Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

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, Canada 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, 2023, the results of its operations and changes to stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, and its cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2023, are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023, or any other interim periods, or any future year or period. All amounts included herein have been rounded except where otherwise stated. As figures are rounded, numbers presented throughout this document may not add up precisely to the totals we provide and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures. 

These unaudited 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, 2022.

Equity Method Investments [Policy Text Block]

Investment in unconsolidated company – 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 had the ability to exercise significant influence based on our representation on and the makeup of the investee's Board of Directors. 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.

On  March 10, 2022, the Company invested $3,300 to maintain our 19% interest in a privately held company that operates in our industry, with our investments to date totaling $31,200. The Company concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary, which is primarily the result of the Company's conclusion that it does not have the power to direct activities that most significantly impact economic performance. The Company has accounted for the investment under the equity method of accounting based on our ability to exercise significant influence even though the Company's percentage of ownership is below 20%. The basis difference between the Company's carrying value of its investment and the amount of underlying equity in net assets of the privately held company is not material to the Company's consolidated financial statements.

On March 30, 2023, the Company no longer had representation on the investee's Board of Directors, and therefore determined that significant influence had been lost as of that date. As such, as of March 30, 2023, the Company stopped accounting for the investment as an equity method investment and began to account for the investment under ASC Topic 321 ("ASC 321"), Investments - Equity Securities. Because the investee is a privately held company, there is not a means to obtain a readily determinable fair value of the entity. The Company follows ASC Topic 321 using the measurement alternative to measure investments in investees that do not have readily determinable fair value and over which the Company does not have significant influence. Under ASC 321, the initial carrying value of the investment is equal to the previous carrying amount of the investment under the equity method. As the Company has historically recorded their proportionate share of income or loss from the investee on a one-quarter lag, the final adjustment to the carrying value of the investment will be recorded in June 2023. The carrying amount of the investment is subsequently adjusted for any impairment or adjustments resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer, if any. Dividends and distributions from the investee are recognized in the period in which they are received and recorded in other income on the condensed consolidated statement of operations. The Company performs a qualitative assessment of whether the investment is impaired at each reporting date. If a qualitative assessment indicates that the investment is impaired, the Company estimates the investment’s fair value in accordance with the principles of ASC Topic 820 (“ASC 820”), Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. If the fair value is less than the investment’s carrying value, the entity recognizes an impairment loss in earnings equal to the difference between the carrying value and fair value. There were no observable price changes, impairment or other matters that would require adjustment to the investment during the quarter ended  March 31, 2023.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Variable interest entities – 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.

Debt, Policy [Policy Text Block]

March 2023 Issuance of $402.5 million of 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes (the "Convertible Senior Notes") - In conjunction with the issuance of the $402.5 million Convertible Notes in March 2023, the Company evaluated the debt instrument and its embedded features to determine if the contract or the embedded components of the contract qualified as a derivative that would be required to be separately accounted for in accordance with the relevant accounting literature. 

The Company accounts for its Convertible Senior Notes as a single liability measured at amortized cost. The Company uses the effective interest rate method to amortize the debt issuance costs to interest expense over the respective term of the Convertible Senior Notes.

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. Estimates are used in determining, among other items, trade incentives, share-based compensation and useful lives for long-lived assets. 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, 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, 2023, the Company maintained Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities.  

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash Equivalents – The Company holds treasury bills with original maturities when purchased of less than three months, measured as a level 2 asset. Treasury bills have been classified as available-for-sale which may be sold before maturity or are not classified as held-to-maturity or trading. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $24,732 of treasury bills within cash equivalents. Cash equivalents classified as available-for-sale are carried at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported in other comprehensive income (loss). Change in fair value during the period was de minimus due to the short duration of such securities.

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Short-Term Investments – The Company holds treasury bills with original maturities when purchased of greater than three months, measured as a Level 2 asset. Treasury bills have been classified as available-for-sale which may be sold before maturity or are not classified as held to maturity or trading. Short-term investments classified as available-for-sale are carried at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported in other comprehensive income (loss). Change in fair value during the period was de minimus due to the short duration of such securities.

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.

Implementation Costs of Cloud Computing Arrangement Policy [Policy Text Block]

Implementation Costs of Cloud Computing Arrangement – As of  March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company's deferred implementation costs of our new ERP system associated with our cloud computing arrangement, which were reflected within prepaid and other assets, were $9,061 and $9,444, respectively. The cost will be recognized over the term of the agreement, which began in the first quarter of 2022.  

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,
	2023		2022
Grocery, Mass and Club	$	146,798	$	115,518
Pet Specialty and Natural		20,724		16,654
Net Sales (a)	$	167,522	$	132,171

^(a) Online sales associated with each class of retailer are included within their respective total.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

The Company did not adopt any new Accounting Standard Updates during the quarter ended March 31, 2023.