Employee Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans

Defined Benefit Pension and Post-Retirement Plans

The Company has defined benefit pension plans that cover certain union and nonunion associates in the U.S. Benefits under these plans are based either on years of credited service and compensation during the years preceding retirement or on years of credited service and established monthly benefit levels. The Company also has a post-retirement plan that provides life insurance coverage to eligible retired associates (collectively, with the defined benefit plans, the U.S. Plans). The Company froze benefit accruals for the U.S. Plans for nonunion associates effective April 1, 2005, and these associates no longer earn additional pension benefits. The Company also has a defined benefit plan that covers certain associates in Australia and is referenced as superannuation (the Offshore Plan). The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for the U.S. Plans and the Offshore Plan.

Actuarial information regarding these plans is as follows:

	2020
	Retirement Income Plan		National Service-Related Pension Plan		Other Post-Retirement Benefits		Superannuation		Total
Change in benefit obligation:	(In thousands)
Benefit obligation – January 1, 2020	$	(45,215)	$	(35,036)	$	(611)	$	(1,152)	$	(82,014)
Service cost	—		—		—		(66)		(66)
Interest cost	(1,261)		(1,117)		(14)		(28)		(2,420)
Actuarial loss	(3,657)		(3,147)		(27)		(72)		(6,903)
Benefits paid	1,358		1,073		5		23		2,459
Plan participants’ contributions	—		—		—		(19)		(19)
Foreign currency translation loss	—		—		—		(109)		(109)
Effect of settlement	1,266		—		—		—		1,266
Benefit obligation – end of year	(47,509)		(38,227)		(647)		(1,423)		(87,806)
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets – January 1, 2020	40,111		27,841		—		1,356		69,308
Actual return on plan assets	5,903		4,034		—		44		9,981
Employer contributions	1,640		1,259		5		45		2,949
Benefits paid	(1,358)		(1,073)		(5)		(23)		(2,459)
Effect of settlement	(1,266)		—		—		—		(1,266)
Plan participants’ contributions	—		—		—		19		19
Foreign currency translation gain	—		—		—		129		129
Fair value of plan assets – end of year	45,030		32,061		—		1,570		78,661
Funded status	$	(2,479)	$	(6,166)	$	(647)	$	147	$	(9,145)
Amounts recognized on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020:
Pension and post-retirement liability	$	(2,479)	$	(6,166)	$	(647)	$	147	$	(9,145)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (income)	5,021		4,473		6		86		9,586
Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of:
Net loss	$	5,021	$	4,473	$	6	$	86	$	9,586
Prior service cost	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	53	$	53
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss:
Net (gain) loss	$	(244)	$	578	$	(94)	$	102	$	342
Amortization of net gain	(1,017)		(607)		—		—		(1,624)
Amortization of prior service cost	—		—		—		(31)		(31)
Amount recognized due to special event	(134)		—		—		—		(134)
Foreign currency translation loss	—		—		—		14		14
Total recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss	$	(1,395)	$	(29)	$	(94)	$	85	$	(1,433)
Information for plans with accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:
Projected benefit obligation	$	47,509	$	38,227	$	647	$	1,423	$	87,806
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	47,508	$	38,227	$	647	$	1,297	$	87,679
Fair value of plan assets	$	45,030	$	32,061	$	—	$	1,570	$	78,661

	2019
	Retirement Income Plan		National Service-Related Pension Plan		Other Post-Retirement Benefits		Superannuation		Total
Change in benefit obligation:	(In thousands)
Benefit obligation – January 1, 2019	$	(43,364)	$	(30,627)	$	(678)	$	(1,385)	$	(76,054)
Service cost	—		—		—		(78)		(78)
Interest cost	(1,590)		(1,245)		(23)		(49)		(2,907)
Actuarial loss	(3,251)		(4,167)		(62)		(77)		(7,557)
Benefits paid	2,990		1,003		—		447		4,440
Plan participants’ contributions	—		—		—		(12)		(12)
Foreign currency translation gain	—		—		—		2		2
Effect of settlement	—		—		152		—		152
Benefit obligation – end of year	(45,215)		(35,036)		(611)		(1,152)		(82,014)
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets – January 1, 2019	34,958		23,277		—		1,502		59,737
Actual return on plan assets	6,804		4,556		—		237		11,597
Employer contributions	1,339		1,011		152		58		2,560
Benefits paid	(2,990)		(1,003)		—		(447)		(4,440)
Effect of settlement	—		—		(152)		—		(152)
Plan participants’ contributions	—		—		—		12		12
Foreign currency translation loss	—		—		—		(6)		(6)
Fair value of plan assets – end of year	40,111		27,841		—		1,356		69,308
Funded status	$	(5,104)	$	(7,195)	$	(611)	$	204	$	(12,706)
Amounts recognized on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019:
Pension and post-retirement liability	$	(5,104)	$	(7,195)	$	(611)	$	204	$	(12,706)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (income)	6,417		4,501		(21)		62		10,959
Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of:
Net loss (gain)	$	6,417	$	4,501	$	(21)	$	(15)	$	10,882
Prior service cost	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	77	$	77
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income (loss):
Net (gain) loss	$	(1,793)	$	788	$	(94)	$	(78)	$	(1,177)
Amortization of net (loss) gain	(1,509)		(564)		4		—		(2,069)
Amortization of prior service cost	—		—		—		(28)		(28)
Amount recognized due to special event	—		—		5		5		10
Foreign currency translation gain	—		—		—		(5)		(5)
Total recognized in other comprehensive loss (income)	$	(3,302)	$	224	$	(85)	$	(106)	$	(3,269)
Information for plans with accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:
Projected benefit obligation	$	45,215	$	35,036	$	611	$	1,152	$	82,014
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	45,215	$	35,036	$	611	$	1,038	$	81,900
Fair value of plan assets	$	40,111	$	27,841	$	—	$	1,356	$	69,308

The components of net period benefit cost for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:

	December 31, 2020
	Retirement Income Plan		National Service-Related Pension Plan		Other Post-Retirement Benefits		Superannuation		Total
Components of net periodic benefit cost:	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	59	$	59
Interest cost	1,261		1,117		14		25		2,417
Expected return on plan assets	(2,002)		(1,465)		—		(66)		(3,533)
Amortization of net loss	1,017		607		—		—		1,624
Amortization of prior service cost	—		—		—		27		27
Effect of settlement	134		—		—		—		134
Net pension benefit cost	$	410	$	259	$	14	$	45	$	728

	December 31, 2019
	Retirement Income Plan		National Service-Related Pension Plan		Other Post-Retirement Benefits		Superannuation		Total
Components of net periodic benefit cost:	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	78	$	78
Interest cost	1,590		1,245		23		49		2,907
Expected return on plan assets	(1,760)		(1,176)		—		(74)		(3,010)
Amortization of net loss (gain)	1,509		564		(4)		—		2,069
Amortization of prior service cost	—		—		—		28		28
Effect of settlement	—		—		(5)		(5)		(10)
Net pension benefit cost	$	1,339	$	633	$	14	$	76	$	2,062

	December 31, 2018
	Retirement Income Plan		National Service-Related Pension Plan		Other Post-Retirement Benefits		Superannuation		Total
Components of net periodic benefit cost:	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	31	$	78	$	—	$	137	$	246
Interest cost	1,418		1,199		20		104		$	2,741
Expected return on plan assets	(2,047)		(1,369)		—		(172)		$	(3,588)
Amortization of net loss	1,244		715		—		—		$	1,959
Amortization of prior service cost	—		—		—		30		$	30
Effect of settlement	—		—		—		68		$	68
Net pension benefit cost	$	646	$	623	$	20	$	167	$	1,456

The service cost component of defined benefit pension cost and postretirement benefit cost are presented in “Selling, general and administrative” and all other components of net period benefit cost are presented in “Other (expense) income, net” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company recognizes all changes in the fair value of plan assets and net actuarial gains or losses at December 31 each year. Prior service costs and gains/losses are amortized based on a straight-line method over the average future service of members that are expected to receive benefits.

All actuarial gains/losses are exposed to amortization over an average future service period of 5.8 years for the Retirement Income Plan, 6.9 years for the National Service-Related Pension Plan, 4.7 years for Other Post-Retirement Benefits, and 5.1 years for Superannuation as of December 31, 2020.

The weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations and net period benefit costs for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:

	December 31, 2020
	Retirement Income Plan	National Service-Related Pension Plan	Other Post-Retirement Benefits	Superan- nuation
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine obligations (balance sheet):
Discount rate	2.10%	2.49%	1.41%	1.50%
Rate of compensation increase	N/A	N/A	N/A	3.25%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost (statement of operations):
Discount rate	3.00%	3.25%	2.55%	2.30%
Expected return on plan assets	6.50%	6.50%	N/A	5.00%
Rate of compensation increase	N/A	N/A	N/A	3.25%

	December 31, 2019
	Retirement Income Plan	National Service-Related Pension Plan	Other Post-Retirement Benefits	Superan- nuation
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine obligations (balance sheet):
Discount rate	3.00%	3.25%	2.55%	2.30%
Rate of compensation increase	N/A	N/A	N/A	3.25%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost (statement of operations):
Discount rate	3.95%	4.15%	3.70%	3.70%
Expected return on plan assets	6.50%	6.50%	N/A	5.00%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50%	N/A	N/A	3.25%

	December 31, 2018
	Retirement Income Plan	National Service-Related Pension Plan	Other Post-Retirement Benefits	Superan- nuation
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine obligations (balance sheet):
Discount rate	3.95%	4.15%	3.70%	3.70%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50%	N/A	N/A	3.25%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost (statement of operations):
Discount rate	3.35%	3.65%	3.10%	3.70%
Expected return on plan assets	7.00%	7.00%	N/A	6.00%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50%	N/A	N/A	4.00%

The estimated net loss for the defined benefit plans in the U.S. that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost during 2021 is $1.5 million. There is no estimated prior service cost associated with this plan to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income during 2021.

There is no estimated net gain for the Offshore Plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost during 2021. The estimated prior service cost associated with this plan to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income during 2021 is nominal.

The Company determines the expected return on plan assets based on their market value as of December 31 of each year, as adjusted for a) expected employer contributions, b) expected benefit distributions, and c) estimated administrative expenses.

Plan Assets

The Company’s overall investment strategy is to achieve a mix of investments for long-term growth and near-term benefit payments. The Company invests in both U.S. and non-U.S. equity securities, fixed-income securities, and real estate.

The allocations of the U.S. Plans’ and the Offshore Plan’s investments by fair value as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

	U.S. Plans			Offshore Plan
	Actual		Target Allocation	Actual		Target Allocation
	2020	2019		2020	2019
U.S. equities	37%	35%	25%–55%	18%	20%	19%
Non-U.S. equities	27%	25%	15%–45%	39%	42%	39%
Fixed-income securities	32%	35%	15%–40%	9%	8%	15%
Real estate	4%	5%	0–5%	10%	8%	8%
Cash and other	—%	—%	—%	24%	22%	19%

To develop the assumption for the long-term rate of return on assets, the Company considered the historical returns and the future expectations for returns for each asset class, as well as the target asset allocation of the U.S. Plans’ and Offshore Plan’s assets and the effect of periodic rebalancing, consistent with the Company’s

investment strategies. For 2021, the Company expects to receive a long-term rate of return of 6.0% for the U.S. Plans and 5.0% for the Offshore Plan. All plans are invested to maximize the return on assets while minimizing risk by diversifying across a broad range of asset classes.

The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets as of December 31, 2020, by category, are as follow:

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Balance as of December 31, 2020
Assets	(In thousands)
U.S. equities:
Large cap(1)	$	—	$	20,960	$	—	$	20,960
Medium cap(1)	—		4,024		—		4,024
Small cap(1)	1,365		1,936		—		3,301
Non-U.S. equities:
Large cap(2)	16,183		—		—		16,183
Emerging markets(3)	4,759		—		—		4,759
Fixed-income securities:
Money markets(4)	—		2,163		—		2,163
U.S. bonds(5)	11,067		3,581		—		14,648
Non-U.S. bonds(5)	7,635		—		—		7,635
Real estate(6)	—		3,417		—		3,417
Common/collective trusts	—		1,571		—		1,571
Total assets	$	41,009	$	37,652	$	—	$	78,661

The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets as of December 31, 2019, by category, are as follows:

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Balance as of December 31, 2019
Assets	(In thousands)
U.S. equities:
Large cap(1)	$	—	$	17,698	$	—	$	17,698
Medium cap(1)	—		3,404		—		3,404
Small cap(1)	1,360		1,360		—		2,720
Non-U.S. equities:
Large cap(2)	12,919		—		—		12,919
Emerging markets(3)	4,060		—		—		4,060
Fixed-income securities:
Money markets(4)	—		3,381		—		3,381
U.S. bonds(5)	10,172		3,397		—		13,569
Non-U.S. bonds(5)	6,806		—		—		6,806
Real estate(6)	—		3,395		—		3,395
Common/collective trusts	—		1,356		—		1,356
Total assets	$	35,317	$	33,991	$	—	$	69,308

(1)Includes funds that primarily invest in U.S. common stock.

(2)Includes funds that invest primarily in foreign equity and equity-related securities.

(3)Includes funds that invest primarily in equity securities of companies in emerging market countries.

(4)Includes funds that invest primarily in short-term securities, such as commercial paper.

(5)Includes funds either publicly traded (Level 1) or within a separate account (Level 2) held by a regulated investment company. These funds hold primarily debt and fixed-income securities.

(6)Includes funds in a separate account held by a regulated investment company that invest primarily in commercial real estate and includes mortgage loans which are backed by the associated properties. The Company can call the investment in these assets with no restrictions.

The U.S. Plans’ assets are in commingled funds that are valued using net asset values. The net asset values are based on the value of the underlying assets owned by the fund, minus its liabilities, and then divided by the number of shares outstanding. The pension assets are classified as Level 1 when the net asset values are based on a quoted price in an active market. The U.S. Plans’ assets are classified as Level 2 when the net asset value is based on a quoted price on a private market that is not active and the underlying investments are traded on an active market.

The Offshore Plans are common/collective trusts and commingled trusts investments, which invest in other collective trust funds otherwise known as the underlying funds. The Company’s interests in the commingled trust funds are based on the fair values of the investments of the underlying funds and therefore are classified as Level 2.

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company does not have any investments classified as Level 3.

Cash Flow

The Company expects to contribute to all plans an aggregate of $2.5 million in 2021.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future services, as appropriate, are expected to be paid for all plans as of December 31, 2020:

Years Ending December 31:	(In thousands)
2021	$	6,357
2022	5,688
2023	5,286
2024	5,286
2025	5,028
Thereafter	23,244
	$	50,889

Multi-Employer Plans

The Company contributes to a number of multi-employer benefit plans under the terms of collective bargaining agreements that cover union-represented associates. These plans generally provide for retirement, death, and/or termination benefits for eligible associates within the applicable collective bargaining units, based on specific eligibility/participation requirements, vesting periods, and benefit formulas. The risks of participating in these multi-employer plans are different from single-employer plans in the following aspects:

•Assets contributed to the multi-employer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to associates of other current or former participating employers.

•    If a participating employer stops contributing to the multi-employer plan without paying its unfunded liability, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers.

•    If the Company chooses to cease participation in a multi-employer plan, such full withdrawal is subject to the payment of any unfunded liability applicable to the Company, referred to as a withdrawal liability. Additionally, such withdrawal is subject to collective bargaining.

The table below outlines the Company’s participation in multi-employer pension plans for the periods ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, and sets forth the contributions into each plan. The “EIN/Pension Plan Number” column provides the Employer Identification Number (EIN) and the three-digit plan number. The most recent Pension Protection Act zone status available in 2018 and 2019 relates to the plans’ two most recent fiscal year-ends. The zone status is based on information that we received from the plans’ administrators and is certified by each plan’s actuary. Among other factors, plans certified in the red zone are generally less than 65% funded, plans certified in the orange zone are (i) less than 80% funded and (ii) have an accumulated funding deficiency or are expected to have a deficiency in any of the next six plan years, plans certified in the yellow zone are less than 80% funded, and plans certified in the green zone are at least 80% funded. The “FIP/RP Status Pending/Implemented” column indicates whether a financial improvement plan (FIP) for yellow/orange zone plans, or a rehabilitation plan (RP) for red zone plans, is either pending or has been implemented. As of December 31, 2020,

all plans that have either a FIP or RP requirement have had the respective FIP or RP implemented (see table below).

The Company’s collective-bargained contributions satisfy the requirements of all implemented FIPs and RPs and do not currently require the payment of any surcharges. In addition, minimum contributions outside the agreed-upon contractual rate are not required. For the plans detailed in the following table, the expiration dates of the associated collective bargaining agreements range from February 13, 2019 to June 30, 2026. For all the plans detailed in the following table, the Company has not contributed more than 5% of the total plan contribution for 2020, 2019 and 2018.

The Company contributes to multi-employer plans that cover approximately 46% of union associates. The amounts charged to expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were $18.1 million, $18.0 million and $17.4 million, respectively. Projected minimum contributions required for the upcoming fiscal year are approximately $18.3 million.

During the third quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a charge of $9.2 million representing the present value of a liability associated with its withdrawal obligation under the New England Teamsters & Trucking Industry Multi-Employer Pension Fund (the Fund) for hourly, unionized associates at four of its domestic warehouse facilities. The Fund is significantly underfunded in accordance with Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) funding standards and, therefore, ERISA required the Fund to develop a Rehabilitation Plan. The Fund Trustees chose to create a new fund that minimizes the pension withdrawal liability. As a result, current employers participating in the Fund were given the opportunity to exit the Fund and convert to a new fund. The Company’s portion of the unfunded liability (undiscounted), estimated at $13.7 million, will be repaid in equal monthly installments of approximately $0.04 million over 30 years, interest free. The Company recognized an expense and related liability equal to the present value of the withdrawal liability upon exiting the Fund, and amortizes the difference between such present value and the estimated unfunded liability through interest expense over the repayment period.

Pension Fund	EIN/Pension Plan Number	Pension Protection Act Zone Status		FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented	Americold Contributions						Surcharge Imposed
		2020	2019		2020		2019		2018
					(In thousands)
Central Pension Fund of the International Union of Operating Engineers and Participating Employers (2)	36-6052390	Green	Green	No	$	11	$	6	$	6	No
Central States SE & SW Areas Health and Welfare Pension Plans (1)	36-6044243	Red	Red	Yes/ Implemented	9,132		9,238		8,424		No
New England Teamsters & Trucking Industry Pension Plan (3)	04-6372430	Red	Red	Yes/ Implemented	456		456		456		No
Alternative New England Teamsters & Trucking Industry Pension Plan	04-6372430	Red	Red	No	404		449		493		No
I.U.O.E Stationary Engineers Local 39 Pension Fund (1)	94-6118939	Green	Green	No	119		194		160		No
United Food & Commercial Workers International Union-Industry Pension Fund (4)	51-6055922	Green	Green	No	126		105		90		No
Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Fund (1)	91-6145047	Green	Green	No	7,727		7,398		7,632		No
Minneapolis Food Distributing Industry Pension Plan (1)	41-6047047	Green	Green	Yes/ Implemented	146		116		180		No
				Total Contributions	$	18,121	$	17,962	$	17,441

(1)The status information is for the plans’ year end at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

(2)The status information is for the plans’ year end at January 31, 2020 and 2019.

(3)The status information is for the plans’ year end at September 30, 2020 and 2019. The Company withdrew from the multi-employer plan on October, 31, 2017.

(4)The status information is for the plans’ year end at June 30, 2020 and 2019.

Government-Sponsored Plans

The Company contributes to certain government-sponsored plans in Australia and Argentina. The amounts charged to expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations and for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were $6.1 million, $5.8 million and $5.7 million, respectively.

Defined Contribution Plan

The Company has defined contribution employee benefit plans, which cover all eligible associates. The plans also allow contributions by plan participants in accordance with Section 401(k) of the IRC. The Company matches a percentage of each employee’s contributions consistent with the provisions of the plans. The aggregate cost of our contributions to the 401(k) Plan charged to expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $5.7 million, $4.2 million and $3.9 million, respectively.

Deferred Compensation

The Company has deferred compensation and supplemental retirement plan agreements with certain of its executives. The agreements provide for certain benefits at retirement or disability and also provide for survivor benefits in the event of death of the employee. The Company contribution amounts charged to expense relative to this plan were nominal for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.