Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature of the Business [Policy Text Block]

Nature of the Business – Freshpet, Inc. (hereafter referred to as “Freshpet”, the “Company”, “we,” "us" or “our”), a Delaware corporation, manufactures and markets natural fresh meals and treats for dogs and cats. The Company’s products are distributed throughout the United States and other international markets, into major retail classes including Grocery (including online), Mass and Club, Pet Specialty, and Natural retail.

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”). The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company as well as the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The interim unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual audited consolidated financial statements and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management, the interim unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2021, the results of its operations and changes to stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, and its cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2021, or any other interim periods, or any future year or period. Certain amounts that appear in this report may not add up because of differences due to rounding.

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in Item 8 of Part II, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Equity Method Investments [Policy Text Block]

Equity method investment – The Company utilizes the equity method to account for investments when the Company possesses the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the operating and financial policies of the investee. The ability to exercise significant influence is presumed when an investor possesses more than 20% of the voting interests of the investee. This presumption may be overcome based on specific facts and circumstances that demonstrate that the ability to exercise significant influence is restricted. The Company applies the equity method to investments in common stock and to other investments when such other investments possess substantially identical subordinated interests to common stock. The Company has elected to record its share of equity in income (losses) of equity method investment on a one-quarter lag based on the most recently available financial statements. 

In applying the equity method, the Company records the investment at cost and subsequently increases or decreases the carrying amount of the investment by our proportionate share of the net income or loss. 

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Variable interest entities ("VIEs") – In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance for the consolidation of variable interest entities, the Company analyzes its variable interests to determine if an entity in which it has a variable interest is a variable interest entity. The Company's analysis includes both quantitative and qualitative reviews to determine if we must consolidate a variable interest entity as its primary beneficiary.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Estimates and Uncertainties – The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and 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. Actual results, as determined at a later date, could differ from those estimates.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments – Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect market assumptions. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

• Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 1 primarily consists of financial instruments whose value is based on quoted market prices such as exchange-traded instruments and listed equities.

• Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly (e.g., quoted prices of similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active). Level 2 includes financial instruments that are valued using models or other valuation methodologies.

• Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Financial instruments are considered Level 3 when their fair values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flows or similar techniques and at least one significant model assumption or input is unobservable.

The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, other receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair value based on the short-term maturity of these instruments. Certain assets, including the equity method investment, right-of-use assets and property and equipment are also subject to measurement at fair value on a non-recurring basis if they are deemed to be impaired as a result of an impairment review.

As of March 31, 2021, the Company only maintained Level 1 assets and liabilities.  

Receivable [Policy Text Block]

Trade accounts receivable – The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company's assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, the age of the accounts receivable balances and current economic conditions that may affect a customer's ability to pay. 

Restricted Stock Tax Withholdings [Policy Text Block]

Restricted Stock Tax Withholdings – To meet payroll tax withholdings obligations arising from the vesting of restricted share units, the Company withheld 10 shares totaling $1,529 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, and withheld 10 shares totaling $644 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. 

Debt Issuance Cost [Policy Text Block]

Debt Issuance Cost – During the first quarter of 2021, as part of the Sixth Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (as amended, the "New Loan Agreement"), the Company incurred an additional $3,166 of fees associated with the debt modification, of which $2,713 of the fees were related to the Delayed Draw Term Loan with the remaining balance relating to the Revolving Loan Facility. The Company also wrote down $485 of fees incurred from the prior credit facilities. The Company’s policy is to record the debt issuance cost related to the Delayed Draw Term Loan, net of debt, for the portion of the Delayed Draw Term Loan that is outstanding, with the remaining amount recorded within assets. As of March 31, 2021, there was $2,996 of debt issuance cost that was recorded to other assets and $773 was recorded to other current assets.  

The Company amortizes debt issuance costs categorized as assets on a straight-line basis over the term of the loan and amortizes the debt issuance costs that are categorized net of debt using the effective interest method, over the term of the loan.

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Policy Text Block]

Net Sales - Information about the Company’s net sales by class of retailer is as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2021		2020
Grocery (including Online), Mass and Club	$	79,071	$	60,819
Pet Specialty and Natural		14,342		9,279
Net Sales	$	93,414	$	70,098

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In January 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2020-01, Investments - Equity Services (Topic 321), Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815. The standard addresses accounting for the transition into and out of the equity method and measurement of certain purchased options and forward contracts to acquire investments. We adopted the requirements of ASU 2020-01 prospectively as of January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2020-01 did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.