The Company provides salary deferral defined contribution plans to substantially all of the Company’s associates not covered by CBAs. Associates covered by CBAs at the Company’s Columbus, Georgia; Norfolk, Virginia; and Landover, Maryland facilities all participate in the Company’s defined contribution plan; the remaining associates covered under CBAs participate in a multi-employer pension plan. The Company’s former non-contributory pension plan has been terminated.

Expense for employer matching contributions made to defined contribution plans totaled $11.5 million, $7.0 million and $7.9 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The Company has a deferred compensation plan for a select group of management personnel or highly compensated associates. The plan is unfunded and permits participants to defer receipt of a portion of their base salary, annual bonus, or long-term incentive compensation which would otherwise be paid to them. The deferred amounts, plus earnings, are distributed following the associate’s termination of employment. Earnings are based on the performance of hypothetical investments elected by the participant from a portfolio of investment options.

The Company holds variable universal life insurance policies on certain key associates intended to fund distributions under the deferred compensation plan referenced above. The net cash surrender value of approximately $4.3 million at both December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 is recorded in “Other assets, net” in the consolidated balance sheets. These policies have an aggregate amount of life insurance coverage of approximately $15.0 million.

On February 28, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors granted approval to proceed with terminating the SpartanNash Company Pension Plan (the “Pension Plan”), a frozen defined benefit pension plan and the Plan was terminated on July 31, 2018. The Company offered participants the option to receive an annuity or lump sum distribution which may be rolled over into another qualified plan. The distribution of assets to plan participants commenced in the second quarter and was completed in the third quarter of 2019. The remaining overfunded Plan assets will be utilized by the Company to fund obligations associated with other qualified retirement programs.

Pension benefits were primarily based on years of service and compensation, with some differences resulting from the nature of how benefits were calculated under the Company’s legacy defined benefit plans, as described below. On December 31, 2014, the Retirement Plan for Employees of Super Food Services, Inc. (“Super Foods Plan”) was merged into the Spartan Stores, Inc. Cash Balance Pension Plan (“Cash Balance Pension Plan”) and renamed the SpartanNash Company Pension Plan. Annual payments to the pension trust fund were determined in compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1976 (“ERISA”).

The Cash Balance Pension Plan, a non-contributory cash balance pension plan, was frozen effective January 1, 2011. As a result of the freeze, no additional associates were eligible to participate in the plan after January 1, 2011, and additional service credits were no longer added to each participant’s account; however, interest credits continued to accrue. Prior to the plan freeze, the plan benefit formula utilized a cash balance approach whereby credits were added annually to a participant’s account based on compensation and years of vested service, with interest credits also added to the participant’s account at the Company’s discretion.

The Super Foods Plan, a qualified non-contributory pension plan offered by one of the Company’s subsidiaries, provided retirement income for certain eligible full-time associates who were not covered by a union retirement plan. Pension benefits under the plan were based on length of service and compensation, and contributions met the minimum funding requirements. This plan was frozen effective January 1, 1998.

If lump sum distributions or annuity payouts are made in an amount exceeding annual interest cost, settlement accounting is triggered, and the resulting settlement expense is recorded as a component of total pension expense (income). In 2019 lump sum distributions and annuity payouts of $72.6 million were made resulting in pre-tax settlement charges of $18.2 million, including $18.0 million related to the Plan termination. The Company also recognized other termination expenses of $1.5 million in 2019. Lump sum distributions of $3.3 million and $2.6 million were made and resulting pension settlement charges of $0.8 million and $0.5 million were incurred in 2018 and 2017, respectively.

SpartanNash Company and certain subsidiaries provide healthcare benefits to retired associates under the SpartanNash Company Retiree Medical Plan (the “Retiree Medical Plan”). Former Spartan Stores, Inc. associates hired prior to January 1, 2002 who were not covered by CBAs during their employment, who have at least 10 years of service and have attained age 55 upon retirement qualify as “covered associates.” Covered associates who retired prior to March 31, 1992 receive major medical insurance with deductible and coinsurance provisions until age 65 and Medicare supplemental benefits thereafter. Covered associates retiring after April 1, 1992 are eligible for monthly postretirement healthcare benefits of $5 multiplied by the associate’s years of service. This benefit is in the form of a credit against the monthly insurance premium. The retiree pays the balance of the premium.

The following tables set forth the actuarial present value of benefit obligations, funded status, changes in benefit obligations and plan assets, weighted average assumptions used in actuarial calculations and components of net periodic benefit costs for the Company’s significant pension and postretirement benefit plans, excluding multi-employer plans. The prepaid, current accrued, and noncurrent accrued benefit costs associated with pension and postretirement benefits are reported in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets,” “Other assets, net,” “Accrued payroll and benefits,” and “Other long-term liabilities,” respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets.

	Pension Plan						Retiree Medical Plan
	December 28,			December 29,			December 28,			December 29,
(In thousands, except percentages)	2019			2018			2019			2018
Funded Status
Projected/Accumulated benefit obligation:
Balance at beginning of year	$	73,275		$	80,153		$	9,443		$	10,199
Service cost		—			—			171			195
Interest cost		1,134			2,283			375			339
Actuarial loss (gain)		618			(1,578	)		1,181			(961	)
Benefits paid		(75,027	)		(7,583	)		(387	)		(329	)
Balance at end of year	$	—		$	73,275		$	10,783		$	9,443

Fair value of plan assets:
Balance at beginning of year	$	74,241		$	81,255		$	—		$	—
Actual return (loss) on plan assets		2,282			(931	)		—			—
Company contributions		—			1,500			387			329
Benefits paid		(75,027	)		(7,583	)		(387	)		(329	)
Balance at end of year	$	1,496		$	74,241		$	—		$	—
Funded (unfunded) status	$	1,496		$	966		$	(10,783	)	$	(9,443	)

Components of net amount recognized in consolidated balance sheets:
Current assets	$	1,496		$	966		$	—		$	—
Current liabilities		—			—			(466	)		(437	)
Noncurrent liabilities		—			—			(10,317	)		(9,006	)
Net asset (liability)	$	1,496		$	966		$	(10,783	)	$	(9,443	)

Amounts recognized in AOCI:
Net actuarial loss	$	—		$	19,885		$	1,809		$	629
Prior service credit		—			—			—			(92	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	—		$	19,885		$	1,809		$	537

Weighted average assumptions at measurement date:
Discount rate	N/A			3.48%			3.26%			4.41%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	N/A			N/A			4.50%			5.00%

	Pension Plan									Retiree Medical Plan
(In thousands, except percentages)	2019			2018			2017			2019			2018			2017
Components of net periodic benefit (income) cost:
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	171		$	195		$	184
Interest cost		1,134			2,283			2,345			375			339			345
Amortization of prior service cost		—			—			—			(92	)		(158	)		(158	)
Expected return on plan assets		(714	)		(3,631	)		(3,836	)		—			—			—
Recognized actuarial net loss		691			417			221			—			88			59
Net periodic benefit expense (income)	$	1,111		$	(931	)	$	(1,270	)	$	454		$	464		$	430
Settlement expense		18,244			785			548			—			—			—
Total net periodic benefit cost (income)	$	19,355		$	(146	)	$	(722	)	$	454		$	464		$	430

Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income) cost:
Discount rate	3.48%			3.45%			3.82%			4.41%			3.72%			4.26%
Expected return on plan assets	2.80%			4.84%			4.83%			N/A			N/A			N/A

The net actuarial loss included in AOCI and expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost in 2020 for the Retiree Medical Plan is $1.8 million. Prior service costs (credits) are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of active participants. Actuarial gains and losses for the Pension Plan were amortized over the average remaining life of all participants when the accumulation of such gains and losses exceeded 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation and the market-related value of plan assets.

Assumed healthcare cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the Retiree Medical Plan. Assumed current healthcare cost trend rates used to determine net periodic benefit cost were as follows:

The effect of a one-percentage point increase or decrease in assumed healthcare cost trend rates on the total service and interest components and the post-retirement benefit obligations would be less than $0.1 million.

The Company followed an investment policy for the Pension Plan with a long-term asset allocation mix designed to meet long-term retirement obligations by investing in equity, fixed income and other securities to cover cash flow requirements of the plan and minimize long-term costs. In 2018, in the context of the Pension Plan termination and the expected distribution of the related assets, the Company revised the asset mix to include only fixed income securities, which reduced the Pension Plan’s exposure to market volatility. Certain of the fixed income investments have a duration of 90 days or less, and as such are classified as cash equivalents. As of December 28, 2019, all of the remaining assets are cash equivalents.

The investment policy emphasized the following key objectives: (1) provide benefit security to participants by maximizing the return on plan assets at an acceptable risk level, (2) maintain adequate liquidity for current benefit payments, (3) avoid unexpected increases in pension expense, and (4) within the scope of the above objectives, minimize long term funding to the plan.

The fair values of the Pension Plan assets at December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, by asset category, are as follows:

	Fair Value of Assets as of December 28, 2019
(In thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		NAV (a)
Mutual funds	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Pooled funds		—		—		—		—		—
Money market fund		1,496		—		1,496		—		—
Guaranteed annuity contracts		—		—		—		—		—
Total fair value	$	1,496	$	—	$	1,496	$	—	$	—

	Fair Value of Assets as of December 29, 2018
(In thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		NAV (a)
Mutual funds	$	20,124	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	20,124
Pooled funds		29,576		—		—		—		29,576
Money market fund		11,992		—		11,992		—		—
Guaranteed annuity contracts		12,549		—		—		12,549		—
Total fair value	$	74,241	$	—	$	11,992	$	12,549	$	49,700

Level 3 assets consist of guaranteed annuity contracts. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for Level 3 assets is as follows:

See Note 8 for a discussion of the levels of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value measurement level used is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The following is a description of the valuation methods used for the Pension Plan’s assets measured at fair value in the above tables:

Money market fund: The carrying value approximates fair value. Money market funds are valued on a daily basis at NAV using the amortized cost of the securities held in the fund. Since amortized cost does not meet the criteria for an active market, money market funds are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy of ASC 820.

Mutual Funds: These investments were valued using NAV as a practical expedient to estimate fair value and are not classified in the fair value hierarchy. NAV is determined once a day after the closing of the exchange based upon the underlying assets in the fund, less the fund’s liabilities, expressed on a per-share basis. Mutual funds held by the Pension Plan were open end mutual funds that were registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These funds are required to publish their daily NAV and to transact at that price. The mutual funds held by the Pension Plan were therefore deemed to be actively traded.

Pooled Funds: The plan held units of various Aon Hewitt Group Trust Funds offered through a private placement. The units are valued daily using NAV as a practical expedient to estimate fair value. NAVs are based on the fair value of each fund’s underlying investments and are not classified in the fair value hierarchy. The practical expedient is not used when it is determined to be probable that the investment will be sold for an amount different than the reported NAV.

Guaranteed Annuity Contracts: The guaranteed annuity contracts are immediate participation contracts held with insurance companies that acted as custodian of the Pension Plan’s assets. The guaranteed annuity contracts are stated at contract values, which are determined by the custodians and approximate fair values. The Company evaluated the general financial condition of the custodians as a component of validating whether the calculated contract value is an accurate approximation of fair value. The review of the general financial condition of the custodians is considered obtainable/observable through the review of readily available financial information the custodians are required to file with the SEC. The group annuity contracts are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy of ASC 820.

The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Company believes its valuations methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement.

The Company expects to make contributions in 2020 of $0.5 million to the Retiree Medical Plan.

The following estimated benefit payments are expected to be paid in the following fiscal years:

In addition to the plans described above, the Company participates in the Michigan Conference of Teamsters and Ohio Conference of Teamsters Health and Welfare plans. The Company contributes to these multi-employer plans under the terms contained in existing CBAs and in the amounts set forth within these agreements. The health and welfare plans provide medical, dental, pharmacy, vision, and other ancillary benefits to active associates and retirees, as determined by the trustees of the plan. The Company’s contributions largely benefit active associates, and as such, may not constitute contributions to a postretirement benefit plan. However, the Company is unable to separate contribution amounts for postretirement benefits from contribution amounts paid for active participants in the plan. These plans have a significant surplus of funds held in reserve in excess of claims incurred, and there is no potential withdrawal liability related to the Company’s participation in the plans. With respect to the Company’s participation in these plans, expense is recognized as contributions are funded. The Company contributed $13.8 million, $13.8 million and $14.1 million to these plans in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The Company also contributes to the Central States Plan, a multi-employer plan defined previously, under the terms of CBAs that cover its union-represented associates and in the amounts set forth within these agreements. The Company is party to four CBAs that require contributions to the Plan with expiration dates ranging from January 2022 to October 2022. These CBAs cover warehouse personnel and drivers in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Bellefontaine and Lima, Ohio. With respect to the Company’s participation in the Central States Plan (EIN 36-60442343 / Pension Plan Number 001), expense is recognized as contributions are funded. The Company contributed $14.0 million, $13.3 million and $13.4 million to this plan in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The contributions made by the Company represent less than five percent of the Plan’s total contributions in 2019.

The risk of participating in a multi-employer pension plan is different from the risk associated with single-employer plans in the following respects:

The PPA zone status of the Plan, which is based on information the Company received from the Plan and is certified by the Plan’s actuary, is “critical and declining” for the Plan’s two most recent fiscal years ending December 31, 2019 and 2018. Among other factors, plans in the “critical and declining” zone are generally less than 65% funded and projected to become insolvent within the next 15 years (or 20 years depending on the ratio of active-to-inactive participants). A rehabilitation plan has been implemented by the trustees of the Plan, and the CBAs that cover warehouse personnel and drivers in the Bellefontaine and Lima, Ohio distribution centers have permanent surcharges imposed due to the failure to adopt the trustee recommended rehabilitation plan. Refer to Note 9, Commitments and Contingencies, for further information regarding the Company’s participation in the Central States Plan. As of the date the consolidated financial statements were issued, Form 5500 was not available for the plan year ended December 31, 2019.