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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Oct. 08, 2016
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is engaged from time-to-time in routine legal proceedings incidental to its business. The Company does not believe that these routine legal proceedings, taken as a whole, will have a material impact on its business or financial condition. While the ultimate effect of such actions cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that their outcome will not result in an adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, operating results or liquidity.

The Company contributes to the Central States Southeast and Southwest Pension Fund (“Central States Plan” or “the Plan”), a multi-employer pension plan based on obligations arising from its collective bargaining agreements in Bellefontaine, Ohio; Lima, Ohio; and Grand Rapids, Michigan covering its supply chain union associates at those locations. This plan provides retirement benefits to participants based on their service to contributing employers. The benefits are paid from assets held in trust for that purpose. Trustees are appointed by contributing employers and unions; however, SpartanNash is not a trustee. The trustees typically are responsible for determining the level of benefits to be provided to participants, as well as for such matters as the investment of the assets and the administration of the Plan. The Company currently contributes to the Central States Plan under the terms outlined in the “Primary Schedule” of Central States’ Rehabilitation Plan. This schedule requires varying increases in employer contributions over the previous year’s contribution. Increases are set within the collective bargaining agreement and vary by location.

On December 13, 2014, Congress passed the Multi-employer Pension Reform Act of 2014 (“MPRA”). The MPRA is intended to address funding shortfalls in both multi-employer pension plans and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. As the Plan’s application to suspend payment of pension benefits under the provisions of the MPRA was denied, the MPRA is unlikely to significantly impact the Plan.

 

Based on the most recent information available to the Company, management believes that the present value of actuarial accrued liabilities in this multi-employer plan significantly exceeds the value of the assets held in trust to pay benefits. Because SpartanNash is one of a number of employers contributing to this plan, it is difficult to ascertain what the exact amount of the underfunding would be, although management anticipates that the Company’s contributions to this plan will increase each year. Management is not aware of any significant change in funding levels as of October 8, 2016. To reduce this underfunding, management expects meaningful increases in expense as a result of required incremental multi-employer pension plan contributions in future years. Any adjustment for withdrawal liability will be recorded when it is probable that a liability exists and can be reasonably determined.

The Company and the unions representing Company drivers at the Norfolk, Virginia and Columbus, Georgia distribution centers have successfully negotiated new three year labor agreements covering the associates at these facilities. The labor agreement covering associates at the Westville, Indiana distribution center was terminated in April 2016 in connection with the closing of operations at that facility.