offset by softer volume for other products due to the company’s reduced promotional activity in the first half of fiscal 2016 and overall softness in the packaged bread category.  Branded retail sales increased due to the contribution from the DKB acquisition, the national rollout of the DKB brand, sales growth in our expansion markets and positive pricing/mix.  Softer volume for other branded retail products, with the largest decline in branded soft variety bread, partially offset the increase.  The increase in store branded retail sales was due primarily to volume increases in store branded variety bread and buns and rolls.  The modest decrease in non-retail and other sales, which include contract manufacturing, vending and foodservice, was primarily due to volume declines.

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Warehouse Segment

 

 

The change in sales was attributable to the following:

 

 

The Warehouse Segment’s sales increased significantly due to sales from the Alpine acquisition and to a lesser extent, volume growth in the non-retail and other category, partially offset by negative pricing/mix.  Pricing/mix declined largely due to lower foodservice pricing.  Branded retail sales increased due to the Alpine acquisition and less significantly to growth in bakery deli sales, partially offset by declines in branded cake.  Increases in sales of store branded cake drove the increase in the store branded retail category.  The increase in non-retail and other sales, which include contract manufacturing, vending and foodservice, was mainly due to growth in foodservice sales, due to new foodservice products for certain of our customers, and in vending, partially offset by negative pricing/mix.

Materials, Supplies, Labor, and Other Production Costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately; as a percent of sales)

Consolidated

 

 

Ingredient costs were lower as a percent of sales mainly due to lower prices for non-organic flour, oils and eggs and increased outside purchases of product (sales with no associated ingredient costs), partially offset by increases in sweetener prices and increased purchases of higher priced organic ingredients due to the DKB and Alpine acquisitions.  Outside purchases of products are included in the other line item above and the increase largely relates to purchases of certain DKB products from co-manufacturers due to capacity constraints and to a lesser extent outside purchases for other products. As of the end of fiscal 2016, outside purchases of product had decreased considerably because of the additional organic production capacity provided by the Alpine plant and the Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant, which began producing organic bread at the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2016.  The increase in workforce-related costs as a percent of sales was mainly due to wage increases on softer non-acquisition related sales and costs associated with the organic plant conversion, partially offset by increases in outside purchases of product (sales with no associated workforce-related costs).  Lower packaging costs as a percent of sales mainly resulted from lower resin and paperboard prices and a shift in mix from cake to bread items.

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Commodities, such as our baking ingredients, periodically experience price fluctuations. The cost of these inputs may fluctuate widely due to government policy and regulation, weather conditions, domestic and international demand, or other unforeseen circumstances. We enter into forward purchase agreements and other derivative financial instruments in an effort to manage the impact of such volatility in raw material prices. Any decrease in the availability of these agreements and instruments could increase the effective price of these raw materials to us and significantly affect our earnings.

DSD Segment

 

 

The decrease in ingredient costs as a percent of sales for the DSD Segment was attributable to lower pricing on non-organic flour, oils and eggs, and increases in purchases of product from the Warehouse Segment and from co-manufacturers due to capacity constraints (sales with no associated ingredient costs), partially offset by higher sweetener prices.  The increase in the other line item reflects these product purchases, largely for certain DKB products.  As discussed above, by the end of fiscal 2016, outside purchases for the DKB products had declined significantly due to the added production capacity provided by our Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant and the Alpine plant in the Warehouse Segment.  Wage increases on lower non-acquisition related sales and costs related to converting the Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant to an organic facility, drove the increase in workforce-related costs as a percent of sales, partially offset by increased outside and intercompany purchases of product (sales with no associated workforce-related costs).  

Warehouse Segment

 

 

The Warehouse Segment’s increase in ingredient costs as a percent of sales was mostly due to increased purchases of higher priced organic ingredients due to the DKB and Alpine acquisitions, price increases for sweeteners and increased sales of product to the DSD Segment (ingredient costs with no associated sales).  Partially offsetting the increase was lower prices for non-organic flour, eggs and oil and increases in outside purchases of product (sales with no associated ingredient costs).  Packaging costs decreased as a percent of sales primarily due to significantly lower packaging costs for Alpine products relative to the Warehouse Segment as a whole and lower paperboard prices.  The other line item reflects the increased intercompany sales of product to the DSD Segment, largely the DKB products, somewhat offset by the increase in outside purchases of product.

Selling, Distribution and Administrative Expenses (as a percent of sales)

Consolidated

 

 

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Workforce-related costs increased as a percent of sales primarily due to a smaller portion of sales being sold via independent distributors in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015, partially offset by lower employee incentive costs.  The distributor distribution fees decrease correlates to the increase in workforce-related costs.  Significantly higher legal and consulting costs as well as increased marketing for the DKB and Alpine brands caused the increase in the other line item component, partially offset by acquisition-related costs of $6.2 million incurred in fiscal 2015.  Legal costs increased primarily due to the ongoing and additional distributor lawsuits, and two legal settlements totaling $10.25 million recorded in the fiscal 2016.  See Note 23, Commitments and Contingencies, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K for additional information.  As discussed in the “Matters Affecting Comparability” section above, consulting costs associated with Project Centennial were $6.3 million in fiscal 2016.  

DSD Segment

 

 

The increase in workforce-related costs as a percentage of sales was due to a smaller portion of sales being sold via independent distributors in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015 resulting in the decrease in distributor distribution fees as a percent of sales.  The increase in workforce-related costs was somewhat offset by lower employee incentive costs.  The increase in the other line item as a percentage of sales was primarily a result of significantly higher legal costs related to the distributor lawsuits and $10.25 million of legal settlements discussed above, and increased corporate overhead charges to the DSD Segment.

Warehouse Segment

 

 

Higher marketing costs as a percent of sales drove the increase in the other line item, mainly attributable to promotional spending for the Alpine brand, as well as increased corporate overhead charges to the Warehouse Segment.

Pension Plan Settlement Loss

We recorded settlement charges of $6.6 million during fiscal 2016 related to our pension risk mitigation plan. Refer to the Pension plan settlement losses discussion in the “Matters Affecting Comparability” section above for additional details.

Impairment of Assets

We recorded impairment of assets of $24.9 million and $3.8 million during fiscal years 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to assets in the DSD Segment.  Refer to the Impairment of assets discussion in the “Matters Affecting Comparability” section above for additional details.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

On a consolidated basis, depreciation and amortization expense increased in dollars and as a percent of sales due primarily to amortizing the DKB (included in the DSD Segment) and Alpine (included in the Warehouse Segment) intangible assets which were acquired in the third and fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, respectively.  

The DSD Segment’s depreciation and amortization expense increased in dollars primarily due to the amortization of the acquired DKB intangible assets, partially offset by lower depreciation expense.

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The Warehouse Segment’s depreciation and amortization expense increase in dollars and as a percent of sales was mostly due to amortization of the acquired Alpine intangible assets.

Income from Operations

 

 

The unfavorable decrease in the DSD Segment’s income from operations was largely attributable to the higher asset impairment charges, increased legal costs and related settlements, and higher corporate overhead charges in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The Warehouse Segment’s operating income was relatively consistent with the prior year as a percent of sales. The favorable change in unallocated corporate expenses was mostly due to increased overhead charges to the segments in fiscal 2016 and $6.2 million of acquisition-related costs incurred in fiscal 2015, partially offset by pension plan settlement losses of $6.6 million and Project Centennial consulting costs both incurred in fiscal 2016.  In fiscal 2015, unanticipated legal costs were not allocated to the segments, but instead were absorbed at the corporate level.

Net Interest Expense

The increase in net interest expense resulted from higher average amounts outstanding under the company’s debt arrangements during the current fiscal year and to a lesser extent decreased interest income in fiscal 2016 due to lower average distributor notes receivable outstanding during the current fiscal year.  Additionally, we expensed $1.9 million of debt issuance costs associated with our existing term loans that were paid off prior to maturity with the proceeds from the issuance of the 2026 notes.  

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 was 34.4% and 35.4%, respectively.  The decrease in the rate was primarily related to an increase in the Section 199 qualifying production activities benefit.  The most significant differences in the effective rate and the statutory rate were additions for state income taxes and the benefit for Section 199 qualifying production activities deduction.

Comprehensive Income

The decrease in comprehensive income resulted from a decrease in net income year over year, partially offset by changes in the fair value of derivative instruments.

LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL RESOURCES AND FINANCIAL POSITION

Strategy

We believe our ability to consistently generate cash flows from operating activities to meet our liquidity needs is one of our key financial strengths and we do not anticipate significant risks to these cash flows in the foreseeable future.  Additionally, we strive to maintain a conservative financial position aiming to achieve this through prudent debt reduction and share repurchase programs.  We believe having a conservative financial position allows us flexibility to make investments and acquisitions and is a strategic competitive advantage.  Currently, our liquidity needs arise primarily from working capital requirements, capital expenditures, pension contributions and obligated debt repayments.  We believe we currently have access to available funds and financing sources to meet our short and long-term capital requirements.  The company’s strategy for use of its excess cash flows includes:

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The company leases certain property and equipment under various operating and capital lease arrangements. Most of the operating leases provide the company with the option, after the initial lease term, either to purchase the property at the then fair value or renew the lease at the then fair value. The capital leases provide the company with the option to purchase the property at a fixed price at the end of the lease term. The company believes the use of leases as a financing alternative places the company in a more favorable position to fulfill its long-term strategy for the use of its cash flow. See Note 14, Debt, Lease and Other Commitments, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K for detailed financial information regarding the company’s lease arrangements.

Key items impacting our liquidity, capital resources and financial position in fiscal 2017 and 2016:

Fiscal 2017:

Fiscal 2016:

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Liquidity Discussion

Flowers Foods’ cash and cash equivalents were $5.1 million at December 30, 2017, $6.4 million at December 31, 2016 and $14.4 million at January 2, 2016. The cash and cash equivalents were derived from the activities presented in the table below (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities.  Net cash provided by operating activities included the following items for non-cash adjustments to net income (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Net cash for working capital requirements and pension contributions included the following items (amounts in thousands):

 

 

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Cash Flows Disbursed for Investing Activities.    The table below presents net cash disbursed for investing activities for fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

The company currently estimates capital expenditures of approximately $95.0 million to $105.0 million on a consolidated basis during fiscal 2018.

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Cash Flows Provided by (Disbursed for) Financing Activities.    The table below presents net cash provided by (disbursed for) financing activities for fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Capital Structure

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations were as follows at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. For a detailed description of our debt and capital lease obligations and information regarding our credit ratings, distributor arrangements, deferred compensation, and guarantees and indemnification obligations, see Note 14, Debt, Lease and Other Commitments, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K:

 

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The facility and credit facility are generally used for short term liquidity needs. The company has historically entered into amendments and extensions approximately one year prior to the maturity of the facility and the credit facility.  The following table details the amounts available under the facility and credit facility and the highest and lowest balances outstanding under these arrangements during fiscal 2017:

 

 

Amounts outstanding under the credit facility can vary daily.  Changes in the gross borrowings and repayments can be caused by cash flow activity from operations, capital expenditures, acquisitions, dividends, share repurchases, and tax payments, as well as derivative transactions which are part of the company’s overall risk management strategy as discussed in Note 11, Derivative Financial Instruments, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K.  During fiscal 2017, the company borrowed $447.9 million in revolving borrowings under the credit facility and repaid $471.9 million in revolving borrowings. The amount available under the credit facility is reduced by $8.7 million for letters of credit.  

The facility and the credit facility are variable rate debt. In periods of rising interest rates, the cost of using the facility and the credit facility will become more expensive and increase our interest expense.  Therefore, borrowings under these facilities provide us the greatest direct exposure to rising rates. In addition, if interest rates do increase it will make the cost of funds more expensive.

Restrictive financial covenants for our borrowings include such ratios as a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. Our debt may also contain certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, and events of default.  The company believes that, given its current cash position, its cash flow from operating activities and its available credit capacity, it can comply with the current terms of the debt agreements and can meet its presently foreseeable financial requirements. As of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under our debt agreements.

Special Purpose Entities.  At December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the company did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which are established to facilitate off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.

Aggregate Maturities of Debt.

Assets recorded under capital lease agreements included in property, plant and equipment consist of machinery and equipment and transportation equipment.

Aggregate maturities of debt outstanding, including capital leases, as of December 30, 2017, are as follows (excluding unamortized debt discount and issuance costs) (amounts in thousands):

 

 

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Contractual Obligations and Commitments.    The following table summarizes the company’s contractual obligations and commitments at December 30, 2017 and the effect such obligations are expected to have on its liquidity and cash flow in the indicated future periods:

 

 

 

Because we are uncertain as to if or when settlements may occur, these tables do not reflect the company’s net liability of $1.0 million related to uncertain tax positions as of December 30, 2017. Details regarding this liability are presented in Note 22, Income Taxes, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K.

In the event the company ceases to utilize the independent distribution form of doing business or exits a geographic market, the company is contractually required to purchase the distribution rights from the independent distributor.   These potential commitments are excluded from the table above because they cannot be known at this time.

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Total stockholders’ equity was as follows at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 

 

Stock Repurchase Plan.    The Board has approved a plan that currently authorizes share repurchases of up to 74.6 million shares of the company’s common stock. At the close of the company’s fourth quarter on December 30, 2017, 6.6 million shares remained under the existing authorization. Under the plan, the company may repurchase its common stock in open market or privately negotiated transactions or under an accelerated repurchase program at such times and at such prices as determined to be in the company’s best interest. These purchases may be commenced or suspended without prior notice depending on then-existing business or market conditions and other factors.  During fiscal 2017, 0.1 million shares, at a cost of $2.7 million, of the company’s common stock were repurchased under the plan and during fiscal 2016, 6.9 million shares at a cost of $126.3 million were repurchased under the plan, including 6.5 million of share repurchases under an ASR agreement with Deutsche Bank AG. From the inception of the plan through December 30, 2017, 67.9 million shares, at a cost of $633.1 million, have been repurchased.  There were no repurchases of the company’s common stock during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.  

New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

See Note 3, Recent Accounting Pronouncements, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K regarding this information.

 

 

The company uses derivative financial instruments as part of an overall strategy to manage market risk. The company uses forwards, futures, swaps, and option contracts to hedge existing or future exposure to changes in interest rates and commodity prices. The company does not enter into these derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those anticipated, interest rates and commodity prices could increase significantly, adversely affecting our interest costs and the margins from the sale of our products.

Commodity Price Risk

The company enters into commodity forward, futures, option, and swap contracts for wheat and, to a lesser extent, other commodities in an effort to provide a predictable and consistent commodity price and thereby reduce the impact of market volatility in its raw material and packaging prices. As of December 30, 2017, the company’s hedge portfolio contained commodity derivatives with a fair value of $(10.6) million. Of this fair value, $(10.6) million is based on quoted market prices.  Approximately $(10.0) million relates to instruments that will be utilized in fiscal 2018.  The remaining $(0.6) million will be primarily utilized in fiscal 2019.

A sensitivity analysis has been prepared to quantify the company’s potential exposure to commodity price risk with respect to its derivative portfolio. Based on the company’s derivative portfolio as of December 30, 2017, a hypothetical ten percent change in commodity prices would increase or decrease the fair value of the derivative portfolio by $14.1 million. The analysis disregards changes in the exposures inherent in the underlying hedged items; however, the company expects that any increase or decrease in the fair value of the portfolio would be substantially offset by increases or decreases in raw material and packaging prices.

Refer to the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and the Financial Statement Schedule for the required information.

None.

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Management’s Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:

We have established and maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that material information relating to the company, which is required to be timely disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), is accumulated and communicated to management in a timely fashion and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) was performed as of the end of the period covered by this annual report. This evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our CEO, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), and Chief Accounting Officer (“CAO”).

Based upon that evaluation, our CEO, CFO, and CAO have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting:

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO, CFO, and CAO, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in “Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 30, 2017.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2017 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report which is included herein.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting:

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

None.

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PART III

The information required by this item with respect to directors of the company is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the captions “Proposal I — Election of Directors”, “Directors and Corporate Governance”, “Corporate Governance — The Board of Directors and Committees of the Board of Directors”, “Corporate Governance — Relationships Among Certain Directors”, “Audit Committee Report” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders expected to be filed with the SEC in April (the “proxy”). The information required by this item with respect to executive officers of the company is set forth in Part I of this Form 10-K.

We have adopted the Flowers Foods, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Officers and Members of the Board of Directors (the “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics”), which applies to all of our directors and executive officers. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is publicly available on our website at www.flowersfoods.com in the “Corporate Governance” section of the “Investor Center” tab. If we make any substantive amendments to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or we grant any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, that applies to any of our directors or executive officers, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, we intend to disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver on our website at the same location. Alternatively, we may elect to disclose the amendment or waiver in a current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

Our President and CEO certified to the NYSE on June 23, 2017 pursuant to Section 303A.12 of the NYSE’s listing standards, that he was not aware of any violation by Flowers Foods of the NYSE’s corporate governance listing standards as of that date.

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Executive Compensation” in the proxy.

See Item 5 of this Form 10-K for information regarding Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans. The remaining information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the proxy.

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Corporate Governance — Determination of Independence” and “Transactions with Management and Others” in the proxy.

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Fiscal 2017 and Fiscal 2016 Audit Firm Fee Summary” in the proxy.

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PART IV

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Consolidated Statements of Income for Fiscal 2017, Fiscal 2016, and Fiscal 2015.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for Fiscal 2017, Fiscal 2016, and Fiscal 2015.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for Fiscal 2017, Fiscal 2016, and Fiscal 2015.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for Fiscal 2017, Fiscal 2016, and Fiscal 2015.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

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55

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56

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The company has elected not to provide summary information.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Flowers Foods, Inc. has duly caused this Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on this 21st day of February, 2018.

 

 

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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Form 10-K has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of Flowers Foods, Inc. and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

 

 

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FLOWERS FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

F-1

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Flowers Foods, Inc.

 

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Flowers Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 30, 2017, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”).  We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).  

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 30, 2017 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

 

Basis for Opinions

 

The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A.  Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.  We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  

 

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks.  Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.  Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.  Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk.  Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

 

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

F-2

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Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

 

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

February 21, 2018

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since at least 1969. We have not determined the specific year we began serving as auditor of the Company.

F-3

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FLOWERS FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F-4

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FLOWERS FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

F-5

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FLOWERS FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

F-6

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FLOWERS FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

F-7

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FLOWERS FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F-8

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FLOWERS FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

General.    The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of Flowers Foods, Inc. (the “company”, “Flowers Foods”, “Flowers”, “us”, “we”, or “our”) have been prepared by the company’s management in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

Flowers Foods is one of the largest producers and marketers of bakery products in the United States. The company currently consists of two business segments: direct-store-delivery (“DSD Segment”) and warehouse delivery (“Warehouse Segment”). The DSD Segment focuses on the production and marketing of bakery products throughout the East, South, Southwest, California, and select markets in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Nevada, and Colorado. The Warehouse Segment produces snack cakes, breads and rolls that are shipped both fresh and frozen to national retail, foodservice, vending, and co-pack customers through their warehouse channels.

On August 10, 2016, we announced the launch of Project Centennial, a comprehensive business and operational review.  We are evaluating opportunities to enhance revenue growth, streamline operations, improve efficiencies, and make investments that strengthen our competitive position and improve margins over the long term.   We began Project Centennial with an evaluation of our brands, product mix, and organizational structure.  We then developed strategic priorities to help us capitalize on retail and consumer changes.  On May 3, 2017, the company announced an enhanced organizational structure designed to provide greater focus on the company’s strategic objectives, emphasize brand growth and innovation in line with a national branded food company, drive enhanced accountability, reduce costs, and strengthen long-term strategy.  The new organizational structure establishes two business units (“BUs”), Fresh Bakery and Specialty/Snacking, and realigns key leadership roles.  The new structure also provides for centralized marketing, sales, supply chain, shared-services/administrative, and corporate strategy functions, each with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.  The company intends to transition to the new structure over the next several months with full implementation expected to be completed early in fiscal 2019.  Management will continue to review financial information for the DSD Segment and Warehouse Segment until the new organizational structure is fully implemented.  See Note 5, Restructuring Activities, for additional details about Project Centennial.

 

 

Basis of Consolidation.    The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates.    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and 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.

Fiscal Year End.    The company operates on a 52-53 week fiscal year ending the Saturday nearest December 31. Fiscal 2017, Fiscal 2016, and Fiscal 2015 consisted of 52 weeks.  Fiscal 2018 will consist of 52 weeks.

Revenue Recognition.    The company recognizes revenue from the sale of product when title and risk of loss pass to the customer. The company records both direct and estimated reductions to gross revenue for customer programs and incentive offerings at the time the incentive is offered or at the time of revenue recognition for the underlying transaction that results in progress by the customer towards earning the incentive. These allowances include price promotion discounts, coupons, customer rebates, cooperative advertising, and product returns. Price promotion discount expense is recorded as a reduction to gross sales when the discounted product is sold to the customer.

Scan-based trading technology allows the retailer to take ownership of our goods when the consumer purchases the goods rather than at the time they are delivered to the retailer. Consequently, revenue on these sales is not recognized until the product is purchased by the consumer. This technology is referred to as pay-by-scan (“PBS”). In fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015, the company recorded $1.4 billion, $1.3 billion, and $1.2 billion, respectively, in sales through PBS.

Revenue on PBS sales is recognized when the product is purchased by the end consumer because that is when title and risk of loss is transferred. Non-PBS sales are recognized when the product is delivered to the customer since that is when title and risk of loss is transferred.

F-9

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The company’s production facilities deliver products to independent distributor partners (“IDP” or “IDPs”), who sell and deliver those products to outlets of retail accounts that are within the IDPs’ defined geographic territory. PBS is utilized primarily in certain national and regional retail accounts (“PBS Outlet”). Generally, revenue is not recognized by the company upon delivery of our products by the company to the IDP or upon delivery of our products by the IDP to a PBS Outlet, but when our products are purchased by the end consumer. Product inventory in the PBS Outlet is reflected as inventory on the company’s balance sheet. The balance of PBS inventory at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was $7.9 million and $7.6 million, respectively.

The IDP performs a physical inventory of products at each PBS Outlet weekly and reports the results to the company. The inventory data submitted by the IDP for each PBS Outlet is compared with the product delivery data. Product delivered to a PBS Outlet that is not recorded in the inventory data has been purchased by the consumer/customer of the PBS Outlet and is recorded as sales revenue by the company. 

Cash and Cash Equivalents.    The company considers deposits in banks, certificates of deposits, and short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.

Accounts and Notes Receivable.    Accounts receivable consists of trade receivables, current portions of distributor notes receivable, and miscellaneous receivables. The company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments for trade receivables, IDP notes receivable, and miscellaneous receivables. Bad debts are charged to this reserve after all attempts to collect the balance are exhausted. If the financial condition of the company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. In determining the past due or delinquent status of a customer, the aged trial balance is reviewed on a weekly basis by sales management and generally any accounts older than seven weeks are considered delinquent. Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

The amounts charged to expense for bad debts in the table above are reported as adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The write-offs and other column represents the amounts that are actually used to reduce the gross accounts and notes receivable at the time the balance due from the customer is written-off.  Walmart/Sam’s Club is our only customer with a balance greater than 10% of outstanding trade receivables.  Their percentage of trade receivables was 23.6% and 18.8%, on a consolidated basis, as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.  No other customer accounted for greater than 10% of the company’s outstanding receivables.

Concentration of Credit Risk.    The company performs periodic credit evaluations and grants credit to customers, who are primarily in the grocery and foodservice markets, and generally does not require collateral. Our top 10 customers in fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015 accounted for 48.5%, 46.8% and 43.5% of sales, respectively. Our largest customer, Walmart/Sam’s Club, weighted percent of sales for fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:

 

 

Walmart/Sam’s Club is the only customer to account for greater than 10% of the company’s sales.

 

Inventories.    Inventories at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are valued at net realizable value. Costs for raw materials and packaging are recorded at moving average cost. Finished goods inventories are valued at average costs.

The company will write down inventory to net realizable value for estimated unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of the inventory and the estimated net realizable value for situations when the inventory is impaired by damage, deterioration, or obsolescence.

F-10

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Activity in the inventory reserve allowance is as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

The amounts charged to expense for inventory loss in the table above are reported as adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The write-offs and other column represents the amounts that are actually used to reduce gross inventories.

Shipping Costs.    Shipping costs are included in the selling, distribution and administrative line item of the Consolidated Statements of Income. For fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015, shipping costs were $888.1 million, $855.1 million, and $852.3 million, respectively, including the costs paid to IDPs.

Spare Parts and Supplies.    The company maintains inventories of spare parts and supplies, which are used for repairs and maintenance of its machinery and equipment. These spare parts and supplies allow the company to react quickly in the event of a mechanical breakdown. These parts are valued using the moving average method and are expensed as the part is used. Periodic physical inventories of the parts are performed, and the value of the parts is adjusted for any obsolescence or difference from the physical inventory count.

Assets Held for Sale.  Though under no obligation to do so, the company repurchases distribution rights from and sells distribution rights to IDPs from time to time. At the time the company purchases distribution rights from an IDP, the fair value purchase price of the distribution right is recorded as “Assets Held for Sale”. Upon the sale of the distribution rights to a new IDP, the new distributor franchisee/owner may choose how he/she desires to finance the purchase of the business.  If the new distributor chooses to use optional financing via a company-related entity, a note receivable of up to ten years is recorded for the financed amount with a corresponding credit to assets held for sale to relieve the carrying amount of the territory. Any difference between the selling price of the business and the distribution rights’ carrying value, if any, is recorded as a gain or a loss in selling, distribution and administrative expenses because the company considers the IDP activity a cost of distribution. This gain is recognized over the term of the outstanding notes receivable as payments are received from the IDP.  In instances where a distribution right is sold for less than its carrying value, a loss is recorded at the date of sale and any impairment of a distribution right held for sale is recorded at such time when the impairment occurs. The deferred gains were $34.7 million and $28.3 million at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and are recorded in other short and long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The company recorded net gains of $3.3 million during fiscal 2017, $3.1 million during fiscal 2016, and $4.1 million during fiscal 2015 related to the sale of distribution rights as a component of selling, distribution and administrative expenses.

Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation.    Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation expense is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the depreciable assets. Certain equipment held under capital leases of $42.8 million and $44.2 million at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, is classified as property, plant and equipment and the related obligations are recorded as liabilities. Depreciation of assets held under capital leases is included in depreciation and amortization expense. Total accumulated depreciation for assets held under capital leases was $15.7 million and $13.7 million at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

The table below presents the range of estimated useful lives by property, plant and equipment class.

 

 

Property under capital leases and leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the leased property.

F-11

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Depreciation expense for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 was as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

The company had no capitalized interest during fiscal 2017, 2016, and 2015. The cost of maintenance and repairs is charged to expense as incurred. Upon disposal or retirement, the cost and accumulated depreciation of assets are eliminated from the respective accounts. Any gain or loss is reflected in the company’s income from operations and is included in adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Segments.    The company’s segments are currently separated primarily by the different delivery methods each segment uses for their respective product deliveries. The DSD Segment’s products are delivered fresh to customers through a network of IDPs who are incentivized to grow sales and to build equity in their distributorships. The Warehouse Segment ships fresh and frozen products to customers’ warehouses nationwide. Our bakeries fall into either the DSD Segment or Warehouse Segment depending on the primary method of delivery used to sell that bakery’s products. The bakeries within each segment produce products that are sold externally and internally.  Internal sales are to bakeries within the producing bakery’s segment or to the other segment. Sales between bakeries are transferred at standard cost.

Impairment of Long-Lived Held and Used Assets.    The company determines whether there has been an impairment of long-lived held and used assets when indicators of potential impairment are present. We consider historical performance and future estimated results in our evaluation of impairment. In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the cost of any long-lived held and used assets may be impaired, an evaluation of recoverability would be performed. If an evaluation is required, the estimated future gross, undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset would be compared to the asset’s carrying amount to determine if a write-down to market value is required.

Future adverse changes in market conditions or poor operating results of underlying long-lived held and used assets could result in losses or an inability to recover the carrying value of the long-lived held and used assets that may not be reflected in the assets’ current carrying values, thereby possibly requiring an impairment charge in the future.

In fiscal 2017, we recorded asset impairment charges of $3.4 million for the closure of a Warehouse Segment snack cake plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  The closure was related to Project Centennial and is recorded in the restructuring and related impairment charges line item in our Consolidated Statements of Income.  See Note 5, Restructuring Activities, for details.

In fiscal 2016, we recorded asset impairment charges totaling $9.9 million at the time certain idle assets were reclassified as held for sale.  We recorded an impairment charge of $1.5 million when we closed a production line at one of our bakeries on equipment we no longer intend to use in fiscal 2015.  See Note 8, Assets Held for Sale, for impairments related to assets classified as held for sale.  These impairments are recorded in the impairment of assets line item in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Impairment of Other Intangible Assets.    The company accounts for other intangible assets recognized in a purchase business combination at fair value. These intangible assets can be either finite or indefinite-lived depending on the facts and circumstances at acquisition.

Finite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment when facts and circumstances indicate that the cost of any finite-lived intangible asset may be impaired. This recoverability test is based on an undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the company’s use and eventual disposition of the asset.  If these cash flows are sufficient to recover the carrying value over the useful life there is no impairment.  Amortization of finite-lived intangible assets occurs over their estimated useful lives. The amortization periods, at origination, range from two years to forty years for these assets. The attribution methods we primarily use are the sum-of-the-year digits for customer relationships and straight-line for other intangible assets.  These finite-lived intangible assets generally include trademarks, customer relationships, non-compete agreements, distributor relationships, and supply agreements.

Identifiable intangible assets that are determined to have an indefinite useful economic life are not amortized. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment, at least annually, using a one-step fair value based approach or when certain indicators of potential impairment are present. We have elected not to perform the qualitative approach. We also reassess the indefinite-lived classification to determine if it is appropriate to reclassify these assets as finite-lived assets that will require amortization. We consider historical performance and future estimated results in our evaluation of impairment. If facts and circumstances indicate that the cost of any indefinite-lived intangible assets may be impaired, an evaluation of the fair value of the asset is compared to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, an impairment charge is recorded for the difference.

F-12

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We use the multi-period excess earnings and relief from royalty methods to value these indefinite-lived intangible assets. Fair value is estimated using the future gross, discounted cash flows associated with the asset using the following four material assumptions: (a) discount rate; (b) long-term sales growth rates; (c) forecasted operating margins (not applicable to the relief from royalty method); and (d) market multiples. The method used for impairment testing purposes is consistent with the valuation method employed at acquisition of the intangible asset. These indefinite-lived intangible assets are trademarks acquired in a purchase business combination.

During fiscal 2017, the company recorded impairment charges of $66.2 million for certain trademarks impacted by the brand rationalization study that was performed in conjunction with Project Centennial.  See Note 5, Restructuring Activities, for details on these impairments.  Impairments relating to restructuring charges are recorded in the restructuring and related impairment charges line item in our Consolidated Statements of Income.  During fiscal 2016, the company recorded an impairment charge of $15.0 million on certain trademarks the company no longer intends to grow nationally.  These brands will continue to be produced and sold in their respective markets.  This impairment was recorded in the impairment of assets line item of our Consolidated Statements of Income.  

The company evaluates useful lives for finite-lived intangible assets to determine if facts or circumstances arise that may impact the estimates of useful lives assigned and the remaining amortization duration.  Indefinite-lived intangible assets that are determined to have a finite useful life are tested for impairment as an indefinite-lived intangible asset prior to commencing amortization.  We determined the impaired assets should be reclassified from indefinite-lived to finite-lived with an attribution period covering our estimate of the assets’ useful life.  These intangible assets were assigned a useful life ranging from thirty years to forty years.

Future adverse changes in market conditions or poor operating results of underlying intangible assets could result in losses or an inability to recover the carrying value of the intangible assets that may not be reflected in the assets’ current carrying values, thereby possibly requiring an impairment charge in the future.  There were no impairment charges related to other intangible assets during fiscal years 2015. See Note 9, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, for additional disclosure.

Goodwill.    The company accounts for goodwill in a purchase business combination as the excess of the cost over the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is allocated to the DSD Segment and Warehouse Segment based on the segment assignment at the time of the acquisition.  The segment was determined by the acquisition’s delivery method.  The company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis (or an interim basis if a triggering event occurs that indicates the fair value of a reporting unit may be below its carrying value) using a two-step method. This analysis is performed for both of our segments. Goodwill is recorded at the segment level primarily because of reciprocal baking arrangements for plants within each segment. We have elected not to perform the qualitative approach. The company conducts this review during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year absent any triggering events. We use the following four material assumptions in our fair value analysis: (a) weighted average cost of capital; (b) long-term sales growth rates; (c) forecasted operating margins; and (d) market multiples. No impairment resulted from the annual review performed in fiscal years 2017, 2016, or 2015. See Note 9, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, for additional disclosure.

Derivative Financial Instruments.    The company enters into commodity derivatives, designated as cash flow hedges of existing or future exposure to changes in commodity prices. The company’s primary raw materials are flour, sweeteners, shortening, and water, along with pulp, paper, and petroleum-based packaging products. The company uses natural gas as fuel for firing ovens. The company also periodically enters into interest rate derivatives to hedge exposure to changes in interest rates. The company measures the fair value of its derivative portfolio using the fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal market for that asset or liability. When quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities are not available, the company bases fair value upon internally developed models that use current market observable inputs, such as exchange-quoted futures prices and yield curves.  None of our hedge positions are for trading purposes.

The effective portion of changes in fair value for these derivatives is recorded each period in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”), and any ineffective portion of the change in fair value is recorded to current period earnings in selling, distribution and administrative expenses. All of our commodity derivatives at December 30, 2017 qualified for hedge accounting. During fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 there was no material income or expense recorded due to ineffectiveness in current earnings due to changes in the fair value of our commodity hedges.  The company recognized $0.1 million of ineffectiveness in the selling, distribution and administrative expenses line item of our Consolidated Statements of Income during fiscal year 2016 at the settlement of a treasury lock for an interest rate hedge.  See Note 11, Derivative Financial Instruments, for additional disclosure.

The company routinely transfers amounts from AOCI to earnings as transactions for which cash flow hedges were held occur and impact earnings. Significant situations which do not routinely occur that could cause transfers from AOCI to earnings are as follows: (i) an event that causes a hedge to be suddenly ineffective and significant enough that hedge accounting must be discontinued or (ii) cancellation of a forecasted transaction for which a derivative was held as a hedge or a significant and material reduction in volume used of a hedged ingredient such that the company is overhedged and must discontinue hedge accounting. During fiscal 2017, 2016, and 2015 there were no discontinued hedge positions.

F-13

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The impact to earnings is included in our materials, supplies, labor and other production costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately) line item. Changes in the fair value of the asset or liability are recorded as either a current or long-term asset or liability depending on the underlying fair value. Amounts reclassified to earnings for the commodity cash flow hedges are presented as an adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. See Note 11, Derivative Financial Instruments, for additional disclosure.

Treasury Stock.    The company records acquisitions of its common stock for treasury at cost. Differences between the proceeds for reissuances of treasury stock and average cost are credited or charged to capital in excess of par value to the extent of prior credits and thereafter to retained earnings. See Note 17, Stockholders’ Equity, for additional disclosure.

Advertising and Marketing Costs.    Advertising and marketing costs are expensed the first time the advertising takes place. Advertising and marketing costs were $33.8 million, $33.9 million, and $23.5 million for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. Advertising and marketing costs are recorded in the selling, distribution and administrative expense line item in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Stock-Based Compensation.    Stock-based compensation expense for all share-based payment awards granted is determined based on the grant date fair value. The company recognizes compensation costs only for those shares expected to vest on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the vesting term of the share-based payment award. The shares issued for exercises and at vesting of the awards are issued from treasury stock. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur.  See Note 18, Stock-Based Compensation, for additional disclosure.  Stock-based compensation expense is included in selling, distribution and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Software Development Costs.    The company expenses internal and external software development costs incurred in the preliminary project stage, and, thereafter, capitalizes costs incurred in developing or obtaining internally used software. Certain costs, such as maintenance and training, are expensed as incurred. Capitalized costs are amortized over a period of three to eight years and are subject to impairment evaluation. An impairment could be triggered if the company determines that the underlying software under review will no longer be used.  The net balance of capitalized software development costs included in plant, property and equipment was $30.5 million and $23.4 million at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Amortization expense of capitalized software development costs, which is included in depreciation and amortization expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income, was $4.1 million, $3.3 million, and $3.5 million in fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

Income Taxes.    The company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method and recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income as a discrete item in the period that includes the enactment date.

On December 22, 2017, the President of the United States signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”). The legislation significantly changes the U.S. tax law including a reduction to the corporate income tax rate from a maximum of 35% to a flat 21% rate, effective January 1, 2018. The SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (SAB 118) to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed, in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Act. The company has recognized the provisional tax impacts related to the revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities and included these amounts in its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 30, 2017. The ultimate impact may differ from these provisional amounts due to additional analysis and changes to estimates, additional regulatory guidance that may be issued, changes in interpretations and assumptions the company has made, and actions the company may take because of tax reform. The accounting is expected to be complete in the second half of 2018.

The company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The company has considered carryback, future taxable income, and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance. In the event the company were to determine that it would be more likely than not able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of its net recorded amount, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would increase income in the period such a determination was made. Likewise, should the company determine that it would not more likely than not be able to realize all or part of its net deferred tax asset in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would decrease income in the period such determination was made.

F-14

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The company recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation process. Interest related to unrecognized tax benefits is recorded within the interest expense line in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. See Note 22, Income Taxes, for additional disclosure.

The deductions column in the table below presents the amounts reduced in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance that were recorded to, and included as part of, deferred tax expense. The additions column represents amounts that increased the allowance.

Activity in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance is as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Self-Insurance Reserves.    The company is self-insured for various levels of general liability, auto liability, workers’ compensation, and employee medical and dental coverage. Insurance reserves are calculated on an undiscounted basis based on actual claim data and estimates of incurred but not reported claims developed utilizing historical claim trends. Projected settlements of incurred but not reported claims are estimated based on pending claims and historical trends and data. Though the company does not expect them to do so, actual settlements and claims could differ materially from those estimated. Material differences in actual settlements and claims could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Loss Contingencies.  Loss contingencies are recorded at the time it is probable an asset is impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated.  For litigation claims the company considers the degree of probability of an unfavorable outcome and the ability to make a reasonable estimate of the loss.  Losses are recorded in selling, distribution, and administrative expense in our Consolidated Statements of Income.  

Net Income Per Common Share.    Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding for the period. Common stock equivalents consist of the incremental shares associated with the company’s stock compensation plans, as determined under the treasury stock method. The performance contingent restricted stock awards do not contain a non-forfeitable right to dividend equivalents and are included in the computation for diluted net income per share. Fully vested shares which have a deferral period extending beyond the vesting date are included in the computation for basic net income per share.  See Note 20, Earnings Per Share, for additional disclosure.

Variable Interest Entities.    The incorporated IDPs in the DSD Segment are not voting interest entities since the company has no direct interest in each entity; however, they qualify as variable interest entities (“VIEs”). The IDPs who are formed as sole proprietorships are excluded from the VIE accounting analysis because sole proprietorships are not within scope for determination of VIE status.  The company typically finances the incorporated IDP and also enters into a contract with the incorporated IDP to supply product at a discount for distribution in the IDPs’ territory. The combination of the company’s loans to the incorporated IDP and the ongoing supply arrangements with the incorporated IDP provides a level of protection to the equity owners of the various distributorships that would not otherwise be available. However, the company is not considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIEs.  See Note 15, Variable Interest Entities, for additional disclosure of these VIEs.  

The company also maintains a transportation agreement with an entity that transports a significant portion of the company’s fresh bakery products from the company’s production facilities to outlying distribution centers. The company represents a significant portion of the entity’s revenue. This entity qualifies as a VIE, but the company has determined it is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE. See Note 15, Variable Interest Entities, for additional disclosure of these VIEs.

Pension/OPEB Obligations.    The company records net periodic benefit costs and obligations related to its three defined benefit pension and two other post-employment benefit (“OPEB”) plans based on actuarial valuations. These valuations reflect key assumptions determined by management, including the discount rate and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. The expected long-term rate of return assumption considers the asset mix of the plans’ portfolios, past performance of these assets, the anticipated future economic environment, long-term performance of individual asset classes, and other factors. Material changes in benefit costs and obligations may occur in the future due to experience different than assumed and changes in these assumptions. Future benefit obligations and annual benefit costs could be impacted by changes in the discount rate, changes in the expected long-term rate of return, changes in the level of contributions to the plans’, and other factors. The company has elected to measure plan assets and obligations using the month-end that is closest to our fiscal year end.  The measurement date will be December 31^st each year.  Effective January 1, 2006, the company curtailed its largest defined benefit pension plan that covered the majority of its workforce. Benefits under this plan were frozen, and no future benefits will accrue under this plan. The company still maintains a smaller unfrozen pension plan for certain eligible unionized employees.

F-15

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The company determines the fair value of substantially all its plans’ assets utilizing market quotes rather than developing “smoothed” values, “market related” values, or other modeling techniques. Plan asset gains or losses in a given year are included with other actuarial gains and losses due to re-measurement of the plans’ projected benefit obligations (“PBO”). If the total unrecognized gain or loss exceeds 10% of the larger of (i) the PBO or (ii) the market value of plan assets, the excess of the total unrecognized gain, or loss is amortized over the expected average future lifetime of participants in the frozen pension plans. The company uses a calendar year end for the measurement date since the plans are based on a calendar year and because it approximates the company’s fiscal year end. See Note 21, Postretirement Plans, for additional disclosure.

Pension Plan Assets.    Effective January 1, 2014, the Finance Committee (“committee”) of the Board of Directors delegated its fiduciary and other responsibilities with respect to the plans to the newly established Investment Committee. The Investment Committee, which consists of certain members of management, establishes investment guidelines and strategies and regularly monitors the performance of the plans’ assets. The Investment Committee is responsible for executing these strategies and investing the pension assets in accordance with ERISA and fiduciary standards. The investment objective of the pension plans is to preserve the plans’ capital and maximize investment earnings within acceptable levels of risk and volatility. The Investment Committee meets on a regular basis with its investment advisors to review the performance of the plans’ assets. Based upon performance and other measures and recommendations from its investment advisors, the Investment Committee rebalances the plans’ assets to the targeted allocation when considered appropriate.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments.    On September 28, 2016, the company issued $400.0 million of senior notes (the “2026 notes”).  On April 3, 2012, the company issued $400.0 million of senior notes (the “2022 notes”). These notes are recorded in our financial statements at carrying value, net of debt discount and issuance costs. The debt discount and issuance costs are being amortized over the ten year term of the note to interest expense. In addition and for disclosure purposes, the fair value of the notes is estimated using yields obtained from independent pricing sources for similar types of borrowing arrangements and is considered a Level 2 valuation. Additional details are included in Note 16, Fair Value of Financial Instruments.

Research and Development Costs.  The company recorded research and development costs of $2.4 million, $3.0 million, and $3.3 million for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.  These costs are recorded as selling, distribution and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Other Comprehensive Income.    The company reports comprehensive income in two separate but consecutive financial statements. See Note 19, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), for additional required disclosures.

 

 

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

In July 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance that entities should measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.  The company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2017 (the first day of our fiscal 2017) and the guidance was applied on a prospective basis.  The impact since adoption has been immaterial.

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance to simplify several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statements of cash flows.  The company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2017 (the first day of our fiscal 2017).  A summary at adoption is presented below:

F-16

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The table below presents the impact to the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows at adoption (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

See Note 18, Stock-Based Compensation, for details of our awards.

Accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance for recognizing revenue in contracts with customers. This guidance requires entities to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. There are five steps outlined in the guidance to achieve this core principle. This guidance was originally effective January 1, 2017, the first day of our fiscal 2017.  In July 2015, the FASB issued a deferral for one year, making the effective date December 31, 2017, the first day of our fiscal 2018.  In March 2016, the FASB amended the initial guidance to clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations.  In April 2016, the FASB amended the initial guidance to clarify the identification of performance conditions and the licensing implementation guidance.  In May 2016, the FASB amended the initial guidance to update certain narrow scopes within the revenue recognition guidance.  In December 2016, the FASB amended the initial guidance for technical corrections and improvements.  Early application is permitted, but not before January 1, 2017.  Entities will have the option to apply the final standard retrospectively or use a modified retrospective method, recognizing the cumulative effect of the standards in retained earnings at the date of initial application.  An entity will not restate prior periods if it uses the modified retrospective method, but will be required to disclose the amount by which each financial statement line item is affected in the current reporting period by the application of the standard as compared to the guidance in effect prior to the change, as well as reasons for significant changes.  The company intends to report revenue under the updated standard in its first quarter filing of fiscal 2018.  The company has selected the modified retrospective transition method.  

F-17

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The company has substantially completed its study on the impact that implementing this standard will have on its financial statements, related disclosures and our internal control over financial reporting as well as whether the effect will be material to our revenue. Based on the results of our study to date, the standard will not be material to our revenue at adoption. Changes will need to be made to our current internal control over financial reporting processes to ensure all contracts are reviewed for each of the five revenue recognition steps.  Additionally, the company’s revenue disclosures will change in fiscal 2018 and beyond.  The new disclosures will require more granularity into our sources of revenue, as well as the assumptions about recognition timing, and include our selection of certain practical expedients and policy elections.  We are developing draft disclosures to ensure all the requirements can be met with our current technology platforms.  We do not believe our technology platforms require a material change.  The study included how to account for PBS sales and estimated stale charges, whether revenue for a transaction involving a third party is reported net or gross, and the timing of income recognition on the sale of territories.  These are not intended to be a complete inventory of the potentially impacted types of transactions.  More impacted revenue sources may be discovered as we continue updating our internal control over financial reporting processes and preparing the draft disclosures.  

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance that requires an entity to recognize lease liabilities and a right-of-use asset for virtually all leases (other than those that meet the definition of a short-term lease) on the balance sheet and to disclose key information about the entity’s leasing arrangements.  This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those periods, with earlier adoption permitted.  This guidance must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial adoption, with an option to elect to use certain transition relief.  The company intends to adopt the updated standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2019.  The company currently has significant operating leases with our fiscal 2017 lease expense totaling $95.0 million.  We have selected a new software platform to help us apply the new rules.  The abstraction process of our lease portfolio is anticipated to be complete in the second half of fiscal 2018. The company expects a material impact to our Consolidated Financial Statements because of this guidance.  The Consolidated Balance Sheet will reflect additional material assets and liabilities for these leases.

In August 2016, the FASB issued guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statements of cash flows. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance must be applied retrospectively to all periods presented but may be applied prospectively if retrospective application would be impracticable. The adoption of this new guidance will not be material to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance to clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses.  This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those period.  Early application is allowed for transactions that have not been reported in financial statements that have been issued or made available for issuance.  This guidance shall be applied prospectively at adoption.  This guidance will impact the company’s assessment of the acquisition of either an asset or a business in future transactions beginning in our fiscal 2018.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance to simplify the accounting for goodwill impairment.  The guidance removed Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation.  A goodwill impairment will now be the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill.  Companies will still have the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine if a quantitative impairment test is necessary.  This guidance will be applied prospectively.  Companies are required to disclose the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle upon transition.  That disclosure shall be provided in the first annual reporting period and in the interim period within the first annual reporting period when the company adopts this guidance.  This change to the guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted after January 1, 2017.  The company is currently evaluating when this guidance will be adopted and the impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-18

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In March 2017, the FASB issued guidance that requires all employers to separately present the service cost component from the other pension and postretirement benefit cost components in the income statement.  Service cost will now be presented with other employee compensation costs in operating income or capitalized in assets, as appropriate.  The other components reported in the income statement will be reported separate from the service cost and outside of income from operations.  The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods.  Early adoption was permitted as of the beginning of an annual reporting period for which financial statements were not issued or made available for issuance.  However, early adoption is only allowed in the first interim period presented in a fiscal year; therefore, early adoption was only permitted in our first quarter of fiscal 2017.  The guidance is required to be applied on a retrospective basis for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net benefit cost, and on a prospective basis for the capitalization of only the service cost component of net benefit cost.  The company currently does not capitalize our pension cost.  This guidance will impact the company’s financial reporting.  The company plans to adopt this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. Our plan costs (including defined benefit and post-retirement plans) for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 are presented in the table below (amounts in thousands):  

 

 

In May 2017, the FASB issued guidance to provide clarity and reduce diversity in practice for changes to the terms and conditions of a share-based payment award.  This amendment provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting.  The amendments to this guidance are effective for all entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017.  Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period, for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued.  The amendments shall be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date.  The company intends to adopt this guidance in our first quarter of fiscal 2018.  This guidance will impact any modified share-based payment awards beginning in our fiscal 2018.

In August 2017, the FASB issued guidance for hedge accounting.  The new guidance will make more financial and nonfinancial hedging strategies eligible for hedge accounting.  It also amends the presentation and disclosure requirements and changes how companies assess effectiveness.  It is intended to more closely align hedge accounting with companies’ risk management strategies, simplify the application of hedge accounting, and increase transparency as to the scope and results of hedging programs.  The amendments in this guidance are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early application is permitted in any interim period after issuance of the guidance.  All transition requirements and elections should be applied to hedging relationships existing on the date of adoption.  The effect of the adoption should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.  The amended presentation and disclosure guidance are required prospectively.  The guidance requires a modified retrospective transition method in which the company will recognize the cumulative effect of the change on the opening balance of each affected component of equity in the statement of financial position as of the date of adoption.  While the company continues to assess all potential impacts of the standard, we currently expect adoption to have an immaterial impact on our consolidated financial statements.  An entity may make certain transition elections upon adoption of the amendments.  The company intends to early adopt this guidance beginning in our first quarter of fiscal 2018.  

In February 2018, the FASB issued guidance to allow a reclassification from AOCI to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Act.  Consequently, this guidance eliminates the stranded tax effects.  This guidance is effective for all entities beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted, including within any interim period for which financial statements have not yet been issued.  This guidance shall be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Act is recognized.  This guidance will impact the company.  The company is evaluating the impact and the timing of when to adopt this guidance.

We have reviewed other recently issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they are either not applicable to our business or that no material effect is expected upon future adoption.

 

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During 2017, the company identified an error in reporting the cash flow impacts of certain repurchases and sales of territories.  Cash receipts and payments for the repurchase and sale of territories and cash paid at the issuance of notes receivable were previously reported net when these transactions should have been disaggregated.    The company has evaluated the impact of this error and determined it is not material to previously issued annual and interim financial statements.  These corrections did not impact our previously reported Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Income, Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, and Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity.

 

The tables below present the revisions to the applicable Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows line item to correct the errors for all periods presented (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

 

On August 10, 2016, we announced the launch of Project Centennial, a comprehensive business and operational review.  We are evaluating opportunities to enhance revenue growth, streamline operations, improve efficiencies, and make investments that strengthen our competitive position and improve margins over the long term.  We began Project Centennial with an evaluation of our brands, product mix, and organizational structure.  We then developed strategic priorities to help us capitalize on retail and consumer changes.  The primary objective is to improve margins and profitably grow the top-line over time.  These priorities are as follows:

Reduce costs to fuel growth.  The company is focusing on reducing costs in our purchased goods and services initiative and our supply chain optimization plan.  Purchased goods and services operations will be centralized to create standardization, continuously improve, and develop consistent policies and specifications.  Supply chain optimization intends to reduce operational complexity and capitalize on scale.  This initiative includes, and will continue to include, consulting and other third-party costs as we finalize the organizational structure.  We incurred $37.3 million during fiscal 2017 and $6.3 million during fiscal 2016 of these non-restructuring consulting costs.

Develop leading capabilities.  Today, we report our financial results in either the DSD Segment or the Warehouse Segment.  On May 3, 2017, the company announced an enhanced organizational structure designed to provide greater focus on the company’s strategic objectives, emphasize brand growth and innovation in line with a national branded food company, drive enhanced accountability, reduce costs, and strengthen long-term strategy.  The new organizational structure will establish two BUs, Fresh Bakery and Specialty/Snacking, and realign key leadership roles.  The new structure also provides for centralized marketing, sales, supply chain, shared-services/administrative, and corporate strategy functions, each with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.  

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The company intends to transition to the new structure over the next several months with full implementation expected to be completed at the beginning of fiscal 2019.  We began relocating certain employees during the third quarter of fiscal 2017 as we transition to the enhanced organizational structure.  Reorganization costs of $1.9 million for relocating employees were incurred during fiscal 2017 and are recorded in the restructuring and related impairment charges line item on the Consolidated Statements of Income.  We anticipate incurring additional reorganization costs as we continue implementing the enhanced organizational structure.  The current DSD and warehouse segmentation will remain until the new structure is fully implemented.

On July 17, 2017, the company commenced a voluntary employee separation incentive plan (the “VSIP”).  The VSIP was implemented as part of our effort to restructure, streamline operations, and better position the company for profitable growth.  The VSIP election period closed on September 25, 2017 and resulted in approximately 325 employees accepting the offer.  The separations began on September 7, 2017, and were substantially complete by the end of fiscal 2017.  We recorded an aggregate charge of $29.7 million in fiscal 2017.  We paid $4.6 million of this amount during fiscal 2017, and the balance will be paid primarily during the first quarter of fiscal 2018.  These charges consist primarily of employee severance and benefits-related costs and are recorded in the restructuring and related impairment charges line item on our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Reinvigorate core business.  This objective is to invest in our brands to align brands to consumers to maximize our return on investment.  We expect to incur significant incremental marketing costs annually for brand development.  These costs will not be considered restructuring and will be recognized as incurred.  Project Centennial also included a brand rationalization study to identify high-potential and established brands to focus on innovation and cash flow, respectively.  The study, which concluded in our third quarter of fiscal 2017, changed the outlook for several brands and resulted in the recognition of an impairment on certain of these finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets in our third quarter of fiscal 2017.  The total intangible asset impairment charges, which are recorded in the restructuring and related impairment charges line item in our Consolidated Statements of Income, were $66.2 million.  See Note 9, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, for more information on these charges.  Project Centennial is expected to be completed by our fiscal 2021.

On August 9, 2017, the company announced the closure of a Warehouse Segment snack cake plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  The bakery closed in November 2017.  The closure costs were $4.4 million and consisted of $3.4 million for property, plant and equipment impairments and $1.0 million for employee termination benefits.  These amounts are recorded in the restructuring and related impairment charges line item on our Consolidated Statements of Income.  

The company recognized $2.0 million in severance costs related to other reorganization initiatives.  These costs are not related to the VSIP and were made pursuant to the company’s normal severance policies.

Capitalize on product adjacencies.  This initiative will focus on growing share in underdeveloped markets.  Adjacencies are geographic and product categories that will allow us to leverage our competitive advantages.  This can be done either organically with our high-potential brands or through strategic acquisitions.  As of December 30, 2017, we cannot estimate how much this initiative will cost for restructuring.

See Note 24, Segment Reporting, for the allocation of restructuring charges to each of our segments.  The table below presents the components of costs associated with Project Centennial (amounts in thousands):

 

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The table below presents the components of, and changes in, our restructuring accruals (amounts in thousands):

 

On January 14, 2017, the company completed the sale of a non-core mix manufacturing business located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for $44.0 million, an amount reduced by a working capital adjustment of $2.8 million, resulting in net proceeds of $41.2 million.  This resulted in a gain on sale of $28.9 million, which was recognized in the first quarter of fiscal 2017.  The gain on the sale is presented on the Consolidated Statements of Income on the ‘Gain on divestiture’ line item.  The mix manufacturing business was a small component of our Warehouse Segment and the disposal of this business does not represent a strategic shift in the segment’s operations or financial results.  The table below presents a computation of the gain on divestiture (amounts in thousands):

 

The company provides direct financing to certain IDPs for the purchase of the IDPs’ distribution rights and records the notes receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The distribution rights are financed for up to ten years. During fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 the following amounts were recorded as interest income relating to these notes receivable (amounts in thousands):

 

 

The notes receivable are collateralized by the IDPs’ distribution rights. Additional details are included in Note 16, Fair Value of Financial Instruments.

 

 

The company purchases distribution rights from and sells distribution rights to IDPs from time to time. The company repurchases distribution rights from IDPs in circumstances when the company decides to exit a territory or, in some cases, when the distributor relationship with the company is terminated. In the majority of the Distributor Agreements, if the company decides to exit a territory or stop using the IDP model in a territory, the company is contractually required to purchase the distribution rights from the IDP. In the event an IDP terminates his or her relationship with the company, the company, although not legally obligated, may

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repurchase and operate those distribution rights as a company-owned territory. The IDPs may also sell their distribution rights to another person or entity. Distribution rights purchased from IDPs and operated as company-owned territories are recorded on the company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet in the line item “Assets Held for Sale” while the company actively seeks another IDP to purchase the distribution rights for the territory.  Distribution rights held for sale and operated by the company are sold to IDPs at fair market value pursuant to the terms of a Distributor Agreement. There are multiple versions of the Distributor Agreement in place at any given time and the terms of such Distributor Agreements vary.  

The company sold certain plants and depots that it acquired in July 2013 from Hostess Brands, Inc., which initially included 20 closed plants and 36 depots (the “Acquired Hostess Bread Assets”). The Acquired Hostess Bread Assets were originally recorded as held and used in the purchase price allocation. Subsequent to the acquisition of the Acquired Hostess Bread Assets, we determined that some of the acquired plants and depots did not meet our long-term operating strategy and were sold.  One depot from the Acquired Hostess Bread Assets remains unsold as of December 30, 2017.  There are certain other properties not associated with the Acquired Hostess Bread Assets that are also in the process of being sold. These assets are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in the line item “Assets Held for Sale” and are included in the “Other” line item in the summary table below.

During fiscal 2016, the company decided to sell the remainder of the Acquired Hostess Bread Assets not specifically reserved for future use.  As a result, we recorded an impairment of $5.3 million for these plants, depots, and equipment and completed the sale in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.  On December 31, 2016, there was a remaining depot that not been sold but was held for sale.  This depot was not sold during fiscal 2017 and there is no change from fiscal 2016.

The table below presents the proceeds from the sale of the Acquired Hostess Bread Assets for fiscal years 2016 and 2015 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

In addition to the impairments for the Acquired Hostess Bread Assets above, during the fourth quarter of our fiscal 2016, we recognized an impairment loss of $4.6 million for the difference between the carrying value and fair value of other assets classified as held for sale.

Additional assets recorded in assets held for sale are for property, plant and equipment exclusive of the amounts disclosed as part of the Acquired Hostess Bread Assets and the disposal group discussed above. Also included in assets held for sale are property, plant and equipment of the Winston-Salem, North Carolina plant.  The carrying values of assets held for sale are not amortized and are evaluated for impairment as required. The table below presents the assets held for sale as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

The table below summarizes our goodwill and other intangible assets at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, each of which is explained in additional detail below (amounts in thousands):

 

 

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The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by segment, during fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2017, are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Changes in goodwill related to acquisitions during fiscal 2016 were from DKB in the DSD Segment and Alpine Valley Bread Company (“Alpine”) in the Warehouse Segment.  The changes to goodwill from December 31, 2016 to December 30, 2017 were a result of the divestiture discussed in Note 6, Divestiture.   Goodwill was not impaired in fiscal years 2017, 2016, or 2015.

The table below presents the changes to goodwill by acquisition, for the original goodwill amount recorded at acquisition, from January 2, 2016 to December 31, 2016 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

As of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the company had the following amounts related to amortizable intangible assets (amounts in thousands):

 

 

As of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there was $206.6 million and $243.0 million, respectively, of indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets separately identified from goodwill. These trademarks are classified as indefinite-lived because there is no foreseeable limit to the period over which the asset is expected to contribute to our cash flows.  They are well established brands with a long history and well defined markets. In addition, we are continuing to use these brands both in their original markets and throughout our expansion territories. We believe these factors support an indefinite-life assignment with an annual impairment analysis to determine if the trademarks are realizing their expected economic benefits.

Fiscal 2017 restructuring and related impairment charges

During fiscal 2017, the company recognized intangible asset impairments of $66.2 million that are recorded in the restructuring and related impairment charges line item of our Consolidated Statements of Income.  The company is currently undergoing an enterprise-wide business and operational review as discussed in Note 5, Restructuring Activities.  The review included a brand rationalization study that impacted certain trademarks’ future use.  The study was substantially completed in the third quarter of fiscal 2017.  The study concluded that our brands should be classified as either national or regional and brands that did not fit into those categories were to be discontinued.  National brands would have more marketing support than the de-emphasized remaining regional brands and in many cases would shift sales from regional brands as certain regional brand bread products are discontinued.  As a result of these actions, a triggering event occurred and we examined several trademarks for potential impairment.  One of the trademarks was an indefinite-lived trademark asset and was tested by comparing the fair value of the brand to its carrying value.  Three finite-lived trademark assets were tested using an undiscounted cash flow test.  As a result of this test, the projected cash flows for these brands did not exceed the carrying value.  The second step of the test determined the fair value of the asset and the difference between the fair value and the carrying value was recorded as an impairment. The impairment charge also consisted of six brands that either are being discontinued or will have limited future benefits to the company.  These brands were fully impaired.  All of these

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impairments were attributed to regional brands.  Following the impairments, we evaluated the classification of the impaired indefinite-lived asset and determined that it should be reassigned as finite-lived with an estimated useful life of 30 years.  The table below presents the restructuring impairment charges by segment for fiscal 2017 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Fiscal 2016 impairment charges

The company’s core markets were flat in fiscal 2016.  As a result, we noticed that several of our brands were performing below expectations in the back half of the year.  This was caused primarily from our regional brands that were negatively impacted by our national brands and the flat market in general.  The diagnostic phase of the study was completed in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 and, at the time, impacted certain trademarks’ future revenue projections.  We included the potential impact of this study (for brands known to be impacted at the time of the test) in our expected results while performing our annual impairment test for all of our indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets.  This led to a $15.0 million impairment charge of three indefinite-lived trademarks.    Following this impairment, the company evaluated the indefinite-lived classification and determined that the three trademarks which were impaired should be reassigned as finite-lived assets with an estimated useful life of forty years each.  We do not intend to discontinue using these trademarks; however, our expectation of limiting them to each of their respective core markets impacts their growth potential.  The carrying value of these three trademarks, before impairment, was $171.0 million.  The fair value of these three trademarks was $156.0 million during our test.  The difference between the carrying value and the fair value resulted in a $15.0 million impairment.  The remaining indefinite-lived intangible trademark assets all had fair values in excess of their respective carrying values so no impairment was recognized.

Amortization expense

Amortization expense for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 was as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Estimated amortization of intangibles for fiscal 2018 and the next four years thereafter is as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Alpine Valley Bread Company

On October 13, 2015, the company completed the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common stock of Alpine, a leading organic bread baker, from its shareholders for total consideration of $121.9 million inclusive of payments for certain tax benefits.  We paid cash of $109.3 million and issued 12,602 shares of our common stock to the sellers in a private placement.  We believe the acquisition of Alpine strengthens our position as the second-largest baker in the U.S. by giving us access to the fast growing organic bread category. The Alpine acquisition has been accounted for as a business combination and is included in our Warehouse Segment. The results of Alpine’s operations are included in the company’s Consolidated Financial Statements beginning on October 14, 2015. The total goodwill recorded for this acquisition was $36.5 million and it is deductible for tax purposes.

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During fiscal 2015, the company incurred $1.6 million of acquisition-related costs for Alpine. The acquisition-related costs for Alpine were recorded in the selling, distribution and administrative expense line item in our Consolidated Statements of Income. Alpine contributed $11.9 million in sales during fiscal 2015.  Alpine’s operating income since the acquisition was immaterial to our fiscal 2015 results of operations.

The following table summarizes the consideration paid for Alpine based on the fair value at the acquisition date (amounts in thousands):

 

 

A measurement period adjustment of $0.5 million related to working capital was recorded in our third quarter of fiscal 2016 and is reflected in the table above. See Note 9, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, for the impact of this adjustment.

 

The following table presents the acquired intangible assets subject to amortization (amounts in thousands, except amortization periods):

 

 

The Alpine trademark was impaired as part of the study described in Note 9, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.  Alpine operates a production facility in Mesa, Arizona and has widespread distribution across the U.S. The primary reason for the acquisition was to purchase a brand of organic bakery products in the U.S. and to add organic production capacity.

The fair value of trade receivables was $4.8 million. The gross amount of the receivable was $4.8 million with an immaterial amount determined to be uncollectible.  We did not acquire any other class of receivables as a result of the acquisition.

Dave’s Killer Bread

On September 12, 2015, the company completed the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common stock of Dave’s Killer Bread (“DKB”), the nation’s best-selling organic bread, from its shareholders for total cash payments of $282.1 million inclusive of payments for certain tax benefits.  We believe the acquisition of DKB strengthens our position as the second-largest baker in the U.S. by giving us access to the fast growing organic bread category and expanding our geographic reach into the Pacific Northwest. The DKB acquisition has been accounted for as a business combination and is included in our DSD Segment. The results of DKB’s operations are included in the company’s Consolidated Financial Statements beginning on September 13, 2015. The total goodwill recorded for this acquisition was $146.1 million and it is not deductible for tax purposes.

During fiscal 2015, the company incurred $4.6 million of acquisition-related costs for DKB. The acquisition-related costs for DKB are recorded in the selling, distribution and administrative expense line item in our Consolidated Statements of Income. DKB contributed $37.6 million in sales during fiscal 2015.  DKB’s operating income since the acquisition was immaterial to our fiscal 2015 results of operations.

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The following table summarizes the consideration paid for DKB based on the fair value at the acquisition date (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Measurement period adjustments of $0.2 million related to working capital, tax adjustments, and property, plant and equipment were recorded in our third quarter of fiscal 2016 and are reflected in the table above.  See Note 7, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, for the impact of these adjustments.

 

The following table presents the acquired intangible assets subject to amortization (amounts in thousands, except amortization periods):

 

 

DKB operates one production facility in Milwaukie, Oregon and has widespread distribution across the U.S. and Canada. The primary reason for the acquisition was to purchase the leading brand of organic bakery products in the U.S.

The fair value of trade receivables was $14.2 million. The gross amount of the receivable was $14.4 million of which $0.2 million was determined to be uncollectible. We did not acquire any other class of receivables as a result of the acquisition.

Acquisition pro formas

We determined that the consolidated results of operations for the DKB and Alpine acquisitions are immaterial in the aggregate and the pro forma financial statements are not required for fiscal 2015.  

 

 

The company measures the fair value of its derivative portfolio by using the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal market for that asset or liability. These measurements are classified into a hierarchy by the inputs used to perform the fair value calculation as follows:

Level 1: Fair value based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date

Level 2: Modeled fair value with model inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly

Level 3: Modeled fair value with unobservable model inputs that are used to estimate the fair value of the asset or liability

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Commodity Price Risk

The company enters into commodity derivatives, designated as cash-flow hedges of existing or future exposure to changes in commodity prices. The company’s primary raw materials are flour, sweeteners, and shortening, along with pulp, paper, and petroleum-based packaging products. Natural gas, which is used as oven fuel, is also an important commodity used for production.

As of December 30, 2017, the company’s commodity hedge portfolio contained derivatives which are recorded in the following accounts with fair values measured as indicated (amounts in thousands):

 

 

As of December 31, 2016, the company’s commodity hedge portfolio contained derivatives which are recorded in the following accounts with fair values measured as indicated (amounts in thousands):

 

 

The positions held in the portfolio are used to hedge economic exposure to changes in various raw materials and production input prices and effectively fixes the price, or limits increases in prices, for a period of time extending into fiscal 2018. These instruments are designated as cash-flow hedges. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, for the accounting treatment of these hedged transactions.

Interest Rate Risk

The company entered into treasury rate locks on August 5, 2016 and August 8, 2016 to fix the interest rate for the 2026 notes issued on September 28, 2016.  The derivative positions were closed when the debt was priced on September 23, 2016 with a cash settlement net receipt of $1.0 million that offset changes in the benchmark treasury rate between execution of the treasury rate locks and the debt pricing date.  These rate locks were designated as a cash flow hedge.  During fiscal 2016, the company recognized $0.1 million of ineffectiveness due to issuing the debt earlier than the settlement date of the treasury locks.  The ineffectiveness amount is reported as a selling, distribution, and administrative expense in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

The company entered into a treasury rate lock on March 28, 2012 to fix the interest rate for the 2022 notes issued on April 3, 2012. The derivative position was closed when the debt was priced on March 29, 2012 with a cash settlement that offset changes in the benchmark treasury rate between the execution of the treasury rate lock and the debt pricing date. This treasury rate lock was designated as a cash flow hedge.

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The following table outlines the company’s derivatives which were hedging the risk of changes in forecasted interest payments on forecasted issuance of long-term debt (amounts in thousands, before tax, and an asset is a positive value and a liability is a negative value):

 

 

Derivative Assets and Liabilities

The company had the following derivative instruments recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet, all of which are utilized for the risk management purposes detailed above (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Derivative Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”) transactions

The company had the following derivative instruments for deferred gains and (losses) on closed contracts and the effective portion for changes in fair value recorded in AOCI (no amounts were excluded from the effectiveness test), all of which are utilized for the risk management purposes detailed above (amounts in thousands and net of tax):

 

 

 

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The balance in accumulated other comprehensive loss (income) related to commodity price risk and interest rate risk derivative transactions that are closed or will expire over the next three years are as follows (amounts in thousands and net of tax) at December 30, 2017:

 

 

See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, for the accounting treatment of other comprehensive income for these hedged transactions.

Derivative transactions notional amounts

As of December 30, 2017, the company had entered into the following financial contracts to hedge commodity risks (amounts in thousands):

 

 

The company’s derivative instruments contained no credit-risk-related contingent features at December 30, 2017. As of December 30, 2017, the company had $16.3 million recorded in other current assets, and on December 31, 2016, the company had $3.0 million recorded in other current assets representing collateral from or with counterparties for hedged positions.

 

 

Other current assets consist of (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Other non-current assets consist of (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

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Other accrued liabilities consist of (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Long-term debt, including capital lease obligations, consisted of the following at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 

 

Bank overdrafts occur when checks have been issued but have not been presented to the bank for payment. Certain of our banks allow us to delay funding of issued checks until the checks are presented for payment. The delay in funding results in a temporary source of financing from the bank. The activity related to bank overdrafts is shown as a financing activity in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Bank overdrafts are included in other current liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the bank overdraft balance was $5.7 million and $19.9 million, respectively.

The company also had standby letters of credit (“LOCs”) outstanding of $8.7 million and $9.1 million at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, which reduce the availability of funds under the credit facility. The outstanding LOCs are for the benefit of certain insurance companies and lessors. None of the LOCs are recorded as a liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

2026 Notes, 2016 Term Loan, Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, 2013 Term Loan, 2022 Notes, and Credit Facility

2026 Notes. On September 28, 2016, the company issued $400.0 million of senior notes (the “2026 notes”). The company will pay semiannual interest on the 2026 notes on each April 1 and October 1, beginning on April 1, 2017, and the 2026 notes will mature on October 1, 2026. The notes bear interest at 3.500% per annum. The 2026 notes are subject to interest rate adjustments if either Moody’s or S&P downgrades (or downgrades and subsequently upgrades) the credit rating assigned to the 2026 notes.  On any date prior to July 1, 2026, the company may redeem some or all of the notes at a price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed and (2) a “make-whole” amount plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest. The make-whole amount is equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the 2026 notes to be redeemed that would be due if such notes matured July 1, 2026 (exclusive of interest accrued to, but not including, the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day

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months) at the treasury rate (as defined in the indenture governing the notes), plus 30 basis points, plus in each case accrued and unpaid interest. At any time on or after July 1, 2026, the company may redeem some or all of the 2026 notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest. If the company experiences a “change of control triggering event” (which involves a change of control of the company and related rating of the notes below investment grade), it is required to offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon unless the company exercised its option to redeem the notes in whole.  The 2026 notes are also subject to customary restrictive covenants, including certain limitations on liens and sale and leaseback transactions.

The face value of the 2026 notes is $400.0 million.  There was a debt discount representing the difference between the net proceeds, after expenses, received upon issuance of debt and the amount repayable at its maturity. The company also paid issuance costs (including underwriting fees and legal fees) on the 2026 notes. Debt issuance costs and the debt discount are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the 2026 notes. As of December 30, 2017, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under the indenture governing the 2026 notes.  The table below presents the debt discount, underwriting fees and the legal and other fees for issuing the 2026 notes (amounts in thousands):  

 

2016 Term Loan. We entered into an unsecured term facility (the “2016 term loan”) on April 19, 2016.  The 2016 term loan provided for a five-year, syndicated, unsecured term loan pursuant to which we may incur term loan borrowings in a single draw up to an aggregate principal amount of $150.0 million.  The proceeds of the 2016 term loan borrowings were used to finance working capital and for general corporate purposes and to pay fees and expenses related to the 2016 term loan.  The company drew down the full amount of the 2016 term loan at execution. The company paid financing costs of $0.6 million in connection with the 2016 term loan.

The 2016 term loan was paid off in full on September 28, 2016, at the time the company issued the 2026 notes. The payoff was accounted for as an extinguishment of debt with the loss on extinguishment recorded as interest expense.  The extinguishment loss of $0.6 million was immediately recognized at the time the 2016 term loan was paid off. The company has no further obligations under this agreement.

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. On July 17, 2013, the company entered into an accounts receivable securitization facility (the “facility”). The company has amended the facility five times since inception.  These amendments include provisions which (i) increased the revolving commitments under the facility to $200.0 million from $150.0 million, (ii) added a leverage pricing grid, (iii) added an additional bank to the lending group, (iv) made certain other conforming changes, and (v) extended the term, most recently one additional year to September 28, 2019. The amendment which added the additional bank was accounted for as an extinguishment of the debt.  The remaining amendments were accounted for as modifications.  The amendment in fiscal 2017 resulted in $0.1 million in paid financing costs.

Under the facility, a wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary purchases, on an ongoing basis, substantially all trade receivables. As borrowings are made under the facility, the subsidiary pledges the receivables as collateral. In the event of liquidation of the subsidiary, its creditors would be entitled to satisfy their claims from the subsidiary’s pledged receivables prior to distributions of collections to the company. We include the subsidiary in our Consolidated Financial Statements. The facility contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, and events of default. As of December 30, 2017, there was nothing outstanding under the facility compared to $95.0 million outstanding as of December 31, 2016.  As of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under the facility. On December 30, 2017, the company had $179.3 million available under its facility for working capital and general corporate purposes.  Amounts available for withdrawal under the facility are determined as the lesser of the total commitments and a formula derived amount based on qualifying trade receivables.

Optional principal repayments may be made at any time without premium or penalty. Interest is due two days after our reporting periods end in arrears on the outstanding borrowings and is computed as the cost of funds rate plus an applicable margin of 85 basis points. An unused fee of 30 basis points is applicable on the unused commitment at each reporting period. The company paid financing costs of $0.8 million in connection with the facility at the time we entered into the facility, which are being amortized over the life of the facility. The company paid $0.1 million in financing costs during fiscal 2017 for the fifth amendment.

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2013 Term Loan. We entered into a senior unsecured delayed-draw term facility (the “2013 term loan”) on April 5, 2013 with a commitment of up to $300.0 million. The company drew down the full amount of the 2013 term loan on July 18, 2013.  The 2013 term loan was paid off in full on September 28, 2016, at the time the company issued the 2026 notes, and an extinguishment loss of $1.3 million was recognized.   The company has no further obligations under this agreement.  The payoff was accounted for as an extinguishment of debt with the loss on extinguishment recorded as interest expense.    

2022 Notes. On April 3, 2012, the company issued $400.0 million of senior notes (the “2022 notes”). The company pays semiannual interest on the notes on each April 1 and October 1, beginning on October 1, 2012, and the notes will mature on April 1, 2022. The notes bear interest at 4.375% per annum. On any date prior to January 1, 2022, the company may redeem some or all of the notes at a price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed and (2) a “make-whole” amount plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest. The make-whole amount is equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal thereof (not including any interest accrued thereon to, but not including, the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the treasury rate (as defined in the indenture governing the notes), plus 35 basis points, plus in each case, unpaid interest accrued thereon to, but not including, the date of redemption. At any time on or after January 1, 2022, the company may redeem some or all of the notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest. If the company experiences a “change of control triggering event” (which involves a change of control of the company and related rating of the notes below investment grade), it is required to offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon unless the company exercised its option to redeem the notes in whole. The notes are also subject to customary restrictive covenants, including certain limitations on liens and sale and leaseback transactions.

The face value of the notes is $400.0 million and the current discount on the notes is $0.4 million. The company paid issuance costs (including underwriting fees and legal fees) for issuing the notes of $3.9 million. The issuance costs and the debt discount are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes. As of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under the indenture governing the notes.

Credit Facility. On November 29, 2017 the company entered into the sixth amendment to its amended and restated credit agreement, dated as of October 24, 2003, with the lenders party thereto and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent, the swingline lender and issuing lender. The amendment, among other things (i) extends the maturity date of the existing credit agreement to November 29, 2022; (ii) amends the applicable margin for revolving loans maintained as (1) base rate loans and swingline loans to a range of 0.00% to 0.575% (from a range of 0.00% to 0.75% in the existing credit agreement) and (2) Eurodollar loans to a range of 0.575% to 1.575% (from a range of 0.70% to 1.75% in the existing credit agreement), in each case, based on the leverage ratio of the company and its subsidiaries; (iii) amends the applicable facility fee to a range of 0.05% to 0.30% (from a range of 0.05% to 0.50% in the existing credit agreement), due quarterly on all commitments under the amended credit agreement, based on the leverage ratio of the company and its subsidiaries; and (iv) amends the maximum leverage ratio covenant to permit the company, at its option, in connection with certain acquisitions and investments and subject to the terms and conditions provided in the amended credit agreement, to increase the maximum ratio permitted thereunder on one or more occasions to 4.00 to 1.00 for a period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, including and/or immediately following the fiscal quarter in which such acquisitions or investments were completed (the “covenant holiday”), provided that each additional covenant holiday will not be available to the company until it has achieved and maintained a leverage ratio of at least 3.75 to 1.00 and has been complied with for at least two fiscal quarters.

The credit facility is a five-year, $500.0 million senior unsecured revolving loan facility. The credit facility contains a provision that permits Flowers to request up to $200.0 million in additional revolving commitments, for a total of up to $700.0 million, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. Proceeds from the credit facility may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures, acquisition financing, refinancing of indebtedness, dividends and share repurchases. The credit facility includes certain customary restrictions, which, among other things, require maintenance of financial covenants and limit encumbrance of assets and creation of indebtedness. Restrictive financial covenants include such ratios as a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. The company believes that, given its current cash position, its cash flow from operating activities and its available credit capacity, it can comply with the current terms of the amended credit facility and can meet its presently foreseeable financial requirements. As of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under the credit facility.

The company paid additional financing costs of $0.6 million in connection with the sixth amendment of the credit facility, which, in addition to the remaining balance in financing costs, is being amortized over the life of the credit facility.  The company recognized an immaterial amount as interest expense for the modification at the time of the sixth amendment.

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Amounts outstanding under the credit facility vary daily.  Changes in the gross borrowings and repayments can be caused by cash flow activity from operations, capital expenditures, acquisitions, dividends, share repurchases, and tax payments, as well as derivative transactions which are part of the company’s overall risk management strategy as discussed in Note 11, Derivative Financial Instruments.  The table below presents the borrowings and repayments under the credit facility during fiscal 2017:

 

The table below presents the net amount available under the credit facility as of December 30, 2017:  

 

The table below presents the highest and lowest outstanding balance under the credit facility during fiscal 2017:

 

Aggregate debt maturities.  Aggregate maturities of debt outstanding, including capital leases, as of December 30, 2017, are as follows (excluding unamortized debt discount and issuance costs) (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Debt issuance costs and debt discount.  In fiscal 2016, the company adopted guidance, as discussed in Note 3, Recent Accounting Pronouncements, that requires debt issuances costs be presented in the balance sheet as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of the liability.  The table below reconciles the debt issuance costs and debt discounts to the net carrying value of each of our debt obligations (excluding line-of-credit arrangements) at December 30, 2017(amounts in thousands):

 

The table below reconciles the debt issuance costs and debt discounts to the net carrying value of each of our debt obligations (excluding line-of-credit arrangements) at December 31, 2016 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

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Leases

The company leases certain property and equipment under various operating and capital lease arrangements that expire over the next 18 years. The property leases include distribution facilities, thrift store locations, and two manufacturing facilities. The equipment leases include production, sales, distribution, and office equipment. Initial lease terms range from two to 26 years. Many of the operating leases provide the company with the option, after the initial lease term, either to purchase the property at the then fair value or renew its lease at fair value rents for periods from one month to ten years. Rent escalations vary in these leases, from no escalation over the initial lease term, to escalations linked to changes in economic variables such as the Consumer Price Index. Rental expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases. The capital leases are primarily used for distribution vehicle financing and are discussed in Note 15, Variable Interest Entities, below. Future minimum lease payments under scheduled capital leases that have initial or remaining non-cancelable terms in excess of one year are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

The table below presents the total future minimum lease payments under scheduled operating leases that have initial or remaining non-cancelable terms in excess of one year (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Rent expense for all operating leases was as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Deferred Compensation

The Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (“EDCP”) consists of unsecured general obligations of the company to pay the deferred compensation of, and our contributions to, participants in the EDCP. The obligations will rank equally with our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness payable from the company’s general assets.

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The company’s directors and certain key members of management are eligible to participate in the EDCP. Directors may elect to defer all or any portion of their annual retainer fee and meeting fees. Deferral elections by directors must be made prior to the beginning of each year and are thereafter irrevocable. Eligible employees may elect to defer up to 75% of their base salaries, and up to 100% of any cash bonuses and other compensation through December 31, 2015.  Effective January 1, 2016, employees may elect to defer up to 75% of their base salaries, any cash bonuses, and other compensation.  Deferral elections by eligible executives must be made prior to the beginning of each year and are thereafter irrevocable during that year. The portion of the participant’s compensation that is deferred depends on the participant’s election in effect with respect to his or her elective contributions under the EDCP.

The amounts outstanding at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Guarantees and Indemnification Obligations

The company has provided various representations, warranties, and other standard indemnifications in various agreements with customers, suppliers, and other parties as well as in agreements to sell business assets or lease facilities. In general, these provisions indemnify the counterparty for matters such as breaches of representations and warranties, certain environmental conditions and tax matters, and, in the context of sales of business assets, any liabilities arising prior to the closing of the transactions. Non-performance under a contract could trigger an obligation of the company. The ultimate effect on future financial results is not subject to reasonable estimation because considerable uncertainty exists as to the final outcome of any potential claims.

No material guarantees or indemnifications have been entered into by the company through December 30, 2017.

 

 

Transportation agreement variable interest entity (the “VIE”) analysis

The company maintains a transportation agreement with an entity that transports a significant portion of the company’s fresh bakery products from the company’s production facilities to outlying distribution centers. The company represents a significant portion of the entity’s revenue. This entity qualifies as a VIE, but the company has determined it is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE because the company does not (i) have the ability to direct the significant activities of the VIE and (ii) provide any implicit or explicit guarantees or other financial support to the VIE for specific return or performance benchmarks. In addition, we do not provide, nor do we intend to provide, financial or other support to the entity.

The company has concluded that certain of the trucks and trailers the VIE uses for distributing our products from the manufacturing facilities to the distribution centers qualify as right to use leases. As of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there was $27.2 million and $30.4 million, respectively, in net property, plant and equipment and capital lease obligations associated with the right to use leases.

Distribution rights agreement VIE analysis

The incorporated IDPs in the DSD Segment qualify as VIEs. The IDPs who are formed as sole proprietorships are excluded from the following VIE accounting analysis and discussion.  

Incorporated IDPs acquire distribution rights and enter into a contract with the company to sell the company’s products in the IDPs’ defined geographic territory.  The incorporated IDPs have the option to finance the acquisition of their distribution rights with the company.  They can also pay cash or obtain external financing at the time they acquire the distribution rights.  The combination of the company’s loans to the incorporated IDPs and the ongoing distributor arrangements with the incorporated IDPs provide a level of funding to the equity owners of the various incorporated IDPs that would not otherwise be available. As of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there was $137.9 million and $84.3 million, respectively, in gross distribution rights notes receivable outstanding from incorporated IDPs.

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The company is not considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIEs because the company does not (i) have the ability to direct the significant activities of the VIEs that would affect their ability to operate their respective businesses and (ii) provide any implicit or explicit guarantees or other financial support to the VIEs, other than the financing described above, for specific return or performance benchmarks. The activities controlled by the incorporated IDPs that are deemed to most significantly impact the ultimate success of the incorporated IDP entities relate to those decisions inherent in operating the distribution business in the territory, including acquiring trucks and trailers, managing fuel costs, employee matters and other strategic decisions. In addition, we do not provide, nor do we intend to provide, financial or other support to the IDP. The IDPs are responsible for the operations of their respective territories.

The company’s maximum contractual exposure to loss for the incorporated IDP relates to the distributor rights note receivable for the portion of the territory the incorporated IDPs financed at the time they acquired the distribution rights. The incorporated IDPs remit payment on their distributor rights note receivable each week during the settlement process of their weekly activity.  The company will operate a territory on behalf of an incorporated IDP in situations where the IDP has abandoned its distribution rights.  Any remaining balance outstanding on the distribution rights notes receivable is relieved once the distribution rights have been sold on the IDPs behalf.  The company’s collateral from the territory distribution rights mitigates the potential losses.

 

 

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and short-term debt approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of the instruments. Notes receivable are entered into in connection with the purchase of distribution rights by IDPs. These notes receivable are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at carrying value, which represents the closest approximation of fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As a result, the appropriate interest rate that should be used to estimate the fair value of the distribution rights notes is the prevailing market rate at which similar loans would be made to IDPs with similar credit ratings and for the same maturities. However, the company financed approximately 4,000 and 3,600 IDPs’ distribution rights as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, all with varied financial histories and credit risks. Considering the diversity of credit risks among the IDPs, the company has no method to accurately determine a market interest rate to apply to the notes. The distribution rights are generally financed for up to ten years and the distribution rights notes are collateralized by the IDPs’ distribution rights. The company maintains a wholly-owned subsidiary to assist in financing the distribution rights purchase activities if requested by new IDPs, using the distribution rights and certain associated assets as collateral. These notes receivable earn interest at a fixed rate.

At December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, the carrying value of the distribution rights notes receivable was as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

At December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the company has evaluated the collectability of the distribution rights notes receivable and determined that a reserve is not necessary. Payments on these notes are collected by the company weekly in conjunction with the IDP settlement process.

The fair value of the company’s variable rate debt at December 30, 2017 approximates the recorded value. The fair value of the company’s notes, as discussed in Note 14, Debt, Lease and Other Commitments, are estimated using yields obtained from independent pricing sources for similar types of borrowing arrangements and are considered a Level 2 valuation.  The fair value of the notes are presented in the table below (amounts in thousands, except level classification):

 

 

For fair value disclosure information about our derivative assets and liabilities see Note 11, Derivative Financial Instruments. For fair value disclosure information about our pension plan net assets see Note 21, Postretirement Plans.

 

 

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Flowers Foods’ articles of incorporation provide that its authorized capital consist of 500,000,000 shares of common stock having a par value of $0.01 per share and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The preferred stock of which (a) 200,000 shares have been designated by the Board of Directors as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, having a par value per share of $100 and (b) 800,000 shares of preferred stock, having a par value per share of $0.01, have not been designated by the Board of Directors. No shares of preferred stock have been issued by Flowers Foods.

Common Stock

The holders of Flowers Foods common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Subject to preferential rights of any issued and outstanding preferred stock, including the Series A Preferred Stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by the Board of Directors of the company out of funds legally available. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the company, holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets of the company, if any, remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any issued and outstanding preferred stock, including the Series A Preferred Stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive rights, no cumulative voting rights, and no rights to convert their shares of common stock into any other securities of the company or any other person.

Preferred Stock

The Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the designations, relative powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations, and restrictions of all shares of each such series, including without limitation, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption and sinking fund provisions, liquidation preferences, and the number of shares constituting each such series, without any further vote or action by the holders of our common stock. Although the Board of Directors does not presently intend to do so, it could issue shares of preferred stock, with rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of holders of our common stock without obtaining the approval of our shareholders. In addition, the issuance of preferred shares could delay or prevent a change in control of the company without further action by our shareholders.

Stock Repurchase Plan

Our Board of Directors has approved a plan (on December 19, 2002) that currently authorizes share repurchases of up to 74.6 million shares of the company’s common stock. As of December 30, 2017, 6.6 million shares remained available for repurchase under the existing authorization. Under the plan, the company may repurchase its common stock in open market or privately negotiated transactions or under an accelerated repurchase program at such times and at such prices as determined to be in the company’s best interest.

The table below presents the shares repurchased under the Stock Repurchase Plan during our fiscal 2017 (amounts in thousands except shares purchased):

 

 

As of December 30, 2017, 67.9 million shares at a cost of $633.1 million have been purchased since the inception of this plan.

Accelerated Share Repurchase Program

On March 16, 2016, the company announced that we entered into an accelerated share repurchase program (“ASR”) agreement to repurchase an aggregate of $120.0 million of the company’s common stock.  Under the terms of the ASR, the company paid $120.0 million in cash and received an initial delivery of 5.6 million shares immediately. The final number of shares repurchased was based on the daily volume-weighted average stock price over the life of the transaction, less a negotiated discount.  During the second quarter of fiscal 2016, a total of 0.9 million shares were issued to the company at the time of final settlement.  The ASR met all applicable criteria for equity classification and, therefore, was not accounted for as a derivative instrument.  Shares repurchased under the ASR were added to our treasury shares.  The company funded the ASR with borrowings on its credit facility and cash on hand.

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Dividends

During fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015, the company paid the following dividends, excluding dividends on vested stock-based compensation awards discussed in Note 18, Stock-Based Compensation, below (amounts in thousands except per share data):

 

 

 

On March 5, 2014, our Board of Directors approved and adopted the 2014 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (“Omnibus Plan”). The Omnibus Plan was approved by our shareholders on May 21, 2014. The Omnibus Plan authorizes the compensation committee of the Board of Directors to provide equity-based compensation in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, dividend equivalents and other awards for the purpose of providing our officers, key employees, and non-employee directors’ incentives and rewards for performance. The Omnibus Plan replaced the Flowers Foods’ 2001 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as of April 1, 2009 (“EPIP”), the Stock Appreciation Rights Plan, and the Annual Executive Bonus Plan. All outstanding equity awards that were made under the EPIP will continue to be governed by the EPIP; however, all equity awards granted after May 21, 2014 are governed by the Omnibus Plan. No additional awards will be issued under the EPIP. Awards granted under the Omnibus Plan are limited to the authorized amount of 8,000,000 shares.

The EPIP authorized the compensation committee of the Board of Directors to make awards of options to purchase our common stock, restricted stock, performance stock and units and deferred stock. The company’s officers, key employees and non-employee directors (whose grants are generally approved by the full Board of Directors) were eligible to receive awards under the EPIP. Over the life of the EPIP, the company issued options, restricted stock and deferred stock.

The following is a summary of stock options, restricted stock, and deferred stock outstanding under the plans described above. Information relating to the company’s stock appreciation rights, which were issued under a separate stock appreciation right plan, is also described below.

Stock Options

The company issued non-qualified stock options (“NQSOs”) during fiscal years 2011 and prior that have no additional service period remaining. All outstanding NQSOs have vested and are exercisable on December 30, 2017.

The stock option activity for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 pursuant to the EPIP is set forth below (amounts in thousands, except price data):

 

 

As of December 30, 2017, options outstanding under the EPIP had an average exercise price of $10.87, a weighted average remaining contractual life of 0.11 years, and an aggregate intrinsic value of $0.6 million.

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The cash received, the windfall tax benefits, and intrinsic value from stock option exercises for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 are set forth below (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Performance-Contingent Restricted Stock Awards

Performance-Contingent Total Shareholder Return Shares (“TSR Shares”)

Since 2012, certain key employees have been granted performance-contingent restricted stock under the EPIP and the Omnibus Plan in the form of TSR Shares. The awards generally vest approximately two years from the date of grant (after the filing of the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K), and the shares become non-forfeitable if, and to the extent that, on that date the vesting conditions are satisfied. As a result of the delay (July as opposed to January) in the grant of the 2012 awards, the 2012 awards vested during the first quarter of 2014, 18 months from the grant date. Awards granted subsequent to the 2012 award (granted during the first quarters of their respective years) vest two years from the date of grant. The total shareholder return (“TSR”) is the percent change in the company’s stock price over the measurement period plus the dividends paid to shareholders. The performance payout is calculated at the end of each of the last four quarters (averaged) in the measurement period. Once the TSR is determined for the company (“Company TSR”), it is compared to the TSR of our food company peers (“Peer Group TSR”). The Company TSR compared to the Peer Group TSR will determine the payout as set forth below (the “TSR Modifier”):

 

 

For performance between the levels described above, the degree of vesting is interpolated on a linear basis. The table below presents the payout percentage for each of the TSR awards:

 

 

The TSR shares vest immediately if the grantee dies or becomes disabled. However, if the grantee retires at age 65 (or age 55 with at least 10 years of service with the company) or later, on the normal vesting date the grantee will receive a pro-rated number of shares based upon the retirement date and measured at the actual performance for the entire performance period. In addition, if the company undergoes a change in control, the TSR shares will immediately vest at the target level, provided that if 12 months of the performance period have been completed, vesting will be determined based on Company TSR as of the date of the change in control without application of four-quarter averaging. During the vesting period, the grantee has none of the rights of a shareholder. Dividends declared during the vesting period will accrue and will be paid at vesting on the shares that ultimately vest. The fair value estimate was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model, which utilizes multiple input variables to estimate the probability of the company achieving the market condition discussed above. Inputs into the model included the following for the company and comparator companies: (i) TSR from the beginning of the performance cycle through the measurement date; (ii) volatility; (iii) risk-free interest rates; and (iv) the correlation of the comparator companies’ TSR. The inputs are based on historical capital market data.

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The following performance-contingent TSR Shares have been granted under the Omnibus Plan and have service period remaining (amounts in thousands, except price data):

 

 

As of December 30, 2017, there was $5.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested TSR Shares granted under the Omnibus Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.07 years.

Performance-Contingent Return on Invested Capital Shares (“ROIC Shares”)

Since 2012, certain key employees have been granted performance-contingent restricted stock under the EPIP and the Omnibus Plan in the form of ROIC Shares. The awards generally vest approximately two years from the date of grant (after the filing of the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K), and the shares become non-forfeitable if, and to the extent that, on that date, the vesting conditions are satisfied. As a result of the delay (July as opposed to January) in the grant of the 2012 awards, the 2012 awards vested during the first quarter of 2014, 18 months from the grant date.  Awards granted subsequent to the 2012 award (granted during the first quarters of their respective years) vest two years from the date of grant. Return on Invested Capital is calculated by dividing our profit, as defined, by the invested capital (“ROIC”). Generally, the performance condition requires the company’s average ROIC to exceed its average weighted cost of capital (“WACC”) by between 1.75 to 4.75 percentage points (the “ROI Target”) over the two fiscal year performance period. If the lowest ROI Target is not met, the awards are forfeited. The shares can be earned based on a range from 0% to 125% of target as defined below (the “ROIC Modifier”):

For performance between the levels described above, the degree of vesting is interpolated on a linear basis. The table below presents the payout percentage for each of the ROIC awards:

 

 

The ROIC Shares vest immediately if the grantee dies or becomes disabled. However, if the grantee retires at age 65 (or age 55 with at least 10 years of service with the company) or later, on the normal vesting date the grantee will receive a pro-rated number of shares based upon the retirement date and actual performance for the entire performance period. In addition, if the company undergoes a change in control, the ROIC Shares will immediately vest at the target level. During the vesting period, the grantee has none of the rights of a shareholder. Dividends declared during the vesting period will accrue and will be paid at vesting on the shares that ultimately vest. The fair value of this type of award is equal to the stock price on the grant date. Since these awards have a performance condition feature the expense associated with these awards may change depending on the expected ROI Target attained at each reporting period.  The expected ROI Target for expense calculations at December 30, 2017 was 75% for the 2016 award and 100% for the 2017 award. The following performance-contingent ROIC Shares have been granted under the Omnibus Plan and have service period remaining (amounts in thousands, except price data):

 

 

As of December 30, 2017, there was $4.7 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested ROIC Shares granted under the EPIP. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.07 years.

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Performance-Contingent Restricted Stock Summary

The table below presents the TSR Modifier share adjustment, ROIC Modifier share adjustment, accumulated dividends on vested shares, and the tax windfall/shortfall at vesting of the performance-contingent restricted stock awards (amounts in thousands except for share data):

 

 

A summary of the status of all of the company’s nonvested shares for performance-contingent restricted stock (including the TSR Shares and the ROIC Shares) for fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 is set forth below (amounts in thousands, except price data):

 

 

As of December 30, 2017, there was $10.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock granted under the EPIP. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.07 years.

Deferred and Restricted Stock

Non-employee directors may convert their annual board retainers into deferred stock equal in value to 100% of the cash payments directors would otherwise receive and the vesting period is a one-year period to match the period of time that cash would have been received if no conversion existed. Accumulated dividends are paid upon delivery of the shares.  Non-employee directors received aggregate grants of 10,020 common shares for board retainer deferrals during fiscal 2017.

Non-employee directors also receive annual grants of deferred stock. This deferred stock vests over one year from the grant date. During fiscal 2017, non-employee directors were granted an aggregate of 77,220 shares of deferred stock pursuant to the Omnibus Plan. The deferred stock will be distributed to the grantee at a time designated by the grantee at the date of grant.

Compensation expense is recorded on deferred stock over the vesting period. During fiscal 2017, a total of 7,728 previously deferred shares were issued after the deferral period.

On May 31, 2013, the company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) received a time-based restricted stock award of approximately $1.3 million of restricted stock pursuant to the EPIP. This award vested at 100% on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant. Dividends accrued on the award and were paid to the CEO on the vesting date. There were 58,500 shares issued for this award at a fair value of $22.25 per share.  This award vested at a price of $18.48 and the shares were issued in our second quarter of fiscal 2017.

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The deferred and restricted stock activity for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 is set forth below (amounts in thousands, except price data):

 

 

As of December 30, 2017, there was $0.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to deferred and restricted stock awards. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.40 years. The intrinsic value of deferred stock awards that vested during fiscal 2017 was $2.8 million. There was an immaterial tax windfall on the exercise of deferred share awards during fiscal 2017.

Stock Appreciation Rights

Prior to 2007, the company allowed non-employee directors to convert their retainers and committee chair fees into rights. These rights vested after one year and were exercisable over nine years. The company recorded compensation expense for these rights at a measurement date based on changes between the grant price and an estimated fair value of the rights using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.  There are no remaining liabilities for these awards since the last award was exercised in fiscal 2016.

The rights activity for fiscal years 2016 and 2015 is set forth below (amounts in thousands, except price data):

 

 

Share-Based Payments Compensation Expense Summary

The following table summarizes the company’s stock-based compensation expense, all of which was recognized in selling, distribution, and administration expense, for fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

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The company’s total comprehensive loss presently consists of net income, adjustments for our derivative financial instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges, and various pension and other postretirement benefit related items.

During fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015, reclassifications out of AOCI were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

 

During fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015, amounts recognized in AOCI, exclusive of reclassifications, were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

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During fiscal 2017, changes to AOCI, net of income tax, by component were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

During fiscal 2016, changes to AOCI, net of income tax, by component were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Amounts reclassified out of AOCI to net income that relate to commodity contracts are presented as an adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The following table presents the net of tax amount of the loss reclassified from AOCI for our commodity contracts (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

The following is a reconciliation of net income and weighted average shares for calculating basic and diluted earnings per common share for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 (amounts in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

There were 380,015 anti-dilutive shares during fiscal 2017.  There were no anti-dilutive shares for fiscal years 2016 or 2015.

 

 

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The following summarizes the company’s balance sheet related pension and other postretirement benefit plan accounts at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

The company amended our qualified defined benefit plans in October 2015 to allow retired and terminated vested pension plan participants not yet receiving benefit payments the option to elect to receive their benefit as a single lump sum payment. This amendment was effective as of January 1, 2016.  This change supports our long-term pension risk management strategy.

Settlement accounting, which accelerates recognition of a plan’s unrecognized net gain or loss, is triggered if the total lump sums paid during a year exceeds the sum of the plan’s service and interest cost. With no settlement charge recognized until the third quarter, the table below presents the recognized settlement charges by quarter for fiscal years 2017 and 2016 (amounts in thousands):

The company used a measurement date of December 31, 2017 for the defined benefit and postretirement benefit plans described below.   The company voluntarily contributed $1.6 million to one of our qualified pension plans during fiscal 2017.

Pension Plans

The company has trusteed, noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering certain current and former employees. Benefits under the company’s largest pension plan are frozen. The company continues to maintain an ongoing plan that covers a small number of certain union employees. The benefits in this plan are based on years of service and the employee’s career earnings. The qualified plans are funded at amounts deductible for income tax purposes but not less than the minimum funding required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (“PPA”). The company uses a calendar year end for the measurement date since the plans are based on a calendar year end and because it approximates the company’s fiscal year end. As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the assets of the qualified plans included certificates of deposit, marketable equity securities, mutual funds, corporate and government debt securities, other diversifying strategies and annuity contracts. The company expects pension income of approximately $1.7 million for fiscal 2018.

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The net periodic pension cost (income) for the company’s pension plans includes the following components for fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Actual return on plan assets for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 was $42.1 million, $4.7 million, and $6.9 million, respectively.

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Approximately $6.1 million will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost in fiscal 2018 relating to the company’s pension plans. The funded status and the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the company’s pension plans are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Assumptions used in accounting for the company’s pension plans at each of the respective fiscal years ending are as follows:

 

 

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In developing the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets at each measurement date, the company considers the plan assets’ historical actual returns, targeted asset allocations, and the anticipated future economic environment and long-term performance of individual asset classes, based on the company’s investment strategy. While appropriate consideration is given to recent and historical investment performance, the assumption represents management’s best estimate of the long-term prospective return. Further, pension costs do not include an explicit expense assumption, and therefore the return on assets rate reflects the long-term expected return, net of expenses.  Based on these factors the expected long-term rate of return assumption for the plans was set at 8.0% for fiscal 2017 and 6.4% for fiscal 2018.  The change in assumption from fiscal 2017 to fiscal 2018 was the result of the change in the asset allocation on December 31, 2017.  The average annual return on the plan assets over the last 15 years was approximately 8.5% (net of expenses).

Plan Assets

Effective January 1, 2014, the Finance Committee (“committee”) of the Board of Directors delegated its fiduciary and other responsibilities with respect to the plans to the newly established Investment Committee. The Investment Committee, which consists of certain members of management, establishes investment guidelines and strategies and regularly monitors the performance of the plans’ assets. The Investment Committee is responsible for executing these strategies and investing the pension assets in accordance with ERISA and fiduciary standards. The investment objective of the pension plans is to preserve the plans’ capital and maximize investment earnings within acceptable levels of risk and volatility. The Investment Committee meets on a regular basis with its investment advisors to review the performance of the plans’ assets. Based upon performance and other measures and recommendations from its investment advisors, the Investment Committee rebalances the plans’ assets to the targeted allocation when considered appropriate. The fair values of all of the company pension plan assets at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, by asset class are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

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The company’s investment policy includes various guidelines and procedures designed to ensure the plan’s assets are invested in a manner necessary to meet expected future benefits earned by participants. The investment guidelines consider a broad range of economic conditions. The plan asset allocation as of the measurement dates December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and target asset allocations for fiscal year 2017 are as follows:

 

 

 

Equity securities include 2,030,363 shares and 2,030,363 shares of the company’s common stock in the amount of $39.2 million and $40.5 million (11.5% and 12.1% of total plan assets) as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

The objectives of the target allocations are to maintain investment portfolios that diversify risk through prudent asset allocation parameters, achieve asset returns that meet or exceed the plans’ actuarial assumptions, and achieve asset returns that are competitive with like institutions employing similar investment strategies.

Cash Flows

Company contributions to qualified and nonqualified plans are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

All contributions are made in cash. The required contributions made during fiscal 2017 include $0.3 million in nonqualified pension benefits paid from corporate assets. The discretionary contributions of $1.6 million made to qualified plans during fiscal 2017 were not required to be made by the minimum funding requirements of ERISA, but the company believed, due to its strong cash flow and financial position, this was an appropriate time at which to make the contribution in order to reduce the impact of future contributions. During fiscal 2018, the company expects to pay $0.3 million in nonqualified pension benefits from corporate assets. There are no expected contributions to the qualified pension plans required under ERISA and the PPA during fiscal 2018; however, the company made a $10.0 million discretionary contribution to Plan No. 1 in early fiscal 2018. These amounts represent estimates that are based on assumptions that are subject to change.

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Benefit Payments

The following are benefits paid under the plans (including settlements) during fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015 and expected to be paid from fiscal 2018 through fiscal 2027. Estimated future payments include qualified pension benefits that will be paid from the plans’ assets (including potential payments for the lump sum option discussed above) and nonqualified pension benefits that will be paid from corporate assets (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Postretirement Benefit Plans

The company sponsors postretirement benefit plans that provide health care and life insurance benefits to retirees who meet certain eligibility requirements. Generally, this includes employees with at least 10 years of service who have reached age 55 and participate in a Flowers retirement plan. Retiree medical coverage is provided for a period of three to five years, depending on the participant’s age and service at retirement. Participant premiums are determined using COBRA premium levels. Retiree life insurance benefits are offered to a closed group of retirees.   The company also sponsors a medical, dental, and life insurance benefits plan to a limited and closed group of participants.

The company delivers retiree medical and dental benefits for Medicare eligible retirees through a health-care reimbursement account. The company no longer sponsors a medical plan for Medicare eligible retirees and does not file for a Medicare Part D subsidy. 

The net periodic benefit (income) cost for the company’s postretirement benefit plans includes the following components for fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

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Approximately $(0.6) million will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost in fiscal year 2018 relating to the company’s postretirement benefit plans.

The unfunded status and the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the company’s postretirement benefit plans are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Assumptions used in accounting for the company’s postretirement benefit plans at each of the respective fiscal years ending are as follows:  

 

 

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Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the health care plans. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Cash Flows

Company contributions to postretirement plans are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

The table above reflects only the company’s share of the benefit cost. Since the company no longer receives reimbursement for Medicare Part D subsidies, the entire $0.7 million expected funding for postretirement benefit plans during 2018 will be required to pay for benefits. Contributions by participants to postretirement benefits were $0.3 million, $0.3 million, and $0.2 million for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

Benefit Payments

The following are benefits paid by the company during fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015 and expected to be paid from fiscal 2018 through fiscal 2027. All benefits are expected to be paid from the company’s assets (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Multiemployer Plans

The company contributes to various multiemployer pension plans. Benefits provided under the multiemployer pension plans are generally based on years of service and employee age. Expense under these plans was $2.1 million for fiscal 2017, $2.2 million for fiscal 2016, and $2.1 million for fiscal 2015.

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The company contributes to several multiemployer defined benefit pension plans under the terms of collective-bargaining agreements that cover various union-represented employees. The risks of participating in these multiemployer plans are different from single-employer plans. Assets contributed to the multiemployer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers. If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers. If we choose to stop participating in some of these multiemployer plans, we may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability. None of the contributions to the pension funds was in excess of 5% or more of the total contributions for plan years 2017, 2016, and 2015. There are no contractually required minimum contributions to the plans as of December 30, 2017.

On August 18, 2017, the union participants of the Bakery and Confectionary Union and Industry International Pension Fund (the “Fund”) at our Lakeland, Florida plant voted to withdraw from the Fund in the most recent collective bargaining agreement.  The withdrawal was effective, and the union participants were eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan, on November 1, 2017.  During the third quarter of fiscal 2017, the company recorded a liability of $15.2 million related to the withdrawal from the Fund.  The withdrawal liability was computed as the net present value of 20 years of monthly payments derived from the company’s share of unfunded vested benefits.  While this is our best estimate of the ultimate cost of the withdrawal from this Fund, additional withdrawal liability may be incurred based on the final fund assessment or in the event of a mass withdrawal, as defined by statute following our complete withdrawal.  Transition payments, including related tax payments, were made on November 3, 2017 to, and for the benefit of, union participants as part of the collective bargaining agreement.  An additional $3.1 million was recorded for these transition payments.  The withdrawal liability charge and the transition payments are recorded in the multi-employer pension plan withdrawal costs line item on our Consolidated Statements of Income and are in the DSD Segment.  The outstanding liability is recorded in other accrued current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The company’s participation in these multiemployer plans for fiscal 2017 is outlined in the table below. The EIN/Pension Plan Number column provides the Employer Identification Number (“EIN”) and the three-digit plan number, if applicable. Unless otherwise noted, the most recent PPA zone status available in 2017 and 2016 is for the plan’s year-end at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The zone status is based on information that the company received from the plan and is certified by the plan’s actuary. Among other factors, plans in the red zone are generally less than 65 percent funded, plans in the yellow zone are less than 80 percent funded, and plans in the green zone are at least 80 percent funded. The FIP/RP Status Pending/Implemented column indicates plans for which a financial improvement plan (“FIP”) or a rehabilitation plan (“RP”) is either pending or has been implemented. The last column lists the expiration date(s) of the collective-bargaining agreements to which the plans are subject. Finally, there have been no significant changes that affect the comparability of contributions.

In December 2014, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 (the “2015 Appropriations Act”) was signed into law and materially amended the PPA funding rules. In general, the PPA funding rules were made more flexible in order to make more manageable the steps necessary for multi-employer plans to become or remain economically viable in the future. While in previous years we have been informed that several of the multi-employer pension plans to which our subsidiaries contribute have been labeled with a “critical” or “endangered” status as defined by the PPA, the changes made by the 2015 Appropriations Act will materially impact, on a going forward basis, these prior funding status assessments. In any event, it is unclear at this time what impact, if any, the 2015 Appropriations Act will have on our future obligations to the multi-employer pension plans in which we participate.

 

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401(k) Retirement Savings Plans

The Flowers Foods 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan covers substantially all of the company’s employees who have completed certain service requirements. During fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015, the total cost and employer contributions were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

The company acquired DKB and Alpine during fiscal 2015, at the time of each acquisition we assumed sponsorship of a 401(k) savings plan.  We merged these two plans into the Flowers Foods 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan during fiscal 2016 after receipt of final determination letters.

 

 

 

On December 22, 2017, the President enacted the Act, which, beginning in fiscal 2018, will reduce our corporate statutory rate from 35% to 21%, repeal the domestic manufacturing deduction, and increase certain permanent differences. As a result of the impacts of the Act, the SEC provided guidance that allows the company to record provisional amounts for those impacts, with the requirement that the accounting be completed in a period not to exceed one year from the date of enactment. As such, the company’s financial results reflect the income tax effects of the Act for which the accounting is complete, and provisional amounts for those specific income tax effects of the Act for which the accounting is incomplete, but a reasonable estimate could be determined.

        

Our estimate of the deferred tax benefit due to the revaluation of our net U.S. deferred tax liabilities is a provisional amount under the SEC’s guidance. Due to the different federal income tax rates in effect for fiscal 2017 (35%) and fiscal 2018 (21%), timing differences that are estimated balances as of the date of enactment and year-end will result in changes to our estimate of the deferred rate change when those estimates are finalized with the filing of the 2017 income tax return. Since many of the year-end deferred tax balances include estimates of events that have not yet occurred, such as payments expected to be made during 2018 that are deductible on the 2017 tax return, these amounts are not certain and the impact of the tax rate change cannot be finalized.

 

During fiscal 2017, we recorded a $48.2 million provisional discrete tax benefit from revaluing our net U.S. deferred tax liabilities to reflect the new U.S. corporate tax rate. The company also recognized a provisional reduction to current tax expense of approximately $8.3 million attributable to pension contributions and bonus depreciation on certain assets placed into service during fiscal 2017 offset with a corresponding income tax expense of $0.7 million for the impact on the 2017 domestic manufacturing deduction. These provisional adjustments resulted in a decrease in income taxes payable of $7.6 million. The income tax effects for these positions require further analysis, and the ultimate impact may differ from these provisional amounts due to this analysis, changes to estimates, additional regulatory guidance that may be issued by federal or state jurisdictions, changes in interpretations and assumptions the company has made, and actions the company may take because of tax reform. This analysis is expected to be completed in the second half of fiscal 2018.

The company’s provision for income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following for fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

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Income tax expense (benefit) differs from the amount computed by applying the applicable U.S. federal income tax rate (35%) because of the effect of the following items for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

In 2017, the most significant differences in the effective rate and the statutory rate is the revaluation of net deferred tax liabilities resulting from the Act. Absent the Act, the most significant differences in the effective rate and the statutory rate are state income taxes offset by reductions for the Section 199 qualifying production activities deduction.

Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are comprised of the following (amounts in thousands):

 

 

The company has a deferred tax asset of $4.0 million related to a federal net operating loss carryforward which we expect to fully utilize before expiration. Additionally, the company and various subsidiaries have a net deferred tax asset of $6.2 million related to state net operating loss carryforwards, and $3.1 million for credit carryforwards with expiration dates through fiscal 2036. The utilization of a portion of these state carryforwards could be limited in the future; therefore, an insignificant valuation allowance has been recorded. Should the company determine at a later date that certain of these losses which have been reserved for may be utilized, a benefit may be recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Likewise, should the company determine at a later date that certain of these net operating losses for which a deferred tax asset has been recorded may not be utilized, a charge to the Consolidated Statements of Income may be necessary.

The gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $1.3 million and $1.8 million as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. This change is due to the expiration of the statute of limitations on several previously unrecognized tax benefits. These amounts are exclusive of interest accrued and are recorded in other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. If recognized, the $1.3 million (less $0.3 million related to tax imposed in other jurisdictions) would impact the effective rate.

 

The company accrues interest expense and penalties related to income tax liabilities as a component of income before taxes. No accrual of penalties is reflected on the company’s balance sheet as the company believes the accrual of penalties is not necessary based upon the merits of its income tax positions. The company had an accrued interest balance of approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

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The company defines the federal jurisdiction as well as various state jurisdictions as “major” jurisdictions. The company is no longer subject to federal examinations for years prior to 2015, and with limited exceptions, for years prior to 2013 in state jurisdictions.

The following is a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits for fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

At this time, we do not anticipate significant changes to the amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits over the next twelve months.

 

 

Self-insurance reserves and other commitments and contingencies

The company has recorded current liabilities of $30.1 million and $28.0 million related to self-insurance reserves at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The reserves include an estimate of expected settlements on pending claims, defense costs and a provision for claims incurred but not reported. These estimates are based on the company’s assessment of potential liability using an analysis of available information with respect to pending claims, historical experience and current cost trends. The amount of the company’s ultimate liability in respect of these matters may differ materially from these estimates.

In the event the company ceases to utilize the independent distributor model or exits a geographic market, the company is contractually required in some situations to purchase the distribution rights from the independent distributor.  The company expects to continue operating under this model and has concluded that the possibility of a loss is remote.

The company’s facilities are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding the discharge of material into the environment and the protection of the environment in other ways. The company is not a party to any material proceedings arising under these regulations. The company believes that compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations will not materially affect the consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or the competitive position of the company. The company believes it is currently in substantial compliance with all material environmental regulations affecting the company and its properties.  On August 9, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (the “DOL”) notified the company that it was scheduled for a compliance review under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”).  The company is cooperating with the DOL.

Litigation

The company and its subsidiaries from time to time are parties to, or targets of, lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings, including personal injury, commercial, contract, environmental, antitrust, product liability, health and safety and employment matters, which are being handled and defended in the ordinary course of business. While the company is unable to predict the outcome of these matters, it believes, based upon currently available facts, that it is remote that the ultimate resolution of any such pending matters will have a material adverse effect on its overall financial condition, results of operations or cash flows in the future. However, adverse developments could negatively impact earnings in a particular future fiscal period.

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At this time, the company is defending 33 complaints filed by distributors alleging that such distributors were misclassified as independent contractors.  Twenty-two of these lawsuits seek class and/or collective action treatment. The remaining 11 cases allege individual claims and do not seek class or collective action treatment. The respective courts have ruled on plaintiffs’ motions for class certification in 16 of the pending cases, each of which is discussed below.  Unless otherwise noted, a class was conditionally certified under the FLSA in each of the cases described below, although the company has the ability to petition the court to decertify that class at a later date:

 

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The company and/or its respective subsidiaries contests the allegations and are vigorously defending all of these lawsuits. Given the stage of the complaints and the claims and issues presented, except for lawsuits disclosed herein that have reached a settlement or agreement in principle, the company cannot reasonably estimate at this time the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from the unresolved lawsuits.  

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As of December 30, 2017, the company has settled, and the appropriate court has approved, the following collective and/or class action lawsuits filed by distributors alleging that such distributors were misclassified as independent contractors. In each of these settlements, in addition to the monetary terms noted below, the settlements also included certain non-economic terms intended to strengthen and enhance the independent contractor model:

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On August 12, 2016, a class action complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by Chris B. Hendley (the “Hendley complaint”) against the company and certain senior members of management (collectively, the “defendants”). On August 17, 2016, another class action complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by Scott Dovell, II (the “Dovell complaint” and together with the Hendley complaint, the “complaints”) against the defendants. Plaintiffs in the complaints are securities holders that acquired company securities between February 7, 2013 and August 10, 2016. The complaints generally allege that the defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that (1) the company’s labor practices were not in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations; (2) such non-compliance exposed the company to legal liability and/or negative regulatory action; and (3) as a result, the defendants’ statements about the company’s business, operations, and prospects were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. The counts of the complaints are asserted against the defendants pursuant to Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act. The complaints seek (1) class certification under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, (2) compensatory damages in favor of the plaintiffs and all other class members against the defendants, jointly and severally, for all damages sustained as a result of wrongdoing, in an amount to be proven at trial, including interest, and (3) awarding plaintiffs and the class their reasonable costs and expenses incurred in the actions, including counsel and expert fees. On October 21, 2016, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York consolidated the complaints into one action captioned “In re Flowers Foods, Inc. Securities Litigation” (the “consolidated action”), appointed Walter Matthews as lead plaintiff (“lead plaintiff”), and appointed Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP and Johnson & Weaver, LLP as co-lead counsel for the putative class.  On November 21, 2016, the court granted defendants’ and lead plaintiff’s joint motion to transfer the consolidated action to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.  Lead plaintiff filed his Consolidated Class Action Complaint on January 12, 2017, raising the same counts and general allegations and seeking the same relief as the Dovell and Hendley complaints. On March 13, 2017, the company filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit which remains pending before the court at this time.  The company and/or its respective subsidiaries are vigorously defending these lawsuits. Given the stage of the complaints and the claims and issues presented, the company cannot reasonably estimate at this time the possible loss or range of loss, if any, that may arise from the unresolved lawsuits.

See Note 14, Debt, Lease and Other Commitments, for additional information on the company’s commitments.

 

 

The company’s DSD Segment primarily produces fresh packaged breads, buns, rolls, tortillas, and snack cakes and the Warehouse Segment produces fresh and frozen bread and rolls and snack cakes.

The company purchased DKB and Alpine during fiscal 2015.  See Note 10, Acquisitions, for more detailed disclosures for these acquisitions.  DKB is included in our DSD Segment and Alpine is included in our Warehouse Segment.  Their results from operations and impact on our total assets are included in the tables below in their respective segment.  

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The company evaluates each segment’s performance based on income or loss before interest and income taxes, excluding unallocated expenses and charges which the company’s management deems to be an overall corporate cost or a cost not reflective of the segments’ core operating businesses. Information regarding the operations of these segments is as follows for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

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Sales by product category in each reportable segment are as follows for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Results of operations for each of the four quarters in the respective fiscal years are as follows. Each quarter during fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016 represents a period of twelve weeks, except the first quarter, which includes sixteen weeks (amounts in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

 

The table below presents financial results that impact comparability, by quarter, for fiscal 2017 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

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The table below presents financial results that impact comparability, by quarter, for fiscal 2016 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, we identified and recorded out-of-period adjustments of $2.3 million for an intangible asset impairment which related to the second quarter of fiscal 2016 and a $0.9 million reduction to deferred tax expense which related to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.  The net impact of these two items resulted in $0.5 million of lower net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.  We concluded that the correction of the errors was not material to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 or to any of the prior periods that were impacted.

 

The company has evaluated subsequent events since December 30, 2017, the date of these financial statements.  We believe there were no material events or transactions discovered during this evaluation that requires recognition or disclosure in the financial statements other than the items discussed below.

Dividend.    On February 16, 2018, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.17 per share on the company’s common stock to be paid on March 16, 2018 to shareholders of record on March 2, 2018.

Legal settlement.  On February 14, 2018, the company reached an agreement in principal to settle a distributor classification legal matter (Schucker case) for a payment of approximately $1.3 million.  See Note 23, Commitment and Contingencies, for additional details.

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