13. POST-RETIREMENT PLANS

The following summarizes the company’s balance sheet related pension and other postretirement benefit plan accounts at October 5, 2013 as compared to accounts at December 29, 2012 (amounts in thousands):


	October 5, 2013		December 29, 2012
Current benefit liability	$	1,288	$	1,288
Noncurrent benefit liability	$	139,895	$	159,158
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	$	108,145	$	110,567

Defined Benefit Plans and Nonqualified Plan

The company has noncontributory defined benefit pension plans operated by trustees that cover certain employees. The benefits are based on years of service and the employees’ career earnings. The plans are funded at amounts deductible for income tax purposes but not less than the minimum funding required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). As of October 5, 2013, the assets of the plans included certificates of deposit, marketable equity securities, mutual funds, corporate and government debt securities, private and public real estate partnerships, other diversifying strategies and annuity contracts. Effective January 1, 2006, the company curtailed the defined benefit plan that covers the majority of its workforce. Benefits under this plan were frozen, and no future benefits will accrue under this plan. The company continues to maintain a plan that covers a small number of certain union employees. During the forty weeks ended October 5, 2013 the company contributed $12.8 million to company pension plans. We contributed an additional $2.1 million early in our fiscal fourth quarter of 2013.

The net periodic pension cost (income) for the company’s plans include the following components (amounts in thousands):


	For the Twelve Weeks Ended						For the Forty Weeks Ended
	October 5, 2013			October 6, 2012			October 5, 2013			October 6, 2012
Service cost	$	163		$	142		$	544		$	469
Interest cost		4,636			5,001			15,453			16,670
Expected return on plan assets		(6,618	)		(6,070	)		(22,061	)		(20,232	)
Amortization of net loss		1,425			1,174			4,751			3,912

Total net periodic benefit (income) cost	$	(394	)	$	247		$	(1,313	)	$	819

The company also had several smaller defined benefit plans associated with recent acquisitions that were merged into the Flowers Foods defined benefit plans.

Post-retirement Benefit Plan

The company provides certain medical and life insurance benefits for eligible retired employees. The medical plan covers eligible retirees under the active medical plans. The plan incorporates an up-front deductible, coinsurance payments and retiree contributions at various premium levels. Eligibility and maximum period of coverage is based on age and length of service.

The net periodic postretirement benefit (income) cost for the company includes the following components (amounts in thousands):


	For the Twelve Weeks Ended						For the Forty Weeks Ended
	October 5, 2013			October 6, 2012			October 5, 2013			October 6, 2012
Service cost	$	79		$	106		$	263		$	352
Interest cost		88			140			293			465
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost		(60	)		(59	)		(199	)		(198	)
Amortization of net (gain) loss		(184	)		(70	)		(614	)		(230	)

Total net periodic benefit (income) cost	$	(77	)	$	117		$	(257	)	$	389

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

The Flowers Foods 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan covers substantially all of the company’s employees who have completed certain service requirements. During the forty weeks ended October 5, 2013 and October 6, 2012, the total cost and employer contributions were $17.8 million and $15.6 million, respectively.

The company acquired Lepage in fiscal 2012, at which time we assumed sponsorship of the Lepage 401(k) Plan. This plan will be merged into the Flowers Foods 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan upon completion of a detailed review of prior plan operations and administration. During the forty weeks ended October 5, 2013, the total cost and employer contributions were $0.4 million for the Lepage 401(k) Plan.