Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Jan. 02, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies	13. Commitments and Contingencies Purchase obligations, which include inventory purchases, equipment purchases, information technology and other miscellaneous commitments, were $101.4 million and $129.9 million at January 2, 2024 and January 3, 2023, respectively. These purchase obligations are primarily due within three years and recorded as liabilities when goods are received or services rendered. Real estate obligations, which include construction commitments, net of up-front landlord construction contributions, and legally binding minimum lease payments for leases signed but not yet commenced, were $414.8 million and $252.4 million at January 2, 2024 and January 3, 2023, respectively. The FRC acquisition agreement included a contingent consideration provision of which the remainder is payable annually from 2024 through 2027 and is based on achievement of revenue and profitability targets for the FRC brands other than North Italia and Flower Child with considerations made in the event we undergo a change in control or divest any FRC brand (other than North Italia and Flower Child) during the five years after closing. The liability for this contingent consideration provision was $25.5 million at January 2, 2024. See Note 2 for discussion of the fair value measurement of this liability. We are also required to provide financing to FRC in an amount sufficient to support achievement of these targets during the five years after closing. As credit guarantees to insurers, we had $33.5 million and $31.5 million at January 2, 2024 and January 3, 2023, respectively, in standby letters of credit related to our self-insurance liabilities. All standby letters of credit are renewable annually. We retain the financial responsibility for a significant portion of our risks and associated liabilities with respect to workers’ compensation, general liability, staff member health benefits, employment practices and other insurable risks. The accrued liabilities associated with these programs are based on our estimate of the ultimate costs to settle known claims, as well as claims incurred but not yet reported to us (“IBNR”) as of the balance sheet date. The total accrued liability for our self-insured plans was $71.5 million and $71.9 million at January 2, 2024 and January 3, 2023, respectively. On June 7, 2018, the California Department of Industrial Relations issued a $4.2 million wage citation jointly against the Company and our vendor that provides janitorial services to eight of our Southern California restaurants, alleging that the janitorial vendor or its subcontractor failed to comply with various provisions of the California Labor Code (Wage Citation Case No. 35-CM-188798-16). The wage citation seeks to recover penalties and other monetary payments on behalf of the employees that worked for this vendor or its subcontractor. On June 28, 2018, we filed an appeal of the wage citation. On November 10, 2022, the parties participated in voluntary mediation and reached a settlement of all claims. We reserved an immaterial amount for settlement purposes. Final payment under the settlement agreement was made in October 2023 following the final agency approval. On February 10, 2023, a class action complaint was filed against the Company in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California (Lightoller vs. TCF Co. LLC., Case No. 3:23-cv-00272-AJB-NLS), alleging violations of state privacy laws. The lawsuit alleges that the Company violated state wiretapping and privacy laws by improperly tracking and/or recording the keystrokes of visitors on the Company’s website without permission. A similar case was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland on February 21, 2023 (Curd v. TCF CO. LLC; Civil Action No. 1:23-cv-00472-JMC). On May 10, 2023, the plaintiffs in Case Nos. 3:23-cv-00272 and 1:23-cv-00472 voluntarily dismissed their complaints against the Company without prejudice. Within the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to private lawsuits, government audits and investigations, administrative proceedings and other claims. These matters typically involve claims from customers, staff members and others related to operational and employment issues common to the foodservice industry. A number of these claims may exist at any given time, and some of the claims may be pled as class actions. From time to time, we are also involved in lawsuits with respect to infringements of, or challenges to, our registered trademarks and other intellectual property, both domestically and abroad. We could be affected by adverse publicity and litigation costs resulting from such allegations, regardless of whether they are valid or whether we are legally determined to be liable. At this time, we believe that the amount of reasonably possible losses resulting from final disposition of any pending lawsuits, audits, investigations, proceedings and claims will not have a material adverse effect individually or in the aggregate on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. It is possible, however, that our future results of operations for a particular quarter or fiscal year could be impacted by changes in circumstances relating to lawsuits, audits, proceedings or claims. Legal costs related to such claims are expensed as incurred. We have employment agreements with certain of our executive officers that provide for payments to those officers in the event of an actual or constructive termination of their employment, including in the event of a termination without cause, an acquirer failure to assume or continue equity awards following a change in control of the Company or, otherwise, in the event of death or disability as defined in those agreements. Aggregate payments totaling approximately $3.4 million, excluding accrued potential bonuses of $2.6 million, which are subject to approval by the Compensation Committee, would have been required by those agreements had all such officers terminated their employment for reasons requiring such payments as of January 2, 2024. In addition, the employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer specifies an annual founder’s retirement benefit of $650,000 for ten years, commencing six months after termination of his full-time employment.

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Jan. 02, 2024

13. Commitments and Contingencies

Purchase obligations, which include inventory purchases, equipment purchases, information technology and other miscellaneous commitments, were $101.4 million and $129.9 million at January 2, 2024 and January 3, 2023, respectively. These purchase obligations are primarily due within three years and recorded as liabilities when goods are received or services rendered. Real estate obligations, which include construction commitments, net of up-front landlord construction contributions, and legally binding minimum lease payments for leases signed but not yet commenced, were $414.8 million and $252.4 million at January 2, 2024 and January 3, 2023, respectively.

The FRC acquisition agreement included a contingent consideration provision of which the remainder is payable annually from 2024 through 2027 and is based on achievement of revenue and profitability targets for the FRC brands other than North Italia and Flower Child with considerations made in the event we undergo a change in control or divest any FRC brand (other than North Italia and Flower Child) during the five years after closing. The liability for this contingent consideration provision was $25.5 million at January 2, 2024. See Note 2 for discussion of the fair value measurement of this liability. We are also required to provide financing to FRC in an amount sufficient to support achievement of these targets during the five years after closing.

As credit guarantees to insurers, we had $33.5 million and $31.5 million at January 2, 2024 and January 3, 2023, respectively, in standby letters of credit related to our self-insurance liabilities. All standby letters of credit are renewable annually.

We retain the financial responsibility for a significant portion of our risks and associated liabilities with respect to workers’ compensation, general liability, staff member health benefits, employment practices and other insurable risks. The accrued liabilities associated with these programs are based on our estimate of the ultimate costs to settle known claims, as well as claims incurred but not yet reported to us (“IBNR”) as of the balance sheet date. The total accrued liability for our self-insured plans was $71.5 million and $71.9 million at January 2, 2024 and January 3, 2023, respectively.

On June 7, 2018, the California Department of Industrial Relations issued a $4.2 million wage citation jointly against the Company and our vendor that provides janitorial services to eight of our Southern California restaurants, alleging that the janitorial vendor or its subcontractor failed to comply with various provisions of the California Labor Code (Wage Citation Case No. 35-CM-188798-16). The wage citation seeks to recover penalties and other monetary payments on behalf of the employees that worked for this vendor or its subcontractor. On June 28, 2018, we filed an appeal of the wage citation. On November 10, 2022, the parties participated in voluntary mediation and reached a settlement of all claims. We reserved an immaterial amount for settlement purposes. Final payment under the settlement agreement was made in October 2023 following the final agency approval.

On February 10, 2023, a class action complaint was filed against the Company in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California (Lightoller vs. TCF Co. LLC., Case No. 3:23-cv-00272-AJB-NLS), alleging violations of state privacy laws. The lawsuit alleges that the Company violated state wiretapping and privacy laws by improperly tracking and/or recording the keystrokes of visitors on the Company’s website without permission. A similar case was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland on February 21, 2023 (Curd v. TCF CO. LLC; Civil Action No. 1:23-cv-00472-JMC). On May 10, 2023, the plaintiffs in Case Nos. 3:23-cv-00272 and 1:23-cv-00472 voluntarily dismissed their complaints against the Company without prejudice.

Within the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to private lawsuits, government audits and investigations, administrative proceedings and other claims. These matters typically involve claims from customers, staff members and others related to operational and employment issues common to the foodservice industry. A number of these claims may exist at any given time, and some of the claims may be pled as class actions. From time to time, we are also involved in lawsuits with respect to infringements of, or challenges to, our registered trademarks and other intellectual property, both domestically and abroad. We could be affected by adverse publicity and litigation costs resulting from such allegations, regardless of whether they are valid or whether we are legally determined to be liable.

At this time, we believe that the amount of reasonably possible losses resulting from final disposition of any pending lawsuits, audits, investigations, proceedings and claims will not have a material adverse effect individually or in the aggregate on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. It is possible, however, that our future results of operations for a particular quarter or fiscal year could be impacted by changes in circumstances relating to lawsuits, audits, proceedings or claims. Legal costs related to such claims are expensed as incurred.

We have employment agreements with certain of our executive officers that provide for payments to those officers in the event of an actual or constructive termination of their employment, including in the event of a termination without cause, an acquirer failure to assume or continue equity awards following a change in control of the Company or, otherwise, in the event of death or disability as defined in those agreements. Aggregate payments totaling approximately $3.4 million, excluding accrued potential bonuses of $2.6 million, which are subject to approval by the Compensation Committee, would have been required by those agreements had all such officers terminated their employment for reasons requiring such payments as of January 2, 2024. In addition, the employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer specifies an annual founder’s retirement benefit of $650,000 for ten years, commencing six months after termination of his full-time employment.