<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-13-207251.txt : 20130925
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-13-207251.hdr.sgml : 20130925
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130508152116
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-13-207251
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130508

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SANFILIPPO JOHN B & SON INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000880117
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SUGAR & CONFECTIONERY PRODUCTS [2060]
		IRS NUMBER:				362419677
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0628

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1703 N. RANDALL ROAD
		CITY:			ELGIN
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60123-7820
		BUSINESS PHONE:		847-289-1800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1703 N. RANDALL ROAD
		CITY:			ELGIN
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60123-7820
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
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<TITLE>CORRESP</TITLE>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">May&nbsp;8, 2013 </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I><U>VIA EDGAR AND OVERNIGHT DELIVERY </U></I></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">H. Roger Schwall </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Assistant Director </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">United States Securities and
Exchange Commission </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Division of Corporation Finance </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">100 F Street, N.E. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Washington, D.C. 20549 </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Re:</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">John B. Sanfilippo&nbsp;&amp; Son, Inc. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended June&nbsp;28, 2012 </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Filed August&nbsp;30, 2012 </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Definitive Proxy on Schedule 14A </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Filed September&nbsp;13, 2012 </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">File No. 0-19681 </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Dear Mr.&nbsp;Schwall:
</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">This letter sets forth the responses of John B. Sanfilippo&nbsp;&amp; Son, Inc. (the &#147;<U>Company</U>&#148;) to the comments contained in
your letter, dated April&nbsp;11, 2013, regarding the Company&#146;s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June&nbsp;28, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;<U>Commission</U>&#148;) on August&nbsp;30, 2012 and the
Company&#146;s Definitive Proxy on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission on September&nbsp;13, 2012 (the &#147;<U>2012 Proxy</U>&#148;). The comments of the Commission are set forth in the bold and italicized text below and the Company&#146;s
responses are set forth in the text beneath each Commission comment. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended June&nbsp;28, 2012
</U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Item&nbsp;1 &#151; Business, page 1 </U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Narrative Description of Business, page 2 </U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>(vii) Raw Materials and Supplies, page 4
</U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I>1.</I></B></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I><U>Commission Comment</U>: We note that you sponsor a seed exchange program under which you provide peanut seed to growers in return for a commitment to repay the
dollar value of that seed, plus interest, in the form of farmer stock inshell peanuts at harvest. Approximately 69% of the farmer stock peanuts you purchased in fiscal 2012 were grown from seed provided by you. Please provide a comprehensive
analysis regarding the accounting treatment of the seed exchange program including relevant accounting citations, and explain how and where the economic impact of the program is presented in your consolidated financial statements.
</I></B></FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><I><U>Company Response</U></I>: The purpose of seed exchange program is to ensure: (i)&nbsp;high
quality peanuts and (ii)&nbsp;a reliable and consistent peanut grower base. </FONT></P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">During the planting season, the Company provides peanut seed, which is included within
&#147;Inventories&#148; for financial accounting purposes, to farmers (&#147;<U>Program Farmers</U>&#148;) and buying point entities (&#147;<U>Buying Points</U>&#148;, and together with Program Farmers, the &#147;<U>Seed Buyers</U>&#148;). Buying
Points are those entities or locations that provide mainly administrative, storage and handling services during the planting season. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">During the harvest season, in return for the peanut seed provided, the Company receives: (i)&nbsp;inshell peanuts (grown from the provided seed) from the Program Farmers (&#147;<U>Program
Peanuts</U>&#148;) and (ii)&nbsp;cash from the Buying Points (collectively, the &#147;<U>Seed Program</U>&#148;). </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">When the
Program Farmers deliver the grown inshell peanuts to the Company, they will pay for the seed provided to them by the Company or they will request that the Company deduct the cost of the seed from the Company&#146;s payment for the grown inshell
peanuts. Consistent with Regulation S-K 303(a)(5), the Company discloses any applicable purchase obligations regarding peanuts (including Program Peanuts) in the contractual cash obligations table. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">For administrative purposes (including the need for systematic inventory tracking), the Company processes the Seed Program transactions
through its sales order process by invoicing the Seed Buyers and relieving inventories. Upon receipt of the peanut seed, the Seed Buyers assume all ownership rights to the seed, including risk of loss. Pursuant to the Company&#146;s revenue
recognition policy, it does not recognize revenue for the seed provided to the Seed Buyers because: (i)&nbsp;the seed must be further grown by the Program Farmers into Program Peanuts for the eventual delivery to the Company and (ii)&nbsp;according
to ASC 605-10-25-1b, revenue recognition activities involve delivering or producing goods that constitute ongoing major or central operations. The Seed Program does not constitute the Company&#146;s ongoing major or central operations. The Company
ultimately recognizes revenue when it sells finished goods that contain Program Peanuts. The seed provided to the Seed Buyers is derived from inshell peanuts and recorded within inventories. The Company records its Seed Program transactions
(including all seed related costs and the amount due from the Seed Buyers) through cost of sales at the time the seed is received by the Seed Buyers. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">In fiscal 2012, Seed Program transactions represented less than 0.2% of the Company&#146;s cost of sales and the Company&#146;s fiscal year end balance due from Seed Buyers was approximately $2.5 million
or 1.2% of its current assets. Consistent with Regulation S-X 5-02(8), the balance due from Seed Buyers was included within the Company&#146;s &#147;Accounts Receivable&#148; since the amount was less than 5% of the Company&#146;s current assets. On
average, the Company&#146;s Seed Program transactions range between $1.5 million to $2.5 million in a fiscal year. This amount varies from crop year to crop year depending primarily upon the number of acres planted and the cost of the seed.
</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">In fiscal 2012, the Company met its total peanut needs by purchasing: (i)&nbsp;inshell peanuts (&#147;<U>Inshell
Peanuts</U>&#148;) and shelling them (60% of total needs) and (ii)&nbsp;already shelled peanuts from other processors (remaining 40% of total needs). In fiscal 2012, Program Peanuts (i.e., those peanuts grown from the seed provided by the Company to
Program </FONT></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">2 </FONT></P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">
Farmers during fiscal 2011) represented 69% of the Company&#146;s Inshell Peanuts. Consequently, Program Peanuts from the Seed Program represented 42% of the total peanuts ultimately sold by the
Company and represented less than 5% of the Company&#146;s total peanut acquisition costs. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Historically, the Seed Program has
not been material to the Company&#146;s financial results and therefore specific amounts about the Seed Program have not been disclosed in the Company&#146;s filings. In future filings, in order to provide further clarification of the Seed Program
and its materiality (or immateriality), the Company will disclose: (i)&nbsp;the amount of Seed Program transactions made during the fiscal year and (ii)&nbsp;the balance of the amount due from Seed Buyers. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Note 14 &#151; Distribution Channel and Product Type Sales Mix, page 62 </U></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I>2.</I></B></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I><U>Commission Comment</U>: We note your disclosure on page 22 that your strategic plan includes utilizing your Fisher brand name recognition as a foundation for
targeted sustained growth via value-added snack and baking products. We further note your disclosure on page 13 of Form 10-Q for the period ended September&nbsp;27, 2012 indicating that you elected to forego certain private label baking nut business
primarily due to two reasons: (i)&nbsp;your need for tree nuts to sustain the growth of your Fisher baking nut business at a time of reduced supplies of pecans and walnuts, and (ii)&nbsp;your unwillingness to use your unique re-sealable and stand-up
Fisher style packaging for private label customers. </I></B></FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I>We would like to better understand your
process of segment identification and understand how you determined that your branded products are not deemed a reportable segment. </I></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><I><U>Company Response</U></I>: The Company manages its business as a single operating segment with no separate operating segments identifiable pursuant to the definition found in ASC 280-10-50-1 &#151;
as is further described and explained below under the headings &#147;Background&#148;, &#147;CODM and CODM Reports&#148;, &#147;Additional Resource Allocation Considerations&#148; and &#147;Compensation&#148;. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Pursuant to ASC 280-10-50-1, an &#147;operating segment&#148; is a component of a public entity that meets all three of the following
characteristics: (i)&nbsp;it engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, (ii)&nbsp;its operating results are regularly reviewed by the company&#146;s chief operating decision maker to make decisions about
resources to be allocated to the segment and to assess its performance and (iii)&nbsp;its discrete financial information is available. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Background</U> </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Although the Company&#146;s filings have recently included
certain <I>Fisher</I> highlights, this was done to highlight the Company&#146;s progress in executing its Strategic Plan (as described in its filings) and not because of any change in the Company&#146;s operations,
</FONT></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">3 </FONT></P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">
distribution channels, product types or reports provided to the Company&#146;s group of chief operating decision makers (&#147;<U>CODM</U>&#148;) &#151; and such foregoing Company aspects have
substantially remained the same over the last several years. The only significant change in the Company&#146;s operations over the last several years was its acquisition of Orchard Valley Harvest (&#147;<U>OVH</U>&#148;) in 2010, and shortly
thereafter the operations of OVH were fully integrated into the Company&#146;s existing operations. Furthermore, the Company&#146;s recent filings have not only emphasized <I>Fisher</I> as part of its Strategic Plan, but have also emphasized other
aspects of the Company&#146;s Strategic Plan as well, including international expansion and growth in the commercial ingredients channel, private-label products and brand-name products in addition to <I>Fisher</I> (e.g., <I>Orchard Valley
Harvest</I>). </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The Company&#146;s business is managed as a single operating segment that primarily produces and distributes
products that are made from peanuts, tree nuts and dried fruits. These products are produced and distributed out of five manufacturing facilities and sold into four distribution channels. The products sold into each distribution channel are all
similar with respect to the raw materials used and the machinery and equipment on which they were processed. No fixed asset or raw material inventory item is solely dedicated to any specific aspect of the Company&#146;s operations, including any
particular distribution channel or product type. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The Company identified its single operating segment in accordance with ASC
280-10-50-1. In making its evaluation, the Company considered the information that is reviewed regularly by the CODM to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance. The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources
based upon Company-wide consolidated operating results. Annual and long-term financial and operating performance goals are established for the Company as a whole through the annual budgeting process. Capital decisions and allocations are made only
at the Company-wide level. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>CODM and CODM Reports</U> </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The CODM is accountable for the performance of the entire Company. There are no segment managers (as described in ASC 280-10-50-7) who are
directly accountable to or maintain regular contact with the CODM to discuss operating activities, financial results, forecasts, or plans for a segment. There are no divisional presidents, managers or other executives reporting directly to the CODM
that have income statement reporting responsibility or profitability goals for any aspect of the Company (e.g., distribution channels, brand-name products, private-label products, nut types, divisions, etc.). </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The CODM receives periodic reports containing pertinent financial data which is used by the CODM to assess performance and make resource
allocation decisions (the &#147;<U>CODM Reports</U>&#148;, which are being supplementally and confidentially provided to the Commission). The CODM Reports consist entirely of Company-wide information, with the exception of sales volume (which also
is reported by distribution channel and brand-name). In addition, the Board of Directors receives the Company-wide financial data that is included in the CODM Reports on a quarterly basis. </FONT></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">4 </FONT></P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The Company does produce other reports at different levels below the CODM and these reports
contain information by distribution channel, category and commodity type, such as gross sales, adjusted net sales, sales volume, gross margin at standard, approximate gross profit dollars and percentage before manufacturing variances. However, these
reports are not reviewed by the CODM on a regular basis and are instead used by those at different levels below the CODM. Moreover, these reports are used by those individuals primarily as a diagnostic tool to identify trends and issues in the
Company&#146;s operations. Certain trends and issues that are identified may be brought to the attention of the CODM. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Additional Resource Allocation Considerations</U> </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The Company&#146;s crop procurement strategy is based on the needs of the entire Company and its expectation of crop size and price. The same commodity can be utilized and sold in all distribution
channels and all product types. Capital spending is approved on an annual basis and is driven by the overall business needs of the Company as a whole. Capital expenditures are focused on supporting top-line sales and cost effective production that
benefits the Company as a whole. The Company does not dedicate any facility or equipment solely to any particular distribution channel or product type. The Company&#146;s facilities are utilized based on maximizing the use of the facilities and
sales volume. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Compensation</U> </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The short-term and long-term incentive compensation of the CODM is based on Company-wide performance. There is no element of incentive compensation that is linked to performance below the Company-wide
performance. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Annual salary increases for members of the next level of management below the CODM (i.e., Senior Vice-Presidents
and Vice-Presidents, each of whom is not considered a segment manager) are based on individual performance goals and progression within the Company &#151; neither of which includes any profitability goals. The metrics used in determining these
individuals annual incentive compensation only incorporate performance results for the Company as a whole. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I><U>Commission Comment
No.&nbsp;2 (continued)</U>: Please address the following points. </I></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I>&#149;</I></B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I></I></B><B><I>Submit a schedule listing the operating segments you have identified according to the definition in ASC 280-10-50-1 and explain how
you have considered the aggregation criteria of ASC 280-10-50-11 and the quantitative threshold guidance of ASC 280-10-50-12 through 280-10-50-19. </I></B></FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><I><U>Company Response</U></I>: As further described and explained above, the Company manages its business as a single operating segment with no separate operating segments. Therefore, a schedule listing
the operating segments of the Company is not applicable and thus not submitted herewith. </FONT></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">5 </FONT></P>


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<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I>&#149;</I></B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I>Identify your CODM and provide us a copy of the report(s) reviewed by your CODM for the most recent fiscal year and quarter ended in connection
with assessing performance and making resource allocation decisions. </I></B></FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><I><U>Company
Response</U></I>: The Company&#146;s CODM group consists of the following three individuals, collectively (not individually): Jeffrey Sanfilippo, Chief Executive Officer; Jasper Sanfilippo, Jr., Chief Operating Officer; and Michael Valentine, Chief
Financial Officer. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Under separate cover in accordance with 17 C.F.R. &#167; 200.83 (&#147;<U>Rule 83</U>&#148;) and Rule
12b-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#147;<U>Rule 12b-4</U>&#148;), the Company is supplementally and confidentially providing to the Commission copies of the CODM Reports that were reviewed by the CODM during the most recent fiscal
year and quarter and used by the CODM in connection with assessing the Company&#146;s performance and making resource allocation decisions. The Company requests that these supplemental materials be kept confidential under Rule 83 and be returned to
the Company in full in accordance with Rule 12b-4. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Definitive Proxy on Schedule 14A </U></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Overview of Fiscal 2012 Executive Compensation Program </U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Direct Compensation, page 28 </U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>Individual Performance Payouts for the Management Team,
page 30 </U></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I>3.</I></B></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><I>We note that you disclose that the individual performance payouts under the Sanfilippo Value-Added Plan consider an individual performance component for your
named executive officers &#147;relative to goals proposed by each member of the Management Team.&#148; If material, please disclose for each named executive officer the particular components or parameters of the individual goals for fiscal 2012,
which you indicate &#147;consisted of operational and business initiatives related to your Strategic Plan.&#148; See Item&nbsp;402(b)(2)(vii) of Regulation S-K. We refer you to prior comment 10 from our letter to you dated January&nbsp;29, 2010.
</I></B></FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><I><U>Company Response</U></I>: For fiscal 2012, the individual performance payouts under the
Sanfilippo Value-Added Plan (&#147;<U>SVA</U>&#148;) consisted of operational and business initiatives related to the Company&#146;s Strategic Plan. The Company&#146;s 2012 Proxy includes the following disclosure with respect to individual
performance: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#147;The Compensation Committee reviewed the proposed goals, which consisted of operational and business
initiatives related to the company&#146;s Strategic Plan, before approving the goals in early fiscal 2012.&#148; </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">In future
filings, the Company will provide greater detail of the individual performance goals approved by the Compensation Committee used to determine payouts. A sample proxy statement disclosure that is representative of the types of factors considered by
the Company&#146;s Compensation Committee in determining the individual performance payouts is set forth below: </FONT></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">6 </FONT></P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#147;Jeffrey T. Sanfilippo&#146;s individual goals consisted of improving aspects of
corporate leadership and executive management throughout the company, expanding the company&#146;s products into emerging markets, including China, and optimizing the company&#146;s organizational structure and management focus to support continued
customer development. Michael J. Valentine&#146;s individual goals consisted of managing and increasing inventory turns on raw materials and overseeing the growth, training and development of the company&#146;s finance and accounting staff. Jasper
B. Sanfilippo, Jr.&#146;s individual goals consisted of optimizing plant, inventory and trade spending processes, training staff on business development and promoting and developing certain of the company&#146;s new products. These individual goals
for each member of the Management Team are considered on a subjective basis by the Compensation Committee and no single individual goal was determinative in establishing such member&#146;s individual performance payout nor were any individual goals
considered material to the ultimate determination of the individual performance payout. In addition, the Compensation Committee did not assign any specific weight to the achievement of any individual goal nor did it use any formulas to determine the
individual performance payout.&#148; </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">*&nbsp;&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;* </FONT></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">7 </FONT></P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><I><U>Acknowledgment</U></I><U>:<I> </I></U></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The Company hereby acknowledges that: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the
filing; and </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#149;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">the Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of
the United States. </FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We thank the staff for its courtesies. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please do not
hesitate to call me at (847)&nbsp;214-4509. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Sincerely, </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">/s/ Michael Valentine </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Michael Valentine </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Chief Financial Officer </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">CC: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">John Cannarella </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Mark Wojciechowski </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Caroline Kim </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Timothy Levenberg </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2%; text-indent:2%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Securities and Exchange Commission </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Jeffrey Sanfilippo </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Jasper Sanfilippo, Jr. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2%; text-indent:2%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">John B. Sanfilippo&nbsp;&amp; Son, Inc. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Jerry Burgdoerfer </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">William Tolbert </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Elaine Wolff </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2%; text-indent:2%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Jenner&nbsp;&amp; Block LLP </FONT></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">8 </FONT></P>

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