UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended September 26, 202025, 2021

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                     to                     .

Commission File Number 0-14706

INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES  NO x.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. YES  NO x.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES x NO .

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). YES YESx NO  NOT APPLICABLE .

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. YES x NO 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES  NO x.

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

As of March 28, 2020,27, 2021, the aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing sales price of the Class A Common Stock on The NASDAQ Global Select Market on March 28, 2020,27, 2021, was approximately $469$935 million. As of December 4, 2020,November 22, 2021, the registrant had 14,213,03514,272,835 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding and 6,046,7414,721,541 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.

Certain information required in Part III hereof is incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement for the registrant’s 20212022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

Ingles Markets, Incorporated

Annual Report on Form 10-K

September 26, 202025, 2021

This Annual Report of Ingles Markets, Incorporated (“Ingles” or the “Company”) contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Annual Report, including the statements under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business” and elsewhere regarding the Company’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues, projected costs, projections, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “likely”, “goal”, “believe”, “seek”, “will”, “may”, “would”, “should” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. While these forward-looking statements and the related assumptions are made in good faith and reflect the Company’s current judgment regarding the direction of the Company’s business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested or described by such forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Some of these assumptions inevitably will not materialize, and unanticipated events will occur which will affect the Company’s results. Some important factors (but not necessarily all factors) that affect the Company’s revenues, financial position, growth strategies, profitability and operating results, or that otherwise could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statement, include:

business and economic conditions generally in the Company’s operating area, including inflation or deflation;

the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Company traffic, sales and profitability as many schools, restaurants and other business have operated at reduced levelsand continue to operate differently since March 2020;

the additional costs incurred by the Company due to the COVID-19 pandemic for additional staff, cleaning and compliance with social distancing guidelines;

the level of COVID-19 assistance provided to customers in the Company’s market area and its impact on Company sales;

Shortages of labor, distribution capacity, and some product outages as the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic;

Inflation in food, labor and gasoline caused by pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic recovery;

the Company’s ability to successfully implement our expansion and operating strategies;

pricing pressures and other competitive factors, including online-based procurement of products the Company sells;

sudden or significant changes in the availability of gasoline and retail gasoline prices;

the maturation of new and expanded stores;

general concerns about food safety;

the Company’s ability to manage technology and data security;

the availability and terms of financing;

increases in costs, including food, utilities, labor and other goods and services significant to the Company’s operations;

success or failure in the ownership and development of real estate;

changes in the laws and government regulations applicable to the Company;

disruptions in the efficient distribution of food products;

changes in accounting pronouncements that could impact the Company’s reported financial results and compliance with various debt agreements; and

other risks and uncertainties, including those described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this Annual Report.

Consequently, actual events affecting the Company and the impact of such events on the Company’s operations may vary significantly from those described in this Annual Report. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report are made only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to update any such statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of such statements to reflect future events or developments, except to the extent required by applicable law.

‎

PART I

Item 1. BUSINESS

General

Ingles Markets, Incorporated, a North Carolina corporation (collectively with its subsidiaries, (“Ingles,” or the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our’), a leading supermarket chain in the southeast United States, operates 197198 supermarkets in North Carolina (73)(75), Georgia (66)(65), South Carolina (35), Tennessee (21), Virginia (1) and Alabama (1).

The Company remodels, expands and relocates stores in these communities and builds stores in new locations to retain and grow its customer base while retaining a high level of customer service and convenience. Ingles supermarkets offer customers a wide variety of nationally advertised food products, including grocery, meat and dairy products, produce, frozen foods and other perishables, and non-food products. Non-food products include fuel centers, pharmacies, health and beauty care products and general merchandise. The Company also offers quality private label items and locally-sourced items throughout its market areas.

The Company believes that customer service and convenience, modern stores and competitive prices on a broad selection of quality merchandise are essential to developing and retaining a loyal customer base. The Company has an ongoing renovation and expansion plan to add stores in its target markets and modernize the appearance and layout of its existing stores. The Company’s new and remodeled supermarkets provide an enhanced level of customer convenience in order to accommodate the lifestyle of today’s shoppers. Design features of the Company’s modern stores focus on selling high-growth, high-margin products including perishable departments featuring local organic and home meal replacement items, in-store pharmacies, on-premises fuel centers, and an expanded selection of food and non-food items. The Company offers on-line ordering of its products for pickup at its stores.

Substantially all of the Company’s stores are located within 280 miles of its warehouse and distribution facilities, near Asheville, North Carolina. The Company operates 1.65 million square feet of warehouse and distribution facilities. These facilities supply the Company’s supermarkets with approximately 62%60% of the goods the Company sells. The remaining 38%40% is purchased from third parties and is generally delivered directly to the stores. The close proximity of the Company’s purchasing and distribution operations to its stores facilitates the timely distribution of consistently high quality perishable and non-perishable items.

To further ensure product quality, the Company also owns and operates a milk processing and packaging plant that supplies approximately 80%73% of the milk products sold by the Company’s supermarkets as well as a variety of organic milk, fruit juices and bottled water products. In addition, the milk processing and packaging plant sells approximately 71%75% of its products to other retailers, food service distributors and grocery warehouses in 16 states, which provides the Company with an additional source of revenue.

The Company owns 161163 of its supermarkets, either in free-standing stores or as the anchor tenant in an owned shopping center. The Company also owns 2223 undeveloped sites suitable for a free-standing store or development by the Company or a third party. The Company’s owned real estate is generally located in the same geographic region as its supermarkets.

As of September 26, 2020,25, 2021, Mr. Robert P. Ingle II, our Chairman, owned beneficially (as defined by the Exchange Act) approximately 76%71% of the combined voting power and 29%23% of the total number of shares of the Company’s outstanding Class A and Class B Common Stock (in each case including stock held by the Company’s Investment/Profit Sharing Plan and Trust of which Mr. Ingle II serves as one of the trustees). The Company became publicly traded in September 1987. The Company’s Class A Common Stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “IMKTA.” The Company’s Class B Common Stock is not publicly listed or traded.

The Company was incorporated in 1965 under the laws of the State of North Carolina. Its principal mailing address is P.O. Box 6676, Asheville, North Carolina 28816, and its telephone number is 828-669-2941. The Company’s website is www.ingles-markets.com. Information on, or accessible through, the Company’s website is not a part of and is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments and supplements to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available on the Company’s website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Use of our Website and Social Media to Distribute Material Company Information

We use our website as a channel of distribution for important Company information. We routinely post on our website important information, including press releases and financial information, which may be accessed by selecting the “Corporate” sections of www.ingles-markets.com. We also use our website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding our Company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the SEC disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Corporate sections of our website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to our website can also register to receive financial information press releases. Information contained on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of and is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Business

The Company operates one primary business segment, retail grocery. Information about the Company’s operations is as follows (for information regarding the Company’s industry segments, see Note 11, “Segment Information” to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K):

continue to incorporate these departments in substantially all future new and remodeled stores. The Company trains its associates to provide friendly service and to actively address the needs of customers. These associates reinforce the Company’s distinctive service-oriented image.

Selected statistics on the Company’s supermarket operations are presented below:

The Company’s centrally managed purchasing and distribution operations provide several advantages, including the ability to negotiate and reduce the cost of merchandise, decrease overhead costs and better manage its inventory at both the warehouse and store level. From time to time, the Company engages in advance purchasing on high-turnover inventory items to take advantage of special prices offered by manufacturers for limited periods, or to ensure adequate product supply during tight distribution market conditions.

The remaining 38%40% of the Company’s inventory requirements, primarily beverages, gasoline, bread and snack foods, are supplied directly to the Company’s supermarkets by local distributors and manufacturers.

Goods from the warehouse and distribution facilities and the milk processing and packaging plant are distributed to the Company’s stores by a fleet of 193179 tractors and 751777 trailers that the Company owns, operates and maintains. The Company invests on an ongoing basis in the maintenance, upgrade and replacement of its tractor and trailer fleet. The Company also operates truck servicing and fuel storage facilities at its warehouse and distribution facilities. The Company reduces its overall distribution costs by capitalizing on back-haul opportunities (contracting to transport merchandise on trucks that would otherwise be empty).

During fiscal year 2020,2021, the pandemic has caused temporary disruption in the receipt of some products and our distribution system encountered difficulty in getting product to our stores to meet spikes in customer demand. ByThere is currently a nationwide shortage of truck drivers and warehouse workers, which has negatively impacted the end of fiscal year 2020Company’s distribution operations. We do not know how long these issues have been substantially resolved.current conditions will persist.

The Company receives product recall information from various subscription, government and vendor sources. Upon receipt of recall information, the Company immediately contacts each of its stores to have the recalled product removed from the shelves and disposes of the product as instructed. The Company may also use social media to communicate product recall information to the public. The Company has a policy of refunding and/or replacing any goods returned by customers. The details of this policy are posted inside each of the Company’s stores.

Store Development, Expansion and Remodeling

The Company believes that the appearance and design of its stores are integral components of its customers’ shopping experience and aims to develop one of the most modern supermarket chains in the industry. The ongoing modernization of the Company’s store base involves (i) the construction of new stores with continuously updated designs, and (ii) the replacement, remodeling or expansion of existing stores. The Company’s goal is to maintain clean, well-lit stores with attractive architectural and display features that enhance the image of its stores as catering to the changing lifestyle needs of quality-conscious consumers who demand increasingly diverse product offerings. The construction of new stores by independent contractors is closely monitored and controlled by the Company. Recently, the Company has had a greater number of circumstances where an existing store was closed in order to build a new store building on the same site that reflects the Company’s current marketing strategies. During fiscal year 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in shortages of some building materials, equipment, and construction labor. As a result, the Company has slowed some of its new store and remodeling plans. We do not know how long these current conditions will persist, but the Company has continued to build/remodel stores albeit at what management believes will be a temporarily slower pace.

The Company renovates and remodels stores in order to increase customer traffic and sales, respond to existing customer demand, compete effectively against new stores opened by competitors and support its quality image merchandising strategy. The Company decides to complete a remodel of an existing store based on its evaluation of the competitive landscape of the local marketplace. A remodel or expansion provides the quality of facilities and product offerings identical to that of a new store, capitalizing upon the existing customer base. The Company retains the existing customer base by keeping the store in operation during the entire remodeling process. The Company may elect to relocate, rather than remodel, certain stores where relocation provides a more convenient location for its customers.

The following table sets forth, for the periodsfiscal years indicated, the Company’s new store development and store remodeling activities and the effect this program has had on the average size of its stores:

(1)Excludes new stores opened to replace existing stores.

The Company’s ability to open new stores is subject to many factors, including the acquisition of satisfactory sites, as well as zoning limitations and other governmental regulation. In addition, the Company’s expansion, remodeling and replacement plans are

continually reviewed and are subject to change. See the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section included in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding the Company’s capital expenditures.

Competition

The supermarket industry is highly competitive and characterized by narrow profit margins. The degree of competition the Company’s stores encounter varies by location, primarily based on the size of the community in which the store is located and its proximity to other communities. The Company’s principal competitors are, in alphabetical order, Aldi, Inc., Bi-Lo, LLC., Earth Fare, Inc, Food City (K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc.), Food Lion (Koninlijke Ahold Delhaize America N.V..), The Fresh Market, Inc., Harris Teeter (owned by The Kroger Co.), The Kroger Co., Lidl (Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG), Publix Super Markets, Inc., Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., Target Corporation, Whole Foods Market, and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Increasingly over the last few years, competition for consumers’ food dollars has intensified due to the addition of, or increase in, food sections by many types of retailers (physical and online) and by restaurants.

Supermarket chains generally compete on the basis of location, quality of products, service, price, convenience, product variety, online ordering/delivery capabilities, and store condition.

The Company believes its competitive advantages include convenient locations, the quality of service it provides its customers, competitive pricing, product variety, quality and a pleasant shopping environment, which is enhanced by its ongoing modernization program.

By concentrating its operations within a relatively small geographic region, the Company is also positioned to more carefully monitor its markets and the needs of its customers within those markets. The Company’s senior executives live and work in the Company’s operating region, thereby allowing management to quickly identify changes in needs and customer preference. Because of the Company’s size, store managers have direct access to senior corporate management and are able to receive quick decisions regarding requested changes in operations. The Company can then move quickly to make adjustments in its business in response to changes in the market and customer needs.

The Company’s management monitors competitive activity and regularly reviews and periodically adjusts the Company’s marketing and business strategies as management deems appropriate in light of existing conditions in the Company’s region. The Company’s ability to remain competitive in its changing markets will depend in part on its ability to pursue its expansion and renovation programs and its response to remodeling and new store openings by its competitors.

Seasonality

Sales in the grocery segment of the Company’s business are subject to a slight seasonal variance due to holiday related sales and due to sales in areas where seasonal homes are located. Sales are traditionally higher in the Company’s first fiscal quarter due to the inclusion of sales related to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Company’s second fiscal quarter traditionally has the lowest sales of the year, unless Easter falls in that quarter. In the third and fourth quarters, sales are affected by the return of customers to seasonal homes in the Company’s market area. During fiscal yearyears 2020 and 2021, typical seasonality was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in March 2020, many schools eliminated in-person classesthe general population began to spend more time at home working remotely and, in favor of onlinesome cases, providing more child care and education restaurants closed or operated at reduced capacitysupport from home. Restaurant traffic and non-essential travel declined.have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. These factors contributed to increased sales in the Company’s supermarkets in excess of typical seasonal factors. We currently expect that, as the pandemic eases over time, traditional seasonal patterns will resume.

The Company’s fluid dairy operations have a slight seasonal variation to the extent of its sales into the grocery industry. The Company’s real estate operations are not subject to seasonal variations.

Human Capital

At September 26, 2020,25, 2021, the Company had approximately 27,00026,000 associates, of which 92%93% were supermarket personnel. Approximately 61%58% of these associates work on a part-time basis. Management considers labor relations to be good. The Company values its associates and believes that associate loyalty and enthusiasm are key elements of its operating performance. Recently, competition for labor has been more intense, resulting in higher costs to attract and retain associates. The COVID-19 pandemic increased our need for associates to accommodate a higher level of sales, as well as to comply with more rigorous cleaning and social distancing recommendations. The Company has responded by increasing resources devoted to associate recruitment and retention, and by expanding the ways in which it markets itself to prospective associates; however, competition for labor has become more intense, resulting in higher costs to attract and retain associates. Additionally, there is currently a nationwide shortage of truck drivers, warehouse workers and labor in general. The foregoing factors have resulted in a reduction in the number of our associates since the beginning of fiscal 2021, but we have been able to continue operations without material disruption.

Recent Occupational Health and Safety Administration (“OSHA”) guidelines require that employers with over 100 employees either, by January 2022, have all employees vaccinated or test employees weekly for COVID-19. These guidelines are currently being

challenged in the courts. At this time we do not know how or when this dispute will be resolved and what the impact will be on the Company’s operations.

The Company has various programs to ensure adequate store staffing levels at any given time during the week. Store managers are given tools to assist in scheduling and levels of staffing. We provide flexible scheduling to accommodate the needs of our full and part-time associates, and we also provide incentives for associates based on the achievement of operating and safety goals. During fiscal year 2020, theThe Company provided $15 million in extra associate appreciation bonuses. Additionally, the Companyhas made technology investments to allow efficient remote work environments for associates that do not work in our stores or distribution center.

Trademarks and Licenses

The Company employs various trademarks and service marks in its business, the most important of which are its own “Laura Lynn” and “Harvest Farms” private label trademarks, “The Ingles Advantage” service mark, and the “Ingles” service mark. These service marks and the trademarks are federally registered in the United States pursuant to applicable intellectual property laws and are the property of Ingles. The Company believes it has all material licenses and permits necessary to conduct its business.

The current expiration dates for significant trade and service marks are as follows: “Ingles” – December 9, 2025; “Laura Lynn” – March 13, 2024; “Harvest Farms” – August 5, 2024; and “The Ingles Advantage” – August 30, 2025. Each registration may be renewed for an additional ten-year term prior to its expiration. The Company intends to file all renewals timely. Each of the Company’s trademark license agreements has a one year term which, with respect to one license, is automatically renewed annually, unless the owner of the trademark provides notice of termination prior to the expiration date and, with respect to the other licenses, are renewed periodically by letter from the licensor.

Environmental Matters

Under applicable environmental laws, the Company may be responsible for remediation of environmental conditions and may be subject to associated liabilities relating to its stores and other buildings and the land on which such stores and other buildings are situated (including responsibility and liability related to its operation of its gas stations and the storage of gasoline in underground storage tanks), regardless of whether the Company leases or owns the stores, other buildings or land in question and regardless of whether such environmental conditions were created by the Company or by a prior owner or tenant. The presence of contamination from hazardous or toxic substances, or the failure to properly remediate such contaminated property, may adversely affect the Company’s ability to sell or rent such real property or to borrow using such real property as collateral. The Company typically conducts an environmental review prior to acquiring or leasing new stores, other buildings or raw land.

Federal, state and local governments could enact laws or regulations concerning environmental matters that affect the Company’s operations or facilities or increase the cost of producing or distributing the Company’s products. The Company believes that it currently conducts its operations, and in the past has conducted its operations, in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws. The Company, however, cannot predict the environmental liabilities that may result from legislation or regulations adopted in the future, the effect of which could be retroactive. Nor can the Company predict how existing or future laws and regulations will be administered or interpreted or what environmental conditions may be found to exist at its facilities or at other properties where the Company or its predecessors have arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances.

The Company strives to employ sound environmental operating policies, including recycling packaging, recycling wooden pallets, and re-circulating some water used in its car washes. The Company offers reusable shopping bags to its customers and will pack groceries in bags brought in by its customers. The Company’s store modernization plans include energy efficient lighting and refrigeration equipment.

Government Regulation

The Company is subject to regulation by a variety of governmental agencies, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Occupational Health and Safety AdministrationOSHA, and other federal, state and local agencies. The Company’s stores are also subject to local laws regarding zoning, land use and the sale of alcoholic beverages. The Company believes that its locations are in material compliance with such laws and regulations. The Company is not aware of any proposed regulations that would materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition, or results of operations.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a number of public safety requirements enacted at the federal, state and local levels. These requirements included social distancing, masking, hours of operation, and vaccination recommendations. These requirements changed as the impact of COVID-19 changed and vaccines became widely available. The Company believes requirements will continue to change, but cannot predict the nature and timing of any changes. The Company has complied and will continue to comply with current requirements at each of its locations.

Recent OSHA guidelines require that employers with over 100 employees either, by January 2022, have all employees vaccinated or test employees weekly for COVID-19. These guidelines are currently being challenged in the courts. At this time we do not know how or when this dispute will be resolved and what the impact will be on the Company’s operations.

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

Below is a series of risk factors that may affect the Company's business, financial condition and/or results of operations. Other risk factors are contained in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company operates in a continually changing business environment, and new risk factors emerge from time to time. Management cannot predict such new risk factors, nor can it assess the impact, if any, of these risk factors on the Company's business, financial condition and/or results of operations or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may impact any of these areas.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact

We are unable to predict the ongoing impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on Company traffic, sales and profitability.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was declared a national emergency on March 13, 2020 and the Company was classified as an essential business. We have remained openSince that time the Company has had to safely servecontinuously alter certain operating procedures to accommodate isolation/social distancing, school and restaurant closures, reduced leisure travel, and increased remote work. At times, some of the needsCompany’s stores were subject to capacity limits, masking requirements, and social distancing measures that incorporated enhanced cleaning, additional protective equipment and the closure of our customers during various isolation measures imposed to reduce pandemic risks.self-service food bars plus in-house dining.

These measures closed schools, restaurants,During fiscal year 2021, vaccines became widely available and are administered in all our pharmacies. As the economy began to recover, we have experienced labor shortages in our stores and distribution center. Truck driver shortages and supply chain disruptions have resulted in occasional product shortages in our stores. Inflation in food and fuel costs have reached levels not experienced in many businesses in the Company’s market area. Sales and customer traffic increased and the Company implemented numerous sanitation, face covering and social distancing protocols to keep our customers and our

associates safe. These protocols included changesOur sales continue to operating hours, frequent extensive cleaning, use of personal protective equipment, and measures to maintain safe distances in our stores. We hired additional associates due to the increased demands on our stores and our distribution center. Even as many areas of the economy and education system have re-opened, we have continued to operate at an elevated level.

be above pre-pandemic levels. At the present time, we do not know how long current national,the pandemic will influence our daily operations. National, state and local mandates related to the pandemic will continue to evolve and may result in vaccination requirements that could impact our ability to retain associates.

Recent OSHA guidelines require that employers with over 100 employees either, by January 2022, have all employees vaccinated or how mandates will changetest employees weekly for COVID-19. These guidelines are currently being challenged in the future. Wecourts. At this time we do not know how our customer baseor when this dispute will be impacted by unemployment,resolved and what the reopening of schools and businesses, or various assistance programs. We may experience adverse impacts to our business as a result of an economic recession, and/or reduced consumer confidence.

We do not know what risks may impact our suppliers as a result of plant closures or transportation disruptions. Our supply chain couldwill be adversely impacted due to increased demand,on the availability of transportation, as well as adequate warehouse space and personnel. We offered rent deferments to our tenants, but we do not know the longer-term impact on tenants in Company-owned shopping centers.Company’s operations.

Any of the foregoing factors, or other effects of the pandemic that are not currently foreseeable, may materially increase costs, negatively impact sales and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and its liquidity position. The significance and duration of any such impacts are not possible to predict due to the overall uncertainty associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.position

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

The Company’s warehouse and distribution center and milk processing and packaging plant, as well as all of the Company’s stores, are concentrated in the Southeastern United States, which makes it vulnerable to economic downturns, natural disasters and other adverse conditions or other catastrophic events in this region.

The Company operates in the Southeastern United States, and its performance is therefore heavily influenced by economic developments in the Southeast region. The Company’s headquarters, warehouse and distribution center and milk processing and packaging plant are located in North Carolina and all of the Company’s stores are located in the Southeast region. As a result, the Company’s business may be more susceptible to regional factors than the operations of more geographically diversified competitors. These factors include, among others, changes in the economy, weather conditions, demographics and population.

Various aspects of the Company’s business are subject to federal, state and local laws and various operating regulations. The Company’s compliance with these regulations may require additional capital expenditures and could adversely affect the Company’s ability to conduct the Company’s business as planned.

The Company is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to zoning, land use, work place safety, public health, community right-to-know, beer and wine sales, country of origin labeling of food products, pharmaceutical sales and gasoline station operations. Furthermore, the Company’s business is regulated by a variety of governmental agencies, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.OSHA. Employers are also subject to laws governing their relationship with employees, including minimum wage requirements, overtime, working conditions, insurance coverage, disabled access and work permit requirements. Recent and proposed regulation has had or may have a future impact on the cost of insurance benefits for associates and on the cost of processing debit and credit card transactions. Compliance with, or changes in, these laws could reduce the revenue and profitability of the Company’s supermarkets and could otherwise adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

The Company is affected by certain operating costs which could increase or fluctuate considerably.

The Company depends on qualified associates to operate the Company’s stores. A shortage of qualified associates could require the Company to enhance the Company’s wage and benefit package in order to better compete for and retain qualified associates, and the Company may not be able to recover these increased labor costs through price increases charged to customers, which could significantly increase the Company’s operating costs.

The Company is self-insured for workers’ compensation, general liability and group medical and dental benefits. Risks and uncertainties are associated with self-insurance; however, the Company has limited its exposure by maintaining excess liability coverage. 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 and analyses performed by actuaries engaged by the Company. These estimates can fluctuate if historical trends are not predictive of the future. The majority of the Company’s properties are self-insured for casualty losses and business interruption; however, liability coverage is maintained.

Energy and utility costs have been volatile in recent years, during which time the Company has expanded its store square footage. The Company attempts to increase its energy efficiency during store construction and remodeling through the use of energy-saving equipment and construction.

The Company is subject to risks related to information systems and data security.

The Company’s business is dependent on information technology systems. These complex systems are an important part of ongoing operations. If the Company were to experience disruption in these systems, did not maintain existing systems properly, or did not implement new systems appropriately, operations could suffer. The Company is currently undergoing a systematic program to enhance its information technology abilities.

The Company has implemented procedures to protect its information technology systems and data necessary to conduct ongoing operations. The Company cannot however, be certain that all of these systems and data are entirely free from vulnerability to attack.

Compliance with tougher privacy and information security laws and standards, including protection of customer debit and credit card information, may result in higher investments in technology and changes to operational processes.

In recent years, more industry transactions have been online for ordering and fulfillment. This trend places a higher reliance on effective and efficient information systems.

The Company is affected by the availability and wholesale price of gasoline and retail gasoline prices, all of which can fluctuate quickly and considerably.

The Company operates fuel stations at 106107 of its store locations. While the Company obtains gasoline and diesel fuel from a number of different suppliers, long-term disruption in the availability and wholesale price of gasoline for resale could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and/or results of operations.

Fluctuating fuel costs could adversely affect the Company’s operating costs which depend on fuel for the Company’s fleet of tractors and trailers which distribute goods from the Company’s distribution facility and for the Company’s fluid dairy operations.

Furthermore, fluctuating fuel costs could have an adverse effect on the Company’s total gasoline sales (both in terms of dollars and gallons sold), the profitability of gasoline sales, and the Company’s plans to develop additional fuel centers. Also, retail gas price volatility could diminish customer usage of fueling centers and, thus, adversely affect customer traffic at the Company’s stores.

The Company’s industry is highly competitive. If the Company is unable to compete effectively, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations could be materially affected.

The supermarket industry is highly competitive and continues to be characterized by intense price competition, increasing fragmentation of retail formats, entry of non-traditional competitors (both physical and online) and market consolidation. Furthermore, some of the Company’s competitors have greater financial resources and could use these financial resources to take measures, such as altering product mix, reducing prices, home/in-store fulfillment, or online ordering which could adversely affect the Company’s competitive position.

Disruptions in the efficient distribution of food products to the Company’s warehouse and stores may adversely affect the Company’s business.

The Company’s business could be adversely affected by disruptions in the efficient distribution of food products to the Company’s warehouse and stores. Such disruptions could be caused by, among other things, adverse weather conditions, fuel availability, shortage of truck drivers, food contamination recalls and civil unrest in foreign countries in which the Company’s suppliers do business.

The Company’s operations are subject to economic conditions that impact consumer spending.

The Company’s results of operations are sensitive to changes in overall economic conditions that impact consumer spending, including discretionary spending. Future economic conditions such as employment levels, business conditions, interest rates, energy and fuel costs and tax rates could reduce consumer spending or change consumer purchasing habits. A general reduction in the level of consumer spending or the Company’s inability to respond to shifting consumer attitudes regarding products, store location and other factors could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and/or results of operations.

Inflation could impact the Company’s operations

As the economy recovers from the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation has recently reached levels not experienced in decades. Food and energy costs have increased, reflecting a tight labor market and supply chain/transportation issues.

The following table from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics lists annualized changes in the Consumer Price Index that could have an effect on the Company’s operations. One of the Company’s significant costs is labor, which increases with general inflation. Inflation or deflation in energy costs affects the Company’s gasoline sales, distribution expenses and plastic supply costs. During fiscal year 2021, inflation has reached its highest level in a number of years, impacting food costs, transportation costs, and labor costs.

Risk Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock

The Company’s principal stockholder, Robert P. Ingle II, has the ability to elect a majority of the Company’s directors, appoint new members of management and approve many actions requiring stockholder approval.

Mr. Ingle II’s beneficial ownership (as defined by the applicable rules under the Exchange Act) represents approximately 76%71% of the combined voting power of all classes of the Company’s capital stock as of September 26, 2020.25, 2021. As a result, Mr. Ingle II has the power to elect a majority of the Company’s directors and approve any action requiring the approval of the holders of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, including adopting certain amendments to the Company’s charter and approving mergers or sales of substantially all of the Company’s assets.

The Company is a Controlled Company under the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules. As a result, the Company is exempt from certain of NASDAQ’s corporate governance policies, including the requirements that the majority of Directors be independent (as defined in NASDAQ rules), and that the Company have a nominating committee for Director candidates.

Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

Item 2. PROPERTIES

Owned Properties

The Company owns 161163 of its supermarkets either as free-standing locations or in shopping centers where it is the anchor tenant. The Company also owns 2223 undeveloped sites which are suitable for a free-standing store or shopping center development. The Company owns numerous outparcels and other acreage located adjacent to the shopping centers and supermarkets it owns. Real estate owned by the Company is generally located in the same geographic regions as its supermarkets.

The shopping centers owned by the Company contain an aggregate of 7.78.1 million square feet of leasable space, of which 4.03.9 million square feet is used by the Company’s supermarkets. The remainder of the leasable space in these shopping centers is leased or held for lease by the Company to third-party tenants. A breakdown by size of the shopping centers owned and operated by the Company is as follows:

The Company owns a 1,649,000 square foot facility, which is strategically located between Interstate 40 and Highway 70 near Asheville, North Carolina, as well as the 119 acres of land on which it is situated. The facility includes the Company’s headquarters and its warehouse and distribution facility. The property also includes truck servicing and fuel storage facilities. The Company also owns a 139,000 square foot warehouse on 21 acres of land approximately one mile from its main warehouse and distribution facility.

The Company’s milk processing and packaging subsidiary, Milkco, Inc., owns a 140,000 square foot manufacturing and storage facility in Asheville, North Carolina. In addition to the plant, the 20-acre property includes truck cleaning and fuel storage facilities.

Certain long-term debt of the Company is secured by the owned properties. See Note 7, “Long-Term Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.

Leased Properties

The Company operates supermarkets at 3635 locations leased from various unaffiliated third parties. The Company has seven owned store buildings that are on ground leases. The Company leases two other former supermarket locations, one of which is subleased to a third party. The majority of these leases require the Company to pay property taxes, utilities, insurance, repairs and certain other expenses incidental to occupation of the premises. In addition to base rent, most leases contain provisions that require the Company to pay additional percentage rent (ranging from 0.75% to 1.50%) if sales exceed a specified amount.

Rental rates generally range from $3.00$3.09 to $7.68 per square foot. During fiscal 2021, 2020 2019 and 2018,2019, the Company paid cash supermarket rent of $10.3 million, $10.2 million $10.3 million and $10.8$10.3 million, respectively. These amounts exclude property taxes, utilities, insurance, repairs, other expenses, and non-cash rent adjustments. The following table summarizes lease expiration dates as of September 26, 2020,25, 2021, with respect to the initial and any renewal option terms of leased supermarkets:supermarkets properties:

Management believes that the long-term rent stability provided by these leases is a valuable asset of the Company.

Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

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 would not materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

PART II

Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

The Company has two classes of Common Stock: Class A and Class B. Class A Common Stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “IMKTA”. There is no public market for the Company’s Class B Common Stock. Under the terms of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, anya holder of Class B Common Stock may convert any portion or all of the holder’s shares of Class B Common Stock into an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock at any time.  For additional information regarding the voting powers, preferences and relative rights of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, please see Note 8, “Stockholders’ Equity” to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

As of December 4, 2020,November 22, 2021, there were approximately 375356 holders of record of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and 110106 holders of record of the Company’s Class B Common Stock. The following table sets forth the reported high and low closing sales price for the Class A Common Stock during the periods indicated as reported by NASDAQ. The quotations reflect actual inter-dealer prices without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.

On December 4, 2020, the closing sales price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on The NASDAQ Global Select Market was $37.68 per share.

Dividends

The Company has paid cash dividends on its Common Stock in each of the past 3637 fiscal years, except for the 1984 fiscal year when the Company paid a 3% stock dividend. During both fiscal 20202021 and fiscal 2019,2020, the Company paid annual dividends totaling $0.66 per share of Class A Common Stock and $0.60 per share of Class B Common Stock, paid in quarterly installments of $0.165 and $0.15 per share, respectively. The Company’s last dividend payment was made on October 15, 202014, 2021 to common stockholders of record on October 8, 2020.7, 2021. For additional information regarding the dividend rights of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, please see Note 8, “Stockholders’ Equity” to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company expects to continue paying regular cash dividends on a quarterly basis. However, the Board of Directors periodically reconsiders the declaration of dividends. The Company pays these dividends at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The continuation of these payments, the amount of such dividends, and the form in which the dividends are paid (cash or stock) depends upon the results of operations, the financial condition of the Company and other factors which the Board of Directors deems relevant. The payment of cash dividends is also subject to restrictions contained in certain financing arrangements. Such restrictions are summarized in Note 7, “Long-Term Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Stock Performance Graph

Set forth below are a graph and accompanying table comparing the five-year cumulative total stockholder return on the Class A Common Stock with the five-year cumulative total return of (i) the S&P 500 Comprehensive-Last Trading Day Index and (ii) a peer group of companies in the Company's line of business. The 20202021 peer group consists of the following companies: Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V., Weis Markets, Inc., The Kroger Co., Supervalu Inc., SpartanNash Co., Sprouts Farmers Markets, Inc., and Village Super Market, Inc.

The comparisons cover the five-years ended September 26, 202025, 2021 and assume that $100 was invested after the close of the market on September 26, 2015,24, 2016, and that dividends were reinvested quarterly. Returns of the companies included in the peer group reflected below have been weighted according to each company’s stock market capitalization at the beginning of each section for which a return is presented.

INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED
‎COMPARATIVE RETURN TO STOCKHOLDERS

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INDEXED RETURNS OF INITIAL $100 INVESTMENT*