jjsf20230923

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

☒	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO

Commission File No. 000-14616

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (856) 665-9533

J&J SNACK FOODS CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New Jersey		22-1935537
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

350 Fellowship Road		08054
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey		(Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class		Trading Symbols(s)		Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, no par value		JJSF		The NASDAQ Global Select Market

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐	Smaller reporting company	☐
		Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. Yes ☒ No ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

March 24, 2023 was the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates was $2,198,173,802 based on the last sale price on March 24, 2023 of $145.96 per share. As of November 24, 2023, 19,342,344 shares of the registrant’s common stock were issued and outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for February 13, 2024 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

This annual report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historic or current facts are “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These statements discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future trends, plans, events, results of operations or financial condition, or state other information relating to us, based on our current beliefs as well as assumptions made by us and information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as "anticipate," "if," "may," "believe," "plan,", "goals," "estimate," "expect," "project," "continue," "forecast," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and other similar expressions. Statements addressing our future operating performance and statements addressing events and developments that we expect or anticipate will occur are also considered as forward-looking statements. This includes, without limitation, our statements and expectations regarding any current or future recovery in our industry and the future impact of our investments in additional production capacity and logistics and warehousing operations. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and readers must recognize that actual results may differ materially from the expectations of management. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, without limitation: the risks described in Item 1A and in Item 7A of this annual report on Form 10-K.

We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak as of the date made. Any forward-looking statements represent management’s best judgment as to what may occur in the future. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and important factors beyond our control that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from historical results of operations and events and those presently anticipated or projected. We disclaim any obligation subsequently to revise, update, add or to otherwise correct, any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statement or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. Furthermore, all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this report. The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations included in Item 7- Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

J & J Snack Foods Corp. (the “Company” or “J & J”) manufactures snack foods and distributes frozen beverages which it markets nationally to the foodservice and retail supermarket industries. The Company’s principal snack food products are soft pretzels marketed primarily under the brand names SUPERPRETZEL, BRAUHAUS and BAVARIAN BAKERY, frozen novelties marketed primarily under the DIPPIN’ DOTS, LUIGI’S, WHOLE FRUIT, ICEE, DOGSTERS, PHILLY SWIRL and MINUTE MAID* brand names, churros marketed primarily under the ¡HOLA! and CALIFORNIA CHURROS brand names and bakery products sold primarily under the READI-BAKE, COUNTRY HOME, MARY B’S, DADDY RAY’S and HILL & VALLEY brand names as well as for private label and contract packing. J & J is the largest manufacturer of soft pretzels in the United States. Other snack food products include funnel cake sold under THE FUNNEL CAKE FACTORY brand and handheld products sold under smaller brands. The Company’s principal frozen beverage products are the ICEE brand frozen carbonated beverage and the SLUSH PUPPIE brand frozen non-carbonated beverage.

The Company’s Food Service and Frozen Beverages sales are made primarily to foodservice customers including snack bar and food stand locations in leading chain, department, discount, warehouse club and convenience stores; malls and shopping centers; fast food and casual dining restaurants; stadiums and sports arenas; leisure and theme parks; movie theatres; independent retailers; and schools, colleges and other institutions. The Company’s retail supermarket customers are primarily supermarket chains.

The Company operates in three business segments: Food Service, Retail Supermarkets and Frozen Beverages. These segments are described below.

The Chief Operating Decision Maker for Food Service, Retail Supermarkets and Frozen Beverages reviews detailed operating income statements and sales reports in order to assess performance and allocate resources to each individual segment. Sales and operating income are key variables monitored by the Chief Operating Decision Maker and management when determining each segment’s and the Company’s financial condition and operating performance. In addition, the Chief Operating Decision Maker reviews and evaluates depreciation, capital spending and assets of each segment on a quarterly basis to monitor cash flow and asset needs of each segment (see Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for financial information about segments).

The primary products sold by the Food Service segment are soft pretzels, frozen novelties, churros, handheld products and baked goods. Our customers in the Food Service segment include snack bars and food stands in chain, department and discount stores; malls and shopping centers; fast food and casual dining restaurants; stadiums and sports arenas; leisure and theme parks; convenience stores; movie theatres; warehouse club stores; schools, colleges and other institutions. Within the food service industry, our products are purchased by the consumer primarily for consumption at the point-of-sale or for take-away.

The primary products sold to the retail supermarket channel are soft pretzel products – including SUPERPRETZEL, frozen novelties including LUIGI’S Real Italian Ice, MINUTE MAID Juice Bars and Soft Frozen Lemonade, WHOLE FRUIT frozen fruit bars and sorbet, DOGSTERS ice cream style treats for dogs, PHILLY SWIRL cups and sticks, ICEE Squeeze-Up Tubes and handheld products. Within the retail supermarket channel, our frozen and prepackaged products are purchased by the consumer for consumption at home.

We sell frozen beverages to the foodservice industry primarily under the names ICEE, SLUSH PUPPIE and PARROT ICE in the United States, Mexico and Canada. We also provide repair and maintenance services to customers for customer-owned equipment.

The Company’s soft pretzels are sold under many brand names; some of which are: SUPERPRETZEL, SUPERPRETZEL BAVARIAN, NEW YORK PRETZEL AND BRAUHAUS; and, to a lesser extent, under private labels.

Soft pretzels are sold in the Food Service and Retail Supermarket segments. Soft pretzel sales amounted to 19% of the Company’s revenue in fiscal year 2023, 19% in fiscal year 2022, and 20% in fiscal year 2021.

Certain of the Company’s soft pretzels qualify under USDA regulations as the nutritional equivalent of bread for purposes of the USDA school lunch program, thereby enabling a participating school to obtain partial reimbursement of the cost of the Company’s soft pretzels from the USDA.

The Company’s soft pretzels are manufactured according to a proprietary formula. Soft pretzels, ranging in size from one to twenty-four ounces in weight, are shaped and formed by the Company’s twister machines. These soft pretzel tying machines are automated, high-speed machines for twisting dough into the traditional pretzel shape. Additionally, we make soft pretzels which are extruded or shaped by hand. Soft pretzels, after processing, are primarily quick-frozen in either raw or baked form and packaged for delivery.

The Company’s principal marketing program in the Food Service segment includes supplying ovens, mobile merchandisers, display cases, warmers and similar merchandising equipment to the retailer to prepare and promote the sale of soft pretzels. Some of this equipment is proprietary, including combination warmer and display cases that rebake frozen soft pretzels while displaying them, thus eliminating the need for an oven. The Company retains ownership of the equipment placed in customer locations, and as a result, customers are not required to make an investment in equipment.

The Company’s frozen novelties are marketed primarily under the DIPPIN’DOTS, LUIGI’S, WHOLE FRUIT, DOGSTERS, PHILLY SWIRL, ICEE and MINUTE MAID brand names. Frozen novelties are sold in the Food Service and Retail Supermarkets segments. Frozen novelties sales were 17% of the Company’s revenue in fiscal year 2023, 14% in fiscal year 2022, and 13% in fiscal year 2021.

The Company’s school foodservice LUIGI’S and WHOLE FRUIT frozen juice bars and cups are produced in various flavors and contain three to four ounces of 100% juice with no added sugar and 100% of the daily US FDA value of vitamin C.

The Company’s DIPPIN’ DOTS’ frozen novelty products are cryogenically frozen beads of ice cream, created using liquid nitrogen at -320 degrees Fahrenheit. Product variations include ice cream (milk and cream based), flavored ice (water based) and frozen yogurt branded YoDots. The product is served to consumers by the cup, or via individual serving packages.

The balance of the Company’s frozen novelties products are manufactured from water, sweeteners and fruit juice concentrates in various flavors and packaging including cups, tubes, sticks, M-paks and pints. Several of the products contain ice cream and WHOLE FRUIT bars contains pieces of fruit.

The Company’s churros are sold primarily under the ¡HOLA! and CALIFORNIA CHURROS brand names. Churros are sold to the Food Service and Retail Supermarkets segments. Churro sales were 7% of the Company’s sales in fiscal year 2023 and 6% in both fiscal years 2022 and 2021. Churros are pastries in stick form which the Company produces in several sizes according to a proprietary formula. The churros are deep fried, frozen and packaged. At food service point-of-sale they are reheated and topped with a cinnamon sugar mixture. The Company also sells chocolate-filled, fruit-filled and crème-filled churros. The Company supplies churro merchandising equipment similar to that used for its soft pretzels.

The Company's handheld products are sold primarily under private label names. Handheld products are sold to the Food Service and Retail Supermarket segments. Handheld product sales amounted to 6% of the Company’s sales in fiscal year 2023 and 7% in both fiscal years 2022 and 2021.

The Company’s bakery products are marketed under the MRS. GOODCOOKIE, READI-BAKE, COUNTRY HOME, MARY B’S, DADDY RAY’S and HILL & VALLEY brand names, and under private labels. Bakery products include primarily fig and fruit bars, cookies, breads, rolls, crumb, muffins and donuts. Bakery products are sold to the Food Service segment. Bakery products sales amounted to 26% of the Company’s sales in fiscal year 2023, 29% in fiscal year 2022 and 32% in fiscal year 2021.

The Company markets frozen beverages primarily under the names ICEE, SLUSH PUPPIE and PARROT ICE which are sold primarily in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Frozen beverages are reported in the Frozen Beverages segment.

Frozen beverage sales amounted to 14% of the Company’s revenue in fiscal year 2023, 13% in fiscal year 2022 and 11% in fiscal year 2021.

Under the Company’s principal marketing program for frozen carbonated beverages, it installs frozen beverage dispensers for its ICEE brand at customer locations and thereafter services the machines, arranges to supply customers with ingredients required for production of the frozen beverages, and supports customer retail sales efforts with in-store promotions and point-of-sale materials. The Company sells frozen non-carbonated beverages under the SLUSH PUPPIE and PARROT ICE brands through a distributor network and through its own distribution network. The Company also provides repair and maintenance service to customers for customer-owned equipment and sells equipment in its Frozen Beverages segment. Revenue from equipment sales and repair and maintenance services totaled 9% of the Company’s sales in each of the fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Each new frozen carbonated customer location requires a frozen beverage dispenser supplied by the Company or by the customer. Company-supplied frozen carbonated dispensers are purchased from outside vendors or rebuilt by the Company.

The Company provides managed service and/or products to approximately 132,000 Company-owned and customer-owned dispensers.

The Company has the rights to market and distribute frozen beverages under the name ICEE and Slush Puppie to the entire continental United States as well as internationally.

Other products sold by the Company include funnel cakes sold under the FUNNEL CAKE FACTORY brand name and smaller amounts of various other food products. These products are sold in the Food Service and Frozen Beverages segments.

The Company sells its products to two principal channels: foodservice and retail supermarkets. The primary products sold to the foodservice channel are soft pretzels, frozen beverages, frozen novelties, churros, handheld products and baked goods. The primary products sold to the retail supermarket channel are soft pretzels, frozen novelties and handheld products.

We have several large customers that account for a significant portion of our sales. Our top ten customers accounted for 43%, 43% and 43% of our sales during fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, with our largest customer accounting for 9% of our sales in fiscal 2023, 8% of our sales in fiscal 2022 and 11% of our sales in fiscal 2021. Five of the ten customers in 2023 are food distributors who sell our product to many end users. The loss of one or more of our large customers could adversely affect our results of operations. These customers typically do not enter into long-term contracts and make purchase decisions based on a combination of price, product quality, consumer demand and customer service performance. If our sales to one or more of these customers are reduced, this reduction may adversely affect our business. If receivables from one or more of these customers become uncollectible, our operating income would be adversely impacted.

The Food Service and the Frozen Beverages segments sell primarily to foodservice channels. The Retail Supermarkets segment sells primarily to the retail supermarket channel.

The Company’s customers in the Food Service segment include snack bars and food stands in chain, department and mass merchandising stores, malls and shopping centers, fast food and casual dining restaurants, stadiums and sports arenas, leisure and theme parks, convenience stores, movie theatres, warehouse club stores, schools, colleges and other institutions, and independent retailers. Machines and machine parts are sold to other food and beverage companies. Within the food service industry, the Company’s products are purchased by the consumer primarily for consumption at the point-of-sale.

The Company sells its products to an estimated 85-90% of supermarkets in the United States. Products sold to retail supermarket customers are primarily soft pretzel products, including SUPERPRETZEL and AUNTIE ANNE’S, frozen novelties including LUIGI’S Real Italian Ice, MINUTE MAID Juice Bars and Soft Frozen Lemonade, WHOLE FRUIT frozen fruit bars, WHOLE FRUIT Sorbet, PHILLY SWIRL cups and sticks, MARY B’S biscuits and dumplings, DADDY RAY’S fig and fruit bars, HILL & VALLEY baked goods, and ICEE Squeeze-Up Tubes. Within the retail supermarket industry, the Company’s frozen and prepackaged products are purchased by the consumer for consumption at home.

The Company supports its portfolio of brands with national and regional marketing programs. For the Food Service and Frozen Beverages segments’ customers, these marketing programs includes providing ovens, mobile merchandisers, display cases, freezers, kiosks, warmers, frozen beverage dispensers and other merchandising equipment for the individual customer’s requirements and point-of-sale materials as well as participating in trade shows and in-store demonstrations. The Company’s ongoing advertising and promotional campaigns for its Retail Supermarket segment’s products include consumer advertising campaigns across traditional and digital channels, and print/digital media with value added shopper offers and promotions.

The Company develops and introduces new products on a routine basis. The Company evaluates the success of new product introductions on the basis of sales and profit levels.

The Company’s products are sold through a network of food brokers, independent sales distributors and the Company’s own direct sales force. For its snack food products, the Company maintains warehouse and distribution facilities in Pennsauken, Bellmawr and Bridgeport, New Jersey; Vernon (Los Angeles), Colton and Lancaster, California; Brooklyn, New York; Scranton and Hatfield, Pennsylvania; Carrollton (Dallas) and Terrell, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Moscow Mills (St. Louis), Missouri; Pensacola and Tampa, Florida; Solon, Ohio; Weston, Oregon; Holly Ridge, North Carolina; Rock Island, Illinois; and Paducah, Kentucky. Frozen beverages and machine parts are distributed from 170 Company managed warehouse and distribution facilities located in 44 states, Mexico and Canada, which allow the Company to directly service its customers in the surrounding areas. The Company’s products are shipped in frozen and other vehicles from the Company’s manufacturing and warehouse facilities on a fleet of Company operated tractor-trailers, trucks and vans, as well as by independent carriers.

The Company’s sales are seasonal because frozen beverage sales and frozen novelties sales are generally higher during the warmer months.

The Company has a significant trademark portfolio, the most important of which are SUPERPRETZEL, TEXAS TWIST, NEW YORK PRETZEL, BAVARIAN BAKERY, SOFTSTIX and BRAUHAUS for its pretzel products; DIPPIN’ DOTS, SHAPE-UPS, WHOLE FRUIT, PHILLY SWIRL and LUIGI’S for its frozen novelties; ¡HOLA!, and CALIFORNIA CHURROS for its churros; ICEE, ARCTIC BLAST, SLUSH PUPPIE and PARROT ICE for its frozen beverages; FUNNEL CAKE FACTORY for its funnel cake products, and MRS. GOODCOOKIE, READI-BAKE, COUNTRY HOME, CAMDEN CREEK, MARY B’S, DADDY RAY’S and HILL & VALLEY for its bakery products.

The Company markets frozen beverages under the trademark ICEE in all of the United States and in Mexico and Canada. Additionally, the Company has the international rights to the trademark ICEE.

The trademarks, when renewed and continuously used, have an indefinite term and are considered important to the Company as a means of identifying its products. The Company considers its trademarks important to the success of its business.

The Company has numerous patents related to the manufacturing and marketing of its products.

The Company’s manufactured products are produced from raw materials which are readily available from numerous sources. With the exception of the Company’s churro production equipment, funnel cake production equipment and soft pretzel twisting equipment, all of which are made for the Company by independent third parties, and certain specialized packaging equipment, the Company’s manufacturing equipment is readily available from various sources. Syrup for frozen beverages is purchased primarily from The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Inc., the Pepsi Cola Company, and Jogue, Inc. Cups. Straws and lids are readily available from various suppliers. Parts for frozen beverage dispensing machines are purchased from several sources.

Snack food and bakery products markets are highly competitive. The Company’s principal products compete against similar and different food products manufactured and sold by numerous other companies, some of which are substantially larger and have greater resources than the Company. As the soft pretzel, frozen novelties, bakery products and related markets evolve, additional competitors and new competing products may enter the markets. Competitive factors in these markets include product quality, customer service, taste, price, identity and brand name awareness, method of distribution and sales promotions.

The Company believes it is the only national distributor of soft pretzels. However, there are numerous regional and local manufacturers of food service and retail supermarket soft pretzels as well as several chains of retail pretzel stores.

In Frozen Beverages, the Company competes directly with other frozen beverage companies. There are many other regional frozen beverage competitors throughout the country and one large retail chain which uses its own frozen beverage brand.

The Company competes with large soft drink manufacturers for counter and floor space for its frozen beverage dispensing machines at retail locations and with products which are more widely known than the ICEE, SLUSH PUPPIE and PARROT ICE frozen beverages.

The Company competes with several other companies in the frozen novelties and bakery products markets.

Foreign operations can involve greater risk than doing business in the United States. Foreign economies differ favorably or unfavorably from the United States’ economy in such respects as the level of inflation and debt, which may result in fluctuations in the value of the country’s currency and real property. Sales of our foreign operations were $70.2 million, $45.2 million and $20.8 million in fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. At September 30, 2023, the total assets of our foreign operations were $61.5 million or 4.8% of total assets. At September 24, 2022, the total assets of our foreign operations were $42.7 million or 3.5% of total assets.

Our business operations are subject to regulation by various federal, state and local government entities and agencies. As a producer of food products for human consumption, our operations are subject to stringent production, packaging, quality, labeling and distribution standards, including regulations promulgated under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Food Safety Modernization Act. We are also subject to various federal, state and local environmental protection laws. Based upon available information, the cost of compliance with these laws and regulations did not have a material effect upon the level of capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position in fiscal 2023 and is not expected to have a material impact in fiscal 2024.

Our Food Safety & Quality (FSQA) personnel within our Compliance Department have broad, diverse academic and experience credentials and oversee all aspects of product safety & quality control across the Company. Our facilities are Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certified and are audited annually by third-party certification bodies. Our “Food Safety & Quality Plans” are validated and verified to ensure product safety and quality. We have implemented Corporate Standards which are aligned with GFSI and Regulatory standards and routinely conduct audits to ensure compliance. We provide bi-weekly support calls for FSQA and Plant Leadership and annual Food Safety Summit Meetings to develop and strengthen our facility teams. As part of the onboarding process, and throughout their careers, employees are engaged in food safety discussions and trainings to provide safe, high-quality products to customers and consumers.

The Company has approximately 5,000 full and part-time employees and approximately 800 workers employed by staffing agencies as of September 30, 2023. About 1,400 production and distribution employees throughout the Company are covered by collective bargaining agreements. The Company considers its culture and employee relations to be positive.

We maintain a safety culture grounded on the premise of eliminating workplace incidents, risks and hazards. We have a team of dedicated Employee Health & Safety professionals within our Compliance Department who oversee all aspects of employee safety across the company. We keep our employees safe by ensuring all employees receive ongoing support and training. We have developed and implemented processes to identify and eliminate safety incidents by reducing their frequency and severity. We also closely review and monitor our safety performance. According to data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Company’s Total Recordable Incident Rate (“TRIR”) and Days Away, Restricted or Transferred (“DART”) incident rates were lower than food manufacturing averages. Our goal is to reduce Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) recordable incidents year over year.

We deploy a variety of training programs throughout the organization and go to great lengths to make learning and knowledge available to our employees. Programs such as tuition reimbursement, mentorships, internships and internal trainings are some of the ways in which we invest in our people and their knowledge. We know that these investments are not only beneficial for our employees, but they are also important for the future success of our business. We continue to see increases in internal promotions across all levels of the organization.

We believe that having an inclusive and diverse culture strengthens our ability to recruit and develop talent and allows our employees to thrive and succeed. Diversity of input and perspectives is an essential part of our strategic plan to build a winning team and culture. We believe that one key to success is attracting and retaining a diverse workforce that reflects our consumers of today and tomorrow, and we strive to do so. We also strive to foster an inclusive and diverse workplace culture where colleagues feel a sense of belonging, and are included in discussions and valued for their contributions.

We believe in equal pay for equal work and that compensation should match talent, experience and skill set of a person.

The Company’s internet address is www.jjsnack.com. On the investor relations section of its website, the Company provides free access to its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The information on the website listed above is not and should not be considered part of this annual report on Form 10-K and is not incorporated by reference in this document.

Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all the other information included in this report, in considering our business and prospects. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem insignificant or immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects. The following is a discussion of known potentially significant risks which could result in harm to our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We are exposed to market risks arising from adverse changes in commodity prices, affecting the cost of our raw materials and energy. The raw materials and energy which we use for the production and distribution of our products are largely commodities that are subject to price volatility and fluctuations in availability caused by changes in global supply and demand, weather conditions, agricultural uncertainty or governmental controls. We purchase these materials and energy mainly in the open market. Our procurement practices are intended to reduce the risk of future price increases, but also may potentially limit the ability to benefit from possible price decreases. If commodity price changes result in increases in raw materials and energy costs, we may not be able to increase our prices to offset these increased costs without suffering reduced revenue and operating income.

The willingness of our customers and consumers to purchase our products may depend in part on economic conditions. Worsening economic conditions or future challenges to economic growth could have a negative impact on consumer demand, which could adversely affect our business. Deterioration of national and global economic conditions could cause consumers to forego certain purchases during economic downturns that could result in decreased demand for our business. The economic uncertainty may limit our ability to increase or maintain prices and reduce sales of higher margin products. In addition, changes in tax or interest rates, whether due to recession, efforts to combat inflation, financial and credit market disruptions or other reasons, could negatively impact us.

Pandemics, epidemics, or other disease outbreaks could significantly change consumption patterns for our products. These changes could force us to rapidly adapt to those new patterns, and, if we do not, our business could be materially and adversely affected. Additionally, pandemics, epidemics or other disease outbreaks may depress or otherwise impact demand for our products because quarantines may inhibit consumption or as the result of other factors. Restrictions on public gatherings or interactions may also limit the opportunity for our customers and consumers to purchase our products, especially in certain of our sales channels, such as food service. Any economc downturn caused by any pandemic, epidemic, or other disease outbreak may also cause substantial changes in consumer behavior and our supply chain operations, some of which may materially affect our operations and results of operations.

We are subject to the risks of adverse changes in general economic conditions; evolving consumer preferences and nutritional and health-related concerns; changes in food distribution channels; federal, state and local food processing controls or other mandates; changes in federal, state, local and international laws and regulations, or in the application of such laws and regulations; consumer product liability claims; risks of product tampering and contamination; and negative publicity surrounding actual or perceived product safety deficiencies. The increased buying power of large supermarket chains, other retail outlets and wholesale food vendors could result in greater resistance to price increases and could alter customer inventory levels and access to shelf space.

Our businesses operate in highly competitive markets. The labor market in the United States is very competitive. We depend on the skills, working relationships, and continued services of employees, including our experienced management team. We must hire, train and develop effective employees. We compete with other companies both within and outside of our industry for talented employees, and we may lose key personnel or fail to attract, train, and retain other talented personnel. In addition, our ability to achieve our operating goals depends on our ability to identify, hire, train, and retain qualified individuals. Any such loss or failure could adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results. Additionally, a shortage in the labor pool and other general inflationary pressures or changes, and applicable laws and regulations could increase labor costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated operating results or financial condition.

In addition, some of our associates are covered by collective bargaining agreements, and other associates may seek to be covered by collective bargaining agreements. Strikes or work stoppages or other business interruptions could occur if we are unable to renew these agreements on satisfactory terms or enter into new agreements on satisfactory terms or if we are unable to otherwise manage changes in, or that affect, our workforce, which could impair manufacturing or distribution of our products or result in a loss of sales, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition, or results of operations. The terms and conditions of existing, renegotiated or new collective bargaining agreements could also increase our costs or otherwise affect our ability to fully implement future operational changes to enhance our efficiency or adapt to changing business needs or strategy.

The disposal of solid and liquid waste material and the discharge of airborne pollutants resulting from the preparation and processing of foods is subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. Such laws and regulations have an important effect on the food processing industry as a whole, requiring substantially all firms in the industry to incur material expenditures for modification of existing processing facilities and for construction of upgraded or new waste treatment facilities.

We cannot predict what environmental legislation or regulations will be enacted in the future, how existing or future laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted or what environmental conditions may be found to exist. Enactment of more stringent laws or regulations or more strict interpretation of existing laws and regulations may require additional expenditure by us, some of which could have a negative impact on our operations and financial condition. Additionally, the failure by any one or more of our suppliers to comply with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, or allegations of non-compliance, may disrupt their operations and could result in accompanying disruptions to our operations.

We have several large customers that account for a significant portion of our sales. Our top ten customers accounted for 43% of our sales during fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, with our largest customer accounting for 9% of our sales in 2023, 8% of our sales in 2022 and 11% of our sales in 2021.

Five of the ten customers are food distributors who sell our product to many end users. The loss of one or more of our large customers could adversely affect our results of operations. These customers typically do not enter into long-term contracts and make purchase decisions based on a combination of price, product quality, consumer demand and customer service performance. If our sales to one or more of these customers are reduced, this reduction may adversely affect our business. If receivables from one or more of these customers become uncollectible, our operating income would be adversely impacted.

Our businesses operate in highly competitive markets. We compete against national and regional manufacturers and distributors on the basis of price, quality, product variety, brand recognition and loyalty, and effective distribution. Many of our major competitors in the market are larger and have greater financial and marketing resources than we do. Increased competition from our competitors could lead to downward pressure on prices and/or a decline in our market share, either of which could adversely affect our results. See “Competition” in Item 1 for more information about our competitors.

Our ability to purchase, manufacture and distribute products is critical to our success. Because we source certain products from single manufacturing sites, it is possible that we could experience a production disruption that results in a reduction or elimination of the availability of some of our products. If we are not able to obtain alternate production capability in a timely manner, or on favorable terms, it could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, including the potential for long-term loss of product placement with various customers. We are also subject to risks of other business disruptions associated with our dependence on production facilities and distribution systems. Natural disasters, terrorist activity, cyberattacks or other unforeseen events could interrupt production or distribution and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, including the potential for long-term loss of product placement with our customers.

Our ability to obtain adequate and reasonably priced methods of transportation to distribute our products, including refrigerated trailers for many of our products, is a key factor to our success. Delays in transportation, including weather-related delays, and carrier capacity limitations, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Further, higher fuel costs and increased line haul costs due to industry capacity constraints, customer delivery requirements and a more restrictive regulatory environment could also negatively impact our financial results. We pay fuel surcharges that fluctuate with the price of diesel fuel to third-party transporters of our products, and such surcharges can be substantial. Any sudden or dramatic increases in the price of diesel fuel would serve to increase our fuel surcharges and our cost of goods sold. These higher costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Our current manufacturing resources may be inadequate to meet significantly increased demand for some of our products. Our ability to increase our manufacturing capacity depends on many factors, including the costs and availability of equipment, the equipment delivery and construction lead-times, installation, qualification, regulatory permitting and regulatory requirements. A lack of sufficient manufacturing capacity to meet demand could cause our customer service levels to decrease, which may negatively affect customer demand for our products and customer relations generally, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, operating facilities at or near capacity may also increase production and distribution costs and negatively affect relations with our employees or contractors, which could result in disruptions in our operations.

From time to time, the Company undertakes acquisitions or divestitures. The success of any acquisition or divestiture depends on the Company’s ability to identify opportunities that help the Company meet its strategic objectives, consummate a transaction on favorable contractual terms, and achieve expected returns and other financial benefits.

Acquisitions, including future acquisitions, require us to efficiently integrate the acquired business or businesses, which involves a significant degree of difficulty, including the following:

Divestitures have operational risks that may include impairment charges. Divestitures also present unique financial and operational risks, including diverting management attention from the existing core business, separating personnel and financial data and other systems, and adversely affecting existing business relationships with suppliers and customers.

In situations where acquisitions and divestitures are not successfully implemented or completed, or the expected benefits of such acquisitions or divestitures are not otherwise realized, the Company’s business or financial results could be negatively impacted.

New Jersey Law and Provisions of Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws May Inhibit a Change In Control

The New Jersey Shareholders' Protection Act, N.J.S.A. 14A:10A-1, et seq., may delay, deter or prevent a change in control by prohibiting the Company from engaging in a business combination transaction with an interested shareholder for a period of five years after the person becomes an interested stockholder, even if a majority of our shareholders believe a change in control would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. In addition, our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws contain provisions that may delay, deter or prevent a future acquisition of J & J Snack Foods Corp. not approved by our Board of Directors. This could occur even if our shareholders are offered an attractive value for their shares or if a substantial number or even a majority of our shareholders believe the takeover is in their best interest. These provisions are intended to encourage any person interested in acquiring us to negotiate with and obtain the approval of our Board of Directors in connection with the transaction. Provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws that could delay, deter or prevent a future acquisition include the following:

Gerald B. Shreiber is the founder and a Director of the Company. He is currently beneficial owner of approximately 20% of its outstanding common stock, held in a trust for his benefit. Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides Mr. Shreiber with certain special voting rights with respect to any matters to be voted on by the Board of Directors. As a result, as of the date of this Report, Mr. Shreiber is entitled to cast six (6) votes on all matters upon which the Board of Directors is entitled to vote.

The costs of employee health care insurance have been increasing in recent years due to rising health care costs, legislative changes, and general economic conditions. Because of the breadth and complexity of health care regulations as well as other health care reform legislation considered by Congress and state legislatures, we cannot predict with certainty the future effect of these laws on us. A continued increase in health care costs or additional costs incurred as a result of new or existing health care reform laws or changes in enforcement policies could have a negative impact on our financial position and results of operations.

There are risks in the marketplace related to trade and consumer acceptance of product improvements, packing initiatives and new product introductions. We cannot be sure if our new products, product improvements, or packaging initiatives will be accepted by customers.

Foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the United States’ economy in such respects as the level of inflation and debt, which may result in fluctuations in the value of the country’s currency. Further, there may be less government regulation in various countries, and we may face difficulty in enforcing our legal rights outside the United States. Additionally, in some foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation limitations on the removal of property or other assets, political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could affect the operations and assets of U.S. companies doing business in that country. Any such difficulties noted above could affect our business. Sales of our foreign operations were $70.2 million, $45.2 million and $20.8 million in fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. At September 30, 2023, the total assets of our foreign operations were approximately $61.5 million or 4.8% of total assets. At September 24, 2022, the total assets of our foreign operations were $42.7 million or 3.5% of total assets.

The efficient operation of our business depends on our information technology systems. We rely on our information technology systems to effectively manage our business data, communications, supply chain, manufacturing, order entry and fulfillment, and other business processes. The failure of our information technology systems (including those provided to us by third parties) to perform as we anticipate could disrupt our business and could result in production, billing, collecting, and ordering errors, processing inefficiencies, and the loss of sales and customers, causing our business and results of operations to suffer.

Our information technology systems may be vulnerable to damage or interruption from circumstances beyond our control, including fire, natural disasters, systems failures, security breaches or intrusions (including those against our third-party providers and theft of customer, consumer or other confidential data), and viruses. Although we continue to monitor our information technology networks, if we are unable to prevent physical and electronic break-ins, cyber-attacks and other information security breaches, we may suffer material financial and reputational damage, be subject to litigation or incur significant remediation costs or penalties.

Risks Associated with Real or Perceived Safety Issues Regarding our Food Products

We sell food products for human consumption, which involves risks such as product contamination or spoilage, product tampering, other adulteration of food products, mislabeling, and misbranding. We can be impacted by both real and unfounded claims regarding the safety of our operations, or concerns regarding mislabeled, adulterated, contaminated or spoiled food products. Any of these circumstances could necessitate a voluntary or mandatory recall due to a substantial product hazard, a need to change a product’s labeling or other consumer safety concerns. A pervasive product recall may result in significant loss due to the costs of a recall, related legal claims, including claims arising from bodily injury or illness caused by our products, the destruction of product inventory, or lost sales due to product unavailability or negative publicity. A highly publicized product recall, whether involving us or any related products made by third parties, also could result in a loss of customers or an unfavorable change in consumer sentiment regarding our products or any category in which we operate. In addition, an allegation of noncompliance with federal or state food laws and regulations could force us to cease production, stop selling our products or create significant adverse publicity that could harm our credibility and decrease market acceptance of our products. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

We consider our intellectual property rights, particularly our trademarks, to be a significant and valuable aspect of our business. We protect our intellectual property rights through a combination of trademark, patent, copyright and trade secret protection, contractual agreements and policing of third-party misuses of our intellectual property in traditional retail and digital environments. Our failure to obtain or adequately protect our intellectual property or any change in law that lessens or removes the current legal protections of our intellectual property may diminish our competitiveness and adversely affect our business and financial results.

Competing intellectual property claims that impact our brands or products may arise unexpectedly. Any litigation or disputes regarding intellectual property may be costly and time consuming and may divert the attention of our management and key personnel from our business operations. We may also be subject to significant damages or injunctions against development, launch and sale of certain products. Any of these occurrences may harm our business and financial results.

We have a number of iconic brands with significant value. Maintaining and continually enhancing the value of these brands is critical to the success of our business. Brand value is primarily based on consumer perceptions. Success in promoting and enhancing brand value depends in large part on our ability to provide high-quality products. Brand value could diminish significantly due to a number of factors, including consumer perception that we have acted in an irresponsible manner, adverse publicity about our products, packaging, ingredients, our environmental, social, human capital or governance practices, our failure to maintain the quality of our products, the failure of our products to deliver consistently positive consumer experiences, or the products becoming unavailable to consumers. The growing use of social and digital media by consumers increases the speed and extent that information and opinions can be shared. Negative posts or comments about us, our brands, products or packaging on social or digital media could seriously damage our brands and reputation. In addition, we might fail to appropriately target our marketing efforts, anticipate consumer preferences, or invest sufficiently in maintaining our brand image. If we do not maintain the favorable perception of our brands, our results could be adversely impacted.

Risk Associated with Generating Anticipated Cost Savings and/or Operating Efficiencies Associated with our Strategic Initiatives

Our future success and earnings growth depend in part on our ability to achieve the appropriate cost structure and operate efficiently in the highly competitive food industry, particularly in an environment of volatile cost inputs. We continuously pursue initiatives to reduce costs and increase effectiveness. We also regularly pursue cost productivity initiatives in procurement, manufacturing and logistics. Any failure or delay in implementing our initiatives in accordance with our plans could adversely affect our ability to meet our long-term growth and profitability expectations and could adversely affect our business. If we do not continue to effectively manage costs and achieve additional efficiencies, our competitiveness and profitability could decrease.

Our sales are affected by the seasonal demand for our products. Demand is greater during the summer months primarily as a result of the warm weather demand for our ICEE and frozen novelties products. Because of seasonal fluctuations, there can be no assurance that the results of any particular quarter will be indicative of results for the full year or for future years.

The Company’s primary east coast manufacturing facility is located in Pennsauken, New Jersey in a 70,000 square foot building on a two-acre lot. Soft pretzels, churros, and funnel cake are manufactured at this Company-owned facility. The Company owns a 128,000 square foot building adjacent to this manufacturing facility which contains a large freezer for warehousing and distribution purposes. The Company also owns a 43,000 square foot office and warehouse building in the same complex. Additionally, the Company leases, through July 2025, 30,000 square feet of office space in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey which serves as the Company’s headquarters.

The Company owns a 150,000 square foot building on eight acres in Bellmawr, New Jersey. The facility is used by the Company to manufacture soft pretzels and various lines of baked goods.

The Company’s primary west coast manufacturing facility is located in Vernon (Los Angeles), California. It consists of a 137,000 square foot facility in which soft pretzels, churros and various lines of baked goods are produced and warehoused. Included in the 137,000 square foot facility is a 30,000 square foot freezer used for warehousing and distribution purposes. The facility is leased through November 2030. The Company leases an additional 80,000 square feet of office and warehouse space, adjacent to its manufacturing facility, through November 2030.

The Company leases a 22,000 square foot soft pretzel manufacturing facility located in Brooklyn, New York. The lease runs through September 2027.

The Company leases through June 2030 a 45,000 square foot churros and funnel cake manufacturing facility located in Colton, California.

The Company leases an 85,000 square foot bakery manufacturing facility located in Atlanta, Georgia. The lease runs through December 2024 with an option to extend to December 2026.

The Company leases a 129,000 square foot bakery manufacturing facility located in Rock Island, Illinois. The lease runs through February 2025.

The Company owns a 46,000 square foot frozen novelties manufacturing facility and a 42,000 square foot dry storage warehouse located on six acres in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The Company leases a 29,600 square foot soft pretzel manufacturing facility located in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. The lease runs through June 2032.

The Company leases a 48,000 square foot soft pretzel manufacturing facility located in Carrollton, Texas. The lease runs through April 2026. The Company leases an additional property containing a 6,500 square foot storage freezer across the street from the manufacturing facility, which expires March 2030.

The Company’s fresh bakery products manufacturing facility and offices are located in Bridgeport, New Jersey in three buildings totaling 133,000 square feet. The buildings are leased through December 2025.

The Company owns a 165,000 square foot fig and fruit bar manufacturing facility located on 9-1/2 acres in Moscow Mills (St. Louis), Missouri.

The Company owns an 84,000 square foot handheld products manufacturing facility in Holly Ridge, North Carolina.

The Company leases a 70,000 square foot handheld products manufacturing facility in Weston, Oregon which is leased through June 30, 2031. The Company leases an additional 11,300 square foot freezer storage facility in Weston, Oregon which expires May 2024.

The Company leases 84,000 square feet of office space in LaVergne (Nashville), Tennessee through February 2035 for its ICEE headquarters.

The Company leases a 44,000 square foot frozen novelties manufacturing facility in Tampa, Florida which is leased through November 2030.

The Company owns two industrial buildings totaling 107,000 square feet, as well as a 76,000 square foot parcel of land in Paducah, Kentucky. Additionally, the Company leases three buildings totaling 34,000 square feet in Paducah, Kentucky, with lease end dates ranging from December 2022 through February 2027.

The Company leases two frozen novelties warehouse facilities in Lancaster, California, totaling 23,000 square feet. These properties are leased through March 2026.

The Company also leases approximately 170 smaller warehouse and distribution facilities in 44 states, Mexico, Canada, Australia and China.

The Company leases a 117,000 square foot cold storage facility in Terrell, Texas which is leased through November 2043.

The Company has no material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their property is subject.

The Company’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “JJSF.”

As of September 30, 2023, we had approximately 75 stockholders of record of our common stock.

We did not purchase any shares of our common stock in our fiscal fourth quarter, and no shares were withheld in our fiscal fourth quarter to cover taxes associated with the vesting of certain restricted stock units held by officers and employees.

A plan to purchase 500,000 shares was announced on August 4, 2017 with no expiration date. 318,858 shares remain to be purchased under this plan.

For information on the Company’s Equity Compensation Plans, please see Item 12 herein.

The following graph shows a five-year comparison of cumulative total returns for our stock, the Nasdaq Composite Index and our peer group, the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) Packaged Foods & Meats Index.

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to provide a reader of our financial statements with a narrative from the perspective of our management regarding our financial condition and results of operations, liquidity and certain other factors that may affect our future results. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. Refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2022 for additional information related to the discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2022 compared to the fiscal year ended September 25, 2021.

The Company manufactures snack foods and distributes frozen beverages which it markets nationally to the foodservice and retail supermarket industries. The Company’s principal snack food products are soft pretzels, frozen novelties, churros and bakery products. We are the largest manufacturer of soft pretzels in the United States. Other snack food products include funnel cake and handheld products. The Company’s principal frozen beverage products are the ICEE brand frozen carbonated beverage and the SLUSH PUPPIE brand frozen non-carbonated beverage.

Dating back to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in fiscal 2020, the effects of COVID-19 on consumer behavior have impacted the relevant demand for our Food Service, Retail, and Frozen Beverage segments. In fiscal 2020, we saw a shift in demand towards increased at-home food consumption, which benefited our Retail segment, and away from in-restaurant dining, and experience driven activities, which negatively impacted our Food Service and Frozen Beverage segments. This shift in demand proved inconsistent and volatile over the course of the pandemic. In fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2022, as part of the pandemic economy that impacted our operations opened, sales in our Food Service and Frozen Beverages segments improved.

The aforementioned shift, and overall volatility in demand, has had a significant impact on the operating results of each of our three segments over the past three fiscal years. Additional impacts from the pandemic have caused us to experience higher hourly wage rates paid to our front-line employees, increased costs for personal protective equipment, increased complexity and uncertainty around production planning and forecasting, and overall lower levels of efficiency in our production and distribution network, all of which has unfavorably impacted our operating results. In fiscal 2023, our operating environment became more predictable and stable, and the majority of the volatility and shifts in demand that had been more present in fiscal 2021 and 2022, somewhat subsided.

We continued to experience cost inflation through fiscal 2023, although the impact was significantly less than it had been in fiscal 2022, primarily tied to a smaller group of raw materials and packaging, and materially offset by the benefit of the pricing actions that had been taken in fiscal 2022. The inflationary cost environment we experienced during fiscal 2022 resulted in significantly higher input costs for our business. During fiscal 2022, we experienced unprecedented inflationary pressures on commodities such as flour, oils, eggs, meats and dairy, in addition to notably higher costs for packaging, freight and warehousing, and labor. To help offset these cost headwinds, we implemented a series of pricing actions throughout fiscal 2022.

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52- or 53- week period that ends on the last Saturday of September. An additional week is included in the last fiscal quarter every five or six years to realign the Company’s fiscal quarters with calendar quarters, which occurred in the Company’s fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The Company’s fiscal year 2023 spanned 53 weeks, whereas fiscal years 2022 and 2021 spanned 52 weeks each.

The following discussion provides a review of results for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 as compared with the fiscal year ended September 24, 2022.

Net sales increased by $178.2 million, or 13%, to $1,558.8 million in fiscal 2023. Fiscal 2023 net sales include $96.0 million of net sales from Dippin’ Dots, an increase of $62.2 million from prior fiscal year with the increase primarily attributable to the timing of the acquisition in prior year results. Organic sales growth was driven by growth across all three of the Company’s business segments, led by our core products including soft pretzels, churros, frozen novelties and frozen beverages. The organic sales growth was largely driven by improved marketing, new customers, additional product placement, as well as the benefit of our pricing actions that had been taken throughout fiscal 2022. To a lesser extent, fiscal 2023 net sales were benefited by the extra week in the fiscal year.

Gross profit increased by $100.2 million, or 27%, to $469.9 million in fiscal 2023. Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased to 30.1% in fiscal 2023 from 26.8% in fiscal 2022. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of sales was driven by enhanced production efficiencies and the benefit of our fiscal 2022 pricing actions and a better product mix, along with the stabilization of inflationary pressures on the back of historic highs in fiscal 2022. The cost of key ingredients including flour, oils, dairy and meats either declined, or remained materially flat, though double-digit increases were seen in sugar/sweeteners and mixes, which continued to negatively impact margins on certain products including frozen novelties and churros.

Total operating expenses increased by $52.5 million, or 17%, to $360.3 million in fiscal 2023 and increased as a percentage of sales to 23.1% in fiscal 2023 compared with 22.3% in fiscal 2022. The increase reflects the impact of inflationary pressures across the majority of our cost line items including industry-wide freight and distribution cost increases and wage increases that more heavily impacted the Company’s comparative results in the first and second fiscal quarters, offset somewhat by the benefits seen from our strategic initiatives to improve logistics management and increase efficiency across our distribution network and supply chain. The increase also reflects the full year impact of a higher expense Dippin’ Dots business in fiscal 2023 results.

Operating expenses included intangible asset impairment charges of $1.7 million in fiscal 2023 and $1.0 million in fiscal 2022. As a percentage of sales, marketing and selling expenses as a percentage of sales increased from 6.6% in fiscal 2022 to 7.1% in fiscal 2023, with the increase driven by the additional investment in marketing spend associated with new product launches and the promotion of our core brands. Distribution expenses as a percentage of sales decreased to 11.1% in fiscal 2023 from 11.6% in fiscal 2022, with the decrease driven by the benefits of our strategic initiatives to improve logistics management and increase efficiency across our distribution network and supply chain. Administrative expenses as a percentage of sales increased from 4.0% in fiscal 2022 to 4.8% in fiscal 2023, with the increase largely attributable to higher performance-based bonus payments and continued investments in capability.

Investment income increased by $1.8 million, or 180%, to $2.7 million in fiscal 2023 due to the improving interest rate environment in fiscal 2023.

Interest expense increased by $3.7 million, or 363%, to $4.7 million in fiscal 2023 due to the Company’s outstanding borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement.

Our effective tax rate in fiscal 2023 was 26.6%. Our effective tax rate in fiscal 2022 year was 23.5%.

Net earnings increased $31.7 million, or 67%, in fiscal 2023 to $78.9 million, or $4.08 per diluted share, from $47.2 million or $2.46 per diluted share, in fiscal 2022 as a result of the aforementioned items.

There are many factors which can impact our net earnings from year to year, among which are the supply and cost of raw materials and labor, insurance costs, factors impacting sales as noted above, the continuing consolidation of our customers, our ability to manage our manufacturing, marketing and distribution activities, our ability to make and integrate acquisitions and changes in tax laws and interest rates.

We have three reportable segments, as disclosed in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements: Food Service, Retail Supermarkets and Frozen Beverages.

The Chief Operating Decision Maker for Food Service, Retail Supermarkets and Frozen Beverages reviews monthly detailed operating income statements and sales reports in order to assess performance and allocate resources to each individual segment. Sales and operating income are the key variables monitored by the Chief Operating Decision Maker and management when determining each segment’s and the Company’s financial condition and operating performance. In addition, the Chief Operating Decision Maker reviews and evaluates depreciation, capital spending and assets of each segment on a quarterly basis to monitor cash flow and asset needs of each segment.

The following table is a summary of sales and operating income, which is how we measure segment profit.

Sales to food service customers increased $109.2 million, or 13%, to $981.8 million in fiscal 2023, which included an increase of $62.2 million in sales from Dippin’ Dots. Soft pretzel sales to the food service market increased 14% to $235.6 million for the year, led by the continued increase in sales of our core pretzel products. Frozen novelties sales increased $67.2 million, or 86%, to $145.4 million for the year, with the increase largely driven by incremental Dippin’ Dots sales during fiscal 2023. Churro sales to food service customers were up 23% to $108.9 million for the year led by customer expansion and growing menu penetration. Sales of bakery products decreased $3.4 million, or 1%, to $378.1 million for the year, with the decrease attributable to the rationalization of certain lower margin Stock Keeping Units (“SKU”)’s. Handheld sales to food service customers decreased 11% to $82.3 million in fiscal 2023, with the decrease largely attributable to pricing declines related to the contractual pricing true-up of costing on certain raw material ingredients, as well as some volume declines amongst certain customers in the product category. Sales of funnel cake increased $4.6 million, or 17%, to $31.5 million.

Sales of new products in the first twelve months since their introduction were approximately $0.3 million for the fiscal year. The benefit of the wrap of prior year price increases favorably impacted sales in the fiscal year, and more than offset some volume declines seen in certain product categories.

Operating income in our Food Service segment increased from $18.5 million in fiscal 2022 to $49.8 million in fiscal 2023, largely driven by the benefit seen from the incremental Dippin’ Dots sales, as well as by improved gross margin performance and improving distribution expenses.

Sales of products to retail supermarkets increased $17.5 million, or 9%, to $215.4 million in fiscal year 2023. Soft pretzel sales to retail supermarkets were $60.3 million, a decrease of $1.7 million, or 3%, from sales in fiscal 2022. Soft pretzel sales to retail supermarkets were impacted by a softer consumer environment as retailers and grocery chains reported lower traffic in stores and smaller baskets at certain points during fiscal 2023. Sales of frozen novelties increased $6.9 million, or 6%, to $115.8 million in fiscal 2023. Sales of biscuits and dumplings increased 2% to $25.1 million in fiscal 2023. Handheld sales to retail supermarket customers increased 195% to $16.7 million in fiscal 2023, with the increase largely driven by expansion with a major retailer.

Sales of new products in the first twelve months since their introduction in retail supermarkets were approximately $0.6 million in fiscal 2023. Operating income in our Retail Supermarkets segment remained relatively flat in fiscal 2023 as compared with fiscal 2022, with a decrease of $0.1 million, or 1%. The relatively comparative flat operating income was the result of gross margin challenges earlier in fiscal 2023 due to higher promotions and allowances, as well as inflationary pressures on raw material costs, offset by stronger comparative performance in the fiscal third and fourth quarters of 2023, largely driven by improved gross margin and lower distribution expenses.

Total frozen beverage segment sales increased $51.5 million or 17% to $361.6 million in fiscal 2023. Beverage sales increased 22%, or $40.6 million, in fiscal 2023. Gallon sales increased 10% from the prior fiscal year. The increase in gallon sales reflects the strong momentum in theaters, along with continued growth in amusement parks, convenience, restaurants, and retail venues. Service revenue increased 7% to $95.9 million in fiscal 2023 and machines revenue, primarily sales of frozen beverage machines, increased from $33.6 million in fiscal 2022 to $37.9 million in fiscal 2023 due to growing installations with new customers.

The estimated number of Company-owned frozen beverage dispensers was 23,000 and 22,000 at September 30, 2023 and September 24, 2022, respectively. Operating income in our Frozen Beverage segment increased 49%, or $16.6 million, in fiscal 2023, with the increase primarily a result of higher beverage sales volume which drove leverage across the business.

The following discussion provides a review of results for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2022 as compared with the fiscal year ended September 25, 2021.

Net sales increased $236.1 million, or 21%, to $1,380.7 million in fiscal 2022 from $1,144.6 million in fiscal 2021. The sales growth was largely driven by improved marketing, new customers, additional product placement, as well as a positive pricing environment. Additional benefits were seen from our recent acquisition, and to a lessor extent, from the comparative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fiscal 2022 sales compared with fiscal 2021 sales, with most of the latter comparative benefit reflected in our first quarter of fiscal 2022.

Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased to 26.8% in fiscal 2022 from 26.1% in fiscal 2021. Inflation continued to build over the year which significantly pressured margins. The impact was especially pronounced in key raw material purchases like flour, eggs, dairy, chocolates and meats, as well as packaging and fuel. Pricing actions that were implemented during fiscal 2022 helped to offset some of these significant cost pressures. Comparatively, the increase in gross profit percentage was largely attributable to the benefit of increased sales, as well as favorable product mix.

Total operating expenses increased $80.1 million to $307.8 million in fiscal 2022 and increased as a percentage of sales to 22.3% of sales from 19.9% in fiscal 2021. The increase reflects the significant impact of inflationary pressures across the majority of our cost line items including industry-wide freight and distribution cost increases, wage increases, and overall administrative expense increases.

Operating expenses included intangible asset impairment charges of $1.0 million in fiscal 2022 and $1.3 million in fiscal 2021. Marketing and selling expenses decreased to 6.6% this year from 6.8% of sales in fiscal 2021 driven by effective investment of marketing dollars aligned with sales recovery. Distribution expenses as a percentage of sales increased to 11.6% from 9.5% in fiscal 2021 due to rising freight and fuel costs. Administrative expenses were 4.0% and 3.5% of sales in fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, respectively.

Our investments generated before tax income of $1.0 million in fiscal 2022, down from $2.8 million in fiscal 2021 due to decreases in the amount of investments.

Interest expense increased by $1.0 million in fiscal 2023 due to the Company’s outstanding borrowings on the Amended Credit Agreement.

Our effective tax rate in fiscal 2022 was 23.5%. Our effective tax rate in fiscal 2021 year was 24.9%.

Net earnings decreased $8.4 million, or 15%, in fiscal 2022 to $47.2 million, or $2.46 per diluted share, from $55.6 million or $2.91 per diluted share, in fiscal 2021 as a result of the aforementioned items.

The following table is a summary of sales and operating income, which is how we measure segment profit.

Sales to food service customers increased $147.7 million, or 20%, to $872.7 million in fiscal 2022. Soft pretzel sales to the food service market increased 18% to $205.8 million for the year. Frozen novelties sales increased $33.6 million, or 75%, to $78.2 million for the year, which included the benefit of the Company’s recent acquisition. Churro sales to food service customers were up 36% to $88.2 million for the year. Sales of bakery products increased $38.9 million, or 11%, to $381.5 million for the year. Handheld sales to food service customers were up 22% to $92.1 million in fiscal 2022. Sales of funnel cake increased $4.6 million, or 21%, to $26.9 million.

Sales were up across most product lines as many of the venues and locations where our products are sold that were previously shut down or operating at reduced capacity in fiscal 2021 had mostly or fully re-opened in fiscal 2022. Theaters and outdoor venues, including stadiums and amusement parks, as well as schools, restaurants and strategic accounts continued to experience an increase in visitation that drove strong sales in our core products. Additionally, sales across all of our product lines were favorably impacted by the positive pricing environment, and frozen novelties sales were also favorably impacted by our recent acquisition.

Sales of new products in the first twelve months since their introduction were approximately $4.6 million for the year. Operating income in our Food Service segment decreased from $39.2 million in fiscal 2021 to $18.5 million in fiscal 2022. The decrease in operating income was primarily due to the significant increase in ingredients, production and distribution costs year over year, as well as our ERP implementation which previously impacted our results in the fiscal second quarter of 2022.

Sales of products to retail supermarkets increased $13.0 million, or 7%, to $197.9 million in fiscal year 2022. Soft pretzel sales to retail supermarkets were $61.9 million, an increase of $6.9 million, or 13%, from sales in fiscal 2021. Sales of frozen novelties increased $8.9 million, or 9%, to $108.9 million. Sales of biscuits and dumplings increased 2% to $24.7 million for the year. Handheld sales to retail supermarket customers decreased 26% to $5.6 million for the year.

Sales of new products in the first twelve months since their introduction were approximately $0.9 million in fiscal year 2022. Operating income in our Retail Supermarkets segment decreased from $25.9 million to $9.5 million for the year. The decreases in operating income were primarily attributable to higher cost of goods sold as well as higher shipping and distribution related costs.

Total frozen beverage segment sales increased 32% to $310.0 million in fiscal 2022 and beverage sales increased 48%, or $59.6 million, for the year. Gallon sales increased 39% from last year. The increase in gallon sales reflects the strong demand across theaters, amusement parks, convenience and restaurants. In the amusement parks channel, we continued to see strong growth as both domestic and international visitation numbers continued to recover, and exceeded, pre-COVID-19 levels. Theater sales continued on an upward trajectory as movie goers indulged in their favorite snacks and view highly anticipated movie releases. Service revenue increased 10% to $89.8 million in fiscal 2022 led by an acceleration in maintenance calls and additional growth in one of our larger customers, earlier in fiscal 2022. Machines revenue, primarily sales of machines, increased from $27.0 million in fiscal 2021 to $33.6 million in fiscal 2022 driven mainly by growth from large quick service restaurant (QSR) and convenience customers.

The estimated number of Company-owned frozen beverage dispensers was 22,000 and 19,000 at September 24, 2022 and September 25, 2021, respectively. Our Frozen Beverage segment had operating income of $33.8 million in fiscal 2022 compared to $6.1 million in fiscal 2021 primarily a result of higher beverage sales volume which drove leverage across the business.

On June 21, 2022, J & J Snack Foods Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, DD Acquisition Holdings, LLC, completed the acquisition of one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests of Dippin’ Dots Holding, L.L.C. (“Dippin’ Dots”) which, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, owns and operates the Dippin’ Dots and Doc Popcorn businesses. The purchase price was approximately $223.6 million, consisting entirely of cash.

Dippin’ Dots is a leading producer of flash-frozen beaded ice cream treats, and the acquisition will leverage synergies in entertainment and amusement locations, theaters, and convenience to continue to expand our business. The acquisition also includes the Doc Popcorn business operated by Dippin’ Dots.

The acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting, and its operations are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements from their respective acquisition dates.

Although there are many factors that could impact our operating cash flow, most notably net earnings, we believe that our future operating cash flow, along with our borrowing capacity, our current cash and cash equivalent balances and our investment securities is sufficient to satisfy our cash requirements over the next twelve months and beyond, as well as fund future growth and expansion.

In December 2021, the Company entered into an amended and restated loan agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with our existing banks which provided for up to a $50 million revolving credit facility repayable in December 2026.

On June 21, 2022, the Company entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement, the “Amended Credit Agreement” which provided for an incremental increase of $175 million in available borrowings. The Amended Credit Agreement also includes an option to increase the size of the revolving credit facility by up to an amount not to exceed in the aggregate the greater of $225 million or, $50 million plus the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrowers, subject to the satisfaction of certain terms and conditions.

Interest accrues, at the Company’s election at (i) the BSBY Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus an applicable margin, based upon the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, or (ii) the Alternate Base Rate (a rate based on the higher of (a) the prime rate announced from time-to-time by the Administrative Agent, (b) the Federal Reserve System’s federal funds rate, plus 0.50% or (c) the Daily BSBY Rate, plus an applicable margin). The Alternate Base Rate is defined in the Credit Agreement.

The Credit Agreement requires the Company to comply with various affirmative and negative covenants, including without limitation (i) covenants to maintain a minimum specified interest coverage ratio and maximum specified net leverage ratio, and (ii) subject to certain exceptions, covenants that prevent or restrict the Company’s ability to pay dividends, engage in certain mergers or acquisitions, make certain investments or loans, incur future indebtedness, alter its capital structure or line of business, prepay subordinated indebtedness, engage in certain transactions with affiliates, or amend its organizational documents. As of September 30, 2023, the Company is in compliance with all financial covenants of the Credit Agreement.

As of September 30, 2023, we had $27.0 million of outstanding borrowings drawn on the Amended Credit Agreement. As of September 24, 2022, we had $188.2 million of additional borrowing capacity, after giving effect to the $9.8 million of letters of credit outstanding.

The Company’s material cash requirements include the following contractual and other obligations:

Our most significant raw material requirements include flour, packaging, shortening, corn syrup, sugar, juice, cheese, chocolate, and a variety of nuts. We attempt to minimize the effect of future price fluctuations related to the purchase of raw materials primarily through forward purchasing to cover future manufacturing requirements, generally for periods from 1 to 12 months. As of September 30, 2023, we have approximately $125 million of such commitments. The purchase commitments do not exceed our projected requirements over the related terms and are in the normal course of business.

We have operating leases with initial noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year covering the rental of various facilities and equipment. Our operating leases include leases for real estate from some of our office, distribution and manufacturing facilities as well as manufacturing and non-manufacturing equipment used in our business. As of September 30, 2023, we have operating lease payment obligations of $94.1 million, with $16.5 million payable within 12 months.

The Company has off-balance sheet arrangements for purchase commitments as of September 30, 2023.

We prepare our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of such financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of those financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company discloses its significant accounting policies in the accompanying notes to its audited consolidated financial statements.

Judgments and estimates of uncertainties are required in applying the Company’s accounting policies in certain areas. Following are some of the areas requiring significant judgments and estimates: revenue recognition, allowance for estimated credit losses, valuation of goodwill and long-lived and intangible assets, insurance reserves, and income taxes and business combinations.

The singular performance obligation of our customer contracts for product and machine sales is determined by each individual purchase order and the respective products ordered, with revenue being recognized at a point-in-time when the obligation under the terms of the agreement is satisfied and product control is transferred to our customer. Specifically, control transfers to our customers when the product is delivered to, installed, or picked up by our customers based upon applicable shipping terms, as our customers can direct the use and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from the product at this point in time. The performance obligations in our customer contracts for product are generally satisfied within 30 days.

The singular performance obligation of our customer contracts for time and material repair and maintenance equipment service is the performance of the repair and maintenance with revenue being recognized at a point-in-time when the repair and maintenance is completed.

The singular performance obligation of our customer repair and maintenance equipment service contracts is the performance of the repair and maintenance with revenue being recognized over the time the service is expected to be performed. Our customers are billed for service contracts in advance of performance and therefore we have contract liability on our balance sheet.

Revenue is measured by the transaction price, which is defined as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for satisfying the performance obligations noted above. The transaction price is adjusted for estimates of known or expected variable consideration which includes sales discounts, trade promotions and certain other sales and customer incentives, including rebates and coupon redemptions. Variable consideration related to these programs is recorded as a reduction to revenue when the related revenue is recognized, and is recorded using the most likely amount method, with updates to estimates and related accruals of variable consideration occurring each period based on historical experience, changes in circumstances and other factors, including review of contractual pricing and rebate arrangements with customers.

We do not believe that there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be material change in the estimates or assumptions used to recognize revenue. As noted above, estimates are made based on historical experience and other factors. However, if the level of redemption rates or performance was to vary significantly from estimates, we may be exposed to gains or losses that could be material. We have not made any material changes in the accounting methodology used to recognize revenue during the past three fiscal years.

We provide an allowance for estimated credit losses after taking into consideration historical experience and other factors. On September 27, 2020, the Company adopted guidance issued by the FASB in ASU 2016-13 Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires companies to recognize an allowance that reflects a current estimate of credit losses expected to be incurred over the life of the asset. The Company continuously monitors collections and payments from its customers and maintains a provision for estimated credit losses. The allowance for estimated credit losses considers a number of factors including the age of receivable balances, the history of losses, expectations of future credit losses and the customers’ ability to pay off obligations.

We do not believe that there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the estimates or assumptions used to value our accounts receivable. Since adoption of the new guidance on September 27, 2020, we have not made any material changes in the accounting methodology used to value accounts receivable.

We have three reporting units with goodwill. Goodwill is evaluated annually by the Company for impairment. We perform impairment tests at year end for our reporting units, which are also the operating segment levels with recorded goodwill utilizing primarily the discounted cash flow method. This methodology used to estimate the fair value of the total Company and its reporting units requires inputs and assumptions (i.e. revenue growth, operating profit margins, capital spending requirements and discount rates) that reflect current market conditions. The estimated fair value of each reporting unit is compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the goodwill of the reporting unit is potentially impaired, and the Company then determines the implied fair value of goodwill, which is compared to the carrying value of goodwill to determine if impairment exists. Our tests at September 30, 2023 show that the fair value of each of our reporting units with goodwill exceeded its carrying value by at least 50%. Therefore, no further analysis was required.

The inputs and assumptions used involve considerable management judgment and are based upon assumptions about expected future operating performance. Assumptions used in these forecasts are consistent with internal planning. The actual performance of the reporting units could differ from management’s estimates due to changes in business conditions, operating performance, economic conditions, competition, and consumer preferences. We have not made any material changes in the accounting methodology used to value goodwill during the past three fiscal years.

We record an impairment charge to property, plant and equipment and amortizing intangible assets in accordance with the applicable accounting standards, when, based on certain indicators of impairment, we believe such assets have experienced a decline in value that is other than temporary. Future adverse changes in market conditions or poor operating results of these underlying assets could result in losses or an inability to recover the carrying value of the asset that may not be reflected in the asset’s current carrying value, thereby possibly requiring impairment charges in the future.

Indefinite lived intangibles are reviewed annually for impairment. The fair value of our indefinite lived intangible assets is calculated using either a relief from royalty valuation approach, or the excess earnings method. We are required to make estimates and assumptions about sales growth, royalty rates, and discount rates based on budgets, business plans, economic projections, and marketplace data. Our impairment analysis contains uncertainties due to uncontrollable events that could positively or negatively impact the future economic and operating conditions.

We have not made any material changes in the accounting methodology used to evaluate impairment of long-lived assets and other intangibles during the last three fiscal years. While we believe we have made reasonable estimates and assumptions to calculate fair value of these assets, it is possible a material change could occur. If our actual results are not consistent with our estimates and assumptions used to calculate fair value, it could result in a material impairment of our long-lived assets and other intangibles.

We have a self-insured medical plan which covers approximately 1,800 of our employees. We record a liability for incurred but not yet reported or paid claims based on our historical experience of claims payments and a calculated lag time period. Considering that we have stop loss coverage of $225,000 for each individual plan subscriber, the general consistency of claims payments and the short time lag, we believe that there is not a material exposure for this liability.

We self-insure, up to loss limits, workers’ compensation, automobile and general liability claims. Insurance reserves are calculated on a combination of an undiscounted basis based on actual claims data and estimates of incurred but not reported claims developed utilizing historical claims trends. Projected settlements of incurred but not reported claims are estimated based on pending claims, historical trends, industry trends related to expected losses and actual reported losses, and key assumptions, including loss development factors and expected loss rates.

We have not made any material changes in the accounting methodology used to establish our self-insurance liability during the past three fiscal years. We do not believe that there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the estimate or assumptions used to calculate our self-insurance liability. However, if actual results are not consistent with our estimates or assumptions, we may be exposed to gains or losses that could be material.

The annual tax rate is based on our income and statutory tax rates. Changes in statutory rates and tax laws in jurisdictions in which we operate may have a material effect on our annual tax rate. The effect of these changes, if any, would be recognized as a discrete item upon enactment.

Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences between the tax and financial statement recognition of revenues and expenses. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured based on the enacted tax rates that will apply in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid.

We have not made any material changes in the accounting methodology used to account for income taxes during the past three fiscal years. Changes in tax laws and rates could affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities in the future. Other than those potential impacts, we do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in tax related balances.

We use assumptions and estimates in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. We use various models to value assets acquired and liabilities assumed, such as the net realizable value method to value inventory, and the cost method and market approach to value property, plant and equipment. The determination of the fair value of intangible assets, which can represent a significant portion of the purchase price of our acquisitions, requires the use of significant judgement with regard to the fair value, and whether such intangibles are amortizable or non-amortizable and, if the former, the period and method by which the intangible will be amortized. We estimate the fair value of acquisition-related intangibles either through the relief of royalty method or multi-period excess earnings method, or based on projections of cash flows that will arise from identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses, which includes estimate of customer attrition. The projected cash flows are discounted to determine the present value of the assets at the date of acquisition. For significant acquisitions, we may use independent third-party valuation specialists to assist us in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

We have not made any material changes in the accounting methodology used to account for business combinations during the past three fiscal years. We do not believe that there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the estimate or assumptions used to determine the fair value of assets acquired or liabilities assumed in a business combination. However, if actual results are not consistent with our estimates or assumptions, we may be exposed to impairment charges that could be material.

The following is the Company’s quantitative and qualitative analysis of its financial market risk:

The Company has in the past entered into interest rate swaps to limit its exposure to interest rate risk and may do so in the future if the Board of Directors feels that such non-trading hedging is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had no interest rate swap contracts.

At September 30, 2023, the Company had variable rate debt of $27.0 million with a weighted average interest rate of 6.48%. If borrowing rates were to increase 1% above the current rates, it would increase interest expense by $0.3 million on an annual basis.

The Company’s most significant raw material requirements include flour, shortening, corn syrup, sugar, juice, cheese, chocolate, and a variety of nuts. The Company attempts to minimize the effect of future price fluctuations related to the purchase of raw materials primarily through forward purchasing to cover future manufacturing requirements, generally for periods from 1 to 12 months. Future contracts are not used in combination with forward purchasing of these raw materials. The Company’s procurement practices are intended to reduce the risk of future price increases, but also may potentially limit the ability to benefit from possible price decreases.

The Company has not entered into any forward exchange contracts to hedge its foreign currency rate risk as of September 30, 2023, because it does not believe its foreign exchange exposure is significant.

The financial statements of the Company are filed under this Item 8, beginning on page F-1 of this report.

We carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act for financial reporting, as of September 30, 2023. Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that these controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable assurance level.

Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. These disclosure controls and procedures include, among other things, controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer and effected by the board of directors and management to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2023. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework.

Based on our assessment, our management believes that, as of September 30, 2023, our internal control over financial reporting is effective. There have been no changes that occurred during our fourth quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Our independent registered public accounting firm, Grant Thornton LLP, audited our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2023. Their report, dated November 28, 2023, expressed an unqualified opinion on our internal control over financial reporting. That report appears in Item 15 of Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is incorporated by reference to this Item 9A.

None of our directors or executive officers adopted, modified or terminated any contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of our securities that was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) or any “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K

There was no information required on Form 8-K during the quarter that was not reported.

The information required relating to directors, director nominees and executive officers of the registrant is incorporated by reference from the information under the captions “Election of Directors,” “Biographical Information about the Nominees and Directors,” “Board Committees” and “Executive Officers” contained in our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on February 13, 2024 (the “Proxy Statement”).

The information relating to the identification of the audit committee, audit committee financial expert and director nomination procedures of the registrant is incorporated by reference from the information under the captions “The Audit Committee” and “The Nominating Committee” contained in the Proxy Statement.

The information concerning Section 16(a) Compliance appearing under the caption “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which applies to the Company’s principal executive officer and senior financial officers. The Company has also adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which applies to all employees. The Company will furnish any person, without charge, a copy of the Code of Ethics upon written request to J & J Snack Foods Corp., 350 Fellowship Rd., Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054, Attn: Secretary. A copy of the Code of Ethics can also be found on our website at www.jjsnack.com. Any waiver of any provision of the Code of Ethics granted to the principal executive officer or senior financial officer may only be granted by a majority of the Company’s disinterested directors. If a waiver is granted, information concerning the waiver will be posted on our website www.jjsnack.com for a period of 12 months.

Information concerning executive compensation appearing in the Proxy Statement under the caption “Executive Compensation” is incorporated herein by reference.

Information concerning the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and the information concerning equity compensation plans appearing in the Proxy Statement under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” is incorporated herein by reference.

The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the captions “Certain Relationships” and “Director Independence” is incorporated herein by reference.

The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the captions “Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and “Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” is incorporated herein by reference.

The following financial information from J&J Snack Foods Corp.'s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023, formatted in iXBRL (Inline extensible Business Reporting Language):

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

J & J SNACK FOODS CORP.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

Financial Statements:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 248)	F-2

Opinion of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting	F-4

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2023 and September 24, 2022	F-5

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023, September 24, 2022 and September 25, 2021	F-6

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023, September 24, 2022 and September 25, 2021	F-7

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023, September 24, 2022 and September 25, 2021	F-8

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023, September 24, 2022 and September 25, 2021	F-9

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	F-10

Financial Statement Schedule:

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	S-1

F - 1

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Shareholders

J&J Snack Foods Corp. and Subsidiaries

Opinion on the financial statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of J&J Snack Foods Corp. (a New Jersey corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2023 and September 24, 2022, the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2023, and the related notes and financial statement schedule included under Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2023 and September 24, 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 20X2, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”), and our report dated November 28, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion.

Basis for opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical audit matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Net Revenue Adjustments

As described in Note A to the consolidated financial statements, contracts with customers include some form of variable consideration, including sales discounts, trade promotions and certain other sales and consumer incentives, including rebates. Variable consideration is treated as a reduction in revenue when the related revenue is recognized, and is recorded using the most likely amount method, with updates to estimates and related accruals of variable consideration occurring each period based on historical experience and changes in circumstances.

We identified the estimation of certain subsidiaries’ reserves for these net revenue adjustments by management as a critical audit matter because the inputs and assumptions utilized by management in estimating these reserves, including consistency of historical data and estimates of future customer credits, require significant judgment and create a high degree of estimation uncertainty. Consequently, auditing these assumptions require subjective auditor judgment.

F - 2

Our audit procedures related to the estimation of the reserves included the following, among others:

●

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of key controls relating to management’s calculation of the reserves for net revenue adjustments, including understanding relevant inputs and assumptions of key management review controls over the period-end accrual of allowances and end-user pricing adjustments.

●

We re-performed management’s process for calculating the reserves for net revenue adjustments.

●

We evaluated key inputs relevant to the net revenue adjustments, including contractual pricing and rebate arrangements with customers and historical allowance data, which were compared to source documents. We evaluated key assumptions relevant to net revenue adjustments, including the consistency of historical data and estimates of future customer credits.

●

We evaluated transactions subsequent to year end, which involved inspecting customer credits and relevant source documents submitted by customers in conjunction with the allowance, including end-user pricing adjustments.

/s/GRANT THORNTON LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1984.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

November 28, 2023

F - 3

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Shareholders

J&J Snack Foods Corp. and Subsidiaries

Opinion on internal control over financial reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of J&J Snack Foods Corp. (a New Jersey corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2023, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2023, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended September 30, 2023, and our report dated November 28, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Basis for opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and limitations of internal control over financial reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

November 28, 2023

	September 30,			September 24,
	2023			2022
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	49,581		$	35,181
Marketable securities held to maturity		-			4,011
Accounts receivable, net		198,129			208,178
Inventories		171,539			180,473
Prepaid expenses and other		10,963			16,794
Total current assets		430,212			444,637

Property, plant and equipment, at cost		960,198			860,050
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		574,295			524,683
Property, plant and equipment, net		385,903			335,367

Other assets
Goodwill		185,070			184,420
Other intangible assets, net		183,529			191,732
Marketable securities available for sale		-			5,708
Operating lease right-of-use assets		88,868			51,137
Other		3,654			3,965
Total other assets		461,121			436,962
Total Assets	$	1,277,236		$	1,216,966

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current Liabilities
Current finance lease liabilities	$	201		$	124
Accounts payable		90,758			108,146
Accrued insurance liability		15,743			15,678
Accrued liabilities		14,214			9,214
Current operating lease liabilities		16,478			13,524
Accrued compensation expense		23,341			21,700
Dividends payable		14,209			13,453
Total current liabilities		174,944			181,839

Long-term debt		27,000			55,000
Noncurrent finance lease liabilities		600			254
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		77,631			42,660
Deferred income taxes		81,310			70,407
Other long-term liabilities		4,233			3,637
Commitments and Contingencies (Note I)

Stockholders' Equity
Preferred stock, $1 par value; authorized 10,000,000 shares; none issued		-			-
Common stock, no par value; authorized, 50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 19,332,000 and 19,219,000 respectively		114,556			94,026
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(10,166	)		(13,713	)
Retained Earnings		807,128			782,856
Total stockholders' equity		911,518			863,169
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$	1,277,236		$	1,216,966

				Accumulated
	Common			Other
	Stock			Comprehensive			Retained
	Shares	Amount		Loss			Earnings			Total

Balance as September 26, 2020	18,915	$	49,268	$	(15,587	)	$	775,817		$	809,498

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options	158		18,739		-			-			18,739
Issuance of common stock for employee stock purchase plan	11		1,391		-			-			1,391
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-		-		2,204			-			2,204
Dividends declared	-		-		-			(45,984	)		(45,984	)
Share-based compensation	-		4,199		-			-			4,199
Net earnings	-		-		-			55,607			55,607
Balance as September 25, 2021	19,084	$	73,597	$	(13,383	)	$	785,440		$	845,654

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options	119		14,124		-			-			14,124
Issuance of common stock for employee stock purchase plan	16		2,036		-			-			2,036
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-		-		(330	)		-			(330	)
Dividends declared	-		-		-			(49,819	)		(49,819	)
Share-based compensation	-		4,269		-			-			4,269
Net earnings	-		-		-			47,235			47,235
Balance as September 24, 2022	19,219	$	94,026	$	(13,713	)	$	782,856		$	863,169

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options	96		13,111		-			-			13,111
Issuance of common stock for employee stock purchase plan	17		2,101		-			-			2,101
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-		-		3,547			-			3,547
Dividends declared	-		-		-			(54,634	)		(54,634	)
Share-based compensation	-		5,318		-			-			5,318
Net earnings	-		-		-			78,906			78,906
Balance as September 30, 2023	19,332	$	114,556	$	(10,166	)	$	807,128		$	911,518

	Fiscal year ended
	September 30,			September 24,			September 25,
	2023			2022			2021
	(53 weeks)			(52 weeks)			(52 weeks)

Operating activities:
Net earnings	$	78,906		$	47,235		$	55,607
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation of fixed assets		56,616			49,669			46,781
Amortization of intangibles and deferred costs		6,525			3,454			2,610
Intangible asset impairment charges		1,678			1,010			1,273
(Gains) Losses from disposals of property & equipment		(409	)		220			(231	)
Share-based compensation		5,318			4,269			4,199
Deferred income taxes		10,935			8,829			(2,896	)
(Gain) Loss on marketable securities		(8	)		315			(1,026	)
Other		323			(95	)		77
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects from purchase of companies
Decrease (Increase) in accounts receivable		11,399			(32,778	)		(35,755	)
Decrease (Increase) in inventories		9,475			(49,431	)		(14,155	)
Decrease (Increase) in prepaid expenses		5,924			(9,343	)		9,629
(Decrease) Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(14,403	)		2,708			35,386
Net cash provided by operating activities		172,279			26,062			101,499

Investing activities:
Payments for purchases of companies, net of cash acquired		-			(221,301	)		-
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(104,737	)		(87,291	)		(53,578	)
Proceeds from redemption and sales of marketable securities		9,716			12,026			60,891
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment		1,781			399			2,435
Other		-			-			191
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(93,240	)		(296,167	)		9,939

Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of stock		15,212			16,160			20,256
Borrowings under credit facility		114,000			125,000			-
Repayment of borrowings under credit facility		(142,000	)		(70,000	)		-
Payments for debt issuance costs		-			(225	)		-
Payments on finance lease obligations		(180	)		(279	)		(144	)
Payment of cash dividend		(53,877	)		(48,437	)		(44,785	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(66,845	)		22,219			(24,673	)

Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents		2,206			(125	)		618

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		14,400			(248,011	)		87,383

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		35,181			283,192			195,809

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	49,581		$	35,181		$	283,192

		Page
PART I

Note About Forward-Looking Statements		1
Item 1	Business	1
Item 1A	Risk Factors	9
Item 1B	Unresolved Staff Comments	14
Item 2	Properties	14
Item 3	Legal Proceedings	15
Item 4	Mine Safety Disclosures	15

PART II

Item 5	Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters And Issuer Purchases Of Equity Securities	15
Item 6	[Reserved]	16
Item 7	Management’s Discussion And Analysis Of Financial Condition And Results Of Operations	16
Item 7A	Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	32
Item 8	Financial Statements And Supplementary Data	32
Item 9	Changes In And Disagreements With Accountants On Accounting And Financial Disclosure	32
Item 9A	Controls and Procedures	33
Item 9B	Other Information	34
Item 9C	Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions That Prevent Inspections	34

PART III

Item 10	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	34
Item 11	Executive Compensation	34
Item 12	Security Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management And Related Stockholder Matters	34
Item 13	Certain Relationships And Related Transactions, and Director Independence	34
Item 14	Principal Accountant Fees and Service	34

PART IV

Item 15	Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules	35
Item 16	Form 10-K Summary	36

Summary of Results	Fiscal year ended
	September 30,			September 24,
	2023			2022
	(53 weeks)			(52 weeks)			% Change
	(in thousands)

Net Sales	$	1,558,829		$	1,380,656			12.9	%

Cost of goods sold		1,088,964			1,011,014			7.7	%
Gross Profit		469,865			369,642			27.1	%

Operating expenses
Marketing		110,258			91,636			20.3	%
Distribution		172,804			159,637			8.2	%
Administrative		75,425			55,189			36.7	%
Intangible asset impairment charges		1,678			1,010
Other general expense		182			371			(50.9	)%
Total Operating Expenses		360,347			307,843			17.1	%

Operating Income		109,518			61,799			77.2	%

Other income (expense)
Investment income		2,743			980			179.9	%
Interest expense		(4,747	)		(1,025	)		363.1	%

Earnings before income taxes		107,514			61,754			74.1	%

Income tax expense		28,608			14,519			97.0	%

NET EARNINGS	$	78,906		$	47,235			67.0	%

	Fiscal year ended
	September 30,		September 24,
	2023		2022
	(53 weeks)		(52 weeks)		% Change
	(in thousands)
Net Sales
Food Service	$	981,840	$	872,687		12.5	%
Retail Supermarket		215,428		197,943		8.8	%
Frozen Beverages		361,561		310,026		16.6	%
Total Sales	$	1,558,829	$	1,380,656		12.9	%

	Fiscal year ended
	September 30,		September 24,
	2023		2022
	(53 weeks)		(52 weeks)		% Change
	(in thousands)
Operating Income
Food Service	$	49,778	$	18,512		168.9	%
Retail Supermarket		9,375		9,487		(1.2	)%
Frozen Beverages		50,365		33,800		49.0	%
Total Operating Income	$	109,518	$	61,799		77.2	%

	Fiscal year ended
	September 30,		September 24,
	2023		2022
	(53 weeks)		(52 weeks)		% Change
	(in thousands)
Food Service Sales to External Customers
Soft pretzels	$	235,572	$	205,752		14.5	%
Frozen novelties		145,425		78,183		86.0	%
Churros		108,927		88,242		23.4	%
Handhelds		82,292		92,130		(10.7	)%
Bakery		378,149		381,526		(0.9	)%
Other		31,475		26,854		17.2	%
Total Food Service	$	981,840	$	872,687		12.5	%

Food Service Operating Income	$	49,778	$	18,512		168.9	%

Comparisons as a Percentage of Net Sales	Fiscal year ended
	September 30,			September 24,
	2023			2022			Basis Pt Chg
Gross profit		30.1	%		26.8	%		330
Marketing		7.1	%		6.6	%		50
Distribution		11.1	%		11.6	%		(50	)
Administrative		4.8	%		4.0	%		80
Operating income		7.0	%		4.5	%		250
Earnings before income taxes		6.9	%		4.5	%		240
Net earnings		5.1	%		3.4	%		170

November 28, 2023	By:	/s/ Dan Fachner
		Dan Fachner,
		Chief Executive Officer,
		President and Director
		(Principal Executive Officer)

	(in thousands)

Balance at September 24, 2022	$	343
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		-
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		-
Settlements		-
Balance at September 30, 2023	$	343

	Fiscal year ended September 30, 2023
	Income		Shares		Per Share
	(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic EPS
Net earnings available to common stockholders	$	78,906		19,257	$	4.10

Effect of dilutive securities
RSU's and options	$	-		67		(0.02	)

Diluted EPS
Net earnings available to common stockholders plus assumed conversions	$	78,906		19,324	$	4.08

	Fiscal year ended September 24, 2022
	Income		Shares		Per Share
	(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic EPS
Net earnings available to common stockholders	$	47,235		19,148	$	2.47

Effect of dilutive securities
RSU's and options	$	-		65		(0.01	)

Diluted EPS
Net earnings available to common stockholders plus assumed conversions	$	47,235		19,213	$	2.46

	Fiscal year ended September 25, 2021
	Income		Shares		Per Share
	(Numerator)		(Denominator)		Amount
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic EPS
Net earnings available to common stockholders	$	55,607		19,013	$	2.92

Effect of dilutive securities
RSU's and options	$	-		120		(0.01	)

Diluted EPS
Net earnings available to common stockholders plus assumed conversions	$	55,607		19,133	$	2.91

	Preliminary Value
	as of acquisition
	date (as previously		Measurement
	reported as of		Period
	June 25, 2022)		Adjustment			As Adjusted
	(in thousands)

Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,259				$	2,259
Accounts receivable, net		12,257					12,257
Inventories		8,812		(301	)		8,511
Prepaid expenses and other		1,215					1,215
Property, plant and equipment, net		24,622		6,548			31,170
Intangible assets		120,400		(2,200	)		118,200
Goodwill (1)		66,634		(3,397	)		63,237
Operating lease right-of-use assets		3,514					3,514
Other noncurrent assets		243					243
Total assets acquired		239,956		650			240,606
Liabilities assumed:
Current lease liabilities		619					619
Accounts payable		6,005					6,005
Other current liabilities		3,532		650			4,182
Noncurrent lease liabilities		2,954					2,954
Other noncurrent liabilities		3,285					3,285
Total liabilities acquired		16,395		650			17,045
Purchase price	$	223,561	$	-		$	223,561

	Weighted average		June 21,
	life (years)		2022
			(in thousands)
Amortizable
Trade name	indefinite		$	76,900
Developed technology		10		22,900
Customer relationships		10		9,900
Franchise agreements		10		8,500
Total acquired intangible assets			$	118,200

			Gross		Gross		Fair
	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Market
	Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
	(in thousands)

Corporate Bonds	$	4,011	$	-	$	21	$	3,990
Total marketable securities held to maturity	$	4,011	$	-	$	21	$	3,990

	September 30,		September 24,		Estimated Useful
	2023		2022		Lives (years)
	(in thousands)

Land	$	3,684	$	3,714		-
Buildings		45,538		34,232	15-39.5
Plant machinery and equipment		445,299		374,566	5-20
Marketing equipment		296,482		274,904	5-7
Transportation equipment		14,367		11,685	5
Office equipment		47,393		45,865	3-5
Improvements		51,319		49,331	5-20
Construction in Progress		56,116		65,753		-
		960,198		860,050
Less accumulated depreciation		574,295		524,683
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	385,903	$	335,367

	September 30, 2023				September 24, 2022
	Gross				Gross
	Carrying		Accumulated		Carrying		Accumulated
	Amount		Amortization		Amount		Amortization

FOOD SERVICE

Indefinite lived intangible assets
Trade names	$	84,194	$	-	$	85,872	$	-

Amortized intangible assets
Non-compete agreements		-		-		670		670
Franchise agreements		8,500		1,063		8,500		212
Customer relationships		22,900		10,080		22,900		7,790
Technology		23,110		2,879		23,110		576
License and rights		1,690		1,565		1,690		1,481
TOTAL FOOD SERVICE	$	140,394	$	15,587	$	142,742	$	10,729

RETAIL SUPERMARKETS

Indefinite lived intangible assets
Trade names	$	11,938	$	-	$	11,938	$	-

Amortized intangible Assets
Trade names		-		-		649		649
Customer relationships		7,687		7,256		7,907		6,693
TOTAL RETAIL SUPERMARKETS	$	19,625	$	7,256	$	20,494	$	7,342


FROZEN BEVERAGES

Indefinite lived intangible assets
Trade names	$	9,315	$	-	$	9,315	$	-
Distribution rights		36,100		-		36,100		-

Amortized intangible assets
Customer relationships		1,439		689		1,439		545
Licenses and rights		1,400		1,212		1,400		1,142
TOTAL FROZEN BEVERAGES	$	48,254	$	1,901	$	48,254	$	1,687

CONSOLIDATED	$	208,273	$	24,744	$	211,490	$	19,758

	Food		Retail		Frozen
	Service		Supermarket		Beverages		Total
	(in thousands)
September 30, 2023	$	124,426	$	4,146	$	56,498	$	185,070

September 24, 2022	$	123,776	$	4,146	$	56,498	$	184,420

	Incentive Stock Options					Nonqualified Stock Options
				Weighted-					Weighted-
	Stock			Average		Stock			Average
	Options			Exercise		Options			Exercise
	Outstanding			Price		Outstanding			Price

Balance, September 26, 2020		470,420			136.62		346,442			122.04
Granted		111,862			165.53		43,970			160.14
Exercised		(102,976	)		120.83		(55,453	)		120.92
Canceled		(31,684	)		143.74		(41,222	)		95.95

Balance, September 25, 2021		447,622			146.98		293,737			132.29
Granted		103,405			132.38		11,545			132.38
Exercised		(67,782	)		131.35		(60,581	)		107.17
Canceled		(49,886	)		150.85		(16,383	)		151.50

Balance, September 24, 2022		433,359			146.98		228,318			132.29
Granted		-			-		-			-
Exercised		(83,401	)		140.30		(11,294	)		137.81
Canceled		(78,137	)		143.96		(5,646	)		153.04

Balance, September 30, 2023		271,821			147.45		211,378			140.79


Exercisable Options September 30, 2023		102,158			145.91		161,128			136.55

			Options Outstanding						Options Exercisable
			Number		Weighted-				Number
			Outstanding		Average		Weighted-		Outstanding		Weighted-
			at		Remaining		Average		at		Average
Range of			September 30,		Contractual		Exercise		September 30,		Exercise
Exercise Prices			2023		Life		Price		2023		Price

$125.83	-	$158.97		136,548		3.0	$	130.26		48,508	$	126.27
$163.29	-	$192.13		135,273		1.8	$	164.81		53,650	$	163.67
Total options				271,821						102,158		145.91

	Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2023
	(in thousands)

	Foreign Currency
	Translation Adjustments

Beginning Balance	$	(13,713	)
Other comprehensive income		3,547
Ending Balance	$	(10,166	)

	September 30, 2023		September 24, 2022
Operating Leases
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$	88,868	$	51,137

Current operating lease liabilities	$	16,478	$	13,524
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		77,631		42,660
Total operating lease liabilities	$	94,109	$	56,184

Finance Leases
Finance lease right-of-use assets in Property, plant and equipment, net	$	789	$	328

Current finance lease liabilities	$	201	$	124
Noncurrent finance lease liabilities		600		254
Total finance lease liabilities	$	801	$	378

	Operating Leases			Finance Leases
2024	$	20,073		$	237
2025		16,312			189
2026		13,069			154
2027		11,983			153
2028		8,806			109
Thereafter		49,504			36
Total minimum payments		119,747			878
Less amount representing interest		(25,638	)		(77	)
Present value of lease obligations	$	94,109		$	801

		Opening		Charged to					Closing
Year	Description	Balance		Expense		Deductions			Balance

2023	Allowance for estimated credit losses	$	2,158	$	1,428	$	404	⁽¹⁾	$	3,182
2022	Allowance for estimated credit losses	$	1,405	$	1,781	$	1,028	⁽¹⁾	$	2,158
2021	Allowance for estimated credit losses	$	1,388	$	338	$	321	⁽¹⁾	$	1,405

	J & J SNACK FOODS CORP.

	Name: Dan Fachner
	Title: President


	[NAME OF GRANTEE]


	Signature:

Performance Level	Award Payout (as % of Target PBRSUs)	Adjusted EBITDA
Below Threshold	0	Less than
Threshold	50	$
Target	100	$
Maximum	200	$

	Place of Incorporation

J & J Snack Foods Investment Corp.	Delaware

The ICEE Company	Delaware

J & J Snack Foods Corp. of California	California

J & J Snack Foods Corp./Mia	Pennsylvania

J & J Snack Foods Corp. of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania

J & J Snack Foods Sales Corp.	New Jersey

J & J Snack Foods Transport Corp.	New Jersey

ICEE-Canada, Inc.	Canada

ICEE de Mexico, S.A. De C.V.	Mexico

Bakers Best Snack Food Corp.	Pennsylvania

Pretzels, Inc.	Texas

Federal Pretzel Baking Company, LLC	Pennsylvania

Country Home Bakers, LLC	Georgia

ICEE of Hawaii, Inc.	Hawaii

DADDY RAY’S, Inc.	Missouri

J & J Snack Foods Corp. of Canada	Canada

J &J Snack Foods Handhelds Corp.	Ohio

New York Pretzel, LLC	New York

Swirl Holdings Corporation	Delaware

Philly’s Famous Water Ice, Inc.	Florida

J & J Snack Foods Online Sales Corp.	Ohio

Hill & Valley, Inc.	Illinois

ICEE International, B.V.	Netherlands

DD Acquisition Holdings, LLC	Delaware

Dippin’ Dots Holding, LLC	Oklahoma

Dippin’ Dots, LLC	Oklahoma

Dippin’ Dots Franchising, LLC	Oklahoma

Doc Popcorn Franchising, LLC	Oklahoma

Dippin’ Dots Australia	Australia

Dippin’ Dots International, LLC	Australia

Doc Popcorn, LLC	Oklahoma

Dippin’ Dots Worldwide Holding Company, LLC	Delaware

Dippin’ Dots Hong Kong Limited	Hong Kong

DDP South America, LLC	Delaware

DDDP Middle East, LLC	Delaware

Dippin’ Dots Trading Shanghai	China

	/s/ Dan Fachner
	Dan Fachner
	President and Chief Executive Officer
	(Principal Executive Officer)

	/s/ Ken A. Plunk
	Ken A. Plunk
	Senior Vice President and
	Chief Financial Officer
	(Principal Financial Officer)
	(Principal Accounting Officer)

Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023	Nov. 24, 2023	Mar. 24, 2023
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2023
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	000-14616
City Area Code	856
Local Phone Number	665-9533
Entity Registrant Name	J&J SNACK FOODS CORP
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NJ
Entity Tax Identification Number	22-1935537
Entity Address, Address Line One	350 Fellowship Road
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	08054
Entity Address, City or Town	Mt. Laurel
Entity Address, State or Province	NJ
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, no par value
Trading Symbol	JJSF
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Document Financial Statement Error Correction [Flag]	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 2,198,173,802
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		19,342,344
Auditor Firm ID	248
Auditor Name	GRANT THORNTON LLP
Auditor Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Entity Central Index Key	0000785956
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-24
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 24, 2022
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 49,581	$ 35,181
Marketable securities held to maturity	0	4,011
Accounts receivable, net	198,129	208,178
Inventories	171,539	180,473
Prepaid expenses and other	10,963	16,794
Total current assets	430,212	444,637
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	960,198	860,050
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	574,295	524,683
Property, plant and equipment, net	385,903	335,367
Other assets
Goodwill	185,070	184,420
Other intangible assets, net	183,529	191,732
Marketable securities available for sale	0	5,708
Operating lease right-of-use assets	88,868	51,137
Other	3,654	3,965
Total other assets	461,121	436,962
Total Assets	1,277,236	1,216,966
Current Liabilities
Current finance lease liabilities	201	124
Accounts payable	90,758	108,146
Accrued insurance liability	15,743	15,678
Accrued liabilities	14,214	9,214
Current operating lease liabilities	16,478	13,524
Accrued compensation expense	23,341	21,700
Dividends payable	14,209	13,453
Total current liabilities	174,944	181,839
Long-term debt	27,000	55,000
Noncurrent finance lease liabilities	600	254
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities	77,631	42,660
Deferred income taxes	81,310	70,407
Other long-term liabilities	4,233	3,637
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred stock, $1 par value; authorized 10,000,000 shares; none issued	0	0
Common stock, no par value; authorized, 50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 19,332,000 and 19,219,000 respectively	114,556	94,026
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10,166)	(13,713)
Retained Earnings	807,128	782,856
Total stockholders' equity	911,518	863,169
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$ 1,277,236	$ 1,216,966

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) - $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 24, 2022
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding (in shares)	19,332,000	19,219,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	19,332,000	19,219,000

Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 24, 2022	Sep. 25, 2021
Net Sales	$ 1,558,829	$ 1,380,656	$ 1,144,579
Cost of goods sold	1,088,964	1,011,014	845,651
Gross Profit	469,865	369,642	298,928
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Marketing and selling	110,258	91,636	77,922
Distribution	172,804	159,637	108,297
Administrative	75,425	55,189	40,538
Intangible asset impairment charges	1,678	1,010	1,273
Other expense (income)	182	371	(320)
Total operating expenses	360,347	307,843	227,710
Operating Income	109,518	61,799	71,218
Other income (expenses)
Investment income	2,743	980	2,815
Interest expense	(4,747)	(1,025)	(7)
Earnings before income taxes	107,514	61,754	74,026
Income taxes	28,608	14,519	18,419
NET EARNINGS	$ 78,906	$ 47,235	$ 55,607
Earnings per diluted share (in dollars per share)	$ 4.08	$ 2.46	$ 2.91
Weighted average number of diluted shares (in shares)	19,324	19,213	19,133
Earnings per basic share (in dollars per share)	$ 4.1	$ 2.47	$ 2.92
Weighted average number of basic shares (in shares)	19,257	19,148	19,013

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Total
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 26, 2020	18,915,000
Balance at Sep. 26, 2020	$ 49,268	$ (15,587)	$ 775,817	$ 809,498
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options (in shares)	158,000
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options	$ 18,739	0	0	18,739
Issuance of common stock for employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	11,000
Issuance of common stock for employee stock purchase plan	$ 1,391	0	0	1,391
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	2,204	0	2,204
Dividends declared	0	0	(45,984)	(45,984)
Share-based compensation	4,199	0	0	4,199
Net Earnings	$ 0	0	55,607	55,607
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 25, 2021	19,084,000
Balance at Sep. 25, 2021	$ 73,597	(13,383)	785,440	845,654
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options (in shares)	119,000
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options	$ 14,124	0	0	14,124
Issuance of common stock for employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	16,000
Issuance of common stock for employee stock purchase plan	$ 2,036	0	0	2,036
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	(330)	0	(330)
Dividends declared	0	0	(49,819)	(49,819)
Share-based compensation	4,269	0	0	4,269
Net Earnings	$ 0	0	47,235	$ 47,235
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 24, 2022	19,219,000			19,219,000
Balance at Sep. 24, 2022	$ 94,026	(13,713)	782,856	$ 863,169
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options (in shares)	96,000
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options	$ 13,111	0	0	13,111
Issuance of common stock for employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	17,000
Issuance of common stock for employee stock purchase plan	$ 2,101	0	0	2,101
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0		0	3,547
Dividends declared	0		(54,634)	(54,634)
Share-based compensation	5,318	0	0	5,318
Net Earnings	$ 0	0	78,906	$ 78,906
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023	19,332,000			19,332,000
Balance at Sep. 30, 2023	$ 114,556	$ (10,166)	$ 807,128	$ 911,518

Note A - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) shares	Sep. 24, 2022 USD ($) shares	Sep. 25, 2021 USD ($) shares
Contract with Customer, Asset, Allowance for Deductions	$ 18,900	$ 14,700
Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss	3,200	2,200
Cash, Uninsured Amount	14,000
Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss	$ 198,100	208,200
Employees Covered Under Collective Bargaining Agreement, Percentage	28.00%
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	$ 343	343
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued	$ 300	$ 300
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent	26.60%	23.50%	24.90%
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount (in shares) \| shares	252,044	287,558	284,480
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate		25.80%	25.80%
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate		0.80%	0.80%
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate		1.60%	1.40%
Advertising Expense	$ 9,700	$ 7,000	$ 4,900
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation	125,000
Research and Development Expense	$ 1,200	$ 700	$ 600
Five Year Options [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Volatility Calculation Term (Month)		51 months
Ten Year Options [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Volatility Calculation Term (Month)		10 years
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Shares Issued in Period (in shares) \| shares	21,864	9,200	0
Performance Shares [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Shares Issued in Period (in shares) \| shares	21,260	8,868	0
Revenue Benchmark [Member] \| Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Number of Major Customers	10	10	10
Minimum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life (Year)	2 years
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term (Year)		4 years	4 years
Maximum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life (Year)	20 years
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term (Year)		10 years	10 years
Customer Group One [Member]
Approximate Number of Customers	31
Customer Group One [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss	$ 1,000
Customer Group One [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss	10,000
Five Customers [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss	10,000
Largest Customer [Member]
Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss	$ 24,000
Largest Customer [Member] \| Revenue Benchmark [Member] \| Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	9.00%	8.00%	11.00%
Top Ten Customers [Member] \| Revenue Benchmark [Member] \| Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	43.00%	43.00%	43.00%