VILLAGE SUPER MARKET INC - Quarter Report: 2009 January (Form 10-Q)
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D. C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
(Mark
One)
[x]
|
QUARTERLY
REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934.
|
For the quarterly period ended: January 24, 2009 |
OR
[ ]
|
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934.
|
Commission
File No. 0-2633
VILLAGE
SUPER MARKET, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
NEW JERSEY
|
22-1576170
|
(State
of other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)
|
(I.
R. S. Employer Identification
No.)
|
733 MOUNTAIN AVENUE, SPRINGFIELD, NEW
JERSEY
|
07081
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
(973)
467-2200
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
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.
x
Yes o 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 12-b2 of the
Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer o
|
Accelerated
filer x
|
Non-accelerated
filer o (Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)
|
Smaller
reporting company o
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). o Yes x No
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of the issuer's classes of common stock as of
the latest practicable date:
March 3, 2009
|
|
Class
A Common Stock, No Par Value
|
6,915,884
Shares
|
Class
B Common Stock, No Par Value
|
6,376,304
Shares
|
VILLAGE SUPER MARKET,
INC.
INDEX
PART I
|
PAGE NO.
|
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
||
Item
1.
|
Financial
Statements (Unaudited)
|
|
Consolidated
Condensed Balance Sheets
|
3
|
|
Consolidated
Condensed Statements of Operations
|
4
|
|
Consolidated
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
|
5
|
|
Notes
to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
|
6
|
|
Item
2.
|
Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
10
|
Item
3.
|
Quantitative
& Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
|
17
|
Item
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
17
|
PART II
|
||
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
||
Item
6.
|
Exhibits
|
19
|
Signatures
|
19
|
2
PART I - FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial
Statements
VILLAGE
SUPER MARKET, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED
BALANCE SHEETS
(in
Thousands) (Unaudited)
January
24,
|
July
26,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
Current
assets
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 54,733 | $ | 47,889 | ||||
Merchandise
inventories
|
35,135 | 33,073 | ||||||
Patronage
dividend receivable
|
3,025 | 6,878 | ||||||
Note
receivable from Wakefern
|
15,530 | ----- | ||||||
Other
current assets
|
11,502 | 9,863 | ||||||
Total
current assets
|
119,925 | 97,703 | ||||||
Note
receivable from Wakefern
|
16,409 | 31,121 | ||||||
Property,
equipment and fixtures, net
|
153,300 | 141,752 | ||||||
Investment
in Wakefern
|
18,948 | 18,291 | ||||||
Goodwill
|
10,605 | 10,605 | ||||||
Other
assets
|
4,561 | 4,573 | ||||||
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
$ | 323,748 | $ | 304,045 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’
EQUITY
|
||||||||
Current
liabilities
|
||||||||
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
$ | 4,707 | $ | 4,801 | ||||
Current
portion of notes payable to Wakefern
|
237 | 198 | ||||||
Accounts
payable to Wakefern
|
54,362 | 52,345 | ||||||
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
25,986 | 25,165 | ||||||
Income
taxes payable
|
8,821 | 6,323 | ||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
94,113 | 88,832 | ||||||
Long-term
debt
|
27,414 | 26,160 | ||||||
Notes
payable to Wakefern
|
1,278 | 1,338 | ||||||
Other
liabilities
|
17,459 | 16,684 | ||||||
Commitments
and contingencies
|
||||||||
Shareholders'
equity
|
||||||||
Class
A common stock - no par value, issued 7,524 shares
|
27,090 | 25,458 | ||||||
Class
B common stock - no par value, 6,376 shares issued and
outstanding
|
1,035 | 1,035 | ||||||
Retained
earnings
|
162,906 | 152,445 | ||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss
|
(3,909 | ) | (4,071 | ) | ||||
Less
cost of Class A treasury shares (608 at January 24, 2009 and 642 at July 26, 2008)
|
(3,638 | ) | (3,836 | ) | ||||
Total
shareholders’ equity
|
183,484 | 171,031 | ||||||
TOTAL
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
$ | 323,748 | $ | 304,045 |
See
accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial
Statements.
3
VILLAGE
SUPER MARKET, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in
Thousands except Per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)
13
Wks. Ended
|
13
Wks. Ended
|
26
Wks. Ended
|
26
Wks. Ended
|
|||||||||||||
Jan. 24, 2009
|
Jan. 26, 2008
|
Jan. 24, 2009
|
Jan. 26, 2008
|
|||||||||||||
Sales
|
$ | 312,714 | $ | 292,829 | $ | 603,698 | $ | 556,388 | ||||||||
Cost
of sales
|
227,653 | 213,416 | 439,165 | 406,760 | ||||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
85,061 | 79,413 | 164,533 | 149,628 | ||||||||||||
Operating
and administrative expense
|
67,488 | 64,793 | 132,260 | 124,713 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
3,705 | 3,437 | 7,322 | 6,626 | ||||||||||||
Operating
income
|
13,868 | 11,183 | 24,951 | 18,289 | ||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(708 | ) | (832 | ) | (1,434 | ) | (1,439 | ) | ||||||||
Interest
income
|
489 | 770 | 1,057 | 1,758 | ||||||||||||
Income
before income taxes
|
13,649 | 11,121 | 24,574 | 18,608 | ||||||||||||
Income
taxes
|
5,693 | 4,682 | 10,250 | 7,871 | ||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 7,956 | $ | 6,439 | $ | 14,324 | $ | 10,737 | ||||||||
Net
income per share:
|
||||||||||||||||
Class
A Common Stock:
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
$ | .74 | $ | .61 | $ | 1.33 | $ | 1.01 | ||||||||
Diluted
|
$ | .60 | $ | .49 | $ | 1.08 | $ | .82 | ||||||||
Class
B Common Stock:
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
$ | .48 | $ | .39 | $ | .86 | $ | .66 | ||||||||
Diluted
|
$ | .47 | $ | .38 | $ | .85 | $ | .64 |
See
accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial
Statements.
4
VILLAGE
SUPER MARKET, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in
Thousands) (Unaudited)
26
Weeks Ended
|
26
Weeks Ended
|
|||||||
January 24, 2009
|
January 26, 2008
|
|||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING
ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 14,324 | $ | 10,737 | ||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
7,322 | 6,626 | ||||||
Deferred
taxes
|
350 | ( 258 | ) | |||||
Provision
to value inventories at LIFO
|
600 | 475 | ||||||
Non-cash
share-based compensation
|
1,274 | 583 | ||||||
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
Merchandise
inventories
|
( 2,662 | ) | ( 4,920 | ) | ||||
Patronage
dividend receivable
|
3,853 | 3,671 | ||||||
Accounts
payable to Wakefern
|
2,017 | 5,209 | ||||||
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
821 | (1,670 | ) | |||||
Income
taxes payable
|
2,498 | 2,092 | ||||||
Other
assets and liabilities
|
(1,040 | ) | (562 | ) | ||||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
29,357 | 21,983 | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Capital
expenditures
|
( 13,170 | ) | (17,748 | ) | ||||
Acquisition
of Galloway store assets
|
------ | (3,500 | ) | |||||
Investment
in notes receivable from Wakefern
|
(818 | ) | ( 1,011 | ) | ||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(13,988 | ) | ( 22,259 | ) | ||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Repayment
of construction loan
|
------- | 6,776 | ||||||
Proceeds
from exercise of stock options
|
339 | 20 | ||||||
Tax
benefit related to share-based compensation
|
217 | 80 | ||||||
Principal
payments of long-term debt and notes payable
|
(5,218 | ) | ( 5,265 | ) | ||||
Dividends
|
(3,863 | ) | (2,864 | ) | ||||
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
( 8,525 | ) | ( 1,253 | ) | ||||
NET
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
6,844 | ( 1,529 | ) | |||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
47,889 | 53,846 | ||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
|
$ | 54,733 | $ | 52,317 | ||||
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURE OF CASH PAYMENTS MADE FOR:
|
||||||||
Interest
|
$ | 1,566 | $ | 1,593 | ||||
Income
taxes
|
$ | 8,939 | $ | 6,889 | ||||
NON-CASH
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
|
||||||||
Investment
in Wakefern
|
$ | 657 | $ | 1,900 | ||||
Financing
lease obligation
|
$ | 5,700 | $ | 2,684 |
See
accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial
Statements.
5
VILLAGE SUPER MARKET,
INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED
CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in
Thousands) (Unaudited)
1. In
the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed
financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring
accruals) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position as of
January 24, 2009 and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows for
the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended January 24, 2009 and January 26,
2008.
The significant accounting policies
followed by Village Super Market, Inc. (the “Company”) are set forth in Note 1
to the Company's consolidated financial statements included in the July 26, 2008
Village Super Market, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K, which should be read in
conjunction with these financial statements.
2. The
results of operations for the periods ended January 24, 2009 are not necessarily
indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year.
3. At
both January 24, 2009 and July 26, 2008, approximately 67% of merchandise
inventories are valued by the LIFO method while the balance is valued by
FIFO. If the FIFO method had been used for the entire inventory,
inventories would have been $13,883 and $13,283 higher than reported at January
24, 2009 and July 26, 2008, respectively.
4. On
December 5, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a two-for-one stock
split of the Class A and Class B common stock. Shares were
distributed on January 22, 2009. All share and per share amounts have
been adjusted for all periods to reflect the stock split.
The Company computes net income per
share using the two-class method, an earnings allocation formula that
calculates basic and diluted net income per share for each class of common stock
separately based on dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed
earnings. Under the two-class method, our Class A common stock is
assumed to receive a 54% greater participation in undistributed earnings than
our Class B common stock, in accordance with the classes respective dividend
rights.
Diluted
net income per share for Class A common stock is calculated utilizing the
if-converted method, which assumes the conversion of all shares of Class B
common stock to shares of Class A common stock on a share-for-share basis, as
this method is more dilutive than the two-class method. Diluted
net income per share for Class B common stock does not assume conversion of
Class B common stock to shares of Class A common stock.
6
The
tables below reconcile the numerators and denominators of basic and diluted net
income per share for all periods presented.
13 Weeks Ended
|
26 Weeks Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
January 24, 2009
|
||||||||||||||||
Class A
|
Class B
|
Class A
|
Class B
|
|||||||||||||
Numerator:
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
income allocated, basic
|
$ | 4,902 | $ | 3,054 | $ | 8,820 | $ | 5,504 | ||||||||
Conversion
of Class B to Class A shares
|
3,054 | ---- | 5,504 | ---- | ||||||||||||
Effect
of share-based compensation on allocated net income
|
---- | (45 | ) | ---- | ( 72 | ) | ||||||||||
Net
income allocated, diluted
|
$ | 7,956 | $ | 3,009 | $ | 14,324 | $ | 5,432 | ||||||||
Denominator:
|
||||||||||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding, basic
|
6,642 | 6,376 | 6,636 | 6,376 | ||||||||||||
Conversion
of Class B to Class A shares
|
6,376 | ---- | 6,376 | ---- | ||||||||||||
Dilutive
effect of share-based compensation
|
218 | ---- | 194 |
----
|
||||||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding, diluted
|
13,236 |
6,376
|
13,206 | 6,376 | ||||||||||||
13 Weeks Ended
|
26 Weeks Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
January 26, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Class A
|
Class B
|
Class A
|
Class B
|
|||||||||||||
Numerator:
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
income allocated, basic
|
$ | 3,921 | $ | 2,518 | $ | 6,536 | $ | 4,201 | ||||||||
Conversion
of Class B to Class A shares
|
2,518 | ---- | 4,201 | ---- | ||||||||||||
Effect
of share-based compensation on allocated net income
|
---- | (61 | ) | ---- | (95 | ) | ||||||||||
Net
income allocated, diluted
|
$ | 6,439 | $ | 2,457 | $ | 10,737 | $ | 4,106 | ||||||||
Denominator:
|
||||||||||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding, basic
|
6,450 | 6,376 | 6,446 | 6,376 | ||||||||||||
Conversion
of Class B to Class A shares
|
6,376 | ---- | 6,376 | ---- | ||||||||||||
Dilutive
effect of share-based compensation
|
342 | ---- | 336 | ---- | ||||||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding, diluted
|
13,168 | 6,376 | 13,158 | 6,376 |
7
Class A
shares of 104 and 8 issuable under share-based compensation plans were excluded
from the calculation of diluted net income per share at January 24, 2009 and
January 26, 2008, respectively, as a result of their anti-dilutive
effect.
5.
Comprehensive income was $8,037 and $14,486 for the
quarter and six-month periods ended January 24, 2009, and $6,534 and $10,927 for
the quarter and six-month periods ended January 26, 2008. Comprehensive
income consists of net income and amortization of net losses on benefit plans,
net of income taxes.
6.
The Company sponsors four defined benefit
pension plans. Net periodic pension costs for the four plans includes
the following components:
13
Weeks Ended
|
26
Weeks Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
1/24/09
|
1/26/08
|
1/24/09
|
1/26/08
|
|||||||||||||
Service
cost
|
$ | 603 | $ | 557 | $ | 1,206 | $ | 1,114 | ||||||||
Interest
cost on projected benefit obligations
|
520 | 456 | 1,040 | 912 | ||||||||||||
Expected
return on plan assets
|
(434 | ) | (368 | ) | (868 | ) | (736 | ) | ||||||||
Amortization
of gains and losses
|
133 | 154 | 266 | 308 | ||||||||||||
Amortization
of prior service costs
|
2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | ||||||||||||
Net
periodic pension cost
|
$ | 824 | $ | 803 | $ | 1,648 | $ | 1,606 |
As of January 24, 2009, the Company has
contributed $40 to its pension plans in fiscal 2009. The Company
expects to contribute an additional $2,960 during the remainder of fiscal 2009
to fund its pension plans.
7. In
September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS
No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair
value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires enhanced
disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions of SFAS 157 were
effective beginning in fiscal 2009. However, the FASB deferred the effective
date of SFAS 157 until the beginning of the Company’s 2010 fiscal year as it
relates to fair value measurement requirements for non-financial assets and
liabilities that are not remeasured at fair value on a recurring basis. This
includes fair value calculated in impairment assessments of goodwill and other
long-lived assets. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 157 as of July 27,
2008 for financial assets and liabilities and its adoption did not have a
material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of
operations. Management is currently evaluating the effect that adoption of SFAS
157 for its non-financial assets and liabilities will have on the Company’s
consolidated financial position and results of operations.
8
As of January 24, 2009, the Company’s
financial assets and liabilities required to be measured at fair value consisted
of one interest rate swap agreement with an immaterial fair value based on level
2 inputs. The level 2 inputs used are observable, either directly or
indirectly, such as interest rates and yield curves at commonly quoted
intervals.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS
No. 159 (“SFAS 159”), “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and
Financial Liabilities — Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115”.
This statement provides companies with an option to measure, at specified
election dates, many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value
that are not currently measured at fair value. The provisions of SFAS 159 were
effective beginning in fiscal 2009 and the Company has chosen not to elect the
fair value option for any items that are not already required to be measured at
fair value in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States.
8. Under
EITF Issue No. 97-10, “The Effect of Lessee Involvement in Asset Construction,”
Village is considered the owner of the Marmora land and building during the
construction period as Village has an unlimited obligation to cover building
construction costs over a certain amount. Therefore, $5,700 of land,
site costs and construction costs paid by the landlord to date are recorded as
property and long-term debt at January 24, 2009.
9. On
December 19, 2008, Village amended its unsecured revolving credit agreement,
which would have expired on September 16, 2009. The amended agreement
increases the maximum amount available for borrowing to $25,000 from
$20,000. This loan agreement expires on December 31, 2011 with two
one-year extensions available if exercised by both parties. Other
terms of the amended revolving loan agreement, including covenants, are similar
to the previous agreement.
9
10.
Construction of the Washington replacement store was stopped
by Court order in January 2009 as the final approval of the Washington Land Use
Board was deemed invalid due to the lack of a quorum. The shopping
center developer anticipates returning to the Board for approval in
March. Based on the legal opinion of both the developer’s counsel and
the Company’s outside counsel, the approval is expected to be reinstated within
three to six months. The Company’s investment in construction and equipment at
January 24, 2009 was $9,200. If the developer is unsuccessful in
obtaining the required approvals, the Company may record an impairment charge
for this investment, which could be material to the Company’s consolidated
financial position and results of operations.
Our leasehold interest in the current
Washington store is in litigation. The Company believes conditions in the lease
remain which extend our leasehold interest through January 2010. The
outcome of the above two issues will determine any potential time period between
the closing of the current Washington store and the opening of the replacement
store.
ITEM
2.
MANAGEMENT'S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars
in Thousands)
OVERVIEW
The Company operates a chain of 25
ShopRite supermarkets in New Jersey and northeastern
Pennsylvania. The Company is the second largest member of Wakefern
Food Corporation (“Wakefern”), the nation’s largest retailer-owned food
cooperative. As further described in the Company’s Form 10-K, this
ownership interest in Wakefern provides the Company many of the economies of
scale in purchasing, distribution, advanced retail technology and advertising
associated with larger chains.
The
Company’s stores, five of which are owned, average 56,000 total square
feet. Larger store sizes enable the Company to offer the specialty
departments that customers desire for one-stop shopping, including pharmacies,
natural and organic departments, ethnic and international foods, and home meal
replacement.
10
We
consider a variety of indicators to evaluate our performance, such as same store
sales; sales per store; percentage of total sales by department (mix); shrink;
departmental gross profit percentage; sales per labor hour; and hourly labor
rates.
RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
The
following table sets forth the major components of the Consolidated Condensed
Statements
of Operations of the Company as a percentage of sales:
13
Weeks Ended
|
26
Weeks Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
1/24/09
|
1/26/08
|
1/24/09
|
1/26/08
|
|||||||||||||
Sales
|
100.00 | % | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % | 100.00 | % | ||||||||
Cost
of sales
|
72.80 | 72.88 | 72.75 | 73.11 | ||||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
27.20 | 27.12 | 27.25 | 26.89 | ||||||||||||
Operating
and administrative expense
|
21.58 | 22.13 | 21.91 | 22.41 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization expense
|
1.18 | 1.17 | 1.21 | 1.19 | ||||||||||||
Operating
income
|
4.44 | 3.82 | 4.13 | 3.29 | ||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(.23 | ) | (.28 | ) | (.24 | ) | (.26 | ) | ||||||||
Interest
income
|
.15 | .26 | .18 | .31 | ||||||||||||
Income
before taxes
|
4.36 | 3.80 | 4.07 | 3.34 | ||||||||||||
Income
taxes
|
1.82 | 1.60 | 1.70 | 1.41 | ||||||||||||
Net
income
|
2.54 | % | 2.20 | % | 2.37 | % | 1.93 | % |
Sales. Sales
were $312,714 in the second quarter of fiscal 2009, an increase of 6.8% from the
second quarter of the prior year. Sales increased due to higher sales
at the Franklin store, which opened on November 7, 2007, and a 5.9% increase in
same store sales. Substantially improved transaction count and higher
average transaction size in almost all stores, especially the Galloway store,
which opened on October 3, 2007, contributed to the increase in same store
sales. Inflation in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 was lower than
the average inflation for calendar 2008. In addition, customers
continue to be cautious due to concerns about the economy resulting in continued
increased sale item penetration and trading down. New stores and replacement
stores are included in same store sales in the quarter after the store has been in operation
for four full quarters. Therefore, the Galloway store is included in
same store sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2009. Store
renovations are included in same store sales immediately.
Sales
were $603,698 in the six-month period of fiscal 2009, an increase of 8.5% from
the prior year. Sales increased due to the opening of the two new
stores and a 5.1% increase in same store sales. Same store sales
increased due to improved transaction count and average transaction
size. These improvements were partially offset by reduced sales in
two stores due to cannibalization from the opening of the two new
stores.
11
Gross
profit. Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased .08%
in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 compared to the second quarter of the prior
year primarily due to improved departmental gross margin percentages (.23%) and
improved product mix (.05%). These improvements were partially offset
by higher promotional spending (.18%) and increased warehouse assessment charges
from Wakefern (.10%). In addition, gross profit was favorably
impacted by receipt of patronage dividends from Wakefern greater than amounts
accrued in the second quarter of both fiscal 2009 (.26%) and 2008
(.17%). Promotional spending increased due to more of the cost of
this year’s Thanksgiving loyalty program being allocated to the second quarter
of fiscal 2009 than the prior year allocation due to changes in the program
timing.
Gross profit as a percentage of sales
increased .36% in the six-month period of fiscal 2009 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year primarily due to improved departmental
gross margin percentages (.28%) and improved product mix
(.10%). These improvements were partially offset by increased
warehouse assessment charges from Wakefern (.05%).
Operating and administrative
expense. Operating and administrative expense decreased .55%
as a percentage of sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 compared to the
second quarter of the prior year primarily due to reduced payroll costs in
fiscal 2009 (.62%), the prior year including store pre-opening costs (.09%), and
operating leverage due to the 5.9% same store sales increase. These improvements
were partially offset by increased snow removal costs (.12%) and the prior year
including refunds of property and liability insurance premiums
(.16%). Payroll costs as a percentage of sales improved due to
operating leverage resulting from the 5.9% same store sales increase and reduced
labor due to store technology improvements.
Operating
and administrative expense decreased by .50% as a percentage of sales in the
six-month period of fiscal 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the
prior year primarily due to reduced payroll costs in fiscal 2009 (.55%), the
prior year including store pre-opening costs (.12%), and operating leverage due
to the 5.1% same store sales increase. These improvements were
partially offset by increased snow removal costs (.06%) and the prior year
including refunds of property and liability insurance premiums
(.14%).
12
Depreciation and
amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense increased
in the second quarter and six-month periods of fiscal 2009 compared to the
corresponding periods of the prior year due to depreciation related to fixed
asset additions, including the two new stores.
Interest
expense. Interest expense decreased in the second quarter of
fiscal 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior year due to debt
payments. Interest expense was approximately the same in the
six-month period of fiscal 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the
prior year due to interest on the Franklin store financing lease being partially
offset by lower interest expense due to debt payments.
Interest
income. Interest income decreased in the second quarter and
six-month periods of fiscal 2009 compared to the corresponding periods of the
prior year due to lower interest rates received.
Income
taxes. The effective income tax rate was 41.7% in both the
second quarter and six-month periods of fiscal 2009 compared to 42.1% and 42.3%,
respectively, in the corresponding periods of the prior year. The
effective income tax rate for all of fiscal 2008 was 41.9%.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING
POLICIES
Critical accounting policies are those
accounting policies that management believes are important to the portrayal of
the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. These
policies 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. The Company’s critical accounting policies
relating to the impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, accounting for
patronage dividends earned as a stockholder of Wakefern, accounting for pension
plans, accounting for share-based compensation, and accounting for uncertain tax
positions are described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended July 26, 2008. As of January 24, 2009, there have been no
changes to any of the critical accounting policies contained
therein.
The preparation of financial statements
in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at
the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.
13
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL
RESOURCES
Net cash provided by operating
activities was $29,357 in the six-month period ended January 24, 2009 compared
with $21,983 in the corresponding period of the prior year. This
increase is primarily attributable to improved net income and a smaller increase
in inventories in fiscal 2009. Inventories increased less in fiscal
2009 than in fiscal 2008 due to the addition of the two new stores in fiscal
2008.
During the first six months of fiscal
2009, Village used cash to fund capital expenditures of $13,170, debt payments
of $5,218, and dividends of $3,863. Capital expenditures consisted
primarily of the construction of a replacement store in Washington, New Jersey
and a new store in Marmora, New Jersey, and several small
remodels. Debt payments made include the sixth installment of $4,286
on Village’s unsecured Senior Notes.
Working capital was $25,812 at January
24, 2009 compared to $8,871 at July 26, 2008. The working
capital ratio was 1.3 to 1 at January 24, 2009 compared to 1.1 to 1 at July 26,
2008. The increase in working capital is due to a portion of the
notes receivable from Wakefern becoming due within one year. The
Company’s working capital needs are reduced, since inventories are generally
sold by the time payments to Wakefern and other suppliers are due.
Village has budgeted approximately
$30,000 for capital expenditures in fiscal 2009. Planned expenditures
include the construction and equipment for the replacement store in Washington
and the new store in Marmora. The Marmora store is expected to open
in the spring of 2009. Construction of the Washington replacement
store was stopped by Court order in January 2009 as the final approval of the
Washington Land Use Board was deemed invalid due to the lack of a
quorum. The shopping center developer anticipates returning to the
Board for approval in March. Based on the legal opinion of both the
developer’s counsel and the Company’s outside counsel, the approval is expected
to be reinstated within three to six months. The Company’s investment in
construction and equipment at January 24, 2009 was $9,200. If the
developer is unsuccessful in obtaining the required approvals, the Company may
record an impairment charge for this investment, which could be material to the
Company’s consolidated financial position and results of
operations.
14
Our
leasehold interest in the current Washington store is in litigation. The Company
believes conditions in the lease remain which extend our leasehold interest
through January 2010. The outcome of the above two issues will
determine any potential time period between the closing of the current
Washington store and the opening of the replacement store.
On December 19, 2008, Village amended
its unsecured revolving credit agreement, which would have expired on September
16, 2009. The amended agreement increases the maximum amount
available for borrowing to $25,000 from $20,000. This loan agreement
expires on December 31, 2011 with two one-year extensions available if exercised
by both parties. Other terms of the amended revolving loan agreement,
including covenants, are similar to the previous agreement. The
Company’s primary sources of liquidity in fiscal 2009 are expected to be cash
and cash equivalents on hand and operating cash flow generated in fiscal
2009.
Under
EITF Issue No. 97-10, “The Effect of Lessee Involvement in Asset Construction,”
Village is considered the owner of the Marmora land and building during the
construction period as Village has an unlimited obligation to cover building
construction costs over a certain amount. Therefore, $5,700 of land,
site costs and construction costs paid by the landlord to date are recorded as
property and long-term debt at January 24, 2009.
There have been no substantial changes
as of January 24, 2009 to the contractual obligations and commitments discussed
on page 8 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July
26, 2008, except for an additional $657 required investment in Wakefern common
stock.
15
RELATED PARTY
TRANSACTIONS
A description of the Company’s
transactions with Wakefern, its principal supplier, and with other related
parties is included on pages 9, 18 and 21 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended July 26, 2008. There have been no significant
changes in the Company’s relationship or nature of transactions with related
parties during the six months of fiscal 2009, except for additional required
investments in Wakefern common stock of $657.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
All statements, other than statements
of historical fact, included in this Form 10-Q are or may be considered
forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities
law. The Company cautions the reader that there is no assurance that
actual results or business conditions will not differ materially from future
results, whether expressed, suggested or implied by such forward-looking
statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update
forward-looking statements to reflect developments or information obtained after
the date hereof. The following are among the principal factors that could cause
actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements: local economic
conditions; competitive pressures from the Company’s operating environment; the
ability of the Company to maintain and improve its sales and margins; the
ability to attract and retain qualified associates; the availability of new
store locations; the availability of capital; the liquidity of the Company; the
success of operating initiatives; consumer spending patterns; the impact of
higher energy prices; increased cost of goods sold, including increased costs
from the Company’s principal supplier, Wakefern; the results of litigation; the
results of tax examinations; the results of union contract negotiations;
competitive store openings; the rate of return on pension assets; the outcome of
the Washington replacement store approval process; and other factors
detailed herein and in other public filings of the Company.
16
ITEM
3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET
RISK
The
Company is exposed to market risks arising from adverse changes in interest
rates. As of January 24, 2009, the Company’s only
variable rate borrowings relate to an interest rate swap
agreement. On October 18, 2001, the Company entered into an interest
rate swap agreement with a major financial institution pursuant to which the
Company pays a variable rate of six-month LIBOR plus 3.36% (4.99% at January 24,
2009) on an initial notional amount of $10,000 expiring in September 2009 in
exchange for a fixed rate of 8.12%. The swap agreement notional amount decreases
in amounts and on dates corresponding to the fixed rate obligation it hedges. At
January 24, 2009, the remaining notional amount of the swap agreement was
$1,429. A 1% increase in interest rates, applied
to the Company’s borrowings at January 24, 2009, would result in an annual
increase in interest expense and a corresponding reduction in cash flow of
approximately $14. The
fair value of the Company’s fixed rate debt approximates carrying value at
January 24, 2009.
At January 24, 2009, the Company had
demand deposits of $39,960 at Wakefern earning interest at overnight money
market rates, which are exposed to the impact of interest rate
changes. At January 24, 2009, the Company had a $16,409 15-month note
receivable due from Wakefern earning a fixed interest rate of 7%. In
addition, the Company had a $15,530 note receivable due from Wakefern earning
interest at prime minus 1.25%, which matures December 8, 2009.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
As
required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, the Company carried out an
evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s
disclosure controls and procedures at the end of the period. This
evaluation was carried out under the supervision, and with the participation, of
the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer along
with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that
evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, along with the Company’s
Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and
procedures are effective.
17
Disclosure
controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to
ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed or
submitted
under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within
the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and
forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without
limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required
to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated
and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure.
There
have been no significant changes in internal controls over financial reporting
during the second quarter of fiscal 2009.
18
PART II -
OTHER INFORMATION
Item
6. Exhibits
Exhibit 4.8
|
Second
Amendment to Loan Agreement
|
|
Exhibit
31.1
|
Certification
|
|
Exhibit
31.2
|
Certification
|
|
Exhibit
32.1
|
Certification
(furnished, not filed)
|
|
Exhibit
32.2
|
Certification
(furnished, not filed)
|
|
Exhibit
99.1
|
Press
Release dated March 5, 2009
|
|
Exhibit
99.2
|
First
Quarter Report to Shareholders dated December 5,
2008
|
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.
Village Super Market,
Inc.
|
||
Registrant
|
||
Date: March
5, 2009
|
/s/ James Sumas
|
|
James
Sumas
|
||
(Chief
Executive Officer)
|
||
Date: March
5, 2009
|
/s/ Kevin R. Begley
|
|
Kevin
R. Begley
|
||
(Chief
Financial Officer)
|
19