Note 16. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Purchase Commitments

We have minimum volume purchase requirements under certain of our fuel supply agreements with a purchase price at prevailing market rates for wholesale distribution. The following provides total annual future minimum volume purchase requirements (in thousands of gallons):

 

2026

 

 

582,796

 

2027

 

 

512,776

 

2028

 

 

454,998

 

2029

 

 

445,873

 

2030

 

 

402,956

 

Thereafter

 

 

1,657,494

 

Total

 

 

4,056,893

 

 

In the event we fail to purchase the required minimum volume for a given contract period, the underlying third party’s exclusive remedies (depending on the magnitude of the failure) are either termination of the supply agreement and/or a financial penalty per gallon based on the volume shortfall for the given period. We did not pay any significant penalties in any period presented.

Litigation Matters

We are from time to time party to various lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. These actions typically seek, among other things, compensation for alleged personal injury, breach of contract, property damages, environmental damages, employment-related claims and damages, punitive damages, civil penalties or other losses, or injunctive or declaratory relief. With respect to all such lawsuits, claims and proceedings, we record an accrual when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. In addition, we disclose matters for which management believes a material loss is at least reasonably possible. We believe that it is not reasonably possible that these proceedings, separately or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In all instances, management has assessed the matter based on current information and made a judgment concerning its potential outcome, giving due consideration to the nature of the claim, the amount and nature of damages sought and the probability of success. Management’s judgment may prove materially inaccurate, and such judgment is made subject to the known uncertainties of litigation.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 25, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 27, 2025
2023Feb 27, 2024
2022Feb 28, 2023
2021Mar 1, 2022
2020Mar 2, 2021
2019Feb 26, 2020
2018Feb 26, 2019
2017Feb 27, 2018
2016Feb 28, 2017
2015Feb 19, 2016

About Commitments Disclosures

Commitments and contingencies disclosures catalog a company's off-balance-sheet obligations and legal exposures — purchase commitments, guarantee arrangements, pending litigation, and regulatory proceedings. These items represent potential future cash outflows that may not appear as liabilities on the balance sheet until they become probable and estimable.

Key signals: litigation reserves and disclosed loss ranges quantify management's estimate of legal exposure, but unquantified "reasonably possible" losses often represent the larger risk. Watch for changes in language around pending cases — shifts from "remote" to "reasonably possible" or increases in estimated loss ranges signal deteriorating outcomes. Unconditional purchase obligations and take-or-pay contracts create fixed cost structures that reduce operational flexibility. Guarantee arrangements for subsidiaries or joint ventures can create cascading obligations. Compare the total commitment schedule against projected free cash flow to assess whether the company can meet its obligations without additional financing.