2.	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation —Consolidated financial statements include the accounts of US Foods and its wholly owned subsidiary, USF. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates—Consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). This 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The most critical estimates used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements pertain to the valuation of goodwill and other intangible assets, vendor consideration, self-insurance programs, and income taxes.

Cash and Cash Equivalents—The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of three or fewer months to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable —Accounts receivable represent amounts due from customers in the ordinary course of business and are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Receivables are presented net of the allowance for doubtful accounts in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company evaluates the collectability of its accounts receivable and determines the appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts based on a combination of factors. When the Company determines that a loss is probable, a specific allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded, reducing the receivable to the net amount we reasonably expect to collect. In addition, allowances are recorded for all other receivables based on historic collection trends, write-offs and the aging of receivables. The Company uses specific criteria to determine uncollectible receivables to be written off, including bankruptcy, accounts referred to outside parties for collection, and accounts past due over specified periods.

Vendor Consideration and Receivables—The Company participates in various rebate and promotional incentives with its suppliers, primarily through purchase-based programs. Consideration earned, is estimated during the year, as the Company’s obligations under the programs are fulfilled, which is primarily when products are purchased. Changes in the estimated amount of incentives earned, are recognized in the period of change.

Vendor consideration is typically deducted from invoices or collected in cash within 30 days of being earned. Vendor receivables represent the uncollected balance of the vendor consideration. Since collections occur primarily from deducting the consideration from the amounts due to the vendor, the Company does not experience significant collectability issues. The Company evaluates the collectability of its vendor receivables based on specific vendor information and vendor collection history.

Inventories—The Company’s inventories, consisting mainly of food and other foodservice-related products, are primarily considered finished goods. Inventory costs include the purchase price of the product, freight charges to deliver it to the Company’s warehouses, and depreciation and labor related to processing facilities and equipment, and are net of certain cash or non-cash consideration received from vendors. The Company assesses the need for valuation allowances for slow-moving, excess and obsolete inventories by estimating the net recoverable value of such goods based upon inventory category, inventory age, specifically identified items, and overall economic conditions.

The Company records inventories at the lower of cost or market using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method. The base year values of beginning and ending inventories are determined using the inventory price index computation method. This “links” current costs to original costs in the base year when the Company adopted LIFO. At December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the LIFO balance sheet reserves were $130 million and $116 million, respectively. As a result of net changes in LIFO reserves, cost of goods sold increased $14 million in fiscal year 2017, and decreased $18 million and $74 million in fiscal years 2016, and 2015, respectively.

Property and Equipment—Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of property and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to 40 years. Property and equipment under capital leases and leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the remaining term of the related lease or the estimated useful lives of the assets.

Routine maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Applicable interest charges incurred during the construction of new facilities or development of software for internal use are capitalized as one of the elements of cost and are amortized over the useful life of the respective assets.

Property and equipment held and used by the Company are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. For purposes of evaluating the recoverability of property and equipment, the Company compares the carrying value of the asset or asset group to the estimated, undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the long-lived asset or asset group. If the future cash flows do not exceed the carrying value, the carrying value is compared to the fair value of such asset. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess.

The Company also assesses the recoverability of its closed facilities actively marketed for sale. If a facility’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, less an estimated cost to sell, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess. Assets held for sale are not depreciated.

Impairments are recorded as a component of restructuring and tangible asset impairments in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, and a reduction of the asset’s carrying value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets—Goodwill and other intangible assets include the cost of the acquired business in excess of the fair value of the net tangible assets acquired. Other intangible assets include customer relationships, noncompete agreements, the brand names comprising our portfolio of exclusive brands, and trademarks. As required, we assess goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment annually, or more frequently if events occur that indicate an asset may be impaired. For goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, our policy is to assess for impairment at the beginning of each fiscal third quarter. For other intangible assets with definite lives, we assess for impairment only if events occur that indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. All goodwill is assigned to the consolidated Company as the reporting unit.

Self-Insurance Programs—The Company estimates its liabilities for claims covering general, fleet, and workers’ compensation. Amounts in excess of certain levels, which range from $1-10 million per occurrence, are insured as a risk reduction strategy, to mitigate catastrophic losses. The workers’ compensation liability is discounted, as the amount and timing of cash payments is reliably determinable given the nature of benefits and the level of historic claim volume to support the actuarial assumptions and judgments used to derive the expected loss payment pattern. The amount accrued is discounted using an interest rate that approximates the U.S. Treasury rate consistent with the duration of the liability. However, the inherent uncertainty of future loss projections could cause actual claims to differ from our estimates.

We are self-insured for group medical claims not covered under collective bargaining agreements. The Company accrues its self-insured medical liability, including an estimate for incurred but not reported claims, based on known claims and past claims history. These accruals are included in accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Share-Based Compensation—Certain directors, officers and employees participate in the 2016 US Foods Holding Corp. Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) which provides a means through which the Company may grant equity and equity incentive awards of US Foods common stock. Certain officers and employees also hold outstanding equity awards granted pursuant to the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan for Key Employees of USF Holding Corp. and its Affiliates, as amended (“2007 Plan”) which terminated according to its terms on December 21, 2017. The termination of the 2007 Plan has no effect on any outstanding awards, however, no shares of US Foods common stock are available for future issuance under the 2007 Plan. Additionally, most of the Company’s employees are eligible to participate in the US Foods Holding Corp. Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Stock Purchase Plan”), which allows for the purchase of US Foods common stock at a discount of up to 15% of the fair market value of a share at periodic acquisition dates. Shares issued to satisfy employee share-based award programs come from shares reserved for issuance under the respective award programs. US Foods contributes shares to USF for employee purchases, and upon exercise of options or grants of restricted stock and restricted stock units. The Company does not maintain treasury shares, as shares repurchased by the Company are retired upon reacquisition.

The Company measures compensation expense for stock-based awards at fair value at the date of grant, and recognizes compensation expense over the service period for awards expected to vest. Forfeitures are recognized as incurred. Fair value is the closing price per share for the Company’s common stock as reported on the NYSE. Prior to the IPO, the grant date fair value was measured at the end of each fiscal quarter using the combination of a market and income approach. The computed value was applied to all stock and stock award activity in the subsequent quarter.

Compensation expense for the Stock Purchase Plan represents the difference between the fair market value at acquisition date and the employee purchase price.

Redeemable Common Stock—Redeemable common stock is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Prior to the IPO, common stock owned by management and key employees, including vested restricted shares and vested restricted stock units, was subject to certain redemption features and, accordingly was classified as Redeemable common stock. In connection with the IPO, the management stockholder’s agreement was amended, and common stock no longer has a redemption feature that is outside the Company’s control that could require the Company to redeem these shares. Accordingly, the amounts previously reflected in redeemable common stock, were reclassified to shareholders’ equity during the second quarter of 2016.

Business Acquisitions—The Company accounts for business acquisitions under the acquisition method. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value as of the acquisition date. The operating results of the acquired companies are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.

Revenue Recognition—The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of product when title and risk of loss passes and the customer accepts the goods, which generally occurs at delivery. The Company grants certain customers sales incentives—such as rebates or discounts—and treats these as a reduction of sales at the time the sale is recognized. Sales taxes invoiced to customers and remitted to governmental authorities are excluded from net sales.

Cost of Goods Sold —Cost of goods sold includes amounts paid to vendors for products sold—net of vendor consideration and the cost of transportation necessary to bring the products to the Company’s distribution facilities. Depreciation related to processing facilities and equipment is presented in cost of goods sold. Because the majority of the inventories are finished goods, depreciation related to warehouse facilities and equipment is presented in distribution, selling and administrative costs. See inventories section above for discussion of the LIFO impact on cost of goods sold.

Shipping and Handling Costs—Shipping and handling costs—which include costs related to the selection of products and their delivery to customers—are presented in distribution, selling and administrative costs. Shipping and handling costs were $1.6 billion in 2017 and 2016, and $1.5 billion in 2015.

Income Taxes—The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. This requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income during the period that includes the enactment date. Net deferred tax assets are recorded to the extent the Company believes these assets will more likely than not be realized.

An uncertain tax position is recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. Uncertain tax positions are recorded at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be sustained. The Company adjusts the amounts recorded for uncertain tax positions when its judgment changes, as a result of evaluating new information not previously available. These differences are reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which they are determined.

Derivative Financial Instruments— The Company utilizes derivative financial instruments to assist in managing its exposure to variable interest rates on certain borrowings. The Company does not enter into derivatives or other financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Interest rate swaps, designated as cash flow hedges, are recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Balance sheet at fair value.

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into forward purchase agreements to procure fuel, electricity and product commodities related to its business. These agreements often meet the definition of a derivative. However, the Company does not measure its forward purchase commitments at fair value as the amounts under contract meet the physical delivery criteria in the normal purchase exception under GAAP guidance.

Concentration Risks—Financial instruments that subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company’s cash equivalents are invested primarily in money market funds at major financial institutions. Credit risk related to accounts receivable is dispersed across a larger number of customers located throughout the United States. The Company attempts to reduce credit risk through initial and ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition. There were no receivables from any one customer representing more than 5% of our consolidated gross accounts receivable at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.