2020
ANNUAL
REPORT
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, SpartanNash frontline heroes
have served our local customers and communities safely, ensuring they
receive the essential food, medicine and grocery products they need.
These frontline heroes ensured our supply chain remained strong, our
trucks stayed on the road, our shelves were stocked, our facilities were
clean and safe for associates and customers alike, and so much more.
We cannot thank them enough.
850 76th Street SW | PO Box 8700 | Grand Rapids, MI 49518-8700 | spartannash.com
2020 SpartanNash Annual Report
Financial Highlights
Net Sales (in billions)
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
$53
Adjusted EBITDA (in millions)
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
Operating Cash Flows (in millions)
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
$53
$7.56
$7.96
$8.06
$8.54
$231
$236
$9.35
$209
$178
$157
$9.35
$239
$8.54
$8.06
$7.96
$7.56
$239
$178
$209
$307
$236
$231
$307
$172
$180
$180
$172
$157
The adjusted financial information presented reflects non GAAP financial measures. Please see pages 26-30 and page 36 of the enclosed Form 10-K for the
respective reconciliations of these measures (Dollars in millions, except per share data and percentage data). Amounts are for the Company’s fiscal years, which
end on the Saturday closest to December 31.
Fiscal Year
Net sales
Gross profit margin
Operating earnings (loss)
Adjusted operating earnings
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
Adjusted earnings from continuing operations
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations per diluted share
Adjusted earnings from continuing operations per diluted share
Adjusted EBITDA
Cash provided from operating activities
2020
53 weeks
$9,348
15.2%
102
136
76
91
$2.12
$2.53
239
307
2019
52 weeks
$8,536
14.6%
57
82
6
40
$0.16
$1.10
178
180
2018
52 weeks
2017
52 weeks
2016
52 weeks
$8,065
13.8%
71
116
34
67
$0.94
$1.87
209
172
$7,964
14.4%
(107)
143
(53)
79
($1.41)
$2.10
236
53
$7,561
14.7%
109
149
57
82
$1.52
$2.19
231
157
Letter from the President and CEO
Dear fellow Shareholders:
While there has never been a doubt in my mind about the critical role the people
in this industry play in keeping the wheels of the American economy turning, 2020
brought that into focus for all of us. Last March, when much of the world
sequestered to slow the spread of COVID-19, 16,000 SpartanNash frontline
associates came to work to ensure their communities had the food, household
goods, and pharmaceuticals they needed. At the same time, other colleagues
quickly shifted to a remote working environment to ensure that our operations
behind the scenes continued to function seamlessly. We adopted new protocols
to ensure our workers stayed safe and managed through the uncertainty and
constant changes caused by the pandemic.
At every step, our people rose to the occasion. As I open my first shareholder
letter as President and CEO of SpartanNash I want to say a heartful “thank you”
to our team across our distribution centers, our retail stores and our entire
organization who ensured that our Company stood tall as we supported our local communities.
Tony Sarsam
President and CEO
Their collective efforts not only enabled us to meet the increased demand from our customers but allowed
us to do so safely and when and how the customer wanted, supporting growth in the important
eCommerce channel and across private brands. Our 2020 results tell the story:
Overall sales increased 9.5% driven primarily by continued growth with existing Food
Distribution segment customers, consumer demand associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in
the Retail and Food Distribution segments, and additional sales in the 53rd week in 2020.
Retail comparable sales grew 13.1%, including 200% growth in the Company’s eCommerce
business and expansion in “OwnBrands”, our portfolio of private brands, which outpaced the
market.
Operating earnings of $102 million, representing a significant increase from 2019, reflects the
increase in sales, improvements in margin rates, and improved operating leverage across our
platform.
The strength of our operating performance, allowed us to generate significant free cash flow
supporting our ability to meaningfully reduce our long-term debt, enhance our balance sheet and
financial flexibility and reduce interest expense.
Finally, we invested to extend our commercial agreement with Amazon, which will enable us to
continue to generate growth in our food distribution segment.
Our experience in 2020 also highlighted the fact that we must continue to invest behind our people and
our systems to support sales growth and ensure we operate more efficiently and profitably in the coming
years. Many of our warehouses were strained as they operated at or above capacity. Like others in our
industry, we saw unprecedented turnover in our frontline positions, requiring us to manage through short
staffing challenges and continual training of new associates. The dynamic environment we navigated
highlighted our need to make improvements in systems and processes.
Our focus in 2021 is to take the learnings from 2020 and ensure we make the right investments to attract
and retain top performing employees and improve our systems to continue to meet the demands of our
customers where, when and how they want to shop.
To ensure we hold ourselves accountable for meeting our objectives, including fostering a people-first,
high performance culture, we have defined a set of key performance indicators for 2021 including the
following:
Investing in our associate experience by ensuring we offer competitive and compelling
compensation, clear associate development opportunities, and a work environment designed to
improve retention and engagement
Driving associate safety through an emphasis on training and process improvements in our
distribution centers and retail stores
Improving distribution service levels, which were negatively impacted by COVID-19
Letter from the President and CEO
Enhancing the offerings within our OwnBrands portfolio to drive higher sales in our stores and
with our independent retail customers
Taking action to sustain improvements in gross margin levels through improvements in
assortment and purchase concentration, while continuing to limit the impact of inventory shrink
As we emerge from the depths of the pandemic, we are laser focused on capitalizing on our
opportunities, supporting our people and executing our customer growth strategy. We have a lot of work
ahead of us, but we are energized by the fact that our people and our work truly are “essential.” We are
confident that we will make the right investments to better position our agile, national distribution network
for more prosperous growth in the years to come.
In keeping with the theme of gratitude, I want to thank Dennis Eidson who is retiring as Chairman and
stepping down from the board after our Annual Meeting. For nearly 20 years, including as Interim CEO
from August 2019 to September 2020, Dennis has been a visionary leader helping to build the
SpartanNash of today. I am proud to be among the many who benefitted from his guidance, insight and
expertise and wish him all the best in his retirement.
I also want to thank our customers, suppliers, shareholders and community partners for their trust and
support as we work together to feed families. And most importantly, I hope you will join me in thanking
and saluting our associates, many of whom grace the cover of this report…they represent the best of
2020, the face of our great company, and the face of a great 2021 to come.
Sincerely,
Tony Sarsam
President and Chief Executive Officer
Letter from the Chairman of the Board
Dear fellow Shareholders:
Reflecting back on 2020, I am incredibly proud of our family of associates. When
things came to a halt last March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our
team stepped up in the face of unprecedented challenges to meet the
tremendous increase in consumer demand. We adopted new routines to ensure
the wellbeing and safety of our team, particularly those on the frontlines, and
made the transition to new remote work routines all in the face of difficult realities.
As I look back on my nearly 20 years at SpartanNash, I am fortunate to have had
many proud moments. Few of those moments compare to the pride and gratitude
I have felt as I observed the strength and resiliency of our people throughout
2020. Their commitment and dedication allowed us to support our communities
during these challenging times.
Dennis Eidson
Chairman of the
Board of Directors
That same dedication enabled us to significantly exceed our initial expectations
for 2020 sales, profitability, and cash flow. The strength of our performance
enabled us to meaningfully reduce our long-term debt and leverage which, combined with our confidence
in our positioning for 2021 and beyond, drove our decision to increase our quarterly dividend for the
upcoming year. We have paid an increasing quarterly dividend every year since 2011, and we are
pleased to continue to generate returns for our shareholders.
While 2020 posed many challenges, it was also a year of transition. In September, I stepped down as
interim CEO and Tony Sarsam assumed the President and CEO duties. Tony is an exceptional leader
with a proven track record of visionary thinking and strategic execution and the background and expertise
to lead SpartanNash in the coming years.
It is the hard work accomplished by our family of associates over the years that has positioned this
company so well for the future. As I look to the future, I have been reflecting more on the personal side
of life. After many soulful discussions with my wife Michele and my sons and their families, I have
decided the time is right for me to retire and to transition from service to this great company.
We expect that following the Annual meeting the Board will appoint Doug Hacker, who currently serves as
our Lead Independent Director, as Chairman. Doug has been an important, guiding voice on the board
since he joined in 2013 following our merger with Nash Finch and is the right person to lead the board
going forward.
I have had the honor and pleasure of working with a tremendous family of associates during my time at
SpartanNash. The relationships and bonds that were formed will make for meaningful and lasting
memories. I want to personally thank all of you for everything you have done to make our company
successful. SpartanNash today is strong and well-positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities in
the future. I have every confidence that under the leadership of Doug, Tony and the rest of the board and
management team SpartanNash will continue to pursue our vision of being a best-in-class business that
feels local, where relationships matter while remaining committed to driving shareholder value.
I wish you all the very best.
Dennis Eidson
Chairman of the Board of Directors
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
☒ Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021.
OR
☐
Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from to .
Commission File Number: 000-31127
SPARTANNASH COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Michigan
(State or Other Jurisdiction) of
Incorporation or Organization)
850 76th Street, S.W.
P.O. Box 8700
Grand Rapids, Michigan
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
38-0593940
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
49518-8700
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (616) 878-2000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act:
Title of each class
Common Stock, no par value
Trading
Symbol(s)
SPTN
Name of each exchange on which registered
NASDAQ Global Select Market
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange 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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or 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.
Large accelerated filer
Emerging growth
company
☒
☐
Accelerated filer
☐
Non-accelerated filer
☐
Smaller reporting company
☐
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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial
reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates based on the last sales price of such stock on the NASDAQ
Global Select Market on July 10, 2020 (which was the last trading day of the registrant’s second quarter in the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021) was $720,431,707.
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, no par value, as of March 2, 2021 was 36,135,638, all of one class.
Part III, Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14
Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting to be held May 26, 2021
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Forward-Looking Statements
The matters discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, in the Company’s press releases and in the Company’s website-accessible
conference calls with analysts and investor presentations include “forward-looking statements” about the plans, strategies, objectives,
goals or expectations of SpartanNash Company and subsidiaries (“SpartanNash” or the “Company”). These forward-looking
statements are identifiable by words or phrases indicating that SpartanNash or management “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,”
“believes,” or “estimates,” or that a particular occurrence or event “will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” or “will likely” result, occur or be
pursued or “continue” in the future, that the “outlook” or “trend” is toward a particular result or occurrence, that a development is an
“opportunity,” “priority,” “strategy,” “focus,” that the Company is “positioned” for a particular result, or similarly stated expectations.
Accounting estimates, such as those described under the heading “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Item 7 of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K, are inherently forward-looking. The Company’s asset impairment and restructuring cost provisions are
estimates and actual costs may be more or less than these estimates and differences may be material. Undue reliance should not be
placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of the Annual Report, other report, release, presentation,
or statement.
In addition to other risks and uncertainties described in connection with the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), there are many
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include disruptions associated with
the COVID-19 pandemic, general business conditions, changes in overall economic conditions that impact consumer spending, the
Company’s ability to integrate acquired assets, the impact of competition and other factors which are often beyond the control of the
Company, and other risks listed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors,” of this report and risks and uncertainties not presently known to the
Company or that the Company currently deems immaterial.
This section and the discussions contained in Item 1A. “Risk Factors,” and in Item 7, subheading “Critical Accounting Policies and
Estimates” in this report, both of which are incorporated here by reference, are intended to provide meaningful cautionary statements
for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This should not be construed as a
complete list of all of the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that could adversely affect the
Company’s expected consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently
known to SpartanNash or that SpartanNash currently believes are immaterial also may impair its business, operations, liquidity,
financial condition and prospects. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements to reflect
developments that occur or information obtained after the date of this Annual Report.
-2-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I.
Item 1.
Business
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Item 2.
Properties
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosure
PART II.
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 7a.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Item 9a.
Controls and Procedures
PART III.
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
PART IV.
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Signatures
Page
4
9
15
16
16
17
19
20
36
37
73
73
75
75
75
75
75
76
80
-3-
PART I
Item 1. Business
Overview
SpartanNash Company (together with its subsidiaries, “SpartanNash” or the “Company”) is a Fortune 400 company whose core
businesses include distributing grocery products to a diverse group of independent and chain retailers, its corporate owned retail
stores, and U.S. military commissaries and exchanges. SpartanNash serves customer locations in all 50 United States (“U.S.”), the
District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Bahrain, Djibouti and Egypt. The Company’s Retail segment operates
supermarkets that have a “neighborhood market” focus to distinguish them from supercenters and limited assortment stores. Through
its Military segment, the Company is the exclusive worldwide supplier of private brand products to U.S. military commissaries. The
Company operates three reportable segments: Food Distribution, Retail and Military. While the Company supports overseas
commissaries and exchanges, all of the Company’s sales and assets are in the United States of America.
The Company’s fiscal year end is the Saturday closest to December 31. The following discussion is as of and for the fiscal years
ending or ended January 1, 2022 ("2021"), January 2, 2021 (“2020” or “current year”), December 28, 2019 (“2019” or “prior year”)
and December 29, 2018 (“2018”), all of which include 52 weeks, with the exception of 2020, which includes 53 weeks. All fiscal
quarters are 12 weeks, except for the Company’s first quarter, which is 16 weeks and will usually include the Easter holiday. Fiscal
2020 contains 53 weeks; therefore, the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 contains 13 weeks. The fourth quarter includes the Thanksgiving
and Christmas holidays, and depending on the fiscal year end, may include the New Year’s holiday.
The Company’s differentiated business model of Food Distribution, Retail and Military operations leverages the complementary
nature of each segment and supports the ability of the Company’s independent retailers to compete in the grocery industry in the long-
term. The model produces operational efficiencies, helps stimulate distribution product demand, and provides greater visibility and
broader business growth options.
SpartanNash’s mission is to leverage its expertise in food distribution and retail to develop, activate and provide impactful solutions
that exceed expectations for customers, business partners and associates, and its vision is to be “A best-in-class business that feels
local, where relationships matter.” In order to support these objectives, the Company’s priorities include strategies to improve the
associate experience, to enhance the product offerings to customers, and to improve operational efficiency through achieving sustained
improvements in gross margin and service levels.
Food Distribution Segment
The Company’s Food Distribution segment uses a multi-channel sales approach to distribute grocery products to independent retailers,
national retailers, food service distributors, e-commerce providers, and the Company’s corporate owned retail stores. Total net sales
from the Company’s Food Distribution segment, including sales to corporate owned retail stores that are eliminated in the
consolidated financial statements, totaled $5.7 billion for 2020. As of the end of 2020, the Company believes it is the fifth largest
wholesale distributor, in terms of annual revenue, to supermarkets in the United States.
The Company is focused on growth in its Food Distribution segment, through expanded partnerships with existing customers, new
business, and rounding out its assortment. The Company is also working to improve the reach and efficiency of its supply chain to
drive improved profitability.
The Company’s Food Distribution segment supplies grocery products to a diverse group of independent retailers with operations
ranging from a single store to regional supermarket chains, food service distributors and the Company’s corporate owned retail stores.
As of January 2, 2021, the Company operated in all 50 states by leveraging a platform of 19 distribution centers, as well as internal
transportation fleets and third-party shipping partners, servicing the Food Distribution and Military segments. The Company’s
extensive geographic reach drives economies of scale and provides opportunities for independent retailers to purchase products at
competitive prices in order to effectively compete in the grocery industry in the long-term.
The Company also services national retailers through a variety of platforms and has diversified its customer base through growth with
these customers. These national retailers partner with the Company to centralize their supply of grocery products or product
categories, and to leverage the Company’s broad geographic reach. Sales to one of the Company’s customers in the Food Distribution
segment accounted for 17%, 17% and 16% of consolidated net sales for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. No other individual
customer exceeded 10% of consolidated net sales in any of the years presented.
The Company’s ten largest Food Distribution customers (excluding corporate owned retail stores) accounted for approximately 64%
of total Food Distribution net sales for 2020. Approximately 89% of Food Distribution net sales for 2020 are covered under supply
agreements with customers.
-4-
The Company’s Food Distribution segment provides a selection of approximately 68,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs) of nationally
branded and private brand grocery products and perishable food products, including dry groceries, produce, dairy products, meat,
delicatessen items, bakery goods, frozen food, seafood, floral products, general merchandise, beverages, tobacco products, health and
beauty care products and pharmacy. These product offerings, along with best-in-class services, allow independent retailers the
opportunity to support the majority of their operations with a single supplier. The Company also provides a comprehensive menu of
valued-added services designed to assist independent retailers in becoming more profitable, efficient, competitive, and informed,
ranging from real estate and site surveys to a full suite of accounting, information technology and merchandising and marketing
solutions. The Company is committed to sharing the expertise gained in its Retail operations with its independent customers.
The Food Distribution segment competes directly with a number of traditional and specialty grocery wholesalers and retailers that
maintain or develop self-distribution systems. In addition, the Company’s independent customers face intense competition from
supercenters, deep discounters, mass merchandisers, limited assortment stores, and e-commerce providers. The Company partners
with these customers to help them compete effectively. The primary competitive factors in the Food Distribution business include
price, service level, product quality, variety and other value-added services.
Retail Segment
As of January 2, 2021, the Company operates 156 corporate owned retail stores and 37 fuel centers in nine states in the Midwest,
primarily under the banners of Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery and Dan’s Supermarket.
Retail banners and store counts are fully detailed in Item 2, “Properties”. The Company’s corporate owned retail stores range in size
from approximately 14,000 to 90,000 total square feet, or on average, approximately 44,000 total square feet per store.
The Company’s neighborhood market strategy distinguishes its corporate owned retail stores from supercenters and limited assortment
stores. Through e-commerce solutions, including Fast Lane and Groceries to GO, as well as third-party providers, the Company
offered online grocery shopping and curbside pickup or delivery at 117 of its corporate owned retail locations as of January 2, 2021.
This channel is highly valued by customers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continuing to enhance and grow this platform is a
key component of the Company’s strategy. The Company continues to make investments to support its online ordering systems, the
speed and convenience of curbside pickup, and the efficiency and completeness of order fulfillment.
The Company’s corporate owned retail stores offer nationally branded and private brand grocery products, as well as perishable food
products including dry groceries, produce, dairy products, meat, delicatessen items, including store prepared “grab and go” meal
options, bakery goods, frozen food, seafood, floral products, general merchandise, beverages, health and beauty care products and
fuel. Sixty-seven of the Company’s stores contain franchised Starbucks or Caribou Coffee shops, which enhance the customer
experience and help to drive traffic. Private brand grocery products typically generate higher retail margins while also improving
customer loyalty by offering quality products at affordable prices.
As of January 2, 2021, the Company offers pharmacy services in 97 of its corporate owned retail stores (87 of the pharmacies are
owned) and operates one free-standing pharmacy location. The Company believes the pharmacy service offering in its corporate
owned retail stores is an important part of the consumer experience. Most of the Company’s pharmacies offer certain free medications,
along with low cost generic drugs, and meal planning solutions for preventative health and education for its customers. Influenza
vaccinations and COVID-19 testing are available in certain pharmacies. The Company’s pharmacies will also offer COVID-19
vaccinations in 2021.
The following chart details the changes in the number of corporate owned retail stores over the last five fiscal years:
Number of stores at beginning of year
Stores acquired or constructed during year
Stores closed or sold during year
Number of stores at end of year
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
163
—
6
157
157
—
12
145
145
—
6
139
139
24
7
156
156
1
1
156
Early in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company made the decision to close two corporate owned retail stores in support of its
initiatives related to retail store rationalization.
The principal competitive factors in the Retail business include the location and image of the store; the price, quality and variety of the
fresh offering; and the quality, convenience and consistency of service. In addition to competing with traditional grocery stores, the
Company competes with supercenters, deep discounters, mass merchandisers, limited assortment stores, and e-commerce providers.
The Company monitors planned competitive store openings and uses established proactive strategies to respond to new competition
both before and after competitive store openings. Strategies to react to competition vary based on many factors, such as the
competitor’s format, strengths, weaknesses, pricing and sales focus.
-5-
Military Segment
The Company’s Military segment contracts with manufacturers and brokers to distribute a wide variety of grocery products, including
dry groceries, beverages, meat, and frozen foods, primarily to U.S. military commissaries and exchanges. The Company’s Military
segment, together with its third-party partner, Coastal Pacific Food Distributors (“CPFD”), represents the only delivery solution to
service the Defense Commissary Agency (“DeCA” or “the Agency”) worldwide.
DeCA operates a chain of 236 commissaries on U.S. military installations across the world that sells approximately $4.5 billion of
grocery products annually. The Company distributes grocery products to 160 military commissaries and over 400 exchanges located in
39 states across the United States and the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Bahrain, Djibouti and Egypt.
The Company’s distribution centers are strategically located among the largest concentration of military bases in the areas the
Company serves and near Atlantic ports used to ship grocery products to overseas commissaries and exchanges.
The Company is also the DeCA exclusive worldwide supplier of private brand grocery and related products to all U.S. military
commissaries. In accordance with its contract with DeCA, the Company procures the grocery and related products from various
manufacturers and upon receiving customer orders from DeCA either delivers the products to the U.S. military commissaries itself or
engages CPFD to deliver the products on its behalf. There are over 1,000 SKUs of private brand products in the DeCA system as of
January 2, 2021.
DeCA contracts with manufacturers to obtain nationally branded products for the commissary system. Manufacturers either deliver the
products to the commissaries themselves or, more commonly, contract with distributors such as SpartanNash to deliver the products.
The Company obtains distribution contracts with manufacturers through competitive bidding processes and direct negotiations. As of
January 2, 2021, the Company has approximately 250 distribution contracts representing approximately 600 manufacturers that supply
products to the DeCA commissary system and various exchange systems. Generally, larger contracts or those subject to a request-for-
proposal process have definitive durations, whereas smaller contracts generally have indefinite terms; and all contract types allow for
termination by either party without cause upon 30 days prior written notice to the other party. The contracts typically specify which
commissaries and exchanges to supply on behalf of the manufacturer, the manufacturer’s products to be supplied, service and delivery
requirements, and pricing and payment terms. The Company’s ten largest manufacturer customers represented approximately 51% of
the Company’s Military segment sales for 2020.
The Company’s strategies within the Military segment are focused on improving the profitability of its operations through partnering
with DeCA and its manufacturer customers to identify growth opportunities and improve gross margins. The Company is also
working to improve the efficiency of its supply chain through operational improvements, including identifying opportunities to
optimize ordering, routes, and delivery schedules.
The Company is one of fewer than five distributors in the United States with annual sales to the DeCA commissary system in excess
of $100 million that distributes products via the frequent delivery system. The remaining distributors that supply DeCA tend to be
smaller regional and local providers. In addition, manufacturers contract with others to deliver certain products, such as baking
supplies, produce, delicatessen items, soft drinks and snack items, directly to DeCA commissaries and service exchanges. Because of
the low margins in this industry, it is of critical importance for distributors to achieve economies of scale, which is typically a function
of the density or concentration of military bases within the geographic area(s) a distributor serves. As a result, no single distributor in
this industry, by itself, has a nationwide presence. Rather, distributors generally concentrate on specific regions, or areas within
specific regions, where they can achieve critical mass and utilize warehouse and distribution facilities efficiently. In addition,
distributors that operate larger non-military specific distribution businesses tend to compete for DeCA commissary business in areas
where such business would enable them to more efficiently utilize the capacity of their existing distribution centers. The Company
believes the principal competitive factors among distributors within this industry are customer service, price, operating efficiencies,
reputation with DeCA and location of distribution centers.
Supply Chain Network
The Company’s distribution network is comprised of 19 distribution centers, which are utilized to service the Food Distribution and
Military segments. The Company warehouses product through approximately 8.4 million square feet of distribution center space. The
Company operates a fleet with 553 over-the-road tractors, 25 refrigerated straight trucks, 335 dry vans and 1,135 refrigerated trailers.
The Company carefully manages the more than 73 million miles driven by its fleet and third-party carriers annually servicing military
commissaries, exchanges, independent retailers, national retailers and corporate owned retail stores.
The Company’s supply chain operations are focused on supporting growth and maximizing productivity through the optimization of
its network and investment in technology. The Company continually evaluates its network and is contemplating or undertaking actions
such as adding or consolidating locations and shifting volume between facilities as needed. System enhancements in the areas of
forecasting and replenishment will support the strategic optimization of inventory, allowing for reductions in quantities on hand and
space savings in the warehouses, while maintaining service levels and reducing shrink. The Company’s plan to consolidate
transportation management information systems will also streamline operations and reduce miles traveled.
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The Company is also investing in its workforce and has identified the areas of recruiting and training as some of the initiatives to
improve supply chain performance and the overall associate experience. In the coming year, the Company plans to re-profile certain of
its warehouses, and is in the process of developing dynamic slotting capabilities, in order to improve order selection efficiency and
maximize space utilization. Process improvements are also underway in other areas of warehouse operations, including refining
engineered labor standards to improve the productivity of the workforce.
Marketing and Merchandizing
During 2020, the Company leveraged data and insights to develop and implement strategies to respond to changes in consumer
behavior in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic with products, meal solutions and marketing tactics in support of each of the
Company’s segments. While impacts of COVID-19 are expected to be short term, the Company is proving its ability to use data and
analytics to discern changing consumer needs and leverage these insights to drive performance.
The Company’s Customer Growth strategy is focused on meeting changing customer needs and preferences through a data-based
decision-making process, while also increasing customer satisfaction through quality service and convenience. The Company is using
insights gained through its collaboration with dunnhumby to improve its positioning and assortment to better appeal to its customers.
Key focus areas include improvement in customers’ perception of Company pricing, product assortment and the penetration of the
Company’s private brands. As the Company works to better differentiate its Retail stores and implement its Customer Growth
strategy, the Company has launched a new pricing strategy designed to highlight value and increase customer loyalty. The Company
has developed processes to measure the activation of these strategies as well as their impacts. These measures are reviewed
continuously to refine and evolve the strategies. The Company will continue to share its best practices across its independent customer
base within the Food Distribution segment as it gains further insights.
The Company is selectively adding products and services to better meet customers’ changing needs and enhance their experience.
During 2020, the Company undertook a complete review of the current private brand offering and go-to-market strategy. To build
awareness and encourage associate engagement, the Company has transitioned from the private brands terminology to a proprietary,
branded approach referred to as “OwnBrands”. This change has been executed as part of a broader plan to simplify the brand portfolio
and build on the strength of the Company’s flagship brand, Our Family.
The Company has also been building tools and capabilities to enable relevant, personalized content across its digital, social media and
mobile channels, including the use of chatbots with artificial intelligence, which provide immediate responses to customers’ frequently
asked questions online. Additionally, the Company continues to focus on the growth of its e-commerce platforms and development of
its fulfillment capabilities, which enable a highly personalized digital shopping experience, while driving operational efficiencies.
These enhancements will contribute to the Company’s ability to build longer-term customer loyalty through convenience and value,
maintain efficient marketing spend, improve its growth opportunities, and further strengthen its competitive position.
Seasonality
The majority of the Company’s revenues are not seasonal in nature. However, in some geographies, corporate retail stores and
independent retail customers are dependent on tourism, and therefore, are affected by seasons and weather patterns.
Suppliers
The Company purchases products from a large number of national, regional and local suppliers of name brand and OwnBrand
merchandise. No single supplier accounts for more than 5% of the Company’s purchases. The Company continues to develop strategic
relationships with key suppliers and believes this will prove valuable in the development of enhanced promotional programs and
consumer value perceptions.
Intellectual Property
The Company owns valuable intellectual property, including trademarks, trade names, and other proprietary information, some of
which are of material importance to its business.
Technology
In 2020, the Company focused on digitizing efforts across all business segments, including the transition to a hybrid cloud model, where
certain production environments are hosted in the cloud and disaster recovery environments are hosted in on-premise data centers. As a
response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company supported the shift of the corporate office workforce to a work-from-home
environment, while maintaining workforce productivity.
Supply Chain. The Company began making meaningful upgrades to its transportation systems, including standardization of processes
and rationalization of several disparate systems into a single integrated stack. Additionally, the Company completed the automation of
its timekeeping, scheduling, and payroll management processes across its distribution network. These automation initiatives, combined
with the workforce investments noted previously, are expected to contribute to improved hiring, retention and productivity.
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Retail. During 2020, the Company made significant progress in the financial integration of its recently acquired Martin’s business. The
Company is taking additional steps to modernize its retail applications footprint, beginning in 2021 with a comprehensive effort to
upgrade and digitize its point-of-sale (“POS”) environment. The upgraded POS applications will include an integrated feature set which
will enhance the retail experience both for SpartanNash and its independent customers. Additionally, the Company completed the
implementation of a fresh item management solution for its corporate retail stores. This solution incorporates automated labeling,
production planning, inventory and recipe management across all locations to support the fresh food operations within the corporate
retail stores.
Marketing and Merchandizing: In 2020, the Company began the implementation of a cloud-based pricing and promotion automation
solution. The new technology will provide a vendor portal and workflow management for promotional activities, as well as manage
associated vendor billings.
Administrative Systems, Infrastructure and Security. The Company has begun the development and implementation of tools to improve
both the efficiency and effectiveness of internal reporting and administrative functions. A centralized data analytics solution is being
developed to consolidate the Company’s analysis and reporting platforms, introducing predictive data analytics capabilities to provide
better business insights. Robotic process automation initiatives have been implemented in certain areas and additional areas are being
evaluated for further automation, which will result in improved efficiency in repetitive, manual processes. The Company also
successfully completed the deployment of a new Human Capital Management system which will act as the backbone of simplified
digital human resources operations. During 2020, the Company also made other significant improvements to its networks and
information security.
Human Capital
The Company’s associates are critical to supporting the organization’s mission and values. The Company’s strategies are aligned to
improve associate engagement and empowerment to foster an agile, highly accountable, performance-driven culture. As of January 2,
2021, the Company employed approximately 18,000 associates, 10,800 on a full-time basis and 7,200 on a part-time basis.
Retention
Attracting and retaining talent is imperative to accomplish the key initiatives of the Company. The Company’s primary initiatives in
this area include ensuring a safe and desirable work environment, maintaining a competitive and compelling total rewards offer and
investing in leadership and associate development.
While the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have increased the rate of turnover, specifically in the retail and distribution
environments, the Company is committed to reducing turnover, with an established target reduction in the coming year.
Safety
Associate safety remains a top priority of the Company, particularly in the retail and distribution environments considering the effects
of COVID-19 in the current year. The Company maintains robust policies and supports continuous training to ensure the safety of
each associate and compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. The Company’s areas of focus
include limiting incident rates, the frequency and severity of accidents and the cost of claims and settlements.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Company sponsors initiatives to differentiate its workforce with a focus on diversity and inclusion, to best reflect the communities
it serves and to strengthen the representation of veterans, people of color, differently abled individuals and women in the workforce.
The Company believes that valuing each associate’s talent and diverse perspective creates a fair and inclusive atmosphere for growth
and success.
The Company also believes that it is best served by an executive leadership team and Board of Directors that have diverse
perspectives, education, experience, skills, gender, race, and ethnicity, and will endeavor to seek out such candidates when searching
for new leaders and directors. Of the eight current members of the executive leadership team, one member is a person of color and
three members are female. Of the ten current members of the Board of Directors, two of the directors are persons of color and three of
the directors are female.
Engagement
The Company continually evaluates associate engagement and views the associated metrics as critical to the ability to attract and
retain talent, contributing to many of the broader objectives of the Company. The results from annual associate engagement surveys
are used to inform the Company’s priorities and provide valuable feedback on existing associate programs. During the last annual
associate engagement survey completed in September, the Company achieved a 70% engagement rate, well above the industry
average. The Company also launched a new corporate social media application in the current year, SpartanNash Go, as a tool to
support engagement of associates across the organization. To-date, the Company’s adoption and engagement of the tool has exceeded
expectations.
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Compensation and Benefits
The Company’s programs are designed to provide compensation and benefits packages that will attract, retain, reward, and inspire its
associates to achieve a high level of performance, to challenge convention and turn problems into possibilities. Overall compensation
and benefits are periodically reviewed to ensure that they remain competitive with respect to industry benchmarks. The Company’s
incentive programs are designed to align the associate’s financial interests with that of shareholders and other stakeholders. In
addition, the Company periodically sponsors recognition and compensation initiatives for retail and distribution associates working on
the front lines. These programs are designed to recognize the efforts of these workers for their commitment to serve customers and
keep them safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to recognize their other outstanding achievements. Recently, the Company
implemented a new human capital management system, which represents a key investment to provide resources related to
compensation and benefits to associates.
Environmental Matters
The Company may be responsible for remediation of environmental conditions and may be subject to associated liabilities relating to
its stores, warehouses, and other buildings and the land on which they are situated (including responsibility and liability related to its
operation of its fuel centers and truck garages and the storage of petroleum products in underground storage tanks). The Company
believes that it currently conducts its operations, and in the past has conducted its operations, in substantial compliance with
applicable environmental laws. Also, the Company typically conducts an environmental review prior to acquiring or leasing buildings
or raw land. However, the Company cannot always control or predict what environmental conditions may be found to exist at its
facilities, and future changes in regulations may result in liabilities to the Company or increases in the cost of doing business.
Regulation
The Company is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations concerning the conduct of its business, including those
pertaining to the workforce and the purchase, handling, sale and transportation of its products. Many of the Company’s products are
subject to federal Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA) regulation. The
Company believes that it is in compliance, in all material respects, with the FDA, USDA and other federal, state and local laws and
regulations governing its businesses.
Forward-Looking Statements
The matters discussed in this Item 1 include forward-looking statements. See “Forward-Looking Statements” at the beginning of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Available Information
SpartanNash’s web address is www.spartannash.com. The inclusion of the Company’s web address in this Form 10-K does not
include or incorporate by reference the information on or accessible through the Company’s website, and the information contained on
or accessible through those websites should not be considered as part of this Form 10-K. The Company makes its Annual Reports on
Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports (and amendments to those reports) filed
or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 available on the Company’s website as soon as
reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files or furnishes such materials with the SEC. Interested persons can view
such materials without charge by clicking on “For Investors” and then “SEC Filings” on the Company’s website. SpartanNash is a
“large accelerated filer” within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The Company faces many risks. If any of the events or circumstances described in the following risk factors occur, the Company’s
financial condition or results of operations may suffer, and the trading price of the Company’s common stock could decline. This
discussion of risk factors should be read in conjunction with the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. All of these
forward-looking statements are affected by the risk factors discussed in this item and this discussion of risk factors should be read in
conjunction with the discussion of forward-looking statements, which appears at the beginning of this report.
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Business and Operational Risks
The Company operates in an extremely competitive industry. Many of the Company’s competitors are much larger and may be able
to compete more effectively.
The Company’s Food Distribution and Retail segments have many competitors, including regional and national grocery distributors,
large chain stores that have integrated wholesale and retail operations, mass merchandisers, e-commerce providers, deep discount
retailers, limited assortment stores and wholesale membership clubs. The Company’s Military segment faces competition from large
national and regional food distributors and smaller distributors. Many of the Company’s competitors have greater resources than the
Company.
Industry consolidation, alternative store formats, nontraditional competitors and e-commerce have contributed to market share losses
for traditional grocery stores. The Company’s Food Distribution, Military and Retail segments are primarily focused on traditional
retail grocery trade, which faces competition from faster growing alternative retail channels, such as dollar stores, discount
supermarket chains, Internet-based retailers and meal-delivery services. The Company expects these trends to continue. If the
Company is not successful in competing with these alternative channels, or growing sales into such channels, its business or financial
results may be adversely impacted.
The Company faces competitive pressures from e-commerce activity, as consumers continue to adopt this format and do more of their
shopping online. While the Company offers e-commerce services at many of its stores, some of its stores and many of its independent
retailer customers do not. Other e-commerce providers may offer lower prices, superior online ordering or delivery service, or greater
convenience than the Company. If the Company fails to compete successfully, it could face lower sales and may decide or be
compelled to offer greater discounts to its customers, which could result in decreased profitability.
Disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, could have an adverse impact on the Company's operations and financial
results.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, national, state, and local authorities recommended social distancing and imposed quarantine
and isolation measures on large portions of the population, including mandatory business closures. While these measures were
designed to protect the overall public health, they had material adverse impacts on domestic and foreign economies and have resulted
in the United States entering a period of recession.
While the Company is an essential business and has seen significant increases in sales volume during the pandemic, its business may
be negatively impacted by several factors associated with the pandemic and any future disease outbreak and the related effects on the
retail grocery and wholesale distribution industries. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic experienced by the Company have
included, and may continue to include the following impacts, which may also be characteristic of future potential disease outbreaks:
Increased costs due to significant increases in customer traffic and demand for grocery products, and the corresponding
inability to meet demand with the existing workforce or other assets;
Failure of third parties on which the Company relies, including its customers, suppliers, contractors, commercial banks and
other business partners to meet their obligations to the Company, which may be caused by their own financial or operational
challenges;
Supply chain risks due to significantly increased demand, including the availability of warehouse and transportation
personnel and service providers or the inability to procure adequate quantities of certain goods;
Reduced workforce or temporary store and distribution center closures associated with the presence of COVID-19 infections
among the Company’s associates;
Increased costs relating to compliance with public health and safety requirements for the Company’s associates and
customers, including the purchase of personal protective equipment, cleaning and sanitization of retail and distribution
facilities and construction and remodeling costs related to maintaining effective social distancing barriers;
Inability to accurately forecast financial results due to the uncertainty associated with the short- and long-term effects on the
U.S. economy, consumer behavior and the unknown duration of social distancing, quarantine or isolation measures or the
lasting effects that may result after such mandates have been removed; or
Increased and accelerated competition from alternative channels, including e-commerce retailers, due to a change in
consumer behavior and continued social distancing.
Closure or access restrictions at retail stores or military commissaries, which limit the consumer’s access to the products the
Company sells and distributes, which negatively impact sales volumes.
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Any of the foregoing factors, or other effects of the pandemic that are not currently foreseeable, may materially increase costs,
negatively impact sales and damage the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and its liquidity position. The
significance and duration of any such impacts are not possible to predict due to the overall uncertainty associated with COVID-19 and
any future pandemic.
The private brand program for U.S. military commissaries may not achieve the desired results.
In December 2016, DeCA, which operates U.S. military commissaries worldwide, competitively awarded to the Company the contract
to support and supply products for the Agency’s private brand product program. Private brand products had not previously been
offered in the Agency’s commissaries. The Company has invested and will continue to invest significant resources as it partners with
DeCA to continue to expand the program, however there is no guarantee of its success, that the program will continue or that DeCA
will continue to partner with SpartanNash. The Company expects that DeCA will face significant competition in each product
category from national brands that are familiar to consumers. If the Agency is unable to drive traffic and business at the commissaries
by offering one-stop shopping for military customers through a combination of both national and private brand offerings, then both
DeCA and the Company may be unable to achieve expected returns from this program, which could have a material adverse effect on
the Company’s business. The success of the program will depend, in part, on factors beyond the Company’s control, including the
actions of the Agency. While the current contract with DeCA expires in December 2021, the Company hopes to continue the
relationship, although there cannot be a guarantee of renewal.
The Company may not be able to implement its strategy of growth through acquisitions or successfully integrate acquired
businesses.
Part of the Company’s growth strategy involves selected acquisitions of additional distribution operations, and to a lesser extent, retail
grocery stores. Given the recent consolidation activity and limited number of potential acquisition targets within the food industry, the
Company may not be able to identify suitable targets for acquisition and may make acquisitions which do not achieve the desired level
of profitability or sales. Additionally, future acquisitions of retail grocery stores could result in the Company competing with its
independent retailer customers and could adversely affect existing business relationships with those customers. As a result, the
Company may not be able to identify suitable acquisition candidates in the future, complete acquisitions or obtain the necessary
financing and this may adversely affect the Company’s ability to grow profitably. If the Company fails to successfully integrate
business acquisitions and realize planned synergies, the business may not perform to expectations.
Substantial operating losses may occur if the customers to whom the Company extends credit or for whom the Company
guarantees loans or lease obligations fail to repay the Company.
From time to time, the Company may advance funds, extend credit and lend money to certain independent retailers and guarantee loan
or lease obligations of certain customers. The Company seeks to obtain security interest and other credit support in connection with
these arrangements, but the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the Company’s exposure. Greater than expected losses from
existing or future credit extensions, loans, guarantee commitments or sublease arrangements could negatively and materially impact
the Company’s operating results and financial condition.
A significant portion of the Company’s sales are with major customers and the Company’s success may be dependent on retaining
this business and its customers’ ability to grow their business.
The Company’s customer base includes certain large and growing customers. To the extent that major customers decide to utilize
alternative sources of products, whether through other distributors or self-distribution, the Company’s financial condition or results of
operations may be materially and adversely affected. Similarly, if major customers are not able to grow their business, the Company
may be materially and adversely affected.
Sales to one of the Company’s customers accounted for more than 15% of the Company’s net sales in 2020, 2019 and 2018. The
Company’s ability to maintain a close, mutually beneficial relationship with major customers is an important determinant of the
Company’s continued growth.
Changes in relationships with the Company’s vendor base may adversely affect its business, margins, and profitability.
The Company sources the products it sells from a wide variety of vendors. The Company generally does not have long-term written
contracts with its major suppliers that would require them to continue supplying merchandise. The Company depends on its vendors
for appropriate allocation of merchandise, assortments of products, operation of vendor-focused shopping experiences within its
stores, and funding for various forms of promotional allowances. There has been significant consolidation in the food industry, and
this consolidation may continue to the Company’s commercial disadvantage. Such changes could have a material adverse impact on
the Company’s revenues and profitability.
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Disruptions to the Company’s information technology systems, including security breaches and cyber-attacks, could negatively
affect the Company’s business.
The Company has complex information technology (“IT”) systems that are important to its business operations. It also employs
mobile devices, social networking and other online activities to connect with customers, associates, suppliers, and business partners.
The Company receives, transmits, and stores many types of sensitive information, including consumers’ personal information,
information belonging to vendors, business partners, and other third parties, and the Company’s proprietary, confidential, or sensitive
information. As a result, the Company faces risks of security breaches, system disruption, theft, espionage, inadvertent release of
information, and other technology-related disruptions. The Company could incur significant losses due to any such event.
Although the Company has implemented security programs and disaster recovery facilities and procedures, cyber threats evolve
rapidly and are becoming more sophisticated. Despite the Company’s efforts to secure its information and systems, cyber attackers
may defeat the security measures and compromise the personal information of consumers, vendors, business partners, associates and
other sensitive information. Associate error, faulty password management or other problems may compromise the security measures
and result in a breach of the Company’s information systems, systems disruptions, data theft or other criminal activity. This could
result in a loss of sales or profits or cause the Company to incur significant costs to restore its systems or to reimburse third parties for
damages.
Threats to security or the occurrence of severe weather conditions, natural disasters or other unforeseen events could harm the
Company’s business.
The Company’s business could be severely impacted by severe weather conditions, natural disasters, or other events that could affect
the warehouse and transportation infrastructure used by the Company and its vendors to supply the Company’s corporate owned retail
stores, and Food Distribution and Military customers. While the Company believes it has adopted commercially reasonable
precautions, insurance programs, and contingency plans; the damage or destruction of Company facilities could compromise its ability
to distribute products and generate sales. Unseasonable weather conditions that impact growing conditions and the availability of food
could also adversely affect sales, profits and asset values.
Impairment charges for goodwill or other long-lived assets could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of
operations.
The Company is required to perform an annual impairment test for goodwill and other long-lived tangible and intangible assets in the
fourth quarter of each year, or more frequently if indicators are present or changes in circumstances suggest that impairment may
exist. Testing goodwill and other assets for impairment requires management to make significant estimates about the Company’s
future performance, cash flows, and other assumptions that can be affected by potential changes in economic, industry or market
conditions, business operations, competition, or – for goodwill – the Company’s stock price and market capitalization. Changes in
these factors, or changes in actual performance compared with estimates of the Company’s future performance, may affect the fair
value of goodwill or other assets. This could result in the Company recording a non-cash impairment charge for goodwill or other
intangible assets in the period the determination of impairment is made. The Company cannot accurately predict the amount or timing
of potential impairments of assets. Should the value of goodwill or other assets become impaired, the Company’s financial condition
and results of operations may be adversely affected.
The Company may not successfully manage the transition associated with its chief executive officer and other senior leaders.
The Company’s success depends upon the continued services of executive officers and other key personnel, as well as its ability to
effectively transition to their successors. The Company appointed a new President and Chief Executive Officer in September 2020
This transition may be disruptive to the Company, and if it is unable to execute an orderly transition and successfully integrate its new
CEO into the leadership team, revenue, operating results and financial condition may be adversely affected. In addition, the Company
has recently experienced turnover in other key leadership roles. Any future changes to the executive management team, including
hires or departures, could cause further disruption to the business and have a negative impact on operating performance, while these
operational areas are in transition. The Company can provide no assurance that it will find suitable successors to key roles as
transitions occur or that any identified successor will be successfully integrated into its management team. The Company’s inability to
retain other key employees or effectively transition to their successors, or any delay in filling any such positions, could harm its
business and results of operations.
It may be difficult for the Company to attract and retain well-qualified associates, which would adversely affect the Company’s
profitability and growth.
Recent low levels of unemployment, increased unemployment compensation benefits, and the hesitation of potential workers to work
on the frontline during the pandemic have caused upward pressure on wages. If the Company is unable to attract and retain quality
associates to meet its needs, the Company could be required to increase its compensation offering, reduce staffing below optimal
levels, or rely more on higher-cost third-party providers, which could adversely affect the Company’s profitability and growth.
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Risks Related to the Company’s Indebtedness
The Company’s level of indebtedness could adversely affect its financial condition and its ability to raise additional capital or
obtain financing in the future, respond to business opportunities, react to changes in its business, and make required payments on
its debt.
As of January 2, 2021, the Company had outstanding indebtedness of $486.4 million (net of unamortized debt issuance costs),
primarily related to its asset-based lending facility (the "Revolving Credit Facility"). Refer to Note 7 in the accompanying notes to the
consolidated financial statements for further information. If the Company is not able to generate cash flow from operations sufficient
to service its debt, it may need to refinance its debt, dispose of assets or issue equity to obtain necessary funds. The Company may not
be able to take any of such actions on a timely basis, on satisfactory terms or at all.
Indebtedness could have important consequences, including the following:
reduced ability to execute the Company’s growth strategy, including merger and acquisition opportunities;
reduced ability to invest in the Company, which may place it at a competitive disadvantage;
increased vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions;
exposure to interest rate increases;
reduced cash flow available for other purposes;
limited ability to borrow additional funds for working capital, capital expenditures and other investments;
Covenants in its debt agreements restrict the Company’s operational flexibility.
The agreements governing the Revolving Credit Facility contain usual and customary restrictive covenants relating to the management
and operation of the Company, including restrictions on its ability to borrow, pay dividends, or consummate certain transactions.
Failure to comply with the covenants in the Company’s debt agreements could result in all of its indebtedness becoming immediately
due and payable.
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk due to the variable rates on its indebtedness. Debt service obligations may increase if
interest rates rise.
The Company’s borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at variable rates and expose it to interest rate risk. The
Company may not be able to accurately predict changes in interest rates or mitigate their impact. If interest rates increase, debt service
obligations on the variable rate indebtedness would increase even though the amount borrowed remains the same and the Company’s
profitability would decrease. A hypothetical 0.50% increase in rates applicable to borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility as of
January 2, 2021 would increase interest expense related to such debt by approximately $2.2 million per year.
Legal, Regulatory and Legislative Risks
The Company’s Military segment is dependent upon domestic and international military operations. A change in the military
commissary system, including its supply chain, or a change in the level of governmental funding, could negatively impact the
Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Because the Company’s Military segment sells and distributes grocery products to military commissaries and exchanges in the United
States and overseas, any material changes in the commissary system, the level of governmental funding to DeCA, military staffing
levels, or locations of bases, or DeCA’s supply chain may have a corresponding impact on the sales and operating performance of this
segment. These changes could include privatization of some or all of the military commissary system, relocation or consolidation of
commissaries and exchanges, base closings, troop redeployments or consolidations in the geographic areas containing commissaries
and exchanges served by the Company, a change by DeCA to a self-distribution model, or a reduction in the number of persons having
access to the commissaries and exchanges. Mandated reductions in the government expenditures, including those imposed as a result
of a sequestration, may impact the level of funding to DeCA and could have a material impact on the Company’s operations. If DeCA
were to make material changes to its supply chain model, for example by limiting distribution authorization, then the Company’s
Military segment could be affected.
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Product recalls or other safety concerns regarding the Company’s products could harm the Company’s business.
The Company faces risks related to the safety of the food products that it distributes or sells. It may need to recall such products for
actual or alleged contamination, adulteration, mislabeling, or other safety concerns. The Company distributes fresh fruits and
vegetables, as well as other fresh prepared foods. These products, and other food products that the Company sells, are at risk of
contamination by disease-causing organisms such as Salmonella, E. coli, and others. These pathogens are generally found in nature,
and as a result, there is a risk that they could be present in the products distributed or sold by the Company. The Company typically
has little control over proper food handling before the Company’s receipt of the product or once the product has been delivered to
customers. Recall costs can be material. A widespread product recall could result in significant losses due to the administrative costs
of a recall, the destruction of inventory, and lost sales. Recalls and other food safety concerns can also result in adverse publicity,
damage to the Company’s reputation, and a loss of confidence in the safety and quality of its products. Customers may avoid
purchasing certain products from the Company, or to seek alternative sources of supply for some or all of their food needs, even if the
basis for concern is outside of the Company’s control. Any loss of confidence on the part of the Company’s customers would be
difficult and costly to overcome. Any real or perceived issue regarding the safety of any food or drug items sold by the Company,
regardless of the cause, could have a substantial and adverse effect on the Company’s business.
A number of the Company’s associates are covered by collective bargaining agreements, and unions may attempt to organize
additional associates.
Approximately 7% of the Company’s associates are covered by collective bargaining agreements (“CBAs”) which expire between
March 2021 and October 2022. The Company expects that rising healthcare, pension and other employee benefit costs, among other
issues, will continue to be important topics of negotiation with the labor unions. Upon the expiration of the Company’s CBAs, work
stoppages by the affected workers could occur if the Company is unable to negotiate an acceptable contract with the labor unions. This
could significantly disrupt the Company’s operations.
Further, if the Company is unable to control healthcare and pension costs provided for in the CBAs, the Company may experience
increased operating costs and an adverse impact on future results of operations.
While the Company believes that relations with its associates are good, the Company may continue to see additional union organizing
campaigns. The potential for unionization could increase as any new related legislation or regulations are passed. The Company
respects its associates’ right to unionize or not to unionize. However, the unionization of a significant portion of the Company’s
workforce could increase the Company’s overall costs at the affected locations and adversely affect its flexibility to run its business in
the most efficient manner to remain competitive or acquire new businesses and could adversely affect its results of operations by
increasing its labor costs or otherwise restricting its ability to maximize the efficiency of its operations.
Costs related to multi-employer pension plans and other postretirement plans could increase.
The Company contributes to the Central States Southeast and Southwest Pension Fund (the “Central States Plan” or the “Plan”), a
multi-employer pension plan, based on obligations arising from its CBAs with Teamsters locals 406 and 908. SpartanNash does not
administer or control this Plan, and the Company has relatively little control over the level of contributions the Company is required to
make. Currently, the Central States Plan is underfunded and in critical and declining status, and as a result, contributions are scheduled
to increase. The Company expects that contributions to this Plan will be subject to further increases. Benefit levels and related issues
will continue to create collective bargaining challenges. The amount of any increase or decrease in its required contributions to this
Plan will depend upon the outcome of collective bargaining, the actions taken by the trustees who manage the Plan, governmental
regulations, actual return on investment of Plan assets, the continued viability and contributions of other contributing employers, and
the potential payment of withdrawal liability should the Company choose to exit a geographic area, among other factors.
Changes in government regulations may have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
Changes in government regulation, including changes in the minimum wages or federal tax laws could have material adverse effects
on the Company’s financial results. The new presidential administration may propose regulations that will have a negative impact on
the profitability of the Company, including new tax legislation and minimum wage requirements. The Company employs a significant
number of hourly associates who are compensated at an hourly rate lower than $15.00. If minimum wage rates increase, the Company
will have to increase the wages of employees who fall below the new minimum and may need to increase the wages of employees in
close proximity above the new minimum to address wage compression. In addition, changes in federal tax regulations may result in
significant increases in the Company’s current and deferred tax liabilities, and may include changes in federal tax rates and the
deductibility of certain costs.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
-14-
Item 2. Properties
The following table lists the locations and approximate square footage of the Company’s distribution centers used by its Food
Distribution and Military segments as of January 2, 2021. The lease expiration dates for the distribution centers primarily servicing the
Food Distribution segment range from February 2022 to December 2031, and for the Military segment range from July 2023 to
November 2029. The majority of these leases contain renewal options beyond these dates, if exercised. The Company believes that
these facilities are generally well maintained and in good operating condition, have sufficient capacity, and are suitable and adequate
to carry on its business for both of these segments. Subsequent to January 2, 2021, the Company commenced operations in a leased
distribution center in Severn, Maryland. The distribution center is 287,502 square feet, includes the option for further expansion, and
services the Food Distribution segment.
Location
Grand Rapids, Michigan (a)
Norfolk, Virginia (b)
Omaha, Nebraska (a)
Bellefontaine, Ohio (a)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (b)
Lima, Ohio (a)
Columbus, Georgia (c)
Bloomington, Indiana (b)
San Antonio, Texas (c)
Lumberton, North Carolina (a)
St. Cloud, Minnesota (a)
Landover, Maryland (b)
Fargo, North Dakota (a)
Pensacola, Florida (b)
Sioux Falls, South Dakota (a)
Bluefield, Virginia (a)
Indianapolis, Indiana (a)
Newcomerstown, Ohio (a)
Lakeland, Florida (a)
Total Square Footage
Distribution Centers
Square Footage
Leased
Owned
Total
386,129
478,702
— 1,179,582 1,179,582
188,093 545,073 733,166
4,384 686,783 691,167
— 666,045 666,045
— 608,543 608,543
— 517,552 517,552
— 478,702
— 471,277 471,277
— 461,544 461,544
— 386,129
40,319 329,046 369,365
— 368,088
74,000 288,824 362,824
— 355,900 355,900
79,300 196,114 275,414
— 187,531 187,531
— 124,820 124,820
92,435
92,435
—
42,125
42,125
—
1,619,015 6,753,194 8,372,209
368,088
(a) Distribution center services the Food Distribution segment.
(b) Distribution center services the Military segment.
(c) Distribution center services both the Food Distribution and Military segments. Based on utilization estimates at January 2, 2021,
the Food Distribution segment utilizes 36,000 square feet and 118,000 square feet at the San Antonio and Columbus distribution
centers, respectively. The Columbus location requires periodic lease payments to the holder of the outstanding industrial revenue
bond, which is held by the Company. Upon expiration of the lease terms, the Company will take title to the property upon
redemption of the bond.
-15-
The following table lists the Company’s retail stores, including the adjacent fuel centers of the related stores, by retail banner, number
of stores, location and approximate square footage under each banner as of January 2, 2021.
Retail Segment
Grocery Store Retail Banner
Family Fare
Martin's Super Markets
D&W Fresh Market
VG’s Grocery
Dan's Supermarket
Family Fresh Market
Location
Michigan, Minnesota,
Nebraska, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin
Indiana, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan
North Dakota
Minnesota, Nebraska,
Wisconsin
Sun Mart Foods
Nebraska
Supermercado Nuestra Familia Nebraska
Michigan
Valu Land
Michigan
Forest Hills Foods
Iowa, Nebraska
No Frills Supermarkets
Ohio
Pick ‘n Save
Ohio
Dillonvale IGA
Wisconsin
Fresh City Market
Wisconsin
Econofoods
Total
Leased
Owned
Total
Number
of Stores
Square
Feet
Number
of Stores
Square
Feet
Number
of Stores
Square
Feet
10
483,952
77
3,301,198
9 461,727
12 718,219
84,458
2
8 393,429
37,223
8 363,117
1
—
5 264,077 —
87
3,785,150
21 1,179,946
10 477,887
9 400,340
5 264,077
—
—
4 192,151
4 192,151
1
1
3
2
3
1
1
1
—
93,824
4
31,733
83,279
22,540
2
—
70,423 —
—
65,209 —
—
61,060 —
—
45,608 —
—
25,627 —
—
21,470 —
1
16,563
33 1,453,177
—
123 5,383,710
5 125,557
3 105,819
70,423
3
65,209
2
61,060
3
45,608
1
25,627
1
21,470
1
16,563
1
156 6,836,887
The Company also owns one fuel center that is not reflected in the retail square footage above, a Family Fare Quick Stop in Michigan
that is not included with a corporate owned retail store but is adjacent to the Company’s corporate headquarters. Also not reflected in
the retail square footage above is one stand-alone pharmacy located in Clear Lake, Iowa as well as certain properties used to facilitate
the stock and transfer of goods between retail stores.
The Company’s headquarters is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Company maintains offices in multiple states consisting of
approximately 317,000 square feet in Company-owned buildings and 49,000 square feet in leased facilities. The Company also leases
two additional off-site storage facilities consisting of approximately 50,000 square feet. The Company owns and leases to independent
retailers ten stores totaling approximately 440,000 square feet and owns and leases to third parties one warehouse of approximately
400,000 square feet and office space totaling 109,000 square feet.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
From time-to-time, the Company is engaged in routine legal proceedings incidental to its business. The Company does not believe that
these routine legal proceedings, taken as a whole, will have a material impact on its business or financial condition. Additionally,
various lawsuits and claims, arising in the ordinary course of business, are pending or have been asserted against the Company. While
the ultimate effect of such actions, lawsuits and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that their outcome
will not result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, operating results or liquidity. Legal
proceedings, various lawsuits, claims, and other matters are more fully described in Note 9, in the notes to consolidated financial
statements, which is herein incorporated by reference.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure
Not Applicable.
-16-
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
SpartanNash common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol “SPTN.”
Stock sale prices are based on transactions reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
At March 2, 2021, there were approximately 1,300 shareholders of record of SpartanNash common stock.
During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Board authorized a $50.0 million share repurchase program expiring in 2022. At January 2,
2021, $35.0 million remains available under the program.
In 2020 and 2018, the Company repurchased 860,752 and 952,108 shares of common stock for approximately $10.0 million and $20.0
million, respectively. The Company did not repurchase common stock in 2019.
The following table provides information regarding SpartanNash’s purchases of its own common stock during the 13-week period
ended January 2, 2021. These may include: (1) shares of SpartanNash common stock delivered in satisfaction of the exercise price
and/or tax withholding obligations by holders of employee stock options who exercised options, and (2) shares submitted for
cancellation to satisfy tax withholding obligations that occur upon the vesting of the restricted shares. The value of the shares
delivered or withheld is determined by the applicable stock compensation plan. For 2020, all employee transactions related to shares
submitted for cancellation to satisfy tax withholding obligations that occur upon vesting of the restricted shares.
Fiscal Period
October 4 - October 31, 2020
Employee Transactions
Repurchase Program
November 1 - November 28, 2020
Employee Transactions
Repurchase Program
November 29 - January 2, 2021
Employee Transactions
Repurchase Program
Total for quarter ended January 2, 2021
Employee Transactions
Repurchase Program
Total Number
of Shares Purchased
Average
Price Paid
per Share
11,599 $
— $
21.19
—
— $
— $
— $
— $
—
—
—
—
11,599 $
— $
21.19
—
The equity compensation plans table in Part III, Item 12 of this report is herein incorporated by reference.
Performance Graph
Set forth below is a graph comparing the cumulative total shareholder return on SpartanNash common stock to that of the Russell
2000 Total Return Index and the NASDAQ Retail Trade Index, over a period beginning January 2, 2016 and ending on January 2,
2021.
Cumulative total return is measured by the sum of (1) the cumulative amount of dividends for the measurement period, assuming
dividend reinvestment, and (2) the difference between the share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period, divided
by the share price at the beginning of the measurement period.
-17-
The dollar values for total shareholder return plotted above are shown in the table below:
January 2,
2016
December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28,
2016
2017
2018
2019
January 2,
2021
SpartanNash
Russell 2000 Total Return Index
NASDAQ Retail Trade
$
100.00 $
100.00
100.00
186.30 $
121.31
101.15
128.79 $
139.08
107.60
84.51 $
122.77
107.16
74.79 $
155.31
129.87
96.83
186.36
154.18
The information set forth under the Heading “Performance Graph” shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with
the Commission or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, except to the extent that
the registrant specifically requests that such information be treated as soliciting material or specifically incorporates it by reference
into a filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
-18-
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following table provides selected historical consolidated financial information of SpartanNash for each of the five years ended
December 31, 2016 through January 2, 2021.
(In thousands, except per share data)
Statements of Operations Data:
Net sales (a)
Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative
expenses (b)
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, goodwill/asset impairment
and other charges (c)
Operating earnings (loss)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and
discontinued operations
Income tax expense (benefit) (d)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations $
Diluted earnings (loss) from continuing
operations per share
Cash dividends declared per share
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
Year Ended
2018
(52 Weeks)
2017
(52 Weeks)
2016
(52 Weeks)
$ 9,348,485
1,424,965
$ 8,536,065
1,243,830
$ 8,064,552
1,110,406
$ 7,963,799
1,144,909
$ 7,561,084
1,111,494
1,297,740
421
1,172,401
1,437
997,411
4,937
1,015,024
8,101
24,398
102,406
85,364
9,450
75,914
$
2.12
0.77
13,050
56,942
3,575
(2,342 )
5,917
0.16
0.76
$
37,546
70,512
40,698
6,907
33,791
0.94
0.72
228,459
(106,675 )
(131,644 )
(79,027 )
(52,617 )
(1.41 )
0.66
$
$
963,235
6,959
32,116
109,184
89,963
32,907
57,056
1.52
0.60
Balance Sheet Data:
Total assets (e)
Property and equipment, net
Working capital (e)
Long-term debt and finance lease
liabilities
Shareholders’ equity (e)
$ 2,277,391
577,059
325,186
$ 2,275,609
615,816
431,548
$ 1,971,912
579,060
524,645
$ 2,055,797
600,240
509,705
$ 1,930,336
559,722
387,507
481,309
735,049
682,204
687,538
679,797
715,947
740,755
721,950
413,675
825,407
(a) Due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers at the
beginning of fiscal 2018, the Company determined that certain contracts in the Food Distribution segment, that were historically
reported on a gross basis, are now required to be reported on a net basis. The adoption of the guidance using the full retrospective
method resulted in decreases to net sales and cost of sales previously reported of $164,283 and $173,516 for 2017 and 2016,
respectively.
(b) Due to the adoption of ASU 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits at the beginning of fiscal 2018, post-retirement
benefit costs other than service cost, are reflected in “Other, net”, whereas they previously were recognized in “Selling, general
and administrative expenses”. Retrospective application resulted in immaterial changes to “Other, net” and “Selling, general and
administrative expenses” from amounts previously reported in 2017 and 2016.
(c) In 2020, the company recorded $24.4 million of net charges which primarily included asset impairment charges incurred in the
Food Distribution segment and relate to the evaluation of the expected net proceeds from the Fresh Kitchen facility which is
currently held-for-sale, the exit of the Fresh Cut business, and the sale of equipment related to both Fresh Kitchen and Fresh Cut
facilities, which totaled $9.1 million. Impairment charges of $8.6 million were also recognized primarily due to the decision to
abandon a tradename within the Food Distribution segment to better integrate with the Company’s overall transportation
operations. Certain retail store assets were determined not to be recoverable, resulting in impairment charges totaling $2.1
million. In 2019, the Company recorded $13.1 million of net charges primarily associated with asset impairment charges
associated with the decision to reposition Fresh Production operations and losses associated with the disposition of the Fresh
Kitchen, which totaled $16.4 million. These charges were partially offset by gains on the sale of a previously closed distribution
center. In 2018, the Company recorded $37.5 million of net charges associated with a $32.0 million non-cash charge related to
the expected insolvency of a Food Distribution segment customer and other charges related to the Company’s retail store
rationalization plans. In 2017, the Company recorded a $189.0 million goodwill impairment charge related to its Retail segment
and $33.7 million of asset impairment charges primarily associated with long-lived assets in the Retail segment. In 2016, the
Company recorded $32.1 million of restructuring and asset impairment charges primarily related to the closure of four retail
stores and two distribution centers, as well as asset impairment charges associated with certain underperforming retail stores.
-19-
(d) In 2020, in connection with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act and related tax planning, the
Company recorded net discrete income tax benefits of $9.3 million associated with the additional deductibility of certain
expenses combined with provisions which enable companies to carry back tax losses to years prior to the enactment of the Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”), when the federal statutory income tax rate was 35%. In 2017, income taxes were impacted by the
revaluation of deferred tax liabilities related to the corporate tax rate reduction enacted in the Tax Act, which also impacted the
Company’s tax rate in 2018.
(e) Due to the adoption of ASU 2016-02, Leases as of the beginning of 2019, the Company recognized operating lease assets and
liabilities of $241.8 million and $292.3 million, respectively. Working capital was primarily impacted by “Current portion of
operating lease liabilities” of $40.3 million, which was recognized as a result of the transition. The adoption of the standard also
resulted in a transition adjustment to beginning of the year retained earnings of $26.9 million. The Company adopted this
standard using a modified retrospective approach and elected the practical expedient available under the guidance to not adjust
comparative periods presented.
Historical data is not necessarily indicative of the Company’s future results of operations or financial condition. See discussion of
“Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this report; “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of this report; and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in Part II, Item 8 of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
About SpartanNash
SpartanNash, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a leading multi-regional grocery distributor and grocery retailer whose
core businesses include distributing grocery products to a diverse group of independent and chain retailers, its corporate owned retail
stores, and military commissaries and exchanges in the United States. The Company operates three reportable segments: Food
Distribution, Military and Retail. These reportable segments are three distinct businesses, each with a different customer base,
management structure, and basis for determining budgets, forecasts, and executive compensation.
Overview of 2020
The Company’s top priority continues to be the well-being and safety of its family of associates, customers and communities during
the COVID-19 pandemic. SpartanNash recognizes its family of associates for their dedication to serve customers and support local
communities during this unprecedented time of need. Collaboration across the organization and the strength and resiliency of its
people drives execution in a dynamic operating environment as SpartanNash supports consumer demand related to the COVID-19
pandemic. The Company’s 2020 accomplishments and developments include:
Food Distribution
The Food Distribution segment realized sales growth of 14.9%, driven by sales growth with existing customers as well as
increased demand associated with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the first quarter, the Company made the decision to exit its Caito Fresh Cut operations, as a result of the loss of a
significant customer within this business. Wind down of the operations began in March 2020 and was complete as of the end of
the first quarter. The Company incurred asset impairment charges, severance costs and operating losses during the wind down
period.
Retail
Retail comparable store sales were 8.7% in the fourth quarter and 13.1% for the fiscal year, driven by impacts associated with
the COVID-19 pandemic. During the year, the Company experienced growth in eCommerce of nearly 200% and realized
industry-leading growth in OwnBrand sales as it continues to build on its Customer Growth strategy.
Military
The Military segment continued to support DeCA in the expansion of its private brand program, which began in 2017. The
Company leveraged its private brand capabilities and expertise in the design and launch of new private brand products. As of
January 2, 2021, over 1,000 SKUs of private brand products have been introduced in the DeCA system. DeCA recently
renewed the contract for another year and the Company looks forward to continuing its partnership with DeCA in 2021.
The Military segment realized gross margin rate improvement of 7.2% despite declining sales. The Military segment has also
seen an increase in DeCA private label sales of 35% in the current year compared to the prior year.
-20-
Other Highlights
During the first quarter, the Company executed cost savings initiatives, which included a voluntary early retirement program, as
well as a reduction-in-force. These actions are expected to result in longer-term benefits, however resulted in $5.0 million in
incremental expense for the year.
During 2020, the Company declared $27.7 million in cash dividends to shareholders. The Company generated net cash from
operating activities of $306.7 million in 2020, compared to $180.2 million in 2019, due to increased profitability and changes in
working capital.
Net long-term debt decreased $197.8 million compared to the prior year as the Company continued to pay down debt. These
reductions, combined with increased profitability, resulted in an improvement in net long-term debt to adjusted EBITDA from
3.7x at the end of 2019 to 2.0x at the end of 2020, calculated on a trailing thirteen period basis.
During the third quarter, the Company appointed a new President and Chief Executive Officer, Tony Sarsam. Tony brings to
the Company an extensive background of executive experience in the food industry. His core values, history of visionary
thinking and strategic execution are in alignment with the Company’s vision and strategies.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Company extended its commercial agreement with Amazon. In connection with this
agreement, the Company issued stock warrants to a subsidiary of Amazon, subject to certain vesting conditions over a 7 year
period.
For fiscal 2021, the Company anticipates some normalization of sales trends from the levels experienced in 2020, which will be offset
by continued growth with existing Food Distribution customers. While this trend is expected to result in unfavorable comparable store
sales, the Company expects comparable sales to be positive on a two-year stacked basis. Profitability will also be impacted by
unfavorable sales comparisons, primarily in the Retail segment. The Company anticipates that savings generated through certain
initiatives will be more than offset by investments the Company is making in its people and supply chain capabilities.
Results of Operations
The current year results of operations are presented in comparison to the prior year within the section below. For a discussion of the
results of fiscal 2019 operations in comparison to fiscal 2018, refer to the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations within the prior year Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain prior year amounts have been
adjusted to reflect recently adopted accounting standards, which are described within Note 1, in the notes to the consolidated financial
statements.
The following table sets forth items from the Company’s consolidated statements of earnings as a percentage of net sales and the
percentage change from the preceding year:
Net sales
Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges
Operating earnings
Other expenses, net
Earnings before income taxes and discontinued operations
Income tax expense (benefit)
Earnings from continuing operations
Note: Certain totals do not sum due to rounding.
Percentage of Net Sales
Percentage Change
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
2020
53 vs 52
100.0
15.2
13.9
0.0
0.3
1.1
0.2
0.9
0.1
0.8
100.0
14.6
13.7
0.0
0.2
0.7
0.6
0.0
(0.0 )
0.1
100.0
13.8
12.4
0.1
0.5
0.9
0.4
0.5
0.1
0.4
9.5
14.6
10.7
(70.7 )
87.0
79.8
(68.1 )
2,287.8
(503.5 )
1,183.0
-21-
Net Sales – The following table presents net sales by segment and variances in net sales:
Percentage of
Percentage of
(In thousands)
Food Distribution
Retail
Military
Net sales
2020
(53 Weeks)
$ 4,577,178
2,637,917
2,133,390
$ 9,348,485
Total
Net Sales
2019
(52 Weeks)
$ 3,982,609
2,381,349
49.0 %
28.2
22.8 2,172,107
100.0 % $ 8,536,065
Total
Net Sales
Percentage
Variance
Change
46.7 % $ 594,569
27.9 256,568
25.4
(38,717 )
100.0 % $ 812,420
14.9
10.8
(1.8 )
9.5
Net sales increased $812.4 million, or 9.5%, to $9.35 billion in 2020 from $8.54 billion in 2019. The increase in net sales was driven
primarily by continued growth with existing Food Distribution customers, increased consumer demand associated with the COVID-19
pandemic in the Retail and Food Distribution segments, and sales of $158.9 million in the 53rd week in 2020, partially offset by the
exit of the Company’s Fresh Production operations and lower comparable sales for the Military segment.
Food Distribution net sales increased $594.6 million, or 14.9%, to $4.58 billion in 2020 from $3.98 billion in the prior year. The
increase was due to sales growth with existing customers, as well as incremental volume associated with increased consumer demand
related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and sales of $76.4 million in the 53rd week, partially offset by the impact of the Company’s
decision to exit Fresh Production operations.
Retail net sales increased $256.6 million, or 10.8%, to $2.64 billion in 2020 from $2.38 billion in the prior year. The increase in net
sales was primarily attributable to incremental sales volume associated with increased consumer demand related to the COVID-19
pandemic and $49.1 million of sales in the 53rd week. Comparable store sales were 13.1% in the current year. The Company defines a
retail store as comparable when it is in operation for 14 accounting periods (a period equals four weeks), regardless of remodels,
expansions, or relocated stores. Acquired stores are included in the comparable sales calculation 13 periods after the acquisition date.
Fuel is excluded from the comparable sales calculation due to volatility in price. Comparable store sales is a widely used metric
among retailers, which is useful to management and investors to assess performance. The Company’s definition of comparable store
sales may differ from similarly titled measures at other companies.
Military net sales decreased $38.7 million, or 1.8%, to $2.13 billion in 2020 from $2.17 billion in the prior year. Prior to the onset of
the COVID-19 pandemic, sales decreased due to the impact of lower comparable sales at DeCA operated locations. After the onset of
the pandemic, base access and commissary shopping restrictions during the second through fourth quarters also led to lower sales
volumes. These lower volumes were partially offset by $33.4 million of sales in the 53rd week.
Gross Profit – Gross profit represents net sales less cost of sales, which is described in further detail within Note 1, in the notes to the
consolidated financial statements. Gross profit increased $181.1 million, or 14.6%, to $1.42 billion in the current year compared to
$1.24 billion in the prior year. As a percent of net sales, gross profit increased from 14.6% to 15.2% primarily due to improvements in
margin rates at all three segments, as well as increases in the proportion of Retail and Food Distribution segment sales, which generate
higher margin rates than the Military segment.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses – Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses consist primarily of salaries
and wages, employee benefits, warehousing costs, store occupancy costs, shipping and handling, utilities, equipment rental,
depreciation (to the extent not included in Cost of sales), out-bound freight and other administrative expenses. SG&A expenses
increased $125.3 million, or 10.7%, to $1.30 billion in the current year from $1.17 billion in the prior year. As a percent of net sales,
SG&A expenses increased from 13.7% to 13.9%, due to a higher rate of incentive compensation expense as a result of improved
overall Company performance, a greater proportion of Retail sales which incur a higher rate of expense and increases in supply chain
expenses which were compounded by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by improved operating leverage related
to retail store labor and other operating expenses, as well as lower healthcare costs.
Merger/Acquisition and Integration Expenses – Merger/acquisition and integration expenses were $0.4 million in the current year
compared to $1.4 million in the prior year. The expenses in both years are associated with the acquisition and integration of Martin’s
Super Markets (“Martin’s”).
Restructuring, Asset Impairment and Other Charges – In the current year, $24.4 million of net restructuring, asset impairment and
other charges were incurred, primarily associated with asset impairment charges and severance costs related to the restructuring of the
Company’s Fresh Production business, asset impairment charges primarily related to the decision to abandon a tradename within the
Food Distribution segment and retail store closing-related charges. Prior year results included $13.1 million of net restructuring, asset
impairment and other charges, predominately as a result of asset impairment charges associated with the decision to reposition Fresh
Production operations and losses associated with the disposition of the Fresh Kitchen, which were partially offset by gains on the sale
of a previously closed distribution center.
-22-
Operating Earnings – The following table presents operating earnings (loss) by segment and variances in operating earnings (loss):
(In thousands)
Food Distribution
Retail
Military
Operating earnings
$ 102,406
2020
(53 Weeks)
Percentage of
Net Sales
2019
(52 Weeks)
Percentage of
Change in
Percentage of
Net Sales
Variance
Net Sales
$
45,962
66,359
(9,915 )
1.0 %
2.5
(0.5 )
1.1 %
$
$
47,416
18,842
(9,316 )
56,942
1.2 % $
0.8
(0.4 )
0.7 % $
(1,454 )
47,517
(599 )
45,464
(0.2 )
1.7
(0.0 )
0.4
The Company reported operating earnings of $102.4 million in the current year compared to $56.9 million in the prior year. The
increase of $45.5 million was attributable to increased sales volume and improved margin rates, partially offset by changes in
operating expenses discussed above, including additional compensation for frontline workers and additional sanitation measures
associated with COVID-19.
Food Distribution operating earnings decreased $1.5 million to $46.0 million in the current year from $47.4 million in the prior year.
The decrease was primarily attributable to higher incentive compensation, higher supply chain expense rates, asset impairment
charges, and $6.5 million in non-cash charges associated with stock warrants, partially offset by an increase in sales volume and
cycling of prior year operational losses in the Fresh Production business.
Retail operating earnings increased $47.5 million to $66.4 million in the current year compared to $18.8 million in the prior year. The
increase was primarily due to the increase in sales volume, improvements in margin rates, including inventory shrink, and favorable
leverage of fixed costs, including store labor. These favorable variances were partially offset by higher incentive compensation due to
improved segment performance.
Military operating loss increased $0.6 million to $9.9 million in the current year from $9.3 million in the prior year. The change was
attributable to increases in the rate of supply chain expenses, as well as increases in corporate administrative expense, partially offset
by improved margin rates.
Interest Expense – Interest expense decreased $16.1 million, or 46.7%, to $18.4 million in the current year from $34.5 million in the
prior year primarily due to rate decreases executed by the Federal Reserve as well as significant decreases in the average debt balance.
Income Taxes – The Company’s effective income tax rates were 11.1% and (65.5%) for 2020 and 2019, respectively. The differences
from the federal statutory rate in the current year were primarily the result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security
(“CARES”) Act and related tax planning during the year, as well as federal tax credits, partially offset by state taxes, non-deductible
expenses, and the impacts of stock based compensation during the year. In the prior year, the difference from the federal statutory rate
was primarily due to state tax benefits and tax credits.
On March 27, 2020, the U.S. government enacted tax legislation to provide economic stimulus and support businesses and individuals
during the COVID-19 pandemic, referred to as the CARES Act. In connection with the CARES Act, the Company recorded net
discrete income tax benefits of $9.3 million in 2020, associated with the additional deductibility of certain expenses combined with
provisions which enable companies to carry back tax losses to years prior to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax
Reform”), when the federal statutory income tax rate was 35%.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
(“GAAP”), the Company also provides information regarding adjusted operating earnings, adjusted earnings from continuing
operations, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“adjusted EBITDA”). These are non-GAAP
financial measures, as defined below, and are used by management to allocate resources, assess performance against its peers and
evaluate overall performance. The Company believes these measures provide useful information for both management and its
investors. The Company believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors because they provide additional understanding of
the trends and special circumstances that affect its business. These measures provide useful supplemental information that helps
investors to establish a basis for expected performance and the ability to evaluate actual results against that expectation. The measures,
when considered in connection with GAAP results, can be used to assess the overall performance of the Company as well as assess the
Company’s performance against its peers. These measures are also used as a basis for certain compensation programs sponsored by
the Company. In addition, securities analysts, fund managers and other shareholders and stakeholders that communicate with the
Company request its financial results in these adjusted formats.
-23-
Current year adjusted operating earnings, adjusted earnings from continuing operations, and adjusted EBITDA exclude “Fresh Cut
operating losses” subsequent to the decision to exit these operations during the first quarter, severance associated with cost reduction
initiatives, organizational realignment costs and fees paid to a third-party advisory firm associated with Project One Team, the
Company’s initiative to drive growth while increasing efficiency and reducing costs. Adjusted earnings from continuing operations
also exclude pension termination income related to refunds from the annuity provider associated with the final reconciliation of
participant data, as well as net tax benefits associated with the CARES Act. Prior year adjusted operating earnings, adjusted earnings
from continuing operations and adjusted EBITDA exclude “Fresh Kitchen operating losses” subsequent to the decision to exit these
operations at the beginning of the third quarter, costs associated with organizational realignment, which include significant changes to
the Company’s management team, and fees paid to a third-party advisory firm associated with Project One Team. Pension termination
costs, primarily related to non-operating settlement expense associated with the distribution of pension assets, are excluded from
adjusted earnings from continuing operations, and to a lesser extent adjusted operating earnings. In 2018, adjusted operating earnings,
adjusted earnings from continuing operations, and adjusted EBITDA exclude start-up costs associated with the first year of Fresh
Kitchen operations, which concluded during the first quarter of 2018. These measures were adjusted for the impact of the 53rd week in
2020 to provide better comparability to prior years. Each of the adjusted items are considered “non-operational” or “non-core” in
nature.
Adjusted Operating Earnings
Adjusted operating earnings is a non-GAAP operating financial measure that the Company defines as operating earnings plus or minus
adjustments for items that do not reflect the ongoing operating activities of the Company and costs associated with the closing of
operational locations.
The Company believes that adjusted operating earnings provide a meaningful representation of its operating performance for the
Company as a whole and for its operating segments. The Company considers adjusted operating earnings as an additional way to
measure operating performance on an ongoing basis. Adjusted operating earnings is meant to reflect the ongoing operating
performance of all of its distribution and retail operations; consequently, it excludes the impact of items that could be considered
“non-operating” or “non-core” in nature, and also excludes the contributions of activities classified as discontinued
operations. Because adjusted operating earnings and adjusted operating earnings by segment are performance measures that
management uses to allocate resources, assess performance against its peers and evaluate overall performance, the Company believes
it provides useful information for both management and its investors. In addition, securities analysts, fund managers and other
shareholders and stakeholders that communicate with the Company request its operating financial results in an adjusted operating
earnings format.
Adjusted operating earnings is not a measure of performance under GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for operating
earnings, and other income statement data. The Company’s definition of adjusted operating earnings may not be identical to similarly
titled measures reported by other companies.
Following is a reconciliation of operating earnings to adjusted operating earnings for 2020, 2019 and 2018.
(In thousands)
Operating earnings
Adjustments:
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges
Fresh Kitchen start-up costs
Fresh Kitchen operating losses
Expenses associated with tax planning strategies
Costs associated with Project One Team
Organizational realignment costs
Pension termination
Severance associated with cost reduction initiatives
Fresh Cut operating losses
Adjusted operating earnings
53rd week
Adjusted operating earnings, excluding 53rd week
2020
2019
2018
(53 Weeks)
$ 102,406
(52 Weeks)
(52 Weeks)
$
56,942
$
70,512
421
24,398
—
—
82
493
455
—
5,154
2,262
135,671
(4,155 )
$ 131,516
$
1,437
13,050
—
2,894
—
5,428
1,812
59
509
—
82,131
—
82,131
4,937
37,546
1,366
—
225
—
—
—
1,023
—
115,609
—
$ 115,609
-24-
Following is a reconciliation of operating earnings by segment to adjusted operating earnings by segment for 2020, 2019 and 2018.
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
$
45,962
$
47,416
$
48,752
—
21,085
—
—
44
265
245
—
3,156
2,262
73,019
(1,300 )
71,719
$
(122 )
14,844
—
2,894
—
2,877
960
32
413
—
69,314
—
69,314
$
3,581
33,056
1,366
—
116
—
—
—
763
—
87,634
—
87,634
$
$
66,359
$
18,842
$
16,113
421
3,313
164
151
27
—
1,445
71,880
(2,760 )
69,120
$
1,559
(1,794 )
1,845
616
—
21
86
21,175
—
21,175
$
1,352
5,291
—
—
81
—
153
22,990
—
22,990
$
$
(9,915 ) $
(9,316 ) $
5,647
—
—
64
59
11
—
553
(9,228 )
(95 )
(9,323 )
$
—
—
706
236
—
6
10
(8,358 )
—
(8,358 )
$
4
(801 )
—
—
28
—
107
4,985
—
4,985
Food Distribution:
Operating earnings
Adjustments:
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges
Fresh Kitchen start-up costs
Fresh Kitchen operating losses
Expenses associated with tax planning strategies
Costs associated with Project One Team
Organizational realignment costs
Pension termination
Severance associated with cost reduction initiatives
Fresh Cut operating losses
Adjusted operating earnings
53rd week
Adjusted operating earnings, excluding 53rd week
Retail:
Operating earnings
Adjustments:
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges (gains)
Costs associated with Project One Team
Organizational realignment costs
Expenses associated with tax planning strategies
Pension termination
Severance associated with cost reduction initiatives
Adjusted operating earnings
53rd week
Adjusted operating earnings, excluding 53rd week
Military:
Operating (loss) earnings
Adjustments:
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other gains
Costs associated with Project One Team
Organizational realignment costs
Expenses associated with tax planning strategies
Pension termination
Severance associated with cost reduction initiatives
Adjusted operating (loss) earnings
53rd week
Adjusted operating (loss) earnings, excluding 53rd week
$
-25-
Adjusted Earnings from Continuing Operations
Adjusted earnings from continuing operations is a non-GAAP operating financial measure that the Company defines as earnings from
continuing operations plus or minus adjustments for items that do not reflect the ongoing operating activities of the Company and
costs associated with the closing of operational locations.
The Company believes that adjusted earnings from continuing operations provide a meaningful representation of its operating
performance for the Company. The Company considers adjusted earnings from continuing operations as an additional way to measure
operating performance on an ongoing basis. Adjusted earnings from continuing operations is meant to reflect the ongoing operating
performance of all of its distribution and retail operations; consequently, it excludes the impact of items that could be considered
“non-operating” or “non-core” in nature, and also excludes the contributions of activities classified as discontinued operations.
Because adjusted earnings from continuing operations is a performance measure that management uses to allocate resources, assess
performance against its peers and evaluate overall performance, the Company believes it provides useful information for both
management and its investors. In addition, securities analysts, fund managers and other shareholders and stakeholders that
communicate with the Company request its operating financial results in adjusted earnings from continuing operations format.
Adjusted earnings from continuing operations is not a measure of performance under GAAP and should not be considered as a
substitute for earnings from continuing operations and other income statement data. The Company’s definition of adjusted earnings
from continuing operations may not be identical to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
-26-
Following is a reconciliation of earnings from continuing operations to adjusted earnings from continuing operations for 2020, 2019
and 2018.
(In thousands, except per share data)
Earnings
share
Earnings
2020
(53 Weeks)
per diluted
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
per diluted
share
Earnings
per diluted
share
Earnings from continuing operations
Adjustments:
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other
charges
Fresh Kitchen start-up costs
Fresh Kitchen operating losses
Expenses associated with tax planning
Costs associated with Project One Team
Organizational realignment costs
Loss on debt extinguishment
Severance associated with cost reduction
initiatives
Fresh Cut operating losses
Pension termination
Total adjustments
Income tax effect on adjustments (a)
Impact of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (b)
Impact of CARES Act (c)
Total adjustments, net of taxes
Adjusted earnings from continuing
operations
53rd week
Adjusted earnings from continuing
operations, excluding 53rd week
$
75,914 $
2.12 $
5,917 $
0.16 $
33,791 $
0.94
421
24,398
—
—
82
493
455
—
5,154
2,262
(1,193 )
32,072
(7,851 )
—
(9,292 )
14,929
90,843
(2,999 )
1,437
13,050
—
2,894
—
5,428
1,812
329
509
—
19,557
45,016
(11,022 )
—
—
33,994
0.41
2.53
(0.08 )
39,911
—
4,937
37,546
1,366
—
225
—
—
—
1,023
—
—
45,097
(11,139 )
(494 )
—
33,464
67,255
—
0.94
1.10
—
0.93
1.87
—
$
87,844
$
2.45 $
39,911
$
1.10
$
67,255
$
1.87
(a) The income tax effect on adjustments is computed by applying the applicable tax rate to the adjustments.
(b) The Company realized income tax benefits related to remeasuring its deferred tax assets and liabilities to reflect the change in the
federal statutory rate resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Includes $1.1 million of tax benefits attributable to tax planning
strategies related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for 2018.
(c) Represents tax impacts attributable to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, and related tax
planning, primarily related to additional deductions and the utilization of net operating loss carryback.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“adjusted EBITDA”) is a non-GAAP operating financial
measure that the Company defines as net earnings plus interest, discontinued operations, depreciation and amortization, and other non-
cash items including share-based payments (equity awards measured in accordance with ASC 718, Stock Compensation, which
include both stock-based compensation to employees and stock warrants issued to non-employees) and the LIFO provision, as well as
adjustments for items that do not reflect the ongoing operating activities of the Company and costs associated with the closing of
operational locations.
The Company believes that adjusted EBITDA provides a meaningful representation of its operating performance for the Company as a
whole and for its operating segments. The Company considers adjusted EBITDA as an additional way to measure operating
performance on an ongoing basis. Adjusted EBITDA is meant to reflect the ongoing operating performance of all of its distribution
and retail operations; consequently, it excludes the impact of items that could be considered “non-operating” or “non-core” in nature,
and also excludes the contributions of activities classified as discontinued operations. Because adjusted EBITDA and adjusted
EBITDA by segment are performance measures that management uses to allocate resources, assess performance against its peers and
evaluate overall performance, the Company believes it provides useful information for both management and its investors. In addition,
securities analysts, fund managers and other shareholders and stakeholders that communicate with the Company request its operating
financial results in an adjusted EBITDA format.
-27-
Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA by segment are not measures of performance under GAAP and should not be considered as
a substitute for net earnings, cash flows from operating activities and other income or cash flow statement data. The Company’s
definitions of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA by segment may not be identical to similarly titled measures reported by other
companies.
Following is a reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted EBITDA for 2020, 2019 and 2018.
(In thousands)
Net earnings
$
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
Income tax expense (benefit)
Other expenses, net
Operating earnings
Adjustments:
LIFO expense
Depreciation and amortization
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges
Fresh Kitchen start-up costs
Fresh Kitchen operating losses
Expenses associated with tax planning strategies
Fresh Cut operating losses
Stock-based compensation
Stock warrants
Non-cash rent
Costs associated with Project One Team
Organizational realignment costs
Loss on disposal of assets
Severance associated with cost reduction initiatives
Other non-cash charges
Adjusted EBITDA
53rd week
Adjusted EBITDA, excluding 53rd week
$
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
75,914 $
—
9,450
17,042
102,406
2,176
89,504
421
24,398
—
—
82
2,262
6,265
6,549
(4,733 )
493
455
3,330
5,154
297
239,059
(4,246 )
234,813 $
5,742 $
175
(2,342 )
53,367
56,942
5,892
87,866
1,437
13,050
—
2,894
—
—
7,313
—
(5,622 )
5,428
1,812
—
—
933
177,945
—
177,945 $
33,572
219
6,907
29,814
70,512
4,601
82,634
4,937
37,546
1,366
—
225
—
7,646
—
(962 )
—
—
—
—
916
209,421
—
209,421
-28-
Following is a reconciliation of operating earnings (loss) to adjusted EBITDA by segment for 2020, 2019 and 2018.
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
$
45,962 $
47,416 $
48,752
855
31,917
—
21,085
—
—
44
2,262
3,076
6,549
558
265
245
1,482
3,156
160
117,616
(1,363 )
116,253 $
3,032
32,861
(122 )
14,844
—
2,894
—
—
3,603
—
482
2,877
960
—
—
394
109,241
—
109,241 $
2,270
31,854
3,581
33,056
1,366
—
116
—
3,626
—
157
—
—
—
—
567
125,345
—
125,345
(In thousands)
Food Distribution:
Operating earnings
Adjustments:
LIFO expense
Depreciation and amortization
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges
Fresh Kitchen start-up costs
Fresh Kitchen operating losses
Expenses associated with tax planning strategies
Fresh Cut operating losses
Stock-based compensation
Stock warrants
Non-cash rent
Costs associated with Project One Team
Organizational realignment costs
Loss on disposal of assets
Severance associated with cost reduction initiatives
Other non-cash charges
Adjusted EBITDA
53rd week
Adjusted EBITDA, excluding 53rd week
$
-29-
(In thousands)
Retail:
Operating earnings
Adjustments:
LIFO expense
Depreciation and amortization
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges (gains)
Expenses associated with tax planning strategies
Stock-based compensation
Non-cash rent
Costs associated with Project One Team
Organizational realignment costs
Severance associated with cost reduction initiatives
Loss on disposal of assets
Other non-cash charges
Adjusted EBITDA
53rd week
Adjusted EBITDA, excluding 53rd week
Military:
Operating (loss) earnings
Adjustments:
LIFO expense
Depreciation and amortization
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other gains
Expenses associated with tax planning strategies
Stock-based compensation
Non-cash rent
Costs associated with Project One Team
Organizational realignment costs
Severance associated with cost reduction initiatives
Gain on disposal of assets
Other non-cash charges (gains)
Adjusted EBITDA
53rd week
Adjusted EBITDA, excluding 53rd week
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
$
66,359 $
18,842 $
16,113
301
45,199
421
3,313
27
2,134
(4,915 )
164
151
1,445
1,946
97
116,642
(2,780 )
113,862 $
1,071
43,171
1,559
(1,794 )
—
2,530
(5,730 )
1,845
616
—
—
628
62,738
—
62,738 $
1,101
38,812
1,352
5,291
81
2,776
(796 )
—
—
—
—
299
65,029
—
65,029
(9,915 ) $
(9,316 ) $
5,647
1,020
12,388
—
—
11
1,055
(376 )
64
59
553
(98 )
40
4,801
(103 )
4,698 $
1,789
11,834
—
—
—
1,180
(374 )
706
236
—
—
(89 )
5,966
—
5,966 $
1,230
11,968
4
(801 )
28
1,244
(323 )
—
—
—
—
50
19,047
—
19,047
$
$
$
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect
the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.
Management bases its estimates on historical experience and 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 value of assets and liabilities that may not
be readily apparent from other sources. Based on the Company’s ongoing review, the Company makes adjustments it considers
appropriate under the facts and circumstances. The Company believes these accounting policies, and others set forth in Note 1, in the
notes to the consolidated financial statements, should be reviewed as they are integral to understanding the Company’s financial
condition and results of operations. The Company has discussed the development, selection and disclosure of these accounting
policies with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
An accounting estimate is considered critical if: a) it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters
that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made, and b) different estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes
in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the Company’s consolidated
financial statements. The Company considers the following accounting policies to represent the more critical estimates and
assumptions used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements:
-30-
Customer Exposure and Credit Risk
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. The Company evaluates the collectability of its accounts and notes receivable based on a
combination of factors. The Company estimates losses using an expected loss model, by considering both historical data and future
expectations, including collection experience, expectations for current credit risks, accounts receivable payment status, the customer’s
financial health, as well as the Company’s collateral and creditor position. The Company pools similar assets based on their credit risk
characteristics, whereby many of its trade receivables are pooled based on certain customer or aging characteristics. After assets are
pooled, an appropriate loss factor is applied based on management’s expectations. Based on the estimated loss, the Company records
an allowance to reduce the receivable to an amount the Company reasonably expects to collect. It is possible that the accuracy of the
estimation process could be materially affected by different judgments as to the collectability based on information considered and
further deterioration of accounts. If circumstances change (e.g., further evidence of material adverse creditworthiness, additional
accounts become credit risks, store closures), the Company’s estimates of the recoverability of amounts due could be reduced by a
material amount, including to zero.
Funds Advanced to Independent Retailers. From time to time, the Company may advance funds to independent retailers which are
earned by the retailers primarily through achieving specified purchase volume requirements, as outlined in their supply agreements
with the Company, or in limited instances, for remaining a SpartanNash customer for a specified time period. These advances must be
repaid if the purchase volume requirements are not met or if the retailer does not remain a customer for the specified time period. In
the event these retailers are unable to repay these advances or otherwise experience an event of default, the Company may be unable
to recover the unearned portion of the funds advanced to these independent retailers. The Company evaluates the recoverability of
these advances based on a number of factors, including anticipated and historical purchase volume, the value of any collateral,
customer financial health and other economic and industry factors, and establishes a reserve for the advances as necessary.
Guarantees of Debt and Lease Obligations of Others. The Company may guarantee debt and lease obligations of independent
retailers. In the event these retailers are unable to meet their debt service payments or otherwise experience an event of default, the
Company would be unconditionally liable for the outstanding balance of their debt and lease obligations, which would be due in
accordance with the underlying agreements. The Company evaluates the likelihood that funding will occur and the expected credit
losses on commitments to be funded using an expected loss model.
The Company has guaranteed the outstanding lease obligations of certain independent retailers. These guarantees, which are secured
by certain business assets and personal guarantees of the respective independent retailers, represent the maximum undiscounted
payments the Company would be required to make in the event of default. When a loss is expected, a liability representing the fair
value of the obligations assumed under the guarantees is included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
The Company also subleases and assigns various leases to third parties. In circumstances when the Company becomes aware of
factors that indicate deterioration in a third party’s ability to meet its financial obligations guaranteed or assigned by SpartanNash, the
Company records a specific reserve in the amount the Company reasonably believes it will be obligated to pay on the third party’s
behalf, net of any anticipated recoveries from the third party. It is possible that the accuracy of the estimation process could be
materially affected by different judgments as to the obligations based on information considered and further deterioration of accounts,
with the potential for a corresponding adverse effect on operating results and cash flows. Triggering these guarantees or obligations
under assigned leases would not, however, result in cross default of the Company’s debt, but could restrict resources available for
general business initiatives.
Business Combinations
The Company accounts for acquired businesses using the purchase method of accounting, which requires that the assets acquired and
liabilities assumed be recorded at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date, with any excess purchase price over the
estimated fair values of the net assets acquired being recorded as goodwill.
Significant judgment is required in estimating the fair value of intangible assets and in assigning their respective useful lives. The fair
value estimates are based on available historical information and on future expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by the
Company but are inherently uncertain. Also, determining the estimated useful life of an intangible asset requires judgment based on
the Company’s expected use of the asset, as different types of intangible assets will have different useful lives and certain assets may
even be considered to have indefinite useful lives. The Company typically utilizes the income method to estimate the fair value of
intangible assets, which discounts the projected future cash flows attributable to the respective assets. Significant estimates and
assumptions inherent in the valuation reflect a consideration of other marketplace competition and include the amount and timing of
future cash flows (including expected growth rates and profitability) and the discount rate applied to the cash flows. Unanticipated
market or macroeconomic events and circumstances may occur that could affect the accuracy or validity of the estimates and
assumptions.
-31-
Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment on an annual basis (during the last quarter of the year),
or whenever events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not indicate an impairment exists. The quantitative
impairment evaluation of these assets involves the comparison of their fair value to their carrying values.
Goodwill. The Company has three reporting units, which are the same as the Company’s reportable segments; however, there is no
goodwill recorded within the Retail or Military segments. Fair values are determined based on the discounted cash flows and
comparable market values of each reporting segment. If a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying value, an impairment
charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, not to exceed the total amount
of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The Company’s goodwill impairment analysis also includes a comparison of the estimated
fair value of the enterprise as a whole to the Company’s total market capitalization. Therefore, a significant and sustained decline in
the Company’s stock price could result in goodwill impairment charges. During times of financial market volatility, significant
judgment is given to determine the underlying cause of the decline and whether stock price declines are short-term in nature or
indicative of an event or change in circumstances.
The Company estimates the fair value of the Food Distribution reporting unit primarily based on the income approach using a
discounted cash flow model and also incorporates the market approach using observable comparable company information. Key
assumptions used by the Company in preparing the fair value estimate under the discounted cash flow method include:
Weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”): The determination of the WACC incorporates current interest rates, equity risk
premiums, and other market-based expectations regarding expected investment returns. The development of the WACC
requires estimates of an equity rate of return and a debt rate of return, which are specific to the industry in which the reporting
unit operates.
Revenue growth rates: The Company develops its forecasts based on recent sales data for existing operations and other factors,
including management’s future expectations.
Operating profits: The Company uses historical operating margins as a basis for its projections within the discounted cash flow
model. Margins within the forecast may vary due to future expectations related to both product and administrative costs.
The Company compares the results of the discounted cash flow model to observable comparable company market multiples to support
the appropriateness of the fair value estimates. The Company concludes whether the implied multiple is reasonable with respect to the
comparable company range, and whether the assumptions used in the fair value estimate are supportable.
As of the date of the most recent goodwill impairment test, which utilized data and assumptions as of October 3, 2020, the Food
Distribution reporting unit had a fair value that was substantially in excess of its carrying value. The Company has sufficient available
information, both current and historical, to support its assumptions, judgments and estimates used in the goodwill impairment test;
however, if actual results for the Food Distribution segment are not consistent with the Company’s estimates, it could result in the
Company recording a non-cash impairment charge.
Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets. The estimated fair value of these assets is computed by using a discounted cash flow method,
such as the relief-from-royalty methodology. The Company determines future cash flows generated from the use of the asset,
generally using estimated revenue growth rates and profitability rates and, in the case of the relief-from-royalty methodology, royalty
rates. Discount rates are determined based on the WACC of the reporting unit in which the asset resides, consistent with the discussion
above. Impairments of these assets were $8.6 million and $14.0 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively. There were no impairments
of these assets in 2018.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets to be held and used are evaluated for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of
an asset may not be recoverable. When the undiscounted future cash flows are not sufficient to recover an asset’s carrying amount, the
fair value is compared to the carrying value to determine the impairment loss to be recorded. Long-lived assets are evaluated at the
asset-group level, which is the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets
and liabilities. Impairments of long-lived assets were $11.5 million, $3.9 million and $2.6 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018,
respectively.
Estimates of future cash flows and expected sales prices are judgments based upon the Company’s experience and knowledge of
operations. These estimates project cash flows several years into the future and are affected by changes in the economy, the
competitive environment, real estate market conditions and inflation. If the book value of assets is determined to not be recoverable,
future cash flows for the expected useful life of the asset group are discounted using a rate based on the WACC of the reporting
segment in which the asset resides, consistent with the discussion above.
-32-
Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value, less cost to sell. Management
determines fair values using independent appraisals, quotes or expected sales prices developed by internal real estate professionals.
Estimates of expected sales prices are judgments based upon the Company’s experience, knowledge of market conditions and current
offers received. Changes in market conditions, the economic environment and other factors, including the Company’s ability to
effectively compete and react to competitor openings, can significantly impact these estimates. While the Company believes that the
estimates and assumptions underlying the valuation methodology are reasonable, different assumptions could result in a different
outcome.
Insurance Reserves
SpartanNash is self-insured through self-insurance retentions or high deductible programs for workers’ compensation, general
liability, and automobile liability, and is also self-insured for healthcare costs. Self-insurance liabilities are recorded based on claims
filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. Workers’ compensation, general liability and automobile liabilities are
actuarially estimated based on available historical information on an undiscounted basis. The Company has purchased stop-loss
coverage to limit its exposure on a per claim basis for its self-insurance retentions and high deductible programs. On a per claim basis,
the Company’s exposure is up to $0.5 million for workers’ compensation and general liability, $1.0 million for automobile liability,
and $0.6 million for healthcare per covered life per year. Refer to Note 1, in the notes to the consolidated financial statements for
additional information related to self-insurance reserves.
Any projection of losses concerning insurance reserves is subject to a degree of variability. Among the causes of variability are
unpredictable external factors affecting future inflation rates, discount rates, litigation trends, changing regulations, legal
interpretations, benefit level changes and claim settlement patterns. Although the Company’s estimates of liabilities incurred do not
anticipate significant changes in historical trends for these variables, such changes could have a material impact on future claim costs
and currently recorded liabilities. The impact of many of these variables may be difficult to estimate.
Stock Warrants
Common stock warrants may be accounted for as either liability or equity instruments depending on the terms of the warrant
agreements. The stock warrants issued by the Company are accounted for as equity instruments due to the ability of the Company to
settle the warrants though the issuance of available authorized shares and the absence of terms which would require liability
classification, including the rights of the grantee to require cash settlement. The Company classifies stock warrants within common
stock in the consolidated balance sheets.
Equity instruments are measured at their grant date fair value in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718,
Compensation – Stock Compensation. These instruments are classified within the consolidated statements of earnings in accordance
with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and ASU 2019-08. To determine the fair value of the warrants in accordance
with ASC 718, the Company uses a binomial lattice pricing model. This model is based, in part, upon inputs for which management is
required to use judgment. These inputs include the Company’s historical stock volatility and dividend rate, the risk-free interest rate,
and the timeframe over which the options are expected to vest.
For awards granted to a customer which are not in exchange for distinct goods or services, the fair value of the awards earned based
on vesting conditions is recorded as a reduction of the transaction price. The Company determines the amount of warrant expense
based on the customer’s achievement of vesting conditions, which is recorded at grant date fair value per warrant share, as a reduction
of revenue on the consolidated statement of earnings.
Income Taxes
The Company reviews deferred tax assets for recoverability and evaluates whether it is more likely than not that they will be realized.
In making this evaluation, the Company considers positive and negative evidence associated with several factors, including the
statutory recovery periods for the assets, along with available sources of future taxable income, including reversals of existing taxable
temporary differences, tax planning strategies, history of taxable income or losses, and projections of future income or losses. A
valuation allowance is provided when the Company concludes, based on all available evidence, that it is more likely than not that the
deferred tax assets will not be realized during the applicable recovery period.
SpartanNash is subject to periodic audits by the Internal Revenue Service and other state and local taxing authorities. These audits
may challenge certain of the Company’s tax positions, such as the timing and amount of income credits and deductions and the
allocation of taxable income to various tax jurisdictions. The Company evaluates its tax positions and establishes liabilities in
accordance with the applicable accounting guidance on uncertainty in income taxes. These tax uncertainties are reviewed as facts and
circumstances change and are adjusted accordingly. This requires significant management judgment in estimating final outcomes.
Actual results could materially differ from these estimates and could significantly affect the Company’s effective income tax rate and
cash flows in future years.
-33-
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash Flow Information
The following table summarizes the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows for 2020, 2019 and 2018:
(In thousands)
Cash flow activities
Net cash provided by operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash used in financing activities
Net cash used in discontinued operations
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
$
$
306,716 $
(57,221 )
(253,764 )
—
(4,269 )
24,172
19,903 $
180,192 $
(143,172 )
(31,219 )
(214 )
5,587
18,585
24,172 $
171,658
(64,156 )
(104,300 )
(284 )
2,918
15,667
18,585
Net cash provided by operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities in the current year increased compared to the prior
year by $126.5 million primarily due to improved profitability and changes in operating asset and liability balances partially related to
the deferral of payroll taxes in connection with the CARES Act, and increases in accrued incentive compensation.
Net cash used in investing activities. Net cash used in investing activities decreased $86.0 million in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily
due to the Martin’s acquisition in the prior year.
The Food Distribution, Retail and Military segments utilized 37.2%, 50.4% and 12.4% of capital expenditures, respectively, for the
current year. Capital expenditures for 2020 primarily related to store remodels and the construction of one retail store, investments in
supply chain infrastructure, and IT system upgrades and implementations. Capital expenditures were $67.3 million in the current year
and cloud computing application development spend, which is included in operating activities, was $11.6 million, compared to capital
expenditures of $74.8 million in the prior year. The Company expects capital expenditures and cloud computing application
development spend to range from $80.0 million to $90.0 million in 2021.
Net cash used in financing activities. Net cash used in financing activities increased $222.5 million in 2020 compared to 2019
primarily due to increased payment of debt balances in the current year, funded by cash provided by operating activities, in addition to
borrowings to fund the Martin’s acquisition in the prior year.
Debt Management
Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities, including the current portion, decreased $202.1 million to $486.4 million as of January 2,
2021 from $688.6 million at December 28, 2019. The decrease in total debt was driven by principal payments made throughout 2020.
The Company’s Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) matures on December 18, 2023. The
Credit Agreement provides for a Tranche A revolving loan of up to $975 million and a Tranche A-1 revolving loan with $40 million
of capacity. The Company has the ability to increase the size of the Credit Agreement by an additional $325 million, subject to certain
conditions. The Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all of the Company’s personal and
real property. The Company may repay all loans in whole or in part at any time without penalty.
Liquidity
The Company’s principal sources of liquidity are cash flows generated from operations and its senior secured credit facility. As of
January 2, 2021, the senior secured credit facility had outstanding borrowings of $440.2 million. Additional available borrowings
under the Company’s Credit Agreement are based on stipulated advance rates on eligible assets, as defined in the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement requires that the Company maintains Excess Availability of 10% of the borrowing base, as defined in the
Credit Agreement. The Company had excess availability after the 10% requirement of $432.4 million at January 2, 2021. Payment of
dividends and repurchases of outstanding shares are permitted, provided that certain levels of excess availability are maintained. The
Credit Agreement provides for the issuance of letters of credit, of which $15.6 million were outstanding as of January 2, 2021. The
Company believes that cash generated from operating activities and available borrowings under the Credit Agreement will be
sufficient to meet anticipated requirements for working capital, capital expenditures, dividend payments, and debt service obligations
for the foreseeable future. However, there can be no assurance that the business will continue to generate cash flow at or above current
levels or that the Company will maintain its ability to borrow under the Credit Agreement.
-34-
The Company’s current ratio (current assets over current liabilities) was 1.47:1 at January 2, 2021 compared to 1.76:1 at December
28, 2019, and its investment in working capital was $325.2 million at January 2, 2021 compared to $431.5 million at December 28,
2019. The net long-term debt to total capital ratio was 0.39:1 at January 2, 2021, compared to 0.49:1 at December 28, 2019. Total net
debt is a non-GAAP financial measure that is defined as long-term debt and finance lease liabilities, plus current portion of long-term
debt and finance lease liabilities, less cash and cash equivalents. The Company believes both management and its investors find the
information useful because it reflects the amount of long-term debt obligations that are not covered by available cash and temporary
investments. Total net debt is not a substitute for GAAP financial measures and may differ from similarly titled measures of other
companies.
Following is a reconciliation of “Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities” to net long-term debt as of January 2, 2021 and
December 28, 2019.
(In thousands)
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease liabilities
Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities
Total debt
Cash and cash equivalents
Net long-term debt
Contractual Obligations
January 2,
2021
December 28,
$
$
5,135 $
481,309
486,444
(19,903 )
466,541 $
2019
6,349
682,204
688,553
(24,172 )
664,381
The table below presents the Company’s significant contractual obligations as of January 2, 2021, presented on an undiscounted basis.
Funding of postretirement benefit obligations and contributions under various multi-employer pension and health and welfare plans,
which totaled $14.1 million and $13.7 million, respectively, for the year ended January 2, 2021 are excluded. For additional
information, refer to Note 11, in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. Unrecognized tax liabilities are also excluded, as
the Company cannot reasonably estimate the timing of potential cash settlement. For additional information, refer to Note 13, in the
notes to the consolidated financial statements.
(In thousands)
Long-term debt
Estimated interest on long-term debt
Finance leases (a)
Operating leases (a)
Ancillary lease costs of closed sites
Purchase obligations (merchandise) (b)
Self-insurance liability
Total
Amount Committed By Period
Total
Amount
Committed
Less
than 1
year
1-3 years
3-5 years
More
than 5
years
$ 446,884 $
35,601
63,848
407,334
3,789
34,303
16,737
2,157
1,599 $
47
249
11,137
33,338
82,928 156,182
523
—
1,230
$ 1,008,496 $ 115,745 $ 597,672 $ 101,602 $ 193,477
1,105 $ 442,023 $
21,187
14,118
6,973
12,400
61,536 106,688
1,179
1,331
10,129
20,693
4,066
9,989
756
3,481
1,452
(a) Operating and finance lease obligations do not include common area maintenance, insurance or tax payments for which the
Company is also obligated. These costs totaled approximately $14.4 million in 2020.
(b) The amount of purchase obligations shown in this table represents the amount of product the Company is contractually obligated
to purchase in order to earn $12.2 million in advanced contract monies that are receivable under the contracts. At January 2,
2021, $1.8 million in advanced contract monies has been received under these contracts where recognition has been deferred on
the consolidated balance sheet. If the Company does not fulfill these purchase obligations, it would only be obligated to repay the
unearned upfront contract monies. The amount shown here does not include the following: a) purchase obligations made in the
normal course of business as those obligations involve purchase orders based on current Company needs that are typically
cancelable and/or fulfilled by vendors within a very short period of time; b) agreements that are cancelable by the Company
without significant penalty, including contracts for routine outsourced services; and c) contracts that do not contain minimum
annual purchase commitments but include other standard contractual considerations that must be fulfilled in order to earn
advanced contract monies that have been received.
The Company has also made certain commercial commitments that extend beyond January 2, 2021. These commitments include
standby letters of credit and guarantees of certain customer and third-party business partner lease, debt, and vendor obligations. Refer
to Note 1, and Note 3, in the notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding lease guarantees and
assigned leases. The Company had $15.6 million of standby letters of credit outstanding as of January 2, 2021, which primarily
support the Company’s self-insurance obligations and are due within one year.
-35-
Cash Dividends
The Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1925, $0.19 and $0.18 per common share in each quarter of 2020, 2019, and
2018, respectively. Under the Credit Agreement, the Company is generally permitted to pay dividends in any year up to an amount
such that all cash dividends, together with any cash distributions and share repurchases, do not exceed $35.0 million. Additionally, the
Company is generally permitted to pay cash dividends in excess of $35.0 million in any year so long as its Excess Availability, as
defined in the Credit Agreement, is in excess of 10% of the Total Borrowing Base, as defined in the Credit Agreement, before and
after giving effect to the repurchases and dividends. Although the Company currently expects to continue to pay a quarterly cash
dividend, adoption of a dividend policy does not commit the Board of Directors (the “Board”) to declare future dividends. Each future
dividend will be considered and declared by the Board at its discretion. Whether the Board continues to declare dividends depends on
a number of factors, including the Company’s future financial condition, anticipated profitability and cash flows and compliance with
the terms of its credit facilities.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Refer to Note 1, in the notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional information related to recently adopted accounting
standards, as well as the anticipated effect of any impending accounting standards.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
The Company is exposed to industry related price changes on several commodities, such as dairy, meat and produce that it buys and
sells in all of its segments. These products are purchased for and sold from inventory in the ordinary course of business. The Company
is also exposed to other general commodity price changes such as utilities, insurance and fuel costs.
The Company had $440.2 million of variable rate debt as of January 2, 2021. The Company may not be able to accurately predict
changes in interest rates or mitigate their impact. A hypothetical 0.50% increase in rates applicable to borrowings under the Revolving
Credit Facility as of January 2, 2021 would increase interest expense related to such debt by approximately $2.2 million per year. The
weighted average interest rate on debt outstanding during the year ended January 2, 2021 was 2.95%.
At January 2, 2021 the estimated fair value of the Company’s fixed rate long-term debt was higher than book value by approximately
$7.4 million. The estimated fair value was based on market quotes for instruments with similar terms and remaining maturities.
The following table sets forth the future principal payments of the Company’s outstanding debt and related weighted average interest
rates for the outstanding instruments as of January 2, 2021:
(In thousands, except rates) Fair Value
Total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter
January 2, 2021
Aggregate Payments by Year
Fixed rate debt
$ 57,764 $ 50,339 $ 5,135 $ 4,614 $ 4,557 $ 4,450 $ 4,104 $ 27,479
6.58 %
6.67 %
6.74 %
6.81 %
6.84 %
6.35 %
Principal payable
Average interest rate
Variable rate debt
Principal payable
Average interest rate
$ 440,177 $ 440,177 $
— $
1.73 %
— $ 440,177 $
— $
— $
1.73 %
1.73 %
N/A
N/A
—
N/A
-36-
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and shareholders of
SpartanNash Company and subsidiaries
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SpartanNash Company and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of
January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity,
and cash flows, for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, and the related notes
(collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects,
the financial position of the Company as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for each of the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal
Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our
report dated March 3, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, in the first quarter of 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update
(“ASU”) 2016-12, Leases (Topic 842), using the alternative transition method provided in ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842):
Targeted Improvements.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the
Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 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 audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the 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 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 financial statements. We believe
that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were
communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to
the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical
audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating
the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which
they relate.
-37-
Goodwill — Food Distribution Reporting Unit — Refer to Notes 1 and 5 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company’s evaluation of goodwill for impairment involves the comparison of the fair value of each reporting unit to their
carrying value. The Company has three reporting units, which are the same as the Company’s reportable segments. The goodwill
balance was $181 million as of January 2, 2021, all of which was allocated to the Food Distribution reporting unit (“Food
Distribution”). The estimate of the fair value of Food Distribution is primarily based on the income approach using a discounted cash
flow model and also incorporates the market approach using observable comparable company information. The principal factors used
in the discounted cash flow analysis requiring management judgment are the determination of the weighted average cost of capital
(“WACC”), revenue growth rates, and forecasted operating profits. Under the market approach, the Company compared the results of
the discounted cash flow model to observable comparable company market multiples to support the appropriateness of the fair value
estimates. The Company’s goodwill impairment analysis also includes a comparison of the estimated fair value of the enterprise as a
whole to the Company’s total market capitalization.
The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment annually, and more frequently if circumstances indicate the possibility of
impairment. The Company concluded that the fair value of Food Distribution was substantially in excess of its carrying value and,
therefore, no impairment was recognized.
Given the significant judgments made by management to estimate the fair value of Food Distribution, performing audit procedures to
evaluate the reasonableness of management’s judgments and assumptions utilized in the impairment evaluation, particularly the
determination of the WACC, revenue growth rates, and forecasted operating profits, required a high degree of auditor judgment and an
increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialists.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to revenue growth rates, forecasted operating profits, and the selection of the WACC used by
management to estimate the fair value of Food Distribution included the following, among others:
We tested the effectiveness of controls over management’s goodwill impairment evaluation, including those over the
determination of the fair value of Food Distribution, such as controls related to the determination of revenue growth rates and
forecasted operating profits, and the selection of the WACC.
We evaluated management’s ability to accurately forecast by comparing actual results to management’s historical forecasts.
We evaluated the reasonableness of management’s determination of revenue growth rates and forecasted operating profits for
Food Distribution by comparing the growth rates and forecasts to:
– Historical revenue growth rates and operating profits.
–
Internal communications to management and the Board of Directors.
– Forecasted information included in Company press releases as well as in analyst and industry reports for the
Company and certain of its peer companies.
With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we evaluated the WACC for Food Distribution, which included testing the
underlying source information and the mathematical accuracy of the calculations, and developing a range of independent
estimates and comparing those to the WACC selected by management.
With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we evaluated the market approach for Food Distribution, which included
evaluating the reasonableness of the selected guideline public companies and the resulting market multiples calculation, as
well as benchmarking the selected multiple for Food Distribution against these guideline public companies.
-38-
Share-Based Payments — Stock Warrants — Refer to Notes 1 and 14 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
On October 7, 2020, in connection with its entry into a commercial agreement with a customer, the Company issued warrants to the
customer to acquire up to an aggregate of 5,437,272 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrants”), subject to certain
vesting conditions. Warrants equivalent to 2.5% of the Company’s outstanding and issuable shares, or 1,087,455 shares, vested upon
the signing of the commercial agreement, and had a grant date fair value of $5.51 per share. Warrants equivalent to up to 10.0% of the
Company’s outstanding and issuable shares, or 4,349,817 shares, may vest in connection with conditions defined by the terms of the
Warrants, as the customer makes payments to the Company in connection with the commercial supply agreement, and had a grant date
fair value of $5.33 per share. The Warrants are classified as equity instruments within common stock in the financial statements.
Warrant expense is determined based on the customer’s achievement of vesting conditions and is recorded as a reduction of net sales
in the financial statements based on the grant date fair value per warrant share. Warrant expense of approximately $6.5 million was
recorded during the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021.
The fair values of the Warrants were determined as of the grant date using the binomial lattice pricing model (the “lattice model”).
The selection of the valuation methodology and assumptions utilized in the lattice model are based, in part, upon assumptions for
which management is required to use judgment, particularly the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and dividend yield.
We identified the valuation of the Warrants as a critical audit matter because of the significant judgments made by management to
determine the grant date fair values. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the
need to involve our fair value specialists, when performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s valuation
methodology and related assumptions including the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and dividend yield.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the determination of the fair values of the Warrants including the valuation methodology and related
assumptions such as the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and dividend yield, consisted of the following, among others:
We tested the effectiveness of management’s controls over the valuation of the Warrants, including those over the
determination of the valuation methodology and related assumptions including the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and
dividend yield.
We obtained and inspected the Warrant agreements and management’s valuation analyses, including supporting schedules
and related narrative information.
With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we evaluated management’s valuation methodology including the selection
of the lattice model to determine the fair values of the Warrants.
With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we evaluated the reasonableness of management’s valuation assumptions and
the underlying source information of significant valuation assumptions including the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and
dividend yield.
With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we assessed whether management’s calculations of the fair values were
applied in accordance with the selected methodology including testing the mathematical accuracy of the valuation analyses.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Grand Rapids, Michigan
March 3, 2021
We have served as the Company's auditor since at least 1970; however, an earlier year could not be reliably determined.
-39-
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
SpartanNash Company and Subsidiaries
(In thousands)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts and notes receivable, net
Inventories, net
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Property and equipment held for sale
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Goodwill
Intangible assets, net
Operating lease assets
Other assets, net
Total assets
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
Accrued payroll and benefits
Other accrued expenses
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease liabilities
Total current liabilities
Long-term liabilities
Deferred income taxes
Operating lease liabilities
Other long-term liabilities
Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities
Total long-term liabilities
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock, voting, no par value; 100,000 shares
authorized; 35,851 and 36,351 shares outstanding
Preferred stock, no par value, 10,000 shares authorized; no shares outstanding
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Retained earnings
Total shareholders’ equity
January 2,
2021
December 28,
2019
$
19,903
357,564
541,785
72,229
23,259
1,014,740
577,059
181,035
116,142
289,173
99,242
$
24,172
345,320
537,212
58,775
31,203
996,682
615,816
181,035
130,434
268,982
82,660
$
2,277,391
$
2,275,609
$
464,784
113,789
60,060
45,786
5,135
689,554
$
405,370
59,680
51,295
42,440
6,349
565,134
45,728
278,859
46,892
481,309
852,788
43,111
267,350
30,272
682,204
1,022,937
491,819
—
(2,276 )
245,506
735,049
490,233
—
(1,600 )
198,905
687,538
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
2,277,391
$
2,275,609
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
-40-
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
SpartanNash Company and Subsidiaries
2020
2019
2018
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net sales
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges
Total operating expenses
(53 Weeks)
(52 Weeks)
$ 9,348,485 $ 8,536,065 $ 8,064,552
7,923,520 7,292,235 6,954,146
1,424,965 1,243,830 1,110,406
(52 Weeks)
1,297,740 1,172,401 997,411
4,937
37,546
1,322,559 1,186,888 1,039,894
421
24,398
1,437
13,050
Operating earnings
102,406
56,942
70,512
Other (income) and expenses
Interest expense
Loss on debt extinguishment
Postretirement benefit (income) expense
Other, net
Total other expenses, net
Earnings before income taxes and discontinued operations
Income tax expense (benefit)
Earnings from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
Net earnings
Basic earnings per share:
Earnings from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations
Net earnings
Diluted earnings per share:
Earnings from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations
Net earnings
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
18,418
—
(685 )
(691 )
17,042
34,548
329
19,803
(1,313 )
53,367
30,483
—
159
(828 )
29,814
85,364
9,450
75,914
3,575
(2,342 )
5,917
40,698
6,907
33,791
—
75,914 $
(175 )
5,742 $
(219 )
33,572
2.12 $
—
2.12 $
0.16 $
(0.00 )
0.16 $
0.94
(0.01 )
0.93
2.12 $
—
2.12 $
0.16 $
(0.00 )
0.16 $
0.94
(0.01 )
0.93
$
$
$
$
$
-41-
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
SpartanNash Company and Subsidiaries
(In thousands)
Net earnings
Other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax
Pension and postretirement liability adjustment
2020
2019
2018
(53 Weeks)
(52 Weeks)
(52 Weeks)
$
75,914 $
5,742 $
33,572
(895 )
18,699
(822 )
Income tax benefit (expense) related to items of other comprehensive income
219
(4,540 )
199
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, after tax
Comprehensive income
(676 )
75,238 $
14,159
19,901 $
(623 )
32,949
$
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
-42-
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
SpartanNash Company and Subsidiaries
(In thousands)
Balance at December 30, 2017
Net earnings
Other comprehensive loss
Dividends - $0.72 per share
Share repurchase
Stock-based employee compensation
Issuance of common stock on stock option
exercises, stock bonus plan and associate stock
purchase plan
Issuance of restricted stock
Cancellations of stock-based awards
Balance at December 29, 2018
Impact of adoption of ASU 2016-02 (Note 1)
Net earnings
Other comprehensive income
Dividends - $0.76 per share
Stock-based employee compensation
Issuance of common stock on stock option
exercises, stock bonus plan and associate stock
purchase plan
Issuance of restricted stock
Cancellations of stock-based awards
Balance at December 28, 2019
Impact of adoption of ASU 2016-13 (Note 1)
Net earnings
Other comprehensive income
Dividends - $0.77 per share
Share repurchase
Stock-based employee compensation
Stock warrants, net of issuance costs of $220
Issuance of common stock for stock bonus plan
and associate stock purchase plan
Issuance of restricted stock
Cancellations of stock-based awards
Balance at January 2, 2021
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
Shares
Outstanding
Common
Stock
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Retained
Earnings
Total
36,466 $ 497,093 $
—
—
—
(952 )
—
—
—
—
(20,000 )
7,646
54
956
483
(99 )
35,952
—
—
—
—
—
—
(1,631 )
484,064
—
—
—
—
7,312
46
639
488
(135 )
36,351
—
—
—
—
(861 )
—
(1,782 )
490,233
—
—
—
—
(10,000 )
—
—
6,299
6,329
(15,136 ) $ 239,993 $ 721,950
33,572
33,572
(623 )
(25,923 )
(20,000 )
7,646
—
(25,923 )
—
—
—
(623 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(15,759 )
—
—
14,159
—
—
247,642
(26,863 )
5,742
—
(27,616 )
—
—
—
—
(1,600 )
—
—
(676 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
198,905
(1,612 )
75,914
—
(27,701 )
—
—
—
956
—
(1,631 )
715,947
(26,863 )
5,742
14,159
(27,616 )
7,312
639
—
(1,782 )
687,538
(1,612 )
75,914
(676 )
(27,701 )
(10,000 )
6,299
6,329
39
522
(200 )
594
—
(1,636 )
$
—
—
—
594
—
(1,636 )
(2,276 ) $ 245,506 $ 735,049
—
—
—
35,851
$ 491,819
-43-
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
SpartanNash Company and Subsidiaries
(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
Net earnings
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
Earnings from continuing operations
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
$
75,914 $
—
75,914
5,742 $
175
5,917
Non-cash restructuring, asset impairment and other charges
Loss on debt extinguishment
Depreciation and amortization
Non-cash rent
LIFO expense
Pension settlement expense
Postretirement benefits expense
Deferred taxes on income
Stock-based compensation expense
Stock warrants
Postretirement benefit plan contributions
Loss (gain) on disposals of assets
Other operating activities
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Accounts payable
Accrued payroll and benefits
Other accrued expenses and other liabilities
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment
Net proceeds from the sale of assets
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Loans to customers
Payments from customers on loans
Other investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from senior secured credit facility
Payments on senior secured credit facility
Proceeds from other long-term debt
Repayment of other long-term debt and finance lease liabilities
Proceeds from resolution of acquisition contingencies
Share repurchase
Net payments related to stock-based award activities
Dividends paid
Other financing activities
Net cash used in financing activities
Net cash used in discontinued operations
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
22,422
—
89,876
(5,550 )
2,176
—
1,775
2,457
6,299
6,549
(580 )
3,330
1,996
(12,936 )
(7,030 )
(7,724 )
65,197
66,722
(4,177 )
306,716
(67,298 )
9,201
—
(1,847 )
2,739
(16 )
(57,221 )
1,383,637
(1,584,293 )
—
(6,510 )
—
(10,000 )
(1,636 )
(34,509 )
(453 )
(253,764 )
—
(4,269 )
24,172
19,903 $
18,653
329
88,401
(7,276 )
5,892
18,244
2,972
(2,260 )
7,312
—
(623 )
(6,458 )
2,196
2,025
40,971
(15,752 )
14,941
(3,305 )
8,013
180,192
(74,815 )
18,760
(86,659 )
(3,535 )
4,074
(997 )
(143,172 )
1,217,498
(1,177,942 )
5,800
(68,460 )
15,000
—
(1,782 )
(20,709 )
(624 )
(31,219 )
(214 )
5,587
18,585
24,172 $
$
-44-
33,572
219
33,791
37,793
—
82,853
(962 )
4,601
—
63
7,407
7,646
—
(1,889 )
(106 )
1,337
(1,177 )
38,213
(6,467 )
(18,358 )
(8,295 )
(4,792 )
171,658
(71,495 )
6,901
—
(1,123 )
2,111
(550 )
(64,156 )
1,016,918
(1,123,557 )
60,000
(8,175 )
—
(20,000 )
(1,630 )
(25,923 )
(1,933 )
(104,300 )
(284 )
2,918
15,667
18,585
SPARTANNASH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation
Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of SpartanNash Company and its subsidiaries
(“SpartanNash” or “the Company”). Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Fiscal Year: The Company’s fiscal year end is the Saturday nearest to December 31. The following discussion is as of and for the
fiscal years ending or ended January 1, 2022 (“2021”), January 2, 2021 ("2020" or “current year”), December 28, 2019 (“2019” or
“prior year”) and December 29, 2018 (“2018”), all of which include 52 weeks, with the exception of 2020, which includes 53 weeks.
All fiscal quarters are 12 weeks, except for the Company’s first quarter, which is 16 weeks. The fourth quarter of 53-week years
include 13 weeks.
Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect amounts reported therein. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported
in future periods might differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition: The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of the
promised goods and services to a customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration that it expects to receive in exchange for those
goods or services. This is achieved through applying the following five-step model:
Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer
Identification of the performance obligations in the contract
Determination of the transaction price
Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
Recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation
The Company generates substantially all of its revenue from contracts with customers, whether formal or implied. Sales taxes
collected from customers are remitted to the appropriate taxing jurisdictions and are excluded from sales revenue as the Company
considers itself a pass-through conduit for collecting and remitting sales taxes, with the exception of taxes assessed during the
procurement process of select inventories. Greater than 99% of the Company’s revenues are recognized at a point in time. Revenues
from product sales are recognized when control of the goods is transferred to the customer, which occurs at a point in time, typically
upon delivery or shipment to the customer, depending on shipping terms, or upon customer check-out in a corporate owned retail
store. Freight revenues are also recognized upon delivery, at a point in time. Other revenues, including revenues from value-added
services and leases, are recognized as earned, over a period of time. All of the Company’s revenues are domestic, as the Company has
no performance obligations on international shipments subsequent to delivery to the domestic port.
The Company evaluates whether it is a principal (i.e., report revenues on a gross basis) or an agent (i.e., report revenues on a net basis)
with respect to each contract with customers.
Based upon the nature of the products the Company sells, its customers have limited rights of return which are immaterial. Discounts
provided by the Company to customers at the time of sale are recognized as a reduction in sales as the products are sold. Certain
contracts include rebates and other forms of variable consideration, including up-front rebates, rebates in arrears, rebatable incentives,
non-cash incentives including stock warrants, flex funds, and product incentives, which may have tiered structures based on purchase
volumes and which are accounted for as variable consideration. To the extent the transaction price includes variable consideration, the
Company estimates the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price utilizing either the expected
value method or the most likely amount method depending on the nature of the variable consideration. Variable consideration is
included in the transaction price if, in the Company’s judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue
under the contract will not occur.
-45-
Cost of Sales: Cost of sales represents the cost of inventory sold during the period, which for all non-production operations includes
purchase costs, in-bound freight, physical inventory adjustments, markdowns and promotional allowances and excludes warehousing
costs, depreciation and other administrative expenses. For the Company’s food processing operations, cost of sales includes direct
product and production costs, inbound freight, purchasing and receiving costs, utilities, depreciation, and other indirect production
costs and excludes out-bound freight and other administrative expenses. As a result, the Company’s cost of sales and gross profit may
not be identical to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Vendor allowances and credits that relate to the Company’s
buying and merchandising activities consist primarily of promotional allowances, which are generally allowances on purchased
quantities and, to a lesser extent, slotting allowances, which are billed to vendors for the Company’s merchandising costs such as
setting up warehouse infrastructure. Vendor allowances are recognized as a reduction in cost of sales when the related product is sold.
Lump sum payments received for multi-year contracts are amortized over the life of the contracts based on contractual terms. The
distribution segments include shipping and handling costs in the selling, general and administrative section of operating expenses
within the consolidated statements of earnings.
Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents consists of cash and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of
three months or less at the date of purchase.
Accounts and Notes Receivable: Accounts and notes receivable are presented net of allowances for credit losses of $6.6 million and
$3.0 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively. The Company estimates losses using an expected loss model,
considering both historical data and future expectations, including collection experience, expectations for current credit risks, accounts
receivable payment status, the customer’s financial health, as well as the Company’s collateral and creditor position. The Company
pools similar assets based on their credit risk characteristics, whereby many of its trade receivables are pooled based on certain
customer or aging characteristics. After assets are pooled, an appropriate loss factor is applied based on management’s expectations.
The Company also records specific reserves for credit losses in certain circumstances. Operating results include bad debt expense of
$2.7 million, $1.5 million and $3.4 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Inventory Valuation: Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Approximately 81.4% and 82.8% of the Company’s
inventories were valued on the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively. If
replacement cost had been used, inventories would have been $63.1 million and $60.9 million higher at January 2, 2021 and
December 28, 2019, respectively. The replacement cost method utilizes the most current unit purchase cost to calculate the value of
inventories. During 2020, 2019 and 2018, certain inventory quantities were reduced. The reductions resulted in liquidation of LIFO
inventory carried at lower costs prevailing in prior years, the effect of which decreased the LIFO provision by $1.4 million, $1.5
million and $1.1 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company accounts for its Food Distribution and Military
inventory using a perpetual system and utilizes the retail inventory method (“RIM”) to value inventory for center store products in the
Retail segment. Under RIM, inventory is stated at cost, determined by applying a cost ratio to the retail value of inventories. Fresh,
pharmacy and fuel products are accounted for at cost in the Retail segment. The Company evaluates inventory shortages throughout
the year based on actual physical counts in its facilities. The Company records allowances for inventory shortages based on the results
of recent physical counts to provide for estimated shortages from the last physical count to the financial statement date.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Goodwill represents the excess purchase price over the fair value of tangible net assets
acquired in business combinations after amounts have been allocated to intangible assets. Goodwill is not amortized, but is reviewed
for impairment during the last quarter of each year, or whenever events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not
reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount, using a discounted cash flow model and comparable market values
of each reporting segment. Measuring the fair value of reporting units is a Level 3 measurement under the fair value hierarchy. See
Note 8, for a discussion of fair value levels.
Intangible assets primarily consist of trade names, customer relationships, pharmacy prescription lists, non-compete agreements,
liquor licenses and franchise fees. The following assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of time in which their
expected benefits will be realized: prescription lists and customer relationships (period of expected benefit reflecting the pattern in
which the economic benefits are consumed), non-compete agreements and franchise fees (length of agreements), and trade names with
definite lives (expected life of the assets). Indefinite-lived trade names are not amortized but are tested at least annually for
impairment, and liquor licenses are also not amortized as they have indefinite lives.
Property and Equipment: Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Expenditures which improve or extend the life of the
respective assets are capitalized, whereas expenditures for normal repairs and maintenance are charged to operations as incurred.
Depreciation expense on land improvements, buildings and improvements, and equipment is computed using the straight-line method
as follows:
Land improvements
Buildings and improvements
Equipment
15 years
15 to 40 years
3 to 15 years
-46-
Property under finance leases and leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the remaining
terms of the leases or the estimated useful lives of the assets. Internal use software is included in Property and equipment, net and
amounted to $38.5 million and $35.2 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.
Cloud Computing Arrangements: Implementation costs for software that is accessed in hosted cloud computing arrangements is
accounted for in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other, and with
Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-15. Capitalized costs of hosted cloud computing arrangements include configuration,
installation, other upfront costs and internal labor costs of employees devoted to the cloud computing software implementation
project. Once a project is complete, amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the term of the associated hosting
arrangement, including any options to extend the hosting arrangement that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise, generally 5
to 10 years. These costs are classified in the consolidated balance sheets in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” or “Other
assets, net” based on the term of the arrangement, and the related cash flows are presented as cash outflows from operations. As of
January 2, 2021, the net book value of these implementation costs was $13.9 million.
Leases: At the commencement or modification of a contract, the Company determines whether a lease exists based on 1) the
identification of an underlying asset and 2) the right to control the use of the identified asset. When the Company is a lessee, leases are
classified as either operating or finance. Operating and finance lease assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset
for the lease term, while lease obligations represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Most of
the Company’s lease agreements include variable payments related to executory costs for property taxes, utilities, insurance,
maintenance and other occupancy costs related to the leased asset. Additionally, certain of the Company’s lease agreements include
rental payments based on a percentage of retail sales over contractual levels or, in the case of transportation equipment, provisions
requiring payment of variable rent based upon miles driven. These variable payments are not included in the measurement of the lease
liability or asset and are expensed as incurred. Leases with an initial expected term of 12 months or less are not recorded in the
consolidated balance sheets and the related lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Lease assets and obligations are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments and initial
direct costs incurred, less incentives, over the lease term. In the absence of stated or implicit interest rates within lease contracts,
incremental borrowing rates are estimated based on the Company’s borrowing rate as of the lease commencement date to determine
the present value of lease payments. Incremental borrowing rates are determined by using the yield curve based on the Company’s
creditworthiness on a collateralized basis. The Company includes option periods in the assumed lease term when it is reasonably
certain that the options will be exercised. Operating lease assets and liabilities are reported discretely in the consolidated balance
sheets. Finance lease assets are included in Property and equipment, net and finance lease liabilities are included in Long-term debt
and finance lease obligations within the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets: The Company reviews and evaluates long-lived assets for impairment when events or
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When the undiscounted expected future cash
flows are not sufficient to recover an asset’s carrying amount, the fair value is compared to the carrying value to determine the
impairment loss to be recorded. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value, less the
cost to sell. Fair values are determined by independent appraisals or expected sales prices based upon market participant data
developed by third party professionals or by internal licensed real estate professionals. Estimates of future cash flows and expected
sales prices are judgments based upon the Company’s experience and knowledge of operations. These estimates project cash flows
several years into the future and are affected by changes in the economy, real estate market conditions and inflation. The Company
evaluates definite-lived intangible asset and operating and finance lease impairments in conjunction with testing of the related asset
groups as described above. Impairment reserves are applied proportionally as a reduction to the assets in the asset group, including
lease assets.
Reserves for Closed Properties: The Company records reserves for closed properties that are subject to long-term lease commitments
based upon the lease ancillary costs from the date of closure to the end of the remaining lease term. Prior to the adoption of ASC 842,
Leases, these reserves also included the future minimum lease payments associated with these properties. Future cash flows are based
on historical expenses, contractual lease terms and knowledge of the geographic area in which the closed site is located. These
estimates are subject to multiple factors, including inflation, ability to sublease the property and other economic conditions. The
reserved expenses are paid over the remaining lease terms, which range from 1 to 8 years. Subsequent adjustments to closed property
reserves are made when actual exit costs differ from the original estimates. These adjustments are made for changes in estimates in the
period in which the changes become known. The current portion of the future closed property obligations is included in “Other
accrued expenses,” and the long-term portion is included in “Other long-term liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheets.
Debt Issuance Costs: Debt issuance costs are amortized over the term of the related financing agreement and are included as a direct
deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability in “Long-term debt and finance lease obligations” in the consolidated
balance sheets.
-47-
Insurance Reserves: SpartanNash is self-insured through self-insurance retentions or high deductible programs for workers’
compensation, general liability, and automobile liability, and is also self-insured for healthcare costs. Self-insurance liabilities are
recorded based on claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. Workers’ compensation, general liability and
automobile liabilities are actuarially estimated based on available historical information on an undiscounted basis. The Company has
purchased stop-loss coverage to limit its exposure to any significant exposure on a per claim basis for its self-insurance retentions and
high deductible programs. On a per claim basis, the Company’s exposure is up to $0.5 million for workers’ compensation and general
liability, $1.0 million for automobile liability and $0.6 million for healthcare per covered life per year.
A summary of changes in the Company’s self-insurance liability is as follows:
(In thousands)
Balance at beginning of year
Expenses
Acquisitions
Claim payments, net of employee contributions
Balance at end of year
2020
2019
2018
$
$
16,780 $
62,999
—
(63,042 )
16,737 $
14,291 $
69,253
1,894
(68,658 )
16,780 $
15,155
49,532
—
(50,396 )
14,291
The current portion of the self-insurance liability was $10.0 million and $10.7 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019,
respectively, and is included in “Other accrued expenses” in the consolidated balance sheets. The long-term portion was $6.7 million
and $6.1 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively, and is included in “Other long-term liabilities” in the
consolidated balance sheets.
Income Taxes: Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of
assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future. Such deferred income tax asset and liability
computations are based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable
income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.
Income tax expense is the tax payable or refundable for the period plus or minus the change during the period in deferred and other tax
assets and liabilities.
Earnings per share: Earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed using the two-class method. The two-class method determines EPS for
each class of common stock and participating securities according to dividends and their respective participation rights in
undistributed earnings. Outstanding nonvested restricted stock incentive awards under the Company’s 2015 Plan contain
nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, which participate in undistributed earnings with common stock. These
awards are classified as participating securities and are included in the calculation of basic earnings per share. Awards under the 2020
Plan do not contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents and are therefore not classified as participating
securities. The dilutive impact of these awards is presented below, as applicable. Weighted average restricted stock awards that were
not included in the EPS calculations because they were anti-dilutive were 76,654 in 2020. There were no anti-dilutive restricted stock
awards in 2019 or 2018. Diluted EPS includes the effects of stock options and stock warrants, as applicable. Stock warrants were anti-
dilutive for 2020 and therefore did not impact EPS. There were no stock warrants in 2019 or 2018, and no anti-dilutive stock options
in 2020, 2019 or 2018.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS for continuing operations:
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Numerator:
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
Earnings from continuing operations
Adjustment for earnings attributable to participating securities
Earnings from continuing operations used in calculating earnings per share
$
$
75,914 $
(1,871 )
74,043 $
5,917 $
(149 )
5,768 $
33,791
(746 )
33,045
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding, including participating securities
Adjustment for participating securities
Shares used in calculating basic earnings per share
Effect of dilutive stock options
Effect of dilutive restricted stock awards
Effect of dilutive warrants
Shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
35,861
(884 )
34,977
—
1
—
34,978
2.12 $
2.12 $
36,271
(912 )
35,359
—
—
—
35,359
0.16 $
0.16 $
36,012
(795 )
35,217
10
—
—
35,227
0.94
0.94
$
$
-48-
Stock-Based Employee Compensation: All share-based payments to associates are generally recognized in the consolidated financial
statements as compensation cost based on the fair value on the date of grant. The grant date closing price per share of SpartanNash
stock is used to estimate the fair value of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units. The value of the portion of awards
expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service period.
Stock Warrants: On October 7, 2020, the Company and Amazon.com, Inc. (“Amazon”) entered into a Transaction Agreement (the
“Transaction Agreement”), in which the Company has agreed to issue to Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Amazon, warrants to acquire up to an aggregate of 5,437,272 shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain
vesting conditions. Warrants equivalent to 2.5% of the Company’s outstanding and issuable shares, or 1,087,455 shares, vested upon
the signing of the commercial agreement. Warrants equivalent to up to 10.0% of the Company’s outstanding and issuable shares, or
4,349,817 shares, may vest in connection with conditions defined by the terms of the Warrant, as Amazon makes payments to the
Company in connection with the commercial supply agreement, in increments of $200 million. Upon vesting, shares may be acquired
at an exercise price of $17.7257. The right to purchase shares in connection with the Warrant arrangement expires on October 7, 2027
The stock warrants granted to Amazon are accounted for as equity instruments and measured in accordance with ASC 718,
Compensation – Stock Compensation. These instruments are classified in the consolidated statements of earnings in accordance with
ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and ASU 2019-08. For awards granted to a customer which are not in exchange
for distinct goods or services, the fair value of the awards earned based on service or performance conditions is recorded as a
reduction of the transaction price, in accordance with ASC 606. To determine the fair value of the warrants in accordance with ASC
718, the Company uses pricing models based in part on assumptions for which management is required to use judgment. Based on the
fair value of the awards, the Company determines the amount of warrant expense based on the customer’s pro-rata achievement of
vesting conditions, which is recorded as a reduction of net sales on the consolidated statement of earnings. Dilutive impact of stock
warrants is determined using the treasury stock method.
Shareholders’ Equity: The Company’s restated articles of incorporation provide that the Board of Directors may at any time, and from
time to time, provide for the issuance of up to 10 million shares of preferred stock in one or more series, each with such designations
as determined by the Board of Directors. At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, there were no shares of preferred stock
outstanding.
Advertising Costs: The Company’s advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are included in Selling, general and administrative
expenses. Advertising expenses were $36.6 million, $39.3 million and $40.9 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)(“AOCI”): The Company reports comprehensive income (loss) that includes net
income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to expenses, gains and losses that are
not included in net earnings, such as pension and other postretirement liability adjustments, but rather are recorded directly to
shareholders’ equity. These amounts are also presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The Company’s
pension plan was terminated, and benefit obligations were satisfied during 2019. Beginning with December 28, 2019, AOCI relates to
the Company’s other postretirement plans.
Discontinued operations: Certain of the Company’s Food Distribution and Retail operations were previously classified as
discontinued operations. Results of discontinued operations are excluded from the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial
statements for all periods presented. Results of discontinued operations reported on the consolidated statements of earnings are
reported net of tax.
Adoption of New Accounting Standards
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The FASB subsequently issued
ASUs 2018-01, 2018-10, 2018-11, and 2019-01, which include clarifications and provide various practical expedients and transition
options related to ASU 2016-02. ASU 2016-02 provides guidance for lease accounting and stipulates that lessees need to recognize a
right-of-use asset and a lease liability for substantially all leases (other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease). The
liability is equal to the present value of future rent payments. Treatment in the consolidated statements of earnings is similar to the
previous treatment of operating and capital leases.
In the first quarter of 2019, the Company adopted this standard using the alternative transition method provided in ASU 2018-11,
Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements. Under this method an adjustment of comparative periods presented is not required.
Therefore, the Company made a cumulative-effect adjustment recorded at the beginning of 2019. In addition, the Company elected the
package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allow for
a carry forward of the historical lease classification. The Company elected the hindsight practical expedient to reevaluate the lease
term for existing leases. The election of the hindsight practical expedient resulted in the extension or reduction of lease terms for
certain existing leases and adjustments to the useful lives of corresponding leasehold improvements. In the application of hindsight,
the Company estimated the expected lease term based on management’s plans, including the performance of the leased properties and
the associated market dynamics in relation to the overall operational, real estate and capital planning strategies of the Company.
-49-
The adoption of the new standard resulted in the recognition of operating lease assets and liabilities of $241.8 million and $292.3
million, respectively, as of the beginning of 2019. The adoption of the standard also resulted in a transition adjustment to beginning of
the year retained earnings of $26.9 million (net of deferred tax impact of $8.5 million). The transition adjustment relates to impairment
of right of use assets included in previously impaired asset groups and the impact of hindsight on the evaluation of lease term.
Remaining differences between lease assets and liabilities relate to the derecognition of lease-related liabilities and assets recorded
under ASC 840, which were included in beginning lease liabilities or assets under ASC 842.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers – Topic 606 (“ASC 606”). The new guidance
affects any reporting organization that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts
for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. The standard’s core principle is
that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the
consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. As of the beginning of 2018, the
Company adopted ASC 606 and all subsequent ASUs that modified ASC 606.
From a principal versus agent perspective, the Company determined that certain contracts in the Food Distribution segment that were
historically reported on a gross basis are required to be reported on a net basis under the updated guidance, resulting in a
corresponding decrease to both net sales and cost of sales from what would have been recognized under previous guidance. The
implementation of the guidance had no impact on gross profit, net earnings, the balance sheet, cash flows, equity, or the timing of
revenue recognition in current or prior periods.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The ASU changed the
impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments. The standard requires entities to use a forward-looking
“expected loss” model that replaces the previous “incurred loss” model, which generally results in the earlier recognition of credit
losses.
In the first quarter of 2020, the Company adopted this standard through the modified retrospective approach, with a cumulative-effect
adjustment at the beginning of the fiscal year. As a result of the adoption, the Company estimates credit losses using an expected loss
model in accordance with the new standard.
The adoption of the standard resulted in a transition adjustment to beginning of the year retained earnings of $2.2 million (gross of the
deferred tax impact of $0.6 million). The transition adjustment relates to incremental trade and notes receivable allowances due to the
earlier recognition of expected losses under the new standard of $1.9 million and $0.3 million, respectively.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General: Disclosure
Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. The amendments in this ASU remove disclosures
that are no longer considered to be cost beneficial, clarify the specific requirements of disclosures, and add disclosure requirements
identified as relevant. The amendments in ASU 2018-14 are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020 and are applied
on a retrospective basis to all periods presented. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant effect on the Company’s
financial statements.
Note 2 – Acquisitions
On December 31, 2018, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Martin’s Super Markets, Inc. (“Martin’s”) for $86.7
million, net of $7.8 million of cash acquired. Acquired assets consist primarily of property and equipment of $55.0 million, intangible
assets of $23.9 million, and working capital. Intangible assets are primarily composed of an indefinite-lived trade name of $20.6
million and pharmacy customer prescription lists of $3.1 million, which are amortized over seven years. The acquired assets and
assumed liabilities were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date based on preliminary estimates, which were
subsequently finalized during the fourth quarter of 2019. No goodwill was recorded related to the acquisition. The Company incurred
$0.4 million, $1.3 million and $1.2 million of merger/acquisition and integration costs in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The
acquisition was funded with proceeds from the Company’s Credit Agreement.
Martin’s operates retail stores in Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan. Prior to the acquisition, Martin’s was an independent
retailer and customer of the Company’s Food Distribution segment. Subsequent to the acquisition, sales from the Food Distribution
segment to Martin’s stores are eliminated. The acquisition expanded the footprint of the Company’s Retail segment into adjacent
geographies in northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan.
-50-
Note 3 – Revenue
Sources of Revenue
The Company’s main sources of revenue include the following:
Customer Supply Agreements (CSAs) – The Company enters into CSAs (also known as Retail Sales and Service Agreements) with
many of its retailer customers. These contracts obligate the Company to supply grocery and related products upon receipt of a
purchase order from its customers. The contracts often specify minimum purchases a customer is required to make - in dollars or as a
percentage of their total purchases - in order to earn certain rebates or incentives. In some cases, customers are required to repay
certain advanced or loaned funds if they fail to meet purchase minimums or otherwise exit the supply agreement. Many of these
contracts include various performance obligations other than providing grocery products, such as providing store resets, shelf tags,
signage, or merchandising services. The Company has determined that these obligations are not material in the overall context of the
contracts, and as such has not allocated transaction price to these obligations. Revenue is recognized under these contracts when
control of the product passes to the customer, which may happen before or after delivery depending upon specified shipping terms.
Contracts with Manufacturers and Brokers to supply the Defense Commissary Agency (“DeCA”) and Other Government Agencies –
DeCA operates a chain of commissaries on U.S. military installations. DeCA contracts with manufacturers to obtain grocery products
for the commissary system. Manufacturers either deliver the products to the commissaries themselves or, more commonly, contract
with distributors such as SpartanNash to provide products to the commissaries. Manufacturers must authorize the distributors as their
official representatives to DeCA, and the distributors must adhere to DeCA’s frequent delivery system (“FDS”) procedures governing
matters such as product identification, ordering and processing, information exchange and resolution of discrepancies. The Company
obtains distribution contracts with manufacturers through competitive bidding processes and direct negotiations. As commissaries
need to be restocked, DeCA identifies the manufacturer with which an order is to be placed, determines which distributor is the
manufacturer’s official representative for a particular commissary or exchange location, and then places a product order with that
distributor under the auspices of DeCA’s master contract with the applicable manufacturer. The distributor selects that product from
its existing inventory, delivers it to the commissary or port (in the case of overseas shipments) designated by DeCA, and bills the
manufacturer for the product price plus a drayage fee that is typically based on a percentage of the purchase price, but may in some
cases be based on a dollar amount per case or pound of product sold. The manufacturer then bills DeCA under the terms of its master
contract. As control of the product passes to the customer upon delivery, revenue is recognized by SpartanNash at that time.
Revenue is recognized for the full amount paid by the vendor (for product and drayage) as the Company is a principal in the
transaction and therefore recognizes revenue on a gross basis for these contracts. The definition of a principal in the transaction is
centered on controlling goods before they are transferred to the customer. Key considerations supporting that SpartanNash controls the
goods for these contracts prior to transfer to the customer include the following: the Company has the ability to obtain substantially all
of the remaining benefits from the assets by selling the goods and/or by pledging the related assets as collateral for borrowings, the
Company is required to bear the risk of inventory loss prior to transfer to the customer, has shared responsibilities in the fulfillment
and acceptability of the goods, and to a lesser extent, has some discretion in establishing the price for the goods sold to DeCA.
Retail Sales – The corporate owned retail stores recognize revenue at the time the customer takes possession of the goods. While there
are no formal contracts related to these sales, they are within the scope of ASC 606. Customer returns are not material. The Company
does not recognize a sale when it sells gift cards and gift certificates or a reduction of sales when it awards fuel discounts; rather, the
impact to revenue is recognized when the customer fuel discounts, gift card or gift certificate are redeemed to purchase product.
-51-
Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table provides information about disaggregated revenue by type of products and customers for each of the Company’s
reportable segments:
Total
$
4,577,178 $
(In thousands)
Type of products:
Center store (a)
Fresh (b)
Non-food (c)
Fuel
Other
Total
Type of customers:
Individuals
Manufacturers, brokers and distributors
Retailers
Other
(In thousands)
Type of products:
Center store (a)
Fresh (b)
Non-food (c)
Fuel
Other
Total
Type of customers:
Individuals
Manufacturers, brokers and distributors
Retailers
Other
(In thousands)
Type of products:
Center store (a)
Fresh (b)
Non-food (c)
Fuel
Other
Total
Type of customers:
Individuals
Manufacturers, brokers and distributors
Retailers
Other
Food Distribution
53 Weeks Ended January 2, 2021
Military
Retail
Total
$
1,519,279 $
1,550,813
1,407,122
—
99,964
$
4,577,178 $
$
— $
75,827
4,425,665
75,686
1,097,013 $
1,013,657
419,507
106,213
1,527
2,637,917 $
1,043,208 $
610,633
469,653
—
9,896
2,133,390 $
3,659,500
3,175,103
2,296,282
106,213
111,387
9,348,485
2,636,993 $
—
—
924
2,637,917 $
— $
1,989,248
134,246
9,896
2,133,390 $
2,636,993
2,065,075
4,559,911
86,506
9,348,485
Food Distribution
Retail
Military
Total
52 Weeks Ended December 28, 2019
$
1,209,436 $
1,445,902
1,247,964
—
79,307
$
3,982,609 $
$
— $
179,872
3,739,316
63,421
928,641 $
900,096
402,450
148,779
1,383
2,381,349 $
1,027,661 $
636,147
501,642
—
6,657
2,172,107 $
3,165,738
2,982,145
2,152,056
148,779
87,347
8,536,065
2,380,524 $
—
—
825
2,381,349 $
— $
2,065,919
99,531
6,657
2,172,107 $
2,380,524
2,245,791
3,838,847
70,903
8,536,065
Food Distribution
Retail
Military
Total
52 Weeks Ended December 29, 2018
$
1,249,374 $
1,478,142
1,185,390
—
78,544
$
3,991,450 $
$
— $
197,128
3,733,254
61,068
747,708 $
688,661
330,342
138,617
931
1,906,259 $
1,052,462 $
602,023
506,177
—
6,181
2,166,843 $
3,049,544
2,768,826
2,021,909
138,617
85,656
8,064,552
1,905,328 $
—
—
931
1,906,259 $
— $
2,089,765
70,897
6,181
2,166,843 $
1,905,328
2,286,893
3,804,151
68,180
8,064,552
Total
$
3,982,609 $
Total
$
3,991,450 $
(a) Center store includes dry grocery, frozen and beverages.
(b) Fresh includes produce, meat, dairy, deli, bakery, prepared proteins, seafood and floral.
(c) Non-food includes general merchandise, health and beauty care, tobacco products and pharmacy.
-52-
Contract Assets and Liabilities
Under its contracts with customers, the Company stands ready to deliver product upon receipt of a purchase order. Accordingly, the
Company has no performance obligations under its contracts until its customers submit a purchase order. The Company does not
receive pre-payment from its customers or enter into commitments to provide goods or services that have terms greater than one year.
As the performance obligation is part of a contract that has an original expected duration of less than one year, the Company has
applied the practical expedient under ASC 606 to omit disclosures regarding remaining performance obligations.
Revenue recognized from performance obligations related to prior periods (for example, due to changes in estimated rebates and
incentives impacting the transaction price) was not material in any period presented.
For volume-based arrangements, the Company estimates the amount of the advanced funds earned by the retailers based on the
expected volume of purchases by the retailer, and amortizes the advances as a reduction of the transaction price and revenue earned.
These advances are not considered contract assets under ASC 606 as they are not generated through the transfer of goods or services
to the retailers. These advances are included in Other assets, net within the consolidated balance sheets.
When the Company transfers goods or services to a customer, payment is due subject to normal terms and is not conditional on
anything other than the passage of time. Typical payment terms range from due upon receipt to 30 days, depending on the customer.
At contract inception, the Company expects that the period of time between the transfer of goods to the customer and when the
customer pays for those goods will be less than one year, which is consistent with the Company’s standard payment terms.
Accordingly, the Company has elected the practical expedient to not adjust for the effects of a significant financing component. As a
result, these amounts are recorded as receivables and not contract assets. The Company had no contract assets for any period
presented.
Accounts and notes receivable are comprised of the following:
(In thousands)
Customer notes receivable
Customer accounts receivable
Other receivables
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Net current accounts and notes receivable
Long-term notes receivable
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Net long-term notes receivable
January 2,
2021
December 29,
2019
2,565 $
23,955
(6,232 )
$
3,363
337,276 320,958
23,738
(2,739 )
$ 357,564 $ 345,320
13,335
$
(233 )
13,102
9,299 $
(371 )
8,928 $
$
The Company does not typically incur incremental costs of obtaining a contract that are contingent upon successful contract execution
and would therefore be capitalized.
Changes to the balance of the allowance for doubtful accounts were as follows:
(In thousands)
Balance at December 28, 2019
Impact of adoption of new credit loss standard (ASU 2016-13)
Provision for expected credit losses
Write-offs charged against the allowance
Balance at January 2, 2021
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Current
Accounts
and Notes
Receivable
Long-term
Notes
Receivable
Total
$
$
2,739
1,911
1,966
(384 )
6,232
$
$
233
259
—
(121 )
371
$
$
2,972
2,170
1,966
(505 )
6,603
During 2020, the Company also recognized bad debt expense of $0.7 million related to direct write-offs of uncollectable amounts. In
performing its periodic evaluations of the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts, the Company has evaluated the effects of
the COVID-19 pandemic. While the duration and impact of these affects is uncertain, the Company did not deem it necessary to
record incremental allowances for doubtful accounts as no additional credit exposures were identified.
-53-
Concentration of Credit Risk
In the ordinary course of business, the Company may advance funds to certain independent retailers (“customer advances”) which are
earned by the retailers primarily through achieving specified purchase volume requirements, as outlined in their supply agreements
with the Company, or in limited instances for remaining a SpartanNash customer for a specified time period. These customer advances
must be repaid if the purchase volume requirements are not met or if the retailer no longer remains a customer for the specified time
period. The collectability of customer advances is not assured.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company also subleases and assigns certain leases to third parties. As of January 2, 2021, the
Company estimates the present value of its maximum potential obligations for subleases and assigned leases to be approximately $6.5
million and $11.7 million, respectively.
The Company may also provide financial assistance in the form of loans to certain independent retailers for inventories, store fixtures
and equipment and store improvements. Loans are generally secured by liens on real estate, inventory and/or equipment, personal
guarantees and other types of collateral, and are generally repayable over a period of five to ten years. The Company establishes
reserves based upon assessments of the credit risk of specific customers, collateral value, historical trends and other information. The
Company believes that adequate provision has been recorded for any uncollectable amounts. In addition, the Company may guarantee
debt and lease obligations of independent retailers. In the event these retailers are unable to meet their debt service payments or
otherwise experience an event of default, the Company would be unconditionally liable for the outstanding balance of their debt and
lease obligations, which would be due in accordance with the underlying agreements.
Note 4 – Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consist of the following:
(In thousands)
Land and improvements
Buildings and improvements
Equipment
Total property and equipment
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
Property and equipment, net
January 2,
2021
December 28,
2019
89,871 $
90,200
$
556,518 555,049
668,872 640,608
1,315,261 1,285,857
738,202 670,041
$ 577,059 $ 615,816
Depreciation expense was $64.7 million, $65.5 million and $67.0 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018 respectively.
Note 5 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
All goodwill relates to the Food Distribution segment. Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill were as follows:
(In thousands)
Balance at December 29, 2018:
Acquisitions
Balance at December 28, 2019 and January 2, 2021:
Total
$
$
178,648
2,387
181,035
The Company reviews goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment annually, during the fourth quarter of each year, and more
frequently if circumstances indicate the possibility of impairment. Testing goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment
requires management to make significant estimates about the Company’s future performance, cash flows, and other assumptions that
can be affected by potential changes in economic, industry or market conditions, business operations, competition, or the Company’s
stock price and market capitalization.
During the Company’s 2020 annual impairment review, projected cash flows were discounted based on a weighted average cost of
capital (“WACC”) of 10.3%. This WACC was developed from adjusted market based and company specific factors, current interest
rates, equity risk premiums, and other market-based expectations regarding expected investment returns. The development of the
WACC requires estimates of an equity rate of return and a debt rate of return, which are specific to the industry in which the Food
Distribution reporting unit operates. The Company concluded that the fair value of the Food Distribution reporting unit was
substantially in excess of its carrying value in the annual review.
-54-
The following table reflects the components of amortized intangible assets, included in “Intangible assets, net” on the consolidated
balance sheets:
January 2, 2021
December 28, 2019
(In thousands)
Non-compete agreements
Pharmacy customer prescription lists
Customer relationships
Trade names
Franchise fees and other
Total
Gross
Carrying
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Gross
Carrying
Amount
$
$
4,287 $
4,233
57,937
1,068
1,081
68,606 $
2,075 $
1,521
15,160
837
497
20,090 $
Accumulated
Amortization
1,493
4,481
11,497
687
422
18,580
4,438 $
8,200
57,937
1,068
1,114
72,757 $
The weighted average amortization periods for amortizable intangible assets as of January 2, 2021 are as follows:
Non-compete agreements
Pharmacy customer prescription lists
Customer relationships
Trade names
Franchise fees and other
6.1 years
8.0 years
16.4 years
5.0 years
10.0 years
Amortization expense for intangible assets was $5.7 million, $5.8 million and $5.8 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Estimated amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows:
(In thousands)
Amortization expense
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
$
5,202
$
4,849
$
4,807 $
4,556 $
4,159
The Company has indefinite-lived intangible assets that are not amortized, consisting primarily of indefinite-lived trade names and
licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages. During the third quarter of 2020, the Company made the decision to abandon a tradename
within the Food Distribution segment to better integrate with the Company’s overall transportation operations, resulting in a $7.0
million impairment of the associated indefinite-lived tradename asset. During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company recognized an
impairment charge of $1.7 million, related to a tradename based on a change in the assumptions supporting fair value. Changes in the
carrying amount of indefinite-lived intangible assets were as follows:
(In thousands)
Balance at December 29, 2018
Acquisitions
Impairment
Disposals
Balance at December 28, 2019
Impairment (Note 6)
Balance at January 2, 2021
Indefinite-lived
Intangible Assets
$
$
69,751
20,631
(13,966 )
(160 )
76,256
(8,630 )
67,626
-55-
Note 6 – Restructuring, Asset Impairment and Other Charges
The following table provides the activity of reserves for closed properties for 2020, 2019 and 2018. Reserves for closed properties
recorded in the consolidated balance sheets are included in “Other accrued expenses” in Current liabilities and “Other long-term
liabilities” in Long-term liabilities based on when the obligations are expected to be paid.
(In thousands)
Balance at December 30, 2017
Provision for closing charges
Changes in estimates
Other
Accretion expense
Payments
Balance at December 29, 2018
Provision for closing charges
Reclassification of lease liabilities
Lease termination adjustments
Changes in estimates
Accretion expense
Payments
Balance at December 28, 2019
Provision for closing charges
Changes in estimates
Accretion expense
Payments
Balance at January 2, 2021
Lease and
Ancillary Costs
Severance
Total
$
$
17,889 $
4,499
(1,181 )
554
579
(5,954 )
16,386
1,299
(8,177 )
(62 )
(635 )
271
(4,111 )
4,971
325
26
121
(2,094 )
3,349 $
3 $
153
—
—
—
(156 )
—
447
—
—
—
—
(430 )
17
2,205
(228 )
—
(1,880 )
114 $
17,892
4,652
(1,181 )
554
579
(6,110 )
16,386
1,746
(8,177 )
(62 )
(635 )
271
(4,541 )
4,988
2,530
(202 )
121
(3,974 )
3,463
Included in the liability are lease-related ancillary costs from the date of site closure to the end of the remaining lease term. Prior to the
adoption of ASU 2016-02 (Note 1), the liability also included lease obligations recorded at the present value of future minimum lease
payments, calculated using a risk-free interest rate, net of estimated sublease income. Upon the adoption of ASU 2016-02, these
liabilities were reclassified to operating lease liabilities within the consolidated balance sheets.
-56-
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges included in the consolidated statements of earnings consisted of the following:
(In thousands)
Asset impairment charges (a)
Charge on customer advance (b)
Provision for closing charges
Gain on sales of assets related to closed facilities (c)
Provision for severance for closed sites (d)
Other costs associated with distribution center and store closings (e)
Changes in estimates (f)
Lease termination adjustments (g)
Total
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
$
$
20,148 $
—
325
(31 )
2,205
1,953
(202 )
—
24,398 $
17,925 $
2,351
1,299
(8,532 )
447
2,135
(635 )
(1,940 )
13,050 $
2,630
32,000
4,499
(1,352 )
153
797
(1,181 )
—
37,546
(a) In 2020, asset impairment charges of $9.1 million were incurred in the Food Distribution segment related to the evaluation of the
expected net proceeds from the Fresh Kitchen facility which is currently held-for-sale, the exit of the Fresh Cut business, and the
sale of equipment related to both Fresh Cut and Fresh Kitchen. Charges of $8.6 million primarily relate to the abandonment of a
tradename related to the integration of the Company’s transportation operations. Additionally, certain of the Company’s Retail
assets were determined not to be recoverable based on management’s intention to close stores or sell assets related to previously
closed stores, resulting in impairment charges totaling $2.1 million. In 2019, asset impairment charges primarily related to the
Food Distribution segment, including the Caito trade name. In 2018, asset impairment charges were incurred primarily in the
Retail segment due to the economic and competitive environment of certain stores and in conjunction with the Company’s retail
store rationalization plan.
(b) The charge on customer advance relates to an advance to an independent retailer customer which was not fully recoverable.
(c) Gain on sales of assets were primarily related to the sale of a closed Food Distribution warehouse in 2019. 2018 activity related
to a closed Military warehouse and closed Retail stores.
(d) In 2020, provision for severance was primarily related to the exit of the Fresh Cut business within the Food Distribution segment.
(e) Other costs associated with distribution center and store closings represent additional costs, including labor, inventory transfer
and other administrative costs, incurred in connection with restructuring operations in the Food Distribution and Retail segments.
(f) Changes in estimates primarily relate to revised estimates for turnover and other lease ancillary costs associated with previously
closed locations, which were generally lower than the initial estimates at certain properties in all years presented.
(g) Lease termination adjustments represent the benefits recognized in connection with early lease buyouts for previously closed
sites. Payments made in connection with lease buyouts were applied to reserves for closed properties and lease liabilities, as
applicable.
In the second quarter of 2019 the Company announced a plan to reposition the Caito fresh production operations and to close the Fresh
Kitchen. As a result of this plan, the Company evaluated the Caito indefinite-lived trade name and long-lived assets for potential
impairment. The indefinite-lived trade names with a book value of $35.5 million were measured at a fair value of $21.5 million,
resulting in an impairment charge of $14.0 million related to the Caito tradename. During this test, the Company concluded the long-
lived assets were not impaired. During the third quarter of 2020, the Company made the decision to abandon a tradename within the
Food Distribution segment to better integrate with the Company’s overall transportation operations.
Indefinite lived intangible assets are tested for impairment at least annually, and as needed if an indicator of potential impairment
exists. Indefinite lived intangible assets are measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy, as further
described in Note 8. The fair value of indefinite lived intangible assets is determined by estimating the amount and timing of net future
cash flows generated from the use of the asset, generally using estimated revenue growth rates and profitability rates and, in the case
of the relief-from-royalty methodology, royalty rates. Future cash flows are discounted based on the WACC of the reporting unit in
which the asset resides, determined using current interest rates, equity risk premiums, and other market-based expectations regarding
expected investment returns, as well as estimates of industry specific equity and debt rates of return.
Long-lived assets which are not recoverable are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using Level 3 inputs under the fair
value hierarchy, as further described in Note 8. Assets consisting of property and equipment with a book value of $57.3 million were
measured at a fair value of $45.8 million, resulting in impairment charges of $11.5 million in 2020. Fair value of long-lived assets is
determined by estimating the amount and timing of net future cash flows, discounted using a risk-adjusted rate of interest. The
Company estimates future cash flows based on historical results of operations, external factors expected to impact future performance,
experience and knowledge of the geographic area in which the assets are located, and when necessary, uses real estate brokers. The
Company evaluated the assets held for sale as of January 2, 2021 and concluded that the Fresh Kitchen facility meets the requirements
for held for sale classification. Assets classified as held for sale in the consolidated balance sheet are valued at the expected net
proceeds and are evaluated each quarter.
-57-
Note 7 – Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consists of the following:
(In thousands)
Senior secured revolving credit facility, due December 2023
Finance lease obligations (Note 10)
Other, 2.61% - 4.36%, due 2021 - 2026
Total debt - Principal
Unamortized debt issuance costs
Total debt - Principal
Less current portion
Total long-term debt
January 2,
December 28,
2021
2019
6,707
$ 440,177 $ 640,409
43,632 44,966
8,633
490,516 694,008
(5,455 )
486,444 688,553
6,349
$ 481,309 $ 682,204
(4,072 )
5,135
The Company’s Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) matures December 18, 2023. The
Credit Agreement provides for a Tranche A revolving loan of up to $975 million and a Tranche A-1 revolving loan with $40 million
of capacity. The Company has the ability to increase the size of the Credit Agreement by an additional $325 million, subject to certain
conditions. The Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all of the Company’s personal and
real property. The Company may repay all loans in whole or in part at any time without penalty.
Availability under the Credit Agreement is based upon advance rates on certain asset categories owned by the Company, including,
but not limited to the following: inventory, accounts receivable, real estate, prescription lists, cigarette tax stamps, and rolling stock.
The Credit Agreement imposes certain requirements, including limitations on dividends and investments, limitations on the
Company’s ability to incur debt, make loans, acquire other companies, change the nature of the Company’s business, enter a merger or
consolidation, or sell assets. These requirements can be more restrictive depending upon the Company’s Excess Availability, as
defined under the Credit Agreement.
Borrowings under the credit facility bear interest at the Company’s option as either Eurodollar loans or Base Rate loans, subject to a
grid based upon Excess Availability. The interest rate terms for each of the aforementioned tranches are as follows:
Credit
Facility
Tranche
Tranche A
Outstanding as of
January 2, 2021
(In thousands)
Eurodollar Rate
Base Rate
$
409,636 LIBOR plus 1.25% to 1.50%
Greater of: (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.75% to 1.00%
Tranche A-1 $
30,541 LIBOR plus 2.25% to 2.50%
Greater of: (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1.75% to 2.00%
(ii) the Eurodollar Rate plus 2.25% to 2.50%
(iii) the prime rate plus 0.25% to 0.50%
(ii) the Eurodollar Rate plus 2.25% to 2.50%
(iii) the prime rate plus 1.25% to 1.50%
The Company also incurs an unused line of credit fee on the unused portion of the loan commitments at a rate of 0.25%.
The Credit Agreement requires that the Company maintain Excess Availability of 10% of the borrowing base, as defined in the Credit
Agreement. The Company is in compliance with all financial covenants as of January 2, 2021 and had Excess Availability after the
10% requirement of $432.4 million and $236.8 million at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively. The Credit
Agreement provides for the issuance of letters of credit, of which $15.6 million and $11.7 million were outstanding as of January 2,
2021 and December 28, 2019.
The weighted average interest rate for all borrowings, including loan fee amortization, was 2.95% for 2020.
At January 2, 2021, aggregate annual maturities and scheduled payments of long-term debt are as follows:
(In thousands)
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter
Total
Total borrowings
$
5,135 $
4,614 $ 444,734 $
4,450 $
4,104 $ 27,479 $ 490,516
-58-
Note 8 – Fair Value Measurements
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into the following
hierarchy:
Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or
indirectly.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, reflecting the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that
market participants would use in pricing.
Financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable and long-term debt. The
carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, and accounts payable approximate fair value because of
the short-term maturities of these financial instruments. For discussion of the fair value measurements related to goodwill, and long-
lived asset impairment charges, refer to Note 5 and Note 6. At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the book value and estimated
fair value of the Company’s debt instruments, excluding debt financing costs, were as follows:
(In thousands)
Book value of debt instruments, excluding debt financing costs:
Current maturities of long-term debt and finance lease liabilities
Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities
Total book value of debt instruments
Fair value of debt instruments, excluding debt financing costs
Excess of fair value over book value
January 2,
2021
December 28,
2019
5,135 $
$
6,349
485,381 687,659
490,516 694,008
497,941 700,631
6,623
$
7,425 $
The estimated fair value of debt is based on market quotes for instruments with similar terms and remaining maturities (Level 2 inputs
and valuation techniques).
Certain of the Company’s business combinations involved the potential for the receipt or payment of future contingent consideration
upon the shortfall or achievement of various operating thresholds, respectively. The additional consideration was generally contingent
on the acquired company reaching certain performance milestones, including attaining specified EBITDA levels. An asset or liability
is recorded for the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration at the acquisition date and is re-measured each reporting period,
using Level 3 inputs, with changes in fair value recognized as income or expense within operating expenses in the consolidated
statements of earnings.
During 2019, the Company received $15.0 million related to the resolution of certain acquisition contingencies associated with the
Caito and BRT acquisition executed at the beginning of fiscal 2017. Upon receipt of the proceeds, the portion of the contingent
consideration related to the acquisition date fair value was reported as a financing activity in the consolidated statements of cash
flows. Amounts received in excess of the acquisition date fair value were reported as an operating activity in the consolidated
statements of cash flows.
Note 9 – Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is engaged from time-to-time in routine legal proceedings incidental to its business. The Company does not believe that
these routine legal proceedings, taken as a whole, will have a material impact on its business or financial condition. While the ultimate
effect of such actions cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that their outcome will not result in an adverse effect
on the Company’s consolidated financial position, operating results or liquidity.
The Company subleases property at certain locations and for 2020, 2019 and 2018, received rental income of $4.0 million, $4.0
million and $3.6 million, respectively. In the event of customer default, the Company would be responsible for fulfilling these lease
obligations. Future payment obligations under these leases are disclosed in Note 10. Contingencies related to credit risk and
collectability are disclosed in Note 3.
-59-
Unions represent approximately 7% of SpartanNash’s associates. These associates are covered by collective bargaining agreements
(“CBAs”). The facilities covered by CBAs, the unions representing the covered associates and the expiration dates for each existing
CBA are provided in the following table:
Distribution Center Locations
Landover, Maryland
Lima, Ohio
Bellefontaine, Ohio GTL Truck Lines, Inc.
Bellefontaine, Ohio General Merchandise Service Division
Norfolk, Virginia
Columbus, Georgia
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Union Locals
IBT 639
IBT 908
IBT 908
IBT 908
IBT 822
IBT 528
IBT 406
Expiration Dates
March, 2021
January 2022
February 2022
February 2022
April 2022
September 2022
October 2022
The Company contributes to the Central States Southeast and Southwest Pension Fund (“Central States Plan” or “the Plan”), a multi-
employer pension plan, in accordance with provisions in place in collective bargaining agreements covering its supply chain
operations in Bellefontaine, Lima, and Grand Rapids. This Plan provides retirement benefits to participants based on their service to
contributing employers. The benefits are paid from assets held in trust for that purpose. Trustees are appointed by contributing
employers and unions; however, SpartanNash is not a trustee of the Plan. The trustees typically are responsible for determining the
level of benefits to be provided to participants, as well as for such matters as the investment of the assets held in trust and the overall
administration of the plan. The Company currently contributes to the Plan under the terms outlined in the “Primary Schedule” of
Central States’ Rehabilitation Plan or those outlined in the “Default Schedule.” Both the Primary and Default schedules require
varying increases in employer contributions over the previous year’s contribution. Increases are negotiated within each collective
bargaining agreement and vary by location. The Plan continues to be in red zone status, and according to the Pension Protection Act
(“PPA”), is considered to be in “critical and declining” zone status. Among other factors, plans in the “critical and declining” zone are
generally less than 65% funded and are projected to become insolvent within the next 15 years (or 20 years depending on the ratio of
active-to-inactive participants).
Based on the most recent information available to the Company, management believes that the present value of actuarial accrued
liabilities in this multi-employer plan significantly exceeds the value of the assets held in trust to pay benefits. Because SpartanNash is
one of a number of employers contributing to this plan, it is difficult to estimate the amount of the underfunding. Management is not
aware of any significant change in funding levels since January 2, 2021. To reduce this underfunding, management expects multi-
employer pension plan contributions to increase in future years. Any adjustment for withdrawal liability will be recorded when it is
probable that a liability exists and can be reasonably determined.
Note 10 – Leases
A portion of the Company’s retail stores and warehouses operate in leased facilities. The Company also leases the majority of the
tractors and trailers within its fleet and certain other assets. Most of the property leases contain multiple renewal options, which
generally range from one to ten years. In those locations in which it is economically feasible to continue to operate, management
expects that renewal options will be exercised as they come due. The terms of certain leases contain provisions requiring payment of
variable rent based on sales and payment of executory costs such as property taxes, utilities, insurance, maintenance and other
occupancy costs applicable to the leased premises or, in the case of transportation equipment, provisions requiring payment of variable
rent based upon miles driven. Certain properties or portions thereof are subleased to others. As most of the Company’s leases do not
reference an implicit discount rate, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at
commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments.
The components of lease cost were as follows:
(In thousands)
Operating lease cost
Short-term lease cost
Finance lease cost
Amortization of assets
Interest on lease liabilities
Variable rent
Sublease income
Total net lease cost
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
$
55,955 $
8,698
54,798
7,131
4,045
3,194
333
(3,994 )
68,231 $
3,330
3,084
10
(4,014 )
64,339
$
-60-
Rental expense, net of sublease income, under operating leases was $58.0 million in 2018.
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:
(In thousands)
Operating leases:
Operating lease assets
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities
Total operating lease liabilities
Finance leases:
Property and equipment, at cost
Accumulated amortization
Property and equipment, net
Current portion of finance lease liabilities
Noncurrent finance lease liabilities
Total finance lease liabilities
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years):
Operating leases
Finance leases
Weighted average discount rate:
Operating leases
Finance leases
Supplemental cash flow and other information related to leases was as follows:
(In thousands)
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows used for operating leases
Operating cash flows used for finance leases
Financing cash flows used for finance leases
Lease assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:
Total operating lease liabilities
Total finance lease liabilities
January 2,
2021
December 28,
2019
$ 289,173 $ 268,982
$ 45,786 $ 42,440
278,859 267,350
$ 324,645 $ 309,790
$ 53,932 $ 67,206
(14,971 ) (27,131 )
$ 38,961 $ 40,075
4,030 $
$
4,401
39,602 40,565
$ 43,632 $ 44,966
8.4
11.3
8.9
9.9
5.5 %
7.3 %
5.7 %
7.0 %
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
$ 62,008 $
3,173
4,075
62,455
3,047
5,453
62,500
3,602
34,346
3,679
The Company’s total future lease commitments under operating and finance leases in effect at January 2, 2021 are as follows:
(In thousands)
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter
Total
Less interest
Present value of lease liabilities
Less current portion
Long-term lease liabilities
Operating
Leases
$
61,536
55,883
50,805
43,708
39,220
156,182
407,334
82,689
324,645
45,786
$ 278,859
Finance
Leases
$
$
6,973
6,390
6,010
5,648
5,489
33,338
63,848
20,216
43,632
4,030
39,602
Total
$
68,509
62,273
56,815
49,356
44,709
189,520
471,182
102,905
368,277
49,816
$ 318,461
-61-
Certain retail store facilities, either owned or obtained through leasing arrangements, are leased to others. A majority of the leases
provide for minimum rent and contain renewal options. Certain of the leases contain escalation clauses and contingent rentals based
upon stipulated sales volumes.
Owned assets, included in property and equipment, which are leased to others are as follows:
(In thousands)
Land and improvements
Buildings
Owned assets leased to others
Less accumulated amortization and depreciation
Net owned assets leased to others
January 2,
2021
December 28,
2019
7,141 $
$
7,077
27,864 29,287
35,005 36,364
11,190 10,895
$ 23,815 $ 25,469
Future minimum rentals to be received under leases in effect at January 2, 2021 are as follows:
(In thousands)
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter
Total
Owned property
Leased property
Total
$
$
4,577
3,744
8,321
$
$
4,248
3,168
7,416
$
$
3,308
2,760
6,068
$
$
2,346
2,089
4,435
$
$
1,917 $ 17,598 $ 33,994
1,291
4,733 17,785
3,208 $ 22,331 $ 51,779
Note 11 – Associate Retirement Plans
The Company provides salary deferral defined contribution plans to substantially all of the Company’s associates not covered by CBAs.
Associates covered by CBAs at the Company’s Columbus, Georgia; Norfolk, Virginia; and Landover, Maryland facilities all participate
in a defined contribution plan; the remaining associates covered under CBAs participate in a multi-employer pension plan. The
Company’s former non-contributory pension plan has been terminated.
Defined Contribution Plans
Expense for employer matching contributions made to defined contribution plans totaled $12.2 million, $11.5 million and $7.0 million
in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Executive Compensation Plans
The Company has a deferred compensation plan for a select group of management personnel or highly compensated associates. The
plan is unfunded and permits participants to defer receipt of a portion of their base salary, annual bonus, or long-term incentive
compensation which would otherwise be paid to them. The deferred amounts, plus earnings, are distributed following the associate’s
termination of employment. Earnings are based on the performance of hypothetical investments elected by the participant from a
portfolio of investment options.
The Company holds variable universal life insurance policies on certain key associates intended to fund distributions under the
deferred compensation plan referenced above. The net cash surrender value of approximately $4.3 million at both January 2, 2021 and
December 28, 2019 is recorded in “Other assets, net” in the consolidated balance sheets. These policies have an aggregate amount of
life insurance coverage of approximately $15.0 million.
Defined Benefit Plans
On February 28, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors granted approval to proceed with terminating the SpartanNash Company
Pension Plan (the “Pension Plan”), a frozen defined benefit pension plan. The Plan was terminated on July 31, 2018 and the
distribution of assets to plan participants occurred in 2019. The remaining overfunding of the Plan will be utilized by the Company to
fund obligations associated with other qualified retirement programs. In 2020, the Company realized gains of $1.2 million related to
refunds from the annuity provider to the Plan associated with the final reconciliation of participant data.
In 2019, lump sum distributions and annuity payouts of $72.6 million were made resulting in pre-tax settlement charges of $18.2
million, including $18.0 million related to the Plan termination. The Company also recognized other termination expenses of $1.5
million in 2019. Lump sum distributions of $3.3 million were made in 2018, resulting in pension settlement charges of $0.8 million.
-62-
Postretirement Medical Plans
SpartanNash Company and certain subsidiaries provide healthcare benefits to retired associates under the SpartanNash Company
Retiree Medical Plan (the “Retiree Medical Plan”). Former Spartan Stores, Inc. associates hired prior to January 1, 2002 who were not
covered by CBAs during their employment, who have at least 10 years of service and have attained age 55 upon retirement qualify as
“covered associates.” Covered associates who retired prior to March 31, 1992 receive Medicare supplemental benefits. Covered
associates retiring after April 1, 1992 are eligible for monthly postretirement healthcare benefits of $5 multiplied by the associate’s
years of service. This benefit is in the form of a credit against their monthly insurance premium or Medicare supplemental insurance.
The retiree pays the balance of the premium.
The following tables set forth the actuarial present value of benefit obligations, funded status, changes in benefit obligations and plan
assets, weighted average assumptions used in actuarial calculations and components of net periodic benefit costs for the Company’s
significant pension and postretirement benefit plans, excluding multi-employer plans. The prepaid, current accrued, and noncurrent
accrued benefit costs associated with pension and postretirement benefits are reported in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets,”
“Other assets, net,” “Accrued payroll and benefits,” and “Other long-term liabilities,” respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets.
(In thousands, except percentages)
Funded Status
Projected/Accumulated benefit obligation:
Balance at beginning of year
Service cost
Interest cost
Actuarial loss
Benefits paid
Balance at end of year
Fair value of plan assets:
Balance at beginning of year
Actual return on plan assets
Refund from annuity provider
Company contributions
Benefits paid
Balance at end of year
Funded (unfunded) status
Pension Plan
Retiree Medical Plan
January 2,
2021
December 28,
January 2,
December 28,
2019
2021
2019
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ 73,275
—
1,134
618
—
—
—
—
— (75,027 )
— $
$ 10,783
182
303
1,027
(386 )
9,443
171
375
1,181
(387 )
— $ 11,909 $ 10,783
—
1,496 $ 74,241 $
—
2,282
—
—
—
1,193
387
—
—
(387 )
— (75,027 )
1,496 $
—
1,496 $ (11,909 ) $ (10,783 )
— $
—
—
386
(386 )
— $
2,689 $
2,689 $
Components of net amount recognized in consolidated balance sheets:
Current assets
$
Current liabilities
Noncurrent liabilities
Net asset (liability)
$
2,689
$
—
—
2,689 $
— $
(471 )
—
1,496 $
—
(466 )
— (11,438 ) (10,317 )
1,496 $ (11,909 ) $ (10,783 )
Amounts recognized in AOCI:
Net actuarial loss
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
$
$
—
$
— $
—
$
— $
2,732
$
2,732 $
1,809
1,809
Weighted average assumptions at measurement date:
Discount rate
Ultimate health care cost trend rate
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.57%
4.50%
3.26%
4.50%
-63-
(In thousands, except percentages)
Components of net periodic benefit (income) cost:
2020
Pension Plan
2019
2018
2020
Retiree Medical Plan
2019
2018
Service cost
Interest cost
Amortization of prior service cost
Expected return on plan assets
Gain on reconciliation with annuity
provider
Recognized actuarial net loss
$
— $
—
—
—
— $
1,134
—
(714 )
— $
2,283
—
(3,631 )
182 $
303
—
—
(1,193 )
—
—
—
—
691
417
104
171 $
375
(92 )
—
—
—
Net periodic benefit (income)
expense
$
Settlement expense
Total net periodic benefit (income)
cost
$
(1,193 )
$
$
— 18,244
1,111
(931 )
$
785
589
$
—
454
$
—
$
(1,193 )
19,355
$
$
(146 )
$
589
$
454
195
339
(158 )
—
—
88
464
—
464
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income) cost:
Discount rate
Expected return on plan assets
N/A
N/A
3.48%
2.80%
3.45%
4.84%
3.26%
N/A
4.41%
N/A
3.72%
N/A
Prior service costs (credits) are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of active participants.
Actuarial gains and losses for the Pension Plan were amortized over the average remaining life of all participants when the
accumulation of such gains and losses exceeded 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation and the market-related value of
plan assets.
Assumed healthcare cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the Retiree Medical Plan. Assumed current
healthcare cost trend rates used to determine net periodic benefit cost were as follows:
Post-65
Expected Return on Assets and Investment Strategy
2020
2019
2018
7.50%
7.50%
8.00%
Pension plan assets consisted of money market funds of $2.7 million at January 2, 2021 and $1.5 million at December 28, 2019.
Money market funds are valued on a daily basis at NAV using the amortized cost of the securities held in the fund. Since amortized
cost does not meet the criteria for an active market, money market funds are classified within level 2 of the fair value hierarchy of
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement. The pension plan did not hold any level three assets as of January 2, 2021 or December 28, 2019.
See Note 8 for a discussion of the levels of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value measurement level used is based on the lowest level
of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The Company expects to make contributions in 2021 of $0.5 million to the Retiree Medical Plan.
The following estimated benefit payments are expected to be paid in the following fiscal years:
(In thousands)
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Post-retirement medical benefits
$
471
$
510
$
548
$
579
$
2026 to 2030
3,346
607 $
Multi-Employer Health and Welfare Plans
In addition to the plans described above, the Company participates in the Michigan Conference of Teamsters and Ohio Conference of
Teamsters Health and Welfare plans. The Company contributes to these multi-employer plans under the terms contained in existing
CBAs and in the amounts set forth within these agreements. The health and welfare plans provide medical, dental, pharmacy, vision,
and other ancillary benefits to active associates and retirees, as determined by the trustees of the plan. The Company’s contributions
largely benefit active associates, and as such, may not constitute contributions to a postretirement benefit plan. However, the Company
is unable to separate contribution amounts for postretirement benefits from contribution amounts paid for active participants in the
plan. These plans have a significant surplus of funds held in reserve in excess of claims incurred, and there is no potential withdrawal
liability related to the Company’s participation in the plans. With respect to the Company’s participation in these plans, expense is
recognized as contributions are funded. The Company contributed $13.7 million, $13.8 million and $13.8 million to these plans in
2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
-64-
Multi-Employer Pension Plan
The Company also contributes to the Central States Plan, a multi-employer plan defined previously, under the terms of CBAs that
cover its union-represented associates and in the amounts set forth within these agreements. The Company is party to four CBAs that
require contributions to the Plan with expiration dates ranging from January 2022 to October 2022. These CBAs cover warehouse
personnel and drivers in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Bellefontaine and Lima, Ohio. With respect to the Company’s participation in
the Central States Plan (EIN 36-60442343 / Pension Plan Number 001), expense is recognized as contributions are funded. The
Company contributed $14.1 million, $14.0 million and $13.3 million to this plan in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The
contributions made by the Company represent less than five percent of the Plan’s total contributions in 2020.
The risk of participating in a multi-employer pension plan is different from the risk associated with single-employer plans in the
following respects:
a. Assets contributed to the multi-employer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other
participating employers.
b.
c.
If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining
participating employers.
If a company chooses to stop participating in a multi-employer plan, makes market exits such as closing a distribution center
without opening another one in the same locale, or otherwise has participation in the plan drop below certain levels, the
company may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a
withdrawal liability.
The PPA zone status of the Plan, which is based on information the Company received from the Plan and is certified by the Plan’s
actuary, is “critical and declining” for the Plan’s two most recent fiscal years ending December 31, 2020 and 2019. Among other
factors, plans in the “critical and declining” zone are generally less than 65% funded and projected to become insolvent within the
next 15 years (or 20 years depending on the ratio of active-to-inactive participants). A rehabilitation plan has been implemented by the
trustees of the Plan, and the CBAs that cover warehouse personnel and drivers in the Bellefontaine and Lima, Ohio distribution centers
have permanent surcharges imposed due to the failure to adopt the trustee recommended rehabilitation plan. Refer to Note 9, for
further information regarding the Company’s participation in the Central States Plan. As of the date the consolidated financial
statements were issued, Form 5500 was not available for the plan year ended December 31, 2020.
Note 12 – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income or Loss
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income or Loss (“AOCI”) represents the cumulative balance of other comprehensive income
(loss), net of tax, as of the end of the reporting period. For the Company, the activity relates to pension and other postretirement
benefit obligation adjustments.
Changes in AOCI are as follows:
(In thousands)
Balance at beginning of the year, net of tax
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications
Income tax benefit (expense)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax, before reclassifications
Amortization of amounts included in net periodic benefit cost (a)
Income tax expense (b)
Amounts reclassified out of AOCI, net of tax
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
Balance at end of the year, net of tax
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
$
$
(1,600 )
$
(1,086 )
268
(818 )
191
(49 )
142
(676 )
(2,276 ) $
(15,759 )
$
219
(55 )
164
18,480
(4,485 )
13,995
14,159
(1,600 ) $
(15,136 )
(2,026 )
458
(1,568 )
1,204
(259 )
945
(623 )
(15,759 )
(a) Reclassified from AOCI into Other, net, or Selling, general and administrative expense. Amounts include amortization of net
actuarial loss, amortization of prior service cost, and settlement expense totaling $0.1 million, $18.4 million and $0.9 million in
2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(b) Reclassified from AOCI into Income tax expense (benefit).
-65-
Note 13 – Income Tax
The income tax provision for continuing operations is made up of the following components:
(In thousands)
Current income tax expense (benefit):
Federal
State
Total current income tax expense (benefit)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal
State
Total deferred income tax expense (benefit)
Total income tax expense (benefit)
A reconciliation of the statutory federal rate to the effective rate is as follows:
Federal statutory income tax rate
Stock compensation
Non-deductible expenses
Federal rate change effect on deferred taxes
Change in tax contingencies
Charitable product donations
Other, net
Federal loss carryback (a)
State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit
Tax credits
Effective income tax rate
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
$
1,844 $
5,149
6,993
(899 ) $
817
(82 )
(1,607 )
1,107
(500 )
5,637
(3,180 )
2,457
9,450 $
126
(2,386 )
(2,260 )
(2,342 ) $
8,370
(963 )
7,407
6,907
$
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
21.0 %
0.7
1.9
—
0.9
(0.2 )
(1.0 )
(11.9 )
1.7
(2.0 )
11.1 %
21.0 %
7.2
0.8
—
—
(5.6 )
(2.4 )
—
(36.1 )
(50.4 )
(65.5 ) %
21.0 %
0.7
0.6
(1.2 )
(2.5 )
(0.6 )
(0.9 )
—
1.7
(1.8 )
17.0 %
(a) On March 27, 2020, the U.S. government enacted tax legislation to provide economic stimulus and support businesses and
individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, referred to as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.
In connection with the CARES Act, the Company recorded net discrete income tax benefits of $10.1 million in 2020 associated
with the additional deductibility of certain expenses combined with provisions which enable companies to carry back tax losses
to years prior to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Reform”), where the federal statutory income tax rate was
35%. As a result of carrying back losses to previous tax years, the Company recorded $0.8 million in expense to reinstate tax
contingencies which had previously expired, included in the “Change in tax contingencies” line in the table above.
-66-
Deferred tax assets and liabilities resulting from temporary differences as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 are as follows:
(In thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Employee benefits
Accrued workers' compensation
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Intangible assets
Restructuring
Deferred revenue
Stock warrants
Lease liabilities
Accrued insurance
Federal net operating loss carryforwards (a)
Federal credits
State net operating loss carryforwards (a)
All other
Total deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property and equipment
Lease assets
Inventory
Goodwill
All other
Total deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax liability
January 2,
2021
December 28,
2019
$ 33,115 $ 17,087
1,834
1,632
1,688 10,870
1,319
2,203
377
472
1,678
1,679
—
1,896
87,606 85,005
1,007
964
2,332
—
851
—
4,498
6,175
4,472
2,481
140,018 131,223
47,472 45,136
77,673 73,191
33,531 33,739
26,025 21,404
864
1,045
185,746 174,334
$ 45,728 $ 43,111
(a) As of January 2, 2021, the Company’s state net operating loss carryforwards in various taxing jurisdictions expire in tax years
2021 through 2040 if not utilized.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
(In thousands)
Balance at beginning of year
Gross increases - tax positions taken in prior years
Gross decreases - tax positions taken in prior years
Gross increases - tax positions taken in current year
Lapsed statutes of limitations
Balance at end of year
2020
2019
$
$
1,425 $
910
(1,000 )
—
(18 )
1,317 $
1,477
71
(125 )
850
(848 )
1,425
Unrecognized tax benefits of $0.2 million are set to expire prior to January 1, 2022. The Company recognizes interest and penalties
accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The amount recognized due to a lapse in the statute of limitations
that reduced the Company’s effective income tax rate in 2020 and 2019 was immaterial in both years. The amount of unrecognized tax
benefits, including interest and penalties, that would reduce the Company’s effective income tax rate if recognized in future periods
was $1.1 million as of January 2, 2021.
SpartanNash or its subsidiaries file income tax returns with federal, state and local tax authorities within the United States. With few
exceptions, SpartanNash is no longer subject to examinations by U.S. federal tax authorities for fiscal years before the year ended
January 3, 2015, and state or local tax authorities for fiscal years before the year ended December 31, 2016.
-67-
Note 14 – Share-Based Payments
Share-Based Payments to Employees
The Company previously sponsored a shareholder-approved stock incentive plan (the “2015 Plan”) that provided for the granting of
stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock awards, and other stock-based and stock-related
awards to directors, officers and other key associates. On May 20, 2020, the Company’s shareholders approved a new stock incentive
plan (“the 2020 Plan”). The 2020 Plan provides for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted
stock units, performance shares, performance share units, dividend equivalent rights, and other stock-based and stock-related awards
to directors, employees, or contractors of the Company, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The
2020 Plan provided for 1,635,000 newly reserved shares plus the 736,578 shares previously available for grant under the 2015 Plan.
Holders of restricted stock and stock awards are entitled to participate in dividends, payable upon the vesting of the underlying
awards. As of January 2, 2021, a total of 2,205,034 shares remained unissued under the 2020 Plan. All outstanding unvested shares of
restricted stock vest immediately upon a “Change in Control,” as defined by the Plan.
There was no stock option activity in 2020. The following table summarizes stock option activity for 2019 and 2018:
Options outstanding and exercisable at December 30, 2017
Exercised
Cancelled/Expired
Options outstanding and exercisable at December 29, 2018
Exercised
Options outstanding and exercisable at December 28, 2019
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life Years
Shares
Under Options
$
47,928
(20,476 )
(14,400 )
13,052
(13,052 )
— $
16.52
13.87
22.69
13.87
13.87
—
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)
487
1,043
1.07 $
0.37
— $
39
51
—
Restricted shares awarded to associates vest ratably over a four-year service period and over one year for grants to members of the
Board of Directors. Awards are subject to forfeiture and certain transfer restrictions prior to vesting. Compensation expense,
representing the fair value of the stock at the measurement date of the award, is recognized over the required service period.
The following table summarizes restricted stock activity for 2020, 2019 and 2018:
Outstanding and nonvested at December 30, 2017
Granted
Vested
Forfeited
Outstanding and nonvested at December 29, 2018
Granted
Vested
Forfeited
Outstanding and nonvested at December 28, 2019
Granted
Vested
Forfeited
Outstanding and nonvested at January 2, 2021
Weighted
Average
Shares
Grant-Date
Fair Value
613,744 $
482,572
(260,644 )
(12,853 )
822,819
488,063
(346,721 )
(35,428 )
928,733
521,566
(396,219 )
(80,132 )
973,948 $
30.32
17.00
28.89
23.52
23.07
17.84
23.47
20.11
20.28
15.96
21.65
16.48
17.72
The total fair value of shares vested was $5.3 million, $6.2 million and $4.8 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Share-based payment expense recognized and included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the consolidated
statements of earnings, and related tax benefits were as follows:
(In thousands)
Restricted stock
Tax benefits
Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax
2020
(53 Weeks)
2019
(52 Weeks)
2018
(52 Weeks)
$
$
6,299 $
(839 )
5,460 $
7,312 $
(1,303 )
6,009 $
7,646
(2,242 )
5,404
-68-
As of January 2, 2021, total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock awards granted under the stock
incentive plan was $5.7 million. The remaining compensation costs not yet recognized are expected to be recognized over a weighted
average period of 2.5 years.
The Company recognized tax deductions of $5.9 million, $7.2 million and $5.6 million related to the exercise of stock options and the
vesting of restricted stock in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company sponsors a stock bonus plan covering 300,000 shares of SpartanNash common stock. Under the provisions of this plan,
certain officers and key associates may elect to receive a portion of their annual bonus in common stock rather than cash, which will
be issued at 120% of cash value. After the shares are issued, the holder is not able to sell or otherwise transfer the shares until the end
of the holding period, which is currently 24 months. Compensation expense is recorded based upon the market price of the stock as of
the measurement date. During 2018, an additional 45,000 shares were authorized to be granted from the stock bonus plan. 3,443
shares were issued in 2019 and 8,087 shares were issued in 2020 leaving 33,470 shares remaining unissued under the stock bonus plan
as of January 2, 2021.
The Company also sponsors an associate stock purchase plan covering 200,000 shares of SpartanNash common stock. The plan
enables associates of the Company to purchase shares at 95% of the fair market value. As of January 2, 2021, a total of 161,674 shares
had been issued under the plan.
Stock Warrants
On October 7, 2020, in connection with its entry into a commercial agreement with Amazon.com, Inc. (“Amazon”), the Company
issued Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon, warrants to acquire up to an aggregate of 5,437,272
shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrants”), subject to certain vesting conditions. Warrants equivalent to 2.5% of the
Company’s outstanding and issuable shares, or 1,087,455 shares, vested upon the signing of the commercial agreement, and had a
grant date fair value of $5.51 per share. Warrants equivalent to up to 10.0% of the Company’s outstanding and issuable shares, or
4,349,817 shares, may vest in connection with conditions defined by the terms of the Warrant, as Amazon makes payments to the
Company in connection with the commercial supply agreement, in increments of $200 million, and had a grant date fair value of $5.33
per share. Upon vesting, shares may be acquired at an exercise price of $17.7257. The warrants contain customary anti-dilution, down-
round and change-in-control provisions. The right to purchase shares in connection with the Warrant expires on October 7, 2027.
Non-cash share-based payment expense associated with the stock warrants is recognized as vesting conditions are achieved, based on
the grant date fair value of the warrants. The fair value of the stock warrants was determined as of the grant date in accordance with
ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, using the binomial lattice pricing model (the “lattice model”). The lattice model is
based, in part, upon assumptions for which management is required to use judgment. The assumptions made for purposes of
estimating fair value under the lattice model for the Warrants were as follows:
Risk free interest rate
Volatility
Dividend yield
Selected Assumption
0.56%
47.00%
4.57%
Methodology
Derived from the Constant Maturity Treasury Rate with maturity matching
time to expiration of the Warrants
Based on historical equity volatility of Company stock over a period
matching the assumed warrants term
Based on the historical dividends paid by the Company
The warrant shares which vested upon signing the commercial agreement have a contractual term of 7 years, whereas the warrant
shares which vest upon payments made to the Company in connection with the commercial supply agreement have an estimated
weighted average term of 3.6 years.
The following table summarizes stock warrant activity for 2020:
Outstanding and nonvested at December 28, 2019
Granted
Vested
Outstanding and nonvested at January 2, 2021
Warrants
—
5,437,272
(1,087,455 )
4,349,817
Share-based payment expense recognized, included as a reduction of “Net sales” in the consolidated statements of earnings, and
related tax benefits were as follows:
(In thousands)
Warrants expense
Tax benefits
Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax
-69-
2020
(53 Weeks)
$
$
6,549
(2,051 )
4,498
As of January 2, 2021, total unrecognized cost related to non-vested warrants was $22.6 million, which may be expensed as vesting
conditions are satisfied over the remaining term of the agreement, or 6.8 years. Warrants representing 1,087,455 shares are vested and
exercisable. The warrants had no intrinsic value as of January 2, 2021.
Note 15 – Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Supplemental cash flow information is as follows:
(In thousands)
Non-cash investing activities:
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable
Non-cash acquisition
Non-cash financing activities:
Dividends declared but unpaid
Other supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest
Income tax payments (refunds)
Note 16 – Reporting Segment Information
2020
2019
2018
(53 Weeks)
(52 Weeks)
(52 Weeks)
$
15,984 $
—
16,111 $
5,363
4,564
—
99
6,907
—
18,448
18,717
33,236
(9,680 )
28,138
139
SpartanNash sells and distributes products that are typically found in supermarkets and discount stores. The operating segments reflect
the manner in which the business is managed and how the Company allocates resources and assesses performance internally. The
Company’s chief operating decision maker is the Chief Executive Officer, who determines the allocation of resources and, through a
regular review of financial information, assesses the performance of the operating segments. The business is classified by management
into three reportable segments: Food Distribution, Military and Retail. These reportable segments are three distinct businesses, each
with a different customer base, management structure, and basis for determining budgets, forecasts, and executive compensation. The
Company reviews its reportable segments on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate a change in
reportable segments has occurred.
The Company’s Food Distribution segment, which operates 12 distribution centers, supplies grocery products, including dry groceries,
produce, dairy products, meat, delicatessen items, bakery goods, frozen food, seafood, floral products, general merchandise,
beverages, tobacco products, health and beauty care products and pharmacy primarily to a diverse group of independent and chain
retailers, food service distributors and the Company’s corporate owned retail stores. The Company’s Food Distribution customer base
is diverse. Sales to one customer in the Food Distribution segment represented over 15% of consolidated net sales for 2020, 2019 and
2018. No other single customer exceeded 10% of consolidated net sales in any of the years presented. The Company also offers
certain value-added services (e.g., accounting, payroll, marketing, etc.) to its independent retail customers. These services are not
material to the Company’s financial statements. Sales to independent retailers and inter-segment sales are recorded based upon either a
“cost plus” model or a “variable mark-up” model, depending on the commodity and servicing distribution center. To supply its
wholesale customers, the Company operates a fleet of tractors, conventional trailers and refrigerated trailers and also provides
managed freight solutions.
The Military segment contracts with manufacturers and brokers to distribute a wide variety of grocery products, including dry
groceries, beverages, meat, and frozen foods, primarily to U.S. military commissaries and exchanges from its 7 distribution centers,
two of which are also utilized by the Food Distribution segment. The contracts typically specify the commissaries and exchanges to
supply on behalf of the manufacturer, the manufacturer’s products to be supplied, service and delivery requirements and pricing and
payment terms. The Company is also the DeCA exclusive worldwide supplier of private brand grocery and related products to U.S.
military commissaries. The Company procures the grocery and related products from various manufacturers, and upon receiving
customer orders from DeCA, either delivers the products to the U.S. military commissaries itself or partners with a third party, Coastal
Pacific Food Distributors, to deliver the products on its behalf.
The Retail segment operated 156 corporate owned retail stores and 37 fuel centers, predominantly in the Midwest region, as of
January 2, 2021. The Company’s retail stores typically offer dry groceries, produce, dairy products, meat, delicatessen items, bakery
goods, frozen food, seafood, floral products, general merchandise, beverages, tobacco products and health and beauty care products.
The Company also offered pharmacy services in 97 of its corporate owned retail stores as of January 2, 2021.
Identifiable assets represent total assets directly associated with the reporting segments. Eliminations in assets identified to segments
include intercompany receivables, payables and investments.
-70-
The following tables set forth information about the Company by reporting segment:
(In thousands)
2020 (53 Weeks)
Net sales to external customers
Inter-segment sales
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges
Depreciation and amortization
Operating earnings (loss)
Capital expenditures
2019 (52 Weeks)
Food
Distribution
Retail
Military
Total
$ 4,577,178 $ 2,637,917 $ 2,133,390 $ 9,348,485
— 1,125,471
359
1,125,112
421
—
421
—
24,398
—
3,313
21,085
12,388
45,199
32,289
89,876
(9,915 ) 102,406
66,359
45,962
67,298
8,349
33,894
25,055
Net sales to external customers
Inter-segment sales
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges (gains)
Depreciation and amortization
Operating earnings (loss)
Capital expenditures
$ 3,982,609
976,372
(122 )
14,844
33,396
47,416
28,385
$ 2,381,349 $ 2,172,107 $ 8,536,065
— 976,372
1,437
—
13,050
—
88,401
11,834
56,942
(9,316 )
74,815
6,295
—
1,559
(1,794 )
43,171
18,842
40,135
2018 (52 Weeks)
Net sales to external customers
Inter-segment sales
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges (gains)
Depreciation and amortization
Operating earnings
Capital expenditures
$ 3,991,450 $ 1,906,259 $ 2,166,843 $ 8,064,552
— 842,934
—
842,934
4,937
4
1,352
3,581
37,546
(801 )
5,291
33,056
82,853
11,968
38,812
32,073
70,512
5,647
16,113
48,752
71,495
3,530
34,694
33,271
(In thousands)
Total Assets
Food Distribution
Retail
Military
Discontinued operations
Total
January 2,
2021
December 28,
2019
$ 1,112,961 $ 1,087,307
763,876 794,413
400,554 390,799
3,090
$ 2,277,391 $ 2,275,609
—
-71-
Note 17 – Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
Earnings per share amounts for each quarter are required to be computed independently and may not sum to the amount computed for
the total year.
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net sales
Gross profit
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges
Earnings before income taxes
Net earnings
Earnings from continuing operations per share:
Basic
Diluted
Net earnings per share:
Basic
Diluted
Dividends
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net sales
Gross profit
Merger/acquisition and integration
Restructuring, asset impairment and other charges
(gains)
Postretirement benefit expense
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and
discontinued operations
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes
Net earnings (loss)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations per
share:
Basic
Diluted
Net earnings (loss) per share:
Basic
Diluted
Dividends
Full Year
(53 Weeks)
4th Quarter
(13 Weeks)
2020
3rd Quarter
(12 Weeks)
$ 9,348,485 $ 2,247,112 $ 2,060,816 $ 2,184,101 $ 2,856,456
338,202 324,822 338,374 423,567
1,424,965
10,237
24,398
15,433
85,364
15,402
$
75,914
3,675
30,385
28,467 $
3,943
14,030
12,093 $
6,543
25,516
19,952 $
2nd Quarter
(12 Weeks)
1st Quarter
(16 Weeks)
$
$
$
$
$
2.12
2.12
0.34 $
0.34
0.56 $
0.56
0.80 $
0.80
0.43
0.43
2.12
$
2.12
27,701 $
0.34 $
0.34
6,905 $
0.56 $
0.56
6,901 $
0.80 $
0.80
6,898 $
0.43
0.43
6,997
Full Year
(52 Weeks)
4th Quarter
(12 Weeks)
2019
3rd Quarter
(12 Weeks)
$ 8,536,065 $ 1,997,953 $ 1,999,808 $ 1,995,929 $ 2,542,375
286,733 290,361 289,007 377,729
1,243,830
782
—
2nd Quarter
(12 Weeks)
1st Quarter
(16 Weeks)
1,437
582
73
13,050
19,803
2,835
126
1,296
10,221
14,581
8,821
(5,662 )
635
3,575
5,917
(175 )
$
5,742
5,104
5,473
(49 )
5,424 $
(1,966 )
(310 )
(27 )
(337 ) $
(9,708 )
(6,767 )
(47 )
(6,814 ) $
10,145
7,521
(52 )
7,469
0.16
$
0.16
0.15 $
0.15
(0.01 ) $
(0.01 )
(0.19 ) $
(0.19 )
0.21
0.21
0.16
$
0.16
27,616 $
0.15 $
0.15
6,907 $
(0.01 ) $
(0.01 )
6,905 $
(0.19 ) $
(0.19 )
6,902 $
0.21
0.21
6,902
$
$
$
$
-72-
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Not applicable.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
An evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of SpartanNash Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as
currently defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) was performed as of January 2, 2021 (the “Evaluation
Date”). This evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of SpartanNash Company’s management,
including its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and Chief Accounting Officer (“CAO”). As of the
Evaluation Date, SpartanNash Company’s management, including the CEO, CFO and CAO, concluded that SpartanNash’s disclosure
controls and procedures were effective to ensure that material information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company
files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the
Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and
procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to management, including its principal executive and principal
financial officers as appropriate to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The management of SpartanNash Company, including its CEO, CFO and CAO, is responsible for establishing and maintaining
adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. SpartanNash Company’s internal controls were designed by, or under the supervision of, the CEO, CFO and CAO, and effected
by the Company’s Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of
its financial reporting and the preparation and presentation of the consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with GAAP and includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of SpartanNash Company; (2) provide reasonable assurance
that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts
and expenditures of SpartanNash Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of
SpartanNash Company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition,
use or disposition of SpartanNash Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Management of SpartanNash Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal controls over financial reporting
based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of
the Treadway Commission. This evaluation included review of the documentation of controls, evaluation of the design effectiveness
of controls, testing of the operating effectiveness of controls and a conclusion on this evaluation. Through this evaluation,
management did not identify any material weakness in the Company’s internal control. There are inherent limitations in the
effectiveness of any system of internal control over financial reporting. Based on the evaluation, management has concluded that
SpartanNash Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of January 2, 2021.
The independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K
Annual Report has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of
January 2, 2021 as stated in their report on the following page.
Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
During the last fiscal quarter, there was no change in SpartanNash’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, SpartanNash’s internal control over financial reporting. In response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, many of the Company’s associates began working from home during the first quarter of 2020. Management has
taken measures to ensure that the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting remain effective and were not materially
affected.
-73-
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and shareholders of
SpartanNash Company and subsidiaries
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of SpartanNash Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of
January 2, 2021, 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 Company maintained, in all material respects,
effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated
Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended January 2, 2021, of the Company and our report dated
March 3, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of
the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control
over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based
on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness
exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such
other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
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 (1) pertain to the
maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the
company; (2) 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 (3) 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.
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/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Grand Rapids, Michigan
March 3, 2021
-74-
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by this item is here incorporated by reference from the sections titled “The Board of Directors,”
“SpartanNash’s Executive Officers,” “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports,” “Corporate Governance Principles,” and “Transactions with
Related Persons” in SpartanNash’s definitive proxy statement relating to its annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2021.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this item is here incorporated by reference from the sections entitled “Executive Compensation,”
“Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control,” “Compensation of Directors,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks
and Insider Participation” and “Compensation Committee Report” in SpartanNash’s definitive proxy statement relating to its annual
meeting of shareholders to be held in 2021.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this item is here incorporated by reference from the section titled “Ownership of SpartanNash Stock” in
SpartanNash’s definitive proxy statement relating to its annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2021.
The following table provides information about SpartanNash’s equity compensation plans regarding the number of securities to be
issued under these plans, the weighted-average exercise prices of options outstanding under these plans and the number of securities
available for future issuance as of the end of fiscal 2021.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(1)
Weighted-average exercise
price of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(2)
Number of securities
remaining
available for future issuance
under equity compensation
plans (excluding securities
reflected in column (1))
(3)
—
—
—
—
2,205,034
Not applicable
—
—
2,205,034
Plan Category
Equity compensation Plans approved by
security holders (a)
Equity compensation plans not approved by
security holders
Total
(a) Consists of the Stock Incentive Plan of 2020. The numbers of shares reflected in column (3) in the table above with respect to the
Stock Incentive Plan of 2020 represent shares that may be issued other than upon the exercise of an option, warrant or right. The
plan contains customary anti-dilution provisions that are applicable in the event of a stock split or certain other changes in
SpartanNash’s capitalization.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this item is here incorporated by reference from the section titled “Transactions with Related Persons”
and the table captioned “Board of Directors Committee Membership” in SpartanNash’s definitive proxy statement relating to its
annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2021.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by this item is here incorporated by reference from the section titled “Independent Auditors” in
SpartanNash’s definitive proxy statement relating to its annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2021.
-75-
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Report:
1.
Financial Statements.
A. In Item 8.
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP dated March 3, 2021
Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019
Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29,
2018
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and
December 29, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and
December 29, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29,
2018
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Financial Statement Schedules.
2.
Schedules are omitted because the required information is either inapplicable or presented in the consolidated financial
statements or related notes.
3.
Exhibits.
The information required by this Section (a)(3) of Item 15 is set forth on the exhibit index that follows the Signatures page
of this Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
-76-
Exhibit
Number
2.1
2.2
3.1
3.2
4.1
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
10.6
10.7*
10.8*
10.9*
EXHIBIT INDEX
Document
Asset Purchase Agreement dated November 3, 2016 by and among SpartanNash Company, Caito Foods Service,
Inc., Blue Ribbon Transport, Inc., and Matthew Caito as Seller’s Representative. Previously filed as an exhibit to
the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 4, 2016. Incorporated herein by reference.
Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreement dated January 6, 2017 by and among SpartanNash Company, Caito
Foods Service, Inc., Blue Ribbon Transport, Inc., and Matthew Caito as Seller’s Representative. Previously filed
as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 9, 2017. Incorporated herein by
reference.
Restated Articles of Incorporation of SpartanNash Company, as amended. Previously filed as an exhibit to the
Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 15, 2017. Incorporated herein by
reference.
Bylaws of SpartanNash Company, as amended. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Incorporated herein by reference.
Description of Capital Stock.
Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, among Spartan Stores, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries,
as borrowers, and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as administrative agent, and certain lenders from time to
time party thereto, dated November 19, 2013. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on November 19, 2013. Incorporated herein by reference.
Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated January 9, 2015, among
SpartanNash Company and certain of its subsidiaries, as borrowers, and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as
administrative agent, and certain lenders from time to time party thereto. Previously filed as an exhibit to the
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 12, 2015. Incorporated herein by reference.
Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated December 20, 2016, among
SpartanNash Company and certain of its subsidiaries, as borrowers, and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as
administrative agent, and certain lenders from time to time party thereto. Previously filed as an exhibit to the
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 21, 2016. Incorporated herein by reference.
Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated November 21, 2017, among
SpartanNash Company and certain of its subsidiaries, as borrowers, and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as
administrative agent, and certain lenders from time to time party thereto. Previously filed as an exhibit to the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2017. Incorporated herein by
reference.
Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated December 18, 2018, among
SpartanNash Company and certain of its subsidiaries, as borrowers, and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as
administrative agent, and certain lenders from time to time party thereto. Previously filed as an exhibit to the
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 19, 2018. Incorporated herein by reference.
Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated March 22, 2019, among
SpartanNash Company and certain of its subsidiaries, as borrowers, and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as
administrative agent, and certain lenders from time to time party thereto. Previously filed as an exhibit to the
Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 20, 2019. Incorporated herein by
reference.
Amended and Restated SpartanNash Company Executive Cash Incentive Plan of 2015. Previously filed as an
exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 3, 2015. Incorporated herein by reference.
Form of 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 18, 2020. Incorporated herein by reference.
Form of 2020 Annual Cash Incentive Plan. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 18, 2020. Incorporated herein by reference.
10.10*
Form of 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 20, 2019. Incorporated herein by reference.
-77-
Exhibit
Number
10.11*
10.12*
10.13*
10.14*
10.15*
10.16*
10.17*
10.18*
10.19*
10.20*
EXHIBIT INDEX
Document
Form of 2019 Annual Cash Incentive Plan. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 20, 2019. Incorporated herein by reference.
Form of 2018 Long-Term Cash Incentive Award. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 21, 2018. Incorporated herein by reference.
Form of 2017 Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan Award. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 22, 2017. Incorporated herein by reference.
SpartanNash Company Stock Incentive Plan of 2020. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form S-8
filed on May 29, 2020. Incorporated herein by reference.
SpartanNash Company Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended. Previously filed as an exhibit to
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 27, 2010. Incorporated herein by
reference.
SpartanNash Company Supplemental Executive Savings Plan. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s
Form S-8 Registration Statement filed on December 21, 2001. Incorporated herein by reference.
SpartanNash Company 2001 Stock Bonus Plan. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Transition
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2013. Incorporated herein by reference.
Form of Restricted Stock Award to Executive Officers. Previously filed as an exhibit to SpartanNash Company’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending April 18, 2020. Incorporated herein by reference.
Form of Restricted Stock Award to Non-Employee Directors. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending April 18, 2020. Incorporated herein by reference.
Form of Restricted Stock Award to Senior Leadership Team. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending July 11, 2020. Incorporated herein by reference.
10.21*
Form of Restricted Stock Award to Associates.
10.22*
Form of Restricted Stock Award to Interim CEO.
10.23*
Form of Restricted Stock Award to Corporate Counsel.
10.24*
10.25*
10.26*
10.27*
10.28*
Form of Executive Employment Agreement between SpartanNash Company and certain executive officers.
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28,
2019. Incorporated herein by reference.
Form of Executive Severance Agreement between SpartanNash Company and certain executive officers, as
amended. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 30, 2017. Incorporated herein by reference.
Form of Executive Severance Agreement between SpartanNash Company and certain executive officers.
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30,
2017. Incorporated herein by reference.
Form of Indemnification Agreement. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-
K for the year ended January 2, 2016. Incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Employment Agreement between SpartanNash Company and Tony Sarsam. Previously filed as an
exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending October 3, 2020. Incorporated
herein by reference.
10.29*
Retention Bonus Agreement between SpartanNash Company and Senior Leadership.
10.30
10.31
Transaction Agreement, by and between SpartanNash and Amazon.com NV Investments Holdings LLC, dated as
of October 7, 2020. Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
October 8, 2020. Incorporated herein by reference.
Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of SpartanNash Company, by and between SpartanNash Company and
Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC, dated as of October 7, 2020. Previously filed as an exhibit to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 8, 2020. Incorporated herein by reference.
-78-
Exhibit
Number
21
23
24
31.1
31.2
31.3
32.1
EXHIBIT INDEX
Document
Subsidiaries of SpartanNash Company.
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Powers of Attorney.
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Certification of Chief Accounting Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350. This exhibit is furnished, not filed, in accordance with SEC Release
Number 33-8212.
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its
XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104
The cover page from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 2, 2021, has been
formatted in Inline XBRL.
*
These documents are management contracts or compensation plans or arrangements required to be filed as exhibits to this Form
10-K.
-79-
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, SpartanNash Company (the Registrant)
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SIGNATURES
SPARTANNASH COMPANY
(Registrant)
Date: March 3, 2021
By /s/ Tony B. Sarsam
Tony B. Sarsam
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
-80-
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of
SpartanNash Company and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
March 3, 2021
March 3, 2021
March 3, 2021
March 3, 2021
March 3, 2021
March 3, 2021
March 3, 2021
March 3, 2021
March 3, 2021
By *
M. Shân Atkins
Director
By *
Dennis Eidson
Chairman of the Board
By *
Dr. Frank M. Gambino
Director
By *
Douglas A. Hacker
Director
By *
Yvonne R. Jackson
Director
By *
Matthew Mannelly
Director
By *
Elizabeth A. Nickels
Director
By *
Hawthorne Proctor
Director
By *
William R. Voss
Director
March 3, 2021
By /s/ Tony B. Sarsam
Tony B. Sarsam
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
March 3, 2021
By /s/ Mark E. Shamber
Mark E. Shamber
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
March 3, 2021
By /s/ Tammy R. Hurley
Tammy R. Hurley
Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
March 3, 2021
*By /s/ Mark E. Shamber
Mark E. Shamber
Attorney-in-Fact
-81-
2020 SpartanNash Annual Report
Corporate Executive Officers
Tony Sarsam
President and Chief Executive Officer
Board of Directors
Dennis Eidson
Chairman
Arif Dar
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer
M. Shân Atkins1, 2
Independent Business Executive, former partner Bain & Company
Tammy R. Hurley
Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer
Kathleen M. Mahoney
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate
Secretary
Lori Raya
Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer
Mark Shamber
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
David W. Sisk
Senior Vice President and President, MDV
Thomas Swanson
Executive Vice President and General Manager, Corporate Retail
Yvonne Trupiano
Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources and
Corporate Affairs and Communications Officer
Corporate Information
Transfer Agent
Computershare
P.O. Box 43078
Providence, Rhode Island 02940
800.622.6757 (US, Canada & Puerto Rico)
781.575.4735 (non-US)
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Suite 600
38 Commerce Avenue SW
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
616.336.7900
Investor Information
On March 2, 2021, there were approximately 1,300 shareholders
of record of SpartanNash common stock.
SpartanNash common stock is listed on NASDAQ under the
trading symbol “SPTN.”
A copy of SpartanNash’s Annual Report to the Securities
and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K for the year ended
January 2, 2021, may be obtained by any shareholder
without charge by writing to:
SpartanNash Company
c/o Investor Relations
850 76th Street SW
Mailcode: GR761214
P.O. Box 8700
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49518-8700
616.878.8793
spartannash.com
Dr. Frank M. Gambino2
Professor of Marketing and Director of Food & Consumer Packaged
Goods Marketing Program in the Haworth College of Business at
Western Michigan University
Douglas A. Hacker1, 3
Independent Business Executive, former Executive Vice President,
Strategy for UAL Corporation
Yvonne R. Jackson1, 3
President, Principal and Co-Founder of Beecher Jackson, former
Senior Vice President, Corporate Human Resources of Pfizer, Inc.
Matthew Mannelly3
Retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Prestige Brands
Elizabeth A. Nickels1, 2
Independent Business Executive, former Chief Financial Officer of
Herman Miller and President of Herman Miller Healthcare
Major General (Ret.) Hawthorne L. Proctor2
Managing Partner of Proctor & Boone Consulting LLC;
Senior Logistics Consultant of Intelligent Decisions, Inc.
Tony Sarsam
President and Chief Executive Officer of SpartanNash
William R. Voss1, 3
Managing Director of Lake Pacific Partners, LLC
1 Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
2 Audit Committee
3 Compensation Committee
SpartanNash received the following
honors and awards in 2020:
•
Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation®
– The National Association for Business Resources
• Winning Company – 2020 Women on Boards
•
•
Gold Plate Award – FMI—The Food Industry Association
The PG 100: North America’s Top Retailers of Food and
Consumables – Progressive Grocer (Ranked #40)
SmartWay partner - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
•
• Military Friendly® Employer, Bronze level – VIQTORY
• Military Friendly® Brand – VIQTORY
•
Veteran-Friendly Employer, Silver level – Michigan
Veterans Affairs Agency
• Michigan’s Best and Brightest in Wellness® – The
National Association for Business Resources
2020
ANNUAL
REPORT
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, SpartanNash frontline heroes
have served our local customers and communities safely, ensuring they
receive the essential food, medicine and grocery products they need.
These frontline heroes ensured our supply chain remained strong, our
trucks stayed on the road, our shelves were stocked, our facilities were
clean and safe for associates and customers alike, and so much more.
We cannot thank them enough.
850 76th Street SW | PO Box 8700 | Grand Rapids, MI 49518-8700 | spartannash.com