Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Conclusion Regarding Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance to achieve the objective that information in its Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified and pursuant to the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, include controls and procedures designed to ensure the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. It should be noted that the Company’s system of controls and procedures, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the system are met.
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with participation of its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures as of September 27, 2025, the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Based on this evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level as of September 27, 2025.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
26
(i)
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in a reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets;
(ii)
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 the Company’s management and directors; and
(iii)
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisitions, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material adverse 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.
The Company has assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of September 27, 2025, using the criteria described in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Based on its assessment of the design and related testing of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, management has concluded that, as of September 27, 2025, the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria set forth in the COSO framework.
The Company’s independent auditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP, a registered public accounting firm, have been appointed by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Deloitte & Touche LLP has audited and reported on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The reports of the independent auditors are contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There has been no change during the Company’s fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2025 in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that was identified in connection with the evaluation required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(d) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
During the three-month period ended September 27, 2025, none of our officers or directors adopted 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) under the Exchange Act or any “ non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement”, as defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.
Item 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by this Item, including the information concerning the Company’s directors and officers, audit committee, and compliance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act, is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be contained in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company's 2026 annual meeting of stockholders. The definitive Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Regulation 14A no later than 120 days after September 27, 2025.
The Company has adopted an insider trading policy which governs the purchase, sale and/or any other dispositions of the Company’s securities by the Company and its directors, officers and employees and is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations and applicable exchange listing standards. A copy of our Securities Trading Policy is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 19.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to its senior financial officers, including without limitation, its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Controller. The full text of the Code of Ethics is published on the Company’s website at www.ingles-markets.com under the caption “Corporate”. In the event that the Company makes any amendments to, or grants any waivers of, a provision of the Code of Ethics applicable to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, the Company intends to disclose such amendment or waiver on its website. Information on the Company’s website, however, does not form a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
27
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be contained in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement referred to above in “Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.”
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be contained in the definitive Proxy Statement referred to above in “Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.”
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be contained in the definitive Proxy Statement referred to above in “Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.”
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be contained in the definitive Proxy Statement referred to above in “Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.”
PART IV
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) Documents filed as part of this report:
1. The following financial statements of the Registrant are included in response to Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 27, 2025 and September 28, 2024;
Consolidated Statements of Income and Other Comprehensive Income for the years ended September 27, 2025, September 28, 2024, and September 30, 2023;
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended September 27, 2025, September 28, 2024, and September 30, 2023;
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 27, 2025, September 28, 2024, and September 30, 2023;
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
2. Exhibits
(b) Exhibits:
3.1
Composite Articles of Incorporation of Ingles Markets, Incorporated (included as Exhibit 3.1 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 26, 2022, File No. 0-14706, filed with the Commission on May 5, 2022 and incorporated herein by this reference).
4
3.2
*
Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Ingles Markets, Incorporated (included as Exhibit 3.1 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on September 23, 2025 and incorporated herein by this reference).
4.1
Articles 4 and 9 of the Articles of Incorporation of Ingles Markets, Incorporated (included as Exhibit 3.1 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-23919, (filed on paper – hyperlink is not required pursuant to Rule 105 of Regulation S-T) and Exhibit 3.3 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004, File No. 0-14706, respectively, each of which were previously filed with the Commission and are incorporated herein by this reference).
4.2
Articles 2, 3, 10, 11 and 14 of the Amended and Restated By-Laws of Ingles Markets, Incorporated (included as Exhibit 99.1 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 0-14706, previously filed with the Commission on August 30, 2007 and incorporated herein by this reference).
4.3
Indenture, dated as of June 17, 2021, by and between Ingles Markets, Incorporated and Truist Bank, as Trustee, governing the 4.000% Senior Notes Due 2031, including the Form of 4.000% Senior Notes Due 2031 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 0-14706, filed with the Commission on June 21, 2021 and incorporated herein by this reference).
28
4.4
*
Description of Capital Stock (included as Exhibit 4.5 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 26, 2020, File No. 0-14706, previously filed with the commission and incorporated herein by reference).
10.1
†
Amended and Restated Ingles Markets, Incorporated Investment/Profit Sharing Plan effective September 29, 2002 (included as Exhibit 10.11 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2002, File No. 0-14706, previously filed with the Commission and incorporated herein by this reference).
10.2
†
Second Amendment to the Ingles Markets, Incorporated Investment/Profit Sharing Plan dated November 2, 2011 (included as Exhibit 10.5 to the Ingles Markets, Incorporated Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2011, File No. 0-14706, previously filed with the Commission and incorporated herein by this reference).
10.3
†
Ingles Markets, Incorporated Non-qualified Plan dated May 30, 2005 (included as Exhibit 10.5 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2005, File No. 0-14706, previously filed with the Commission and incorporated herein by this reference).
10.4
†
Ingles Markets, Incorporated Executive Non-qualified Excess Plan amended and restated Effective January 1, 2013, dated November 1, 2012 (included as Exhibit 10.10 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2012, File No. 0-14706, previously filed with the Commission and incorporated herein by this reference).
10.5
†
Ingles Markets, Incorporated Investment/Profit Sharing Plan (Amended and Restated effective January 1, 2017) (included as Exhibit 10.9 to the Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 30, 2017, File No. 0-14706, previously filed with the Commission and incorporated herein by this reference ).
10.6
†
Ingles Markets, Incorporated Investment/Profit Sharing Plan Description (included as Exhibit 10.10 to the Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 30, 2017, File No. 0-14706, previously filed with the Commission and incorporated herein by this reference ).
10.7
†
Amendment to Investment/Profit Sharing Plan to Permit In-Plan Roth Transfers (included as Exhibit 10.11 to the Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 30, 2017, File No. 0-14706, previously filed with the Commission and incorporated herein by this reference).
10.8
†
Participation Agreement for Milkco, Inc. (Amended and Restated effective January 1, 2017) (included as Exhibit 10.12 to the Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 30, 2017, File No. 0-14706, previously filed with the Commission and incorporated herein by this reference).
10.9
Credit Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2021, by and among Ingles Markets, Incorporated, as borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, and the other agents and lenders party thereto (included as Exhibit 10.1 to the Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 0-14706, previously filed with the Commission on June 21, 2021 and incorporated herein by this reference).
10.10
+
Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2025, by and among Ingles Markets, Incorporated, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and each of the lenders party thereto (included as Exhibit 10.1 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 28, 2025, filed with the Commission on August 7, 2025 and incorporated herein by this reference).
19.1
*
Ingles Markets, Incorporated Securities Trading Policy (included as Exhibit 19.1 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2024, previously filed with the Commission on December 27, 2024 and incorporated herein by this reference).
21.1
Subsidiaries of Ingles Markets, Incorporated (included as Exhibit 21.1 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2012, File No. 0-14706, previously filed with the Commission and incorporated herein by this reference).
31.1
*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
**
Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
**
Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
29
97.1
*
Ingles Markets, Incorporated Executive Officer Clawback Policy (included as Exhibit 97.1 to Ingles Markets, Incorporated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2024, previously filed with the Commission on December 27, 2024 and incorporated herein by this reference).
101
*
The following financial information from the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2025 formatted as Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) and furnished electronically herewith: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income; (ii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity; and (v) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
104
*
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
___________________________________
* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith.
† Management contract or compensatory plan arrangement.
+ Pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K, schedules and similar attachments to this exhibit have been omitted because they do not contain information material to an investment or voting decision and such information is not otherwise disclosed in such exhibit. The Company will supplementally provide a copy of any omitted schedule or similar attachment to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
30
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of Ingles Markets, Incorporated
Black Mountain, North Carolina
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Ingles Markets, Incorporated and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of September 27, 2025 and September 28, 2024, the related consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended September 27, 2025 and the related notes (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 27, 2025 and September 28, 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended September 27, 2025, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also 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 September 27, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated November 26, 2025, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
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.
Vendor Allowances – Refer to Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company receives funds for a variety of merchandising activities from certain vendors whose products the Company buys for resale in its stores. These incentives and allowances are primarily comprised of volume or purchase based incentives, advertising allowances, slotting fees, and promotional discounts. These allowances generally relate to short term arrangements with vendors, often relating to a period of a month or less and are negotiated on a purchase-by-purchase or transaction-by-transaction basis. Vendor discounts and allowances that relate to buying and merchandising activities are recorded as a reduction of inventory cost and recognized in cost of goods sold when the related inventory is sold. Vendor advertising allowances that represent a reimbursement of specific identifiable incremental costs of advertising the vendor’s specific products are recorded as a reduction to the related expense in the period that the related expense is incurred.
We identified vendor allowances as a critical audit matter because of the number and diversity of individual vendors agreements. This required an increased extent of effort when performing procedures to evaluate whether the vendor allowances were recorded in accordance with the terms of the vendor agreements.
31
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to whether vendor allowances were recorded in accordance with the terms of the vendor agreements included the following, among others:
• We tested the operating effectiveness of controls over vendor allowances, including management’s controls over the accrual and recording of vendor allowances as a reduction to the cost of inventory, cost of sales, or advertising expense in accordance with the terms of the vendor agreements.
• We performed detailed testing on vendor allowance transactions and tested for the appropriateness of recorded reductions to inventory, cost of sales or advertising expense.
• We performed detailed testing and sent confirmations to vendors to test the completeness of programs as well as the accuracy of amounts earned and terms of the agreement directly with the vendor.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina
November 26, 2025
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2012.
32
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Ingles Markets, Incorporated
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Ingles Markets, Incorporated and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 27, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) 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 27, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2025, of the Company and our report dated November 26, 2025, 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 Annual 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/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina
November 26, 2025
33
INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 AND SEPTEMBER 28, 2024
2025
2024
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
366,245,951
$
353,687,911
Receivables (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $ 512,680 – 2025 and
$ 474,684 – 2024)
106,355,244
78,266,383
Inventories
482,979,330
462,084,658
Other
19,976,402
31,508,803
Total current assets
975,556,927
925,547,755
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
1,515,070,221
1,526,708,462
OPERATING LEASE RIGHT OF USE ASSETS
25,139,210
27,247,555
OTHER ASSETS
50,288,285
48,378,943
TOTAL ASSETS
$
2,566,054,643
$
2,527,882,715
2025
2024
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term debt
$
17,477,241
$
17,520,876
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
4,968,121
4,995,837
Current portion of finance lease liabilities
716,377
674,759
Accounts payable - trade
179,226,467
198,329,197
Accrued expenses and current portion of other long-term liabilities
100,514,387
99,101,275
Total current liabilities
302,902,593
320,621,944
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
65,040,000
63,767,000
LONG-TERM DEBT
497,289,417
515,101,562
NONCURRENT OPERATING LEASE LIABILITIES
21,549,312
24,276,818
NONCURRENT FINANCE LEASE LIABILITIES
1,668,802
2,385,179
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
61,672,942
55,981,122
Total liabilities
$
950,123,066
$
982,133,625
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Preferred stock, $ 0.05 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding
—
—
Common stock:
Class A, $ 0.05 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding,
14,548,611 shares for 2025, 14,544,925 shares for 2024
727,431
727,247
Class B, convertible to Class A, $ 0.05 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized;
issued and outstanding, 4,445,765 shares for 2025, 4,449,451 shares for 2024
222,288
222,472
Paid-in capital in excess of par value
—
—
Accumulated other comprehensive income
5,597,024
6,737,631
Retained earnings
1,609,384,834
1,538,061,740
Total stockholders’ equity
1,615,931,577
1,545,749,090
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$
2,566,054,643
$
2,527,882,715
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
34
INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 27, 2025,
SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
2025
2024
2023
Net sales
$
5,334,032,609
$
5,639,609,434
$
5,892,781,732
Cost of goods sold
4,059,892,018
4,339,774,157
4,487,866,518
Gross profit
1,274,140,591
1,299,835,277
1,404,915,214
Operating and administrative expenses
1,158,944,275
1,161,797,093
1,115,380,833
Gain from sale or disposal of assets
2,383,539
9,106,047
2,769,751
Income from operations
117,579,855
147,144,231
292,304,132
Other income, net
12,068,052
14,216,870
8,269,117
Interest expense
19,710,406
21,859,800
22,068,290
Income before income taxes
109,937,501
139,501,301
278,504,959
Income tax expense
26,345,000
33,960,000
67,693,000
Net income
$
83,592,501
$
105,541,301
$
210,811,959
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Change in fair value of interest rate swap
$
( 1,514,607 )
$
( 8,584,000 )
$
1,094,080
Income tax benefit (expense)
374,000
2,088,000
( 267,000 )
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
( 1,140,607 )
( 6,496,000 )
827,080
Comprehensive (loss) income
$
82,451,894
$
99,045,301
$
211,639,039
Per-share amounts:
Class A Common Stock
Basic earnings per common share
$
4.50
$
5.68
$
11.35
Diluted earnings per common share
$
4.40
$
5.56
$
11.10
Class B Common Stock
Basic earnings per common share
$
4.09
$
5.16
$
10.32
Diluted earnings per common share
$
4.09
$
5.16
$
10.32
Cash dividends per common share:
Class A
$
0.66
$
0.66
$
0.66
Class B
$
0.60
$
0.60
$
0.60
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
35
INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 27, 2025,
SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
PAID-IN
ACCUMULATED
CLASS A
CLASS B
CAPITAL IN
OTHER
COMMON STOCK
COMMON STOCK
EXCESS OF
COMPREHENSIVE
RETAINED
SHARES
AMOUNT
SHARES
AMOUNT
PAR VALUE
INCOME (LOSS)
EARNINGS
TOTAL
Balance, September 24, 2022
14,377,575
$
718,879
4,616,801
$
230,840
$
—
$
12,406,551
$
1,246,238,155
$
1,259,594,425
Net income
—
—
—
—
—
—
210,811,959
210,811,959
Other comprehensive income net of tax
827,080
827,080
Cash dividends
Class A
—
—
—
—
—
—
( 9,511,647 )
( 9,511,647 )
Class B
—
—
—
—
—
—
( 2,749,677 )
( 2,749,677 )
Common stock conversions
119,500
5,975
( 119,500 )
( 5,975 )
—
—
—
—
Balance, September 30, 2023
14,497,075
$
724,854
4,497,301
$
224,865
$
—
$
13,233,631
$
1,444,788,790
$
1,458,972,140
Net income
—
—
—
—
—
—
105,541,301
105,541,301
Other comprehensive loss net of tax
( 6,496,000 )
( 6,496,000 )
Cash dividends
Class A
—
—
—
—
—
—
( 9,588,957 )
( 9,588,957 )
Class B
—
—
—
—
—
—
( 2,679,394 )
( 2,679,394 )
Common stock conversions
47,850
2,393
( 47,850 )
( 2,393 )
—
—
—
—
Balance, September 28, 2024
14,544,925
$
727,247
4,449,451
$
222,472
$
—
$
6,737,631
$
1,538,061,740
$
1,545,749,090
Net income
—
—
—
—
—
—
83,592,501
83,592,501
Other comprehensive loss net of tax
( 1,140,607 )
( 1,140,607 )
Cash dividends
Class A
—
—
—
—
—
—
( 9,600,567 )
( 9,600,567 )
Class B
—
—
—
—
—
—
( 2,668,840 )
( 2,668,840 )
Common stock conversions
3,686
184
( 3,686 )
( 184 )
—
—
—
—
Balance, September 27, 2025
14,548,611
$
727,431
4,445,765
$
222,288
$
—
$
5,597,024
$
1,609,384,834
$
1,615,931,577
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
36
INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 27, 2025,
SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
2025
2024
2023
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income
$
83,592,501
$
105,541,301
$
210,811,959
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense
122,890,499
121,622,579
115,979,172
Non cash operating lease cost
4,828,794
6,184,012
6,878,571
Gain from sale or disposal of assets
( 2,383,539 )
( 9,106,047 )
( 2,769,751 )
Inventory and Property loss due to Helene
—
34,956,523
—
Receipt of advance payments on purchases contracts
3,112,239
3,250,328
4,154,945
Recognition of advance payments on purchase contracts
( 2,113,414 )
( 3,179,373 )
( 3,156,909 )
Deferred income taxes
1,647,000
( 1,332,000 )
( 6,658,000 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Receivables
( 28,088,862 )
29,340,527
( 10,413,074 )
Inventory
( 20,894,673 )
1,331,223
( 35,914,236 )
Other assets
8,108,453
( 16,087,132 )
( 10,743,707 )
Operating lease liabilities
( 5,475,671 )
( 6,187,984 )
( 6,866,749 )
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
( 11,125,434 )
( 3,817,249 )
5,109,120
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities
154,097,893
262,516,708
266,411,341
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment
4,564,647
4,670,841
3,495,707
Capital expenditures
( 114,500,588 )
( 210,855,602 )
( 173,591,468 )
Net Cash Used By Investing Activities
( 109,935,941 )
( 206,184,761 )
( 170,095,761 )
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Repayment of Financing Lease
( 674,759 )
( 635,559 )
( 231,291 )
Debt issuance costs
( 377,201 )
—
—
Principal payments on long-term borrowings
( 18,282,545 )
( 18,280,048 )
( 22,481,560 )
Dividends paid
( 12,269,407 )
( 12,268,351 )
( 12,261,324 )
Net Cash Used By Financing Activities
( 31,603,912 )
( 31,183,958 )
( 34,974,175 )
Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
12,558,040
25,147,989
61,341,405
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year
353,687,911
328,539,922
267,198,517
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year
$
366,245,951
$
353,687,911
$
328,539,922
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
37
Ingles Markets, Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
Fiscal years ended September 27, 2025, September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations – Ingles Markets, Incorporated (“Ingles” or the “Company”), a leading supermarket chain in the southeast United States, operates 194 supermarkets in North Carolina ( 72 ), Georgia ( 64 ), South Carolina ( 35 ), Tennessee ( 21 ), Virginia ( 1 ) and Alabama ( 1 ), excluding three stores that remain temporarily closed due to damage sustained during Hurricane Helene.
Principles of Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Ingles Markets, Incorporated and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Sky King, Inc., Ingles Markets Investments, Inc., Milkco, Inc., Land O Sky, LLC, Shopping Center Financing, LLC, and Shopping Center Financing II, LLC. All significant inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Year – The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in September. Fiscal years 2025 and 2024 each consisted of 52 weeks. Fiscal year 2023 consisted of 53 weeks.
Segment Information – The Company operates one primary business segment, retail grocery sales (representing the aggregation of individual retail stores). Our remaining operations -- fluid dairy and shopping center rentals do not meet either the quantitative and qualitative criteria as defined under ASC 280, Segment Reporting. The Company defines its segments as those operations for which the Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) regularly reviews results for operational decision making purposes, analyze performance and allocate resources.
New Accounting Pronouncements – In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “ Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting .” The ASU provides optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform on financial reporting in response to the risk of cessation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). This amendment provides for optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contracts and hedging relationships that are affected by LIBOR and other reference rates. The ASU generally allows for hedge accounting to continue if the hedge was highly effective or met other standards prior to reference rate reform. Entities are permitted to apply the amendments to all contracts, cash flow and net investment hedge relationships that existed as of March 12, 2020. The relief provided in this ASU extended through December 31, 2024. The U.S. Dollar LIBOR panel ceased following June 30, 2023, and the Company’s debt agreements and interest rate swaps that utilized LIBOR discontinued the use of LIBOR and adopted the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which did not materially impact our consolidated audited financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Taxes Disclosures , which requires greater disaggregation of income tax disclosures. The new standard requires additional information to be disclosed with respect to the income tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. This ASU should be applied prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with retrospective application permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures , which requires companies to enhance the disclosures about segment expenses. The new standard requires the disclosure of the Company’s CODM, expanded incremental line-item disclosures of significant segment expenses used by the CODM for decision-making, and the inclusion of previous annual only segment disclosure requirements on a quarterly basis. This ASU should be applied retrospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this guidance for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2025 and determined that the impact was not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (DISE), which requires disclosures about specific types of expenses included in the expense captions presented on the face of the income statement as well as disclosures about selling expenses. The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. The requirements will be applied prospectively with the option for retrospective application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this accounting standard will have on its financial disclosures.
In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software, which modernizes the accounting for internal-use software costs by removing all references to prescriptive and sequential software development stages. The new standard requires entities to consider whether significant development uncertainty has been resolved before starting to capitalize software costs and aligns disclosure requirements with ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment. The ASU is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and can be applied prospectively, retrospectively, or using a modified transition method, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impacts of this guidance on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
38
Cash and Cash Equivalents – Outstanding checks in excess of bank balances are included in the line item “Accounts payable – trade” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. There were no such balances at September 27, 2025 and September 28, 2024, respectively.
At September 27, 2025 demand deposits aggregating approximately $ 359.7 million in five banks exceed the $ 250,000 FDIC insurance limit per bank.
Short Term Investments – From time to time, the Company purchases financial products that can be readily converted into cash and the Company accounts for such financial products as short-term investments. Financial products include money market funds, bonds, and mutual funds. The carrying values of the Company’s short-term investments approximate fair value because of their liquidity.
Interest Rate Swaps – The Company utilizes interest rate swap contracts to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in variable interest rates applicable to some of its debt instruments. For determining the fair value of the interest rate swap contracts, the Company uses significant observable market data or assumptions about counterparty risk. The fair value estimates reflect an income approach based on the terms of the interest rate swap contracts and inputs corroborated by observable market data including interest rate curves. The Company has designated its swaps as cash flow hedges, for which the Company records the effective portions of changes in its fair value, net of tax, in other comprehensive income (expense). To the extent interest rate swaps are determined to be ineffective, the Company recognizes the change in the estimated fair value of the swaps in earnings.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Accounts receivable are primarily from vendor allowances, customer charges and pharmacy insurance company reimbursements. Accounts receivable are stated net of an allowance for uncollectible accounts, which is determined through analysis of the aging of accounts receivable at the date of the consolidated financial statements and assessments of the collectability based upon historical collection activity adjusted for current conditions.
Inventories – Substantially all of the Company’s inventory consists of finished goods. Warehouse inventories are valued at the lower of average cost or market. Store inventories are valued using the retail method under which inventories at cost (and the resulting gross margins) are determined by applying a calculated cost-to-retail ratio to the retail value of inventories. As an integral part of valuing inventory at cost, management makes certain judgments and estimates for gross margins, allowances for vendor consideration, markdowns and shrinkage. Warehousing and distribution costs are not included in the valuation of inventories. The Company reviews its judgments and estimates regularly and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate. For the year ended September 28, 2024, the Company recognized an impairment loss of $ 30.4 million related to inventory damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene. In calculating the impairment loss amount, management used the product cost as the cost basis since the inventory is sold by the Company with no additional modifications. This loss included products destroyed or damaged at stores and at the warehouse. Warehouse inventory is covered through the Company’s insurance policy. A claim made by the Company under that policy was made and the Company has received $ 4.7 million and is in the process of working with insurers on the remaining claim.
Property, Equipment and Depreciation – Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives by the straight-line method. Buildings are generally depreciated over 30 years . Store, office and warehouse equipment is generally depreciated over three years to 10 years. Transportation equipment is generally depreciated over three years to five years . Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the subject lease term or the useful life of the asset, generally from three years to 30 years. Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $ 122.9 million , $ 121.6 million and $ 116.0 million for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Asset Impairments – The Company accounts for the impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) Topic 360. Asset groups are primarily composed of individual store and shopping center properties. For assets to be held and used, the Company tests for impairment using undiscounted cash flows and calculates the amount of impairment using discounted cash flows. For assets held for sale, impairment is recognized based on the excess of remaining book value over expected recovery value. The recovery value is the fair value as determined by independent quotes or expected sales prices developed by internal associates, less costs to sell. Estimates of future cash flows and expected sales prices are judgments based upon the Company’s experience and knowledge of local operations and cash flows that are projected for several years into the future. These estimates can fluctuate significantly due to changes in real estate market conditions, the economic environment, capital spending decisions and inflation. The Company monitors the carrying value of long-lived assets for potential impairment each quarter based on whether any indicators of impairment have occurred. For the year ended September 28, 2024, the Company recognized a property and equipment impairment loss of $ 4.5 million pertaining to Hurricane Helene. No additional impairments were recognized for the year ended September 27, 2025.
Nonqualified Investment Plan – The purpose of the Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan is to provide retirement benefits similar to the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan to certain of the Company’s management associates who are otherwise subject to limited participation in the 401(k) feature of the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan. Participant retirement account balances are liabilities of the Company. Assets of the plan are assets of the Company and are held in trust for associates and distributed upon retirement, death, disability, in-service distributions, or termination of employment. In accordance with the trust, the Company may not use these assets for general corporate purposes. Life insurance policies and marketable securities held in the trust are included in the caption “Other assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The liability to plan participants totaled $ 32.5 million at September 27,
39
2025 and $ 28.9 million at September 28, 2024. The settlement of this obligation is dependent upon participant elections to withdraw funds, which cannot be predicted.
Self-Insurance – The Company is self-insured for workers’ compensation, general liability and group medical and dental benefits. There are risks and uncertainties associated with self-insurance; however, the Company has limited its exposure by maintaining excess liability coverage of $ 1,000,000 per occurrence for workers’ compensation, and for general liability, and $ 500,000 per covered person for medical care benefits for a policy year. Self-insurance liabilities are established based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. The estimates are based on data provided by the respective claims administrators, which is then applied to appropriate actuarial methods. These estimates can fluctuate if historical trends are not predictive of the future. The Company’s self-insurance reserves totaled $ 38.3 million and $ 35.9 million for employee group insurance, workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance at September 27, 2025 and September 28, 2024, respectively. These amounts include expected recoveries from excess cost insurance or other sources of $ 3.3 million at September 27, 2025 and $ 4.1 million at September 28, 2024, and are recorded as receivables. The Company is required in certain cases to pledge certificates of deposit or obtain surety bonds to support its self-insured status. The Company carries casualty insurance on only those properties for which it is required to do so. The Company has elected to self-insure its other properties.
Income Taxes – The Company accounts for income taxes under FASB ASC Topic 740. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the currently enacted tax rates. The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken on a tax return.
The Company files income tax returns with federal and various state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to federal or state income tax examinations by tax authorities for the years before tax year 2021. Examinations may challenge certain of the Company’s tax positions. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates and could significantly affect the effective tax rate and cash flows in the future years.
Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount more likely than not expected to be realized.
Gross unrecognized tax benefits as well as interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions could affect the Company’s effective tax rate. These amounts are insignificant for fiscal years 2025, 2024, and 2023.
Pre-Opening Costs – Costs associated with the opening of new stores are expensed when incurred.
Per-Share Amounts – The Company calculates earnings per share using the two-class method in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 260.
Advertising – The Company expenses advertising as incurred. Advertising and promotion expenses, net of vendor allowance reimbursements, totaled $ 16.3 million, $ 14.5 million and $ 14.6 million for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, they may ultimately differ from actual results. Such estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts, various inventory reserves, realizability of deferred tax assets, and self-insurance reserves.
Cost of Goods Sold – In addition to the direct product cost, cost of goods sold for the grocery segment includes inbound freight charges and costs of the Company’s distribution network. Milk processing is a manufacturing process. Therefore, cost of goods sold include direct product and production costs, inbound freight, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs, and other costs of distribution. Depreciation expense included in costs of goods sold totaled $ 16.3 million, $ 16.4 million and $ 15.2 million for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Inventory losses of $ 30.4 million were included in cost of goods sold from Hurricane Helene in fiscal year 2024. Insurance proceeds of $ 4.7 million were received in fiscal year 2025.
Operating and Administrative Expenses – Operating and administrative expenses include costs incurred for store and administrative labor, occupancy, depreciation (to the extent not included in Cost of Goods Sold), insurance and general administration.
Revenue Recognition – The Company recognizes revenues from grocery segment sales at the point of sale to its customers. Sales taxes collected from customers are not included in reported revenues. Discounts provided to customers by the Company at the point of sale, including discounts provided in connection with loyalty cards, are recognized as a reduction in sales as the products are sold. Product returns are not significant.
The Company recognizes fluid dairy revenues at the time the risk of loss shifts to the customer pursuant to our terms of sale. Therefore, approximately 44.1 % of fluid dairy revenues are recognized when the product is picked up by the customer at our facility.
40
The remaining fluid dairy revenues are recognized when the product is received at the customer’s facility upon delivery via transportation arranged by the Company.
Rental income, including contingent rentals, is recognized on the accrual basis. Upfront consideration paid by either the Company as lessor or by the lessee is recognized as an adjustment to net rental income using the straight line method over the term of the lease.
Vendor Allowances – The Company receives funds for a variety of merchandising activities from the many vendors whose products the Company buys for resale in its stores. These incentives and allowances are primarily composed of volume or purchase based incentives, advertising allowances, slotting fees, and promotional discounts. The purpose of these incentives and allowances is generally to help defray the costs incurred by the Company for stocking, advertising, promoting and selling the vendors’ products. These allowances generally relate to short term arrangements with vendors, often relating to a period of a month or less, and are negotiated on a purchase-by-purchase or transaction-by-transaction basis. Whenever practical, vendor discounts and allowances that relate to buying and merchandising activities are recorded as a component of item cost in inventory and recognized in merchandise costs when the item is sold. Due to system constraints, the use of the retail method for store inventory, and the nature of certain allowances, it is sometimes not practicable to apply allowances to the item cost of inventory. In those instances, the allowances are applied as a reduction of merchandise costs using a rational and systematic methodology, which results in the recognition of these incentives when the inventory related to the vendor consideration received is sold. Vendor allowances applied as a reduction of merchandise costs totaled $ 151.9 million, $ 146.9 million and $ 128.9 million for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2025, September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. Vendor advertising allowances that represent a reimbursement of specific identifiable incremental costs of advertising the vendor’s specific products are recorded as a reduction to the related expense in the period that the related expense is incurred. Vendor advertising allowances recorded as a reduction of advertising expense totaled $ 8.2 million, $ 8.9 million and $ 8.5 million for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2025, September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively.
If vendor advertising allowances were substantially reduced or eliminated, the Company would likely consider other methods of advertising as well as the volume and frequency of its product advertising, which could increase or decrease its expenditures.
Similarly, the Company is not able to assess the impact of vendor advertising allowances on the creation of additional revenue; as such allowances do not directly generate revenue for its stores.
2. Income Taxes
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities and Assets – Deferred income taxes are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax laws and rates. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax liabilities and assets were as follows:
2025
2024
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property and equipment tax/book differences
$
83,050,000
$
81,318,000
Interest rate swaps
1,799,000
2,173,000
Property tax method
1,860,000
1,324,000
Section 481a adjustment
1,164,000
—
Right of use asset
6,641,000
7,350,000
Total deferred tax liabilities
94,514,000
92,165,000
Deferred tax assets:
Insurance reserves
6,000,000
4,929,000
Advance payments on purchases contracts
986,000
746,000
Vacation accrual
2,178,000
1,959,000
Inventory
688,000
1,566,000
Deferred compensation
7,824,000
6,986,000
Lease liability
7,010,000
7,868,000
Other
4,788,000
4,344,000
Total deferred tax assets
29,474,000
28,398,000
Net deferred tax liabilities
$
65,040,000
$
63,767,000
Refundable current income taxes totaling $ 3.0 million and $ 16.9 million at September 27, 2025 and September 28, 2024, respectively, are included in the line item “Other current assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
41
Income Tax Expense - Income tax expense differs from the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal rates to income before income taxes. The reasons for the differences were as follows:
2025
2024
2023
Federal tax at statutory rate
$
23,098,000
$
29,295,000
$
58,396,000
State income tax, net of federal tax benefits
3,237,000
3,892,000
9,247,000
Federal tax credits
( 960,000 )
( 1,239,000 )
( 1,449,000 )
Other
970,000
2,012,000
1,499,000
Total
$
26,345,000
$
33,960,000
$
67,693,000
Current and deferred income tax expense (benefit) was as follows:
2025
2024
2023
Current:
Federal
$
20,498,000
$
29,394,000
$
61,562,000
State
4,200,000
5,898,000
12,789,000
Total current expense
24,698,000
35,292,000
74,351,000
Deferred:
Federal
1,722,000
( 565,000 )
( 5,802,000 )
State
( 75,000 )
( 767,000 )
( 856,000 )
Total deferred (benefit) expense
1,647,000
( 1,332,000 )
( 6,658,000 )
Total expense
$
26,345,000
$
33,960,000
$
67,693,000
3. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, net, consisted of the following:
2025
2024
Land
$
520,884,460
$
503,677,113
Construction in progress
51,061,254
37,545,222
Buildings
1,483,128,038
1,470,754,512
Store, office and warehouse equipment
1,143,005,764
1,118,250,135
Transportation equipment
89,246,739
88,465,993
Leasehold improvements
55,469,185
59,748,005
Finance lease right-of-use assets
3,946,422
3,946,422
Total
3,346,741,862
3,282,387,402
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
1,831,671,641
1,755,678,940
Property and equipment - net
$
1,515,070,221
$
1,526,708,462
4. Property Held for Lease and Rental Income
At September 27, 2025, the Company owned and operated 101 shopping centers in conjunction with its supermarket operations, which includes one of the three stores that remains temporarily closed due to its location in a shopping center that remains closed as a result of damage sustained during Hurricane Helene which is located in a shopping center. The Company leases a portion of its shopping center properties to third parties. The leases are non-cancelable operating lease agreements for periods ranging up to 20 years.
Rental income is included in the line item “Net sales” on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Depreciation on owned properties leased to others and other shopping center expenses are included in the line item “Cost of goods sold” on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
2025
2024
2023
Rents earned on owned and subleased properties:
Base rentals
$
30,559,595
$
26,658,958
$
24,964,305
Variable rentals
141,049
314,009
203,823
Total
30,700,644
26,972,967
25,168,128
Depreciation on owned properties leased to others
( 9,262,235 )
( 8,620,836 )
( 7,788,344 )
Direct shopping center expenses, excluding overhead allocations
( 3,981,962 )
( 3,819,139 )
( 3,752,407 )
Total
$
17,456,447
$
14,532,992
$
13,627,377
42
Owned properties leased or held for lease to others under operating leases by major classes are summarized as follows:
September 27,
September 28,
2025
2024
Land
$
114,417,119
$
112,871,892
Buildings
309,855,505
305,862,582
Total
424,272,624
418,734,474
Less accumulated depreciation
( 137,362,918 )
( 127,936,997 )
Total
$
286,909,706
$
290,797,477
The above amounts are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in the caption “Property and equipment, net.”
The following is a schedule of minimum future rental income on non-cancelable operating leases as of September 27, 2025:
Fiscal Year
2026
$
21,645,537
2027
18,688,120
2028
16,028,346
2029
12,631,080
2030
9,976,273
Thereafter
49,332,572
Total minimum future rental income
$
128,301,928
5. Leases and Rental Expense
The Company conducts part of its retail operations from leased facilities. The initial term of the leases is generally 20 years. The majority of the leases include one or more renewal options and provide that the Company pay property taxes, utilities, repairs and certain other costs incidental to occupation of the leased premises. Several leases contain clauses calling for percentage rentals based upon gross sales of the supermarket occupying the leased space. Step rent provisions, escalation clauses, capital improvements and other lease concessions are taken into account in computing lease payments. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the minimum lease term.
Operating Leases - Rent expense for all operating leases of $ 7.4 million, $ 9.7 million and $ 10.6 million for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, is included in operating and administrative expenses. These amounts included short-term (less than one year) leases, common area expenses, and variable lease costs, all of which were insignificant. Cash paid for lease liabilities in operating activities approximates operating lease cost. Sub-lease rental income of $ 0.3 million for each of fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, was included as a reduction of rental expense.
Finance Leases –Finance lease cost of $ 840.0 thousand included amortization expense of $ 674.8 thousand, included in operating and administrative expense, and $ 165.2 thousand of interest expense for fiscal year 2025. Fiscal year 2024 finance lease cost of $ 318.5 thousand included amortization expense of $ 275.6 thousand, included in operating and administrative expense, and $ 82.3 thousand of interest expense. Finance lease cost of $ 270.7 thousand included amortization expense of $ 231.3 thousand, included in operating and administrative expense, and $ 87.2 thousand of interest expense for fiscal year 2023.
Future maturities of lease liabilities as of September 27, 2025 were as follows:
Fiscal Year
Operating Leases
Finance Leases
2026
$
6,052,190
$
840,000
2027
5,542,431
840,000
2028
3,958,840
840,000
2029
2,955,264
101,500
2030
1,576,004
—
Thereafter
15,053,932
—
Total lease payments
35,138,661
2,621,500
Less amount representing interest
8,621,228
236,321
Present value of lease liabilities
$
26,517,433
$
2,385,179
On the Consolidated Balance Sheets, lease extensions exercised during fiscal year 2025 increased the line items “Operating lease right of use assets” and “Noncurrent operating lease liabilities” by $ 3.8 million each during the year ended September 27, 2025. The weighted average remaining lease term for the Company’s operating leases is 14.4 years. No new financing leases were entered into during fiscal year 2025. The weighted average discount rate used to determine operating lease liability balances as of September 27, 2025 was 4.2 %, and was 6.0 % for finance lease liability balances.
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6. Supplementary Balance Sheet Information
Accrued Expenses and Current Portion of Other Long-Term Liabilities - Accrued expenses and current portion of other long-term liabilities are summarized as follows:
2025
2024
Property, payroll, and other taxes payable
$
24,420,782
$
22,592,669
Salaries, wages, and bonuses payable
46,997,042
48,869,003
Self-insurance liabilities:
Employee group insurance
6,317,748
5,849,118
Workers’ compensation insurance
5,191,814
4,937,591
General liability insurance
6,261,466
5,690,735
Interest
4,752,916
4,984,248
Other
6,572,619
6,177,911
Total accrued expenses and current portion of other long-term liabilities
$
100,514,387
$
99,101,275
Employee insurance expense, including workers’ compensation and medical care benefits, net of employee contributions, totaled $ 48.0 million, $ 44.3 million and $ 35.2 million for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Other Long-Term Liabilities - Other long-term liabilities are summarized as follows:
2025
2024
Advance payments on purchases contracts
$
4,062,274
$
3,063,450
Nonqualified investment plan liability
32,459,144
28,916,206
Self-insurance liabilities:
Workers’ compensation insurance
11,758,783
12,137,235
General liability insurance
8,723,594
7,331,787
Other
7,332,622
5,927,404
Other long-term liabilities
64,336,417
57,376,082
Less current portion
2,663,475
1,394,960
Total other long-term liabilities
$
61,672,942
$
55,981,122
The Company’s fuel operations contain underground tanks for the storage of gasoline and diesel fuel. The Company reviewed FASB Topic ASC 410 and determined that we have a legal obligation to remove tanks at a point in the future and accordingly determined we have met the requirements for an asset retirement obligation. The Company followed the FASB ASC 410 model for determining the asset retirement cost and asset retirement obligation. The amounts recorded are immaterial for each fuel center as well as in the aggregate at September 27, 2025 and September 28, 2024.
Advance Payments on Purchases Contracts - The Company has entered into agreements with suppliers whereby payment is received in advance and earned based on purchases of product from these suppliers in the future. The unearned portion, included in other long-term liabilities, will be recognized in the results of operations in accordance with the terms of the contract.
7. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt and short-term loans were as follows:
September 27,
September 28,
2025
2024
Bonds payable:
Senior notes, interest rate of 4.00 %, maturing 2031
$
350,000,000
$
350,000,000
Recovery Zone Facility Bonds, maturing 2036
45,380,000
49,910,000
Notes payable due to banks, weighted average interest rate of 6.57 % for 2025
and 7.49 % for 2024
123,567,360
137,319,905
Less unamortized prepaid loan costs
( 4,180,702 )
( 4,607,467 )
Total long-term debt
514,766,658
532,622,438
Less current portion
17,477,241
17,520,876
Long-term debt, net of current portion
$
497,289,417
$
515,101,562
The U.S. Dollar LIBOR panel ceased following June 30, 2023, and the Company’s debt agreements and interest rate swaps that utilized LIBOR discontinued the use of LIBOR and adopted SOFR, which did not materially impact our consolidated audited financial statements.
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In June 2021, the Company issued at par $ 350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.00 % senior notes due 2031 (the “Notes”).
The Company may redeem all or a portion of the Notes at any time at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) if redeemed during the 12-month periods beginning June 15 of the years indicated below:
Year
2026
102.000 %
2027
101.333 %
2028
100.667 %
2029 and thereafter
100.000 %
Additionally, the Company may also redeem all or part of the Notes at any time prior to June 15, 2026 at a redemption price equal to 100 % of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus the Applicable Premium (as defined in the indenture governing the Notes), as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, the redemption date. The Company may also redeem up to 40 % of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes prior to June 15, 2024 with the net cash proceeds of certain sales of its capital stock at a redemption price equal to 104.0 % of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption; provided, that, after such redemption, at least 60 % of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued remains outstanding.
The Company has a $ 150.0 million line of credit (the “Line”) that, as amended in June 2025, matures in June 2030 . The Line provides the Company with various interest rate options based on the prime rate, the Federal Funds Rate or SOFR. The Line allows the Company to issue up to $ 10.0 million in letters of credit, of which one in the amount of $ 500,000 was issued at September 27, 2025. The Company is not required to maintain compensating balances in connection with the Line. At September 27, 2025, the Company had no other borrowings outstanding under the Line.
In December 2010, the Company completed the funding of $ 99.7 million of Recovery Zone Facility Bonds (the “Bonds”) for construction of new warehouse and distribution space adjacent to its existing space in Buncombe County, North Carolina (the “Project”). The Project was completed in 2012 and the final maturity date of the Bonds is January 1, 2036 .
Under a Continuing Covenant and Collateral Agency Agreement (the “Covenant Agreement”) between certain financial institutions and the Company, such financial institutions hold the Bonds until December 2029, subject to certain events. Mandatory redemption of the Bonds by the Company in the annual amount of $ 4.5 million began on January 1, 2014 . The Company may redeem the Bonds without penalty or premium at any time prior to December 17, 2029 .
Interest earned by bondholders on the Bonds is exempt from Federal and North Carolina income taxation. The interest rate on the Bonds is equal to SOFR plus a credit spread, adjusted to reflect the income tax exemption.
The Company’s obligation to repay the Bonds is collateralized by the Project. The Covenant Agreement incorporates substantially all financial covenants included in the Line.
The Notes, the Bonds and the Line contain provisions that under certain circumstances would permit the acceleration of the indebtedness under such instruments or would otherwise permit lending institutions to terminate or withdraw their respective extensions of credit to the Company. Included among the triggering factors permitting the termination or withdrawal of the Line are certain events of default, including both monetary and non-monetary defaults, the initiation of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, and the failure of the Company to meet certain financial covenants designated in its loan documents. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants related to the Notes, the Bonds and Line at September 27, 2025.
In September 2017, the Company refinanced approximately $ 60 million of secured borrowing obligations with a SOFR-based amortizing floating rate loan secured by real estate, which matures in October 2027 . The Company has an interest rate swap agreement for a current notional amount of $ 12.5 million at a fixed rate of 3.962 %. Under this agreement, the Company pays monthly the fixed rate of 3.962 % and receives the one-month SOFR plus 1.75 %. The interest rate swap effectively hedges floating rate debt in the same amount as the current notional amount of the interest swap. Both the floating rate debt and the interest rate swap have monthly principal amortization of $ 0.5 million and mature October 1, 2027 .
In December 2019, the Company closed a $ 155 million SOFR-based amortizing floating rate loan secured by real estate, which matures in January 2030 . The Company has an interest rate swap agreement for a current notional amount of $ 109.1 million at a fixed rate of 2.998 %. Under this agreement, the Company pays monthly the fixed rate of 2.998 % and receives the one-month SOFR plus 1.60 %. The interest rate swap effectively hedges floating rate debt in the same amount as the current notional amount of the interest swap. Both the floating rate debt and the interest rate swap have monthly principal amortization of $ 0.65 million and mature in fiscal year 2030.
The Company recognizes differences between the variable rate interest payments and the fixed interest rate settlements with the swap counterparties as an adjustment to interest expense each period over the life of the swaps. The Company has designated the swaps as cash flow hedges and records the changes in the estimated fair value of the swaps to other comprehensive income each period. For the
45
fiscal year ended September 27, 2025, the Company recorded $ 1.1 million of other comprehensive loss, net of income tax benefits, in its Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Unrealized gains of $ 7.4 million were recorded as an asset at fair value in the line “Other Assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 27, 2025. For the fiscal year ended September 28, 2024, the Company recorded $ 6.5 million of other comprehensive loss, net of income tax benefits, in its Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Unrealized gains of $ 8.9 million were recorded as an asset at fair value in the line “Other Assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 28, 2024.
Failure of the swap counterparty to make payments would result in the loss of any potential benefit to the Company under the swap agreement. In this case, the Company would still be obligated to pay the variable interest payments underlying the debt agreements. Additionally, failure of the swap counterparty would not eliminate the Company’s obligation to continue to make payments under the existing swap agreement if it continues to be in a net pay position.
At September 27, 2025, property and equipment with an undepreciated cost of approximately $ 241.7 million was pledged as collateral for long-term debt. Long-term debt and Line agreements contain various restrictive covenants requiring, among other things, minimum levels of net worth and maintenance of certain financial ratios. While there are no current restrictions on net income or retained earnings available for the payment of dividends, certain loan agreements contain provisions outlining minimum tangible net worth requirements that restrict the ability of the Company to pay cash dividends in excess of the current annual per share dividends paid on the Company’s Class A and Class B Common Stock.
Components of interest costs were as follows:
2025
2024
2023
Total interest costs
$
21,521,716
$
22,572,596
$
23,056,378
Interest capitalized
( 1,811,310 )
( 712,796 )
( 988,088 )
Interest expense
$
19,710,406
$
21,859,800
$
22,068,290
Maturities of long-term debt at September 27, 2025 were as follows:
Fiscal Year
2026
$
18,280,000
2027
18,280,000
2028
12,764,026
2029
12,280,000
2030
84,613,334
Thereafter
372,730,000
Less unamortized prepaid loan costs
( 4,180,702 )
Total
$
514,766,658
8. Stockholders’ Equity
The Company has two classes of Common Stock: Class A and Class B. Class A Common Stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol IMKTA. There is no public market for the Company’s Class B Common Stock. Each share of Class B Common Stock is convertible at any time, at the option of the holder, into one share of Class A Common Stock. Upon any transfers of Class B Common Stock (other than to immediate family members, other eligible holders, and participants in the Investment/Profit Sharing Plan), such stock is automatically converted into Class A Common Stock.
The holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are entitled to dividends and other distributions when declared out of assets legally available therefore, subject to the dividend rights of any preferred stock that may be issued in the future. Each share of Class A Common Stock is entitled to receive a cash dividend and liquidation payment in an amount equal to 110 % of any cash dividend or liquidation payment on Class B Common Stock. Any stock dividend must be paid in shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to Class A Common Stock and in shares of Class B Common Stock with respect to Class B Common Stock.
The voting powers, preferences and relative rights of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are identical in all respects, except that the holders of Class A Common Stock have one vote per share and the holders of Class B Common Stock have ten votes per share. In addition, holders of Class A Common Stock, as a separate class, are entitled to elect 25 % of all directors constituting the Board of Directors (rounded to the nearest whole number). As long as the Class B Common Stock represents at least 12.5 % of the total outstanding Common Stock of both classes, holders of Class B Common Stock, as a separate class, are entitled to elect the remaining directors. The Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors can set the number of directors between five and eleven .
9. Earnings Per Common Share
The Company calculates earnings per share using the two-class method in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 260.
46
The two-class method of computing basic earnings per share for each period reflects the cash dividends paid per share for each class of stock, plus the amount of allocated undistributed earnings per share computed using the participation percentage which reflects the dividend rights of each class of stock. Diluted earnings per share is calculated assuming the conversion of all shares of Class B Common Stock to shares of Class A Common Stock on a share-for-share basis. The tables below reconcile the numerators and denominators of basic and diluted earnings per share for current and prior periods.
Year Ended
September 27, 2025
Class A
Class B
Numerator: Allocated net income
Net income allocated, basic
$
65,410,575
$
18,181,926
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares
18,181,926
—
Net income allocated, diluted
$
83,592,501
$
18,181,926
Denominator: Weighted average shares outstanding
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic
14,546,620
4,447,756
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares
4,447,756
—
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted
18,994,376
4,447,756
Earnings per share
Basic
$
4.50
$
4.09
Diluted
$
4.40
$
4.09
Year Ended
Year Ended
September 28, 2024
September 30, 2023
Class A
Class B
Class A
Class B
Numerator: Allocated net income
Net income allocated, basic
$
82,518,040
$
23,023,261
$
163,599,005
$
47,212,954
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares
23,023,261
—
47,212,954
—
Net income allocated, diluted
$
105,541,301
$
23,023,261
$
210,811,959
$
47,212,954
Denominator: Weighted average
shares outstanding
Weighted average shares outstanding,
basic
14,534,479
4,459,897
14,417,916
4,576,460
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares
4,459,897
—
4,576,460
—
Weighted average shares outstanding,
diluted
18,994,376
4,459,897
18,994,376
4,576,460
Earnings per share
Basic
$
5.68
$
5.16
$
11.35
$
10.32
Diluted
$
5.56
$
5.16
$
11.10
$
10.32
10. Employee Benefit Plans
Investment/Profit Sharing Plan – The purpose of the qualified investment/profit sharing plan is to provide retirement benefits to eligible associates. Assets of the plan, including the Company’s Class B Common Stock, are held in trust for associates and distributed upon retirement, death, disability or termination of employment. Company contributions are discretionary and are determined quarterly by the Board of Directors. The plan includes a 401(k) feature. Company contributions to the plan, included in operating and administrative expenses, were approximately $ 6.3 million, $ 5.7 million and $ 5.7 million for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Nonqualified Investment Plan – The purpose of the Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan is to provide benefits similar to the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan to certain of the Company’s management associates who are otherwise subject to limited participation in the 401(k) feature of the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan. Company contributions to the plan, included in operating and administrative expenses, were approximately $ 511,000 , $ 564,000 and $ 509,000 for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Cash Bonuses – The Company pays monthly bonuses to various managerial personnel based on the performance of the operating units managed by these personnel. The Company pays discretionary annual bonuses to certain associates who do not receive monthly performance bonuses. The Company pays discretionary bonuses to certain executive officers based on Company performance. Operating and administrative expenses include bonuses of approximately $ 20.5 million, $ 29.2 million and $ 34.4 million for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The accrued liability for cash bonuses totaled $ 18.6 million at September 27, 2025 and $ 21.5 million at September 28, 2024. These amounts are included in the caption “Accrued expenses and current portion of other long-term liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
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Medical Care Plan - Medical and dental benefits are provided to qualified associates under a self-insured plan. Expenses under the plan include claims paid, administrative expenses and an estimated liability for claims incurred but not yet paid.
11. Segment Information
The reportable segments were determined based on information reviewed by the Company’s CODM for operational decision-making purposes, and the segment information is prepared on the same basis that the CODM reviews such financial information. The Company operates one primary business segment, retail grocery sales (representing the aggregation of individual retail stores) and includes four categories of product sales: grocery, non-foods, perishables and fuel. The “All Other” segment includes the results of non-reportable segments, fluid dairy and shopping center rentals, which do not meet both quantitative and qualitative criteria as defined under ASC 280, Segment Reporting. In fiscal year 2025, expense allocation methodology changed to include direct and indirect costs associated with the shopping center rentals that were previously included in the retail segment. Fiscal years 2024 and 2023 were recast to be comparable. The CODM utilizes operating income to assess the Company’s operating performance and to make decisions about allocating resources to each segment. The CODM does not review assets in evaluating results. Therefore, such information is not provided. The Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer is the CODM. The accounting policies are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.
The significant expense categories and amounts align with the segment-level information that is regularly provided to the CODM. For fiscal year ended September 28, 2024, income from operations for the primary business segment, retail grocery sales, included the charges for impairment losses from Hurricane Helene of $ 34.9 million.
A reconciliation of net income (amounts in thousands):
2025
2024
2023
Retail grocery revenue
Grocery (1)
$
1,934,445
$
1,983,198
$
2,062,416
Non-foods (2)
1,167,586
1,273,324
1,326,907
Perishables (3)
1,404,687
1,441,039
1,482,089
Fuel
620,924
724,230
792,524
Total retail grocery revenue
5,127,642
5,421,791
5,663,936
All other revenue
206,391
217,818
228,846
Total revenues from unaffiliated customers
$
5,334,033
$
5,639,609
$
5,892,782
Total retail grocery revenue
$
5,127,642
$
5,421,791
$
5,663,936
Less retail grocery expenses:
Merchandise costs (4)
3,913,286
4,151,150
4,325,262
Salary and wages
578,132
590,921
577,319
Insurance costs
56,515
54,875
39,311
Repair and maintenance
91,761
81,136
78,416
Bank charges
60,019
62,164
61,712
Depreciation and amortization
94,242
93,384
90,391
Utilities
61,466
63,819
61,344
Other retail grocery expenses (5)
171,685
158,400
158,961
Impairment loss (6)
—
34,957
—
Retail grocery operating income
$
100,536
$
130,986
$
271,220
Other operating income (7)
17,044
16,159
21,084
Other income
12,068
14,217
8,269
Interest
19,710
21,860
22,068
Taxes
26,345
33,960
67,693
Net income
$
83,593
$
105,541
$
210,812
(1) The “Grocery” category includes grocery, dairy, and frozen foods.
(2) The “Non-foods” category includes alcoholic beverages, tobacco, pharmacy, and health/beauty/cosmetic products.
(3) The “Perishable” category includes meat, produce, deli and bakery.
(4) Merchandise costs include product costs, net of discounts and allowances, warehousing, distribution and freight.
(5) Other retail grocery expenses includes supplies, taxes and licenses, advertising, professional fees and other expenses.
(6) Impairment loss includes inventory impairment of $30.4 million and asset impairment of $4.5 million, in each case recognized as a result of damage sustained during Hurricane Helene.
(7) Other operating income includes operating income from shopping center rentals, fluid dairy and the gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets.
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12. Commitments and Contingencies
Various legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of business are pending against the Company. In the opinion of management, the ultimate liability, if any, from all pending legal proceedings and claims is not expected to materially affect the Company’s financial position, the results of its operations or its cash flows.
Construction commitments at September 27, 2025 totaled $ 4.9 million. The Company expects these commitments to be fulfilled during fiscal year 2026.
The Company has entered into supply contracts to provide approximately 87 % of the fuel sold in its fuel centers. Pricing is based on certain market indices at the time of purchase. The suppliers can modify or terminate the contracts if the Company does not meet certain minimum monthly purchase requirements.
There have been no other material changes in contractual obligations and commercial commitments subsequent to September 27, 2025 other than as described elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
13. Fair Values of Financial Instruments
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments:
Cash and cash equivalents: The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents approximate their fair values.
Short term investments: The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for short term investments approximate their fair values.
Receivables: The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for receivables approximate their fair values.
The fair value of the Company’s debt is estimated using valuation techniques under the accounting guidance related to fair value measurements based on observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect readily available data from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s market assumptions. These inputs are classified into the following hierarchy:
Level 1 Inputs -
Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 Inputs -
Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
Level 3 Inputs -
Pricing inputs are unobservable for the assets or liabilities and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the assets or liabilities. The inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation.
The carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s debt, interest rate swaps, and non-qualified plan assets at September 27, 2025 were as follows (in thousands):
Carrying
Amount
Fair Value
Fair Value Measurements
Senior Notes due 2031
$
350,000
$
327,250
Level 2
Facility Bonds due 2036
45,380
45,380
Level 2
Secured notes payable and other
119,387
119,387
Level 2
Interest rate swaps derivative contract asset
7,416
7,416
Level 2
Non-qualified retirement plan assets
29,881
29,881
Level 2
The carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s debt, interest rate swaps, and non-qualified plan assets at September 28, 2024 were as follows (in thousands):
Carrying
Amount
Fair Value
Fair Value Measurements
Senior Notes due 2031
$
350,000
$
317,625
Level 2
Facility Bonds due 2036
49,910
49,910
Level 2
Secured notes payable and other
132,712
132,712
Level 2
Interest rate swaps derivative contract assets
8,931
8,931
Level 2
Non-qualified retirement plan assets
27,126
27,126
Level 2
The fair values for Level 2 measurements were determined primarily using market yields and taking into consideration the underlying terms of the debt.
49
14. Cash Flow Information
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information is as follows:
2025
2024
2023
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest (net of amounts capitalized)
$
19,941,738
$
21,987,218
$
21,546,878
Income taxes
11,090,974
45,765,414
78,406,107
Non cash items:
Property and equipment additions included in accounts payable
8,286,970
10,082,470
5,067,861
15. Related Party Transactions
The Company will from time to time make short-term non-interest bearing loans to the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan to allow the plan to meet distribution obligations during a time when the plan was prohibited from selling shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock. At September 27, 2025 and September 28, 2024 there were no loans outstanding.
16. Subsequent Events
In fiscal year 2025, the Company received insurance proceeds of $ 1.5 million related to property damage sustained during Hurricane Helene. The proceeds were recorded as a reduction of operating expenses. On May 1, 2025, the Company entered into an agreement and received a partial payment of $ 4.2 million towards the ultimate settlement of the inventory loss claims. In addition, the Company received an additional $ 500 thousand from a different policy. The proceeds were recorded as a reduction of cost of goods sold. The Company did not recognize an asset for the remaining insurance recovery receivable in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 27, 2025 because recovery was not yet deemed probable. The Company is currently working with its insurance carriers to reach final determinations with respect to inventory loss claims related to the impact of Hurricane Helene. The final amount of the claims is currently being assessed, and the timing and exact amount of remaining insurance proceeds remain uncertain. The Company will continue to monitor the claims process and will accordingly adjust its impact on the Company’s financial statements in future periods.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED
By:
/s/ James W. Lanning
James W. Lanning
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Operating Officer
(principal executive officer)
Date: November 26, 2025
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:
/s/ Robert P. Ingle, II
November 26, 2025
Robert P. Ingle, II, Chairman and Director
/s/ James W. Lanning
November 26, 2025
James W. Lanning, President, Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Operating Officer and Director
(principal executive officer)
/s/ Patricia E. Jackson
November 26, 2025
Patricia E. Jackson, CPA,
Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Director
(principal financial and accounting officer)
/s/ Catherine L. Phillips
November 26, 2025
Catherine L. Phillips, CPA, Secretary and Controller
/s/ L. Keith Collins
November 26, 2025
L. Keith Collins, Director
/s/ Fred D. Ayers
November 26, 2025
Fred D. Ayers, Director
/s/ Laura Sharp
November 26, 2025
Laura Sharp, Director
/s/ Brenda S. Tudor
November 26, 2025
Brenda S. Tudor, Director
/s/ Ernest E. Ferguson
November 26, 2025
Ernest E. Ferguson, Director
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Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.