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

For the fiscal year ended December 28, 2002

Commission File No.: 0-22192

PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP COMPANY
(Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

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.

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 the 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. [__]

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant on June 28, 2002 was $1,435,648,628. The market value calculation was determined using the closing sale price of the Registrant's common stock on June 28, 2002, as reported by the NASDAQ Stock Market.

Shares of common stock outstanding on March 13, 2003 were 45,366,580.

Part of Form 10-K Documents from which portions are incorporated by reference

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Unless this Form 10-K indicates otherwise or the content otherwise requires, the terms "we," "our," "us" or "Performance Food Group" as used in this Form 10-K refer to Performance Food Group Company and its subsidiaries. References in this Form 10-K to the years or fiscal years 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 and 1998 refer to our fiscal years ending or ended January 3, 2004, December 28, 2002, December 29, 2001, December 30, 2000, January 1, 2000 and January 2, 1999, respectively, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires. We use a 52/53-week fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to December 31. Consequently, we periodically have a 53-week year. Our 2002, 2001 and 2000 fiscal years were all 52-week years. Our 2003 fiscal year will be a 53-week year. All share and per-share data have been adjusted to reflect the two-for-one common stock split that we paid on April 30, 2001. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with "Selected Consolidated Financial Data" and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

We service our customers through three operating segments. Note 21 to the consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-K presents financial information for these segments.

• Customized. Our Customized distribution segment focuses on serving family and casual dining chain restaurants such as Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.; Outback Steakhouse, Inc.; Ruby Tuesday, Inc. and TGI Friday's. We believe that these customers generally prefer a centralized point of contact that facilitates item and menu changes, tailored distribution routing and customer service. We generally can service these customers more efficiently than our Broadline distribution customers because we warehouse only those stock keeping units, or SKUs, specific to our Customized customers and make larger, more consistent deliveries. We have seven Customized distribution facilities currently serving 14 restaurant chains nationwide and three restaurant chains internationally.

• Fresh-cut. Our Fresh-cut segment purchases, processes, packages and distributes a variety of packaged, ready-to-eat salads and other fresh-cut produce nationwide from eight manufacturing and distribution facilities located throughout the United States. Fresh-cut distributes over 340 different Fresh Express® label products nationwide to food retailers such as Albertson's, Kroger, Safeway and Wal-Mart, as well as to foodservice distributors, operators and quick-service restaurants such as Taco Bell. The segment also distributes over 890 fresh produce offerings under our Redi-Cut label, primarily to third-party distributors for resale mainly to quick-service restaurants such as Burger King, KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Subway and Taco Bell, located throughout the United States.

Our business strategy is to grow our foodservice business through both internal growth and acquisitions and to improve our operating profit margin. We believe that we have the resources and competitive advantages to maintain our strong internal growth and that we are well positioned to take advantage of the consolidation occurring in our industry.

Our key growth strategies are as follows:

Increase Broadline sales to existing customers and within existing markets. We seek to become a principal supplier for more of our Broadline distribution customers and to increase sales per delivery to those customers. We believe that a higher penetration of our existing Broadline customers and markets will allow us to strengthen our relationships with our current customers and to realize economies of scale driven by greater utilization of our existing distribution infrastructure.

We believe that we can increase our penetration of the Broadline customer base through focused sales efforts that leverage our distribution infrastructure, quality products and value-added services. Value-added services include providing assistance to foodservice customers in managing their inventories, planning menus and controlling costs through, among other means, increased computer communications and more efficient deliveries. We also believe that the typical Broadline customer in our markets uses one or two principal suppliers for the majority of its foodservice needs, but also relies upon a limited number of secondary Broadline suppliers and specialty food suppliers. We believe those customers within our existing markets for which we are not the principal supplier represent an additional market opportunity for us.

Increase sales to street customers. Within our Broadline segment, we are focusing on increasing sales to street customers, which typically utilize more of our proprietary brands and value-added services. Sales to these customers generate higher operating margins than sales to our chain customers. We are focusing on increasing our penetration of the street customer base by leveraging our broad range of products and value-added services and by continuing to invest in enhancing the quality of our sales force through improvements in our hiring and training efforts and in our utilization of technology. Our training program and sales compensation system are designed to encourage our sales force to grow sales to new and existing street customers.

Increase sales of proprietary brands. We seek to increase sales of our proprietary brands, which typically generate higher margins than national brands. We believe that our proprietary brands, which include AFFLAB, Brilliance, Empire's Treasure, First Mark, Gourmet Table, Heritage Ovens, PFG Custom Cuts, Raffinato, Village Garden and West Creek, offer customers greater value than national brands and typically have a lower cost than national brands. We also seek to increase our sales of proprietary brands through our sales force training program and sales compensation system.

Grow our Customized segment with existing and selected new customers. We seek to strengthen our existing Customized distribution relationships by continuing to provide on-time delivery; complete orders; perishable food handling expertise; clean, safe facilities and equipment; and electronic data transfers of restaurant orders, inventory information and invoices. A key initiative is expanding existing and building additional distribution centers to provide capacity for new customers and to reduce the miles driven to service existing customers. We seek to selectively add new customers within the Customized distribution segment. We believe potential customers include new or growing restaurant chains that have yet to establish a relationship with a customized foodservice distributor, as well as customers that are dissatisfied with their existing distributor relationships and large chains that have traditionally relied on in-house distribution networks.

Expand our leadership position in fresh-cut produce. We intend to continue to expand our national presence in our Fresh-cut segment by introducing innovative products, leveraging our core products and building our customer base by capitalizing on our expertise in food safety and preservation. We are testing additional new produce offerings as part of our ongoing efforts to develop innovative new products. These include a fresh-cut fruit product line, Real! Fresh! Fruit!™ marketed under the Fresh Express® label.

We believe that we can increase sales in this segment through continued cross-selling of our products. We believe that packaged, pre-cut salads represent a significant business opportunity for foodservice operators, as they can provide a cost-effective alternative compared to salads prepared by the operators' own employees, while providing a product with a longer shelf life. We will also continue to leverage Fresh Express' well-established brand name and existing relationships with major food retailers to increase the sales of fresh produce offerings to foodservice operators.

Improve operating efficiencies through systems and technology. We seek to continually increase our operating efficiencies by investing in training and technology-related initiatives to provide increased productivity. These productivity-related initiatives include our Foodstar® software, which allows our customers to electronically place orders. Our other initiatives include an automated warehouse management system that uses barcode scanning for inventory put-away and selection; computerized truck routing systems; and participation in the eFS Network, an electronic foodservice supply chain network that allows for purchase order placement, advanced shipping notices and electronic invoicing. In addition, we have an Internet-based ordering system that provides customers real-time access to product information, inventory levels and their purchasing histories. We also have implemented a centralized inbound logistics system that optimizes consolidated deliveries from our suppliers.

Additionally, we seek to maintain our price competitiveness in Broadline by investing in technology aimed at enhancing our purchasing leverage. We are currently implementing a program to standardize product descriptions and codes across our Broadline information systems, which will allow us to enhance coordination of our buying and marketing activities. In addition, we are continuing to invest in other technologies to provide our sales force with better information to assist our Broadline customers and to grow sales.

Actively pursue strategic acquisitions. Since our founding, we have supplemented our internal growth through selective, strategic acquisitions. We believe that the consolidation trends in the foodservice distribution industry will continue to present acquisition opportunities for us, and we intend to target acquisitions both in geographic markets that we already serve, which we refer to as fold-in acquisitions, as well as in new markets. We believe that fold-in acquisitions can allow us to increase the efficiency of our operations by leveraging our fixed costs and driving more sales through our existing facilities. Acquisitions in new markets expand our geographic reach into markets we do not currently serve and can allow us to leverage fixed costs.

We believe that a foodservice customer selects a distributor based on timely and accurate delivery of orders, consistent product quality, value-added services and price. In addition, we believe that some of our larger street and chain customers gain operational efficiencies by dealing with one, or a limited number of, foodservice distributors.

Foodservice distribution. In our foodservice distribution business, we have two closely related business segments - Broadline and Customized. Our Broadline segment primarily services two types of customers - street customers and chain customers. Our Customized segment distributes to family and casual dining chain customers.

Street Customers. Our Broadline segment services our street customers, which include independent restaurants, hotels, cafeterias, schools, healthcare facilities and other institutional customers. We seek to increase our sales to street customers because, despite the generally higher selling and delivery costs that we incur in servicing these customers, street customers typically utilize more of our proprietary brands and value-added services. Sales to street customers are typically at higher price points than sales to chain customers, due to the higher costs involved in those sales. As of December 28, 2002, our Broadline segment supported sales to street customers with approximately 800 sales and marketing representatives and product specialists. Our sales representatives service customers in person, by telephone and through the Internet, accepting and processing orders, reviewing account balances, disseminating new product information and providing business assistance and advice where appropriate. Sales representatives are generally compensated through a combination of salary and commission based on factors relating to profitability and collections. These representatives typically use laptop computers to assist customers by entering orders, checking product availability and pricing and developing menu-planning ideas on a real-time basis.

Chain Customers. Both our Broadline and Customized segments service chain customers. Our principal chain customers generally are franchisees or corporate-owned units of family and casual dining and quick-service restaurants. Our Broadline segment customers include over 3,600 Burger King, Church's, KFC, Popeye's, Subway and Zaxby's quick-service restaurants. Our Customized segment customers include family and casual dining restaurant concepts, such as Cracker Barrel, Outback Steakhouse, Ruby Tuesday and TGI Friday's. Our sales programs to chain customers are tailored to the individual customer and include a more specialized product offering than the sales programs to our street customers. Sales to chain customers are typically high volume, low gross margin sales, which require fewer, but larger deliveries than those to street customers. These programs offer operational and cost efficiencies for both the customer and us, which can help compensate for the lower gross margins. Dedicated account representatives who are responsible for ensuring that customers' orders are properly entered and filled support our chain customers. In addition, more senior members of management assist in identifying potential new chain customers and managing long-term account relationships. Two of our chain customers, Outback Steakhouse and Cracker Barrel, account for a significant portion of our consolidated net sales. Net sales to Outback Steakhouse accounted for 12%, 15% and 16% of our consolidated net sales for 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Net sales to Cracker Barrel accounted for 11%, 14% and 16% of our consolidated net sales for 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. No other chain customer accounted for more than 4%, 5% or 5% of our consolidated net sales in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Fresh-cut produce. In our Fresh-cut segment, we service two customer types - retail customers and foodservice customers.

Retail customers. Our Fresh-cut segment provides packaged, ready-to-eat salads to both national and regional food retailers, including approximately 15,400 Albertson's, Food Lion, Kroger, Safeway and Wal-Mart stores. Our retail packaged salad business is supported by a dedicated sales and marketing organization that has regional business managers who are responsible for sales to retail grocery accounts within their geographic regions. Sales managers work with a network of brokers across the country to sell our products, gain business with new retail accounts and introduce new products to existing retail accounts. We also have business development managers to focus on specific geographic areas or retail accounts. Brokers are responsible for store-level selling and merchandising activities on our behalf. We have a marketing department that focuses primarily on packaged products and assists the sales department in the development of account-specific sales promotion plans. This department is also responsible for market, product line and customer profitability analysis.

Foodservice customers. Our Fresh-cut segment also provides fresh-cut products, such as lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, and peppers to foodservice distributors, including McLane Foodservice, Inc., and to other foodservice distributors who resell these products to foodservice operators, including over 17,000 Burger King, KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Subway and Taco Bell locations. Our customer sales representatives and account managers service our foodservice customers.

We distribute more than 61,000 national and proprietary brand food and non-food products to over 46,000 customers. These products include a broad selection of "center-of-the-plate" entrees, fresh-cut produce, canned and dry groceries, frozen foods, refrigerated and dairy products, paper products and cleaning supplies, other produce, restaurant equipment and other supplies. We also provide our customers with other value-added services in the normal course of providing full-service distributor services.

Proprietary brands. We offer customers an extensive line of products under various proprietary brands such as AFFLAB, Brilliance, Empire's Treasure, First Mark, Gourmet Table, Heritage Ovens, Pocahontas, Raffinato, Village Garden and West Creek. The Pocahontas brand name has been recognized in the food industry for over 100 years. Products offered under our various proprietary brands include canned and dry groceries, tabletop sauces, protein items, baked goods, shortenings and oils, among others. Our proprietary brands enable us to offer customers an alternative to comparable national brands across a wide range of products and price points. For example, the Raffinato brand consists of a line of premium pastas, cheeses, tomato products, sauces and oils tailored for the Italian foods market, while our Empire's Treasure brand consists of high quality seafood. We seek to increase the sales of our proprietary brands, as they typically have higher margins than comparable national brand products. We also believe that sales of our proprietary brands can help to promote customer loyalty.

National brands. We offer our customers a broad selection of national brand products. We believe that these brands are attractive to chain accounts and other customers seeking recognized national brands throughout their operations. We believe that distributing national brands has strengthened our relationship with many national suppliers that provide us with important sales and marketing support. These sales complement sales of our proprietary brand products.

Fresh-cut produce. We believe that the ability to provide quality products with an acceptable shelf life is key to the success of our fresh-cut produce business. We distribute over 30 varieties of packaged, ready-to-eat salads and fresh-cut produce under the Fresh Express ® label to retailers, sold under three product lines: Garden Salads, World Blends and Specialty Kits. Garden Salads include traditional iceberg and romaine garden salads and coleslaw. World Blends contain a combination of more exotic, darker leaf lettuces and vegetables and sell at higher price points and profit margins than Garden Salads. Specialty Kits contain ready-to-eat salads along with other items such as croutons, salad dressings or cheese and crackers. We are testing additional new produce offerings as part of our ongoing efforts to develop innovative new products. These include a fresh-cut fruit product line, Real! Fresh! Fruit!™ In addition, we offer fresh-cut produce, such as pre-cut lettuce, onions, green peppers, coleslaw and diced, sliced and bulk tomatoes that we market under our Redi-Cut label. As quick-service restaurants seek to increase their profitability by reducing reliance on labor-intensive tasks conducted on-site, we believe that there is an opportunity for us to capture market share by introducing innovative products.

We focus on continually providing innovative products to our customers, as well as improving processing and packaging technology to extend the shelf life of our salads. This extended shelf life can be especially valuable to food retailers, as it helps improve inventory management, which can result in reduced costs. We also offer controlled-atmosphere systems to third parties for their packaging and shipping needs.

Value-added services. As part of developing and strengthening our customer relationships, we provide some of our customers with other value-added services including assistance in managing inventories, planning menus and improving efficiency. As described below, we also provide procurement and merchandising services to approximately 270 independent foodservice distributor facilities and approximately 140 independent paper and janitorial supply distributors, as well as to our own distribution network. These procurement and merchandising services include negotiating vendor supply agreements and providing quality assurance related to our proprietary and national brand products.

The following table sets forth the percentage of our consolidated net sales by product and service category in 2002:

In our Broadline segment, 13 of our 19 distribution operations currently manage the ordering, receiving, warehousing and delivery of products through our Foodstar® software, which allows our customers to electronically place orders with us and permits us to record sales, billing and inventory information. This software also assists in the timely and accurate financial reporting by our subsidiaries to our corporate headquarters. Software development and maintenance on this platform is managed on a centralized basis by our corporate information technology staff. This platform has been enhanced to provide standardized product identifiers to facilitate leveraging our purchasing volume across our distribution network. In addition, we continue to enhance our warehouse management system that uses barcode scanning to track products within our distribution centers. This technology is intended to enhance productivity by reducing errors in inventory put-away and selection. Our warehouse management system also tracks employee productivity, driving overall warehouse efficiencies. All of our distribution locations utilize truck routing software to optimize the distribution routes traveled by our trucks in order to reduce excess mileage and improve the timeliness of customer deliveries. For inbound freight, we have implemented a centralized inbound logistics system that optimizes consolidated deliveries from our suppliers. Lastly, we continue to have success with our Internet-based ordering system that allows customers to have real-time access to product information, inventory levels and their purchasing histories.

In our Customized segment, we use a similar software platform managed and located at our Customized headquarters in Lebanon, Tennessee. This software has been tailored to manage large national accounts, multiple warehouses and centralized purchasing, payables and receivables. The accounts receivable module of this software automatically applies payment details received from customers electronically, enabling the efficient processing of large volumes of transactions. Our Customized segment utilizes a nationally recognized purchasing system for product procurement. This segment also has a warehouse management system that utilizes barcode technology to improve receiving, inventory put-away, tracking and replenishment. This software also enables rotation of perishable products using wireless technology to facilitate computer-directed product retrieval. Our Customized segment also uses a truck routing system that determines the most efficient method of delivery for our nationwide delivery system.

Most of our Customized segment customers utilize our Internet-based ordering system, PFG Connection, to place orders, make product inquiries and view purchase histories. A real-time customer order processing system allows our customers and our customer service representatives to review and correct orders online. This software has allowed our customers to reduce costs through improved order accuracy.

In both Broadline and Customized segments, we have established a relationship with the eFS Network, an electronic supply chain network designed specifically for the foodservice industry. By utilizing the eFS Network, we are now able to communicate more effectively and efficiently with certain suppliers that also participate in eFS. eFS allows for purchase order placement, advanced shipping notice and electronic invoicing. All Customized and five Broadline locations are utilizing eFS.

Our Fresh-cut segment manages its manufacturing, distribution, accounting, customer service and information technology from Salinas, California. During 2002, we implemented enterprise resource planning software that was being used at only the Fresh Express locations and is now being used at all our Fresh-cut locations. This software allows each of our Fresh-cut operations to execute various components of its manufacturing supply chain including customer orders, scheduling, receiving, production and distribution. It also serves as a platform for the raw product supply chain, including purchasing, receiving, cooling and distribution of produce items to the manufacturing plants. Fresh-cut's systems also manage product quality and food safety standards across all growing and production operations. Additionally, supply-chain software is used at each of the manufacturing plants and raw product operations centers for daily truck routing and trailer cube utilization, providing efficient, timely deliveries to customers.

At our corporate headquarters, we have implemented a financial systems suite. This suite includes general ledger, accounts payable and fixed asset modules. In addition, we have implemented software for financial consolidations. In the human resources area, we have implemented a human resources suite, including human capital management, benefits and payroll modules in our Corporate and Broadline segments.

Our Broadline and Customized segments obtain products from independent suppliers, food brokers and merchandisers. Independent suppliers include large national and regional food manufacturers and consumer products companies, meatpackers and produce shippers. We seek to enhance our purchasing power through volume purchasing. Although each of our subsidiaries generally is responsible for placing its own orders and can select the products that appeal to its own customers, we encourage each subsidiary to participate in company-wide purchasing programs, which enable it to take advantage of our consolidated purchasing power. We were not dependent on a single source for any significant item and no third-party supplier represented more than 5% of our total product purchases during 2002.

Our wholly owned subsidiary, Pocahontas, selects foodservice products for our Brilliance, Colonial Tradition, Gourmet Table, Healthy USA, Pocahontas, Premium Recipe and Raffinato brands and markets these brands, as well as nationally-branded foodservice products, through our own distribution operations and to approximately 270 independent foodservice distributor facilities nationwide. For our services, we receive marketing fees paid by suppliers. More than 15,000 of the products sold through Pocahontas are sold under our proprietary brands. Approximately 500 suppliers, located throughout the United States, supply products through the Pocahontas distribution network. Because Pocahontas negotiates purchase agreements on behalf of its independent distributors as a group, the distributors that utilize the Pocahontas procurement and merchandising group can enhance their purchasing power.

Our Fresh-cut segment purchases produce from growers in various locations. Our Fresh-cut segment often enters into contracts to purchase raw materials to help reduce supply risk and manage exposure to fluctuations in costs. The Fresh-cut segment also works with suppliers to develop innovative, quality-enhancing and cost-effective production techniques. These techniques include removing the core of the lettuce in the field, which reduces transportation costs, production costs and processing time; development of proprietary seed varieties, which are intended to produce superior raw product quality; and the development of larger crop beds to increase yield.

Our subsidiaries have substantial autonomy in their operations, subject to overall corporate management controls and guidance. Our corporate management provides centralized direction in the areas of strategic planning, general and financial management, human resources and information systems strategy and development. Although individual marketing efforts are undertaken at the subsidiary level, our name recognition in the foodservice business is based on both the trade names of our individual subsidiaries and the Performance Food Group name. Each subsidiary has primary responsibility for its own human resources, governmental compliance programs, accounting, billing and collections. Financial information reported by our subsidiaries is consolidated and reviewed by our corporate management.

Distribution operations are conducted out of 19 Broadline and seven Customized distribution centers. Our Broadline distribution centers are located in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Our Broadline customers are generally located no more than 250 miles from our Broadline distribution facilities. Our Customized distribution centers are located in California, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Our seven Customized distribution facilities distribute to customer locations nationwide and internationally. For all of our distribution operations, customer orders are assembled in our distribution facilities and then sorted, placed on pallets, and loaded onto trucks and trailers in delivery sequence. Deliveries covering long distances are made in large tractor-trailers that we generally lease. Deliveries within shorter distances are made in trucks that we either own or lease. We service some of our larger chain customers using dedicated trucks due to the relatively large and consistent deliveries and the geographic distribution of these customers. We use a computer system to design efficient route sequences for the delivery of our products.

Fresh-cut produce operations are conducted out of eight Fresh-cut processing/distribution plants, located in California, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Texas. Once harvested, produce is typically shipped by temperature-controlled trucks to one of our facilities where it is inspected, processed, packaged and boxed for shipment. Orders for packaged, ready-to-eat salads and other fresh-cut produce are generally shipped within 24 hours from the time of processing. We make deliveries in temperature-controlled trucks that we own, lease or contract for hire.

The following table summarizes certain information for our principal operating divisions:

The foodservice distribution industry is highly competitive. We compete with numerous smaller distributors on a local level, as well as with a limited number of national foodservice distributors. Some of these distributors have substantially greater financial and other resources than we do. Bidding for contracts or arrangements with customers, particularly chain and other large customers, is highly competitive and distributors may market their services to a particular customer over a long period of time before they are invited to bid. We believe that most purchasing decisions in the foodservice business are based on the distributor's ability to completely and accurately fill orders and provide timely deliveries, on the quality of the product and on price. In the Fresh-cut segment of our business, we compete with a variety of branded and private label competitors in the packaged, ready-to-eat salad market. The competitors in this market include Dole Food Company and several regional and local processors. Fresh-cut's competition in the foodservice area comes mainly from national, regional and local processors, and we encounter intense competition from national and large regional processors when selling produce to chain restaurants.

Our operations are subject to regulation by state and local health departments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, which generally impose standards for product quality and sanitation. State and/or federal authorities generally inspect our facilities at least annually. In addition, we are subject to regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency with respect to the disposal of wastewater and the handling of chemicals used in cleaning.

The Federal Produce and Agricultural Commodities Act, which specifies standards for the sale, shipment, inspection and rejection of agricultural products, governs our relationships with our fresh food suppliers with respect to the grading and commercial acceptance of product shipments. We are also subject to regulation by state authorities for the accuracy of our weighing and measuring devices.

Some of our distribution facilities have underground and aboveground storage tanks for diesel fuel and other petroleum products that are subject to laws regulating such storage tanks. These laws have not had a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

The Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Highway Administration regulate our trucking operations. In addition, interstate motor carrier operations are subject to safety requirements prescribed by the U.S. Department of Transportation and other relevant federal and state agencies. Such matters as weight and dimension of equipment are also subject to federal and state regulations. Management believes that we are in substantial compliance with applicable regulatory requirements relating to our motor carrier operations. Our failure to comply with the applicable motor carrier regulations could result in substantial fines or revocation of our operating permits.

Except for the Fresh Express®, Pocahontas®, Redi-Cut™ and TECHTROL® trade names, we do not own or have the right to use any patent, trademark, trade name, license, franchise or concession, the loss of which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

We have patents covering a number of our proprietary technologies, including atmospheres used in packaging our salads, atmospheres protecting products from decomposing and methods of maintaining produce products. These patents expire at various times from 2003 through 2020, including renewals. No material or significant patents expired in 2002 or will be expiring prior to 2006. In connection with some of our other fresh-cut produce processing, we rely heavily on certain proprietary machinery and processes that are used to prepare some of our products. Although we believe that the cost and complexity of our machinery has been and will continue to be a barrier to entry to other potential competitors in the Fresh-cut segment, we have not protected that machinery or those other processes through patents or other methods. As a result, some of our existing or potential competitors could develop similar machinery or processes. If this occurred, it could substantially increase competition in the Fresh-cut segment, thereby reducing prices and materially adversely affecting our results of operations in this segment.

As of December 28, 2002, we had approximately 10,200 full-time employees, including approximately 3,000 in management, administration, marketing and sales and the remainder in operations. As of December 28, 2002, union or collective bargaining units represented 1,653 of our employees. We have entered into six collective bargaining and similar agreements with respect to our unionized employees. Agreements with respect to 23, 114, 23, 392, 1,003 and 98 of our union employees expire in November 2003, December 2003, December 2003, October 2005, December 2005 and June 2006, respectively. We consider our employee relations to be satisfactory.

The following table sets forth certain information concerning our executive officers as of December 28, 2002:

Robert C. Sledd has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since February 1995 and has served as a director of Performance Food Group since 1987. From 1987 to August 2001, Mr. Sledd served as Chief Executive Officer of Performance Food Group. Mr. Sledd served as President of Performance Food Group from 1987 to February 1995. Mr. Sledd served as a director of Taylor & Sledd Industries, Inc., a predecessor of Performance Food Group, since 1974, and served as President and Chief Executive Officer of that company from 1984 to 1987. Mr. Sledd also serves as a director of SCP Pool Corporation, a supplier of swimming pool supplies and related products.

C. Michael Gray has served as President of Performance Food Group since February 1995, as Chief Executive Officer since August 2001, and as a director of Performance Food Group since 1992. Mr. Gray served as Chief Operating Officer of Performance Food Group from February 1995 to August 2001. Mr. Gray served as President of Pocahontas Foods USA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Performance Food Group, from 1981 to 1995. Mr. Gray was Marketing Manager and Vice President of Marketing for Pocahontas from 1975 to 1981. Prior to joining Pocahontas, Mr. Gray was employed by Kroger Company.

Roger L. Boeve has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Performance Food Group since 1988. Prior to that date, Mr. Boeve served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for The Murray Ohio Manufacturing Company and as Corporate Vice President and Treasurer for Bausch and Lomb. Mr. Boeve is a certified public accountant.

Thomas Hoffman has served as Senior Vice President of Performance Food Group and Chief Executive Officer -Customized Division since February 1995. Mr. Hoffman served as President of Kenneth O. Lester Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Performance Food Group from December 1989 until September 2002. Prior to joining Performance Food Group, Mr. Hoffman served in executive capacities at Booth Fisheries Corporation, a subsidiary of Sara Lee Corporation, as well as C.F.S. Continental, Miami and International Foodservice, Miami, two foodservice distributors.

G. Thomas Lovelace, Jr. has served as Senior Vice President of Performance Food Group since February 2002 and as Chief Executive Officer - Fresh-cut Division, since May 1996. Mr. Lovelace served as Vice President of Performance Food Group from February 2001 to February 2002. From July 1995 to April 1996, Mr. Lovelace was the President of Fresh-cut's West Coast Operations. Prior to joining Performance Food Group in July 1995, Mr. Lovelace spent nine years with Coronet Foods, a multi-national fresh-cut processor, and sixteen years with McDonald's Corporation.

Steven Spinner has served as Senior Vice President of Performance Food Group and Chief Executive Officer - Broadline Division since February 2002, and served as Broadline Division President of Performance Food Group from August 2001 to February 2002. Mr. Spinner served as Broadline Regional President of Performance Food Group from October 2000 to August 2001, and served as President of AFI Foodservice Distributors, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Performance Food Group, from October 1997 to October 2000. From 1989 to October 1997, Mr. Spinner served as Vice President of AFI.

John D. Austin has served as Vice President-Finance since January 2001 and as Secretary of Performance Food Group since March 2000. Mr. Austin served as Corporate Treasurer from 1998 to January 2001. Mr. Austin served as Corporate Controller of Performance Food Group from 1995 to 1998. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Austin was Assistant Controller for General Medical Corporation, a distributor of medical supplies. Prior to that, Mr. Austin was an accountant with Deloitte & Touche LLP. Mr. Austin is a certified public accountant.

J. Keith Middleton has served as Controller of Performance Food Group since June 2002. From March 2000 to May 2002, Mr. Middleton was General Ledger Manager with Perdue Farms Incorporated. Mr. Middleton was employed as an accountant with Trice Geary & Myers LLC from July 1998 through February 2000. Prior to that, Mr. Middleton was an accountant at Arthur Andersen LLP from May 1988 to June 1998. Mr. Middleton is a certified public accountant.

This Form 10-K and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements, which are based on assumptions and estimates and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, are generally identifiable by the use of the words "anticipate," "will," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "should" or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, our anticipated earnings, capital expenditures, contributions to our net sales by acquired companies, sales momentum, customer and product sales mix, expected efficiencies in our business and our ability to realize expected synergies from acquisitions. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make or incorporate by reference in this Form 10-K are described under "Risk Factors" and in the documents incorporated by reference herein.

If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this section. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.

Foodservice distribution is a low-margin business and may be sensitive to economic conditions. We operate in the foodservice distribution industry, which is characterized by a high volume of sales with relatively low profit margins. A significant portion of our sales is at prices that are based on product cost plus a percentage markup. As a result, our results of operations may be negatively impacted when the price of food goes down, even though our percentage markup may remain constant. The foodservice industry may also be sensitive to national and regional economic conditions, and the demand for our foodservice products has been adversely affected from time to time by economic downturns. In addition, our operating results are particularly sensitive to, and may be materially adversely impacted by, difficulties with the collectibility of accounts receivable, inventory control, price pressures, severe weather conditions and increases in wages or other labor costs, energy costs and fuel or other transportation-related costs. One or more of these events could adversely affect our future operating results. We have experienced losses due to the uncollectibility of accounts receivable in the past and could experience such losses in the future. In addition, although we have sought to limit the impact of the recent increases in fuel prices by imposing fuel surcharges on customers, increases in fuel prices may adversely affect our results of operations.

We rely on major customers. We derive a substantial portion of our net sales from customers within the restaurant industry, particularly certain chain customers. Net sales to Outback Steakhouse accounted for 12% and 15% of our consolidated net sales in 2002 and 2001, respectively. Net sales to Cracker Barrel accounted for 11% and 14% of our consolidated net sales in 2002 and 2001, respectively. Sales to these customers by our Customized segment generally have lower operating margins than sales to customers in other areas of our business. We have agreements with certain of our customers to purchase specified amounts of goods from us and the prices paid by them may depend on the actual level of their purchases. These agreements may be terminated by the customer with an agreed-upon notice to us. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the level of future purchases by our customers. A material decrease in sales to any of our major customers or the loss of any of our major customers would have a material adverse impact on our operating results. In addition, to the extent we add new customers, whether following the loss of existing customers or otherwise, we may incur substantial start-up expenses in initiating services to new customers. Also, certain of our customers have from time to time experienced bankruptcy, insolvency, and/or an inability to pay debts to us as they come due, and similar events in the future could have a material adverse impact on our operating results.

Our growth is dependent on our ability to complete acquisitions and integrate operations of acquired businesses. A significant portion of our historical growth has been achieved through acquisitions of other businesses, and our growth strategy includes additional acquisitions. We may not be able to make acquisitions in the future and any acquisitions we do make may not be successful. Furthermore, future acquisitions may have a material adverse effect upon our operating results, particularly in periods immediately following the consummation of those transactions while the operations of the acquired businesses are being integrated into our operations.

We make acquisitions with the expectation that these acquisitions will benefit us. Achieving these benefits depends on the timely, efficient and successful execution of a number of post-acquisition events, including integrating the business of the acquired company into our purchasing programs, distribution network, marketing programs and reporting and information systems. In general, we may not be able to successfully integrate the acquired company's operations or personnel or realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition. Our ability to integrate acquisitions may be adversely affected by many factors, including the relatively large size of a business and the allocation of our limited management resources among various integration efforts.

In connection with the acquisitions of businesses in the future, we may decide to consolidate the operations of any acquired business with our existing operations or make other changes with respect to the acquired business, which could result in special charges or other expenses. Our results of operations also may be adversely affected by expenses we incur in making acquisitions, by amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets with definite lives and by additional depreciation expense attributable to acquired assets. Any of the businesses we acquire may also have liabilities or adverse operating issues, including some that we fail to discover before the acquisition, and our indemnity for such liabilities typically has been limited and may, with respect to future acquisitions, also be limited. Additionally, our ability to make any future acquisitions may depend upon obtaining additional financing. We may not be able to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms or at all. To the extent that we seek to acquire other businesses in exchange for our common stock, fluctuations in our stock price could have a material adverse effect on our ability to complete acquisitions.

Managing our growth may be difficult and our growth rate may decline. We have rapidly expanded our operations since inception. This growth has placed and will continue to place significant demands on our administrative, operational and financial resources, and we may not be able to successfully integrate the operations of acquired businesses with our existing operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. This growth may not continue. To the extent that our customer base and our services continue to grow, this growth is also expected to place a significant demand on our managerial, administrative, operational and financial resources. Our future performance and results of operations will depend in part on our ability to successfully implement enhancements to our business management systems and to adapt those systems as necessary to respond to changes in our business. Similarly, our growth has created a need for expansion of our facilities from time to time. As we near maximum utilization of a given facility, operations may be constrained and inefficiencies may be created, which could adversely affect our operating results unless the facility is expanded or volume is shifted to another facility. Conversely, as we add additional facilities or expand existing facilities, excess capacity may be created. Any excess capacity may also create inefficiencies and adversely affect our operating results.

Our debt agreements contain restrictive covenants, and our debt and lease obligations require substantial future payments. At December 28, 2002, we had $372.6 million of outstanding indebtedness, including $201.3 million of 5½% convertible subordinated notes due 2008, referred to as the Convertible Notes, $98.0 million outstanding under our revolving credit facility, referred to as the Credit Facility, and $50.0 million of outstanding 6.77% unsecured senior notes due in 2010, referred to as the Senior Notes. In addition, as of December 28, 2002, we were a party to operating leases requiring $207.0 million in future lease payments, including lease payments under our master operating lease facilities. Accordingly, the total amount of our obligations with respect to indebtedness and leases is substantial. In addition, we could make additional borrowings under our Credit Facility, as needed, in connection with funding our future business needs, including capital expenditures and acquisitions.

Our debt instruments contain financial covenants and other restrictions that limit our operating flexibility, limit our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and competitive pressures. Our indebtedness and lease obligations could have significant negative consequences, including:

• increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

• limiting our ability to obtain additional financing;

• requiring that a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations be applied to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness and lease payments under our leases, thereby reducing cash flows available for other purposes;

• limiting our flexibility in planning for or reacting to changes in our business and the industry in which we compete; and

• placing us at a possible competitive disadvantage compared to competitors with less leverage or better access to capital resources.

In addition, some of our borrowings, including borrowings under our Credit Facility and lease payments under our master operating lease facilities are and will continue to be at variable rates based upon prevailing interest rates, which expose us to risk of increased interest rates. Some of our debt instruments, including our Convertible Notes, our Credit Facility and our Senior Notes, require that we comply with various financial tests and impose certain restrictions on us, including, among other things, restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens on assets, make loans or investments and pay dividends.

The cost of fresh produce could have an adverse effect on our business. Prices of high-quality, fresh produce can be volatile and supplies may be limited due to, among other things, factors such as weather, disease and level of agricultural production. Although we have contracts to purchase some of our produce, the cost and quality of available produce, particularly during periods of severe shortages of high-quality produce, could have a material adverse effect on both our sales and results of operations.

Product liability claims could have an adverse effect on our business. Like any other distributor and processor of food, we face an inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims if the products we sell, or the products sold by companies acquired by us, cause injury or illness. We may be subject to liability, which could be substantial, because of actual or alleged contamination in products sold by us or by companies we have acquired, including products sold by those companies before we acquired them. We have, and the companies we have acquired have had, liability insurance with respect to product liability claims. This insurance may not continue to be available at a reasonable cost or at all, and may not be adequate to cover product liability claims against us or companies we have acquired. We generally seek contractual indemnification from resellers of our product, but any such indemnification is limited, as a practical matter, to the creditworthiness of the indemnifying party. If we or any of our acquired companies do not have adequate insurance or contractual indemnification available, product liability claims and costs associated with product recalls, including a loss of business, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Competition in our industry is intense, and we may not be able to compete successfully. The foodservice distribution industry is highly competitive. We compete with numerous smaller distributors on a local level, as well as with a limited number of national foodservice distributors. Some of these distributors have substantially greater financial and other resources than we do. Bidding for contracts or arrangements with customers, particularly chain and other large customers, is highly competitive and distributors may market their services to a particular customer over a long period of time before they are invited to bid. We believe that most purchasing decisions in the foodservice business are based on the distributor's ability to completely and accurately fill orders, provide timely deliveries, on the quality of the product and on price. In the fresh-cut produce area of our business, competition comes mainly from national, regional and local processors, and we encounter intense competition from national and large regional processors when selling produce to chain restaurants. In the Fresh-cut segment, we also compete with a variety of branded and private label competitors in the packaged, ready-to-eat salad market. The competitors in this market include Dole Food Company and several regional and local processors. Our failure to compete successfully could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Our success depends on our senior management. Our success is largely dependent on the skills, experience and efforts of our senior management. The loss of one or more of our members of senior management could have a material adverse effect upon our business and development. We do not have any employment agreements with or maintain key man life insurance on any of these employees. Additionally, any failure to attract and retain qualified employees in the future could have a material adverse effect on our business.

The market price for our common stock may be volatile. In recent periods, there has been significant volatility in the market price of our common stock. In addition, the market price of our common stock could fluctuate substantially in the future in response to a number of factors, including the following:

• our quarterly operating results or the operating results of other distributors of food and non-food products;

• changes in general conditions in the economy, the financial markets or the food distribution or foodservice industries;

• changes in financial estimates or recommendations by stock market analysts regarding us or our competitors;

• announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions;

• increases in labor, energy, fuel costs or the costs of produce or other food products; and

• natural disasters, severe weather conditions or other developments affecting us or our competitors.

In addition, in recent years the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant effect on the market prices of securities issued by many companies for reasons unrelated to their operating performance. These broad market fluctuations may materially adversely affect our stock price, regardless of our operating results.

Our identification of certain accounting errors at one of our subsidiaries may result in legal or other regulatory proceedings that have an adverse effect on us. In March 2002, we announced that we had identified certain accounting errors at one of our Broadline operating subsidiaries, as more fully described in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." While no claims have been made to date, it is possible that claims may be brought by shareholders against us in connection with the accounting errors and costs related to the claims, including defense costs, could have an adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. In addition, at the time of the announcement of the identification of the accounting errors, we contacted the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, to inform them of our identification of the errors and of our intention to cooperate with the staff of the SEC with respect to any review or inquiry they may conduct. Since that time, we have provided and continue to provide, updates to the staff of the SEC as well as certain documents and testimony requested by the staff. We have conducted an inquiry into the accounting errors and have taken appropriate remedial actions in connection with the investigation. Although we believe that we have fully cooperated with the SEC, the SEC could bring enforcement or other action against us. The costs associated with an SEC enforcement action or inquiry or an adverse outcome of any such enforcement action or inquiry could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Our Internet address is: www.pfgc.com. Please note that our website address is provided as an inactive textual reference only. We make available free of charge through our website our Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with the SEC. In addition, our earnings conference calls and presentations to securities analysts are web cast live via our website. Our Internet website and the information contained therein or connected thereto are not intended to be incorporated into this Form 10-K.

Item 2. Properties.

The following table presents information about our primary real properties and facilities and our operating subsidiaries and divisions. Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K contains information on the costs of these and other operating leases.

As previously discussed in our 2001 Form 10-K, we announced in March 2002 that we had identified certain accounting errors at one of our Broadline operating subsidiaries, as more fully described in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." While no claims have been made to date, it is possible that claims may be brought by shareholders against us in connection with the accounting errors and costs related to the claims, including defense costs, could have an adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. In addition, at the time of the announcement of the identification of the accounting errors, we contacted the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, to inform them of our identification of the errors and of our intention to cooperate with the staff of the SEC with respect to any review or inquiry they may conduct. Since that time, we have provided and continue to provide, updates to the staff of the SEC as well as certain documents and testimony requested by the staff. We have conducted an inquiry into the accounting errors and have taken appropriate remedial actions in connection with the investigation. Although we believe that we have fully cooperated with the SEC, the SEC could bring enforcement or other action against us. The costs associated with an SEC enforcement action or inquiry or an adverse outcome of any such enforcement action or inquiry could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

From time to time, we are involved in legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the outcome of such proceedings and litigation currently pending will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Shareholders

No matters were submitted to a vote of shareholders during the quarter ended December 28, 2002.

Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market under the symbol "PFGC." The following table sets forth, on a per share basis, for the fiscal quarters indicated, the high and low bid prices for our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market. The stock prices for the first and second quarters of 2001 set forth below are adjusted to reflect our two-for-one common stock split paid on April 30, 2001.

As of March 13, 2003, we had approximately 5,300 shareholders of record and approximately 32,300 additional shareholders based on an estimate of individual participants represented by security position listings. We have not declared any cash dividends, and the present policy of our board of directors is to retain all earnings to support operations and to finance our growth.

As previously discussed in our 2001 Form 10-K, we announced in March 2002 that we had identified certain accounting errors at one of our operating subsidiaries in our Broadline segment. We found that the principal accounting staff at the subsidiary failed to appropriately reconcile accounting systems designed to track vendor rebate transactions, certain inventory transactions and intercompany transactions with a division of that subsidiary, which resulted in an understatement of costs of goods sold for the subsidiary. We believe that the errors were perpetuated because the accounting staff at the subsidiary made monthly journal entries in the subsidiary's accounting records to produce what appeared to be correct financial statements for the subsidiary, but they failed to properly reconcile the accounting records to supporting detail. The effect of the correction of the errors was included in our 2001 Form 10-K.

We have taken remedial actions to address these accounting errors. Those remedial actions include: terminating and replacing certain accounting staff at the subsidiary; increasing our internal audit staff; expanding our internal audit work programs; developing an enhanced schedule of on-site review at our subsidiaries conducted by our outside auditors and our internal audit staff; enhancing the quarterly review procedures at our operating subsidiaries; increasing coordination between our central accounting staff and the accounting staff located at each of our operating subsidiaries; adding a chief financial officer for our Broadline division; and implementing a new internal financial reporting system to automate and enhance financial reporting by our subsidiaries, including automated notification to our central accounting staff when the general ledgers of certain subsidiaries do not reconcile with their accounting subsystems.

Performance Food Group was founded in 1987 as a result of the combination of various foodservice businesses, and has grown both internally through increased sales to existing and new customers and through acquisitions of existing businesses. We derive our revenue primarily from the sale of food and non-food products to the foodservice, or "food-away-from-home," industry. We also sell pre-cut produce to food retailers. The principal components of our expenses include cost of goods sold, which represents the amounts paid to manufacturers and growers for products sold, and operating expenses, which include primarily labor-related expenses, delivery costs and occupancy expenses related to our facilities. A portion of our growth in net sales during the years discussed below was due to acquisitions. The "Business Combinations" section below summarizes our acquisitions since the beginning of 2000.

According to data compiled by a market research firm, consumer purchases of "food-away-from-home" in the United States currently represent approximately 50% of consumer spending on food purchases and are predicted to represent 51% of total U.S. projected consumer food and beverage spending by 2010, surpassing retail in its share of the consumer food dollar. We believe the trends that are fueling the demand for "food-away-from-home" include the aging "baby boomer" generation. According to industry research, older adults on average spend significantly more dollars on food away from home than younger adults do. Industry research shows that rising incomes and the increase in the number of women working also contribute to the growth in "food away from home." In addition, our Fresh Express® branded products that are sold by retailers are targeting ready-to-eat convenience foods, which we believe is one of the fastest-growing categories for retailers. We believe that, over the last several years, we have experienced significantly greater growth rates than the U.S. foodservice industry as a whole, both through internal growth and through an active acquisition program. While recent weakness in the U.S. economy has impacted our recent levels of internal growth, our strategy is to continue to grow our foodservice business through both internal growth and acquisitions, and to improve our operating profit margin. Over the past decade, we have supplemented our internal growth through selective, strategic acquisitions. We believe that the consolidation trends in the foodservice distribution industry will continue to present acquisition opportunities for us.

On July 28, 2002, we discovered an ammonia leak in the refrigeration system at our Springfield Foodservice facility in Massachusetts. Springfield Foodservice resumed limited shipments of non-refrigerated products from the facility within a week of the incident, and resumed shipments of refrigerated and frozen products within two weeks of the incident. Our Broadline facilities based in Maine and New Jersey were able to service certain of the customers normally served by the Springfield Foodservice facility until the facility became fully operational.

Although there were no injuries and the leak was confined to the facility, the leak did cause physical damage at the facility and affected the sales and operating profit of our Broadline segment. We estimate the impact in 2002 related to the ammonia leak at the Springfield Foodservice facility to be approximately $6.6 million before taxes. Cost of goods sold in our Broadline segment included $3.3 million of damaged inventory, net of $1.0 million of insurance coverage. Other costs of $2.1 million were included in operating expenses in our Broadline segment. Operating profit was affected by an additional approximately $1.2 million related to the estimated impact of the interruption on Springfield Foodservice's operations. We are continuing to pursue additional recoveries, if any, which may be available under our insurance policies.

Net sales. Net sales increased $1.20 billion, or 37.1%, to $4.44 billion for 2002 from $3.24 billion for 2001. Net sales in our existing operations increased 8.4% over 2001, while acquisitions contributed the remaining 28.7% of our total net sales growth for 2002. Net sales in existing operations exclude the net sales of an acquired business for the first 12 months following the acquisition date of that business. We estimate that food price inflation was nominal in 2002 on a consolidated basis. Sales for the second half of 2001 were impacted by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, while the continued softness in restaurant sales, including quick-service restaurant sales, affected our 2002 sales growth.

Our Broadline segment net sales of $2.20 billion in 2002 represented 49.7% of our consolidated net sales, down from 50.7% of our consolidated net sales in 2001. The decrease as a percentage of our consolidated net sales is due primarily to the acquisition of Fresh International Corp., referred to as Fresh Express, in the fourth quarter of 2001, which is reported in the Fresh-cut segment. Our acquisition of Fresh Express is discussed in further detail in "Business Combinations." Broadline net sales increased $563.1 million, or 34.3%, to $2.20 billion in 2002 from $1.64 billion in 2001. We estimate that our Broadline segment experienced food price inflation of approximately 1% in 2002. Net sales in our existing Broadline operations for 2002 increased 5.3% over 2001. The rate of growth in our sales in existing Broadline operations declined from 2001 primarily as a result of the continued softness in restaurant sales. Broadline sales at our existing operations in 2002 were driven both by increased sales to existing customers and sales to new customers. Acquisitions contributed the remaining 29.0% of our total Broadline sales growth for 2002. Broadline acquisition sales growth was the result of our acquisitions of Empire Seafood Holding Corp. and Empire Imports, Inc., collectively Empire Seafood, in April 2001; Springfield Foodservice Corporation in September 2001; Quality Foods, Inc. in May 2002; and Middendorf Meat Company and Thoms-Proestler Company and TPC Logistics, Inc., collectively Thoms-Proestler, in July 2002. Our acquisitions of Empire Seafood, Springfield Foodservice, Quality Foods, Middendorf and Thoms-Proestler are discussed in "Business Combinations."

Our Customized segment net sales of $1.41 billion in 2002 represented 31.7% of our consolidated net sales, down from 38.2% in 2001. The decrease as a percentage of our consolidated net sales is due primarily to the acquisition of Fresh Express in our Fresh-cut segment and the acquisitions of Thoms-Proestler, Middendorf and Quality Foods in our Broadline segment. Customized net sales increased 14.1% to $1.41 billion in 2002 from $1.24 billion in 2001. This increase in net sales is the result of a new casual dining chain customer, Ruby Tuesday, in the fourth quarter of 2001, the addition of 200 more Ruby Tuesday restaurants in the third quarter of 2002, the addition of 265 TGI Friday's restaurants in the fourth quarter of 2002 and the continued growth in sales to existing customers. We began shipping to some of the additional Ruby Tuesday and TGI Friday's restaurants in the fourth quarter of 2002 and will begin shipping to the remaining restaurants in the first quarter of 2003. We expect these additional Ruby Tuesday and TGI Friday's restaurants to contribute approximately $120 million and $200 million in annual net sales, respectively. In the fourth quarter of 2002, we discontinued our relationship with Avado Brands, Inc., which accounted for $101.4 million, or 2.3%, of our net sales in 2002. We estimate that our Customized segment experienced food product deflation of approximately 2% in 2002.

In 2003, we will begin shipping to 70 Mimi's Café restaurants, which are expected to generate approximately $40 million in annual net sales. In addition, in 2003, we were awarded an additional 103 Ruby Tuesday restaurants in the Midwest, to which we plan to begin shipping in the second quarter of 2003. These Ruby Tuesday locations are expected to generate approximately $50 million in annual net sales.

Our Fresh-cut segment net sales of $824.7 million represented 18.6% of our consolidated net sales, up from 11.1% of our consolidated net sales in 2001. Fresh-cut net sales increased 128.7% to $824.7 million in 2002 from $360.6 million in 2001. Net sales in our existing Fresh-cut operations for 2002 increased 4.9% over 2001, while the acquisition of Fresh Express in the fourth quarter of 2001 contributed the remaining 123.8% of our total Fresh-cut sales growth for 2002. The rate of sales growth in the foodservice portion of our Fresh-cut segment declined from 2001 as a result of slower sales in the quick-service restaurant industry and the loss of sales to independent foodservice distributors, primarily as a result of our acquisition of Fresh Express. The increase in sales in our existing operations for 2002 is due primarily to increased sales of premium lettuce to quick-service restaurants and increased sales of sliced tomatoes to additional locations of existing and new customers. We estimate that our Fresh-cut segment experienced food product inflation of approximately 4% in 2002.

Cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold increased $937.3 million, or 33.7%, to $3.72 billion in 2002 from $2.78 billion in 2001. As a percentage of net sales, cost of goods sold decreased to 83.8% in 2002 compared to 85.9% in 2001. In 2002, cost of goods sold in our Broadline segment included $3.3 million related to damaged inventory, net of $1.0 million of insurance coverage attributable to the ammonia leak at our Springfield Foodservice facility. The decrease in cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales is also due to the acquisition of Fresh Express, which typically has had a lower ratio of cost of goods sold to net sales than many of our other operating companies.

Gross profit. Gross profit increased $263.8 million, or 57.7%, to $720.9 million in 2002 from $457.1 million in 2001. Gross profit margin, which we define as gross profit as a percentage of net sales, increased to 16.2% in 2002 compared to 14.1% in 2001. The increase in gross profit margin was due primarily to our acquisition of Fresh Express, which typically has had higher gross profit margins than many of our other operating companies. Our increase in gross profit margin was partially offset by the acquisition of Quality Foods in May 2002, which has lower gross profit margins than our other Broadline companies, and by the impact of the Springfield Foodservice ammonia leak.

Operating expenses. Operating expenses increased $214.1 million, or 56.2%, to $595.2 million in 2002 from $381.1 million in 2001. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses increased to 13.4% in 2002 from 11.8% in 2001. The increase in operating expenses as a percentage of net sales was due mainly to our acquisition of Fresh Express, which has higher operating expense levels than our foodservice distribution business. Also included in operating expenses for 2002 are $2.1 million of costs attributable to the ammonia leak at Springfield Foodservice.

Operating profit. Operating profit increased $49.7 million, or 65.4%, to $125.7 million in 2002 from $76.0 million in 2001. Operating profit margin, which we define as operating profit as a percentage of net sales, increased to 2.8% in 2002 from 2.3% in 2001. Our adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, the accounting standard regarding amortization of intangible assets, affected our operating profit margins on a comparable basis from 2002 to 2001 (see "Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements"). Operating profit margin, adjusting for the impact of SFAS No. 142, would have been 2.6% in 2001. The increase in operating profit margin on a comparable basis, from 2.6% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2002, is due primarily to a higher percentage of our consolidated net sales from the Fresh-cut segment, which has a higher operating profit margin than our distribution business.

Operating profit margin in our Broadline segment remained at 2.5% in 2002. Operating profit for 2002 includes the impact of approximately $6.6 million attributable to the Springfield Foodservice ammonia leak. Operating profit margin in 2002 was affected by our acquisition of Quality Foods in May 2002, which has a lower operating profit margin than our other Broadline companies. Operating profit margin in our Broadline segment, adjusting for the impact of SFAS No. 142, would have been 2.8% for 2001. Thus, on a comparable basis, operating profit margin declined to 2.5% in 2002 from 2.8% in 2001. This decline was due primarily to the Springfield Foodservice ammonia leak and the acquisition of Quality Foods, discussed above.

Operating profit margins in our Customized segment increased to 1.1% in 2002 from 1.0% in 2001, mainly as the result of changes in customer mix. Our adoption of SFAS No. 142 had no impact on our Customized segment.

Operating profit margin in our Fresh-cut segment remained at 8.3% for 2002. Operating profit margin in the Fresh-cut segment, adjusted for the impact of SFAS No. 142, would have been 9.1% for 2001. Thus, on a comparable basis, operating profit margin declined to 8.3% in 2002 from 9.1% in 2001. This decline in operating profit margin is partially due to our acquisition of Fresh Express in October 2001, which has lower operating margins than the rest of our Fresh-Cut segment, continued softness in the quick-service restaurant business and costs associated with a retail consumer test of a fresh-cut fruit product line, Real! Fresh! Fruit!™ We incurred start-up expenses of $9.6 million in the second half of 2002 related to this new product development. We expect costs associated with the test of fresh-cut fruit to continue to impact the operating profit margin of our Fresh-cut segment through 2003.

Other expense, net. Other expense, net, increased to $19.3 million in 2002 from $10.7 million in 2001. Included in other expense, net, was interest expense of $18.8 million in 2002, compared to interest expense of $8.8 million in 2001. Interest expense was higher in 2002 primarily because of the issuance in October 2001 of $201.3 million of Convertible Notes and higher average borrowing levels in 2002 to fund our acquisitions, partially offset by lower interest rates. In 2002 and 2001, other expense, net, also included a loss on the sale of the undivided interest in receivables of $1.8 million and $1.4 million, respectively, related to our receivables purchase facility, referred to as the Receivables Facility. The Convertible Notes and the Receivables Facility are discussed in "Liquidity and Capital Resources."

Income tax expense. Income tax expense increased to $39.9 million in 2002 compared to $24.8 million in 2001. As a percentage of earnings before income taxes, the provision for income taxes was 37.5% in 2002 and 38.0% in 2001. The decrease in the effective tax rate in 2002 is the result of our adoption of SFAS No. 142 at the beginning of 2002. The provisions of SFAS No. 142 eliminated the amortization of goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives. The provisions and effects of adoption of SFAS No. 142 are discussed in detail in "Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements."

Net earnings. Net earnings increased $26.0 million, or 64.2%, to $66.5 million in 2002 from $40.5 million in 2001. For 2002, net earnings as a percentage of net sales increased to 1.5% from 1.2% in 2001.

Diluted net earnings per common share. Diluted net earnings per common share, or EPS, is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders plus dilutive after-tax interest on the Convertible Notes (numerator) by the weighted-average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS increased 37.9% to $1.42 in 2002, compared to $1.03 in 2001. In October 2001, we issued the Convertible Notes. After-tax interest expense of $7.5 million and common share equivalents of 6.1 million related to the Convertible Notes are included in the calculation of diluted EPS in 2002 because of their dilutive effect on EPS. For 2001, the Convertible Notes and related interest expense were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS because of their antidilutive effect on EPS.

Net sales. Net sales increased $631.8 million, or 24.2%, to $3.24 billion in 2001 from $2.61 billion for 2000. Net sales in our existing operations increased 9.8% over 2000, while acquisitions contributed the remaining 14.4% of our total net sales growth for 2001. We estimate that inflation contributed approximately 2% to the increase in net sales in 2001 on a consolidated basis. During 2001, the growth in net sales in our existing operations was below the 22.6% growth rate experienced in 2000, reflecting weaker general economic conditions in the latter half of 2001 and the impact of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Also in 2000, our growth rate was favorably impacted by the addition of two significant customers, Burger King and TGI Friday's in our Broadline and Customized segments, respectively. Sales to these customers contributed approximately 6.9% of the 22.6% growth rate of sales from existing operations in 2000.

Our Broadline segment net sales of $1.64 billion in 2001 represented 50.7% of our consolidated net sales, down from 52.5% of our consolidated net sales in 2000. The decrease as a percentage of our consolidated net sales is due primarily to the acquisition of Redi-Cut Foods, Inc. and its affiliates, Kansas City Salad, L.L.C. and K.C. Salad Real Estate, L.L.C., collectively, Redi-Cut, in December 2000, which is reported in the Fresh-cut segment. Our acquisition of Redi-Cut is discussed in further detail in "Business Combinations." Broadline net sales increased $273.6 million, or 20.0%, to $1.64 billion in 2001 from $1.37 billion in 2000. Net sales in our existing Broadline operations for 2001 increased 8.9% over 2000. Broadline sales at our existing operations in 2001 increased due to both increased sales to existing customers and sales to new customers. Acquisitions contributed the remaining 11.1% of our total Broadline sales growth for 2001. Broadline acquisition sales growth was the result of our acquisitions of Empire Seafood in April 2001, Springfield Foodservice in September 2001 and Carroll County Foods in August 2000. Our acquisitions of Empire Seafood, Springfield Foodservice and Carroll County Foods are discussed in "Business Combinations."

Our Customized segment net sales of $1.24 billion in 2001 represented 38.2% of our consolidated net sales, down from 42.4% in 2000. The decrease as a percentage of our consolidated net sales is due primarily to the acquisition of Redi-Cut in our Fresh-cut segment and the acquisitions of Springfield Foodservice, Empire Seafood and Carroll County Foods in our Broadline segment. Customized net sales increased 11.8% to $1.24 billion in 2001 from $1.11 billion in 2000. This increase in net sales is the result of the inclusion of a full year of sales to TGI Friday's, which we began servicing in the first quarter of 2000, and continued growth in sales to existing customers.

Our Fresh-cut segment net sales of $360.6 million represented 11.1% of our consolidated net sales, up from 5.1% of our consolidated net sales in 2000. Fresh-cut net sales increased 171.8% to $360.6 million in 2001 from $132.6 million in 2000. Net sales in our existing Fresh-cut operations for 2001 increased 10.8% over 2000, while the acquisition of Redi-Cut in the fourth quarter of 2000 contributed the remaining 161.0% of our total Fresh-cut sales growth for 2001. The increase in sales in our existing operations for 2001 is due primarily to the introduction of new products to existing quick-service customer locations and sales to additional quick-service locations of existing customers.

Cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold increased $525.7 million, or 23.3%, to $2.78 billion in 2001 from $2.25 billion in 2000. As a percentage of net sales, cost of goods sold decreased to 85.9% in 2001 compared to 86.5% in 2000. The decrease in cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales is due primarily to the acquisitions of Fresh Express in October 2001 and Redi-Cut in December 2000, which typically have had lower ratios of cost of goods sold to net sales than many of our other operating companies.

Gross profit. Gross profit increased $106.0 million, or 30.2%, to $457.1 million in 2001 from $351.1 million in 2000. Gross profit margin increased to 14.1% in 2001, compared to 13.5% in 2000. The increase in gross profit margin was due primarily to increased contribution from our Fresh-cut segment, mainly as a result of the acquisitions of Fresh Express in October 2001 and Redi-Cut in December 2000, which typically has had higher gross profit margins than many of our other operating companies.

Operating expenses. Operating expenses increased $79.0 million, or 26.1%, to $381.1 million in 2001 from $302.2 million in 2000. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses increased to 11.8% in 2001 from 11.6% in 2000. The increase in operating expenses as a percentage of net sales was due mainly to the acquisition of Fresh Express in October 2001, which has higher operating expenses as a percentage of net sales than our other operating companies.

Operating profit. Operating profit increased $27.1 million, or 55.4%, to $76.0 million in 2001 from $48.9 million in 2000. Operating profit margin increased to 2.3% in 2001 from 1.9% in 2000, as a result of the increase in gross profit margin discussed above.

Other expense, net. Other expense, net, increased $4.0 million to $10.7 million in 2001 from $6.7 million in 2000. Other expense, net, included interest expense of $8.8 million in 2001, compared to interest expense of $6.6 million in 2000. The increase in interest expense was due primarily to higher average levels of borrowing in 2001 as a result of the issuance of $201.3 million of Convertible Notes, partially offset by lower interest rates. In 2001, other expense, net, also included a loss on the sale of the undivided interest in receivables of $1.4 million related to the Receivables Facility. The Convertible Notes and the Receivables Facility are discussed in "Liquidity and Capital Resources."

Income tax expense. Income tax expense increased $8.8 million to $24.8 million in 2001, compared to $16.1 million in 2000. As a percentage of earnings before income taxes, the provision for income taxes was 38.0% in 2001 and 2000.

Net earnings. Net earnings increased $14.3 million, or 54.6%, to $40.5 million in 2001 from $26.2 million in 2000. For 2001, net earnings as a percentage of net sales increased to 1.2% from 1.0% in 2000.

Diluted net earnings per common share. Diluted EPS increased 15.7% to $1.03 in 2001, compared to $0.89 in 2000. For 2001, the Convertible Notes were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS because of their antidilutive effect on EPS. Because the Convertible Notes were issued in 2001, they were not included in the calculation of diluted EPS for 2000.

We have historically financed our operations and growth primarily with cash flows from operations, borrowings under our credit facilities, the issuance of long-term debt, operating leases, normal trade credit terms and the sale of our common stock. Despite our growth in net sales, we have reduced our working capital needs by financing our investment in inventory principally with accounts payable and outstanding checks in excess of deposits. We typically fund our acquisitions, and expect to fund future acquisitions, with our existing cash, additional borrowings under our Credit Facility and the issuance of debt or equity securities.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $33.7 million at December 28, 2002, a decrease of $34.6 million from December 29, 2001. The decrease was primarily a result of cash used in investing activities of $272.2 million, partially offset by cash provided by operating activities of $118.0 million, borrowings under our Credit Facility of $98.0 million and an increase in outstanding checks in excess of deposits of $15.9 million.

Cash flows from operating activities. Cash provided by operating activities was $118.0 million in 2002. In 2002, the primary sources of cash from operating activities were net earnings, deferred income taxes, increased levels of trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and income taxes payable, net, partially offset by increased levels of accounts receivable and inventories. Cash provided by operating activities was $167.0 million and $12.6 million in 2001 and 2000, respectively. In 2001, the primary sources of cash from operating activities were net earnings, deferred income taxes, increased levels of trade payables and accrued expenses and decreased levels of accounts receivable, partially offset by increased levels of inventories and decreased levels of income taxes payable, net. The decrease in accounts receivable in 2001 was due primarily to proceeds received of $78.0 million from the sale of the undivided interest in receivables under the Receivables Facility, discussed in "Off Balance Sheet Activities." In 2000, the primary sources of cash from operating activities were net earnings and increased levels of trade payables, accrued expenses and income taxes payable, net, partially offset by increased levels of accounts receivable and inventories.

Cash used in investing activities. Cash used in investing activities was $272.2 million in 2002. Investing activities include the acquisition of businesses and additions to and disposals of property, plant and equipment. Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions of other businesses, were $57.7 million in 2002. Net cash paid for acquisitions in 2002 was $215.1 million, including $15.6 million, $84.1 million, $22.2 million and $90.3 million paid for the acquisitions of All Kitchens, Inc., Thoms-Proestler, Middendorf, and Quality Foods, respectively, net of cash acquired. Net cash paid for acquisitions also included $2.9 million paid to the former shareholders of Carroll County Foods and AFFLINK Incorporated (formerly Affiliated Paper Companies, Inc.), which were acquired in 2000 and 1998, respectively, as a result of certain contractual obligations under the purchase agreements related to those acquisitions. For further discussion of acquisitions, see the "Business Combinations" section below.

Cash used in investing activities was $422.8 million in 2001. Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions of other businesses, were $30.1 million in 2001. In 2001, net cash paid for acquisitions was $395.4 million, including $296.4 million, $41.0 million and $54.3 million paid for the acquisitions of Fresh Express, Springfield Foodservice and Empire Seafood, respectively, net of cash acquired. Net cash paid for acquisitions also included $3.8 million paid for the acquisition of other businesses in 2001 and to the former shareholders of Carroll County Foods, State Hotel Supply Company, Inc. and AFFLINK, which we acquired in 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively, as a result of certain contractual obligations in the purchase agreements related to those acquisitions. Cash used in investing activities was $154.4 million in 2000. Capital expenditures in 2000, excluding acquisitions of businesses, were $31.0 million. Cash used in investing activities in 2000 included $124.2 million paid for the acquisitions of Redi-Cut and Carroll County Foods, net of cash acquired, and payments made to the former shareholders of AFFLINK and Dixon Tom-A-Toe Companies, Inc., which were acquired in 1998 and 1999, respectively, as a result of certain contractual obligations in the purchase agreements related to those acquisitions.

Cash provided by financing activities. Cash provided by financing activities was $119.5 million in 2002, which included $98.0 million of borrowings under our Credit Facility, an increase in checks in excess of deposits of $15.9 million and $8.1 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options and purchases under our employee stock purchase plan.

In 2001, cash provided by financing activities was $305.6 million. In 2001, cash flows from financing activities included proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt of $202.2 million, consisting primarily of proceeds of $201.3 million from the issuance of the Convertible Notes. Cash flows from financing activities in 2001 also included $143.4 million from the issuance of common stock in October 2001, an increase in outstanding checks in excess of deposits of $12.1 million and proceeds of $5.1 million from the exercise of stock options and purchases under our employee stock purchase plan. Cash used in financing activities in 2001 included payments of $47.0 million on our existing revolving credit facility and debt issuance costs of $8.0 million related to our Convertible Notes and our Credit Facility. Cash provided by financing activities was $154.7 million in 2000. In 2000, cash flows from financing activities included proceeds of $124.4 million from the issuance of common stock in December 2000, an increase in outstanding checks in excess of deposits of $22.4 million, net borrowings of $12.0 million on our revolving credit facility, $3.5 million of proceeds from industrial revenue bonds issued to finance the construction of a new produce-processing facility, and proceeds of $4.5 million from the exercise of stock options and purchases under our employee stock purchase plan. In 2000, cash used by financing activities included $11.9 million paid by us to repurchase shares of our common stock in the open market for use in connection with our employee benefit plans. The issuance of the Convertible Notes and common stock and our Credit Facility are discussed in detail in "Financing Activities."

In October 2001, we issued $201.3 million aggregate principal amount of 5½% convertible subordinated notes due in 2008. The net proceeds from the issuance of the Convertible Notes and from our concurrent offering of common stock, discussed below, were used to repay our borrowings then outstanding under our existing revolving credit facility and to fund the acquisition of Fresh Express. The Convertible Notes are subordinate to all existing and future senior debt and are convertible at any time until maturity into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $32.95 per share, subject to adjustment. The Convertible Notes are redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, at any time on or after October 16, 2004. Each holder of the Convertible Notes has the right to cause us to repurchase all of such holder's Convertible Notes at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest upon a change of control of the Company, as defined in the indenture governing the Convertible Notes, and upon the occurrence of certain other events. Interest is payable semiannually.

In October 2001, we also issued 5.8 million shares of our common stock. The proceeds from this offering of $143.4 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses, and proceeds from the concurrent offering of Convertible Notes were used to fund the acquisition of Fresh Express and to repay borrowings then outstanding under our existing revolving credit facility.

Also in October 2001, we entered into our $200.0 million Credit Facility with several financial institutions which replaced our existing $85.0 million credit facility and $5.0 million working capital line of credit. The Credit Facility expires in 2006 and bears interest at a floating rate equal to, at our election, the agent bank's prime rate or a spread over LIBOR, which varies based upon our leverage ratio, as defined in the credit agreement. The Credit Facility has a commitment fee, ranging from 0.20% to 0.25% of the average daily unused portion of the total facility, based on our leverage ratio, as defined in the credit agreement. The Credit Facility also requires the maintenance of certain financial ratios, as defined in the credit agreement, and contains customary events of default. The Credit Facility allows for the issuance of up to $90.0 million of standby letters of credit, which reduce borrowings available under the Credit Facility. At December 28, 2002, we had $27.6 million of outstanding letters of credit under the Credit Facility. The Credit Facility also requires that our existing and future subsidiaries that engage in any business operation or own assets with a fair market value in excess of $5.0 million, guarantee all of our borrowings, letters of credit and other obligations under the Credit Facility. At December 28, 2002, we had $98.0 million outstanding under the Credit Facility and $74.4 million available under the Credit Facility, subject to compliance with customary borrowing conditions. At December 28, 2002, our borrowings under the Credit Facility bore interest at 2.17% per annum.

In December 2000, we issued 6.4 million shares of our common stock generating proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses, of $124.4 million, which we used to pay the cash portion of the purchase price of Redi-Cut and repay borrowings then outstanding under our existing credit facility.

In March 1999, one of our subsidiaries issued $9.0 million of tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds to finance the construction of a produce-processing facility. In January 2001, we refinanced these bonds with the proceeds of $9.0 million taxable revenue bonds, in order to free us from certain restrictive covenants applicable to the subsidiary that issued the tax-exempt bonds. Like the tax-exempt bonds, these taxable bonds bear interest at a rate determined weekly by the remarketing agent for the bonds, are secured by a letter of credit issued by a commercial bank and mature in March 2019. The interest rate for these bonds was 1.47% per annum at December 28, 2002.

We believe that our cash flows from operations, borrowings under our Credit Facility and the sale of undivided interests in trade receivables under the Receivables Facility, discussed below, will be sufficient to fund our operations and capital expenditures for the foreseeable future. However, we will likely require additional sources of financing to the extent that we make additional acquisitions in the future.

We utilize two sources of funding that could generally be described as off balance sheet financing - the Receivables Facility and two master operating lease facilities. See Notes 10 and 16 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the Receivables Facility and the two master operating lease facilities. The Receivables Facility represents off balance sheet financing because the transaction and the financial institution's ownership interest in certain of our accounts receivable results in assets being removed from our balance sheet to the extent that the transaction qualifies for sale treatment under generally accepted accounting principles. This treatment requires us to account for the transaction with the financial institution as a sale of the undivided interest in the accounts receivable instead of reflecting the financial institution's net investment of $78.0 million as debt.

In July 2001, we entered into the Receivables Facility, under which PFG Receivables Corporation, a wholly owned, special-purpose subsidiary, sold an undivided interest in certain of our trade receivables. PFG Receivables Corporation was formed for the sole purpose of buying receivables generated by certain of our operating units and selling an undivided interest in those receivables to a financial institution. Under the Receivables Facility, our operating units sell a portion of their accounts receivable to PFG Receivables Corporation, which in turn, subject to certain conditions, may from time to time sell an undivided interest in these receivables to a financial institution. Our operating units continue to service the receivables on behalf of the financial institution at estimated market rates. Accordingly, we have not recognized a servicing asset or liability. The amount of the undivided interest in the receivables owned by the financial institution cannot exceed $90.0 million at any one time. On July 12, 2002, we extended our Receivables Facility through July 11, 2003.

We record the sale of the undivided interest in accounts receivable to the financial institution according to SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. Accordingly, at the time the undivided interest in accounts receivables is sold, the receivables are removed from our consolidated balance sheet. We record a loss on the sale of the undivided interest in the receivables, which includes a discount, based upon the receivables' credit quality and a financing cost for the financial institution, based upon a 30-day commercial paper rate. At December 28, 2002, the rate under the Receivables Facility was 1.92% per annum.

We received $78.0 million of proceeds from the sale of the undivided interest in receivables under the Receivables Facility in 2001, and we continued to securitize accounts receivable throughout 2001 and 2002. At December 28, 2002, securitized accounts receivable totaled $115.8 million, which included $78.0 million sold to the financial institution and derecognized from the consolidated balance sheet and included our residual interest in accounts receivable of $37.8 million, which is included in accounts receivable on our consolidated balance sheet. The Residual Interest represents our retained interest in receivables held by PFG Receivables Corporation. We measured the Residual Interest using the estimated discounted cash flows of the underlying accounts receivable, based on estimated collections and a discount rate approximately equivalent to our incremental borrowing rate. The loss on sale of the undivided interest in receivables of $1.8 million in 2002 is included in other expense, net, in our consolidated statement of earnings and represents our cost of securitizing those receivables with the financial institution.

We have two master operating lease facilities. In September 1997, we entered into our first master operating lease facility, referred to as the First Facility, to construct or purchase various distribution centers and processing plants. In February 2001, we increased the First Facility from $47.0 million to $55.0 million. On September 11, 2002, the lessor sold one processing plant previously included in the First Facility to a third party unaffiliated with us. We concurrently entered into an operating lease with that unaffiliated third party for the same processing plant. The operating lease has an initial term of 22 years, plus five renewal options of five years each. On September 12, 2002, the original expiration date of the leases in the First Facility, we extended the expiration date of the remaining leases in this facility to June 9, 2005, and decreased the size of this facility to $35.8 million. At December 28, 2002, the First Facility included three distribution centers, and construction expenditures by the lessor under the First Facility for these three centers totaled $35.8 million.

In June 2000, we entered into a $60.0 million master operating lease facility, referred to as the Second Facility, to construct or purchase various office buildings and distribution centers. On September 11, 2002, the lessor sold one distribution center previously included in the Second Facility to a third party unaffiliated with us. We concurrently entered into an operating lease with that unaffiliated third party for the same distribution center. The operating lease has an initial term of 22 years, plus five renewal options of five years each. On September 12, 2002, we reduced the size of this facility to $24.2 million. As of December 28, 2002, the Second Facility included two distribution centers and one office building. The leases relating to these three properties, as well as any other leases that we may enter into under this facility in the future, end on June 9, 2005. Through December 28, 2002, construction expenditures by the lessor under the Second Facility totaled $20.5 million.

Under both of these master operating lease facilities, the lessor owns the distribution centers and office building, incurs the related debt to construct the properties, and thereafter leases each property to us. We have entered into leases for each of the properties in these facilities. Upon the expiration of the leases under the First and Second Facilities, we may seek to renew the leases. If we are unable to or choose not to renew the leases, we have the option of facilitating the sale of the properties to third parties or purchasing the properties at their original cost. If the properties in the First Facility and the Second Facility are sold to third parties for less than their aggregate original cost, we are obligated, under residual value guarantees, to pay the lessor an amount equal to the lesser of either the shortfall or 88% and 85%, respectively, of original cost. We may not be able to renew the leases or sell the properties to third parties, and we may require substantial additional financing if we are required to purchase these properties upon the expiration of the master operating lease facilities. Because of the location and condition of each of the distribution centers and office building in the First and Second Facilities, we believe that the anticipated fair value of these properties could eliminate or substantially reduce our exposure under the residual value guarantees.

Our leases under the two master operating lease facilities qualify for operating lease accounting treatment under SFAS No. 13, Accounting for Leases. Therefore, the buildings and the debt incurred to construct them of $56.3 million as of December 28, 2002, were not included on our consolidated balance sheet. In the third quarter of 2003, we will be required to adopt the provisions of Financial Interpretation No. 46, or FIN 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. Under the current structure of our First and Second Facilities, we will be required to consolidate these facilities upon the adoption of FIN 46. If consolidated, our property, plant and equipment and current and long-term debt will increase on our consolidated balance sheet. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting FIN 46 on our consolidated financial statements.

At December 28, 2002, our Fresh-cut segment had contracts to purchase produce totaling $86.4 million. These contracts expire at various times throughout 2003 and 2004. Amounts due under these contracts were not included on our consolidated balance sheet at December 28, 2002, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

The table below presents contractual minimum cash obligations under all of our existing debt, including capital leases, and operating lease agreements and produce purchase obligations as of December 28, 2002. Lease payments include payments due under our existing non-cancelable operating leases, including lease payments under our two master operating lease facilities. This table should be read in conjunction with Notes 14, 16 and 22 to the consolidated financial statements.

In addition to the above minimum cash obligations, in connection with certain acquisitions, we have entered into earnout agreements with certain of the former owners of the businesses that we have acquired. These agreements are based upon certain net earnings and synergy targets, as defined in each agreement, and discussed in more detail in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements. These earnout payments are for companies acquired from 2000 to 2002, and may include payments in cash and/or shares of our common stock. As of December 28, 2002, the maximum potential earnout obligation, assuming all future earnout targets are met in their earliest possible years, totaled $55.7 million: $16.2 million in 2003, $20.8 million in 2004, $17.0 million in 2005 and $1.7 million in 2006. These contingent payments are not recorded on our consolidated balance sheet at December 28, 2002, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. If paid, these earnout payments would increase the goodwill of the companies acquired. If the future earnout targets are not met, these maximum amounts will be lower, or we may not be required to make any payments.

Our two master operating lease facilities and certain of our other operating leases, including leases of tractors and trailers, contain residual value guarantees. These guarantees are not included in the above table and are not recorded on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 28, 2002, because it is not probable that the estimated residual value of the buildings and equipment will be less than the amounts stipulated in the agreements. The undiscounted maximum amount of potential future payments under residual value guarantees relative to the properties in the First and Second Facilities is $48.5 million. As discussed above in "Liquidity and Capital Resources," we believe that the anticipated fair value of the properties in the master operating lease facilities could eliminate or substantially reduce our exposure under these residual value guarantees. At December 28, 2002, the undiscounted maximum amount of potential future payments under our residual value guarantees for all of our other operating leases totaled approximately $5.9 million. This maximum amount related to residual value guarantees under our operating leases would be mitigated by the fair value of the leased assets at lease expiration. These leases have expiration dates ranging from 2003 to 2010. Notes 2 and 22 to the consolidated financial statements provide further discussion of these guarantees and the related accounting pronouncements. In 2003, we will be required to record a liability on our consolidated balance sheet for the value of guarantees for new leases or for leases that are modified, as required by Financial Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, or FIN 45. See "Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements."

On October 11, 2002, a wholly owned subsidiary of our Pocahontas Foods USA subsidiary acquired all of the assets of All Kitchens, a privately owned procurement and merchandising firm based in Boise, Idaho. All Kitchens provides procurement and merchandising services to its distributors. We believe that our acquisition of All Kitchens will allow us to increase our services to our existing Pocahontas foodservice distributors and to All Kitchens' distributors, as well as expand our geographic base of independent foodservice distributors. We paid $15.6 million in cash for All Kitchens, and assumed $3.5 million of trade payables and accrued expenses with the acquisition. In addition, we will be required to pay the former shareholders of All Kitchens up to $3.0 million in cash, if All Kitchens achieves certain affiliate distributor targets through September 2005.

On July 26, 2002, we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Thoms-Proestler, a privately owned, broadline foodservice distributor based in Rock Island, Illinois. Thoms-Proestler services customers located throughout the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin, including the major metropolitan area of Chicago. Thoms-Proestler's customers include local and regional restaurant chains, independent restaurants and healthcare facilities. We believe that our acquisition of Thoms-Proestler will further extend our Broadline service area in the Midwest region. We paid $100.0 million for the acquisition of Thoms-Proestler, consisting of $84.1 million in cash and common stock valued at $15.9 million. The purchase price included the repayment of outstanding debt. We also assumed $18.4 million of trade payables and accrued expenses with the acquisition of Thoms-Proestler. In recording the acquisition, the value of the approximately 500,000 common shares issued was determined based on the measurement criteria in Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 99-12, or EITF No. 99-12, Determination of the Measurement Date for the Market Price of Acquirer Securities Issued in a Purchase Business Combination. In addition, we entered into an earnout agreement whereby we will be required to pay the former shareholders of Thoms-Proestler up to $7.0 million, consisting of cash and additional common shares, if Thoms-Proestler achieves certain targeted levels of growth in sales and operating profit margin through July 2004. We will record any earnout payments as additional purchase price, resulting in a corresponding increase in goodwill.

On July 12, 2002, we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Middendorf, a privately owned, broadline foodservice distributor based in St. Louis, Missouri, through the merger of Middendorf with a wholly owned subsidiary of ours. Middendorf distributes custom-cut steaks and other foodservice items to independent restaurants, private clubs, hotels and other foodservice establishments in St. Louis and surrounding areas. We believe that our acquisition of Middendorf will extend our geographic coverage in a market that is contiguous to our other Broadline businesses. We paid $33.8 million for the acquisition of Middendorf, consisting of $22.2 million in cash and common stock valued at $11.6 million. In January 2003, we finalized the purchase price of Middendorf. As a result, in the first quarter of 2003, we will receive $2.6 million from the former owners of Middendorf related to the closing net worth adjustment and certain related claims, consisting of $1.6 million in cash and the return of $1.0 million of our common shares. We will record this payment as an adjustment to the purchase price of Middendorf and a reduction of goodwill in 2003. The purchase price included the repayment of a portion of Middendorf's outstanding debt. We also assumed $11.7 million in trade payables, accrued expenses, deferred taxes and debt with the acquisition of Middendorf. In recording the acquisition, the value of the approximately 378,000 common shares issued was determined based on the measurement criteria of EITF No. 99-12. In addition, we entered into an earnout agreement whereby we will be required to pay the former shareholders of Middendorf up to $5.0 million, consisting of cash and additional common shares, if Middendorf achieves certain targeted levels of growth in operating profit, as defined, over a period of up to six years following the acquisition. We will record any earnout payments as additional purchase price, resulting in a corresponding increase in goodwill.

On May 31, 2002, we acquired all of the outstanding stock of Quality Foods, a privately owned, broadline foodservice distributor based in Little Rock, Arkansas, with distribution centers in Little Rock, and Batesville and Magee, Mississippi. Quality Foods provides products and services to traditional foodservice accounts in a region covering Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. We believe that our acquisition of Quality Foods will extend our service area to a region that is geographically contiguous to our other Broadline businesses. We paid $90.3 million, net of cash acquired, for Quality Foods. The purchase price included the repayment of outstanding debt. We also assumed $25.5 million of trade payables and accrued expenses with the acquisition of Quality Foods. In addition, in connection with the acquisition of Quality Foods, we entered into an earnout agreement whereby we will be required to pay the former shareholders of Quality Foods up to $24.0 million in cash if Quality Foods achieves certain targeted levels of growth in operating profit, as defined, over a three-year period following the acquisition. We will record any earnout payments as additional purchase price, resulting in a corresponding increase in goodwill.

Also in 2002, we paid a total of $2.9 million in cash and issued approximately 15,000 shares of our common stock, valued at approximately $500,000, to the former shareholders of Carroll County Foods and AFFLINK, which were acquired in 2000 and 1998, respectively, as a result of certain contractual obligations in the purchase agreements relating to those acquisitions. We have recorded these earnout payments as additional purchase price, resulting in a corresponding increase in goodwill.

On October 16, 2001, we acquired all of the outstanding stock of Fresh Express, a fresh-cut produce processor and distributor. We paid $296.4 million, net of cash acquired, for Fresh Express. The purchase price included the repayment of outstanding debt. We also assumed $71.7 million of trade payables, accrued expenses, deferred taxes and other liabilities with our acquisition of Fresh Express. In addition, in connection with the acquisition of Fresh Express, we entered into an earnout agreement whereby we will be required to pay the former shareholders of Fresh Express up to $10.0 million in cash if Fresh Express achieves targeted levels of certain sales, as defined, and synergy targets related to operating profit, during a three-year period following the acquisition. We will record any earnout payments as additional purchase price, resulting in a corresponding increase in goodwill.

In connection with the acquisition of Fresh Express, we adopted a plan for integration of the business. We initially established an accrual of $8.9 million as part of the initial allocation of the purchase price of Fresh Express, to provide for certain costs of this plan. In 2002, we reduced our accrual for the integration plan by $2.6 million, with a corresponding decrease in Fresh Express' goodwill. We made these adjustments primarily as a result of the finalization of the Greencastle and Chicago integration plan. In addition, we have decided not to dispose of certain leased office buildings in Salinas, California, as originally planned. This plan will combine our Franklin Park, Illinois and our Chicago, Illinois, manufacturing plants into one facility, convert the Greencastle, Pennsylvania and the Chicago facility into distribution centers, dispose of certain processing equipment at the Chicago and Greencastle plants and eliminate approximately 500 processing-related jobs at the affected facilities. Through December 28, 2002, $992,000 of professional fees and lease payments have been charged against the accrual. The remaining accrual consists of $4.2 million for employee separation, $365,000 for lease and related costs and $674,000 of other costs, including professional and legal fees.

On September 10, 2001, we acquired all the outstanding common stock of Springfield Foodservice, a privately owned, broadline foodservice distributor based in Springfield, Massachusetts. We paid $80.7 million for Springfield Foodservice, consisting of $41.0 million in cash and approximately 1.3 million of our common shares, valued at $39.7 million. The purchase price included the repayment of a portion of Springfield Foodservice's outstanding debt. We assumed $21.2 million of trade payables, accrued expenses and debt with the acquisition of Springfield Foodservice. In addition, in connection with the acquisition, we entered into an earnout agreement whereby we will be required to pay a former shareholder of Springfield Foodservice up to $3.9 million, payable in cash and shares of our common stock over a three-year period following the acquisition, if Springfield Foodservice achieves certain targeted levels of operating profit, as defined. We will record any earnout payments as additional purchase price, resulting in a corresponding increase in goodwill.

On April 2, 2001, we acquired all of the outstanding stock of Empire Seafood, a privately owned distributor and processor of seafood. We paid $75.0 million for Empire Seafood, consisting of $54.3 million in cash, net of cash acquired, and approximately 803,000 shares of our common stock, valued at $19.6 million. We also assumed $9.6 million of accounts payable and accrued expenses with the acquisition of Empire Seafood. In addition, in connection with the acquisition, we entered into an earnout agreement whereby we will be required to pay certain former shareholders of Empire Seafood up to $7.5 million over a three-year period following the acquisition, payable in cash and shares of our common stock, if Empire Seafood achieves certain targeted levels of growth in adjusted operating profit, as defined. We will record any earnout payments as additional purchase price, resulting in a corresponding increase in goodwill.

Also in 2001, we paid a total of $3.8 million in cash and issued approximately 15,000 shares of our common stock for the acquisition of other businesses in 2001 and to the former shareholders of Carroll County Foods, State Hotel and AFFLINK, which were acquired in 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively, as a result of certain contractual obligations in the purchase agreements related to those acquisitions. We recorded these earnout payments as additional purchase price, resulting in a corresponding increase in goodwill.

On December 13, 2000, we acquired the capital stock of Redi-Cut, a privately owned fresh-cut produce processor with facilities in Franklin Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and Kansas City, Missouri. We paid $132.9 million for Redi-Cut, consisting of $115.4 million in cash, net of cash acquired, and approximately 804,000 shares of our common stock, valued at $17.5 million.

On August 4, 2000, we acquired the common stock of Carroll County Foods, a privately owned, broadline foodservice distributor based in New Windsor, Maryland. We paid $13.0 million for Carroll County Foods, consisting of $6.5 million in cash, net of cash acquired, and approximately 381,000 shares of our common stock, valued at $6.5 million. In connection with the Carroll County Foods acquisition, we entered into an earnout agreement whereby we are required to pay the former shareholders of Carroll County Foods up to $3.8 million in additional cash or shares of our common stock if Carroll County Foods achieves certain targeted levels of growth in net earnings, as defined, during a four-year period following the acquisition. We will record and have recorded the Carroll County Foods earnout payments as additional purchase price, resulting in a corresponding increase in goodwill.

In 2000, we also paid $2.3 million and issued a total of approximately 89,000 shares of our common stock to the former shareholders of Dixon and AFFLINK which were acquired in 1999 and 1998, respectively, as a result of certain contractual obligations in the purchase agreements related to those acquisitions.

Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis. The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. We continually evaluate the accounting policies and estimates we use to prepare our financial statements. Management's estimates are generally based upon historical experience and various other assumptions that we determine to be reasonable in light of the relevant facts and circumstances. Because of the uncertainty inherent in such estimates, actual results may differ. We believe that our critical accounting policies and estimates include accounting for business combinations, off balance sheet financing activities, allowance for doubtful accounts, incurred but not reported insurance claims, reserve for inventories, sales incentives and vendor rebates and other promotional incentives.

Accounting for Business Combinations. Our goodwill and other intangible assets include the cost of acquired subsidiaries in excess of the fair value of the tangible net assets recorded in connection with acquisitions. Other intangible assets include trade names, trademarks, patents, non-compete agreements and customer relationships. We use estimates and assumptions in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, assigning lives to acquired intangibles and evaluating those assets for impairment after acquisition. These estimates and assumptions include indicators that would trigger an impairment of assets, whether those indicators are temporary, economic or competitive factors that affect valuation, discount rates and cash flow estimates. When the carrying value of such assets are not expected to be recoverable, or the estimated lives assigned to such assets are determined to be improper, we must reduce the carrying value of the assets to the net realizable value or adjust the amortization period of the asset, recording any adjustment in our consolidated statements of earnings.

As described below under "Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements," SFAS No. 142 was effective at the beginning of 2002, except for goodwill and other intangible assets resulting from business combinations completed subsequent to June 30, 2001, for which the standard was effective beginning July 1, 2001. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, we ceased amortizing goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives as of the beginning of 2002. SFAS No. 142 requires goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives to be tested for impairment upon adoption of this standard and at least annually thereafter, or more often if other circumstances indicate. If goodwill or other intangible assets with indefinite lives are impaired, the assets should be written down to their fair values. Based on our assessments as of December 28, 2002 and December 29, 2001, we did not record any impairment loss. To perform these assessments, we compared the net assets of our Broadline and Fresh-cut segments individually to the expected discounted future cash flows of each segment. A significant change in the assumptions regarding the future cash flows of either segment would require further impairment testing, which could result in the recognition of an impairment loss. As of December 28, 2002, our unamortized goodwill was $575.5 million and other intangible assets totaled $205.5 million, net.

Accounting for Off Balance Sheet Financing Activities. We have two sources of funding which could generally be described as off balance sheet financing activities - the Receivables Facility and our two master operating lease facilities, all described in "Off Balance Sheet Activities." The sale of the undivided interest in our accounts receivable qualifies for sale treatment under generally accepted accounting principles; therefore, these receivables have been removed from our consolidated balance sheets. We measure the Residual Interest in the undivided interest in receivables sold under our Receivables Facility using the estimated discounted cash flows of the underlying accounts receivable, based on estimated collections and a discount rate approximately equivalent to our incremental borrowing rate. Significant changes in our estimates and assumptions could result in a change in earnings. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the Receivables Facility. Our leases under the two master operating lease facilities qualify for operating lease accounting treatment under SFAS No.13, Accounting for Leases, and, as such, the buildings, and the debt incurred to construct them, are not included on our consolidated balance sheet. Under the current structure of our two master operating lease facilities, we will be required to consolidate these facilities upon the adoption of FIN 46, discussed in "Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements."

Reserve for Inventories. We maintain reserves for slow-moving and obsolete inventories. These reserves are based upon inventory category, age of inventory, specifically identified items and overall economic conditions. A sudden and unexpected change in consumer preferences could result in a significant change in the reserve balance and a corresponding charge to earnings.

Sales Incentives. We, primarily through our Fresh-cut segment, offer sales incentives and promotions to our customers (resellers) and to consumers. These incentives primarily include volume and growth rebates, exclusivity and placement fees (fees paid to retailers for product display), consumer coupons and promotional discounts. We follow the requirements of EITF No. 01-9, Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer (including a Reseller of the Vendor's Products). Consideration given to customers and consumers related to sales incentives is recorded as a reduction of sales. Changes in the estimated amount of incentives to be paid are treated as changes in estimates and are recognized in the period of change. The cost of volume and growth rebates and exclusivity and placement fees is recorded using a systematic and rational allocation of the cost of the incentives to each of the underlying revenue transactions that resulted in progress by the customer toward earning the incentives to be paid. If we cannot reasonably estimate the amount of future incentives to be paid to the customer, we record the maximum potential amount. We use a customer's prior purchasing volume, as well as other factors, to assist in estimating the total incentives to be paid, if any. The cost of consumer coupons is recorded at the later of the date the coupon is offered or the date the related revenue is recognized by us. The amount recorded is based on the estimated amount of refunds or rebates that will be redeemed by consumers. We primarily use historical coupon redemption data and forecasted sales volumes to estimate the amount to be redeemed. If we cannot reasonably and reliably estimate the amount to be redeemed, we record the maximum potential amount. Promotional discounts are primarily recorded as a reduction to the customer's invoice for goods purchased based on an underlying agreement with the customer. A change in our estimates and assumptions related to consumer coupon redemption rates and customer purchase volumes, among other factors, may result in a change in our sales and earnings.

Vendor Rebates and other Promotional Incentives. We participate in various rebate and promotional incentives with our suppliers, primarily including volume and growth rebates, annual and multi-year incentives and promotional programs. Consideration received under these incentives is generally recorded as a reduction of cost of goods sold. However, in certain circumstances the consideration is recorded as a reduction of costs incurred by us. Consideration received may be in the form of cash and/or invoice deductions. Changes in the estimated amount of incentives to be received are treated as changes in estimates and are recognized in the period of change.

Consideration received for incentives that contain volume and growth rebates and annual and multi-year incentives is recorded as a reduction of cost of goods sold. The consideration is recorded by us based upon a systematic and rational allocation of these incentives to each of the underlying transactions that results in progress by us toward earning the incentives, provided the amounts are probable and reasonably estimable. If the incentives are not probable and reasonably estimable, we record the incentives as the underlying objectives or milestones are achieved. We record annual and multi-year incentives when earned, which is generally over the agreement period. We use current and historical purchasing data, forecasted purchasing volumes and other factors in estimating whether the underlying objectives or milestones will be achieved. Consideration received to promote and sell the supplier's products is typically a reimbursement of costs incurred by us and is then recorded as a reduction of our costs. If the amount of consideration received from the suppliers exceeds our costs, any excess is recorded as a reduction of cost of goods sold. A change to our estimates and assumptions of future purchasing volumes and the amount of promotional costs, among other factors, may result in a change in our earnings.

In January 2003, the EITF reached a final consensus on EITF Issue No. 02-16, Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor. EITF No. 02-16 clarifies certain aspects for accounting and recording by customers of consideration received from suppliers. We believe the application of EITF No. 02-16 will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations. For additional information on EITF No. 02-16, see "Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements."

Management has discussed the development and selection of these critical accounting estimates with the audit committee of the board of directors and the audit committee has reviewed the above disclosure. In addition, our financial statements contain other items that require estimation, but are not as critical as those discussed above. These include our calculations for bonus accruals, depreciation, amortization and tax liabilities. Changes in estimates and assumptions used in these and other items could have an effect on our financial statements.

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 142 requires goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives to be tested for impairment at least annually, or more often if other circumstances indicate. If impaired, the assets should be written down to their fair values. Furthermore, SFAS No. 142 requires intangible assets other than goodwill to be amortized over their useful lives unless those lives are determined to be indefinite.

SFAS No. 142 was effective at the beginning of 2002, except for goodwill and other intangible assets resulting from business combinations completed subsequent to June 30, 2001, for which the standard was effective beginning July 1, 2001. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, we ceased amortizing goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives as of the beginning of 2002. Other intangible assets with definite lives are carried at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, generally three to 40 years. For 2002 and 2001, we recorded amortization expense of $8.3 million and $10.3 million, respectively. The following table presents the impact of SFAS No. 142 on net earnings and net earnings per share had SFAS No. 142 been in effect for 2001 and 2000:

In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations. SFAS No. 143 addresses accounting for legal obligations associated with the retirement of certain long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and the normal operation of long-lived assets. SFAS No. 143 requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset and subsequently allocated to expense over the asset's useful life. SFAS 143 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this statement. We do not expect the adoption of this statement to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. SFAS No. 144 requires a company to recognize an impairment loss if the carrying amounts of long-lived assets to be held and used are not recoverable from their expected undiscounted future cash flows. SFAS No. 144 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. We adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 144 in 2002. The adoption of SFAS No. 144 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2001, the EITF issued EITF Issue No. 01-9, Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer (Including a Reseller of the Vendor's Products). EITF No. 01-9 specifies the timing of the recognition and classification of certain sales incentives. We adopted the requirements of EITF No. 01-9. The adoption of EITF No. 01-9 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities. SFAS No. 146 addresses accounting for costs to terminate contracts that are not capital leases, costs to consolidate facilities or relocate employees and termination benefits. SFAS No. 146, effective for exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002, requires that the fair value of a liability related to penalties for early contract termination be recognized when the entity effectively terminates the contract. The fair value of a liability for other contract termination costs should be recognized when an entity ceases using the rights conveyed by the contract. The liability for one-time termination benefits should be accrued ratably over the future service period based on when employees are entitled to receive the benefits and a minimum retention period. We will apply SFAS No. 146 to exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002, as required.

In November 2002, the FASB issued FIN 45, Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others. FIN 45 elaborates on the existing disclosure requirements for most guarantees. It also clarifies that at the time a company issues a guarantee, it must recognize an initial liability for the fair value of the obligations it assumes under that guarantee and must disclose that information in its interim and annual financial statements. The accounting provisions of FIN 45 are effective on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 15, 2002. The disclosure requirements of FIN 45 are effective for financial statements for periods ending after December 15, 2002. We adopted the disclosure requirements of FIN 45 in 2002, as discussed in further detail in Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements. We will apply the accounting requirements of FIN 45 to any guarantees issued or modified after December 15, 2002. We do not believe that this accounting standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure. SFAS No. 148 amends existing accounting literature to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair-value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. The statement also requires additional disclosures in both interim and annual financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. The accounting provisions (if elected) and the disclosure provisions (required) of SFAS No. 148 were effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002. We have currently elected not to adopt the fair-value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. We have adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148.

In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. FIN 46 requires certain variable interest entities to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entity if the equity investors in the entity do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. FIN 46 applies in the first interim or annual period beginning after June 15, 2003 to variable interest entities existing or acquired before February 1, 2003. It also applies to all new variable interest entities created or acquired after January 31, 2003. In the third quarter of 2003, we will be required to adopt the provisions of FIN 46. Under the current structure of our First and Second Facilities, we will be required to consolidate these facilities upon the adoption of FIN 46. If consolidated, our property, plant and equipment and current and long-term debt will increase on our consolidated balance sheet. We do not expect that FIN 46 will require us to consolidate our Receivables Facility. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting FIN 46 on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2003, the EITF reached a final consensus on EITF Issue No. 02-16, Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor. EITF No. 02-16 clarifies certain aspects for accounting and recording by customers of consideration received from suppliers. Under EITF No. 02-16, consideration received related to growth rebates and agreements containing specified time period restrictions should be recorded as a reduction of cost of goods sold and recognized on a systematic and rational allocation if the amounts are probable and reasonably estimable. In addition, consideration received for certain promotional activities should be recorded as a reduction of those costs, with any excess being recorded as a reduction of cost of goods sold. We believe the application of EITF No. 02-16 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Set forth below is certain summary information with respect to our operations for the most recent eight fiscal quarters. All of the fiscal quarters set forth below had 13 weeks. Historically, the restaurant and foodservice business is seasonal, with lower sales in the first quarter. Consequently, we may experience lower net sales during the first quarter, depending on the timing of any future acquisitions. Management believes our quarterly net sales will continue to be impacted by the seasonality of the restaurant business. In addition, our Fresh-cut segment experiences some seasonality, primarily due to changes in raw material costs, as product is grown in different regions of the country in certain times of the year.

Our primary market risks are related to fluctuations in interest rates and changes in commodity prices. Our primary interest rate risk is from changing interest rates related to our outstanding debt. We currently manage this risk through a combination of fixed and floating rates on these obligations. As of December 28, 2002, our total debt consisted of fixed and floating rate debt of $258.5 million and $114.1 million, respectively. In addition, the rates on our Receivables Facility and two master operating lease facilities are floating rates. Substantially all of our floating rates are based on LIBOR with the exception of the rate on the Receivables Facility, which is based upon a 30-day commercial-paper rate. A 100 basis-point increase in market interest rates on all of our floating-rate debt, our Receivables Facility and our two master operating lease facilities would result in a decrease in net earnings and cash flow of approximately $1.6 million per annum, holding other variables constant.

None.

The Proxy Statement issued in connection with the shareholders' meeting to be held on May 7, 2003, contains under the captions "Proposal 1: Election of Directors" and "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance" information required by Item 10 of Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference. Pursuant to General Instruction G (3), certain information concerning our executive officers is included in Part I of this Form 10-K, under the caption "Executive Officers."

The Company has adopted a code of ethics for its principal executive officer, principal accounting and financial officer, controller and persons performing similar functions (the "Code of Ethics"), a copy of which has been posted on the Company's website at www.pfgc.com. Please note that our website address is provided as an inactive textual reference only. The Company will make any legally required disclosures regarding amendments to, or waivers of, provisions of its Code of Ethics on its website.

The Proxy Statement issued in connection with the shareholders' meeting to be held on May 7, 2003, contains under the caption "Executive Compensation" information required by Item 11 of Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

The Proxy Statement issued in connection with the shareholders' meeting to be held on May 7, 2003, contains under the captions "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners," "Proposal 1: Election of Directors" and "Proposal 2: Adoption of the Performance Food Group Company 2003 Equity Incentive Plan," information required by Item 12 of Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

The Proxy Statement issued in connection with the shareholders' meeting to be held on May 7, 2003, contains under the caption "Certain Transactions" information required by Item 13 of Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-14 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Within the 90 days prior to the date of this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There were no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the internal controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.