The Company sponsors a shareholder-approved stock incentive plan (the “2020 Plan”) that provides for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance share units, dividend equivalent rights, and other stock-based and stock-related awards to directors, employees, or contractors of the Company, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Holders of restricted stock and stock awards issued under the 2020 Plan are entitled to participate in dividends, payable upon the vesting of the underlying awards. As of December 30, 2023, a total of 470,810 shares remained unissued under the 2020 Plan. In the event of a "Change in Control, as defined by the Plan, all outstanding unvested shares of restricted stock vest immediately, while outstanding unvested shares of performance share units vest immediately on a pro-rata basis.

Restricted stock awarded to Associates in 2023, 2022 and 2021 vest ratably over a three-year service period and over one year for grants to members of the Board of Directors. Restricted stock awarded to Associates prior to 2021 vest ratably over a four-year service period. Awards are subject to forfeiture and certain transfer restrictions prior to vesting. Compensation expense, representing the fair value of the stock at the measurement date of the award, is recognized over the required service period.

The following table summarizes restricted stock activity for 2023, 2022 and 2021:


	Restricted			Weighted Average
	Stock			Grant-Date
	Awards			Fair Value
Outstanding and nonvested at January 2, 2021		973,948		$	17.72
Granted		562,653			18.96
Vested		(388,403	)		19.81
Forfeited		(116,361	)		18.19
Outstanding and nonvested at January 1, 2022		1,031,837			17.56
Granted		391,334			28.63
Vested		(470,145	)		17.92
Forfeited		(89,963	)		20.71
Outstanding and nonvested at December 31, 2022		863,063			22.05
Granted		447,910			26.95
Vested		(432,549	)		21.16
Forfeited		(58,967	)		25.96
Outstanding and nonvested at December 30, 2023		819,457		$	24.92

The total intrinsic value of shares vested was $11.7 million, $14.3 million and $7.3 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. As of December 30, 2023, total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock awards granted under the Company's stock incentive plans is $9.0 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.

Performance share units were awarded to certain officers and key Associates in 2023. The vesting of these awards is contingent upon meeting certain performance metrics over a three year period, which include adjusted EPS and return on invested capital. The quantity of shares awarded ranges from 0% to 200% of “Target,” as defined in the award agreement, based on the achievement against the performance metrics. Stock-based compensation expense is recorded over the performance period and is reevaluated at each reporting date based on the probability of the achievement of the performance metrics. The fair value of performance shares is based on the Company’s stock price on the date of grant. Performance share unit awards have a three-year cliff vest, subject to achievement of the performance metrics. Awards are subject to forfeiture and certain transfer restrictions prior to vesting.

As of December 30, 2023, total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested performance share unit awards granted under the Company's stock incentive plans is $5.8 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years.

Stock-based compensation expense recognized and included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the consolidated statements of earnings, and related tax benefits were as follows:


(In thousands)	2023			2022			2021
Restricted stock expense	$	10,220		$	8,308		$	6,868
Performance share unit expense		2,048			—			—
Income tax benefit		(4,199	)		(4,094	)		(1,744	)
Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax	$	8,069		$	4,214		$	5,124

Stock-based compensation expense is recognized net of estimated forfeitures, determined based on historical experience.

The Company recognized tax deductions of $12.2 million, $14.7 million and $7.7 million related to the vesting of restricted stock and performance share units in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The Company sponsored a stock bonus plan covering 300,000 shares of SpartanNash common stock. Under the provisions of this plan, certain officers and key Associates could elect to receive a portion of their annual bonus in common stock rather than cash, which was issued at 120% of cash value. After the shares are issued, the holder is not able to sell or otherwise transfer the shares until the end of the holding period, which is 24 months. Compensation expense is recorded based upon the market price of the stock as of the measurement date. Under the plan, 15,778 shares were issued in 2021. The stock bonus plan expired on March 31, 2021.

The Company also sponsors an associate stock purchase plan covering 300,000 shares of SpartanNash common stock and enables eligible Associates of the Company to purchase shares at 85% of the fair market value. The Company has determined this represents compensation expense in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. As of December 30, 2023, 62,540 shares have been issued under the Plan.

On October 7, 2020, in connection with its entry into a commercial agreement with Amazon.com, Inc. (“Amazon”), the Company issued to Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon, a warrant to acquire up to an aggregate of 5,437,272 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrant”), subject to certain vesting conditions. Warrant shares totaling 1,087,455 shares vested upon the signing of the commercial agreement and had a grant date fair value of $5.51 per share. Warrant shares totaling up to 4,349,817 shares may vest in connection with conditions defined by the terms of the Warrant, as Amazon makes payments to the Company in connection with the commercial supply agreement, in increments of $200 million, and had a grant date fair value of $5.33 per share. Upon vesting, shares may be acquired at an exercise price of $17.7257. The Warrant contains customary anti-dilution, down-round and change-in-control provisions. The right to purchase shares in connection with the Warrant expires on October 7, 2027. Non-cash share-based payment expense associated with the Warrant is recognized as vesting conditions are achieved, based on the grant date fair value of the Warrant.

The following table summarizes the Warrant activity for 2023, 2022 and 2021:


	Warrant
Outstanding and nonvested at January 2, 2021		4,349,817
Vested		(434,984	)
Outstanding and nonvested at January 1, 2022		3,914,833
Vested		(434,984	)
Outstanding and nonvested at December 31, 2022		3,479,849
Vested		(217,492	)
Outstanding and nonvested at December 30, 2023		3,262,357

Warrant expense recognized as a reduction of “Net sales” in the consolidated statements of earnings, and related tax benefits were as follows:


(In thousands)	2023			2022			2021
Warrant expense	$	1,559		$	2,158		$	1,958
Tax benefits		(133	)		(203	)		(152	)
Warrant expense, net of tax	$	1,426		$	1,955		$	1,806

As of December 30, 2023, total unrecognized cost related to non-vested warrants was $17.0 million, which may be expensed as vesting conditions are satisfied over the remaining term of the agreement, or 3.8 years. Warrants representing 2,174,915 shares are vested and exercisable. As of December 30, 2023, non-vested warrant shares had an intrinsic value of $17.0 million, and vested warrant shares had an intrinsic value of $11.4 million.