The Company’s current stock ownership plans provide for issuance of options to acquire shares of Class A common stock by key executives and non-employee directors. Current plans also allow for issuance of shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units or stock appreciation rights in lieu of options.

Under the Company’s 2012 Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Plan and the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the only plans where shares currently remain available for future equity incentive awards) there were a total of 501,314 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock available for grant to key executives and non-employee directors at October 1, 2021. Share awards previously made under the Company's 2010 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, which no longer allows for additional share grants, also remain outstanding.

The Company recognized additional tax benefits from the vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units of $581, $238 and $646 for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. In 2021 and 2020, these amounts were recorded as a component of income tax expense. In 2019, the amount was recorded as an increase in additional paid-in capital on the consolidated balance sheets and as cash from financing activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows. The Company recognizes forfeitures of equity awards as incurred.

All shares of non-vested stock awarded by the Company have been granted at their fair market value on the date of grant and vest within five years after the grant date. The fair value at date of grant is based on the number of shares granted and the average of the Company’s high and low Class A common stock price on the date of grant or, if the Company’s shares did not trade on the date of grant, the average of the Company’s high and low Class A common stock price on the last preceding date on which the Company’s shares traded.

A summary of non-vested stock activity for the two year period ended October 1, 2021 related to the Company’s stock ownership plans is as follows:


	Shares	Weighted Average Grant Price
Non-vested stock at September 27, 2019	41,608	$	51.78
Non-vested stock grants	19,105	63.33

Restricted stock vested	(20,221)	41.93
Non-vested stock at October 2, 2020	40,492	62.15
Non-vested stock grants	14,954	101.97
Non-vested stock forfeited	(621)	120.77
Restricted stock vested	(17,234)	53.79
Non-vested stock October 1, 2021	37,591	80.86

Non-vested stock grantees may elect to reimburse the Company for withholding taxes due as a result of the vesting of shares by tendering a portion of the vested shares back to the Company. Shares tendered back to the Company were 2,341 and 4,054 during 2021 and 2020, respectively. The fair value of restricted stock vested during 2021, 2020 and 2019 was approximately $1,950, $1,288 and $1,237, respectively.

Stock compensation expense, net of forfeitures, related to non-vested stock was $1,179, $1,032 and $667 during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The tax benefit recognized during 2021, 2020 and 2019 related to stock based compensation was $287, $252 and $163, respectively. Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock as of October 1, 2021 was $1,447, which amount will be amortized to expense through September 2023 or adjusted for changes in future estimated or actual forfeitures.

All restricted stock units awarded by the Company during fiscal 2021 and in prior years have been granted at their fair market value on the date of grant. The fair value at date of grant is based on the number of units granted and the average of the Company’s high and low Class A common stock trading price on the date of grant or, if the Company’s shares did not trade on the date of grant, the average of the Company’s high and low Class A common stock trading price on the last preceding date on which the Company’s shares traded. The vesting period for RSUs is generally one year from the date of grant for RSUs granted to directors and three years from the date of the grant for RSUs granted to employees.


	Number of RSUs	Weighted Average Grant Price
RSUs at September 27, 2019	58,708	$	62.13
RSUs granted	27,517	64.51

RSUs vested	(18,404)	42.80
RSUs at October 2, 2020	67,821	68.34
RSUs granted	20,059	88.49

RSUs vested	(18,112)	70.39
RSUs at October 1, 2021	69,768	73.60

RSU grantees may elect to reimburse the Company for withholding taxes due as a result of the vesting of units and issuance of unrestricted shares of Class A common stock by tendering a portion of such unrestricted shares back to the Company. Shares tendered back to the Company were 3,320 and 3,075 during 2021 and 2020, respectively. The fair value of restricted stock recognized as a tax deduction during 2021, 2020 and 2019 was approximately $3,353, $1,600 and $2,945, respectively.

Stock compensation expense, net of forfeitures, related to restricted stock units was $2,895, $1,611 and $1,652 for the years ended October 1, 2021, October 2, 2020 and September 27, 2019, respectively. The tax benefit recognized during 2021, 2020 and 2019 related to restricted stock unit based compensation was $534, $166 and $405, respectively. Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock units as of October 1, 2021 was $2,885, which amount will be amortized to expense through September 2022 or adjusted for changes in future estimated or actual forfeitures.

Compensation expense related to units earned by certain employees is based upon the attainment of certain financial goals related to cumulative net sales and cumulative operating profit over a three-year performance period. Awards are only paid if at least 80% of the target levels are met and maximum payouts are made if 120% of more of target levels are achieved. The payouts for achievement at the minimum threshold levels of performance are equal to 50% of the target award amount. The payouts for achievement at maximum levels of performance are equal to 150% of the target award amount. To the extent earned, awards are issued in shares of Company common stock after the end of the three year performance period.

The 2009 Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”) provides for the issuance of shares of Class A common stock at a purchase price of not less than 85% of the fair market value of such shares on the date of grant or at the end of the offering period, whichever is lower.

The Company issued 0, 2,190 and 1,594 shares of Class A common stock under the Purchase Plan during the years 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and recognized expense of $86, $43 and $27 in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.