14. Benefit Plans

In February 2009, the Company announced its decision to discontinue future benefits being earned under its non-contributory defined benefit pension plan (“Pension Plan”) and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) effective May 1, 2009. Additionally, as of January 2011, the Company’s postretirement medical plan is completely self-funded. The Company continues to sponsor a separate executive postretirement medical plan.

The components of net pension expense for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010 are as follows:


	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	October 29,			October 30,			October 29,			October 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
	(In thousands)
Interest expense on projected benefit obligation	$	2,513		$	2,371		$	7,454		$	7,049
Expected return on plan assets		(2,435	)		(2,394	)		(7,319	)		(7,194	)
Net amortization and deferral		206			139			623			383

Net pension expense	$	284		$	116		$	758		$	238

The components of net SERP expense for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010 are as follows:


	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	October 29,		October 30,		October 29,		October 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
	(In thousands)
Interest expense on projected benefit obligation	$	285	$	288	$	841	$	842
Net amortization and deferral		29		20		82		47

Net SERP expense	$	314	$	308	$	923	$	889

The components of net postretirement medical expense (credit) for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010 are as follows:


	Thirteen Weeks Ended					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	October 29,		October 30,			October 29,		October 30,
	2011		2010			2011		2010
			(In thousands)
Interest expense on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation	$	16	$	17		$	46	$	52
Prior service cost amortization		—		(380	)		—		(1,140	)
Net amortization and deferral		50		130			152		391

Net postretirement medical expense (credit)	$	66	$	(233	)	$	198	$	(697	)

The Company was required to make contributions to the Pension Plan of $5.6 million and $1.6 million during the thirteen weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively, and $9.3 million and $3.6 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively. The Company expects to make required contributions of $1.8 million to the Pension Plan during the remainder of 2011. The Company did not make any voluntary contributions to the Pension Plan during the thirteen or thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010.