Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) |
12 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Dec. 25, 2022 | |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
(a) Basis of Presentation
The Company utilizes a 52- or 53-week reporting period ending on the last Sunday of December. The periods ended December 25, 2022 (fiscal year 2022), December 26, 2021 (fiscal year 2021) and December 27, 2020 (fiscal year 2020) each had a 52-week reporting period. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and include the financial statements of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
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 the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
| Commitments and Contingencies, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
(b) Contingencies
The Company recognizes liabilities for contingencies when there is an exposure that indicates it is both probable that an asset has been impaired or that a liability has been incurred and that the amount of impairment or loss can be reasonably estimated. |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
(c) Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the consolidated financial statements, the Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. |
| Accounts Receivable [Policy Text Block] |
(d) Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consists primarily of bank credit cards receivable, income tax receivable, landlord contributions, franchise royalty payments receivable, receivables from gift card sales, banquet billings receivable and other miscellaneous receivables. |
| Receivables, Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
(e) Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
The Company performs a specific review of account balances and applies historical collection experience to the various aging categories of receivable balances in establishing an allowance. |
| Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
(f) Inventories
Inventories consist of food, beverages and supplies and are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. |
| Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
(g) Property and Equipment, net
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for improvements and replacements are capitalized and maintenance and repairs are charged to expense. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives for assets are as follows: Building and Building Improvements, 20 to 40 years; Equipment, 5 years; Furniture and Fixtures, 5 to 7 years; Computer Equipment, 3 to 5 years; and Leasehold Improvements, 5 to 20 years (limited by the lease term). |
| Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
(h) Goodwill and Franchise Rights
Goodwill and franchise rights acquired in a business combination that are determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but reviewed for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Committee (ASC) Topic 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other. The annual testing date for determining whether goodwill and franchise rights are impaired is the last day of the Company’s 48th fiscal week, which in fiscal year 2022 was November 27, 2022. Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment on a reporting unit basis and more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. For purposes of testing goodwill impairment, a reporting unit is defined as a group of restaurants with similar economic characteristics. All Company-owned restaurants are deemed to have similar economic characteristics and are deemed to be one reporting unit. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the financial statement carrying amount exceeds the asset’s fair value.
Franchise rights acquired prior to 2008 in a business combination that are determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but are reviewed for impairment at least annually and more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The Company allows and expects these franchisees to renew agreements indefinitely ensuring consistent cash flows. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the asset’s fair value. Franchise rights acquired after 2007 are no longer considered to have indefinite useful lives and are amortized in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350 and reviewed for impairment under ASC Topic 360-10, Property, Plant and Equipment – Impairment and Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (Topic 360-10). |
| Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
(i) Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets
In accordance with Topic 360-10, long lived assets, such as property and equipment, operating lease right-of-use (ROU) assets and purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the financial statement carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary. Key assumptions in the determination of fair value are the future after-tax cash flows of the restaurant and discount rate. The after-tax cash flows incorporate reasonable sales growth and margin improvement assumptions that would be expected by a franchisee in the determination of a purchase price for the restaurant. Estimates of future cash flows are highly subjective judgments and can be significantly impacted by changes in the business or economic conditions. The discount rate used in the fair value calculations is our estimate of the required rate of return that a market participant would expect to receive when purchasing a similar restaurant or groups of restaurants and the related long-lived assets. The discount rate incorporates rates of returns for historical refranchising market transactions and is commensurate with the risks and uncertainty inherent in the forecasted cash flows.
We account for exit or disposal activities, including restaurant closures, in accordance with Topic 360-10. Such costs include the cost of disposing of the assets as well as other facility-related expenses from previously closed restaurants. These costs are generally expensed as incurred. For restaurants operated under operating leases, on the date we commit to a plan to either abandon the related ROU asset or sublease the underlying asset, we evaluate the ROU asset for potential impairment and determine the go-forward accounting based on the requirements in ASC Topic 842, Leases. |
| Deferred Charges, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
(j) Deferred Financing Costs
Deferred financing costs represent fees paid in connection with obtaining bank and other long-term financing. The Company paid $612 thousand in financing costs in fiscal year 2021 and $961 financing costs during fiscal year 2020. The Company did pay any financing costs in fiscal year 2022. The Company amortizes deferred financing costs using a method that approximates the effective interest method over the term of the related financing. Amortization of deferred financing costs was $217 thousand in fiscal year 2022, $386 thousand in fiscal year 2021 and $346 thousand in fiscal year 2020 and is included in interest expense on the consolidated statements of operations. |
| Revenue from Contract with Customer [Policy Text Block] |
(k) Revenues
Revenues are derived principally from food and beverage sales. The Company does not rely on any major customers as a source of revenue.
Restaurant Sales. Restaurant sales consist of food and beverage sales by Company-owned restaurants. Revenue from restaurant sales is recognized when food and beverage products are sold. Restaurant sales are presented net of sales taxes and discounts. Gratuities remitted by customers for the benefit of restaurant staff are not included in either revenues or operating expenses. Restaurant sales are primarily influenced by total operating weeks in the relevant period and comparable restaurant sales growth. Total operating weeks is the total number of Company-owned restaurants multiplied by the number of weeks each is in operation during the relevant period. Comparable restaurant sales growth reflects the change in year-over-year or quarter-over-quarter, as applicable, sales for the comparable restaurants. The Company defines comparable restaurants to be those Company-owned restaurants in operation for not less than eighteen months prior to the beginning of the fiscal period.
Franchise Income. Franchise income includes (1) franchise and development fees charged to franchisees, (2) sales-based royalty income and (3) sales-based advertising fees charged to franchisees. Franchise royalties consist of 5.0% of adjusted gross sales from each franchisee-owned restaurant. In addition, our more recent franchise agreements require up to a 1.0% of adjusted gross sales advertising fee to be paid by the franchisee, which is applied to national advertising expenditures. Both the 5.0% royalty and the sales-based advertising fees are included in franchise income on the consolidated statements of operations. The Company recognizes franchise development and opening fees over the life of the applicable franchise agreements.
Other Operating Income. Other operating income consists primarily of breakage income associated with gift cards, and also includes fees earned from management agreements, banquet-related guarantee and services revenue and other incidental guest fees. The Company’s accounting method for recognizing gift card breakage revenue is the redemption method. Under the redemption method, gift card breakage revenue is recognized and the gift card liability is derecognized for unredeemed gift cards in proportion to actual gift card redemptions. Gift card breakage rates are estimated based on historical breakage rates, including breakage rates during previous economic recessions, while also considering any changes in redemption patterns as a result of the current economic environment.
Deferred Revenue. Deferred revenue primarily includes (1) the Company’s liability for gift cards that have been sold but not yet redeemed and (2) the Company’s liability for franchise development and opening fees that will be recognized over the life of the applicable franchise agreements. When gift cards are redeemed (typically within years), the Company recognizes restaurant sales and reduces the deferred revenue liability. A portion of gift cards redeemed are used by customers to pay for sales taxes and gratuities, neither of which results in Company restaurant sales. Company issued gift cards redeemed at franchisee-owned restaurants result in royalty-based franchise income and reduce the deferred revenue liability. The expected redemption value of gift cards represents the full consideration received for all gift cards issued less the amount the Company has recognized as other operating income for gift cards that are not expected to be redeemed (gift card breakage). The Company recognized gift card breakage revenue of $4.2 million in fiscal year 2022, $3.2 million in fiscal year 2021 and $2.3 million in fiscal years 2020. |
| Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block] |
(l) International Revenues
The Company currently has 23 international franchisee-owned restaurants in Aruba, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan. In accordance with its franchise agreements relating to these international restaurants, the Company receives royalty revenue from these franchisees in U.S. dollars. Franchise fee revenues from international restaurants were $2.8 million, $2.3 million and $1.9 million in fiscal years 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. |
| Lessee, Leases [Policy Text Block] |
(m) Rent
The majority of our restaurant locations, as well as our corporate headquarters, are subject to a lease. We evaluate our leases at the lease commencement date to determine the classification as an operating or finance lease. All our existing leases are operating leases. In accordance with Topic 842, we recognize operating lease liabilities based on the present value of future minimum lease payments over the expected lease term and corresponding right-of-use assets. To determine the present value of future minimum lease payments, the Company estimates incremental secured borrowing rates based on the information available at the lease commencement dates, or the transition date at adoption. The Company estimates its incremental borrowing rates by determining the synthetic credit rating of the Company using quantitative and qualitative analysis and then adjusting the synthetic credit rating to a collateralized credit rating. A spread curve is then developed using the U.S. corporate bond yield curve of the same credit rating and the U.S. Treasury curve to determine the rate for different terms.
We recognize lease expense related to operating leases on a straight-line basis. Many of our leases also require payment of property taxes, insurance and maintenance costs in addition to the minimum fixed lease payments. Certain of the Company’s operating leases contain rent holidays and predetermined fixed escalations of the minimum rent during the term of the lease, as well as renewal periods. The effects of the holidays and escalations have been reflected in lease expense on a straight-line basis for operating leases over the expected term.
Many of our leases have renewal periods totaling up to 20 years, exercisable at our option. At lease inception, we include option periods that we are reasonably certain to exercise as failure to renew the lease would impose an economic penalty either from the loss of our investment in leasehold improvements or future cash flows from operating the restaurant. The consolidated financial statements reflect the same lease term for amortizing leasehold improvements as we use to determine finance versus operating lease classifications. Landlord allowances are recorded as an adjustment to the right-of-use assets.
Additionally, certain of the Company’s operating leases contain clauses that require additional variable rent based on a percentage of sales greater than certain specified target amounts. The Company recognizes variable rent expense prior to the achievement of the specified target that triggers the variable rent, provided achievement of that target is considered probable. |
| Advertising Cost [Policy Text Block] |
(n) Marketing and Advertising
Marketing and advertising expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations include expenses related to advertising, online initiatives, traditional public relations and consumer research. Advertising expenses were $3.1 million, $2.7 million and $2.9 million in fiscal years 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. |
| Self Insurance Reserve [Policy Text Block] |
(o) Insurance Liability
The Company maintains various policies for workers’ compensation, employee health, general liability and property damage. Pursuant to those policies, the Company is responsible for losses up to certain limits. The Company records liabilities for the estimated exposure for aggregate losses below those limits. The recorded liabilities are based on estimates of the ultimate costs to be incurred to settle known claims and claims incurred but not reported as of the balance sheet date. The estimated liabilities are not discounted and are based on a number of assumptions and factors, including historical trends, actuarial assumptions and economic conditions. Independent actuaries are used to develop estimates of the workers’ compensation, general and employee health care liabilities. |
| Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block] |
(p) Stock-Based Compensation
The Company recognizes stock-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, (Topic 718). Stock-based compensation cost includes compensation cost for all share-based payments granted based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of Topic 718. Compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of each award. The Company does not estimate forfeitures when recognizing compensation expense. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. |
| Pre Opening Costs Policy [Policy Text Block] |
(q) Pre-Opening Costs
Pre-opening costs incurred with the opening of new restaurants are expensed as incurred. These costs include rent expense, wages, benefits, travel and lodging for the training and opening management teams, and food, beverage and other restaurant operating expenses incurred prior to a restaurant opening for business. |
| Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
(r) Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
The Company applies the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes (Topic 740). Topic 740 requires that a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return be recognized (or derecognized) in the financial statements when it is more likely than not that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. |
| Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] |
(s) Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Potentially dilutive securities include shares of non-vested stock awards. Diluted earnings (loss) per share considers the impact of potentially dilutive securities except in periods in which there is a loss because the inclusion of the potential common shares would have an antidilutive effect. Stock awards are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share in the event they are antidilutive. |