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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10‑Q

(Mark One)

x

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended May 2, 2014

OR

 

o

Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from________ to _____________ 

 

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Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (615) 444-5533

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes þ    No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes þ    No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and ”smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes ¨    No þ

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

23,820,500 Shares of Common Stock

Outstanding as of May 20, 2014

 

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CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

FORM 10-Q

For the Quarter Ended May 2, 2014

INDEX

 

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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  Financial Statements

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

See Notes to unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

* This Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet has been derived from the audited Consolidated Balance Sheet as of August 2, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 2, 2013.

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CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

See Notes to unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited and in thousands)

See Notes to unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited and in thousands)

See Notes to unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except percentages, share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

1.	Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, in these Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the “Company”) are principally engaged in the operation and development in the United States of the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® (“Cracker Barrel”) concept.

 

The condensed consolidated balance sheets at May 2, 2014 and August 2, 2013 and the related condensed consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income and cash flows for the quarters and nine months ended May 2, 2014 and May 3, 2013, respectively, have been prepared by the Company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) without audit.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring items) necessary for a fair presentation of such condensed consolidated financial statements have been made.  The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 2, 2013 (the “2013 Form 10-K”).  The accounting policies used in preparing these condensed consolidated financial statements are the same as described in the 2013 Form 10-K.  References to a year in these Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are to the Company’s fiscal year unless otherwise noted.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

 

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued accounting guidance which requires companies to disclose information about the nature of their rights of setoff and related arrangements associated with their financial instruments and derivative instruments to enable users of financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on their financial position.  Each company is required to provide both net and gross information in the notes to its financial statements for relevant assets and liabilities that are eligible for offset.  In January 2013, the FASB issued additional accounting guidance which limits these disclosures to derivatives, repurchase agreements and securities lending transactions to the extent that they are offset in the financial statements or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement.  These disclosure requirements are effective for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2013 on a retrospective basis.  The adoption of these disclosure requirements in the first quarter of 2014 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In February 2013, the FASB issued accounting guidance which requires companies to provide information regarding the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component.  A company is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required by GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period.  For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, a company is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide additional detail regarding those amounts.  This accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012 on a prospective basis.  Since the guidance only affects presentation and disclosure of amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income, the adoption of this guidance in the first quarter of 2014 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Adopted

Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity

In April 2014, the FASB issued accounting guidance which changes the criteria for disposals to qualify as discontinued operations and requires new disclosures about disposals of both discontinued operations and certain other disposals that do not meet the new definition.  This accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014 and interim periods within those years on a prospective basis.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this accounting guidance, but it is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations upon adoption in the first quarter of 2016.

2.	Fair Value Measurements

The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at May 2, 2014 were as follows:

 

		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)				Fair Value
Cash equivalents*		$	9,168			$	--			$	--			$	9,168
Interest rate swap asset (see Note 5)			--				508				--				508
Deferred compensation plan assets**			26,949				--				--				26,949
Total assets at fair value		$	36,117			$	508			$	--			$	36,625
Interest rate swap liability (see Note 5)		$	--			$	7,908			$	--			$	7,908
Total liabilities at fair value		$	--			$	7,908			$	--			$	7,908

 

The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at August 2, 2013 were as follows:

 

		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)				Fair Value
Cash equivalents*		$	57,767			$	--			$	--			$	57,767
Interest rate swap asset (see Note 5)			--				883				--				883
Deferred compensation plan assets**			25,263				--				--				25,263
Total assets at fair value		$	83,030			$	883			$	--			$	83,913
Interest rate swap liability (see Note 5)		$	--			$	11,644			$	--			$	11,644
Total liabilities at fair value		$	--			$	11,644			$	--			$	11,644

*Consists of money market fund investments.

**Represents plan assets invested in mutual funds established under a Rabbi Trust for the Company’s non-qualified savings plan and is included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as other assets.

The Company’s money market fund investments and deferred compensation plan assets are measured at fair value using quoted market prices.  The fair values of the Company’s interest rate swap assets and liabilities are determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows.  Since the values of the Company’s interest rate swaps are based on the LIBOR forward curve, which is observable at commonly quoted intervals for the full terms of the swaps, it is considered a Level 2 input.  Non-performance risk is reflected in determining the fair value of the interest rate swaps by using the Company’s credit spread less the risk-free interest rate, both of which are observable at commonly quoted intervals for the terms of the swaps.  Thus, the adjustment for non-performance risk is also considered a Level 2 input.

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The fair values of the Company’s accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their carrying amounts because of their short duration.  The fair value of the Company’s variable rate debt, based on quoted market prices, which are considered Level 1 inputs, approximates its carrying amount at May 2, 2014 and August 2, 2013.

 

3.	Inventories

Inventories were comprised of the following at:

4.

Debt

Long‑term debt consisted of the following at:

The Company’s $750,000 credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) consists of a term loan and a $500,000 revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”).  At May 2, 2014, the Company had $212,500 of outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and $20,637 of standby letters of credit, which reduce the Company’s borrowing availability under the Revolving Credit Facility (see Note 11).  At May 2, 2014, the Company had $266,863 in borrowing availability under the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

In accordance with the Credit Facility, outstanding borrowings bear interest, at the Company’s election, either at LIBOR or prime plus a percentage point spread based on certain specified financial ratios under the Credit Facility.  As of May 2, 2014, the Company’s outstanding borrowings were swapped at a weighted average interest rate of 3.73% (see Note 5 for information on the Company’s interest rate swaps).

 

The Credit Facility contains customary financial covenants, which include maintenance of a maximum consolidated total leverage ratio and a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio.  At May 2, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

 

The Credit Facility also imposes restrictions on the amount of dividends the Company is permitted to pay and the amount of shares the Company is permitted to repurchase.  Provided there is no default existing and the total of the Company’s availability under the Revolving Credit Facility plus the Company’s cash and cash equivalents on hand is at least $100,000 (the “liquidity requirements”), the Company may declare and pay cash dividends on shares of its common stock and repurchase shares of its common stock if the aggregate amount of dividends paid and shares repurchased in any fiscal year is less than the sum of (1) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA from continuing operations (as defined in the Credit Facility) (the “20% limitation”) during the immediately preceding fiscal year and (2) provided the Company’s consolidated total leverage ratio is 3.25 to 1.00 or less, $100,000 (less the amount of any share repurchases during the current fiscal year).  In any event, as long as the liquidity requirements are met, dividends may be declared and paid in any fiscal year up to the amount of dividends permitted and paid in the preceding fiscal year without regard to the 20% limitation.

 

5.	Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

 

The Company has interest rate risk relative to its outstanding borrowings (see Note 4).  The Company’s policy has been to manage interest cost using a mix of fixed and variable rate debt.  To manage this risk in a cost efficient manner, the Company uses derivative instruments, specifically interest rate swaps.

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For each of the Company’s interest rate swaps, the Company has agreed to exchange with a counterparty the difference between fixed and variable interest amounts calculated by reference to an agreed-upon notional principal amount.  The interest rates on the portion of the Company’s outstanding debt covered by its interest rate swaps are fixed at the rates in the table below plus the Company’s credit spread.  The Company’s weighted average credit spread at May 2, 2014 was 1.50%.  All of the Company’s interest rate swaps are accounted for as cash flow hedges.

 

A summary of the Company’s interest rate swaps at May 2, 2014 is as follows:

 

 

 The Company does not hold or use derivative instruments for trading purposes.  The Company also does not have any derivatives not designated as hedging instruments and has not designated any non-derivatives as hedging instruments.

Companies may elect to offset related assets and liabilities and report the net amount on their financial statements if the right of setoff exists.  Under a master netting agreement, the Company has the legal right to offset the amounts owed to the Company against amounts owed by the Company under a derivative instrument that exists between the Company and a counterparty.  When the Company is engaged in more than one outstanding derivative transaction with the same counterparty and also has a legally enforceable master netting agreement with that counterparty, its credit risk exposure is based on the net exposure under the master netting agreement.  If, on a net basis, the Company owes the counterparty, the Company regards its credit exposure to the counterparty as being zero.

The estimated fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments as of May 2, 2014 and August 2, 2013 were as follows:

The following table summarizes the offsetting of the Company’s derivative assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at May 2, 2014 and August 2, 2013:

 

The following table summarizes the offsetting of the Company’s derivative liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at May 2, 2014 and August 2, 2013:

 

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The estimated fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap assets and liabilities incorporate the Company’s non-performance risk (see Note 2).  The adjustment related to the Company’s non-performance risk at May 2, 2014 and August 2, 2013 resulted in reductions of $21 and $123, respectively, in the fair value of the interest rate swap assets and liabilities.  The offset to the interest rate swap assets and liabilities is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCL”), net of the deferred tax asset, and will be reclassified into earnings over the term of the underlying debt.  As of May 2, 2014, the estimated pre-tax portion of AOCL that is expected to be reclassified into earnings over the next twelve months is $6,109.  Cash flows related to the interest rate swap are included in interest expense and in operating activities.

The following table summarizes the pre-tax effects of the Company’s derivative instruments on AOCL for the nine months ended May 2, 2014 and the year ended August 2, 2013:

 

The following table summarizes the pre-tax effects of the Company’s derivative instruments on income for the quarters and nine-month periods ended May 2, 2014 and May 3, 2013:

 

Any portion of the fair value of the swaps determined to be ineffective will be recognized currently in earnings.  No ineffectiveness has been recorded in the nine-month periods ended May 2, 2014 and May 3, 2013.

 

6.	Shareholders’ Equity

 

During the nine months ended May 2, 2014, the Company issued 145,173 shares of its common stock resulting from the vesting of share-based compensation awards and stock option exercises.  Related tax withholding payments on certain share-based compensation awards exceeded proceeds received from the exercise of stock options which resulted in a net reduction to shareholders’ equity of $8,430.  During the nine months ended May 2, 2014, the Company repurchased 120,000 shares of its common stock in the open market at an aggregate cost of $12,473.

During the nine months ended May 2, 2014, total share-based compensation expense was $6,132.  The excess tax benefit realized upon exercise of share-based compensation awards was $612.

During the nine months ended May 2, 2014, the Company paid dividends of $2.25 per share of its common stock.  During the third quarter of 2014, the Company declared a regular dividend of $0.75 per share of its common stock that was paid on May 5, 2014 to shareholders of record on April 18, 2014. Additionally, during the third quarter of 2014, the Company declared a regular dividend of $1.00 per share of its common stock payable on August 5, 2014 to shareholders of record on July 18, 2014.

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The following table summarizes the changes in AOCL, net of tax, related to the Company’s interest rate swaps for the nine months ended May 2, 2014 (see Notes 2 and 5):

 

The following table summarizes the amounts reclassified out of AOCL related to the Company’s interest rate swaps for the quarter and nine-month period ended May 2, 2014:

7.	Seasonality

Historically, the net income of the Company has been lower in the first and third quarters and higher in the second and fourth quarters.  Management attributes these variations to the Christmas holiday shopping season and the summer vacation and travel season.  The Company's retail sales, which are made substantially to the Company’s restaurant customers, historically have been highest in the Company's second quarter, which includes the Christmas holiday shopping season.  Historically, interstate tourist traffic and the propensity to dine out have been higher during the summer months, thereby contributing to higher profits in the Company’s fourth quarter.  The Company generally opens additional new locations throughout the year.  Therefore, the results of operations for any interim period cannot be considered indicative of the operating results for an entire year.

8.	Segment Information

 

Cracker Barrel stores represent a single, integrated operation with two related and substantially integrated product lines.  The operating expenses of the restaurant and retail product lines of a Cracker Barrel store are shared and are indistinguishable in many respects.  Accordingly, the Company currently manages its business on the basis of one reportable operating segment.  All of the Company’s operations are located within the United States.  Total revenue was comprised of the following at:

 

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9.	Share-Based Compensation

Share-based compensation is recorded in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.  Total share-based compensation was comprised of the following at:

 

10.	Net Income Per Share and Weighted Average Shares

Basic consolidated net income per share is computed by dividing consolidated net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the reporting period.  Diluted consolidated net income per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities, options or other contracts to issue shares of common stock were exercised or converted into shares of common stock and is based upon the weighted average number of shares of common stock and common equivalent shares outstanding during the reporting period. Common equivalent shares related to stock options, nonvested stock awards and MSU Grants issued by the Company are calculated using the treasury stock method.  The outstanding stock options, nonvested stock awards and MSU Grants issued by the Company represent the only dilutive effects on diluted consolidated net income per share.

The following table reconciles the components of diluted earnings per share computations:

 

In April 2014, the Company was served with a claim filed as a collective action alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.  The Company believes this claim is without merit and intends to vigorously defend this lawsuit.  This claim was recently served on the Company and the proceedings remain in the early stages.  At this time, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the likely results of the lawsuit or the economic effects of the litigation on the Company, though an adverse outcome could be material to the Company’s results of operations or financial position.  See “Item 1. Legal Proceedings” of Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further information related to this claim.

The Company and its subsidiaries are party to various legal and regulatory proceedings and claims incidental to their business in the ordinary course.  In the opinion of management, based upon information currently available, the ultimate liability with respect to these proceedings and claims will not materially affect the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position.

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Related to its workers’ compensation insurance coverage, the Company is contingently liable pursuant to standby letters of credit as credit guarantees to certain insurers.  As of May 2, 2014, the Company had $20,637 of standby letters of credit related to securing reserved claims under workers’ compensation insurance.  All standby letters of credit are renewable annually and reduce the Company’s borrowing availability under its Revolving Credit Facility (see Note 4).

At May 2, 2014, the Company is secondarily liable for lease payments associated with two properties.  The Company is not aware of any non-performance under these lease arrangements that would result in the Company having to perform in accordance with the terms of those guarantees; and therefore, no provision has been recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for amounts to be paid in case of non-performance by the primary obligors under such lease arrangements.

The Company enters into certain indemnification agreements in favor of third parties in the ordinary course of business.  At May 2, 2014, the Company recorded a liability of $313 in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet related to legal costs.  The Company believes that the probability of incurring an actual liability under other indemnification agreements is sufficiently remote so that no additional liability has been recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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ITEM 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company,” “our” or “we”) are principally engaged in the operation and development in the United States of the Cracker Barrel Old Country StoreÒ (“Cracker Barrel”) concept.  At May 2, 2014, we operated 627 Cracker Barrel stores in 42 states.  All dollar amounts reported or discussed in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) are shown in thousands, except per share amounts and certain statistical information (e.g., number of stores).  References to years in MD&A are to our fiscal year unless otherwise noted.

MD&A provides information which management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of our consolidated results of operations and financial condition.  MD&A should be read in conjunction with the (i) condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and (ii) financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 2, 2013 (the “2013 Form 10-K”).  Except for specific historical information, many of the matters discussed in this report may express or imply projections of items such as revenues or expenditures, estimated capital expenditures, compliance with debt covenants, plans and objectives for future operations, inventory shrinkage, growth or initiatives, expected future economic performance or the expected outcome or impact of pending or threatened litigation. These and similar statements regarding events or results which we expect will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements that, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results and performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements.  All forward-looking information is provided pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and should be evaluated in the context of these risks, uncertainties and other factors. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “trends,” “assumptions,” “target,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “opportunity,” “future,” “plans,” “goals,” “objectives,” “expectations,” “near-term,” “long-term,” “projection,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “potential,” “should,” “projects,” “forecasts” or “continue”  (or the negative or other derivatives of each of these terms) or similar terminology.  We believe the assumptions underlying any forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, actual results may differ materially from those projected in or implied by the forward-looking statements.  In addition to the risks of ordinary business operations, and those discussed or described in this report or in information incorporated by reference into this report, factors and risks that may result in actual results differing from this forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, those contained in Part I, Item 1A of the 2013 Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by this reference, as well as the factors described under “Critical Accounting Estimates” on pages 23-27 of this report or, from time to time, in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), press releases and other communications.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made in this report because the statements speak only as of the report’s date.  Except as may be required by law, we have no obligation or intention to update or revise any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.  Readers are advised, however, to consult any future public disclosures that we may make on related subjects in reports that we file with or furnish to the SEC or in our other public disclosures.

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Overview

 

Management believes that the Cracker Barrel brand remains one of the strongest and most differentiated brands in the restaurant industry, and we plan to continue to leverage that strength in 2014 to grow guest sales and profits.  Our long-term strategy includes the following:

·

Enhancing the core business by increasing our brand’s relevance to customers in order to drive guest traffic and sales in both restaurant and retail, implementing geographic pricing tiers to optimize average check and re-engineering store processes to increase operating margins.

 

·

Expanding the footprint through continued use of our proven site selection tools, introducing a new and more efficient building and equipment prototype and the selective entry into new markets.

 

·

Extending the brand by building on the initial success of our licensing business, leveraging our brand strengths into a new fast casual concept and growing our retail business into an omni-channel business.

 

Our five priorities for 2014 are to:

·

Focus on our menu, continuing to incorporate better-for-you menu additions and reinforce everyday value;

 

·

Continue messaging in support of the brand, menu and merchandise;

 

·

Drive retail sales with improved quality and breadth of our merchandise assortment;

 

·

Apply technology and process enhancements to improve the employee experience, the guest experience and operating margins; and

 

·

Continue our focus on increasing total shareholder returns.

 

We have maintained our focus on the execution of these priorities.  In the third quarter of 2014, we introduced several new promotional menu items and continued developing messaging and technology infrastructure to support the brand through digital channels.  We also outperformed traffic and sales of our peers in the Knapp-Track™ Casual Dining Index for the tenth consecutive quarter.  This outperformance was achieved against the backdrop of a challenging consumer environment, increasingly promotional competitors and severe winter weather, all of which we believe negatively impacted our store traffic and sales.  Despite these challenges, we were able to improve our operating margins.   Additionally, during the third quarter of 2014, our Board approved a quarterly dividend increase of 33% to $1.00 per share.

 

Results of Operations

The following table highlights our operating results by percentage relationships to total revenue for the quarter and nine-month period ended May 2, 2014 as compared to the same periods in the prior year:

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The following table sets forth the number of stores in operation at the beginning and end of the quarters and nine-month periods ended May 2, 2014 and May 3, 2013, respectively:

Total Revenue

Total revenue for the third quarter of 2014 increased 0.5% compared to the third quarter of 2013.  Total revenue for the first nine months of 2014 increased 1.0% compared to the first nine months of 2013.

The following table highlights the key components of revenue for the quarter and nine-month period ended May 2, 2014 as compared to the quarter and nine-month period ended May 3, 2013:

⁽¹⁾Average unit volumes include sales of all stores.

For the third quarter of 2014, our comparable store restaurant sales decrease consisted of a 2.9% guest traffic decrease partially offset by a 2.3% average check increase for the quarter (including a 1.8% average menu price increase).  For the third quarter, our comparable store retail sales increase resulted primarily from strong performance in certain retail merchandise categories partially offset by the decrease in guest traffic. We believe that a continued challenging consumer environment, winter weather and an increasingly promotional competitive landscape reduced our guest traffic and comparable restaurant and retail sales during the third quarter of 2014.

For the first nine months of 2014, our comparable store restaurant sales increase consisted of a 2.5% average check increase for the nine months (including a 2.0% average menu price increase) partially offset by a 2.0% guest traffic decrease.  For the first nine months of 2014, our comparable store retail sales decrease resulted primarily from the decrease in guest traffic.  We believe that the severe winter weather in the second and third quarters of 2014, the continued challenging consumer environment and an increasingly promotional competitive landscape reduced our guest traffic and comparable store restaurant and retail sales during the first nine months of 2014.

Restaurant and retail sales from newly opened stores accounted for the balance of the total revenue increases in the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 as compared to the same periods in the prior year.

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Cost of Goods Sold

 

The following table highlights the components of cost of goods sold in dollar amounts and percentages for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 as compared to the same periods in the prior year:

 

Restaurant cost of goods sold as a percentage of restaurant revenue in the third quarter of 2014 remained flat at 27.1% as compared to the third quarter of 2013.  A shift to higher cost menu items and higher food waste were offset by food commodity deflation and our menu price increase referenced above.  Higher cost menu items and higher food waste each accounted for increases of 0.3% in restaurant cost of goods sold as a percentage of restaurant revenue.  We believe that the increase in food waste resulted from unpredictable weather and traffic patterns in the third quarter of 2014, which increased the difficulty for our store managers in accurately forecasting food production requirements.  Commodity deflation was 0.6% in the third quarter of 2014.  We expect commodity inflation of approximately 2.5% in the fourth quarter of 2014 primarily due to increases in the cost of beef, pork, eggs and dairy.

The increase in restaurant cost of goods sold as a percentage of restaurant revenue in the first nine months of 2014 as compared to the first nine months of 2013 was primarily the result of food commodity inflation, a shift to higher cost menu items and higher food waste partially offset by our menu price increase referenced above.  Higher cost menu items and higher food waste accounted for increases of 0.3% and 0.1%, respectively, in restaurant cost of goods sold as a percentage of restaurant revenue.  We believe that the increase in food waste resulted from unpredictable weather and traffic patterns, particularly in the second and third quarters of 2014, which increased the difficulty for our store managers in accurately forecasting food production requirements.  Commodity inflation was 1.7% in the first nine months of 2014.

We presently expect the rate of commodity inflation to be approximately 2% for 2014.

The decrease in retail cost of goods sold as a percentage of retail revenue in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the prior year quarter resulted primarily from lower freight, higher initial margin and lower shrinkage partially offset by higher markdowns.

 

The decrease in retail cost of goods sold as a percentage of retail revenue in the first nine months of 2014 as compared to the first nine months of 2013 resulted from primarily from lower freight, lower shrinkage and higher initial margin partially offset by higher markdowns.

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During the third quarters of 2014 and 2013, annual physical inventory counts were conducted at approximately 80% and 40%, respectively, of our stores.  The actual shrinkage recorded based on these physical inventory counts declined 0.3% and 0.5% as a percentage of retail revenue in the third quarter and first nine months of 2014, respectively, as compared to the prior year periods.

Labor and Related Expenses

Labor and related expenses include all direct and indirect labor and related costs incurred in store operations.  Labor and related expenses as a percentage of total revenue in the third quarter of 2014 remained flat at 37.8% as compared to the third quarter of 2013 primarily as a result of the following offsetting variances:

 

Labor and related expenses as a percentage of total revenue decreased to 36.1% in the first nine months of 2014 as compared to 36.5% in the first nine months of 2013.  This percentage change resulted from the following:

 

The decreases in store incentive compensation expense as a percentage of total revenue for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 as compared to the same periods in the prior year reflected lower performance against financial objectives in 2014 as compared to the prior year.

Through December 31, 2013, a significant portion of our health insurance program was self-insured.  Effective January 1, 2014, with the exception of our prescription drug program, our health insurance is fully insured.  The fully-insured portion of our health insurance program contains a retrospective feature which could increase or decrease premiums based on actual claims experience.

The increase in our employee health care expenses in the third quarter as compared to the same period in the prior year resulted primarily from higher premium costs in our fully insured plans.  The decrease in our employee health care expenses in the first nine months of 2014 as compared to the same period in the prior year is due to the reimbursement of approximately $4,500 for certain health care premiums related to the plan year ending December 31, 2013 partially offset by higher premium costs in our fully insured plans.

The increase in store management compensation expense for the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the same period in the prior year resulted primarily from higher staffing levels.

The increase in workers’ compensation expense for the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the same period in the prior year resulted primarily from higher claims and revised actuarial estimates.

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Other Store Operating Expenses

 

Other store operating expenses include all store-level operating costs, the major components of which are utilities, operating supplies, repairs and maintenance, depreciation and amortization, advertising, rent, credit card fees, real and personal property taxes, general insurance and costs associated with our store manager conference.

 

Other store operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue increased to 18.8% in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to 18.2% in the third quarter of 2013.  This percentage change resulted from the following:

 

Other store operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue increased to 18.8% in the first nine months of 2014 as compared to 18.0% in the first nine months of 2013.  This percentage change resulted primarily from the following:

 

The increases in utilities expense as a percentage of total revenue for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 as compared to the same periods in the prior year resulted primarily from higher heating costs due to the unseasonably cold weather experienced at many of our store locations in 2014.

The increase in depreciation and amortization expense as a percentage of total revenue for the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the same period in the prior year resulted primarily from capital expenditures related to company initiatives and store maintenance capital.

The increase in supplies expense as a percentage of total revenue for the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the same period in the prior year resulted primarily from increases in to-go packaging usage and pricing partially offset by a decline in paper costs.

The increases in maintenance expense as a percentage of total revenue for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 as compared to the same periods in the prior year resulted primarily from expenses associated with the inspection, preventative maintenance, snow removal and related repair of certain building components and kitchen equipment and higher lighting costs.

The increase in advertising expense as a percentage of total revenue for the first nine months of 2014 as compared to the same period in the prior year resulted primarily from higher media spending. We expect our advertising expense for 2014 to be approximately the same percentage of total revenue as in 2013.

In the first quarter of 2014, we held a manager conference which was attended by our store operations management team.  The last such conference was held during the first quarter of 2012.

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General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenue decreased to 5.1% in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to 5.6% in the third quarter of 2013.  This percentage change resulted primarily from the following:

General and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenue decreased to 5.0% in the first nine months of 2014 as compared to 5.4% in the first nine months of 2013.  This percentage change resulted from lower incentive compensation expense.

Lower incentive compensation in the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 as compared to the same periods in the prior year resulted primarily from lower performance against financial objectives as compared to the prior year and a decrease in the price of our common stock in 2014.

In the third quarter of 2014, we incurred costs of $1,113 related to the special shareholders meeting held in April 2014.  In the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, we incurred proxy contest expenses of $4,313 and $4,111, respectively.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the third quarter of 2014 was $4,327 as compared to $10,194 in the third quarter of 2013.  Interest expense for the first nine months of 2014 was $13,205 as compared to $31,199 in the first nine months of 2013.  Both decreases resulted from lower debt outstanding and lower interest rates because of a reduction in our credit spread and expiration of our seven-year interest rate swap on May 3, 2013, which had a fixed interest rate of 5.57% plus our credit spread.  We presently expect interest expense for 2014 to be approximately $17,000 to $18,000.

 

Provision for Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes as a percentage of income before income taxes (the “effective tax rate”) was 29.7% and 27.6%, respectively, in the third quarters of 2014 and 2013.  The effective tax rate was 31.1% and 28.2%, respectively, in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013.  The increases in the effective tax rate from the third quarter and first nine months of 2013 to the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 resulted primarily from an increase in pre-tax income.  We presently expect our effective tax rate for 2014 to be between 31% and 32%.

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from our operations and our borrowing capacity under our $500,000 revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”).  Our internally generated cash, along with cash on hand at August 2, 2013, was sufficient to finance all of our growth, dividend payments, share repurchases, working capital needs and other cash payment obligations in the first nine months of 2014.

We believe that cash on hand at May 2, 2014, along with cash generated from our operating activities and the borrowing capacity under our Revolving Credit Facility will be sufficient to finance our continuing operations, our continuing expansion plans, our share repurchase plans and our expected dividend payments for at least the next twelve months.

 

Cash Generated From Operations

Our operating activities provided net cash of $101,197 for the first nine months of 2014, which represented a decrease from the $106,699 net cash provided during the first nine months of 2013.  This decrease primarily reflected the timing of payments for accounts payable and the change in retail inventories partially offset by higher net income and the timing of certain tax payments.

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Borrowing Capacity and Debt Covenants

Our $750,000 credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) consists of a term loan (aggregate outstanding at May 2, 2014 was $187,500) and our Revolving Credit Facility.  At May 2, 2014, we had $212,500 of outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and we had $20,637 of standby letters of credit related to securing reserved claims under workers’ compensation insurance which reduce our borrowing availability under the Revolving Credit Facility. At May 2, 2014, we had $266,863 in borrowing availability under our Revolving Credit Facility.  See Note 4 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on our long-term debt.

 

The Credit Facility contains customary financial covenants, which include maintenance of a maximum consolidated total leverage ratio and a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio.  We presently are in compliance with the Credit Facility’s financial covenants.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

Capital expenditures (purchase of property and equipment) net of proceeds from insurance recoveries were $62,337 for the first nine months of 2014 as compared to $45,738 for the same period in the prior year.  Our capital expenditures consisted primarily of capital expenditures for maintenance programs and costs of new store locations.  The increase in capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2014 as compared to the prior year is primarily the result of higher maintenance capital expenditures and an increase in the number of new locations acquired and under construction.  We estimate that our capital expenditures during 2014 will be between $90,000 and $100,000.  This estimate includes the acquisition of sites and construction costs of approximately seven new stores that have opened or are expected to open during 2014, as well as for acquisition and construction costs for store locations to be opened in 2015.  In 2014, we also expect to increase capital expenditures for maintenance programs, technology and operations improvements.  We intend to fund our capital expenditures with cash flows from operations and borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility, as necessary.

Dividends, Share Repurchases and Share-Based Compensation Awards

 

Our Credit Facility imposes restrictions on the amount of dividends we are permitted to pay and the amount of shares we are permitted to repurchase.  Provided there is no default existing and the total of our availability under the Revolving Credit Facility plus our cash and cash equivalents on hand is at least $100,000 (the “liquidity requirements”), we may declare and pay cash dividends on shares of our common stock and repurchase shares of our common stock if the aggregate amount of dividends paid and shares repurchased during any fiscal year is less than the sum of (1) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA from continuing operations (as defined in the Credit Facility) (the “20% limitation”) during the immediately preceding fiscal year and (2) provided our consolidated total leverage ratio is 3.25 to 1.00 or less, $100,000 (less the amount of any share repurchases during the current fiscal year).  In any event, as long as the liquidity requirements are met, dividends may be declared and paid in any fiscal year up to the amount of dividends permitted and paid in the preceding fiscal year without regard to the 20% limitation.

 

During the first nine months of 2014, we paid dividends of $2.25 per share, or an aggregate of $53,619.  During the third quarter of 2014, we declared a dividend of $0.75 per share that was paid on May 5, 2014 to shareholders of record on April 18, 2014.  Additionally, during the third quarter of 2014, we declared a dividend of $1.00 per share payable on August 5, 2014 to shareholders of record on July 18, 2014.

We have been authorized by our Board of Directors to repurchase shares at management’s discretion up to $50,000 during 2014.  During the first nine months of 2014, we repurchased 120,000 shares of our common stock in the open market at an aggregate cost of $12,473.

 

During the first nine months of 2014, we issued 145,173 shares of our common stock resulting from the vesting of share-based compensation awards and stock option exercises.  Related tax withholding payments on certain share-based compensation awards exceeded proceeds received from the exercise of stock options which resulted in a net use of cash of $8,430.

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Working Capital

 

In the restaurant industry, virtually all sales are either for cash or third-party credit or debit card.   Restaurant inventories purchased through our principal food distributor are on terms of net zero days, while restaurant inventories purchased locally generally are financed from normal trade credit.  Because of our retail gift shops, which have a lower product turnover than the restaurant business, we carry larger inventories than many other companies in the restaurant industry.  Retail inventories purchased domestically generally are financed from normal trade credit, while imported retail inventories generally are purchased through wire transfers.  These various trade terms are aided by rapid turnover of the restaurant inventory.  Employees generally are paid on weekly or semi-monthly schedules in arrears for hours worked except for bonuses that are paid either quarterly or annually in arrears.  Many other operating expenses have normal trade terms and certain expenses such as certain taxes and some benefits are deferred for longer periods of time.

 

We had negative working capital of $38,919 at May 2, 2014 versus negative working capital of $13,873 at August 2, 2013.  The change in working capital from August 2, 2013 primarily reflects a decrease in cash, an increase in our dividend payable because of the additional dividend of $1.00 per share that was declared during the third quarter of 2014 and an increase in current maturities on our term loan partially offset by the timing of payments for accounts payable and income taxes.  In the fourth quarter of 2013, we made an optional prepayment of our required principal payments which were due in 2014.  We have not made any such optional prepayments during 2014.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Other than various operating leases, we have no other material off-balance sheet arrangements.  Refer to the sub-section entitled “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” under the section entitled “Liquidity and Capital Resources” presented in the MD&A of our 2013 Form 10-K for additional information regarding our operating leases.

Material Commitments

 

There have been no material changes in our material commitments other than in the ordinary course of business since the end of 2013.  Refer to the sub-section entitled “Material Commitments” under the section entitled “Liquidity and Capital Resources” presented in the MD&A of our 2013 Form 10-K for additional information regarding our material commitments.

 

See Note 1 to the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recent accounting guidance adopted.  None of the accounting guidance discussed in Note 1 had a significant impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

 

We prepare our Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP.  The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions about future events and apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and related disclosures.  We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, current trends, outside advice from parties believed to be experts in such matters and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from those assumptions and estimates, and such differences could be material.

 

Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the 2013 Form 10-K.  Judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of those policies may result in materially different amounts being reported under different conditions or using different assumptions.

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Critical accounting estimates are those that:

·

management believes are most important to the accurate portrayal of both our financial condition and operating results, and

·

require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.

We consider the following accounting estimates to be most critical in understanding the judgments that are involved in preparing our Consolidated Financial Statements:

·

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Provision for Asset Dispositions

·

Insurance Reserves

·

Retail Inventory Valuation

·

Tax Provision

·

Share-Based Compensation

 

Management has reviewed these critical accounting estimates and related disclosures with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Provision for Asset Dispositions

We assess the impairment of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable.  Recoverability of assets is measured by comparing the carrying value of the asset to the undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset.  If the total expected future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, the carrying value is written down, for an asset to be held and used, to the estimated fair value or, for an asset to be disposed of, to the fair value, net of estimated costs of disposal.  Any loss resulting from impairment is recognized by a charge to income.  Judgments and estimates that we make related to the expected useful lives of long-lived assets and future cash flows are affected by factors such as changes in economic conditions and changes in operating performance.  The accuracy of such provisions can vary materially from original estimates and management regularly monitors the adequacy of the provisions until final disposition occurs.

 

We have not made any material changes in our methodology for assessing impairments during the first nine months of 2014, and we do not believe that there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the estimates or assumptions used by us in the future to assess impairment of long-lived assets.  However, if actual results are not consistent with our estimates and assumptions used in estimating future cash flows and fair values of long-lived assets, we may be exposed to losses that could be material.

 

Insurance Reserves

 

We self-insure a significant portion of our expected workers’ compensation and general liability insurance programs.  We purchase insurance for individual workers’ compensation claims that exceed $250, $500 or $1,000 depending on the state in which the claim originates.  We purchase insurance for individual general liability claims that exceed $500.

 

We record a reserve for workers’ compensation and general liability for all unresolved claims and for an estimate of incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) claims.  These reserves and estimates of IBNR claims are based upon a full scope actuarial study which is performed annually at the end of our third quarter and is adjusted by the actuarially determined losses and actual claims payments for the fourth quarter.  Additionally, we perform limited scope actuarial studies on a quarterly basis to verify and/or modify our reserves.  The reserves and losses in the actuarial study represent a range of possible outcomes within which no given estimate is more likely than any other estimate.  As such, we record the losses in the lower end of that range and discount them to present value using a risk-free interest rate based on projected timing of payments.

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Through December 31, 2013, a significant portion of our health insurance program was self-insured.  Benefits for any individual (employee or dependents) in the self-insured group health program were limited.  We recorded a liability for the self-insured portion of our group health program for all unpaid claims based upon a loss development analysis derived from actual group health claims payment experience.  Claims paid subsequent to December 31, 2013 will be fully offset by this liability.  Effective January 1, 2014, with the exception of prescription drugs, our health insurance is fully insured.  The fully-insured portion of our health insurance program contains a retrospective feature which could increase or decrease premiums based on actual claims experience.  Additionally, we record a liability for unpaid prescription drug claims based on historical experience.

 

Our accounting policies regarding workers’ compensation, general insurance and health insurance reserves include certain actuarial assumptions and management judgments regarding economic conditions, the frequency and severity of claims and claim development history and settlement practices.  We have not made any material changes in the accounting methodology used to establish our insurance reserves during the first nine months of 2014 and do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the estimates or assumptions used to calculate the insurance reserves.  However, changes in these actuarial assumptions, management judgments or claims experience in the future may produce materially different amounts of expense that would be reported under these insurance programs.

 

Retail Inventory Valuation

Cost of goods sold includes the cost of retail merchandise sold at our stores utilizing the retail inventory method (“RIM”).  Under RIM, the valuation of our retail inventories at cost and the resulting gross margins are calculated by applying a cost-to-retail ratio to the retail value of our inventories.  Inherent in the RIM calculation are certain significant management judgments and estimates, including initial markons, markups, markdowns and shrinkage, which may significantly impact the gross margin calculation as well as the ending inventory valuation.

Inventory valuation provisions are included for retail inventory obsolescence and retail inventory shrinkage.  Retail inventory is reviewed on a quarterly basis for obsolescence and adjusted as appropriate based on assumptions made by management and judgments regarding inventory aging and future promotional activities.  Cost of goods sold includes an estimate of shrinkage that is adjusted upon physical inventory counts.  Annual physical inventory counts are conducted throughout the third and fourth quarters based upon a cyclical inventory schedule.  An estimate of shrinkage is recorded for the time period between physical inventory counts by using a three-year average of the physical inventories’ results on a store-by-store basis.

 

We have not made any material changes in the methodologies, estimates or assumptions related to our merchandise inventories during the first nine months of 2014 and do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the estimates or assumptions in the future.  However, actual obsolescence or shrinkage recorded may produce materially different amounts than we have estimated.

 

Tax Provision

 

We must make estimates of certain items that comprise our income tax provision.  These estimates include effective state and local income tax rates, employer tax credits for items such as FICA taxes paid on employee tip income, Work Opportunity and Welfare to Work credits, as well as estimates related to certain depreciation and capitalization policies.  Our estimates are made based on current tax laws, the best available information at the time of the provision and historical experience.

 

We recognize (or derecognize) a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return in the financial statements when it is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than fifty percent) that the position would be sustained (or not sustained) upon examination by tax authorities.  A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

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We file our income tax returns many months after our year end.  These returns are subject to audit by various federal and state governments years after the returns are filed and could be subject to differing interpretations of the tax laws.  We then must assess the likelihood of successful legal proceedings or reach a settlement with the relevant taxing authority.  Although we believe that the judgments and estimates used in establishing our tax provision are reasonable, an unsuccessful legal proceeding or a settlement could result in material adjustments to our Consolidated Financial Statements and our consolidated financial position (see Note 15 to our Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the 2013 Form 10-K for additional information).

 

Share-Based Compensation

Our share-based compensation consists of nonvested stock awards, performance-based market stock units (“MSU Grants”) and stock options.  Share-based compensation expense is recognized based on the grant date fair value and the achievement of performance conditions for certain awards.  We recognize share-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the award’s vesting period, or the date on which retirement is achieved, if shorter.

Compensation expense is recognized for only the portion of our share-based compensation awards that are expected to vest.  Therefore, an estimated forfeiture rate is derived from historical employee termination behavior and is updated annually.  The forfeiture rate is applied on a straight-line basis over the service (vesting) period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award were, in substance, multiple awards.

Our nonvested stock awards are time vested except for awards under our long-term incentive plans, which also contain performance conditions.   At each reporting period, we reassess the probability of achieving the performance conditions under our long-term incentive plans.  Determining whether the performance conditions will be achieved involves judgment, and the estimate of expense for nonvested stock awards may be revised periodically based on changes in our determination of the probability of achieving the performance conditions.  Revisions are reflected in the period in which the estimate is changed.  If any performance conditions are not met, no shares will be granted, no compensation will ultimately be recognized and, to the extent previously recognized, compensation expense will be reversed.

Generally, the fair value of each nonvested stock award that does not accrue dividends is equal to the market price of our common stock at the date of grant reduced by the present value of expected dividends to be paid prior to the vesting period, discounted using an appropriate risk-free interest rate.  Other nonvested stock awards accrue dividends and their fair value is equal to the market price of our stock at the date of grant.

Beginning in 2011, we adopted annual long-term incentive plans that award MSU Grants to our executives instead of stock options.  In addition to providing the requisite service, MSU Grants contain both a market condition based on total shareholder return and a performance condition based on operating income.  Total shareholder return is defined as increases in our stock price plus dividends paid during the performance period.  The number of shares awarded at the end of the performance period for each MSU Grant may increase up to 150% of target in direct proportion to any percentage increase in shareholder value during the performance period.  The probability of the actual shares expected to be awarded is considered in the grant date valuation; therefore, the expense will not be adjusted to reflect the actual units awarded.  However, if the performance condition is not met, no shares will be granted, no compensation will ultimately be recognized and, to the extent previously recognized, compensation expense will be reversed.

The fair value of our MSU Grants was determined using the Monte-Carlo simulation model, which simulates a range of possible future stock prices and estimates the probabilities of the potential payouts.  The Monte-Carlo simulation model uses the average prices for the 60-consecutive calendar days beginning 30 days prior to and ending 30 days after the first business day of the performance period.  This model also incorporates the following ranges of assumptions:

 

·

The expected volatility is a blend of implied volatility based on market-traded options on our stock and historical volatility of our stock over the period commensurate with the three-year performance period.

·

The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rate assumption commensurate with the three-year performance period.

·

The expected dividend yield is based on our current dividend yield as the best estimate of projected dividend yield for periods within the three-year performance period.

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We update the historical and implied components of the expected volatility assumption when new grants are made.

The fair value of our stock options was estimated on the date of grant using a binomial lattice-based option valuation model.  This model incorporates several key assumptions, including expected volatility, risk-free rate of return, expected dividend yield and the option’s expected life.  Additionally, we use historical data to estimate option exercise and employee termination, and these assumptions are updated annually.  The expected volatility, option exercise and termination assumptions involve management’s best estimates at that time, all of which affect the fair value of the option calculated by the binomial lattice-based option valuation model and, ultimately, the expense that will be recognized over the life of the option.  No stock options were granted in 2012, 2013 or in the first nine months of 2014.

We have not made any material changes in our estimates or assumptions used to determine share-based compensation during the first nine months of 2014 and do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the future estimates or assumptions used to determine share-based compensation expense.  However, if actual results are not consistent with our estimates or assumptions, we may be exposed to changes in share-based compensation expense that could be material.

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ITEM 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Part II, Item 7A of the 2013 Form 10-K is incorporated in this item of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q by this reference. There have been no material changes in our quantitative and qualitative market risks since August 2, 2013.

ITEM 4.

Controls and Procedures

Our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer each concluded that as of May 2, 2014, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective for the purposes set forth in the definition thereof in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e).

There have been no changes (including corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses) during the quarter ended May 2, 2014 in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings

On April 11, 2014, a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Proper v. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., in which the named plaintiffs are challenging the Company’s classification of associate managers as being exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements. The plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of alleged back wages, liquidated damages, and attorneys' fees. Unlike a class action, a collective action requires potential class members to “opt in” rather than “opt out”.  If an FLSA action is conditionally certified, the Company would have an opportunity to seek to have the class de-certified and/or seek to have the case dismissed on its merits. We believe that we have meritorious defenses to all of the claims raised by the named plaintiff and accordingly plan to defend them vigorously.  The proceedings remain in the early stages with significant uncertainty as to factual issues, outcome of legal proceedings (including certification of the collective action), and likely number of opt-in plaintiffs and/or damages claimed.  At this time, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the likely results of the lawsuit or the economic effects of the litigation on the Company, though an adverse outcome could be material to the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

On January 31, 2013, Kraft Foods Group Brands, LLC ("Kraft") filed suit against the Company and the Company's wholly owned subsidiary CBOCS Properties, Inc. ("CBOCS") in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division (the "District Court"), in the case styled Kraft Foods Group Brands, LLC v. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., CBOCS Properties, Inc., et al., seeking declaratory and injunctive relief. Kraft's complaint alleged that CBOCS's use and/or licensing use of CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE for goods sold in retail food channels was likely to cause consumer confusion with the Kraft CRACKER BARREL cheese sold in grocery stores. A Stipulation Regarding Product Launch between Kraft, JMFG, CBOCS and the Company ("Stipulation") was executed on September 19, 2013, under which marketing of products by the Company under the CB OLD COUNTRY STORE™ mark was approved, with certain restrictions, by Kraft. A Settlement Agreement, incorporating the terms of the Stipulation and dismissing the District Court case was executed March 31, 2014 (the “Settlement Agreement”). Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Company may sell food products in any channels of trade under the CB OLD COUNTRY STORE mark. The Company may also use the CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE mark on food products sold in the Company’s restaurants, websites, social media channels and other branded points of entry and as part of its current or future restaurant operations or menu offerings (collectively, the “CBOCS Channels”). The Company may not use CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE on any food products that are sold outside of the CBOCS Channels.

In addition to the matters described above, the Company and its subsidiaries are party to various other legal and regulatory proceedings and claims incidental to their business in the ordinary course.  In the opinion of management, based upon information currently available, the ultimate liability with respect to these other proceedings and claims will not materially affect the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial position.

ITEM 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in the risk factors previously disclosed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our 2013 Form 10-K.

ITEM 6.

Exhibits

See Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page hereto.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

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 INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document (filed herewith)
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema (filed herewith)
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase (filed herewith)
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase (filed herewith)
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase (filed herewith)
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase (filed herewith)

 

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