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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)
12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2014
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles Of Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation:  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary. Significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition:  The Company recognizes revenue when product is delivered to the customer and title has passed. Revenue is based on invoice price less allowances for sales returns, cash discounts and other deductions.

Cost Of Sales And Distribution

Cost of Sales and Distribution:  Cost of sales and distribution includes all costs associated with the manufacture and distribution of the Company’s products including the costs of shipping and handling.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs:  Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012 were $30.4 million, $36.5 million and $37.4 million, respectively.

Cash And Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents:  Cash in excess of operating requirements is invested in money market accounts which are carried at cost (which approximates fair value). The Company considers all highly liquid short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents were $38.9 million at both April 30, 2014 and 2013.

Inventories

Inventories:  Inventories are stated at lower of cost or market. Inventory costs are determined by the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method.

 

The LIFO cost reserve is determined in the aggregate for inventory and is applied as a reduction to inventories determined on the first-in, first-out method (FIFO). FIFO inventory cost approximates replacement cost.

Property, Plant And Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment:  Property, plant and equipment is stated on the basis of cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from 15 to 30 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 10 years for machinery and equipment. Assets under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the term of the related lease.

Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets:  The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. During fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company concluded no impairment existed, except for impairments related to restructuring activities.

Promotional Displays

Promotional Displays:  The Company invests in promotional displays in retail stores to demonstrate product features, product and quality specifications and serve as a training tool for retail kitchen designers. The Company invests in these long-lived productive assets to provide the aforementioned benefits. The Company's investment in promotional displays is carried at cost less applicable amortization. Amortization is provided by the straight-line method on an individual display basis over periods of 30 to 36 months (the estimated period of benefit). Promotional display amortization expense for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $3.7 million, $4.0 million and $5.6 million, respectively, and is included in selling and marketing expenses.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes:  The Company accounts for deferred income taxes utilizing the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which these items are expected to reverse. At each reporting date, the Company evaluates the need for a valuation allowance to adjust deferred tax assets and liabilities to an amount that more likely than not will be realized.

Pensions

Pensions:  The Company has two non-contributory defined benefit pension plans covering many of the Company’s employees hired before April 30, 2012.  Both defined benefit pension plans were frozen effective April 30, 2012.  The Company recognizes the overfunded or underfunded status of its defined benefit pension plans, measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation, in its consolidated balance sheets. The Company also recognizes the actuarial gains and losses and the prior service costs, credits and transition costs as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation:  The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense based on the grant date fair value over the requisite service period.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting PronouncementsIn February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2013-02, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income,” which requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component.  In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income if the amount reclassified is required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period.  The ASU does not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements.  The Company adopted this guidance effective May 1, 2013 with no significant impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

 

Use Of Estimates

Use of Estimates:  The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during each reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications:  Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period balances to conform to the current year presentation, including between components of property, plant and equipment.