Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)

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Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Oct. 07, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Red Robin and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Red Robin have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements on Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date, but does not include all disclosures required for audited annual financial statements. For further information, please refer to and read these interim condensed consolidated financial statements in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2018.
The Company’s quarter that ended October 7, 2018 is referred to as third quarter 2018, or the twelve weeks ended October 7, 2018; the second quarter ended July 15, 2018 is referred to as second quarter 2018, or the twelve weeks ended July 15, 2018; the first quarter ended April 22, 2018 is referred to as first quarter 2018, or the sixteen weeks ended April 22, 2018; and together, the first, second, and third quarters of 2018 are referred to as the forty weeks ended October 7, 2018. The quarter ended October 1, 2017 is referred to as third quarter 2017, or the twelve weeks ended October 1, 2017; the second quarter ended July 9, 2017 is referred to as the twelve weeks ended July 9, 2017; the first quarter ended April 16, 2017 is referred to as first quarter 2017, or the sixteen weeks ended April 16, 2017; and together, the first, second, and third quarters of 2017 are referred to as the forty weeks ended October 1, 2017. The Company’s fiscal year 2018 comprises 52 weeks and will end on December 30, 2018.
Reclassification, Policy
Reclassifications
Certain amounts presented in prior periods have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation. For the twelve weeks ended October 1, 2017, the Company reclassified local marketing costs of $3.3 million from Other operating to Selling, general, and administrative expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the forty weeks ended October 1, 2017, the Company reclassified local marketing costs of $8.7 million. Management believes this presentation better reflects marketing expenses subject to corporate, rather than restaurant-level, decision making.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Update 2016-02, Leases (“Topic 842”), subsequently amended by various standard updates. This guidance requires the recognition of liabilities for lease obligations and corresponding right-of-use assets on the balance sheet and disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 using a modified retrospective adoption method with the option of applying the guidance either retrospectively to each prior comparative reporting period presented or retrospectively at the beginning of the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt this guidance beginning with its fiscal first quarter 2019 and will apply it retrospectively at the beginning of the period of adoption through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings. We will elect to apply the practical expedients that do not require us to reassess existing contracts for embedded leases or to reassess lease classification or initial direct costs. The Company selected and began implementing a new lease management system during 2017. Once the transition to the new system is completed in 2018, this software will enable us to quantify the full impact Topic 842 will have on our consolidated financial statements. We expect adoption of Topic 842 will result in a significant increase in the assets and liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet.
Revenue Recognition
Advertising Fund Contributions
Under Red Robin franchise agreements, the Company and its franchisees are required to contribute a certain percentage of revenues to two national media advertising funds. The Company’s national advertising services are provided on a system-wide basis and, therefore, not considered distinct performance obligations for individual franchisees. The Company previously recorded the advertising contributions from franchisees as a reduction to advertising expense under Selling, general, and administrative expenses. In accordance with Topic 606, the Company recognizes these sales-based advertising contributions from franchisees as franchise revenue when the underlying franchisee sales occur. The Company records the related advertising expenses as incurred under Selling, general, and administrative expenses. When an advertising fund is over-spent at year end, advertising expenses will be reported on the consolidated statement of operations in an amount that is greater than the revenue recorded for advertising contributions. Conversely, when an advertising fund is under-spent at year end, the Company will accrue advertising costs up to advertising contributions recorded in revenue. All prior periods presented have been retrospectively adjusted for this change in accounting policy. The adoption of this standard did not impact previously reported amounts of net income.
Revenue recognition
Revenues consist of sales from restaurant operations; franchise revenue; and other revenue, including gift card breakage and miscellaneous revenue. The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control over a product or service to a restaurant guest, franchisee, or other customer.
Restaurant revenue
The Company recognizes revenues from restaurant sales when payment is tendered at the point of sale, as the Company’s performance obligation to provide food and beverage to the customer has been satisfied.
The Company sells gift cards which do not have an expiration date, and it does not deduct dormancy fees from outstanding gift card balances. We recognize revenue from gift cards as either: (i) Restaurant revenue, when the Company’s performance obligation to provide food and beverage to the customer is satisfied upon redemption of the gift card, or (ii) gift card breakage, as discussed in Other revenue below.
Red Robin Royalty™ deferred revenue primarily relates to a program in which registered members earn an award for a free entrée for every nine entrées purchased. We recognize the current sale of an entrée and defer a portion of the revenue to reflect partial pre-payment for the future entrée the member is entitled to receive. We estimate the future value of the award based on the historical average value of redemptions. We also estimate what portion of registered members are not likely to reach the ninth purchase based on historical activity and recognize the deferred revenue related to those purchases. We recognize the deferred revenue in restaurant revenue on earned rewards when the Company satisfies its performance obligation at redemption, or upon expiration. We compare the estimate of the value of future awards to historical redemptions to evaluate the reasonableness of the deferred amount.
Franchise revenue
Revenues we receive from our franchise arrangements include sales-based royalties and advertising fund contributions, area development fees, and franchise fees. Red Robin franchisees are required to remit 4.0% to 5.0% of their revenues as royalties to the Company and contribute up to 3.0% of revenues to two national advertising funds. The Company recognizes these sales-based royalties and advertising fund contributions as the underlying franchisee sales occur.
The Company also provides its franchisees with management expertise, training, pre-opening assistance, and restaurant operating assistance in exchange for area development fees and franchise fees. The Company capitalizes these fees upon collection from the franchisee, which then amortize over the contracted franchise term as the services comprising the performance obligation are satisfied. The Company typically grants franchise rights to franchisees for a term of 20 years, with the right to extend the term for an additional ten years if various conditions are satisfied by the franchisee.
Other revenue
Gift card breakage is recognized when the likelihood of a gift card being redeemed by the customer is remote and the Company determines that there is not a legal obligation to remit the unredeemed gift card balance to the relevant jurisdiction. The determination of the gift card breakage rate is based upon the Company’s specific historical redemption patterns. The Company recognizes gift card breakage by applying its estimate of the rate of gift card breakage on a pro rata basis over the period of estimated redemption.
Other revenue also consists of miscellaneous revenues considered insignificant to the Company’s business.