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Employee Pension and Profit Sharing Plans
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2023
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee Pension and Profit Sharing Plans EMPLOYEE PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS:
In the United States, the Company maintains qualified contributory and non-contributory defined contribution retirement plans for eligible employees, with Company contributions to the plans based on earnings performance or salary level. The Company also has a non-qualified retirement savings plan for certain employees. The total expense of the above plans for fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 was $30.3 million, $28.6 million and $28.1 million, respectively. The Company also maintains similar contributory and non-contributory defined contribution retirement plans at several of its international operations, primarily in Canada and the United Kingdom. The total expense of these international plans for fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 was $15.3 million, $15.1 million and $15.2 million, respectively.
The following table sets forth the components of net periodic pension cost for the Company's single-employer defined benefit pension plans for fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 29, 2023September 30, 2022October 1, 2021
Service cost$840 $1,045 $1,327 
Interest cost6,521 3,887 4,736 
Expected return on plan assets(8,271)(9,915)(14,003)
Settlements and curtailments(1)
— — 61,706 
Amortization of prior service cost26 27 32 
Recognized net loss446 4,574 3,829 
Net periodic pension (income) expense$(438)$(382)$57,627 
(1)
During fiscal 2021, the Company terminated certain Canadian single-employer defined benefit pension plans and recognized a non-cash loss of $60.9 million on the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
The following table sets forth changes in the projected benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets for these plans (in thousands): 
Change in plan assets:September 29, 2023September 30, 2022
Fair value of plan assets, beginning$161,504 $239,013 
Foreign currency translation10,991 (29,381)
Employer contributions1,184 5,710 
Employee contributions47 88 
Actual return on plan assets(7,021)(30,650)
Benefits paid(8,895)(23,276)
Fair value of plan assets, end$157,810 $161,504 
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning$122,628 $220,950 
Foreign currency translation7,492 (22,871)
Service cost840 1,045 
Interest cost6,521 3,887 
Employee contributions47 88 
Actuarial gain(8,162)(57,195)
Benefits paid(8,895)(23,276)
Benefit obligation, ending120,471 122,628 
Funded Status at end of year$37,339 $38,876 
Amounts recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of the following (in thousands):
September 29, 2023September 30, 2022
Noncurrent benefit asset (included in Other Assets)$45,443 $47,436 
Noncurrent benefit liability (included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities)(8,104)(8,560)
Net actuarial loss (included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss before taxes)28,352 20,411 
The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine pension expense of the respective fiscal years:
September 29, 2023September 30, 2022
Discount rate5.1 %2.1 %
Rate of compensation increase0.5 %2.2 %
Long-term rate of return on assets5.2 %4.8 %
The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine the funded status of the respective fiscal years:
September 29, 2023September 30, 2022
Discount rate5.4 %4.9 %
Rate of compensation increase0.6 %2.0 %
Assumptions, including discount rate, expected return on assets, compensation increases and health care trends, are adjusted annually, as necessary, based on prevailing market conditions and actual experience. The Company applies a spot-rate approach for the discount rate used in the calculation of pension interest and service cost. The spot-rate approach applies separate discount rates for each projected benefit payment in the calculation.
The accumulated benefit obligation as of September 29, 2023 was $120.5 million. During fiscal 2023, actuarial losses of $7.1 million were recognized in other comprehensive income (before taxes) and $0.4 million of actuarial losses were recognized as net periodic pension cost during such period.
The accumulated benefit obligation as of September 30, 2022 was $122.5 million. During fiscal 2022, actuarial gains of $14.6 million were recognized in other comprehensive income (before taxes) and $4.6 million of actuarial losses were recognized as net periodic pension cost during such period.
The following table sets forth information for the Company's single-employer pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets as of September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 (in thousands):
September 29, 2023September 30, 2022
Projected benefit obligation$8,104 $8,560 
Accumulated benefit obligation8,104 8,560 
Assets of the plans are generally invested with the goal of principal preservation and enhancement over the long-term. The primary goal is total return, consistent with prudent investment management. The Company's investment policies also require an appropriate level of diversification across the asset categories. As the Company contemplates or moves toward the wind down of plans, it has shifted toward a more conservative investment approach with a higher proportion of fixed income and cash investments to ensure adequate liquidity at the time of wind down. The current overall capital structure and targeted ranges for asset classes are 5-15% invested in equity securities, 75-95% invested in debt securities and 0-10% in real estate investments and cash and cash equivalents. Performance of the plans is monitored on a regular basis and adjustments of the asset allocations are made when deemed necessary.
The weighted-average long-term rate of return on assets has been determined based on an estimated weighted-average of long-term returns of major asset classes, taking into account historical performance of plan assets, the current interest rate environment, plan demographics, acceptable risk levels and the estimated value of active asset management.
The fair value of plan assets for the Company's defined benefit pension plans as of September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 is as follows (see Note 16 for a description of the fair value levels) (in thousands):
September 29, 2023Quoted prices in active markets
Level 1		Significant other observable inputs
Level 2		Significant unobservable inputs
Level 3
Cash and cash equivalents$14,017 $14,017 $— $— 
Equity securities:
Investment trusts1,591 1,591 — — 
Investment funds:
Equity funds14,374 — 14,374 — 
Fixed income funds126,899 — 126,899 — 
Real estate929 — — 929 
Total$157,810 $15,608 $141,273 $929 
 September 30, 2022Quoted prices in active markets
Level 1		Significant other observable inputs
Level 2		Significant unobservable inputs
Level 3
Cash and cash equivalents$6,746 $6,746 $— $— 
Equity securities:
Investment trusts1,641 1,641 — — 
Investment funds:
Equity funds67,035 — 67,035 — 
Fixed income funds76,275 — 76,275 — 
Real estate9,807 — — 9,807 
Total$161,504 $8,387 $143,310 $9,807 
The fair value of the investment funds is based on the value of the underlying assets, as reported to the Plan by the trustees. They are comprised of a portfolio of underlying securities that can be valued based on trading information on active markets.
Cash and cash equivalents include direct cash holdings, which are valued based on cost, and short-term deposits and investments in money market funds, for which fair value measurements are all based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active. Investments in equity securities and equity funds include publicly-traded international companies that are diversified across industry, country and stock market capitalization. Investments in fixed income funds primarily consist of international corporate bonds and government securities. For equity securities, the investments are predominantly valued using a market approach based on the closing fair market prices of identical instruments in the principal market on which they are traded. For investment funds, fair value is calculated by applying the Plan's percentage ownership in the fund to the total market value of the account's underlying securities and is therefore categorized as Level 2, as the Plan does
not directly own shares in these underlying investments. Substantially all of the real estate investments are in international markets.
It is the Company's policy to fund at least the minimum required contributions as outlined in the required statutory actuarial valuation for each plan. The following table sets forth the benefits expected to be paid in the next five fiscal years and in aggregate for the five fiscal years thereafter by the Company's defined benefit pension plans (in thousands):
Fiscal 2024$6,589 
Fiscal 20256,859 
Fiscal 20266,855 
Fiscal 20276,962 
Fiscal 20287,560 
Fiscal 2029 – 203341,709 
The estimated benefit payments above are based on assumptions about future events. Actual benefit payments may vary significantly from these estimates.
The expected contributions to be paid to the Company's defined benefit pension plans during fiscal 2024 are approximately $1.0 million.
Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans
The Company contributes to a number of multiemployer defined benefit pension plans under the terms of collective-bargaining agreements ("CBA") that cover its union-represented employees. The risks of participating in these multiemployer plans are different from single-employer plans in the following respects:
a.Assets contributed to the multiemployer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.
b.If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers.
c.If the Company chooses to stop participating in some of its multiemployer plans, the Company may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.
The Company's participation in these plans for fiscal 2023 is outlined in the table below. The "EIN/Pension Plan Number" column provides the Employee Identification Number (EIN) and the three-digit plan number, if applicable. Unless otherwise noted, the most recent Pension Protection Act (PPA) zone status available in 2023 and 2022 is for the plans' two most recent fiscal year-ends. The zone status is based on information that the Company received from the plan and is certified by the plan's actuary. Among other factors, plans in the critical and declining zone are generally less than 65% funded and projected to become insolvent in the next 15 or 20 years depending on the ratio of active to inactive participants and plans in the critical zone are generally less than 65% funded. The "FIP/RP Status Pending/Implemented" column indicates plans for which a financial improvement plan (FIP) or a rehabilitation plan (RP) is either pending or has been implemented. The last column lists the expiration date(s) of the CBA(s) to which the plans are subject. There have been no significant changes that affect the comparability of fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 contributions.
Pension
Fund		EIN/Pension
Plan Number		Pension Protection
Act Zone Status		FIP/RP Status Pending/ ImplementedContributions by the Company
(in thousands)		Range of Expiration Dates of CBAs
20232022202320222021Surcharge
Imposed
National Retirement Fund13-6130178/ 001CriticalCriticalImplemented$3,994 $3,434 $2,579 No8/4/2023 - 8/28/2026
UNITE HERE Retirement Fund82-0994119/ 001Critical and DecliningCritical and DecliningImplemented6,379 5,483 2,699 No12/31/2022 - 1/1/2026
Local 1102 Retirement Trust13-1847329/ 001Critical and DecliningCritical and DecliningImplemented65 33 22 No9/30/2024
Central States SE and SW Areas Pension Plan36-6044243/ 001CriticalCritical and DecliningImplemented4,439 4,167 3,994 No3/8/2024 - 9/22/2028
Pension Plan for Hospital & Health Care Employees Philadelphia & Vicinity23-2627428/ 001Critical and DecliningCriticalImplemented333 353 354 No1/31/2023
SEIU National Industry Pension Fund (1)
52-6148540/ 001CriticalCriticalImplemented230 795 750 No3/31/2021 - 6/30/2025
Retail Wholesale & Department Store International Union and Industry Pension Fund63-0708442/ 001Critical and DecliningCritical and DecliningImplemented466 462 510 No7/5/2023 - 5/31/2027
Other funds17,617 16,113 15,995 
Total contributions$33,523 $30,840 $26,903 
(1)
Approximately 50% of the Company's participants in this fund are covered by a single CBA that expires on 4/14/2025.
The Company provided more than 5 percent of the total contributions for the following plans and plan years:
Pension
Fund		Contributions to the plan exceeded more than 5% of total contributions (as of the plan's year-end)
Local 1102 Retirement Trust12/31/2022, 12/31/2021 and 12/31/2020
National Retirement Fund12/31/2022 and 12/31/2020
Retail Wholesale & Department Store International Union and Industry Pension Fund12/31/2022, 12/31/2021 and 12/31/2020
Pension Plan for Hospital & Health Care Employees Philadelphia & Vicinity12/31/2022
At the date the Company's financial statements were issued, Forms 5500 were not available for the plan years ending in fiscal 2023.