EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 103595
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 103595_10-K_2021_0000103595-21-000014.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM I. BUSINESS
GENERAL
Village Super Market, Inc. (the “Company” or “Village”) was founded in 1937. Village operates a chain of twenty-nine ShopRite supermarkets, five Fairway Markets and three Gourmet Garage specialty markets located in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The Company is a member of Wakefern Food Corporation ("Wakefern"), the nation's largest retailer-owned food cooperative and owner of the ShopRite, Fairway and Gourmet Garage names. This relationship provides Village many of the economies of scale in purchasing, distribution, own branded products, advanced retail technology, marketing and advertising associated with chains of greater size and geographic coverage. The ShopRite Price Plus preferred customer program enables Village to offer continuity programs, focus on target marketing initiatives and to offer discounts and attach digital coupons directly to a customer's Price Plus card.
During fiscal 2021, sales per store were $52,713 and sales per average square foot of selling space were $1,349.
Below is a summary of the range of store sizes at July 31, 2021:
Total Square Feet Number of Stores
Greater than 60,000 16
50,001 to 60,000 9
40,001 to 50,000 5
20,000 to 40,000 4
Less than 20,000 3
Total 37
These larger store sizes enable the Company’s stores to provide a “one-stop” shopping experience and to feature expanded specialty departments such as an onsite bakery, an expanded delicatessen, a variety of natural and organic foods, ethnic and international foods, prepared foods and pharmacies. Many of our stores emphasize a Power Alley, which features high margin, fresh, convenience offerings in an area within the store that provides quick customer entry and exit for those customers shopping for today's lunch or dinner.
Online grocery ordering for in-store pick up or home delivery through ShopRite from Home is available in all of our ShopRite stores. Customers can browse our circular, create and edit shopping lists and use ShopRite from Home through shoprite.com or the ShopRite app. Additionally, the ShopRite Order Express app enables customers to pre-order deli, catering, specialty
occasion cakes and other items. Online ordering for home delivery through third party services is available in all Fairway and Gourmet Garage stores. In April 2020 we also added online ordering for home delivery through third party services in all ShopRite stores.
The following table shows the percentage of the Company's sales allocated to various product categories during each of the periods indicated:
Product Categories
2021 2020
Groceries 34.7 % 35.9 %
Dairy and Frozen 17.2 17.1
Produce 13.2 11.9
Meats 9.8 9.9
Non-Foods 7.0 7.9
Deli and Prepared Food 7.7 7.4
Pharmacy 3.3 3.8
Seafood 3.2 2.9
Bakery 2.4 2.1
Liquor 1.1 0.7
Other 0.4 0.4
100 % 100 %
A variety of factors affect the profitability of each of the Company's stores, including competition, size, access and parking, lease terms, management supervision, and the strength of the applicable banner in the local community. The Company gives ongoing attention to the décor and format of its stores and tailors each store's product mix to the preferences of the local community. Village continually evaluates individual stores to determine if they should be closed, remodeled or replaced.
ACQUISITIONS, DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION
The Company has an ongoing program to upgrade and expand its supermarket chain. This program has included store remodels as well as the opening or acquisition of additional stores. When remodeling, Village has sought, whenever possible, to increase the amount of selling space in its stores.
We have budgeted $40,000 for capital expenditures in fiscal 2022. Planned expenditures include three major remodels, several smaller store remodels, the purchase of Galloway store shopping center, one new Gourmet Garage store, continued expansion of ShopRite from Home and self-checkout, and various merchandising, technology, equipment and facility upgrades.
Additional store remodels and sites for new stores are in various stages of development. Village will also consider additional acquisitions should appropriate opportunities arise.
Fiscal 2021
Fiscal 2021 capital expenditures include one major remodel, continued expansion of ShopRite from Home and self-checkout, and various merchandising, technology, equipment and facility upgrades.
On February 22, 2021, Village closed the ShopRite store located in Silver Spring, Maryland. Despite continued investment in marketing and promotional programs, the store was unable to generate sales at a level sufficient to maintain profitability, resulting in its closure. The impacts associated with this closure were not material to the consolidated financial statements.
Fiscal 2020
On May 14, 2020, Village completed its acquisition of certain assets, including five supermarkets averaging 52,000 sq. ft. (30,000 selling sq. ft.), a production distribution center (the “PDC”) and the intellectual property of Fairway Group Holdings Corp. and certain of its subsidiaries (“Fairway”), including the names “Fairway” and “Fairway Markets” for $73,622, net of cash acquired. Four of the supermarkets are in Manhattan, specifically the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Kips Bay and Chelsea locations, and a fifth store is located in Pelham, NY. Like Village, Fairway traces its roots back to a neighborhood
market over 80 years ago. Fairway Markets offer a one-stop destination shopping experience with an emphasis on fresh, unique, and high quality offerings paired with an expansive variety of natural, organic, specialty and gourmet products. The PDC is a centralized commissary that promotes production efficiency, product quality and consistency in the bakery, prepared foods, meals to go and other perishable product categories. Production costs at the PDC, including materials, labor and overhead, are included in Cost of sales. The Fairway acquisition expanded our presence in New York City under an iconic city brand and provides Village the ability to expand centralized food production to support stores under all of our banners.
Fiscal 2020 capital expenditures include costs associated with the opening of an 82,000 sq. ft. (52,000 selling sq. ft.) store in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania that replaced our existing 53,000 sq. ft. store, expansion of ShopRite from Home, including the opening of an automated micro-fulfillment center in southern New Jersey, one major store remodel, several smaller remodels and equipment upgrades, including those in the integration of the Fairway acquisition.
WAKEFERN FOOD CORPORATION
The Company is the second largest member of Wakefern and owns 12.2% of Wakefern’s outstanding stock as of July 31, 2021. Wakefern, which was organized in 1946, is the nation’s largest retailer-owned food cooperative. Wakefern and its 48 shareholder members operate 362 supermarkets and other retail formats, including 92 stores operated by Wakefern. Only Wakefern and its members are entitled to use the ShopRite, Fairway and Gourmet Garage names and trademarks, and to participate in related advertising and promotional programs.
The principal benefits to the Company from its relationship with Wakefern are the use of the ShopRite, Fairway and Gourmet Garage names and trademarks, volume purchasing, store and own branded products, distribution and warehousing economies of scale, advertising and promotional programs (including the ShopRite Price Plus card) and the development of advanced retail technology. The Company believes that the ShopRite and Fairway names are widely recognized by its customers and is a factor in their decisions about where to shop. Store and own branded products accounted for approximately 12.4% of ShopRite sales in fiscal 2021.
Wakefern distributes as a "patronage dividend" to each of its stockholders a share of substantially all of its earnings in proportion to the dollar volume of purchases by the stockholder from Wakefern during each fiscal year.
While Wakefern has a substantial professional staff, it operates as a member owned cooperative. Executives of most members make contributions of time to the business of Wakefern. Executives of the Company spend a significant amount of their time working on various Wakefern committees, which oversee and direct Wakefern purchasing, merchandising and other programs. In addition, Nicholas Sumas, the Company’s Co-President, is a member of the Wakefern Board of Directors.
Most of the Company's advertising is developed and placed by Wakefern's professional advertising staff. Wakefern is responsible for all broadcast television, radio, print and digital advertisements. Wakefern bills its members using various formulas which allocate advertising costs in accordance with the estimated proportional benefits to each member from such advertising. The Company also places Wakefern developed materials with local newspapers. In addition, Wakefern and its affiliates provide the Company with other services including workers' compensation, liability and property insurance, supplies, certain equipment purchasing, coupon processing, certain financial accounting applications, retail technology support, including shoprite.com, gourmetgarage.com, fairway.com, branded apps and other store services.
Wakefern operates warehouses and distribution facilities in Elizabeth, Keasbey, Whitehouse, Dayton, Newark and Jamesburg, New Jersey and Gouldsboro, Breinigsville and Hatfield Pennsylvania. The Company and all other members of Wakefern are parties to the Wakefern Stockholders' Agreement which provides for certain commitments by, and restrictions on, all shareholders of Wakefern. This agreement extends until ten years from the date that stockholders representing 75% of Wakefern sales notify Wakefern that those stockholders request the Wakefern Stockholders' Agreement be terminated. Each member is obligated to purchase from Wakefern a minimum of 85% of its requirements for products offered by Wakefern. If this purchase obligation is not met, the member is required to pay Wakefern's profit contribution shortfall attributable to this failure. The Company fulfilled this obligation in fiscal 2021 and 2020. This agreement also requires that in the event of unapproved changes in control of the Company or a sale of the Company or of individual Company stores, except to a qualified successor, the Company in such cases must pay Wakefern an amount equal to the annual profit contribution shortfall attributable to the sale of a store or change in control. No payments are required if the volume lost by a shareholder as a result of the sale of a store is replaced by such shareholder by increased volume in existing or new stores. A "qualified successor" must be, or agree to become, a member of Wakefern, and may not own or operate any supermarkets, other than ShopRite, PriceRite, The Fresh Grocer, Fairway, Gourmet Garage or Dearborn Market supermarkets, in the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire,
Maine or the District of Columbia, or own or operate more than 25 non-ShopRite supermarkets in any other locations in the United States.
Wakefern, under circumstances specified in its bylaws, may refuse to sell merchandise to, and may repurchase the Wakefern stock of, any member. Such circumstances include a member's bankruptcy filing, certain unapproved transfers by a member of its supermarket business or its capital stock in Wakefern, unapproved acquisition by a member of certain supermarket or grocery wholesale supply businesses, the material breach by a member of any provision of the bylaws of Wakefern or any agreement with Wakefern, or a failure to fulfill financial obligations to Wakefern.
Any material change in Wakefern's method of operation or a termination or material modification of the Company's relationship with Wakefern following termination of the above agreements, or otherwise, might have an adverse impact on the conduct of the Company's business and could involve additional expense for the Company. The failure of any Wakefern member to fulfill its obligations under these agreements or a member's insolvency or withdrawal from Wakefern could result in increased costs to remaining members.
Wakefern does not prescribe geographical franchise areas to its members. The specific locations at which the Company, other members of Wakefern, or Wakefern itself, may open new units under the ShopRite, PriceRite, The Fresh Grocer, Fairway, Gourmet Garage or Dearborn Market names are, however, subject to the approval of Wakefern's Site Development Committee. This committee is composed of persons who are not employees or members of Wakefern. Committee decisions to deny a site application may be appealed to the Wakefern Board of Directors. Wakefern assists its members in their site selection by providing appropriate demographic data, volume projections and estimates of the impact of the proposed store on existing member supermarkets in the area.
Each of Wakefern's members is required to make capital contributions to Wakefern based on the number of stores operated by that member and the purchases from Wakefern generated by those stores. As additional stores are opened or acquired by a member, additional capital must be contributed by it to Wakefern. The Company’s investment in Wakefern and affiliates was $33,004 at July 31, 2021. The total amount of debt outstanding from all capital pledges to Wakefern is $3,423 at July 31, 2021. The maximum per store investment increased from $950 to $975 in fiscal 2021, resulting in an additional $670 capital pledge, which was paid in fiscal 2021.
As required by the Wakefern bylaws, the Company’s investment in Wakefern is pledged to Wakefern to secure the Company’s obligations to Wakefern. In addition, five members of the Sumas family have guaranteed the Company’s obligations to Wakefern. These personal guarantees are required of any 5% shareholder of the Company who is active in the operation of the Company. Wakefern does not own any securities of the Company or its subsidiaries. The Company’s investment in Wakefern entitles the Company to enough votes to elect one member to the Wakefern Board of Directors due to cumulative voting rights.
LABOR
As of July 31, 2021, the Company employed approximately 7,268 persons with approximately 70% working part-time. Approximately 89% of the Company’s employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Contracts with the Company’s seven unions have expiration dates between March 2020 and August 2025. Approximately 10% of our associates are represented by unions whose contracts have expired or will expire within one year. Many of the Company’s competitors are similarly unionized.
SEASONALITY
The majority of our revenues are generally not seasonal in nature. However, revenues tend to be higher during the major holidays throughout the year.
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
The Company’s business requires various licenses and the registration of facilities with state and federal health and drug regulatory agencies. These licenses and registration requirements obligate the Company to observe certain rules and regulations, and a violation of these rules and regulations could result in a suspension or revocation of licenses or registrations and fines or penalties. In addition, most licenses require periodic renewals. The Company has not experienced material difficulties with respect to obtaining or retaining licenses and registrations.
COMPETITION
The supermarket business is highly competitive and characterized by narrow profit margins. Village competes directly with multiple retail formats both in-store and online, including national, regional and local supermarket chains as well as warehouse clubs, supercenters, drug stores, discount general merchandise stores, fast food chains, restaurants, dollar stores and convenience stores. Some of the Company's principal competitors include Acme, Aldi, Amazon/Whole Foods, BJs, Costco, Foodtown, Giant, Kings, Lidl, Safeway, Stop & Shop, Target, Trader Joe's, Wal-Mart, Wegmans and Weis. Competition with these outlets is based on price, store location, convenience, promotion, product assortment, quality and service. Some of these competitors have greater financial resources, lower merchandise acquisition costs and lower operating expenses than we do.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
As a member of the Wakefern cooperative, Village relies upon our customer focused websites, shoprite.com, gourmetgarage.com and fairway.com, for interaction with customers and prospective employees. This website is maintained by Wakefern for the benefit of all ShopRite supermarkets, and therefore does not contain any financial information related to the Company.
The Company will provide paper copies of the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and press releases free of charge upon request to any shareholder. In addition, electronic copies of these filings can be obtained at sec.gov.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Not applicable.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
As of July 31, 2021, Village owns the sites of six of its supermarkets (containing 412,000 square feet of total space), all of which are freestanding stores, except the Egg Harbor store, which is part of a shopping center, and the micro-fulfillment center in southern New Jersey. The remaining 31 stores (containing 1,614,000 square feet of total space), PDC and the corporate headquarters are leased, with initial lease terms generally ranging from 20 to 30 years, usually with renewal options. Twenty-three of these leased stores are located in shopping centers or city storefronts and the remaining eight are freestanding stores. Most of the Company’s leases contain renewal options at increased rents of five years each at the Company’s sole discretion. These options enable Village to retain the use of facilities in desirable operating areas. Each renewal option is evaluated when recognizing the lease right-of-use assets and liabilities, and the Company utilizes the lease term for which it is reasonably certain to use the underlying asset. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. The Company is obligated under all leases to pay for real estate taxes, utilities and liability insurance, and under certain leases to pay additional amounts based on maintenance and a percentage of sales in excess of stipulated amounts. The Company accounts for rent holidays, escalating rent provisions, and construction allowances on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
As of July 31, 2021, finance lease right-of-use assets of $12,806 are included in property, equipment and fixtures, net in the Company's consolidated balance sheet.
The annual rental payment, including finance leases, for all of the Company's leased facilities for the year ended July 31, 2021 was approximately $37,457. For additional information on lease obligations, see Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.
Village is a limited partner in two partnerships, one of which owns a shopping center in which one of our leased stores is located. The Company is also a general partner in a partnership that is a lessor of one of the Company's freestanding stores.
On October 13, 2021, Village completed the acquisition of the Galloway store shopping center for $9,800. As of July 31, 2021, the right-of-use asset and obligation related to the Galloway store's lease were $873 and $887, respectively.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Superstorm Sandy devastated Village's trade area on October 29, 2012 and resulted in the closure of almost all of our stores for periods of time ranging from a few hours to eight days. Village disposed of substantial amounts of perishable product and also incurred repair, labor and other costs as a result of the storm. Wakefern, as the policy holder, has pursued recovery of uncollected insurance claims on behalf of all Wakefern members through litigation against the insurance carrier and others since October 2013. Litigation over this matter has ended and the Company received an additional $2,733 in the 4th quarter of fiscal 2020 which was recognized as a reduction in operating and administrative expense. Village has received a total of $6,730 related to losses incurred as a result of Superstorm Sandy.
The Company is involved in other litigation incidental to the normal course of business. Company management is of the opinion that the ultimate resolution of these legal proceedings should not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
(All dollar amounts are in thousands, except per share data).
Stock Price and Dividend Information
The Class A common stock of Village Super Market, Inc. is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “VLGEA.” The table below sets forth the high and low last reported sales price for the fiscal quarter indicated.
2021 High Low
4th Quarter $25.46 $22.55
3rd Quarter $26.19 $21.07
2nd Quarter $23.89 $21.56
1st Quarter $26.41 $23.19
2020 High Low
4th Quarter $27.72 $22.43
3rd Quarter $24.58 $17.10
2nd Quarter $28.40 $22.46
1st Quarter $26.73 $24.26
As of October 1, 2021, there were approximately 278 holders of record of Class A common stock.
During fiscal 2021, Village paid cash dividends of $13,050. Dividends in fiscal 2021 consist of $1.00 per Class A common share and $.65 per Class B common share.
During fiscal 2020, Village paid cash dividends of $12,965. Dividends in fiscal 2020 consist of $1.00 per Class A common share and $.65 per Class B common share.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Selected Financial Data
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data and per square foot data).
Fiscal 2021 contains 53 weeks, with the additional week included in the fourth quarter. All other fiscal years contain 52 weeks.
For year July 31, 2021 July 25, 2020 July 27, 2019 July 28, 2018 July 29,
Sales $ 2,030,330 $ 1,804,594 $ 1,643,502 $ 1,612,015 $ 1,604,574
Net income 19,994 (1) 24,939 (2) 25,539 (3) 25,080 (4) 22,921
Net income as a % of sales 0.98 % 1.38 % 1.55 % 1.56 % 1.43 %
Net income per share:
Class A common stock:
Basic $ 1.53 $ 1.93 $ 1.98 $ 1.95 $ 1.80
Diluted 1.37 1.72 1.77 1.74 1.60
Class B common stock:
Basic 1.00 1.25 1.29 1.27 1.16
Diluted 1.00 1.25 1.29 1.27 1.16
Cash dividends per share:
Class A 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Class B 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65
At year-end
Total assets (5) $ 889,004 $ 915,546 $ 502,289 $ 481,590 $ 455,225
Long-term debt (5) 370,078 396,181 47,725 48,186 42,646
Working capital 44,023 34,522 56,307 89,201 85,279
Shareholders’ equity 341,473 332,320 318,672 303,145 286,820
Book value per share 23.48 22.84 22.15 21.08 19.93
Other data
Same store sales trend (6) 2.3 % 5.3 % (0.5) % 0.2 % 0.0 %
Total square feet 2,026,000 2,091,000 1,804,000 1,770,000 1,717,000
Average total sq. ft. per store 55,000 55,000 55,000 59,000 59,000
Selling square feet 1,481,000 1,529,000 1,401,000 1,384,000 1,353,000
Sales per average square foot of selling space (7) $ 1,349 $ 1,275 $ 1,186 $ 1,188 $ 1,186
Number of stores 37 38 33 30 29
Sales per average number of stores (7) $ 52,713 $ 53,284 $ 54,715 $ 55,450 $ 55,330
Capital expenditures and acquisitions 25,233 54,495 27,988 35,464 27,726
(1) Includes a $2,802 (net of tax) gain on the sale of the leasehold interest in a non-supermarket related parking lot lease obtained as part of the Fairway acquisition, a gain on the sale of a pharmacy prescription list related to the Silver Spring store, net of store closing costs of $276 (net of tax), non-cash impairment charges for the Fairway trade name and the long lived assets for one Gourmet Garage store of $2,010 (net of tax), pension settlement charges of $407 (net of tax) and estimated net income of $417 due to the fiscal year including a 53rd week.
(2) Includes a $1,911 (net of tax) gain for Superstorm Sandy insurance proceeds received, an $854 (net of tax) gain on the sale of pharmacy prescription lists related to three store pharmacies closed in March 2020, a $2,512 incremental benefit from a federal net operating loss carryback at a rate higher than the current statutory tax rate, a $1,423 (net of tax) gain arising from the
breakup of Village’s initial “stalking horse” bid under the January 20, 2020 Fairway Asset Purchase Agreement, transaction costs incurred for the Fairway acquisition of $1,888 (net of tax), amortization of acquisition related inventory step-up of $355 (net of tax), a non-cash pension charge related to the termination of a company-sponsored pension plan and other pension settlement charges of $1,160 (net of tax), pre-opening costs related to the Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania replacement store of $891 (net of tax) and store closure costs and charges to write off the lease asset and related obligations for the old Stroudsburg store of $557 (net of tax).
(3) Includes a $290 (net of tax) gain for Superstorm Sandy insurance proceeds received, a tax benefit of $777 related to the favorable settlement of a tax audit with the New Jersey Division of Taxation and a non-cash pension charge related to pension settlement charges of $308 (net of tax).
(4) Includes a $3,300 reduction in deferred tax expense as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, an $822 (net of tax) non-recurring credit accrued related to multi-employer pension benefits, $877 (net of tax) in non-recurring assessments from Wakefern and $695 (net of tax) in pre-opening costs related to the Bronx, New York City store.
(5) On July 28, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, “Leases.” The adoption of the standard resulted in the recognition of operating lease assets and operating lease liabilities, included in long-term debt of $99,415 and $111,139, respectively, as of the date of adoption.
(6) New stores and replacement stores are included in same store sales in the quarter after the store has been in operation for four full quarters. Store renovations and expansions are included in same store sales immediately. The change in same store sales in fiscal 2021 excludes the impact of the 53rd week in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2017 excludes the impact of the 53rd week in fiscal 2016.
(7) Amounts for the year ended July 25, 2020 exclude the results of the Fairway stores acquired on May 14, 2020, amounts for the year ended July 27, 2019 exclude the results of the Gourmet Garage stores acquired on June 24, 2019. Amounts for the year ended July 28, 2018 exclude results of the store opened in the Bronx, New York on June 28, 2018.
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts).
First
Quarter Second
Quarter Third
Quarter Fourth
Quarter Fiscal
Year
Sales $ 490,136 $ 522,818 $ 481,093 $ 536,283 $ 2,030,330
Gross profit 137,963 141,845 133,422 151,814 565,044
Net income 3,360 4,555 2,574 9,500 19,994
Net income per share:
Class A common stock:
Basic 0.26 0.35 0.20 0.73 1.53
Diluted 0.23 0.31 0.18 0.65 1.37
Class B common stock:
Basic 0.17 0.23 0.13 0.47 1.00
Diluted 0.17 0.23 0.13 0.47 1.00
Sales $ 407,402 $ 437,422 $ 458,292 $ 501,478 $ 1,804,594
Gross profit 113,546 117,947 129,901 145,081 506,475
Net income 2,567 2,005 11,138 9,229 24,939
Net income per share:
Class A common stock:
Basic 0.20 0.16 0.86 0.71 1.93
Diluted 0.18 0.14 0.77 0.63 1.72
Class B common stock:
Basic 0.13 0.10 0.56 0.46 1.25
Diluted 0.13 0.10 0.56 0.46 1.25

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share and per square foot data).
OVERVIEW
Village operates a chain of twenty-nine ShopRite supermarkets, five Fairway Markets and three Gourmet Garage specialty markets located in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Village is the second largest member of Wakefern Food Corporation (“Wakefern”), the nation’s largest retailer-owned food cooperative and owner of the ShopRite, Fairway and Gourmet Garage names. This ownership interest in Wakefern provides Village with many of the economies of scale in purchasing, distribution, advanced retail technology, marketing and advertising associated with larger chains.
On February 22, 2021, Village closed the ShopRite store located in Silver Spring, Maryland. Despite continued investment in marketing and promotional programs, the store was unable to generate sales at a level sufficient to maintain profitability, resulting in its closure. The impacts associated with this closure were not material to the consolidated financial statements.
On May 14, 2020, Village completed its acquisition of certain assets, including five supermarkets averaging 52,000 sq. ft. (30,000 selling sq. ft.), a production distribution center (the “PDC”) and the intellectual property of Fairway Group Holdings Corp. and certain of its subsidiaries (“Fairway”), including the names “Fairway” and “Fairway Markets” for $73,622, net of cash acquired. Four of the supermarkets are in Manhattan, specifically the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Kips Bay and Chelsea locations, and a fifth store is located in Pelham, NY. Like Village, Fairway traces its roots back to a neighborhood market over 80 years ago. Fairway Markets offer a one-stop destination shopping experience with an emphasis on fresh, unique, and high quality offerings paired with an expansive variety of natural, organic, specialty and gourmet products. The PDC is a centralized commissary that promotes production efficiency, product quality and consistency in the bakery, prepared foods, meals to go and other perishable product categories. Production costs at the PDC, including materials, labor and overhead, are included in Cost of sales. The Fairway acquisition expands our presence in New York City under an iconic city brand and provides Village the ability to expand centralized food production to support stores under all of our banners.
On November 1, 2019, Village opened an 82,000 sq. ft. (52,000 selling sq. ft.) ShopRite in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and replaced our existing 53,000 sq. ft. store.
The supermarket industry is highly competitive and characterized by narrow profit margins. The Company competes directly with multiple retail formats, both in-store and online, including national, regional and local supermarket chains as well as warehouse clubs, supercenters, drug stores, discount general merchandise stores, fast food chains, restaurants, dollar stores and convenience stores. Village competes by using low pricing, providing a superior customer service experience and a broad range of consistently available quality products, including our own brands portfolio. The ShopRite Price Plus preferred customer program enables Village to offer continuity programs, focus on target marketing initiatives and to offer discounts and attach digital coupons directly to a customer's Price Plus card.
The Company’s stores, six of which are owned, average 55,000 total square feet. These larger store sizes enable the Company’s stores to provide a “one-stop” shopping experience and to feature expanded higher margin specialty departments such as an on-site bakery, an expanded delicatessen, a variety of natural and organic foods, ethnic and international foods, prepared foods and pharmacies. Many of our stores emphasize a Power Alley, which features high margin, fresh, convenience offerings in an area within the store that provides quick customer entry and exit for those customers shopping for today's lunch or dinner. Certain of our stores include the Village Food Garden concept featuring a restaurant style kitchen, and several kiosks offering a wide variety of store prepared specialty foods for both take-home and in-store dining.
Online grocery ordering for in-store pick up or home delivery through ShopRite from Home is available in all of our ShopRite stores. Customers can browse our circular, create and edit shopping lists and use ShopRite from Home through shoprite.com or the ShopRite app. Additionally, the ShopRite Order Express app enables customers to pre-order deli, catering, specialty occasion cakes and other items. Online ordering for home delivery through third party services is available in all Fairway and Gourmet Garage stores. In April 2020 we also added online ordering for home delivery through third party services in all ShopRite stores.
We consider a variety of indicators to evaluate our performance, such as same store sales; percentage of total sales by department (mix); shrink; departmental gross profit percentage; sales per labor hour; units per labor hour; and hourly labor rates.
The Company utilizes a 52 - 53 week fiscal year, ending on the last Saturday in the month of July. Fiscal 2021 contains 53 weeks and fiscal 2020 contains 52 weeks.
COVID-19
The Company was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak as it operates in and around one of the early U.S. epicenters of the health crisis. The Company is classified as an essential business and has remained open to serve our customers and the communities in which we operate. We continue to experience changes in customer shopping habits, shifts in product mix and increased demand through digital channels as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand remains high in most stores, however sales at Fairway and Gourmet Garage locations in Manhattan have been negatively impacted by localized residential population migration out of the city and less commuter and tourist traffic. We expect continued uncertainty in our business as well as the local and regional economies in which we operate depending on the duration and intensity of the COVID-19 pandemic (see the "Outlook" section below for further discussion of risks and uncertainties).
NON-GAAP MEASURES
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements, including the related notes, are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). We provide non-GAAP measures, including Adjusted net income and Adjusted operating and administrative expenses management believes these metrics are useful to investors and analysts. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP measures such as net income, operating income, operating and administrative expense or any other GAAP measure of performance. These measures should not be reviewed in isolation or considered as a substitute for our financial results as reported in accordance with GAAP. We believe Adjusted net income and Adjusted operating and administrative expense are useful metrics to investors and analysts because they present more accurate year-over-year comparisons of our net income and operating and administrative expense. Other companies may have different definitions of Non-GAAP Measures and provide for different adjustments, and comparability to the Company's results of operations may be impacted by such differences. The Company's presentation of Non-GAAP Measures should not be construed as an implication that its future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.
The following tables reconciles Net income to Adjusted net income and Operating and administrative expenses to Adjusted operating and administrative expenses:
53 Weeks Ended 52 Weeks Ended
July 31,
2021 July 25,
Net Income $ 19,994 $ 24,938
Adjustments to Gross Profit:
Amortization of acquisition related inventory step up - 507
Adjustments to Operating and administrative expense:
Gain on sale of assets (1) (4,768) (1,220)
Non-cash pension termination and settlement charges 587 1,604
Store closure costs (2) 325 799
New store pre-opening costs (3) - 1,274
Gain on Superstorm Sandy insurance proceeds - (2,733)
Fairway acquisition transaction costs - 2,701
Break-up fee income (4) - (2,035)
Other adjustments:
Impairment of assets (5) 2,900 -
Estimated income from 53rd week (6) (602) -
Adjustments to Income taxes:
Tax impact of adjustments to gross profit and operating expenses 478 (236)
Tax gain on federal net operating loss carryback - (2,512)
Adjusted net income $ 18,914 $ 23,087
Operating and administrative expense 498,786 444,833
Total adjustments to operating administrative expense 3,856 (390)
Adjusted operating and administrative expense 502,642 444,443
Adjusted operating and administrative expense as a % of sales 24.76 % 24.63 %
(1) Fiscal 2021 includes a $4,044 gain on the sale of the leasehold interest in a non-supermarket related parking lot obtained as part of the Fairway acquisition and a $724 gain on the sale of the pharmacy prescription list related to the Silver Spring store. Fiscal 2020 includes a gain on the sale of the pharmacy prescription lists related to three store pharmacies closed in March 2020.
(2) Fiscal 2021 includes costs associated with the closure of the Silver Spring, Maryland store on February 22, 2021 and Fiscal 2020 includes charges to write off the lease asset and related obligations for the old Stroudsburg store.
(3) Fiscal 2020 pre-opening costs relate to the Stroudsburg replacement store opened on November 1, 2019.
(4) Fiscal 2020 gain due to the breakup of Village’s initial “stalking horse” bid under the January 20, 2020 Fairway Asset Purchase Agreement.
(5) Fiscal 2021 non-cash impairment charges for the Fairway trade name of $2,386 and the long-lived assets for one Gourmet Garage store of $514.
(6) Fiscal 2021 is a 53-week fiscal year, with the additional week included in the fourth quarter.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth the components of the consolidated statements of operations of the Company as a percentage of sales:
July 31, 2021 July 25, 2020
Sales 100.00 % 100.00 %
Cost of sales 72.17 % 71.93 %
Gross profit 27.83 % 28.07 %
Operating and administrative expense 24.57 % 24.65 %
Depreciation and amortization 1.69 % 1.74 %
Impairment of assets 0.14 % - %
Operating income 1.43 % 1.68 %
Interest expense (0.19) % (0.14) %
Interest income 0.18 % 0.22 %
Income before income taxes 1.42 % 1.76 %
Income taxes 0.44 % 0.38 %
Net income 0.98 % 1.38 %
SALES
Sales were $2,030,330 in fiscal 2021, an increase of $225,736, or 12.5% from fiscal 2020. Sales increased $35,433, or 2.0%, due to fiscal 2021 containing 53 weeks. Excluding the impact of the 53rd week, sales increased due to the Fairway acquisition completed on May 14, 2020, the opening of the Stroudsburg replacement store on November 1, 2019 and a same store sales increase of 1.8%. Excluding the impact of the 53rd week, same store sales increased 7.5% in fiscal 2021 on a two-year stacked basis compared to fiscal 2019.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have experienced higher average basket sizes and decreased transaction counts as customers have consolidated shopping trips. Additionally, both food inflation and increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP") benefits positively impacted sales. Same store digital sales growth accelerated through both ShopRite from Home and partnerships with online grocery picking and delivery services, increasing 68% in fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020 and 219% on a two-year stacked basis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, fiscal 2021 sales at Fairway and Gourmet Garage locations in Manhattan have been significantly negatively impacted due primarily to residential population migration out of the city and less commuter and tourist traffic.
New stores and replacement stores are included in same store sales in the quarter after the store has been in operation for four full quarters. Store renovations and expansions are included in same store sales immediately.
GROSS PROFIT
Gross profit as a percentage of sales decreased to 27.83% in fiscal 2021 compared to 28.07% in fiscal 2020. Higher margins associated with Fairway increased gross profit (.22%), despite higher costs as we transition and integrate commissary operations into our business. Excluding the impact of Fairway, gross profit as a percentage of sales decreased .46% due primarily to decreased departmental gross margin percentages (.48%) and increased warehouse assessment charges from Wakefern (.34%), partially offset by a favorable change in product mix (0.17%), lower promotional spending (0.16%) and increased patronage dividends and rebates received from Wakefern (.03%). Departmental gross profits decreased due partly to price investments.
OPERATING AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE
Operating and administrative expense as a percentage of sales decreased to 24.57% in fiscal 2021 compared to 24.65% in fiscal 2020. Adjusted operating and administrative expense as a percentage of sales increased to 24.76% in fiscal 2021 compared to 24.63% in fiscal 2020.
Adjusted operating and administrative expense increased due primarily to increased occupancy costs due primarily to the Fairway acquisition (.56%) and increased external fees and transportation costs associated with digital sales (.42%), partially offset by decreased costs related to COVID-19, including enhanced wages and benefits, security and outside sanitation services (.62%) and lower payroll and fringe benefit costs (.24%). Payroll and fringe benefits decreased primarily due to leverage from higher sales, reductions in service department offerings, labor shortages and productivity initiatives partially offset by the addition of Fairway, growth of ShopRite from Home and minimum wage and demand driven pay rate increases.
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Depreciation and amortization expense was $34,195 and $31,358 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense increased in fiscal 2021 compared to the prior year due to depreciation related to assets acquired as part of the Fairway acquisition.
IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS
Impairment of assets includes non-cash charges related to the Fairway trade name of $2,386 (see note 1 to the consolidated financial statements) and the long-lived assets for one Gourmet Garage store of $514.
INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest expense was $3,943 and $2,611 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively. Interest expense increased in fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020 due primarily to interest expense related to the credit agreement entered into on May 6, 2020 (see note 7 to the consolidated financial statements).
INTEREST INCOME
Interest income was $3,633 and $4,060 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively. Interest income decreased in fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020 due primarily to lower interest rates for amounts invested in variable rate notes receivable from Wakefern and demand deposits invested at Wakefern.
INCOME TAXES
The Company’s effective income tax rate was 30.7% and 21.4% in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Fiscal 2020 includes a $2,512 benefit from a federal net operating loss carryback at a rate higher than the current statutory tax rate. Excluding the impact of these adjustments, the effective income tax rate was 29.3% in fiscal 2020. The increase in the effective tax rate in fiscal 2021 is due primarily to favorable return to provision adjustments in fiscal 2020 and increased state taxable income in higher tax rate jurisdictions.
NET INCOME
Net income was $19,994 in fiscal 2021 compared to $24,939 in fiscal 2020. Adjusted net income was $18,914 in fiscal 2021 compared to $23,087 in fiscal 2020. Adjusted net income decreased 18% in fiscal 2021 compared to the prior year due primarily to lower sales volumes in Manhattan and higher costs as we transition and integrate commissary operations into our business.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Critical accounting policies are those accounting policies that management believes are important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. These policies require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
IMPAIRMENT
The Company reviews the carrying values of its long-lived assets, such as property, equipment and fixtures for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. Such review analyzes the undiscounted estimated future net cash flows from asset groups at the store level to determine if the carrying value of such assets are recoverable from their respective cash flows. If impairment is indicated, it is measured by comparing the fair value of the long-lived asset groups to their carrying value.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested at the end of each fiscal year, or more frequently if circumstances dictate, for impairment. The Company utilizes valuation techniques, such as earnings multiples, in addition to the Company’s market capitalization, to assess goodwill for impairment. Calculating the fair value of a reporting unit requires the use of estimates. Management believes the fair value of Village’s one reporting unit exceeds its carrying value at July 31, 2021. Should the Company’s carrying value of its one reporting unit exceed its fair value, the amount of any resulting goodwill impairment may be material to the Company’s financial position and results of operations. The fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets are estimated based on the discounted cash flow model using the relief from royalty method.
Manhattan store sales have been impacted by localized residential population migration out of Manhattan and less commuter and tourist traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to uncertainty regarding the duration and extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Manhattan, the Company recognized an impairment charge related to the Fairway trade name of $2,386 for year ended July 31, 2021.
PATRONAGE DIVIDENDS
As a stockholder of Wakefern, Village earns a share of Wakefern’s earnings, which are distributed as a “patronage dividend.” This dividend is based on a distribution of substantially all of Wakefern’s operating profits for its fiscal year (which ends on or about September 30) in proportion to the dollar volume of purchases by each member from Wakefern during that fiscal year. Patronage dividends are recorded as a reduction of cost of sales as merchandise is sold. Village accrues estimated patronage dividends due from Wakefern quarterly based on an estimate of the annual Wakefern patronage dividend and an estimate of Village’s share of this annual dividend based on Village’s estimated proportional share of the dollar volume of business transacted with Wakefern that year. The patronage dividend receivable based on these estimates was $11,860 and $11,204 at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020, respectively.
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
We account for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires that once control is obtained, all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their respective fair values at the date of acquisition. The determination of fair values of identifiable assets and liabilities requires estimates and the use of valuation techniques when market value is not readily available. For intangible assets acquired in a business combination, we typically determine the fair value based on the discounted cash flow model, specifically the relief from royalty method for intangible assets related to a trade name. Significant estimates in valuing certain intangible assets include, but are not limited to, the amount and timing of future revenues, cash flows, growth rates, discount rates and useful lives. The excess of the purchase price over fair values of identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill.
PENSION PLANS
The determination of the Company’s obligation and expense for Company-sponsored pension plans is dependent, in part, on Village’s selection of assumptions used by actuaries in calculating those amounts. These assumptions are described in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements and include, among others, the discount rate, the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and the rate of increase in compensation costs. Actual results that differ from the Company’s assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and, therefore, generally affect recognized expense in future periods. While management believes that its assumptions are appropriate, significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in the Company’s assumptions may materially affect cash flows, pension obligations and future expense.
The objective of the discount rate assumption is to reflect the rate at which the Company’s pension obligations could be effectively settled based on the expected timing and amounts of benefits payable to participants under the plans. Our methodology for selecting the discount rate as of July 31, 2021 was to match the plans' cash flows to that of a yield curve on high-quality fixed-income investments. Based on this method, we utilized a weighted-average discount rate of 2.44% at July 31, 2021 compared to 2.26% at July 25, 2020. Changes in the discount rate and updated assumptions on mortality tables and improvement scales resulted in a net decrease in the projected benefit obligation by approximately $(1,206) at July 31, 2021. Village evaluated the expected increase in compensation costs of 4.50% and concluded no changes in this assumption was necessary in estimating pension plan obligations and expense. The Company utilizes a liability-driven investment ("LDI") strategy. A LDI strategy focuses on maintaining a close to fully-funded status over the long-term with minimal funded status risk. This is achieved by investing more of the plan assets in fixed income instruments to more closely match the duration of the plan liability. The investment allocation to fixed income instruments will increase as each plans' funded status increases. Based on the Company’s LDI strategy, the Company assumed a weighted-average assumed long-term rate of return on plan assets of 3.36% in fiscal 2021.
Sensitivity to changes in the major assumptions used in the calculation of the Company’s pension plans is as follows:
Percentage
point change Projected benefit
obligation
decrease
(increase) Expense
decrease
(increase)
Discount rate + / - 1.0 % $ 9,693 $ (12,211) $ 376 $ (436)
Expected return on assets + / - 1.0 % $ - - $ 589 $ (589)
Village made no contributions in both fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020 to these Company-sponsored pension plans. In fiscal 2020 the Company began the process of terminating the Village Super Market, Inc. Employees’ Retirement Plan. Upon satisfaction of all regulatory requirements, which is expected to occur during fiscal 2022, the Company will fully fund and liquidate all plan assets to purchase annuity contracts from an insurance company for all participants who do not elect a lump sum distribution. At the time of settlement, the Company will recognize a non-cash pre-tax charge representing the plan’s remaining unrecognized losses within accumulated other comprehensive loss as of the termination date. As of July 31, 2021, the funded status of this plan is a net liability of $3,844 and the pre-tax amount included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss is $15,155. Contributions to the remaining plans are expected to be immaterial in fiscal 2022.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
For the disclosure related to recently issued accounting standards, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.
LIQUIDITY and CAPITAL RESOURCES
CASH FLOWS
Net cash provided by operating activities was $52,692 in fiscal 2021 compared to $83,948 in fiscal 2020. The change in cash flows from operating activities in fiscal 2021 was primarily due to changes in working capital and net income adjusted for non-cash items including depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, deferred taxes, loss on pension settlements, the provision to value inventories at LIFO and the gain on sale of prescription lists and property, equipment and fixtures.
Working capital changes, including other assets and other liabilities, decreased net cash provided by operating activities by $1,587 in fiscal 2021 compared an increase in net cash provided by operating activities of $1,127 in fiscal 2020. This change in impact of working capital is due primarily to lower accounts payable to Wakefern and Accounts payable and accrued expense due to inventory turnover and operations normalizing after the initial impact of the pandemic partially offset by changes in timing of income tax payments.
During fiscal 2021, Village used cash to fund capital expenditures of $25,233, dividends of $13,050, principal payments of long-term debt of $8,414 and additional investments of $2,287 in notes receivable from Wakefern, net of proceeds received on matured notes. Capital expenditures include one major remodel, continued expansion of ShopRite from Home and self-checkout, and various merchandising, technology, equipment and facility upgrades.
During fiscal 2020, Village used cash to fund capital expenditures of $54,495, dividends of $12,965, treasury stock purchases of $4,389 and additional investments of $2,800 in notes receivable from Wakefern, net of proceeds received on matured notes. The $73,622 purchase price for the Fairway acquisition was funded by $50,000 drawn on the Company’s unsecured revolving line of credit and a $25,500 unsecured term loan pursuant to the Company's Credit Facility. Capital expenditures include costs associated with the opening of an 82,000 sq. ft. (52,000 selling sq. ft.) store in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania that replaced our existing 53,000 sq. ft. store, expansion of ShopRite from Home, including the opening of an automated micro-fulfillment center in southern New Jersey, one major store remodel, several smaller remodels and equipment upgrades, including those in the integration of the Fairway acquisition.
LIQUIDITY and DEBT
Working capital was $44,023 and $34,522 at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020, respectively. Working capital ratios at the same dates were 1.29 and 1.21 to one, respectively. The Company’s working capital needs are reduced, since inventories are generally sold by the time payments to Wakefern and other suppliers are due.
We have budgeted $40,000 for capital expenditures in fiscal 2022. Planned expenditures include three major remodels, several smaller store remodels, the purchase of the Galloway store shopping center, one new Gourmet Garage store, continued expansion of ShopRite from Home and self-checkout, and various merchandising, technology, equipment and facility upgrades. The Company’s primary sources of liquidity in fiscal 2022 are expected to be cash and cash equivalents on hand at July 31, 2021 and operating cash flow generated in fiscal 2022.
At July 31, 2021, the Company held variable rate notes receivable due from Wakefern of $27,325 that earn interest at the prime rate plus 1.25% and mature on August 15, 2022 and $27,970 that earn interest at the prime rate plus .75% and mature on February 15, 2024. Wakefern has the right to prepay these notes at any time. Under certain conditions, the Company can require Wakefern to prepay the notes, although interest earned since inception would be reduced as if it was earned based on overnight money market rates as paid by Wakefern on demand deposits.
At July 31, 2021, Village had demand deposits invested at Wakefern in the amount of $86,670. These deposits earn overnight money market rates.
On May 6, 2020, Village entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Facility”) with Wells Fargo National Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”) that supersedes in its entirety the prior credit agreement with Wells Fargo dated November 9, 2017. The principal purpose of the Credit Facility is to finance general corporate and working capital requirements and Village’s acquisition of certain Fairway assets. Among other things, the Credit Facility provides for a maximum loan amount of $150,500 as further set forth below:
•An unsecured revolving line of credit providing a maximum amount available for borrowing of $125,000. Indebtedness under this agreement bears interest at the applicable LIBOR rate plus 1.10% and expires on May 6, 2025.
•An unsecured term loan with a maximum loan amount of $25,500. On May 12, 2020, Village executed a $25,500 term note, repayable in equal monthly installments based on a seven-year amortization schedule through May 4, 2027 and bearing interest at the applicable LIBOR rate plus 1.35%. Additionally, Village executed an interest rate swap for a notional amount equal to the term loan amount that fixes the base LIBOR rate at .41% per annum through May 4, 2027, resulting in a fixed effective interest rate of 1.76% on the term note.
•On September 1, 2020, Village converted $50,000 of its revolving line of credit to a secured converted term loan. The conversion reduced the maximum amount available for borrowing under the revolving line of credit from $125,000 to $75,000. The term loan bears interest at the applicable LIBOR rate plus 1.50% and is repayable in equal monthly
installments based on a fifteen-year amortization schedule beginning on the conversion date. Additionally, Village previously executed a forward interest rate swap, effective on the conversion date, for a notional amount equal to the term loan amount that fixes the base LIBOR rate at 0.69% per annum for 15 years, resulting in a fixed effective interest rate of 2.19% on the converted term loan. The term loan is secured by real properties of Village Super Market, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including the sites of three Village stores.
The Credit Facility also provides for up to $25,000 of letters of credit ($7,336 outstanding at July 31, 2021), which secure obligations for store leases and construction performance guarantees to municipalities. The Credit Facility contains covenants that, among other conditions, require a minimum tangible net worth, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a maximum adjusted debt to EBITDAR ratio. The Company was in compliance with all covenants of the credit agreement at July 31, 2021. As of July 31, 2021, $67,664 remained available under the unsecured revolving line of credit.
During fiscal 2021, Village paid cash dividends of $13,050. Dividends in fiscal 2021 consist of $1.00 per Class A common share and $.65 per Class B common share.
During fiscal 2020, Village paid cash dividends of $12,965. Dividends in fiscal 2020 consist of $1.00 per Class A common share and $.65 per Class B common share.
OUTLOOK
This annual report contains certain forward-looking statements about Village’s future performance. These statements are based on management’s assumptions and beliefs in light of information currently available. Such statements relate to, for example: economic conditions; uninsured losses; expected pension plan contributions; projected capital expenditures; expected dividend payments; cash flow requirements; inflation expectations; public health conditions; and legal matters; and are indicated by words such as “will,” “expect,” “should,” “intend,” “anticipates,” “believes” and similar words or phrases. The Company cautions the reader that there is no assurance that actual results or business conditions will not differ materially from the results expressed, suggested or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect developments or information obtained after the date hereof.
•Due to continued uncertainties in the extent and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business, we will not provide same store sales guidance for fiscal 2022.
•We have budgeted $40,000 for capital expenditures in fiscal 2022. Planned expenditures include three major remodels, several smaller store remodels, the purchase of the Galloway store shopping center, one new Gourmet Garage store, continued expansion of ShopRite from Home and self-checkout, and various merchandising, technology, equipment and facility upgrades.
•The Board’s current intention is to continue to pay quarterly dividends in 2022 at the most recent rate of $.25 per Class A and $.1625 per Class B share.
•We believe cash and cash equivalents on hand, operating cash flow and the Company's Credit Facility will be adequate to meet anticipated requirements for working capital, capital expenditures and debt payments for the foreseeable future.
•We expect our effective income tax rate in fiscal 2022 to be in the range of 30.5% - 31.5%.
•We expect approximately $15,891 of net periodic pension costs in fiscal 2022 related to the three Company sponsored defined benefit pension plans, including a $15,155 non-cash, pre-tax settlement charge representing the remaining unrecognized losses within accumulated other comprehensive loss related to a plan termination expected to occur during fiscal 2022. The Company will fully fund this plan and liquidate all plan assets to purchase annuity contracts from an insurance company for all participants who do not elect a lump sum distribution. As of July 31, 2021, the funded status of this plan is a net liability of $3,844. Contributions to the remaining plans are expected to be immaterial in fiscal 2022.
Various uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements contained in this report. These include:
•The Company operates in and around one of the epicenters of the initial COVID-19 health crisis in the United States with much of our trade area under stay-at-home orders from mid-March 2020 through June 2020. The Company is classified as an essential business and has remained open to serve our customers and the communities in which we operate. The continuing impact on our business, including the length and impact of stay-at-home orders and/or regional quarantines, labor shortages and employment trends, disruptions to supply chains, higher operating costs, the form and impact of economic stimulus and general overall economic instability, is uncertain at this time and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Furthermore, the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis may exacerbate other risks and uncertainties included herein, which could have a material effect on the Company.
•The Fairway acquisition involves a number of risks, uncertainties and challenges, including under-performance relative to our expectations, additional capital requirements, unforeseen expenses or delays, imprecise assumptions or our inability to achieve projected cost savings or other synergies, competitive factors in the marketplace and difficulties integrating the business, including merging company cultures, cultivating brand strategy, expansion of food production and conforming the acquired company's technology, standards, processes, procedures and controls. Sales and operating profits have underperformed compared to projected amounts due primarily to population migration out of Manhattan and less commuter and tourist traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these potential circumstances are outside of our control and any of them could result in an adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and the diversion of management time and resources.
•The supermarket business is highly competitive and characterized by narrow profit margins. Results of operations may be materially adversely impacted by competitive pricing and promotional programs, industry consolidation and competitor store openings. Village competes directly with multiple retail formats both in-store and online, including national, regional and local supermarket chains as well as warehouse clubs, supercenters, drug stores, discount general merchandise stores, fast food chains, restaurants, dollar stores and convenience stores. Some of these competitors have greater financial resources, lower merchandise acquisition costs and lower operating expenses than we do.
•The Company’s stores are concentrated in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. We are vulnerable to economic downturns in these states in addition to those that may affect the country as a whole. Economic conditions such as inflation, deflation, interest rate fluctuations, movements in energy costs, social programs, minimum wage legislation, unemployment rates, disturbances due to social unrest and changing demographics may adversely affect our sales and profits.
•Village purchases substantially all of its merchandise from Wakefern. In addition, Wakefern provides the Company with support services in numerous areas including advertising, workers' compensation, liability and property insurance, supplies, certain equipment purchasing, coupon processing, certain financial accounting applications, retail technology support, and other store services. Further, Village receives patronage dividends and other product incentives from Wakefern and also has demand deposits and notes receivable due from Wakefern.
Any material change in Wakefern’s method of operation or a termination or material modification of Village’s relationship with Wakefern could have an adverse impact on the conduct of the Company’s business and could involve additional expense for Village. The failure of any Wakefern member to fulfill its obligations to Wakefern or a member’s insolvency or withdrawal from Wakefern could result in increased costs to the Company. Additionally, an adverse change in Wakefern’s results of operations could have an adverse effect on Village’s results of operations.
•Approximately 89% of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Any work stoppages could have an adverse impact on our financial results. If we are unable to control health care and pension costs provided for in the collective bargaining agreements, we may experience increased operating costs.
•The Company could be adversely affected if consumers lose confidence in the safety and quality of the food supply chain. The real or perceived sale of contaminated food products by us could result in a loss of consumer confidence and product liability claims, which could have a material adverse effect on our sales and operations.
•Certain of the multi-employer plans to which we contribute are underfunded. As a result, we expect that contributions to these plans may increase. Additionally, the benefit levels and related items will be issues in the negotiation of our collective bargaining agreements. Under current law, an employer that withdraws or partially withdraws from a multi-employer pension plan may incur a withdrawal liability to the plan, which represents the portion of the plan’s underfunding that is allocable to the withdrawing employer under very complex actuarial and allocation rules. The failure of a withdrawing employer to fund these obligations can impact remaining employers. The amount of any increase or decrease in our required contributions to these multi-employer pension plans will depend upon the outcome of collective bargaining, actions taken by trustees who manage the plans, government regulations, withdrawals by other participating employers and the actual return on assets held in the plans, among other factors.
•The Company uses a combination of insurance and self-insurance to provide for potential liability for workers’ compensation, automobile, general liability, property, director and officers’ liability, and certain employee health care benefits. Any projection of losses is subject to a high degree of variability. Changes in legal claims, trends and interpretations, variability in inflation rates, changes in the nature and method of claims settlement, benefit level changes due to changes in applicable laws, and insolvency of insurance carriers could all affect our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
•Our long-lived assets, primarily store property, equipment and fixtures, are subject to periodic testing for impairment. Failure of our asset groups to achieve sufficient levels of cash flow could result in impairment charges on long-lived assets.
•Our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested at the end of each fiscal year, or more frequently if circumstances dictate, for impairment. Failure of acquired businesses to achieve their forecasted expectations could result in impairment charges to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets.
•Our effective tax rate may be impacted by the results of tax examinations and changes in tax laws.
•Wakefern provides all members of the cooperative with information system support that enables us to effectively manage our business data, customer transactions, ordering, communications and other business processes. These information systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer or telecommunications failures, computer viruses and related malicious software, catastrophic weather events, or human error. Any material interruption of our or Wakefern’s information systems could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.
Due to the nature of our business, personal information about our customers, vendors and associates is received and stored in these information systems. In addition, confidential information is transmitted through our ShopRite from Home online business at shoprite.com and through the ShopRite app. Unauthorized parties may attempt to access information stored in or to sabotage or disrupt these systems. Wakefern and the Company maintain substantial security measures to prevent and detect unauthorized access to such information, including utilizing third-party service providers for monitoring our networks, security reviews, and other functions. It is possible that computer hackers, cyber terrorists and others may be able to defeat the security measures in place at the Company, Wakefern or those of third-party service providers.
Any breach of these security measures and loss of confidential information, which could be undetected for a period of time, could damage our reputation with customers, vendors and associates, cause Wakefern and Village to incur significant costs to protect any customers, vendors and associates whose personal data was compromised, cause us to make changes to our information systems and could result in government enforcement actions and litigation against Wakefern and/or Village from outside parties. Any such breach could have a material adverse impact on our operations, consolidated financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity if the related costs to Wakefern and Village are not covered or are in excess of carried insurance policies. In addition, a security breach could require Wakefern and Village to devote significant management resources to address problems created by the security breach and restore our reputation.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company holds an investment in Wakefern, its principal supplier. Village purchases substantially all of its merchandise from Wakefern in accordance with the Wakefern Stockholder Agreement. As part of this agreement, Village is required to purchase certain amounts of Wakefern common stock. At July 31, 2021, the Company’s indebtedness to Wakefern for the outstanding amount of this stock subscription was $3,423. The maximum per store investment is currently $975. Wakefern
distributes as a “patronage dividend” to each member a share of its earnings in proportion to the dollar volume of purchases by the member from Wakefern during the year. Wakefern provides the Company with support services in numerous areas including advertising, supplies, workers' compensation, liability and property insurance, technology support and other store services. Additional information is provided in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.
At July 31, 2021, the Company held variable rate notes receivable due from Wakefern of $27,325 that earn interest at the prime rate plus 1.25% and mature on August 15, 2022 and $27,970 that earn interest at the prime rate plus .75% and mature on February 15, 2024. Wakefern has the right to prepay these notes at any time. Under certain conditions, the Company can require Wakefern to prepay the notes, although interest earned since inception would be reduced as if it was earned based on overnight money market rates as paid by Wakefern on demand deposits.
At July 31, 2021, Village had demand deposits invested at Wakefern in the amount of $86,670. These deposits earn overnight money market rates.
The Company subleases the Galloway and Vineland stores from Wakefern under sublease agreements which provided for combined annual rents of $1,355 in both fiscal 2021 and 2020, and aggregate lease obligations of $2,276 at July 31, 2021. Both leases contain normal periodic rent increases and options to extend the lease.
The Company leases a supermarket from a realty firm 30% owned by certain officers of Village. The Company paid rent to related parties under this lease of $704 and $688 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively, and has a related lease obligation of $3,227 at July 31, 2021. This lease expires in fiscal 2026 with options to extend at increasing annual rents.
The Company has ownership interests in three real estate partnerships. Village paid aggregate rents to two of these partnerships for leased stores of $1,579 and $1,455 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively, and has aggregate lease obligations of $12,781 at July 31, 2021 related to these leases.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
VILLAGE SUPER MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
July 31,
2021 July 25,
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 116,314 $ 111,681
Merchandise inventories 42,633 42,135
Patronage dividend receivable 11,860 11,204
Income taxes receivable 5,111 12,801
Other current assets 20,398 19,499
Total current assets 196,316 197,320
Property, equipment and fixtures, net 256,154 269,741
Operating lease assets 289,461 309,756
Notes receivable from Wakefern 55,295 53,008
Investment in Wakefern 33,004 29,462
Goodwill 24,190 24,190
Other assets 34,584 32,069
Total assets $ 889,004 $ 915,546
LIABILITIES and SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Operating lease obligations $ 21,627 $ 19,121
Finance lease obligations 531 466
Notes payable to Wakefern 632 303
Current portion of debt 6,976 6,421
Accounts payable to Wakefern 70,792 83,045
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 25,098 29,793
Accrued wages and benefits 25,036 23,649
Income taxes payable 1,601 -
Total current liabilities 152,293 162,798
Long-term debt
Operating lease obligations 278,135 298,027
Finance lease obligations 22,325 23,078
Notes payable to Wakefern 2,791 882
Long-term debt 66,827 74,194
Total long-term debt 370,078 396,181
Pension liabilities 10,182 6,166
Other liabilities 14,978 18,081
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11)
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred stock, no par value: Authorized 10,000 shares, none issued
- -
Class A common stock, no par value: Authorized 20,000 shares; issued 10,978 shares at July 31, 2021 and 10,985 shares at July 25, 2020
70,594 68,072
Class B common stock, no par value: Authorized 20,000 shares; issued and outstanding 4,294 shares at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020
697 697
Retained earnings 293,185 286,241
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (9,064) (8,751)
Less treasury stock, Class A, at cost: 726 shares at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020
(13,939) (13,939)
Total shareholders’ equity 341,473 332,320
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 889,004 $ 915,546
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
VILLAGE SUPER MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Years ended
July 31,
2021 July 25,
(53 Weeks) (52 Weeks)
Sales $ 2,030,330 $ 1,804,594
Cost of sales 1,465,286 1,298,119
Gross profit 565,044 506,475
Operating and administrative expense 498,786 444,833
Depreciation and amortization 34,195 31,358
Impairment of assets 2,900 -
Operating income 29,163 30,284
Interest expense (3,943) (2,611)
Interest income 3,633 4,060
Income before income taxes 28,853 31,733
Income taxes 8,859 6,794
Net income $ 19,994 $ 24,939
Net income per share:
Class A common stock:
Basic $ 1.53 $ 1.93
Diluted $ 1.37 $ 1.72
Class B common stock:
Basic $ 1.00 $ 1.25
Diluted $ 1.00 $ 1.25
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
VILLAGE SUPER MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
Years ended
July 31,
2021 July 25,
Net income $ 19,994 $ 24,939
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps, net of tax (1) 1,428 (659)
Amortization of pension actuarial loss, net of tax (2) 409 397
Pension remeasurement, net of tax (3) (2,559) (1,307)
Pension settlement loss, net of tax (4) 409 1,160
Total other comprehensive loss (313) (409)
Comprehensive income $ 19,681 $ 24,530
(1)Amount is net of tax of $604 and $262 for 2021and 2020, respectively.
(2)Amounts are net of tax of $179 and $158 for 2021 and 2020, respectively. All amounts are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to operating and administrative expense.
(3)Amounts are net of tax of $1,484 and $536 for 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(4)Amounts are net of tax of $178 and $444 for 2021 and 2020, respectively. All amounts are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to operating and administrative expense.
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
VILLAGE SUPER MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
Years ended July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss Total
Shareholders'
Equity
Class A
Common Stock Class B
Common Stock Treasury Stock
Class A
Shares Issued Amount Shares Issued Amount Retained Earnings Shares Amount
Balance, July 27, 2019 10,593 $ 65,114 4,294 $ 697 $ 270,753 $ (8,342) 502 $ (9,550) $ 318,672
Net income - - - - 24,939 - - - 24,939
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $196
- - - - - (409) - - (409)
Dividends - - - - (12,965) - - - (12,965)
Treasury stock purchases - - - - - - 224 (4,389) (4,389)
Restricted shares forfeited (20) (208) - - - - - - (208)
Share-based compensation expense 412 3,166 - - - - - - 3,166
Adjustment due to the adoption of ASU 2016-02, net of tax of $1,358
- - - - 3,514 - - - 3,514
Balance, July 25, 2020 10,985 $ 68,072 4,294 $ 697 $ 286,241 $ (8,751) 726 $ (13,939) $ 332,320
Net income - - - - 19,994 - - - 19,994
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $523
- - - - - (313) - - (313)
Dividends - - - - (13,050) - - - (13,050)
Restricted shares forfeited (15) (71) - - - - - - (71)
Share-based compensation expense 8 2,593 - - - - - - 2,593
Balance, July 31, 2021 10,978 $ 70,594 4,294 $ 697 $ 293,185 $ (9,064) 726 $ (13,939) $ 341,473
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
VILLAGE SUPER MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Years ended
July 31, 2021 July 25, 2020
(53 Weeks) (52 Weeks)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income $ 19,994 $ 24,939
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 35,701 31,701
Non-cash share-based compensation 2,522 2,958
Loss on pension settlements 587 1,604
Deferred taxes (2,542) 11,190
Provision to value inventories at LIFO 220 589
Amortization of business acquisition inventory step-up - 508
Impairment of assets 2,900 -
Gain on sale of assets (5,103) (1,252)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventories (718) 661
Patronage dividend receivable (656) 704
Accounts payable to Wakefern (10,645) 18,866
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (3,741) 6,210
Accrued wages and benefits 1,387 2,767
Income taxes receivable / payable 9,291 (13,828)
Other assets and liabilities 3,495 (3,669)
Net cash provided by operating activities 52,692 83,948
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures (25,233) (54,495)
Proceeds from the sale of assets 1,147 1,261
Investment in notes receivable from Wakefern (2,287) (2,800)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired - (73,622)
Net cash used in investing activities (26,373) (129,656)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 50,000 25,500
Principal payments of long-term debt (8,414) (1,666)
Proceeds from revolving line of credit - 61,915
Payments on revolving line of credit (50,000) (11,915)
Debt issuance costs (222) (212)
Dividends (13,050) (12,965)
Treasury stock purchases, including shares surrendered for withholding taxes - (4,389)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (21,686) 56,268
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 4,633 10,560
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR 111,681 101,121
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR $ 116,314 $ 111,681
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH PAYMENTS MADE FOR:
Interest $ 3,943 $ 2,611
Income taxes 1,475 9,432
NONCASH SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
Investment in Wakefern and increase in notes payable to Wakefern $ 2,872 $ 382
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued expenses 3,162 5,050
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts are in thousands, except per share data).
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Nature of operations
Village Super Market, Inc. (the “Company” or “Village”) operates a chain of 34 supermarkets under the ShopRite and Fairway names in New Jersey, Maryland, New York and eastern Pennsylvania and three specialty markets under the Gourmet Garage name in New York City. The Company is a member of Wakefern Food Corporation ("Wakefern"), the nation's largest retailer-owned food cooperative and owner of the ShopRite, Fairway and Gourmet Garage names. This relationship provides Village many of the economies of scale in purchasing, distribution, store and own branded products, advanced retail technology, marketing and advertising associated with chains of greater size and geographic coverage.
Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Village Super Market, Inc. and its subsidiaries, which are wholly owned. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Fiscal year
The Company and its subsidiaries utilize a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the last Saturday in the month of July. Fiscal 2021 contains 53 weeks and fiscal 2020 contains 52 weeks.
Use of estimates
In conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Some of the more significant estimates are patronage dividends, pension accounting assumptions, accounting for contingencies, accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities, purchase accounting and the impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Industry segment
The Company consists of one operating segment, the retail sale of food and nonfood products.
Revenue recognition
Revenue is recognized at the point of sale to the customer, including Pharmacy sales. Digital channel sales are recognized either upon pickup in-store or upon delivery to the customer, including any related service revenues. Sales tax is excluded from revenue.
Discounts provided to customers through store coupons and loyalty programs are recognized as a reduction of sales as products are sold. Discounts provided to customers by vendors are not recognized as a reduction in sales. Rather, the Company records a receivable from the vendor for the difference in sales price and payment received from the customer.
The Company does not recognize revenue when it sells gift cards redeemable at Wakefern member stores. Payment collected from customers for sale of these gift cards is passed on to Wakefern as they can be redeemed at other locations, including those operated by Wakefern or other Wakefern members. Revenue is recognized and a receivable from Wakefern is recorded when a customer redeems these gift cards to purchase products or services.
Disaggregated Revenues
The following table presents the Company's sales by product categories during each of the periods indicated:
Years Ended
July 31, 2021 July 25, 2020
Amount % Amount %
Center Store (1) $ 1,218,550 60.6 % $ 1,111,751 61.6 %
Fresh (2) 736,657 35.7 % 616,271 34.2 %
Pharmacy 67,048 3.3 % 68,508 3.8 %
Other (3) 8,075 0.4 % 8,064 0.4 %
Total Sales $ 2,030,330 100.0 % $ 1,804,594 100.0 %
(1) Consists primarily of grocery, dairy, frozen, health and beauty care, general merchandise and liquor.
(2) Consists primarily of produce, meat, deli, seafood, bakery, prepared foods and floral.
(3) Consists primarily of sales related to other income streams, including service fees related to digital sales, gift card and lottery commissions and wholesale sales.
Cost of sales
Cost of sales consists of costs of inventory, inbound freight charges, and production costs at the Company's centralized commissary, including materials, labor and overhead.
The Company receives vendor allowances and rebates, including the patronage dividend and amounts received as a pass through from Wakefern, related to the Company’s buying and merchandising activities. Vendor allowances and rebates are recognized as a reduction in cost of sales when the related merchandise is sold or when the required contractual terms are completed.
Shipping and handling costs associated with the Company’s digital sales are included in operating and administrative expense.
Cash and cash equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Included in cash and cash equivalents are proceeds due from credit and debit card transactions, which typically settle within five business days, of $10,638 and $11,535 at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020, respectively. Included in cash and cash equivalents at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020 are $86,670 and $76,259, respectively, of demand deposits invested at Wakefern at overnight money market rates.
Merchandise inventories
Approximately 62% of merchandise inventories are stated at the lower of LIFO (last-in, first-out) cost or market. If the FIFO (first-in, first-out) method had been used, inventories would have been $15,321 and $15,101 higher than reported in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively. All other inventories are stated at the lower of FIFO cost or market.
Property, equipment and fixtures
Property, equipment and fixtures are recorded at cost. Interest cost incurred to finance construction is capitalized as part of the cost of the asset. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.
Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of thirty years for buildings, ten years for store fixtures and equipment, and three years for computer equipment, shopping carts and vehicles. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the related lease terms or the estimated useful lives of the related assets.
When assets are sold or retired, their cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated financial statements.
Investments
The Company’s investments in its principal supplier, Wakefern, and a Wakefern affiliate, Insure-Rite, Ltd., are stated at cost (see Note 3). Village evaluates its investments in Wakefern and Insure-Rite, Ltd. for impairment through consideration of previous, current and projected levels of profit of those entities.
The Company’s 20%-50% investments in certain real estate partnerships are accounted for under the equity method. One of these partnerships is a variable interest entity which does not require consolidation as Village is not the primary beneficiary (see Note 7).
Store opening and closing costs
All store opening costs are expensed as incurred. The Company records a liability for the future minimum lease payments and related costs for closed stores from the date of closure to the end of the remaining lease term, net of estimated cost recoveries that may be achieved through subletting, discounted using a risk-adjusted interest rate.
Leases
On July 28, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, “Leases.” This guidance requires lessees to recognize lease liabilities and a right-of-use asset for all leases with terms of more than 12 months on the balance sheet. The Company adopted the standard using the modified retrospective approach under which the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard was recognized as an adjustment to opening fiscal 2020 retained earnings, with no restatement of prior year amounts. In addition, the Company applied the transition package of practical expedients permitted within the standard, which allowed the carryforward of historical lease classification, and applied the transition option which does not require application of the guidance to comparative periods in the year of adoption.
The adoption of the standard resulted in the recognition of operating lease assets and operating lease liabilities of $99,415 and $111,139, respectively, as of the date of adoption. Included in the initial measurement of the new lease assets is the reclassification of certain prepaid and deferred rent balances. Additionally, the Company recorded an adjustment to reduce its opening retained earnings balance by $3,514, net of income taxes, as the Company derecognized the remaining financing obligations of $17,442 and related net assets of $12,543 for leases in which the Company was previously deemed to be the owner of the project for accounting purposes but did not qualify for sale-leaseback treatment. As such designation ended for these leases with adoption of the ASU, operating lease right-of-use asset and liability balances were established for these leases based on the Company's remaining fixed payment obligations under the leases and are included in the amounts described above. The adoption of this standard also resulted in a change in naming convention for leases classified historically as capital leases to finance leases.
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception, and recognizes a finance and operating lease liability and asset for all leases with terms of more than 12 months at the lease commencement date. Finance and operating lease liabilities represent the present value of minimum lease payments not yet paid. For purposes of measuring the present value of its fixed payment obligations for a given lease, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate implicit within its leases is generally not determinable. The Company's incremental borrowing rate reflects the rate it would pay to borrow on a secured basis, and incorporates the term and economic environment of the lease. Each renewal option is evaluated when recognizing the lease right-of-use assets and liabilities, and the Company utilizes the lease term for which it is reasonably certain to use the underlying asset. The Company is obligated under all leases to pay for real estate taxes, utilities and liability insurance, and under certain leases to pay additional amounts based on maintenance and a percentage of sales in excess of stipulated amounts. The Company accounts for rent holidays, escalating rent provisions, and construction allowances related to operating leases in rent expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Finance lease payments are charged to interest expense and depreciation and amortization expense over the lease term. Additional information on leases is provided in Note 7.
Advertising
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was $12,268 and $10,904 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Income taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operations in the period that includes the enactment date.
The Company recognizes a tax benefit for uncertain tax positions if it is “more likely than not” that the position is sustainable, based on its technical merits. The tax benefit of a qualifying position is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon effective settlement with a taxing authority having full knowledge of all relevant information.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows are considered cash flow hedges. The Company records changes in the fair value of its interest rate swap contracts to Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes, as the Company has elected to designate its swaps as cash flow hedges and apply hedge accounting when the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Additional information on derivative and hedging activities is provided in Note 5.
Fair value
Fair value is defined as the exit price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined using assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The fair value guidance establishes a three-level hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in measuring fair value. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.
Cash and cash equivalents, patronage dividend receivable, income taxes receivable/payable, accounts payable and accrued expenses are reflected in the consolidated financial statements at carrying value, which approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. The carrying values of the Company’s notes receivable from Wakefern approximate their fair value as interest is earned at variable market rates. As the Company’s investment in Wakefern can only be sold to Wakefern at amounts that approximate the Company’s cost, it is not practicable to estimate the fair value of such investment.
Long-lived assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets, such as property, equipment and fixtures and operating lease assets on an individual store basis for impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable. Such review analyzes the undiscounted estimated future cash flows from such assets to determine if the carrying value of such assets are recoverable from their respective cash flows. If impairment is indicated, it is measured by comparing the fair value of the long-lived assets to their carrying value. For the year ended July 31, 2021 the Company recorded an impairment of long-lived assets for one Gourmet Garage store of $514.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested at the end of each fiscal year, or more frequently if circumstances dictate, for impairment. The Company's indefinite-lived intangible assets balance of $13,299 and $15,685 as of July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020, respectively, are related to the Fairway and Gourmet Garage trade names. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets exceeds its implied fair value. Village considers earnings multiples and other valuation techniques to measure fair value at the reporting unit level, in addition to the value of the Company’s stock. The fair value of trade names are estimated based on the discounted cash flow model using the relief from royalty method.
Manhattan store sales have been impacted by localized residential population migration out of Manhattan and less commuter and tourist traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to uncertainty regarding the duration and extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Manhattan, the Company recognized an impairment charge related to the Fairway trade name of $2,386 for year ended July 31, 2021.
Net income per share
The Company has two classes of common stock. Class A common stock is entitled to cash dividends as declared 54% greater than those paid on Class B common stock. Shares of Class B common stock are convertible on a share-for-share basis for Class A common stock at any time.
The Company utilizes the two-class method of computing and presenting net income per share. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that calculates basic and diluted net income per share for each class of common stock separately based on dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Under the two-class method, Class A common stock is assumed to receive a 54% greater participation in undistributed earnings than Class B common stock, in accordance with the classes' respective dividend rights. Unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends are treated as participating securities and therefore included in computing net income per share using the two-class method.
Diluted net income per share for Class A common stock is calculated utilizing the if-converted method, which assumes the conversion of all shares of Class B common stock to Class A common stock on a share-for-share basis, as this method is more dilutive than the two-class method. Diluted net income per share for Class B common stock does not assume conversion of Class B common stock to shares of Class A common stock.
The tables below reconcile the numerators and denominators of basic and diluted net income per share for all periods presented.
2021 2020
Class A Class B Class A Class B
Numerator:
Net income allocated, basic $ 15,095 $ 4,273 $ 18,857 $ 5,363
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares 4,273 - 5,363 -
Net income allocated, diluted $ 19,368 $ 4,273 $ 24,220 $ 5,363
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic 9,853 4,294 9,794 4,294
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares 4,294 - 4,294 -
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted 14,147 4,294 14,088 4,294
Net income per share is as follows:
2021 2020
Class A Class B Class A Class B
Basic $ 1.53 $ 1.00 $ 1.93 $ 1.25
Diluted $ 1.37 $ 1.00 $ 1.72 $ 1.25
Outstanding stock options to purchase Class A shares of 102 and 154 were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020, respectively, as a result of their anti-dilutive effect. In addition, 392 and 413 non-vested restricted Class A shares, which are considered participating securities, and their allocated net income were excluded from the diluted net income per share calculation at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020, respectively, due to their anti-dilutive effect.
Share-based compensation
All share-based payments to employees are recognized in the financial statements as compensation costs based on the fair market value on the date of the grant.
Benefit plans
The Company recognizes the funded status of its Company sponsored retirement plans on the consolidated balance sheet. Actuarial gains or losses, curtailments, prior service costs or credits, and transition obligations not previously recognized are recorded as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. The Company uses July 31 as the measurement date for these plans.
The Company also contributes to several multi-employer pension plans under the terms of collective bargaining agreements that cover certain union-represented employees. Pension expense for these plans is recognized as contributions are made.
Recently issued accounting standards
In March 2020 and January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, "Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting" and ASU 2021-01, "Reference Rate Reform: Scope", respectively. These standards provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions for the application of GAAP to certain contract modifications, hedging relationships, and other arrangements that are expected to be impacted by the global transition away from certain reference rates, such as LIBOR. The guidance was effective upon issuance and, once adopted, may be applied prospectively to contract modifications and hedging relationships through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of these standards on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, if adopted.
NOTE 2 - PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT and FIXTURES
Property, equipment and fixtures are comprised as follows:
July 31,
2021 July 25,
Land and buildings $ 105,325 $ 101,099
Store fixtures and equipment 329,454 321,746
Leasehold improvements 178,062 174,198
Leased property under finance leases 25,211 25,211
Construction in progress 5,535 4,777
Vehicles 3,494 4,369
Total property, equipment and fixtures 647,081 631,400
Accumulated depreciation (378,522) (350,201)
Accumulated amortization of property under finance leases (12,405) (11,458)
Property, equipment and fixtures, net $ 256,154 $ 269,741
Amortization of leased property under finance leases is included in depreciation and amortization expense.
NOTE 3 - RELATED PARTY INFORMATION - WAKEFERN
The Company’s ownership interest in its principal supplier, Wakefern, which is operated on a cooperative basis for its stockholder members, is 12.2% of the outstanding shares of Wakefern at July 31, 2021. The investment is stated at cost and is pledged as collateral for any obligations to Wakefern. In addition, all obligations to Wakefern are personally guaranteed by certain shareholders of Village.
The Company is obligated to purchase 85% of its primary merchandise requirements from Wakefern until ten years from the date that stockholders representing 75% of Wakefern sales notify Wakefern that those stockholders request that the Wakefern Stockholder Agreement be terminated. If this purchase obligation is not met, Village is required to pay Wakefern’s profit contribution shortfall attributable to this failure. Similar payments are due if Wakefern loses volume by reason of the sale of Company stores or a merger with another entity. Village fulfilled the above obligation in fiscal 2021 and 2020. The Company also has an investment of approximately 9.3% in Insure-Rite, Ltd., a Wakefern affiliated company, which provides Village with workers' compensation, liability and property insurance coverage.
Wakefern has increased from time to time the required investment in its common stock for each supermarket owned by a member, with the exact amount per store computed based on the amount of each store’s purchases from Wakefern. At July 31, 2021, the Company’s indebtedness to Wakefern for the outstanding amount of these stock subscriptions was $3,423. Installment payments are due as follows: 2022 - $632; 2023 - $844; 2024 - $512; 2025 - $512; 2026 - $511; and $412 thereafter. The maximum per store investment increased from $950 to $975 in fiscal 2021, resulting in an additional $670 capital pledge, which was paid in fiscal 2021. Village receives additional shares of common stock to the extent paid for at the end of each fiscal year (which ends on or about September 30) of Wakefern calculated at the then book value per share. The payments, together with any stock issued thereunder, at the option of Wakefern, may be null and void and all payments on this subscription shall become the property of Wakefern in the event the Company does not complete the payment of this subscription in a timely manner.
Village purchases substantially all of its merchandise from Wakefern. As a stockholder of Wakefern, Village earns a share of Wakefern’s earnings, which are distributed as a “patronage dividend.” This dividend is based on a distribution of substantially all of Wakefern’s operating profits for its fiscal year in proportion to the dollar volume of purchases by each member from Wakefern during that fiscal year. Patronage dividends are recorded as a reduction of cost of sales as merchandise is sold. Village accrues estimated patronage dividends due from Wakefern quarterly based on an estimate of the annual Wakefern patronage dividend and an estimate of Village’s share of this annual dividend based on Village’s estimated proportional share of the dollar volume of business transacted with Wakefern that year. Patronage dividends and other vendor allowances and rebates amounted to $43,003 and $33,151 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Wakefern provides the Company with support services in numerous areas including advertising, workers' compensation, liability and property insurance, supplies, certain equipment purchasing, coupon processing, certain financial accounting applications, retail technology support, and other store services. Village incurred charges of $47,462 and $33,303 from Wakefern in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively, for non-merchandise products and services, which are reflected in operating and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations. Additionally, the Company has certain related party leases (see Note 7) with Wakefern.
At July 31, 2021, the Company held variable rate notes receivable due from Wakefern of $27,325 that earn interest at the prime rate plus 1.25% and mature on August 15, 2022 and $27,970 that earn interest at the prime rate plus .75% and mature on February 15, 2024. Wakefern has the right to prepay these notes at any time. Under certain conditions, the Company can require Wakefern to prepay the notes, although interest earned since inception would be reduced as if it was earned based on overnight money market rates as paid by Wakefern on demand deposits.
At July 31, 2021, the Company had demand deposits invested at Wakefern in the amount of $86,670. These deposits earn overnight money market rates.
Interest income earned on investments with Wakefern was $3,522 and $3,992 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively.
NOTE 4 - DEBT
Long-term debt consists of:
July 31,
2021 July 25,
Unsecured revolving line of credit $ - $ 50,000
Secured term loan 47,025 $0 -
Unsecured term loan 21,104 24,694
New Market Tax Credit Financing 5,674 5,921
Total debt, excluding obligations under leases 73,803 80,615
Less current portion 6,976 6,421
Total long-term debt, excluding obligations under leases $ 66,827 $ 74,194
Credit Facility
On May 6, 2020, Village entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Facility”) with Wells Fargo National Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”) that supersedes in its entirety the prior credit agreement with Wells Fargo dated November 9, 2017. The principal purpose of the Credit Facility is to finance general corporate and working capital requirements and Village’s acquisition of certain Fairway assets. Among other things, the Credit Facility provides for a maximum loan amount of $150,500 as further set forth below:
•An unsecured revolving line of credit providing a maximum amount available for borrowing of $125,000. Indebtedness under this agreement bears interest at the applicable LIBOR rate plus 1.10% and expires on May 6, 2025.
•An unsecured term loan with a maximum loan amount of $25,500. On May 12, 2020, Village executed a $25,500 term note, repayable in equal monthly installments based on a seven-year amortization schedule through May 4, 2027 and bearing interest at the applicable LIBOR rate plus 1.35%. Additionally, Village executed an interest rate swap for a notional amount equal to the term loan amount that fixes the base LIBOR rate at .41% per annum through May 4, 2027, resulting in a fixed effective interest rate of 1.76% on the term note.
•On September 1, 2020, Village converted $50,000 of its revolving line of credit to a secured converted term loan. The conversion reduced the maximum amount available for borrowing under the revolving line of credit from $125,000 to $75,000. The term loan bears interest at the applicable LIBOR rate plus 1.50% and is repayable in equal monthly installments based on a fifteen-year amortization schedule beginning on the conversion date. Additionally, Village previously executed a forward interest rate swap, effective on the conversion date, for a notional amount equal to the term loan amount that fixes the base LIBOR rate at .69% per annum for 15 years, resulting in a fixed effective interest rate of 2.19% on the converted term loan. The term loan is secured by real properties of Village Super Market, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including the sites of three Village stores.
The Credit Facility also provides for up to $25,000 of letters of credit ($7,336 outstanding at July 31, 2021), which secure obligations for store leases and construction performance guarantees to municipalities. The Credit Facility contains covenants that, among other conditions, require a minimum tangible net worth, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a maximum adjusted debt to EBITDAR ratio. The Company was in compliance with all covenants of the credit agreement at July 31, 2021.
The carrying values of the Company’s long-term debt related to the Company's Credit Facility approximate their fair value as interest is charged at variable market rates. The estimated fair values of the Company's long-term debt are based on Level 2 inputs.
New Markets Tax Credit
On December 29, 2017, the Company entered into a financing transaction with Wells Fargo Community Investment Holdings, LLC (“Wells Fargo”) under a qualified New Markets Tax Credit (“NMTC”) program related to the construction of a new store in the Bronx, New York. The NMTC program was provided for in the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000 (the “Act”) and is intended to induce capital investment in qualified lower income communities. The Act permits taxpayers to claim credits against their Federal income taxes for up to 39% of qualified investments in the equity of community development entities (“CDEs”). CDEs are privately managed investment institutions that are certified to make qualified low-income community investments.
In connection with the financing, the Company loaned $4,835 to VSM Investment Fund, LLC (the "Investment Fund") at an interest rate of 1.403% per year and with a maturity date of December 31, 2044. Repayments on the loan commence in March 2025. Wells Fargo contributed $2,375 to the Investment Fund and, by virtue of such contribution, is entitled to substantially all of the tax benefits derived from the NMTC. The Investment Fund is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo. The loan to the Investment Fund is recorded in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
The Investment Fund then contributed the proceeds to a CDE, which, in turn, loaned combined funds of $6,563, net of debt issuance costs, to Village Super Market of NY, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, at an interest rate of 1.000% per year with a maturity date of December 31, 2051. These loans are secured by the leasehold improvements and equipment related to the construction of the Bronx store. Repayment of the loans commences in March 2025. The proceeds of the loans from the CDE were used to partially fund the construction of the Bronx store. The Notes payable related to New Markets Tax Credit, net of debt issuance costs, are recorded in long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets.
The NMTC is subject to 100% recapture for a period of seven years. The Company is required to be in compliance with various regulations and contractual provisions that apply to the New Markets Tax Credit arrangement. Noncompliance could result in Wells Fargo's projected tax benefits not being realized and, therefore, require the Company to indemnify Wells Fargo for any loss or recapture of NMTCs. The Company does not anticipate any credit recapture will be required in connection with this financing arrangement. The transaction includes a put/call provision whereby the Company may be obligated or entitled to repurchase Wells Fargo's interest in the Investment Fund. The value attributed to the put/call is de minimis. We believe that Wells Fargo will exercise the put option in December 2024, at the end of the recapture period, that will result in a net benefit to the Company of $1,728. The Company is recognizing the net benefit over the seven-year compliance period in operating and administrative expense.
NOTE 5 - DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk arising from fluctuations in LIBOR related to the Company’s Credit Facility. The Company manages exposure to this risk and the variability of related cash flows primarily by the use of derivative financial instruments, specifically, interest rate swaps.
The Company’s objectives in using interest rate swaps are to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount.
In 2020, the Company executed two interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional value of $75,500 to hedge the variable cash flows associated with variable-rate loans under the Company's Credit Facility. The interest rate swaps were executed for risk management and are not held for trading purposes. The objective of the interest rate swaps is to hedge the variability of cash flows resulting from fluctuations in LIBOR. The swaps replaced the applicable LIBOR with fixed interest rates and payments are settled monthly when payments are made on the variable-rate loans. The Company's derivatives qualify and have been designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk. The gain or loss on the derivative is recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss and subsequently reclassified into interest expense in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Amounts reported in Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the variable-rate loans. The Company reclassified $328 and $12 from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Interest expense during fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The notional value of the interest rate swaps were $68,472 as of July 31, 2021. The fair value of interest rate swaps are included in the following captions on the consolidated balance sheets at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020:
2021 2020
Other assets (liabilities) 1,111 (921)
The fair values of the Company’s interest rate swaps are based on Level 2 inputs, including the present value of estimated future cash flows based on market expectations of the yield curve on variable interest rates.
NOTE 6 - INCOME TAXES
The components of the provision for income taxes are:
2021 2020
Federal:
Current $ 7,172 $ (8,023)
Deferred (2,037) 10,846
State:
Current 4,229 3,627
Deferred (505) 344
$ 8,859 $ 6,794
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
July 31,
2021 July 25,
Deferred tax assets:
Lease liabilities $ 106,615 $ 98,149
Tax credit carryforward - 508
Compensation related costs 4,377 2,945
Pension costs 3,248 1,881
Other 552 752
Total deferred tax assets 114,792 104,235
Deferred tax liabilities:
Tax over book depreciation 22,653 23,626
Lease assets 98,994 92,021
Patronage dividend receivable 4,162 3,133
Investment in partnerships 1,162 1,076
Other 611 178
Total deferred tax liabilities 127,582 120,034
Net deferred tax liability $ (12,790) $ (15,799)
Deferred income tax assets (liabilities) are included in the following captions on the consolidated balance sheets at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020:
2021 2020
Other assets 1,642 702
Other liabilities (14,432) (16,501)
A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In management’s opinion, in view of the Company’s previous, current and projected taxable income and reversal of deferred tax liabilities, such tax assets will more likely than not be fully realized. Accordingly, no valuation allowance was deemed to be required at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020.
The effective income tax rate differs from the statutory federal income tax rate as follows:
2021 2020
Statutory federal income tax rate 21.0 % 21.0 %
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit 10.3 % 9.9 %
Federal net operating loss carryback - % (7.9) %
Other (0.6) % (1.6) %
Effective income tax rate 30.7 % 21.4 %
Fiscal 2020 includes a $2,512 incremental benefit from a federal net operating loss carryback at a rate higher than the current statutory tax rate.
The Company is not currently under audit by any tax authorities, but is open to examination with varying statutes of limitations, generally ranging from three to four years.
NOTE 7 - LEASES
Description of leasing arrangements
The Company leases 32 retail stores, as well as a production distribution center (the "PDC"), the corporate headquarters and equipment at July 31, 2021. The majority of initial lease terms range from 20 to 30 years. Most of the Company’s leases contain renewal options at increased rents of five years each at the Company’s sole discretion. These options enable Village to retain the use of facilities in desirable operating areas.
The composition of total lease cost is as follows:
Years ended
Consolidated Statement of Operations Classification July 31,
2021 July 25,
Operating lease cost Operating and administrative expense $ 37,677 $ 22,911
Finance lease cost
Amortization of leased assets Depreciation and amortization 947 947
Interest on lease liabilities Interest expense 2,000 2,059
Variable lease cost Operating and administrative expense 19,479 16,473
Total lease cost $ 60,103 $ 42,390
As of July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020, finance lease right-of-use assets of $12,806 and $13,753, respectively, are included in property, equipment and fixtures, net in the Company's consolidated balance sheet. Maturities of operating and finance lease liabilities, including options to extend lease terms that are reasonably certain of being exercised, are as follows as of July 31, 2021:
Operating leases Finance leases Total
2022 $ 32,984 $ 2,470 $ 35,454
2023 35,988 2,689 38,677
2024 34,005 2,689 36,694
2025 32,563 2,820 35,383
2026 31,758 2,893 34,651
Thereafter 214,944 26,187 241,131
Total lease payments 382,242 39,748 421,990
Less amount representing interest 82,480 16,892 99,372
Present value of lease liabilities $ 299,762 $ 22,856 $ 322,618
The Company has approximately $9,280 of future payment obligations related to lease agreements that have not yet commenced but have been executed as of July 31, 2021.
As of July 31, 2021, the Company's lease terms and discount rates are as follows:
July 31,
2021 July 25,
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
Operating leases 12.5 13.3
Finance leases 14.4 15.4
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases 3.9 % 3.9 %
Finance leases 8.5 % 8.5 %
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases is as follows:
2021 2020
Cash paid for amounts in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 34,768 $ 21,287
Operating cash flows from finance leases 2,000 2,059
Financing cash flows from finance leases 689 572
Related party leases
The Company leases a supermarket from a realty firm 30% owned by certain officers of Village. The Company paid rent to related parties under this lease of $704 and $688 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively, and has a related lease obligation of $3,227 at July 31, 2021. This lease expires in fiscal 2026 with options to extend at increasing annual rent.
The Company has ownership interests in three real estate partnerships. Village paid aggregate rents to two of these partnerships for leased stores of $1,579 and $1,556 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively, and has related aggregate lease obligations of $12,781 at July 31, 2021.
One of these partnerships is a variable interest entity, which is not consolidated as Village is not the primary beneficiary. This partnership owns one property, a stand-alone supermarket leased to the Company since 1974. Village is a general partner entitled to 33% of the partnership's profits and losses.
The Company subleases the Galloway and Vineland stores from Wakefern under sublease agreements which provided for combined annual rents of $1,355 in both fiscal 2021 and 2020, and has related aggregate lease obligations of $2,276 at July 31, 2021. Both leases contain normal periodic rent increases and options to extend the lease.
NOTE 8 - SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
The Company has two classes of common stock. Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share and to cash dividends as declared 54% greater than those paid on Class B common stock. Class B common stock is entitled to 10 votes per share. Class A and Class B common stock share equally on a per share basis in any distributions in liquidation. Shares of Class B common stock are convertible on a share-for-share basis for Class A common stock at any time. Class B common stock is not transferable except to another holder of Class B common stock or by will or under the laws of intestacy or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company approving the transfer. As a result of this voting structure, the holders of the Class B common stock control greater than 50% of the total voting power of the shareholders of the Company and control the election of the Board of Directors.
The Company has authorized 10,000 shares of preferred stock. No shares have been issued. The Board of Directors is authorized to designate series, preferences, powers and participations of any preferred stock issued.
The Company maintains share repurchase programs that comply with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Repurchases of Village Class A common stock may be made from time to time through a variety of methods, including open market purchases and other negotiated transactions. In September 2019, the Company's Board of Directors authorized an incremental $5,000 share repurchase program, supplementing the existing authorization. The Company made open market purchases totaling $2,482 under this repurchase program in fiscal 2020 and an additional $1,907 in shares of Class A Common Stock were surrendered in satisfaction of withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted shares in fiscal 2020. The Company's share repurchase program had $3,203 remaining at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020.
Village has two share-based compensation plans, which are described below. The compensation cost charged against income for these plans was $2,522 and $2,958 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively. Total income tax benefit recognized in the consolidated statements of operations for share-based compensation arrangements was $633 and $202 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively.
On December 16, 2016, the shareholders of the Company approved the Village Super Market, Inc. 2016 Stock Plan (the “2016 Plan”) under which awards of incentive and non-qualified stock options and restricted stock may be made. There are 1,200 shares of Class A common stock authorized for issuance to employees and directors under the 2016 Plan. Terms and conditions of awards are determined by the Board of Directors. Restricted stock awards primarily cliff vest three years from the date of grant. There are 1,078 shares remaining for future grants under the 2016 Plan.
The following table summarizes option activity under all plans for the following years:
2021 2020
Shares Weighted-average
exercise price Shares Weighted-average
exercise price
Outstanding at beginning of year 156 $ 28.43 245 $ 28.43
Exercised - - - -
Forfeited (54) 27.40 (89) 28.42
Expired - $ - - $ -
Outstanding at end of year 102 $ 28.98 156 $ 28.43
Options exercisable at end of year 102 $ 28.98 156 $ 28.43
As of July 31, 2021, the weighted-average remaining contractual term of options outstanding and options exercisable was 2.6 years. As of July 31, 2021, the aggregate intrinsic value was $0 for both options outstanding and options exercisable. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model. The Company uses historical data for similar groups of employees in order to estimate the expected life of options granted. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock for a period of years corresponding to the expected life of the option. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve at the time of grant for securities with a maturity period similar to the expected life of the option.
The following table summarizes restricted stock activity under all plans for the following years:
2021 2020
Shares Weighted-average
grant date
fair value Shares Weighted-average
grant date
fair value
Nonvested at beginning of year 413 $ 19.40 323 $ 27.02
Granted 8 25.06 412 19.40
Vested (14) 18.98 (302) 27.14
Forfeited (15) 18.98 (20) 25.59
Nonvested at end of year 392 $ 19.55 413 $ 19.40
The total fair value of restricted shares vested during fiscal 2021 and 2020 was $363 and $5,968, respectively.
As of July 31, 2021, there was $4,172 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to nonvested restricted stock granted under the above plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.6 years.
The Company declared and paid cash dividends on common stock as follows:
2021 2020
Per share:
Class A common stock $ 1.00 $ 1.00
Class B common stock 0.65 0.65
Aggregate:
Class A common stock $ 10,259 $ 10,174
Class B common stock 2,791 2,791
$ 13,050 $ 12,965
NOTE 9 - PENSION PLANS
Company-Sponsored Pension Plans
The Company sponsored four defined benefit pension plans. One of the plans was terminated in fiscal 2020, and two of the plans are frozen and participants no longer earn service credit. Two are tax-qualified plans covering members of unions. Benefits under these two plans are based on a fixed amount for each year of service. One is a tax-qualified plan covering nonunion associates. Benefits under this plan are based upon percentages of annual compensation. Funding for these plans is based on an analysis of the specific requirements and an evaluation of the assets and liabilities of each plan. The fourth plan is an unfunded, nonqualified plan providing supplemental pension benefits to certain executives.
Net periodic pension cost for the plans include the following components:
2021 2020
Service cost $ 216 $ 202
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation 1,689 2,154
Expected return on plan assets (1,932) (2,792)
Loss on settlement 587 1,604
Amortization of gains and losses 588 555
Net periodic pension cost $ 1,148 $ 1,723
On December 23, 2019, the Company terminated the Village Super Market, Inc. Retail Clerks Employees’ Retirement Plan. All participants of the plan were former employees of a store previously closed in 1994. An annuity contract totaling $1,302 was purchased with an insurance company for all participants who did not elect a lump sum distribution. Additionally, lump sum distributions related to the termination totaled $451. The plan had sufficient assets to satisfy all termination transaction obligations, and no benefit obligation or plan assets related to the Village Super Market, Inc. Retail Clerks Employees’ Retirement Plan remained as of the termination date. As a result of this termination, the Company recognized a non-cash pre-tax settlement charge totaling $669 during fiscal 2020. This settlement charge represents the plan’s remaining unrecognized losses within accumulated other comprehensive loss as of the termination date.
Additionally, the Company recognized a settlement loss of $587 and $935 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively, for plans where benefits paid exceeded the sum of the service cost and interest cost components of net periodic pension cost.
The changes in benefit obligations and the reconciliation of the funded status of the Company’s plans to the consolidated balance sheets were as follows:
2021 2020
Changes in Benefit Obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 76,849 $ 69,932
Service cost 216 202
Interest cost 1,689 2,154
Benefits paid (796) (887)
Settlement (2,563) (6,733)
Actuarial loss (2,166) 12,181
Benefit obligation at end of year $ 73,229 $ 76,849
Changes in Plan Assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 70,683 $ 65,173
Actual return on plan assets (4,277) 13,130
Employer contributions - -
Benefits paid (796) (887)
Settlements paid (2,563) (6,733)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year 63,047 70,683
Funded status at end of year $ 10,182 $ 6,166
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:
Pension liabilities 10,182 6,166
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes 9,833 8,092
Amounts included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss (pre-tax):
Net actuarial loss $ 14,167 $ 11,299
Company expects approximately $504 of the net actuarial loss, excluding the impact of any potential plan settlements, to be recognized as a component of net periodic benefit costs in fiscal 2022.
The accumulated benefit obligations of the plans were $71,931 and $76,849 at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020, respectively. The following information is presented for those plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:
2021 2020
Projected benefit obligation $ 73,229 $ 11,465
Accumulated benefit obligation 71,931 11,465
Fair value of plan assets 63,047 4,068
Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations and net periodic pension cost for the Company’s defined benefit plans were as follows:
2021 2020
Assumed discount rate - net periodic pension cost 2.26 % 3.41 %
Assumed discount rate - benefit obligation 2.44 % 2.26 %
Assumed rate of increase in compensation levels 4.50 % 4.50 %
Expected rate of return on plan assets 3.36 % 4.82 %
Investments in the pension trusts are overseen by the trustees of the plans, who are officers of Village. The Company utilizes a liability-driven investment ("LDI") strategy. A LDI strategy focuses on maintaining a close to fully-funded status over the long-term with minimal funded status risk. This is achieved by investing more of the plan assets in fixed income instruments to more closely match the duration of the plan liability. The investment allocation to fixed income instruments will increase as each plans' funded status increases. The target allocations for plan assets are 0-15% equity securities, 85-100% fixed income securities and 0-10% cash. Asset allocations are reviewed periodically and appropriate rebalancing is performed.
Equity securities include investments in large-cap, small-cap and mid-cap companies located both in and outside the United States. Fixed income securities include U.S. treasuries, mortgage-backed securities and corporate bonds of companies from diversified industries. Investments in securities are made through mutual funds. In addition, one plan held Class A common stock of Village in the amount of $512 and $573 at July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020, respectively.
Risk management is accomplished through diversification across asset classes and fund strategies, multiple investment portfolios and investment guidelines. The plans do not allow for investments in derivative instruments.
The fair value of the pension assets were as follows:
July 31, 2021 July 25, 2020
Asset Category Level 1 Assets Measured at NAV Total Level 1 Assets Measured at NAV Total
Cash $ 83 $ - $ 83 $ 61 $ - $ 61
Equity securities:
Company stock 512 - 512 573 - 573
Mutual/Collective Trust Funds -
U.S. (1) - 1,174 1,174 - 1,214 1,214
Mutual/Collective Trust Funds - International (1) - 387 387 - 396 396
Fixed income securities:
Mutual/Collective Trust Funds - Fixed Income (1) - 60,891 60,891 - 68,439 68,439
Total $ 595 $ 62,452 $ 63,047 $ 634 $ 70,049 $ 70,683
(1)Includes pools of investments that are measured at fair value using the Net Asset Value (NAV) per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient. The NAV is based on the underlying net assets owned by the fund and the relative interest of each participating investor in the fair value of the underlying assets. The underlying investments are classified as either level 1 or 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Based on actuarial assumptions, estimated future defined benefit payments, which may be significantly impacted by participant elections related to retirement dates and forms of payment, are as follows:
Fiscal Year
2022 $ 63,114
2023 180
2024 220
2025 170
2026 7,410
2027 - 2030 1,010
In fiscal 2020 the Company began the process of terminating the Village Super Market, Inc. Employees’ Retirement Plan. Upon satisfaction of all regulatory requirements, which is expected to occur during fiscal 2022, the Company will fully fund and liquidate all plan assets to purchase annuity contracts from an insurance company for all participants who do not elect a lump sum distribution. At the time of settlement, the Company will recognize a non-cash pre-tax charge representing the plan’s remaining unrecognized losses within accumulated other comprehensive loss as of the termination date. As of July 31, 2021,
the funded status of this plan is a net liability of $3,844 and the pre-tax amount included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss is $15,155. Contributions to the remaining plans are expected to be immaterial in fiscal 2022.
Multi-Employer Plans
The Company contributes to three multi-employer pension plans under collective bargaining agreements covering union-represented employees. These plans provide benefits to participants that are generally based on a fixed amount for each year of service. Based on the most recent information available, certain of these multi-employer plans are underfunded. The amount of any increase or decrease in Village’s required contributions to these multi-employer pension plans will depend upon the outcome of collective bargaining, actions taken by trustees who manage the plans, government regulations and the actual return on assets held in the plans, among other factors.
The risks of participating in multi-employer pension plans are different from the risks of participating in single-employer pension plans in the following respects:
•Assets contributed to a multi-employer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.
•If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan allocable to such withdrawing employer may be borne by the remaining participating employers.
•If the Company stops participating in some of its multi-employer pension plans, the Company may be required to pay those plans an amount based on its allocable share of the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.
The Company’s participation in these plans is outlined in the following tables. The “EIN / Pension Plan Number” column provides the Employer Identification Number (“EIN”) and the three-digit pension plan number. The most recent “Pension Protection Act Zone Status” available in 2020 and 2019 is for the plan’s year-end at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, unless otherwise noted. Among other factors, generally, plans in the red zone are less than 65 percent funded, plans in the yellow zone are between 65 and 80 percent funded and plans in the green zone are at least 80 percent funded. The “FIP/RP Status Pending / Implemented” column indicates plans for which a funding improvement plan (“FIP”) or a rehabilitation plan (“RP”) is either pending or has been implemented.
Pension Protection Act Zone Status FIP/RP Status
Pending
/ Implemented Contributions for the
year ended (5) Expiration
date of
Collective-
Bargaining
Agreement
Pension Fund
EIN / Pension Plan Number
2020 2019 July 31,
2021 July 25,
2020 Surcharge
Imposed (6)
Pension Plan of Local 464A (1) 22-6051600-001 Green Green N/A $ 874 $ 886 N/A August 2025
UFCW Local 1262 & Employers Pension Fund (2), (4) 22-6074414-001 Red Red Implemented 2,721 2,789 No October 2023
UFCW Regional Pension Plan (3), (4) 16-6062287-074 Red Red Implemented $ 1,260 $ 1,231 No June 2024
Total Contributions $ 4,855 $ 4,906
(1)The information for this fund was obtained from the Form 5500 filed for the plan’s year-end at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
(2)The information for this fund was obtained from the Form 5500 filed for the plan’s year-end at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
(3)The information for this fund was obtained from the Form 5500 filed for the plan’s year-end at September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019.
(4)This plan has elected to utilize special amortization provisions provided under the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010. There were no changes to the plan’s zone status as a result of this election.
(5)The Company’s contributions represent more than 5% of the total contributions received by each applicable pension fund for all periods presented.
(6)Under the Pension Protection Act, a surcharge may be imposed when employers make contributions under a collective bargaining agreement that is not in compliance with a rehabilitation plan. As of July 31, 2021, the collective bargaining agreements under which the Company was making contributions were in compliance with rehabilitation plans adopted by each applicable pension fund.
Other Multi-Employer Benefit Plans
The Company also contributes to various other multi-employer benefit plans that provide health and welfare benefits to active and retired participants. Total contributions made by the Company to these other multi-employer benefit plans were $33,270 and $29,965 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Defined Contribution Plans
The Company sponsors a 401(k) savings plan for certain eligible associates. Company contributions under that plan, which are based on specified percentages of associate contributions, were $1,791 and $1,765 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company also contributes to union sponsored defined contribution plans for certain eligible associates. Company contributions under these plans were $3,296 and $2,296 in fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively.
NOTE 10 - BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS
Fairway Acquisition
On May 14, 2020, Village completed its acquisition of certain assets, including five supermarkets averaging 52,000 sq. ft. (30,000 selling sq. ft.), a production distribution center (the “PDC”) and the intellectual property of Fairway Group Holdings Corp. and certain of its subsidiaries (“Fairway”), including the names “Fairway” and “Fairway Markets.” Four of the supermarkets are in Manhattan, specifically the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Kips Bay and Chelsea locations, and a fifth store is located in Pelham, NY. The acquisition was effectuated pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement (the "APA"), entered into on January 20, 2020, revised on March 25, 2020 and approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York through a Sale Order entered on April 20, 2020. Village paid $73,622 for the Fairway assets, net of cash acquired, and assumed certain liabilities, consisting primarily of those arising from acquired leases. Additionally, at the time of closing Village received a $2,035 credit arising from the breakup of Village’s initial “stalking horse” bid under the January 20, 2020 Asset Purchase Agreement. The credit was recognized as a reduction in operating and administrative expense in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. The Fairway acquisition expands our presence in New York City under an iconic city brand and provides Village the ability to expand centralized food production to support stores under all of our banners.
Village accounted for this transaction as a business combination in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting, which requires, among other things, that assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. In connection with this acquisition, the Company recorded $11,540 of goodwill attributable to the assembled workforce and cost synergies. The goodwill related to this acquisition is deductible for tax purposes. Additionally, the Company recorded a $14,200 indefinite-lived intangible asset related to the trade name. The fair value of the intangible asset was determined based on the discounted cash flow model using the relief from royalty method. The fair value of the property, equipment and fixtures were determined based on the indirect cost approach in which current costs that were not new were adjusted for all forms of depreciation. The Company also evaluated the fair value of the leases assumed in the acquisition, which evaluated comparable rents in the areas of the locations. Leases were determined to be at market apart from one location. For this location, the Company recorded a favorable lease of $4,360 within Operating lease assets. The favorable lease is being amortized over the remaining duration of the lease. Transaction costs were expensed as incurred. The final allocation of the purchase price consideration to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed has been completed.
The following table summarizes how the purchase price has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition.
May 14,
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 257
Merchandise inventories 5,390
Other current assets 247
Total current assets $ 5,894
Property, equipment and fixtures, net $ 37,006
Operating lease assets 218,326
Trade name intangible asset 14,200
Other assets 271
Total assets $ 275,697
LIABILITIES
Accrued wages and benefits $ 623
Operating lease obligations 212,735
Total liabilities $ 213,358
Total Net Assets Acquired $ 62,339
Goodwill 11,540
Total Purchase Price $ 73,879
The pro forma information includes historical results of operations of the Fairway locations acquired but does not include efficiencies, cost reductions, synergies or investments for the Company’s customers expected to result from the acquisitions. The unaudited pro forma financial information in the table below is not necessarily indicative of the results that would have occurred had the Fairway locations been acquired at the beginning of fiscal year 2019.
Year ended
July 25,
Sales $ 2,034,163
Net Income 30,313
NOTE 11 - COMMITMENTS and CONTINGENCIES
Superstorm Sandy devastated Village's trade area on October 29, 2012 and resulted in the closure of almost all of our stores for periods of time ranging from a few hours to eight days. Village disposed of substantial amounts of perishable product and also incurred repair, labor and other costs as a result of the storm. Wakefern, as the policy holder, has pursued recovery of uncollected insurance claims on behalf of all Wakefern members through litigation against the insurance carrier and others since October 2013. Litigation over this matter has ended and the Company received an additional $2,733 in fiscal 2020 which was recognized as a reduction in operating and administrative expense. Village has received a total of $6,730 related to losses incurred as a result of Superstorm Sandy.
Approximately 89% of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Contracts with the Company’s seven unions have or will expire between March 2020 and August 2025. Approximately 10% of our associates are represented by unions whose contracts have already expired or expire within one year. Any work stoppages could have an adverse impact on our financial results.
The Company is involved in other litigation incidental to the normal course of business. Company management is of the opinion that the ultimate resolution of these legal proceedings should not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.
NOTE 12 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On October 13, 2021, Village completed the acquisition of the Galloway store shopping center for $9,800. As of July 31, 2021, the right-of-use asset and obligation related to the Galloway store's lease were $873 and $887, respectively.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Village Super Market, Inc.:
Opinions on the Consolidated Financial Statements and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Village Super Market, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of July 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of July 31, 2021 based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for leases as of July 28, 2019 due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (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.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Evaluation of trade name intangible asset for impairment
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company tests its indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at the end of each fiscal year, or more frequently if circumstances dictate. Manhattan store sales have been impacted by localized residential population migration out of Manhattan and less commuter and tourist traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to uncertainty regarding the duration and extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Manhattan, the Company recognized an impairment charge related to the Fairway trade name intangible asset of $2,386 for the year ended July 31, 2021. The estimated fair value of the trade name intangible asset was determined using the relief from royalty method. The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible asset balance of $13,299 as of July 31, 2021, included the Fairway trade name.
We identified the evaluation of the Company’s fair value assessment of the Fairway trade name intangible asset as a critical audit matter. Challenging and subjective auditor judgment was required to evaluate estimated future revenue and the discount rate used to determine the fair value of the Fairway trade name intangible asset due to their significant measurement uncertainty. Minor changes to these assumptions had a significant effect on the Company’s estimate of the fair value of the Fairway trade name intangible asset. Additionally, the audit effort associated with the evaluation of the Company’s discount rate required valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s indefinite lived intangible asset valuation process, including controls over the future revenue and discount rate assumptions. We compared estimates of future revenue to historical actual results and to current economic trends, including the impact of, and anticipated recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic. We performed sensitivity analyses over the future revenue assumption to assess the impact of changes on the Company’s determination of fair value. We involved valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in evaluating the elements of the discount rate assumption used by management, by comparing them against publicly available market data.
/s/ KPMG LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1987.
Short Hills, New Jersey
October 14, 2021

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
As required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act, the Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures at the end of the period covered by this report. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision, and with the participation, of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer along with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, along with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in 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 Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. With the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, our management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework and criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, our management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of July 31, 2021.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, as stated in their report, which is included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Robert P. Sumas John L. Van Orden
Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
PART III

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by this Item 10 is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed on or before November 1, 2021, in connection with its Annual Meeting scheduled to be held on December 17, 2021.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item 11 is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed on or before November 1, 2021, in connection with its Annual Meeting scheduled to be held on December 17, 2021.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information in the table below is as of July 31, 2021. All data relates to the Village Super Market, Inc. 2010 and 2016 Stock Plans as described in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Plan category Number of
securities to
be issued
upon exercise
of outstanding
options Weighted-average
exercise price
of outstanding
options Number of
securities
remaining available
for future
issuance
under equity
compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected
in column (a))
(a) (b) (c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 102,000 $ 28.98 1,077,593
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders - - -
Additional information required by this Item 12 is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed on or before November 1, 2021, in connection with its annual meeting scheduled to be held on December 17, 2021.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this Item 13 is incorporated by reference from the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed on or before November 1, 2021, in connection with its annual meeting scheduled to be held on December 17, 2021.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated by reference from the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed on or before November 1, 2021, in connection with its annual meeting scheduled to be held on December 17, 2021.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULES
(a)(1) Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance Sheets - July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020
Consolidated Statements of Operations - years ended July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - years ended July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - years ended July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - years ended July 31, 2021 and July 25, 2020
Notes to consolidated financial statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules:
All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, or not required, or because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes hereto.
(a)(3) Exhibits
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation*
3.2 By-laws*
4.1 Credit Agreement dated May 6, 2020*
4.2 First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated September 1, 2020*
4.3 Revolving Credit Note dated May 6, 2020*
4.4 Revolving Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Note dated September 1, 2020*
4.5 Term Loan Note dated May 6, 2020*
4.6 Converted Term Loan Note dated September 1, 2020*
10.1 Wakefern By-Laws*
10.2 Stockholders Agreement dated February 20, 1992 between the Company and Wakefern Food Corp.*
10.7 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan*
10.8 2004 Stock Plan*
10.9 2010 Stock Plan*
10.10 2016 Stock Plan*
10.11 42-Month Adjustable Rate Promissory Note*
10.12 42-Month Adjustable Rate Promissory Note*
10.13 60-Month Adjustable Rate Promissory Note*
10.14 60-Month Adjustable Rate Promissory Note*
10.15 60-Month Adjustable Rate Promissory Note*
10.16 60-Month Adjustable Rate Promissory Note*
10.17 60-Month Adjustable Rate Promissory Note*
14 Code of Ethics*
21 Subsidiaries of Registrant
23 Consent of Consent of Consent of KPMG LLP
31.1 Certification
31.2 Certification
32.1 Certification (furnished, not filed)
32.2 Certification (furnished, not filed)
99.1 Press Release
101 INS XBRL Instance Document*
101 SCH XBRL Schema Document*
101 CAL XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document*
101 DEF XBRL Definition Linkbase Document*
101 LAB XBRL Labels Linkbase Document*
101 PRE XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document*
The XBRL related information in Exhibit 101 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to liability of that section and shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing or document.
* The following exhibits are incorporated by reference from the following previous filings:
Form 8-K filed on May 13, 2020: 4.1, 4.3, 4.5
Form 8-K filed on September 8, 2020: 4.2, 4.4, 4.6
Form 10-K for 2017: 3.1, 10.2, 10.15, 10.16, 10.17, 14
DEF 14A Proxy Statement filed October 31, 2016: 10.10
Form 10-K for 2014: 10.7
Form 10-Q for April 2014: 10.11, 10.12, 10.13, 10.14
Form 10-Q for April 2013: 10.1
DEF 14A Proxy Statement filed November 1, 2010: 10.9
Form 10-K for 2004: 3.2
DEF 14A proxy statement filed October 25, 2004: 10.8