Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	12 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2013
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Business	Business - Ingles Markets, Incorporated (“Ingles” or the “Company”), is a leading supermarket chain in the southeast United States, operates 203 supermarkets in Georgia (73), North Carolina (70), South Carolina (36), Tennessee (21), Virginia (2) and Alabama (1).
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Ingles Markets, Incorporated and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Sky King, Inc., Ingles Markets Investments, Inc., Milkco, Inc., Shopping Center Financing, LLC, and Shopping Center Financing II, LLC. All significant inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Year	Fiscal Year - The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in September. Fiscal year 2013 consisted of 52 weeks; fiscal year 2012 consisted of 53 weeks and fiscal year 2011 consisted of 52 weeks.
Segment Information	Segment Information - The Company operates one primary business segment, retail grocery sales (representing the aggregation of individual retail stores). The “Other” segment includes our remaining operations -- fluid dairy and shopping center rentals.
New Accounting Pronouncements	New Accounting Pronouncements – In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued amendments which provide additional guidance about how fair value should be determined under existing standards and expands existing disclosure requirements for certain fair value measurements. The purpose of these amendments is to improve and converge International Financial Reporting Standards and GAAP. This amendment, ASU 2011-04, was implemented by the Company during the quarter ended March 24, 2012. There were no new accounting standards adopted in the fiscal years ended September 28, 2013, or September 24, 2011.
Cash Equivalents	Cash Equivalents - All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered cash. Outstanding checks in excess of bank balances are included in the line item “Accounts payable – trade” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These amounts totaled $4.2 million and $11.4 million as of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively.
Financial Instruments	Financial Instruments - The Company at times has short-term investments and certificates of deposit with maturities of three months or less when purchased that are included in cash. At September 28, 2013 the Company had no such investments. The Company’s policy is to invest its excess cash either in money market accounts, reverse repurchase agreements or in certificates of deposit. Money market accounts and certificates of deposit are not secured; reverse repurchase agreements are secured by government obligations. At September 28, 2013 demand deposits of approximately $12.2 million in five banks exceed the $250,000 FDIC insurance limit per bank.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Accounts receivable are primarily from vendor allowances, customer charges and pharmacy insurance company reimbursements. Accounts receivable are stated net of an allowance for uncollectible accounts, which is determined through analysis of the aging of accounts receivable at the date of the consolidated financial statements and assessments of the collectability based upon historical collection activity adjusted for current conditions.
Inventories	Inventories - Substantially all of the Company’s inventory consists of finished goods. Warehouse inventories are valued at the lower of average cost or market. Store inventories are valued using the retail method under which inventories at cost (and the resulting gross margins) are determined by applying a calculated cost-to-retail ratio to the retail value of inventories. As an integral part of valuing inventory at cost, management makes certain judgments and estimates for standard gross margins, allowances for vendor consideration, markdowns and shrinkage. Warehousing and distribution costs are not included in the valuation of inventories. The Company reviews its judgments and estimates regularly and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate.
Property, Equipment and Depreciation	Property, Equipment and Depreciation - Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives by the straight-line method. Buildings are generally depreciated over 30 years. Store, office and warehouse equipment is generally depreciated over three to 10 years. Transportation equipment is generally depreciated over three to five years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the subject lease term or the useful life of the asset, generally from three to 30 years. Depreciation expense totaled $94.9 million, $90.6 million and $80.4 million for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Asset Impairments	Asset Impairments - The Company accounts for the impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 360. Asset groups are primarily comprised of our individual store and shopping center properties. For assets to be held and used, the Company tests for impairment using undiscounted cash flows and calculates the amount of impairment using discounted cash flows. For assets held for sale, impairment is recognized based on the excess of remaining book value over expected recovery value. The recovery value is the fair value as determined by independent quotes or expected sales prices developed by internal associates, less costs to sell. Estimates of future cash flows and expected sales prices are judgments based upon the Company’s experience and knowledge of local operations and cash flows that are projected for several years into the future. These estimates can fluctuate significantly due to changes in real estate market conditions, the economic environment, capital spending decisions and inflation. The Company monitors the carrying value of long-lived assets for potential impairment each quarter based on whether any indicators of impairment have occurred.
Restricted Investments	Restricted Investments – Restricted investments consisted of money market deposits and United States Treasury securities purchased with the proceeds of the Recovery Zone Bonds issued in December 2010. These investments were held in a trust account and were liquidated as the Company incurred approved costs to build the Project, which was completed during fiscal year 2012. These assets were classified as available-for-sale and stated at market value.
Capitalized Loan and Leasehold Costs	Capitalized Loan and Leasehold Costs - Other assets include capitalized loan and leasehold costs of $13.2 million (net of $29.6 million accumulated amortization) and $10.2 million (net of $25.7 million accumulated amortization) at September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively. These costs are amortized over the life of the underlying debt instrument or lease at approximately $1.4 million per year. During the year ended September 28, 2013 the Company wrote off $15.3 million of capitalized loan costs in conjunction with the early repayment of certain outstanding debt. This amount is included in the line item “Loss on early extinguishment of debt” on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Nonqualified Investment Plan	Nonqualified Investment Plan The purpose of the Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan is to provide retirement benefits similar to the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan to certain of the Company’s management employees who are otherwise subject to limited participation in the 401(k) feature of the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan. Participant retirement account balances are liabilities of the Company. Assets of the plan are assets of the Company and are held in trust for employees and distributed upon retirement, death, disability, in-service distributions, or other termination of employment. In accordance with the trust, the Company may not use these assets for general corporate purposes. During the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013 the Company liquidated certain life insurance policy assets and invested the proceeds in marketable securities. These marketable securities will be liquidated and invested in life insurance policies in future periods. Life insurance policies and marketable securities held in the trust are included in the caption “Other assets” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Self-Insurance	Self-Insurance - The Company is self-insured for workers’ compensation, general liability and group medical and dental benefits. Risks and uncertainties are associated with self-insurance; however, the Company has limited its exposure by maintaining excess liability coverage of $750,000 per occurrence for workers’ compensation, $500,000 for general liability, and $325,000 per covered person for medical care benefits for a policy year. Self-insurance liabilities are established based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. The estimates are based on data provided by the respective claims administrators, which is then applied to appropriate actuarial methods. These estimates can fluctuate if historical trends are not predictive of the future. The Company’s self insurance reserves totaled $29.4 million and $26.7 million for employee group insurance, workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance at September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively. The Company is required in certain cases to obtain letters of credit to support its self-insured status. At fiscal year-end 2013, the Company’s self-insured liabilities were supported by $9.3 million of undrawn letters of credit which expire between October 2013 and November 2014. The Company carries casualty insurance only on those properties where it is required to do so. The Company has elected to self-insure its other properties.
Closed Store Accrual	Closed Store Accrual - For closed properties under long-term lease agreements, a liability is recognized and expensed based on the difference between the present value of any remaining liability under the lease and the present value of the estimated market rate at which the Company expects to be able to sublease the properties, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 420. The Company’s estimates of market rates are based on its experience, knowledge and third-party advice or market data. If the real estate and leasing markets change, sublease recovery could vary significantly from the recoveries originally assumed, resulting in a material change in the Company’s recorded liability. The closed store accrual is included in the line item “Accrued expenses and current portion of other long-term liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes - The Company accounts for income taxes under FASB ASC Topic 740. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the currently enacted tax rates. The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. The Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $149,100 and $149,400 as of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively. These benefits, if recognized, would have an insignificant effect on the effective tax rate. The Company does not expect that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months. The Company files income tax returns with federal and various state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state income tax examinations by tax authorities for the years before 2009. Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has completed its examination of the Company’s U.S. Federal income tax returns filed through fiscal year 2008. Examinations may challenge certain of the Company’s tax positions. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates and could significantly affect the effective tax rate and cash flows in the future years. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount more likely than not expected to be realized. The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions and related matters in income tax expense. As of September 28, 2013, the Company had approximately $55,000 accrued for interest and penalties.
Pre-Opening Costs	Pre-Opening Costs - Costs associated with the opening of new stores are expensed when incurred.
Per-Share Amounts	Per-Share Amounts - The Company calculates earnings per share using the two-class method in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 260.
Advertising	Advertising - The Company expenses advertising as incurred. Advertising and promotion expenses, net of vendor allowances, totaled $13.9 million, $14.1 million and $13.9 million for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, they may ultimately differ from actual results. Such estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts, various inventory reserves, realizability of deferred tax assets, and self-insurance reserves.
Cost of Goods Sold	Cost of Goods Sold - In addition to the direct product cost, cost of goods sold for the grocery segment includes inbound freight charges and costs of the Company’s distribution network. Milk processing is a manufacturing process. Therefore, cost of goods sold include direct product and production costs, inbound freight, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs, and other costs of distribution. Depreciation expense included in costs of goods sold totaled $14.2 million, $9.2 million and $5.4 million for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Operating and Administrative Expenses	Operating and Administrative Expenses - Operating and administrative expenses include costs incurred for store and administrative labor, occupancy, depreciation (to the extent not included in Cost of Goods Sold), insurance and general administration.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition - The Company recognizes revenues from grocery segment sales at the point of sale to its customers. Sales taxes collected from customers are not included in reported revenues. Discounts provided to customers by the Company at the point of sale, including discounts provided in connection with loyalty cards, are recognized as a reduction in sales as the products are sold. Product returns are not significant. The Company recognizes fluid dairy revenues at the time the risk of loss shifts to the customer pursuant to our terms of sale. Therefore, approximately 69% of fluid dairy revenues are recognized when the product is picked up by the customer at our facility. The remaining fluid dairy revenues are recognized when the product is received at the customer’s facility upon delivery via transportation arranged by the Company. Rental income, including contingent rentals, is recognized on the accrual basis. Upfront consideration paid by either the Company as lessor or by the lessee is recognized as an adjustment to net rental income using the straight line method over the term of the lease.
Vendor Allowances	Vendor Allowances - The Company receives funds for a variety of merchandising activities from the many vendors whose products the Company buys for resale in its stores. These incentives and allowances are primarily comprised of volume or purchase based incentives, advertising allowances, slotting fees, and promotional discounts. The purpose of these incentives and allowances is generally to help defray the costs incurred by the Company for stocking, advertising, promoting and selling the vendors’ products. These allowances generally relate to short term arrangements with vendors, often relating to a period of a month or less, and are negotiated on a purchase-by-purchase or transaction-by-transaction basis. Whenever possible, vendor discounts and allowances that relate to buying and merchandising activities are recorded as a component of item cost in inventory and recognized in merchandise costs when the item is sold. Due to system constraints and the nature of certain allowances, it is sometimes not practicable to apply allowances to the item cost of inventory. In those instances, the allowances are applied as a reduction of merchandise costs using a rational and systematic methodology, which results in the recognition of these incentives when the inventory related to the vendor consideration received is sold. Vendor allowances applied as a reduction of merchandise costs totaled $121.9 million, $114.3 million, and $109.9 million for the fiscal years ended September 28, 2013, September 29, 2012 and September 24, 2011, respectively. Vendor advertising allowances that represent a reimbursement of specific identifiable incremental costs of advertising the vendor’s specific products are recorded as a reduction to the related expense in the period that the related expense is incurred. Vendor advertising allowances recorded as a reduction of advertising expense totaled $14.5 million, $13.2 million, and $13.1 million for the fiscal years ended September 28, 2013, September 29, 2012 and September 24, 2011, respectively. If vendor advertising allowances were substantially reduced or eliminated, the Company would likely consider other methods of advertising as well as the volume and frequency of its product advertising, which could increase or decrease its expenditures. Similarly, the Company is not able to assess the impact of vendor advertising allowances on the creation of additional revenue; as such allowances do not directly generate revenue for its stores

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2013

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Business - Ingles Markets, Incorporated (“Ingles” or the “Company”), is a leading supermarket chain in the southeast United States, operates 203 supermarkets in Georgia (73), North Carolina (70), South Carolina (36), Tennessee (21), Virginia (2) and Alabama (1).

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Ingles Markets, Incorporated and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Sky King, Inc., Ingles Markets Investments, Inc., Milkco, Inc., Shopping Center Financing, LLC, and Shopping Center Financing II, LLC. All significant inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year - The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in September. Fiscal year 2013 consisted of 52 weeks; fiscal year 2012 consisted of 53 weeks and fiscal year 2011 consisted of 52 weeks.

Segment Information

Segment Information - The Company operates one primary business segment, retail grocery sales (representing the aggregation of individual retail stores). The “Other” segment includes our remaining operations -- fluid dairy and shopping center rentals.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements – In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued amendments which provide additional guidance about how fair value should be determined under existing standards and expands existing disclosure requirements for certain fair value measurements. The purpose of these amendments is to improve and converge International Financial Reporting Standards and GAAP. This amendment, ASU 2011-04, was implemented by the Company during the quarter ended March 24, 2012.

There were no new accounting standards adopted in the fiscal years ended September 28, 2013, or September 24, 2011.

Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents - All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered cash. Outstanding checks in excess of bank balances are included in the line item “Accounts payable – trade” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These amounts totaled $4.2 million and $11.4 million as of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments - The Company at times has short-term investments and certificates of deposit with maturities of three months or less when purchased that are included in cash. At September 28, 2013 the Company had no such investments. The Company’s policy is to invest its excess cash either in money market accounts, reverse repurchase agreements or in certificates of deposit. Money market accounts and certificates of deposit are not secured; reverse repurchase agreements are secured by government obligations. At September 28, 2013 demand deposits of approximately $12.2 million in five banks exceed the $250,000 FDIC insurance limit per bank.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Accounts receivable are primarily from vendor allowances, customer charges and pharmacy insurance company reimbursements. Accounts receivable are stated net of an allowance for uncollectible accounts, which is determined through analysis of the aging of accounts receivable at the date of the consolidated financial statements and assessments of the collectability based upon historical collection activity adjusted for current conditions.

Inventories

Inventories - Substantially all of the Company’s inventory consists of finished goods. Warehouse inventories are valued at the lower of average cost or market. Store inventories are valued using the retail method under which inventories at cost (and the resulting gross margins) are determined by applying a calculated cost-to-retail ratio to the retail value of inventories. As an integral part of valuing inventory at cost, management makes certain judgments and estimates for standard gross margins, allowances for vendor consideration, markdowns and shrinkage. Warehousing and distribution costs are not included in the valuation of inventories. The Company reviews its judgments and estimates regularly and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate.

Property, Equipment and Depreciation

Property, Equipment and Depreciation - Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives by the straight-line method. Buildings are generally depreciated over 30 years. Store, office and warehouse equipment is generally depreciated over three to 10 years. Transportation equipment is generally depreciated over three to five years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the subject lease term or the useful life of the asset, generally from three to 30 years. Depreciation expense totaled $94.9 million, $90.6 million and $80.4 million for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Asset Impairments

Asset Impairments - The Company accounts for the impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 360. Asset groups are primarily comprised of our individual store and shopping center properties. For assets to be held and used, the Company tests for impairment using undiscounted cash flows and calculates the amount of impairment using discounted cash flows. For assets held for sale, impairment is recognized based on the excess of remaining book value over expected recovery value. The recovery value is the fair value as determined by independent quotes or expected sales prices developed by internal associates, less costs to sell. Estimates of future cash flows and expected sales prices are judgments based upon the Company’s experience and knowledge of local operations and cash flows that are projected for several years into the future. These estimates can fluctuate significantly due to changes in real estate market conditions, the economic environment, capital spending decisions and inflation. The Company monitors the carrying value of long-lived assets for potential impairment each quarter based on whether any indicators of impairment have occurred.

Restricted Investments

Restricted Investments – Restricted investments consisted of money market deposits and United States Treasury securities purchased with the proceeds of the Recovery Zone Bonds issued in December 2010. These investments were held in a trust account and were liquidated as the Company incurred approved costs to build the Project, which was completed during fiscal year 2012. These assets were classified as available-for-sale and stated at market value.

Capitalized Loan and Leasehold Costs

Capitalized Loan and Leasehold Costs - Other assets include capitalized loan and leasehold costs of $13.2 million (net of $29.6 million accumulated amortization) and $10.2 million (net of $25.7 million accumulated amortization) at September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively. These costs are amortized over the life of the underlying debt instrument or lease at approximately $1.4 million per year. During the year ended September 28, 2013 the Company wrote off $15.3 million of capitalized loan costs in conjunction with the early repayment of certain outstanding debt. This amount is included in the line item “Loss on early extinguishment of debt” on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Nonqualified Investment Plan

Nonqualified Investment Plan The purpose of the Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan is to provide retirement benefits similar to the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan to certain of the Company’s management employees who are otherwise subject to limited participation in the 401(k) feature of the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan. Participant retirement account balances are liabilities of the Company. Assets of the plan are assets of the Company and are held in trust for employees and distributed upon retirement, death, disability, in-service distributions, or other termination of employment. In accordance with the trust, the Company may not use these assets for general corporate purposes. During the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013 the Company liquidated certain life insurance policy assets and invested the proceeds in marketable securities. These marketable securities will be liquidated and invested in life insurance policies in future periods. Life insurance policies and marketable securities held in the trust are included in the caption “Other assets” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Self-Insurance

Self-Insurance - The Company is self-insured for workers’ compensation, general liability and group medical and dental benefits. Risks and uncertainties are associated with self-insurance; however, the Company has limited its exposure by maintaining excess liability coverage of $750,000 per occurrence for workers’ compensation, $500,000 for general liability, and $325,000 per covered person for medical care benefits for a policy year. Self-insurance liabilities are established based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. The estimates are based on data provided by the respective claims administrators, which is then applied to appropriate actuarial methods. These estimates can fluctuate if historical trends are not predictive of the future. The Company’s self insurance reserves totaled $29.4 million and $26.7 million for employee group insurance, workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance at September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively. The Company is required in certain cases to obtain letters of credit to support its self-insured status. At fiscal year-end 2013, the Company’s self-insured liabilities were supported by $9.3 million of undrawn letters of credit which expire between October 2013 and November 2014. The Company carries casualty insurance only on those properties where it is required to do so. The Company has elected to self-insure its other properties.

Closed Store Accrual

Closed Store Accrual - For closed properties under long-term lease agreements, a liability is recognized and expensed based on the difference between the present value of any remaining liability under the lease and the present value of the estimated market rate at which the Company expects to be able to sublease the properties, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 420. The Company’s estimates of market rates are based on its experience, knowledge and third-party advice or market data. If the real estate and leasing markets change, sublease recovery could vary significantly from the recoveries originally assumed, resulting in a material change in the Company’s recorded liability. The closed store accrual is included in the line item “Accrued expenses and current portion of other long-term liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes - The Company accounts for income taxes under FASB ASC Topic 740. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the currently enacted tax rates. The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken on a tax return.

The Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $149,100 and $149,400 as of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively. These benefits, if recognized, would have an insignificant effect on the effective tax rate. The Company does not expect that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months.

The Company files income tax returns with federal and various state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state income tax examinations by tax authorities for the years before 2009. Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has completed its examination of the Company’s U.S. Federal income tax returns filed through fiscal year 2008. Examinations may challenge certain of the Company’s tax positions. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates and could significantly affect the effective tax rate and cash flows in the future years.

Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount more likely than not expected to be realized.

The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions and related matters in income tax expense. As of September 28, 2013, the Company had approximately $55,000 accrued for interest and penalties.

Pre-Opening Costs

Pre-Opening Costs - Costs associated with the opening of new stores are expensed when incurred.

Per-Share Amounts

Per-Share Amounts - The Company calculates earnings per share using the two-class method in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 260.

Advertising

Advertising - The Company expenses advertising as incurred. Advertising and promotion expenses, net of vendor allowances, totaled $13.9 million, $14.1 million and $13.9 million for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, they may ultimately differ from actual results. Such estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts, various inventory reserves, realizability of deferred tax assets, and self-insurance reserves.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of Goods Sold - In addition to the direct product cost, cost of goods sold for the grocery segment includes inbound freight charges and costs of the Company’s distribution network. Milk processing is a manufacturing process. Therefore, cost of goods sold include direct product and production costs, inbound freight, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs, and other costs of distribution. Depreciation expense included in costs of goods sold totaled $14.2 million, $9.2 million and $5.4 million for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Operating and Administrative Expenses

Operating and Administrative Expenses - Operating and administrative expenses include costs incurred for store and administrative labor, occupancy, depreciation (to the extent not included in Cost of Goods Sold), insurance and general administration.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition - The Company recognizes revenues from grocery segment sales at the point of sale to its customers. Sales taxes collected from customers are not included in reported revenues. Discounts provided to customers by the Company at the point of sale, including discounts provided in connection with loyalty cards, are recognized as a reduction in sales as the products are sold. Product returns are not significant.

The Company recognizes fluid dairy revenues at the time the risk of loss shifts to the customer pursuant to our terms of sale. Therefore, approximately 69% of fluid dairy revenues are recognized when the product is picked up by the customer at our facility. The remaining fluid dairy revenues are recognized when the product is received at the customer’s facility upon delivery via transportation arranged by the Company.

Rental income, including contingent rentals, is recognized on the accrual basis. Upfront consideration paid by either the Company as lessor or by the lessee is recognized as an adjustment to net rental income using the straight line method over the term of the lease.

Vendor Allowances

Vendor Allowances - The Company receives funds for a variety of merchandising activities from the many vendors whose products the Company buys for resale in its stores. These incentives and allowances are primarily comprised of volume or purchase based incentives, advertising allowances, slotting fees, and promotional discounts. The purpose of these incentives and allowances is generally to help defray the costs incurred by the Company for stocking, advertising, promoting and selling the vendors’ products. These allowances generally relate to short term arrangements with vendors, often relating to a period of a month or less, and are negotiated on a purchase-by-purchase or transaction-by-transaction basis. Whenever possible, vendor discounts and allowances that relate to buying and merchandising activities are recorded as a component of item cost in inventory and recognized in merchandise costs when the item is sold. Due to system constraints and the nature of certain allowances, it is sometimes not practicable to apply allowances to the item cost of inventory. In those instances, the allowances are applied as a reduction of merchandise costs using a rational and systematic methodology, which results in the recognition of these incentives when the inventory related to the vendor consideration received is sold. Vendor allowances applied as a reduction of merchandise costs totaled $121.9 million, $114.3 million, and $109.9 million for the fiscal years ended September 28, 2013, September 29, 2012 and September 24, 2011, respectively. Vendor advertising allowances that represent a reimbursement of specific identifiable incremental costs of advertising the vendor’s specific products are recorded as a reduction to the related expense in the period that the related expense is incurred. Vendor advertising allowances recorded as a reduction of advertising expense totaled $14.5 million, $13.2 million, and $13.1 million for the fiscal years ended September 28, 2013, September 29, 2012 and September 24, 2011, respectively.

If vendor advertising allowances were substantially reduced or eliminated, the Company would likely consider other methods of advertising as well as the volume and frequency of its product advertising, which could increase or decrease its expenditures.

Similarly, the Company is not able to assess the impact of vendor advertising allowances on the creation of additional revenue; as such allowances do not directly generate revenue for its stores