Nature of Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Oct. 02, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Aramark (the "Company") is a leading global provider of food, facilities and uniform services to education, healthcare, business & industry, and sports, leisure & corrections clients. The Company's core market is the United States, which is supplemented by an additional 18-country footprint. The Company operates its business in three reportable segments that share many of the same operating characteristics: •Food and Support Services United States ("FSS United States") - Food, refreshment, specialized dietary and support services, including facility maintenance and housekeeping, provided to business, educational and healthcare institutions and in sports, leisure and other facilities. •Food and Support Services International ("FSS International") - Food, refreshment, specialized dietary and support services, including facility maintenance and housekeeping, provided to business, educational and healthcare institutions and in sports, leisure and other facilities. •Uniform and Career Apparel ("Uniform") - Provides a full service employee uniform solution, including design, sourcing and manufacturing, delivery, cleaning and maintenance on a contract basis. Directly markets personalized uniforms and accessories, including personal protective equipment ("PPE"), provides managed restroom services and rents uniforms, work clothing, outerwear, particulate-free garments and non-garment items and related services, including mats, shop towels and first aid supplies, to clients in a wide range of industries in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and through a joint venture in Japan, including the manufacturing, transportation, construction, restaurant and hotel, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its subsidiaries in which a controlling financial interest is maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"). All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.
Fiscal Year	Fiscal Year The Company's fiscal year is the fifty-two or fifty-three week period which ends on the Friday nearest September 30th. The fiscal year ended October 2, 2020 was a fifty-three week period and the fiscal years ended September 27, 2019 and September 28, 2018 were each fifty-two week periods.
New Accounting Standard Updates	New Accounting Standards Updates Adopted Standards In March 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an accounting standards update ("ASU") which provided clarification regarding three issues related to the lease recognition standard. The guidance was effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 when the lease accounting standard was adopted. See below for further discussion regarding the impact of this standard. In July 2018, the FASB issued two ASUs regarding the lease recognition standard. The guidance provided clarification on issues identified regarding the adoption of the standard, provided an additional transition method to adopt the standard and provided an additional practical expedient to lessors. The guidance was effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 when the lease accounting standard was adopted. See below for further discussion regarding the impact of this standard. In July 2018, the FASB issued an ASU which clarifies, corrects errors in or makes minor improvements to the Accounting Standards Codification. The guidance was effective for the Company either upon issuance or in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, depending on the amendment. There was no impact on the consolidated financial statements related to the amendments that were effective upon issuance of the guidance. The Company adopted the remaining amendments of the pronouncement in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. In February 2018, the FASB issued an ASU which allows for the reclassification of stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "TCJA") from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. The guidance was effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The Company adopted the guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, which did not have an impact on the consolidated financial statements. The Company did not elect to reclassify the stranded income tax effects resulting from the TCJA from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. In September 2017, the FASB issued an ASU to provide additional implementation guidance with respect to the lease accounting standard. The guidance was effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The Company adopted the standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 in conjunction with the lease recognition standard. See below for further discussion regarding the impact of the lease accounting provisions related to this standard. In February 2016, the FASB issued an ASU requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets as operating lease liabilities with corresponding operating lease right-of-use assets and to disclose key information about lease arrangements. Recognition of expense on the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income continues in a manner similar to previous guidance. The Company adopted this guidance on September 28, 2019 (first day of fiscal 2020). In connection with the new lease guidance, the Company completed a comprehensive review of its lease arrangements in order to determine the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company identified and implemented appropriate changes to business processes, controls and systems to support recognition and disclosure under the new standard. The Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification 842 (“ASC 842” or the "new lease standard") using the modified retrospective transition approach with an adjustment that recognized "Operating Lease Right-of-use Assets," "Current operating lease liabilities" and "Noncurrent Operating Lease Liabilities" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets on September 28, 2019. Comparative period information and disclosures were not revised as a result of the recognition and measurement of leases. Adoption of the new lease standard resulted in the recognition of operating lease liabilities and associated operating lease right-of-use assets of approximately $416.1 million and $558.5 million, respectively, as of September 28, 2019 on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Deferred rent, tenant improvement allowances and prepaid rent, including $166.9 million of long-term prepaid rent as of September 28, 2019 associated with certain leases at client locations, were reclassified into operating lease right-of-use assets. There was no material impact to the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as a result of adoption. See Note 8 for further information on the impact of adopting the new lease standard. Standards Not Yet Adopted (from most to least recent date of issuance) In March 2020, the FASB issued an ASU which provides optional expedients that may be adopted and applied through December 2022 to assist with the discontinuance of LIBOR. The expedients allow companies to ease the potential accounting burden when modifying contracts and hedging relationships that use LIBOR as a reference rate, if certain criteria are met. During the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company adopted the optional expedient to assert probability of forecasted hedged transactions occurring on its interest rate swap derivative contracts regardless of any expected contract modifications related to reference reform. Other optional expedients related to hedging relationships may be contemplated in the future resulting from reference rate reform. The Company reviewed its portfolio of debt agreements, lease agreements and other contracts and determined that only its debt agreements will be impacted by this standard, as the lease agreements and other contracts do not use LIBOR as a reference rate. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the remaining amendment of this standard. In January 2020, the FASB issued an ASU which provides clarification and improvements to existing guidance related to accounting for certain equity securities upon the application or discontinuation of equity method accounting and the measurement of forward contracts and purchased options on certain securities. The guidance is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard. In December 2019, the FASB issued an ASU which simplifies the accounting for income taxes and clarifies and amends existing income tax guidance. Impacted areas include intraperiod tax allocations, interim period taxes, deferred tax liabilities with outside basis differences, franchise taxes and transactions which result in the "step-up" of goodwill. The guidance is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard. In November 2019, the FASB issued an ASU which provides clarification and improvements to existing guidance related to the credit losses on financial instruments standard. The Company will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 when the credit losses on financial instruments standard is adopted. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures. In May 2019, the FASB issued an ASU which provides the option to irrevocably elect to apply the fair value measurement option on an instrument-by-instrument basis for certain financial instruments within the scope of the credit losses on financial instruments standard. The Company will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 when the credit losses on financial instruments standard is adopted. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures. In April 2019, the FASB issued an ASU which provides clarification, error corrections and improvements to existing guidance related to the credit losses on financial instruments ASU issued in June 2016, the derivatives and hedging ASU issued in August 2017 and the financial instruments ASU issued in January 2016. The guidance related to the credit losses on financial instruments ASU will be adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The adoption of the amendment will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures. The Company adopted the guidance related to financial instruments ASU in the first quarter of 2019 and the derivatives and hedging in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued an ASU which adds, modifies and removes several disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension plans. The guidance is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard. In August 2018, the FASB issued an ASU which adds, modifies and removes several disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements. The Company will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and the pronouncement will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued an ASU to require entities to account for expected credit losses on financial instruments including trade receivables. The expected credit loss model will replace the existing incurred credit loss model, that generally requires a loss to be incurred before it is recognized. The forward-looking model will require the Company to consider historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount in estimating credit losses and is expected to result in earlier recognition of allowances for credit losses. The amended guidance requires financial assets that are measured at amortized cost be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of financial assets. The guidance will also require enhanced disclosures. The Company will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and any impact will be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the year of adoption. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue when its performance obligation is satisfied upon the transfer of control of the promised product or service to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods and services. In each of the Company's operating segments, revenue is recognized over time in the period in which services are provided pursuant to the terms of the Company's contractual relationships with its clients. The Company generally records revenue on food and support services contracts (both profit and loss contracts and client interest contracts) on a gross basis as the Company is the primary obligor and service provider. See Note 7 for additional information on revenue recognition. Certain profit and loss contracts include payments to the client, typically calculated as a fixed or variable percentage of various categories of revenue and income. In some cases these contracts require minimum guaranteed payments that are contingent on certain future events. These expenses are currently recorded in “Cost of services provided.” Revenue from client interest contracts is generally comprised of amounts billed to clients for food, labor and other costs that the Company incurs, controls and pays for. Revenue from these contracts also includes any associated management fees, client subsidies or incentive fees based upon the Company's performance under the contract. Revenue from direct marketing activities is recognized at a point in time upon shipment. All revenue related taxes are presented on a net basis. The timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. The Company records an accounts receivable balance when revenue is recognized prior to or at the time of invoicing the customer. A majority of the Company’s receivables balances are based on contracts with customers. The Company estimates and reserves for its bad debt exposure based on its experience with past due accounts and collectability, the aging of accounts receivable and its analysis of customer data. Bad debt expense is classified within “Cost of services provided.” Vendor Consideration Consideration received from vendors includes rebates, allowances and volume discounts and are accounted for as an adjustment to the cost of the vendors' products or services and are reported as a reduction of "Cost of services provided," "Inventory," or "Property and equipment, net." Income from rebates, allowances and volume discounts is recognized based on actual purchases in the fiscal period relative to total actual purchases to be made for the contractual rebate period agreed to with the vendor. Rebates, allowances and volume discounts related to “Inventory” held at the balance sheet date are deducted from the carrying value of these inventories. Rebates, allowances and volume discounts related to "Property and equipment, net" are deducted from the costs capitalized.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Comprehensive Income	Comprehensive Income (Loss)Comprehensive income (loss) includes all changes to stockholders' equity during a period, except those resulting from investments by and distributions to stockholders. Components of comprehensive income (loss) include net income (loss), changes in foreign currency translation adjustments (net of tax), pension plan adjustments (net of tax), changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges (net of tax) and changes to the share of any equity investees' comprehensive income (loss) (net of tax).
Currency Translation	Currency TranslationGains and losses resulting from the translation of financial statements of non-U.S. subsidiaries are reflected as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders' equity. Beginning in fiscal 2018, Argentina was determined to have a highly inflationary economy. As a result, the Company remeasures the financial statements of Argentina's operations in accordance with the accounting guidance for highly inflationary economies.
Current Assets	Current Assets The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Beginning in fiscal 2019, the Company began insuring portions of its general liability, automobile liability and workers’ compensation risks through a wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary (the "Captive"), to enhance its risk financing strategies. The Captive is subject to regulations within its domicile of Bermuda, including regulations established by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (the "BMA") relating to levels of liquidity and solvency as such concepts are defined by the BMA. The Captive was in compliance with these regulations as of October 2, 2020. These regulations may have the effect of limiting the Company's ability to access certain cash and cash equivalents held by the Captive for uses other than for the payment of its general liability, automobile liability and workers’ compensation claims and related Captive costs. As of October 2, 2020, cash and cash equivalents at the Captive was $92.1 million. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (principally the first-in, first-out method) and net realizable value.
Property and Equipment	Property and EquipmentProperty and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. Gains and losses on dispositions are included in operating results. Maintenance and repairs are charged to current operations and replacements and significant improvements that extend the useful life of the asset are capitalized. The estimated useful lives for the major categories of property and equipment are 10 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and three to 20 years for service equipment and fixtures.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are classified based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The hierarchical levels related to the subjectivity of the valuation inputs are defined as follows: • Level 1—inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets • Level 2—inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument • Level 3—inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement Recurring Fair Value Measurements The Company's financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, borrowings and derivatives. Management believes that the carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are representative of their respective fair values. In conjunction with the fair value measurement of the derivative instruments, the Company made an accounting policy election to measure the credit risk of its derivative instruments that are subject to master netting agreements on a net basis by counterparty portfolio, the gross values would not be materially different.

Nature of Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 02, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Aramark (the "Company") is a leading global provider of food, facilities and uniform services to education, healthcare, business & industry, and sports, leisure & corrections clients. The Company's core market is the United States, which is supplemented by an additional 18-country footprint. The Company operates its business in three reportable segments that share many of the same operating characteristics:

•Food and Support Services United States ("FSS United States") - Food, refreshment, specialized dietary and support services, including facility maintenance and housekeeping, provided to business, educational and healthcare institutions and in sports, leisure and other facilities.

•Food and Support Services International ("FSS International") - Food, refreshment, specialized dietary and support services, including facility maintenance and housekeeping, provided to business, educational and healthcare institutions and in sports, leisure and other facilities.

•Uniform and Career Apparel ("Uniform") - Provides a full service employee uniform solution, including design, sourcing and manufacturing, delivery, cleaning and maintenance on a contract basis. Directly markets personalized uniforms and accessories, including personal protective equipment ("PPE"), provides managed restroom services and rents uniforms, work clothing, outerwear, particulate-free garments and non-garment items and related services, including mats, shop towels and first aid supplies, to clients in a wide range of industries in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and through a joint venture in Japan, including the manufacturing, transportation, construction, restaurant and hotel, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its subsidiaries in which a controlling financial interest is maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"). All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.

Fiscal Year

The Company's fiscal year is the fifty-two or fifty-three week period which ends on the Friday nearest September 30th. The fiscal year ended October 2, 2020 was a fifty-three week period and the fiscal years ended September 27, 2019 and September 28, 2018 were each fifty-two week periods.

New Accounting Standard Updates

New Accounting Standards Updates

Adopted Standards

In March 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an accounting standards update ("ASU") which provided clarification regarding three issues related to the lease recognition standard. The guidance was effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 when the lease accounting standard was adopted. See below for further discussion regarding the impact of this standard.

In July 2018, the FASB issued two ASUs regarding the lease recognition standard. The guidance provided clarification on issues identified regarding the adoption of the standard, provided an additional transition method to adopt the standard and provided an additional practical expedient to lessors. The guidance was effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 when the lease accounting standard was adopted. See below for further discussion regarding the impact of this standard.

In July 2018, the FASB issued an ASU which clarifies, corrects errors in or makes minor improvements to the Accounting Standards Codification. The guidance was effective for the Company either upon issuance or in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, depending on the amendment. There was no impact on the consolidated financial statements related to the amendments that were effective upon issuance of the guidance. The Company adopted the remaining amendments of the pronouncement in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued an ASU which allows for the reclassification of stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "TCJA") from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. The guidance was effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The Company adopted the guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, which did not have an impact on the consolidated financial statements. The Company did not elect to reclassify the stranded income tax effects resulting from the TCJA from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.

In September 2017, the FASB issued an ASU to provide additional implementation guidance with respect to the lease accounting standard. The guidance was effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The Company adopted the standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 in conjunction with the lease recognition standard. See below for further discussion regarding the impact of the lease accounting provisions related to this standard.

In February 2016, the FASB issued an ASU requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets as operating lease liabilities with corresponding operating lease right-of-use assets and to disclose key information about lease arrangements. Recognition of expense on the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income continues in a manner similar to previous guidance. The Company adopted this guidance on September 28, 2019 (first day of fiscal 2020).

In connection with the new lease guidance, the Company completed a comprehensive review of its lease arrangements in order to determine the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company identified and implemented appropriate changes to business processes, controls and systems to support recognition and disclosure under the new standard.

The Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification 842 (“ASC 842” or the "new lease standard") using the modified retrospective transition approach with an adjustment that recognized "Operating Lease Right-of-use Assets," "Current operating lease liabilities" and "Noncurrent Operating Lease Liabilities" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets on September 28, 2019. Comparative period information and disclosures were not revised as a result of the recognition and measurement of leases. Adoption of the new lease standard resulted in the recognition of operating lease liabilities and associated operating lease right-of-use assets of approximately $416.1 million and $558.5 million, respectively, as of September 28, 2019 on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Deferred rent, tenant improvement allowances and prepaid rent, including $166.9 million of long-term prepaid rent as of September 28, 2019 associated with certain leases at client locations, were reclassified into operating lease right-of-use assets. There was no material impact to the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as a result of adoption. See Note 8 for further information on the impact of adopting the new lease standard.

Standards Not Yet Adopted (from most to least recent date of issuance)

In March 2020, the FASB issued an ASU which provides optional expedients that may be adopted and applied through December 2022 to assist with the discontinuance of LIBOR. The expedients allow companies to ease the potential accounting burden when modifying contracts and hedging relationships that use LIBOR as a reference rate, if certain criteria are met. During the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company adopted the optional expedient to assert probability of forecasted hedged transactions occurring on its interest rate swap derivative contracts regardless of any expected contract modifications related to reference reform. Other optional expedients related to hedging relationships may be contemplated in the future resulting from reference rate reform. The Company reviewed its portfolio of debt agreements, lease agreements and other contracts and determined that only its debt agreements will be impacted by this standard, as the lease agreements and other contracts do not use LIBOR as a reference rate. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the remaining amendment of this standard.

In January 2020, the FASB issued an ASU which provides clarification and improvements to existing guidance related to accounting for certain equity securities upon the application or discontinuation of equity method accounting and the measurement of forward contracts and purchased options on certain securities. The guidance is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.

In December 2019, the FASB issued an ASU which simplifies the accounting for income taxes and clarifies and amends existing income tax guidance. Impacted areas include intraperiod tax allocations, interim period taxes, deferred tax liabilities with outside basis differences, franchise taxes and transactions which result in the "step-up" of goodwill. The guidance is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.

In November 2019, the FASB issued an ASU which provides clarification and improvements to existing guidance related to the credit losses on financial instruments standard. The Company will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 when the credit losses on financial instruments standard is adopted. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures.

In May 2019, the FASB issued an ASU which provides the option to irrevocably elect to apply the fair value measurement option on an instrument-by-instrument basis for certain financial instruments within the scope of the credit losses on financial instruments standard. The Company will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 when the credit losses on financial instruments standard is adopted. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures.

In April 2019, the FASB issued an ASU which provides clarification, error corrections and improvements to existing guidance related to the credit losses on financial instruments ASU issued in June 2016, the derivatives and hedging ASU issued in August 2017 and the financial instruments ASU issued in January 2016. The guidance related to the credit losses on financial instruments ASU will be adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The adoption of the amendment will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures. The Company adopted the guidance related to financial

instruments ASU in the first quarter of 2019 and the derivatives and hedging in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued an ASU which adds, modifies and removes several disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension plans. The guidance is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.

In August 2018, the FASB issued an ASU which adds, modifies and removes several disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements. The Company will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and the pronouncement will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued an ASU to require entities to account for expected credit losses on financial instruments including trade receivables. The expected credit loss model will replace the existing incurred credit loss model, that generally requires a loss to be incurred before it is recognized. The forward-looking model will require the Company to consider historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount in estimating credit losses and is expected to result in earlier recognition of allowances for credit losses. The amended guidance requires financial assets that are measured at amortized cost be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of financial assets. The guidance will also require enhanced disclosures. The Company will adopt this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and any impact will be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the year of adoption. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when its performance obligation is satisfied upon the transfer of control of the promised product or service to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods and services. In each of the Company's operating segments, revenue is recognized over time in the period in which services are provided pursuant to the terms of the Company's contractual relationships with its clients. The Company generally records revenue on food and support services contracts (both profit and loss contracts and client interest contracts) on a gross basis as the Company is the primary obligor and service provider. See Note 7 for additional information on revenue recognition.

Certain profit and loss contracts include payments to the client, typically calculated as a fixed or variable percentage of various categories of revenue and income. In some cases these contracts require minimum guaranteed payments that are contingent on certain future events. These expenses are currently recorded in “Cost of services provided.”

Revenue from client interest contracts is generally comprised of amounts billed to clients for food, labor and other costs that the Company incurs, controls and pays for. Revenue from these contracts also includes any associated management fees, client subsidies or incentive fees based upon the Company's performance under the contract. Revenue from direct marketing activities is recognized at a point in time upon shipment. All revenue related taxes are presented on a net basis.

The timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. The Company records an accounts receivable balance when revenue is recognized prior to or at the time of invoicing the customer. A majority of the Company’s receivables balances are based on contracts with customers.

The Company estimates and reserves for its bad debt exposure based on its experience with past due accounts and collectability, the aging of accounts receivable and its analysis of customer data. Bad debt expense is classified within “Cost of services provided.”

Vendor Consideration

Consideration received from vendors includes rebates, allowances and volume discounts and are accounted for as an adjustment to the cost of the vendors' products or services and are reported as a reduction of "Cost of services provided," "Inventory," or "Property and equipment, net." Income from rebates, allowances and volume discounts is recognized based on actual purchases in the fiscal period relative to total actual purchases to be made for the contractual rebate period agreed to with the vendor. Rebates, allowances and volume discounts related to “Inventory” held at the balance sheet date are deducted from the carrying value of these inventories. Rebates, allowances and volume discounts related to "Property and equipment, net" are deducted from the costs capitalized.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income (Loss)Comprehensive income (loss) includes all changes to stockholders' equity during a period, except those resulting from investments by and distributions to stockholders. Components of comprehensive income (loss) include net income (loss), changes in foreign currency translation adjustments (net of tax), pension plan adjustments (net of tax), changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges (net of tax) and changes to the share of any equity investees' comprehensive income (loss) (net of tax).

Currency Translation

Currency TranslationGains and losses resulting from the translation of financial statements of non-U.S. subsidiaries are reflected as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders' equity. Beginning in fiscal 2018, Argentina was determined to have a highly inflationary economy. As a result, the Company remeasures the financial statements of Argentina's operations in accordance with the accounting guidance for highly inflationary economies.

Current Assets

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Beginning in fiscal 2019, the Company began insuring portions of its general liability, automobile liability and workers’ compensation risks through a wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary (the "Captive"), to enhance its risk financing strategies. The Captive is subject to regulations within its domicile of Bermuda, including regulations established by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (the "BMA") relating to levels of liquidity and solvency as such concepts are defined by the BMA. The Captive was in compliance with these regulations as of October 2, 2020. These regulations may have the effect of limiting the Company's ability to access certain cash and cash equivalents held by the Captive for uses other than for the payment of its general liability, automobile liability and workers’ compensation claims and related Captive costs. As of October 2, 2020, cash and cash equivalents at the Captive was $92.1 million.

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (principally the first-in, first-out method) and net realizable value.

Property and Equipment

Property and EquipmentProperty and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. Gains and losses on dispositions are included in operating results. Maintenance and repairs are charged to current operations and replacements and significant improvements that extend the useful life of the asset are capitalized. The estimated useful lives for the major categories of property and equipment are 10 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and three to 20 years for service equipment and fixtures.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are classified based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The hierarchical levels related to the subjectivity of the valuation inputs are defined as follows:

• Level 1—inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets

• Level 2—inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument

• Level 3—inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The Company's financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, borrowings and derivatives. Management believes that the carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are representative of their respective fair values. In conjunction with the fair value measurement of the derivative instruments, the Company made an accounting policy election to measure the credit risk of its derivative instruments that are subject to master netting agreements on a net basis by counterparty portfolio, the gross values would not be materially different.