Advertising Costs and Funds

12 Months Ended

Jan. 03, 2021

Marketing and Advertising Expense [Abstract]

We maintain U.S. and Canadian national advertising funds established to collect and administer funds contributed for use in advertising and promotional programs. Contributions to the Advertising Funds are required from both Company-operated and franchised restaurants and are based on a percentage of restaurant sales. In addition to the contributions to the Advertising Funds, Company-operated and franchised restaurants make additional contributions to other local and regional advertising programs.

Restricted assets and related liabilities of the Advertising Funds at January 3, 2021 and December 29, 2019 are as follows:


	Year End
	January 3, 2021		December 29, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents (a)	$	77,279	$	23,973
Accounts receivable, net	63,252		54,394
Other assets	1,775		4,009
Advertising funds restricted assets	$	142,306	$	82,376

Accounts payable (a)	$	123,064	$	66,749
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	17,447		17,446
Advertising funds restricted liabilities	$	140,511	$	84,195

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(a)Increases during 2020 are due to the timing of payments to vendors.

Advertising expenses included in “Cost of sales” totaled $29,671, $29,954 and $27,939 in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.