Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Jun. 22, 2013

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Note 5

Commitments and Contingencies

Various lawsuits and claims, arising in the ordinary course of business, are pending or have been asserted against Spartan Stores. While the ultimate effect of such actions cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that their outcome will not result in a material effect on the consolidated financial position, operating results or liquidity of Spartan Stores.

Spartan Stores contributes to the Teamsters Central States multi-employer pension plan based on obligations arising from its collective bargaining agreement covering its warehouse union associates. This plan provides retirement benefits to participants based on their service to contributing employers. The benefits are paid from assets held in trust for that purpose. Trustees are appointed by employers and unions; however, Spartan Stores is not a trustee. The trustees typically are responsible for determining the level of benefits to be provided to participants as well as for such matters as the investment of the assets and the administration of the plan. Spartan Stores will continue contributions to the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund under the terms outlined in the “Primary Schedule” of Central States’ Rehabilitation Plan. This schedule requires an increase in employer contributions of 4% over the previous year’s contribution in fiscal years 2014 - 2016.

Based on the most recent information available to Spartan Stores, we believe that the present value of actuarial accrued liabilities in this multi-employer plan significantly exceeds the value of the assets held in trust to pay benefits. Because we are one of a number of employers contributing to this plan, it is difficult to ascertain what the exact amount of the underfunding would be, although we anticipate that our contributions to this plan will increase each year. Spartan believes that funding levels have not changed significantly since year-end. To reduce this under funding we expect meaningful increases in expense as a result of required incremental multi-employer pension plan contributions over the years. Any adjustment for withdrawal liability will be recorded when it is probable that a liability exists and can be reasonably determined.