Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 28, 2020
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Fiscal Year	Fiscal Year Typically, our fiscal quarters and fiscal year consist of 13 and 52 weeks, respectively, ending on the Saturday closest to December 31 in the case of our fiscal year and fourth fiscal quarter, and on the Saturday closest to the end of the corresponding calendar quarter in the case of our fiscal quarters. As a result, a 53^rdweek is added to our fiscal year every five or six years. In a 53-week fiscal year our fourth fiscal quarter contains 14 weeks. Our fiscal year ending January 2, 2021 (fiscal 2020) contains 53 weeks and our fiscal year ended December 28, 2019 (fiscal 2019) contains 52 weeks. The first three quarters of fiscal 2020 and all quarters of fiscal 2019 contain 13 weeks, and the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 contains 14 weeks.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements for the thirteen week periods ended March 28, 2020 (first quarter of 2020) and March 30, 2019 (first quarter of 2019) have been prepared by our company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and include the accounts of B&G Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. However, our management believes, to the best of their knowledge, that the disclosures herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements contain all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position as of March 28, 2020, and the results of our operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the first quarter of 2020 and 2019. Our results of operations for the first quarter of 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. We have evaluated subsequent events for disclosure through the date of issuance of the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements. The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2019 filed with the SEC on February 26, 2020.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires our management to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions made by management involve revenue recognition as it relates to trade and consumer promotion expenses; pension benefits; acquisition accounting fair value allocations; the recoverability of goodwill, other intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and deferred tax assets; and the determination of the useful life of customer relationship and finite-lived trademark intangible assets. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, including the current economic environment. We adjust such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Volatility in the credit and equity markets can increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions.
Newly Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Standards	Newly Adopted Accounting Standards In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a new accounting standards update (ASU) which modifies the measurement of expected credit losses of certain financial instruments. This ASU replaces the incurred loss methodology for recognizing credit losses with a current expected credit losses model and applies to all financial assets, including trade accounts receivables. The amendments in this ASU should be applied on a modified retrospective basis to all periods presented. This guidance became effective during the first quarter of 2020. The adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In January 2017, the FASB issued an amendment to the standards of goodwill impairment testing. The new guidance simplifies the test for goodwill impairment, by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. This guidance became effective during the first quarter of 2020. The adoption of this ASU did not have an impact to our consolidated financial statements. Recently Issued Accounting Standards In March 2020, the FASB issued a new ASU which provides optional guidance for a limited time to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates such as LIBOR. The update may be applied as of the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. We currently expect to adopt the standard during fiscal 2022. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU. We use LIBOR to determine interest under our revolving credit facility and our tranche B term loans due 2026. However, we currently do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements. In December 2019, the FASB issued a new ASU which removes certain exceptions for recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intraperiod allocation and calculating income taxes in interim periods. The ASU also adds guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for goodwill and allocating taxes to members of a consolidated group. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. We currently expect to adopt the standard when it becomes effective. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU. Currently, we do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued a new ASU that aims to improve the overall usefulness of disclosures to financial statement users and reduce unnecessary costs to companies by changing disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other post-retirement plans. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. We expect to update our defined benefit pension plan disclosures when the new standard becomes effective. We do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have an impact to our consolidated financial statements as this ASU only modifies disclosure requirements.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 28, 2020

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Typically, our fiscal quarters and fiscal year consist of 13 and 52 weeks, respectively, ending on the Saturday closest to December 31 in the case of our fiscal year and fourth fiscal quarter, and on the Saturday closest to the end of the corresponding calendar quarter in the case of our fiscal quarters. As a result, a 53^rdweek is added to our fiscal year every five or six years. In a 53-week fiscal year our fourth fiscal quarter contains 14 weeks. Our fiscal year ending January 2, 2021 (fiscal 2020) contains 53 weeks and our fiscal year ended December 28, 2019 (fiscal 2019) contains 52 weeks. The first three quarters of fiscal 2020 and all quarters of fiscal 2019 contain 13 weeks, and the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 contains 14 weeks.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements for the thirteen week periods ended March 28, 2020 (first quarter of 2020) and March 30, 2019 (first quarter of 2019) have been prepared by our company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and include the accounts of B&G Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. However, our management believes, to the best of their knowledge, that the disclosures herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements contain all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position as of March 28, 2020, and the results of our operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the first quarter of 2020 and 2019. Our results of operations for the first quarter of 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. We have evaluated subsequent events for disclosure through the date of issuance of the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements. The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2019 filed with the SEC on February 26, 2020.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires our management to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions made by management involve revenue recognition as it relates to trade and consumer promotion expenses; pension benefits; acquisition accounting fair value allocations; the recoverability of goodwill, other intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and deferred tax assets; and the determination of the useful life of customer relationship and finite-lived trademark intangible assets. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions.

Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, including the current economic environment. We adjust such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Volatility in the credit and equity markets can increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions.

Newly Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a new accounting standards update (ASU) which modifies the measurement of expected credit losses of certain financial instruments. This ASU replaces the incurred loss methodology for recognizing credit losses with a current expected credit losses model and applies to all financial assets, including trade accounts receivables. The amendments in this ASU should be applied on a modified retrospective basis to all periods presented. This guidance became effective during the first quarter of 2020. The adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued an amendment to the standards of goodwill impairment testing. The new guidance simplifies the test for goodwill impairment, by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. This guidance became effective during the first quarter of 2020. The adoption of this ASU did not have an impact to our consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In March 2020, the FASB issued a new ASU which provides optional guidance for a limited time to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates such as LIBOR. The update may be applied as of the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. We currently expect to adopt the standard during fiscal 2022. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU. We use LIBOR to determine interest under our revolving credit facility and our tranche B term loans due 2026. However, we currently do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued a new ASU which removes certain exceptions for recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intraperiod allocation and calculating income taxes in interim periods. The ASU also adds guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for goodwill and allocating taxes to members of a consolidated group. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. We currently expect to adopt the standard when it becomes effective. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU. Currently, we do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued a new ASU that aims to improve the overall usefulness of disclosures to financial statement users and reduce unnecessary costs to companies by changing disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other post-retirement plans. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. We expect to update our defined benefit pension plan disclosures when the new standard

becomes effective. We do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have an impact to our consolidated financial statements as this ASU only modifies disclosure requirements.