The shareholders will also transact any other business that may properly come before the annual meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting. In addition, Flowers Foods’ senior management team will report on the performance of the company and respond to questions from shareholders.

This year’s annual meeting will be a virtual meeting of the shareholders conducted via live webcast. The meeting will include senior management team remarks and a question and answer session. All shareholders of record on March 23, 2021 are invited to participate in the meeting. We have structured our virtual meeting to provide shareholders the same rights as if the meeting were held in person, including the ability to vote shares electronically during the meeting and ask questions in accordance with the rules of conduct for the meeting.

To attend the meeting please visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FLO2021. To participate in the annual meeting, you will need the 16-digit control number included on your notice or in your proxy card. If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you may contact your bank, broker or other record holder if you have questions about obtaining your 16-digit control number; instructions should also be provided on the notice or voting instruction form provided by your bank, broker or other record holder.

Shareholders may submit questions in advance of the annual meeting at www.proxyvote.com by clicking the “Submit Questions” tab no later than 24 hours before the meeting. To submit questions through

www.proxyvote.com, you will need to log in with the 16-digit control number included on your proxy card, voting instruction form or notice of internet availability of proxy materials previously received. Questions pertinent to annual meeting matters may be answered during the annual meeting, subject to time constraints. Questions that are substantially similar may be grouped and answered once to avoid repetition.

Additional information regarding the rules of conduct and other materials for the virtual annual meeting, including the list of our shareholders of record, will be available during the meeting on the meeting website.

If you have any technical difficulties or any questions regarding the virtual meeting website, please call the support team at the numbers listed on the log-in screen. If there are any technical issues in convening or hosting the meeting, we will promptly post information to our Investors website, https://www.flowersfoods.com/investors, including information on when the meeting will be reconvened.

Electronic entry to the meeting will begin at 10:45 a.m., Eastern Time, and the meeting will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time.

The board of directors recommends that you vote:

A proxy is your legal designation of another person to vote the shares of Flowers Foods common stock you own as of the record date for the annual meeting. If you appoint someone as your proxy in a written document, that document is also called a proxy or a proxy card. We have

designated three of our executive officers as proxies for the annual meeting. These three officers are A. Ryals McMullian, our president and chief executive officer, R. Steve Kinsey, our chief financial officer and chief accounting officer, and Stephanie B. Tillman, our chief legal counsel.

Yes. Under SEC rules and regulations, Flowers Foods is making this proxy statement and its 2020 annual report available to its shareholders electronically on the Internet at www.proxyvote.com. On or about April 13, 2021, we mailed to our shareholders a notice (the “Notice”) containing instructions on how to access this proxy statement and our 2020 annual report online. If you received a Notice by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials in the mail. Rather, the Notice instructs you on how to access and review all of the important

information contained in this proxy statement and our 2020 annual report on the Internet. The Notice also instructs you on how you may submit your proxy vote over the Internet.

If you received a Notice by mail but would like to receive a printed copy of this proxy statement and our 2020 annual report, please follow the instructions contained on the Notice.

To be eligible to vote, you must have been a shareholder of record of the company’s common stock at the close of business on March 23, 2021, which is the record date for the annual meeting. There were

211,699,835 shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote on the record date.

You are entitled to one vote on each of the twelve director-nominees, and one vote on each other matter to be voted upon at the annual meeting, for each share of common stock you held on the record date for the annual meeting. For example, if you owned 100 shares of our

common stock on the record date, you would be entitled to 100 votes for each of the twelve director-nominees and for each other matter to be voted upon at the annual meeting.

By executing and returning your proxy (either by returning the proxy card or by submitting your proxy electronically by the Internet or telephone or during the annual meeting), you appoint A. Ryals McMullian, R. Steve Kinsey and Stephanie B. Tillman to represent you at the annual meeting and to vote your shares at the annual meeting in

accordance with your voting instructions. The Internet, telephone and virtual annual meeting voting procedures are designed to authenticate shareholder identities, allow shareholders to give voting instructions and confirm that shareholders’ instructions have been recorded properly. Any shareholder voting by Internet, telephone or during the annual meeting should understand that there may be costs associated with electronic access, like usage charges from Internet access and telephone or cable service providers, that must be paid by the shareholder.

Registered shareholders should specify their choice for each matter on the proxy card. If no specific instructions are given, proxies that are signed and returned will be voted:

Yes. You can change your vote and revoke your proxy at any time before the polls close at the annual meeting by doing any one of the following things:

If you participate in the Flowers Foods, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”) and you received the Notice, you may vote by the Internet or telephone as previously described in this proxy statement. If you elect to receive your proxy materials by mail, you may vote by completing and signing the enclosed proxy card and promptly mailing it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. In addition, if you received a Notice by mail but would like to receive a printed copy of this proxy statement and our 2020 annual report, please follow the instructions contained on the Notice. By voting, you will direct Great-

West Trust Company, LLC, as trustee of the 401(k) Plan (the “Trustee”), how to vote the shares of Flowers Foods common stock allocated to your account. Any unvoted or unallocated shares will be voted by the Trustee in the same proportion on each proposal as the Trustee votes the shares of common stock credited to the 401(k) Plan participants’ accounts for which the Trustee receives voting instructions from the 401(k) Plan participants. The number of shares you are eligible to vote is based on the number of shares of Flowers Foods common stock in your account on the record date for the annual meeting.

If your shares of Flowers Foods common stock are held in “street name” by a bank, broker or other record holder, you will receive instructions from the registered holder that you must follow in order for your shares to be voted for you by that bank, broker or other record holder. Internet and telephone voting are offered to shareholders who own their shares of Flowers Foods common stock through certain banks and brokers.

The election of directors (Proposal I), the advisory vote on the compensation of the Named Executives (Proposal II) and the shareholder proposal regarding political contribution disclosure, if properly presented at the annual meeting (Proposal IV), are considered

non-discretionary matters under applicable NYSE Rules. A broker or other nominee cannot vote without instructions on non-discretionary matters, and therefore there may be broker “non-votes” on Proposal I, Proposal II and Proposal IV. The ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending January 1, 2022 (Proposal III) is considered a discretionary matter under applicable NYSE Rules, and a broker or other nominee may (but is not required to) vote “FOR” Proposal III without instructions. Accordingly, it is important that you follow the voting instructions sent to you by the registered holder of your shares held in “street name” if you want your vote to be counted.

Abstentions will be counted as present in determining whether the quorum requirement is satisfied, but will not be included in vote totals

and will not affect the outcome of the vote with respect to Proposals I, II, III and IV.

The holders of at least a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote at the annual meeting are required to be present in person or represented by proxy to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the annual meeting. Abstentions and broker “non-votes” will be counted as present in determining whether the quorum requirement is satisfied. The aggregate number of votes cast by

all shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the annual meeting, whether those shareholders vote for or against the proposals, and the total number of votes cast for each of these proposals will be counted for purposes of determining whether the proposals have been approved by the shareholders.

If a quorum is not present at the scheduled time of the annual meeting, we may adjourn or postpone the annual meeting until a quorum is present. The time and place of the adjourned or postponed annual meeting will be announced at the time the adjournment or

postponement is taken, and, unless such adjournment or postponement is for more than 120 days, no other notice will be given. An adjournment or postponement will not affect the business that may be conducted at the annual meeting.

Broker “non-votes” will be counted as present in determining whether the quorum requirement is satisfied but will not be included in vote totals and generally will not affect the outcome of the vote. A “non-vote” occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a proposal because the nominee has not received instructions from the beneficial owner and does not have discretionary power to vote.

In order for your shares to be voted on all matters presented at the annual meeting, including the election of directors, we urge all shareholders whose shares are held in street name by a bank, broker or other record holder to provide voting instructions to the bank, broker or other record holder.

At this time, the board of directors does not know of any other business to be brought before the annual meeting, but if any other business is properly brought before the annual meeting, the persons named as

proxies, Messrs. McMullian and Kinsey and Ms. Tillman, will exercise their judgment in deciding how to vote or otherwise act at the annual meeting with respect to that matter or proposal.

We will pay the cost of soliciting proxies. We have engaged Morrow Sodali LLC, 470 West Ave, Stamford, CT 06902, to assist in the solicitation of votes for a fee of $12,000, plus out-of-pocket expenses. In addition, our directors and officers may solicit proxies in person, by telephone or facsimile, but will not receive additional compensation for

these services. Brokerage houses, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries will be requested to forward soliciting material to beneficial owners of common stock held of record by them, and we will reimburse those persons for their reasonable expenses in doing so.

The Notice, this proxy statement and our 2020 annual report are available on the Internet at www.proxyvote.com. You may also receive a copy of our 2020 annual report free of charge by sending a written request to Flowers Foods, Inc., 1919 Flowers Circle, Thomasville, Georgia 31757, Attention: Shareholder Relations Department.

If you elected to receive your proxy materials by mail, a copy of our 2020 annual report, which includes our Annual Report on Form 10-K

and our financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021, is included in the mailing of this proxy statement.

The annual report does not form any part of the material for the solicitation of proxies.

Yes. If you are a registered shareholder or if you participate in the 401(k) Plan, go to the company’s website, www.flowersfoods.com, and follow the instructions for signing up for electronic delivery of proxy materials. Those shareholders signing up for this service will receive all future proxy materials, including the Notice, proxy statement and annual report electronically. Please call Lisa Hay, our manager of shareholder relations, at (229) 226-9110, if you need assistance.

If you hold your shares in a brokerage account or bank you may also have the opportunity to receive these documents electronically. Please contact your brokerage service, bank or financial advisor to make arrangements for electronic delivery of your proxy materials.

George E. Deese has gained extensive operational and financial experience as an executive in various capacities during his 56-year career with the company. Mr. Deese, age 75, served as executive chairman of the board of directors of the company from May 22, 2013 until he retired December 31, 2014 and continues to serve as non-executive chairman. Mr. Deese was chief executive officer of Flowers Foods from January 2004 until May 2013. Mr. Deese has served as a director of Flowers Foods since June 2004 and chairman of the board of directors since January 1, 2006. Previously, he served as president and chief operating officer of Flowers Foods from May 2002 to January 2004 and as president and chief operating officer of Flowers Bakeries, the company’s core business division, from 1983 to May 2002. Mr. Deese joined the company in 1964. He previously served as a board member of the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA), and previously served as a trustee of the Georgia Research Alliance. Mr. Deese previously served as chairman of the American Bakers Association (ABA) and on the ABA board and executive committee. He previously served as vice chairman of the board for Quality Bakers of America (QBA) and as a member of the QBA board for 15 years.

Edward J. Casey, Jr. brings broad leadership and management skills to the board of directors. Mr. Casey, age 63, served as the chief executive officer of the North American business for IDEMIA, a global leader in identity and digital security technologies, from January 2018 to February 2021. Previously, he served as acting chief executive officer, chief operating officer, and a member of the board of Serco Group plc (LSE), a provider of public services in defense, transportation, immigration, healthcare, and other sectors based in the United Kingdom, from 2013 to 2017, and served as chairman and chief executive officer of Serco’s North American business from 2005 to 2013. Mr. Casey also served as group president of LG&E Energy, an electricity and natural gas company, as president and chief operating officer of Tenneco Energy, a diversified energy company, and was founder and chief executive officer of NP Energy, an energy marketing firm. He previously served as a director of Talen Energy (NYSE), from 2015 until it was sold in 2016.

Thomas C. Chubb, III brings extensive legal, operational, and branded products knowledge to the board of directors. Mr. Chubb, age 57, has served as chairman, chief executive officer and president of Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE), a publicly held, lifestyle apparel company with a brand portfolio that includes Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer, Southern Tide, The Beaufort Bonnet Company, and Duck Head, since 2015. During the course of his career with Oxford Industries, which spans more than 30 years, he was named vice president, general counsel, and secretary in 1999; executive vice president in 2004; president in 2009; a member of the board in 2012; and chief executive officer and president in 2013.

Rhonda Gass brings extensive strategic and information technology experience to the board of directors. Ms. Gass, age 57, has served as vice president and chief information officer for Stanley Black & Decker since 2012 and was named an executive officer of the company the same year. Mrs. Gass is responsible for Stanley Black & Decker’s comprehensive and cross business unit IT strategy, delivery and support, and security infrastructure. She also leads the functional transformation activities for the company, focusing on effectiveness and efficiency. Previously, she was vice president of strategy, technology, and governance for Dell, where she worked for 12 years in positions of increasing scope and responsibility.

Benjamin H. Griswold, IV has extensive experience in investment banking, corporate finance and strategic planning. Mr. Griswold, age 80, is partner and chairman of Brown Advisory. Mr. Griswold retired in February 2005 as senior chairman of Deutsche Bank Securities, a position he had held since 1999. Prior to that time, Mr. Griswold held several positions with Alex. Brown & Sons, ultimately being elected to the firm’s chairman of the board. Following the merger of Alex. Brown and Bankers Trust New York, he became senior chairman of BT Alex. Brown, which was acquired by Deutsche Bank in 1999. Mr. Griswold also served on the board of the New York Stock Exchange, completing his term in 1999. He served as a director and non-executive chairman of W.P. Carey Inc. (NYSE) since 2006 and 2012, respectively, until 2020. Previously he served as a director of Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE) from 2001 until his retirement from the board effective April 20, 2016 and is a trustee emeritus of Johns Hopkins University.

Margaret G. Lewis brings extensive leadership experience and management skills to the board of directors. Her variety of senior management roles provides expertise in executive decision-making and strategic planning. Ms. Lewis, age 67, is the retired president of HCA’s Capital Division, which includes facilities in northern, central and southwestern Virginia, New Hampshire, Indiana and Kentucky. She began her career with HCA in 1978 and held several positions in nursing management and quality management before becoming chief nursing officer of HCA’s Richmond Division in 1997. Ms. Lewis became chief operating officer of CJW Medical Center in 1998 and chief executive officer in 2001. She is a registered nurse and a fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives. Ms. Lewis served as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond from September 2013 until December 2019, including chairman from January 2017 to December 2018 and deputy chair from January 2019 to December 2019. Ms. Lewis has served as a director of Flowers Foods since May 2014, and as a director of W.P. Carey Inc. (NYSE) since 2017. She previously served as a director of Smithfield Foods from 2011 to 2013.

W. Jameson McFadden brings experience in investment banking and corporate finance to the board of directors. Mr. McFadden, 39, joined Wellington Shields & Co., a New York-based wealth management and investment firm, in 2006 as a research analyst and has served in his current role as president since January 2017. He also has served as chief executive officer of Capital Management Associates, a registered investment advisor based in New York, since 2014, and as head of sales and distribution for Blue Quail Wines, a winery in California, since 2010. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Loyola Marymount University and an MBA in finance and management from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business.

A. Ryals McMullian has extensive leadership, operational and financial experience that he has acquired through multiple leadership positions held during his 18 years with the company. Mr. McMullian, age 51, was elected president and chief executive officer effective May 2019 and was elected to the board of directors in August 2019. He served as chief operating officer from June 2018 until May 2019 and as chief strategy officer from May 2017 until June 2018. Prior to that, Mr. McMullian served as vice president of mergers and acquisitions and deputy general counsel from 2015 until 2017, and vice president and associate general counsel from 2011 until 2015. He joined the company in 2003 as associate general counsel. He holds a master’s degree in business administration, a juris doctor, and a bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate from Florida State University.

James T. Spear has extensive food and health care industry, and leadership experience with public and private companies along with expertise in acquisitions and divestitures, financial reporting and auditing, corporate finance, risk management, information technology, investor relations, and strategic planning. Mr. Spear, age 66, joined the company’s board of directors on January 1, 2015. Mr. Spear is the retired executive vice president and chief financial officer of Cadence Health, where he served from 2006 to 2012. Prior to that Mr. Spear served as vice president finance at Keebler Foods (NYSE) and also operated an independent advisory and consulting business. Since his retirement, Mr. Spear has periodically engaged in various consulting activities. Mr. Spear also currently serves on the board of directors of both The Trust Company of Illinois and The Trinity Forum. He also serves on the board of advisors to the Wheaton College Center for Faith, Politics, and Economics, where he previously served as an adjunct professor. Since 2013, the National Association of Corporate Directors has designated Mr. Spear as a Board Leadership Fellow.

Melvin T. Stith, Ph.D. has a significant background in marketing and accounting, has a high level of financial literacy and brings a unique academic perspective to the board of directors. Dr. Stith, age 74, is the former interim president of Norfolk State University. He previously served as dean emeritus of the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University in New York. From June 2013 until he retired in December 2015, he was professor of marketing at the Whitman School of Management. He previously served as dean of the Whitman School of Management from 2005 to 2013. Prior to that time, he was dean of the College of Business at Florida State University and the Jim Moran Professor of Business Administration. He also is a director of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE) (2012-present). Dr. Stith previously served as a director of Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE) from 1998 until April 2019 and Keebler Foods Company from 1999 to 2001. He has served as a director of Flowers Foods since July 2004.

Terry S. Thomas brings extensive brand and consumer products experience to the board of directors. Mr. Thomas, age 51, has served as executive vice president, chief customer officer US for the Unilever Group, a global food, personal care, and household products company, since August 2019. During his career with Unilever, he was named sector vice president of customer development in 2013 and senior vice president of customer development, U.S. grocery channel, DSD & natural channel in 2018. Prior to joining Unilever, Mr. Thomas worked for PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ) for 13 years, serving as vice president and general manager of various business channels, including small format, global convenience, gas, drug, dollar, and super regional grocery. Mr. Thomas also held management positions at the Coca-Cola Company (NYSE), Clorox Company (NYSE), and Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE). He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Northwestern University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

C. Martin Wood III has a high degree of financial literacy and extensive knowledge of the company gained through his 50 years of service with the company, 22 of which he served as its chief financial officer. Mr. Wood, age 77, has been a partner in Wood Associates, a private investment firm, since January 2000. He retired as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Flowers Industries, Inc. on January 1, 2000, a position that he had held since 1978. Mr. Wood has served as a director of Flowers Foods since March 2001 and he previously served as a director of Flowers Industries, Inc. from 1975 until March 2001. Mr. Wood joined the company in 1970. Mr. Wood also serves as senior active trustee on the board of Archbold Medical Center and as a trustee for the Archbold Foundation.

We believe that good corporate governance is essential to ensure that the company is effectively managed for the long-term benefit of our shareholders. We have thoroughly reviewed our corporate governance policies and practices and compared them with those recommended by corporate governance advisors and the policies and practices of other publicly-held companies.

Based upon this review we have adopted the following corporate governance documents:

You can access the full text of all these corporate governance documents on our website at www.flowersfoods.com by clicking on the “INVESTORS” tab and selecting “CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.” You can also receive a copy of these documents by writing to Flowers Foods, Inc., 1919 Flowers Circle, Thomasville, Georgia 31757, Attention: Shareholder Relations Department.

Pursuant to our corporate governance guidelines, the nominating/corporate governance committee and the board of directors are required to annually review the independence of each director and director-nominee. During this review, transactions and relationships among each director and director-nominee or any member of his or her immediate family and the company are considered, including, among others, all commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and familial relationships and those reported in this proxy statement under the section entitled “Transactions with Management and Others.” In addition, transactions and relationships among directors or director-nominees or their affiliates and members of senior management and their affiliates are examined.

The purpose of this annual review is to determine whether each director and director-nominee meets the applicable criteria for independence in accordance with the SEC rules and regulations, NYSE Rules and our corporate governance guidelines. Only those directors who meet the applicable criteria for independence and the board of directors affirmatively determines to have no direct or indirect material relationship with the company are considered independent directors.

As part of our corporate governance guidelines, we have adopted categorical standards, which provide that certain relationships will be considered material relationships and will preclude a director’s independence. Under these standards, an “independent” director is one who:

The nominating/corporate governance committee and the board of directors conducted the required annual independence review in February 2021. Upon the recommendation of the nominating/corporate governance committee, the board of directors affirmatively determined that a majority of our directors and director-nominees are independent of the company and its management as required by the SEC rules and regulations, NYSE Rules and our corporate governance guidelines. Messrs. Deese, Casey, Chubb, Griswold, McFadden, Spear, Thomas and Wood, Dr. Stith and Mses. Lewis and Gass are independent directors and director-nominees, as applicable. Mr. McMullian is an inside director because he is currently the president and chief executive officer of the company. In determining the independence of Mr. Deese, the board of directors considered the employment by the company of his family members. Each director and director-nominee abstained from voting on his or her own independence.

The foregoing discussion of director independence is applicable only to service as a member of the board of directors, the compensation committee and the nominating/corporate governance committee.

Additional guidelines apply to the members of the audit committee under the SEC rules and regulations and NYSE Rules.

Pursuant to our corporate governance guidelines, the board of directors created the position of “presiding director,” whose primary responsibilities are to preside over periodic executive sessions of the board of directors in which non-independent directors and other members of management do not participate and to:

Each year at the meeting of the board of directors following the annual meeting, a presiding director is appointed among the independent directors to serve until the company’s annual meeting of shareholders the following year. On May 21, 2020, Benjamin H. Griswold, IV was reappointed to serve as the presiding director until the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders.

In accordance with the company’s amended and restated bylaws (the “bylaws”), the board of directors has set the number of members of the board of directors at twelve. The board of directors held five meetings in fiscal 2020, and no incumbent director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of:

The board of directors has established several standing committees: an audit committee, a nominating/corporate governance committee, a compensation committee and a finance committee. The board of directors has adopted a written charter for each of these committees, all of which are available on the company’s website at www.flowersfoods.com.

Under the terms of its charter, the audit committee represents and assists the board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to:

The audit committee’s duties and responsibilities include:

The board of directors has determined that all audit committee members serving during 2020 are or were “independent” under the SEC rules and regulations, NYSE Rules and our corporate governance guidelines.

The board of directors has also determined that Mr. Spear is an “audit committee financial expert” under Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act of 1933. Each member of the audit committee is financially literate, knowledgeable and qualified to review financial statements.

Under the terms of its charter, the nominating/corporate governance committee is responsible for considering and making recommendations to the board of directors with regard to the function and needs of the board of directors, and the review and development of our corporate governance guidelines. In fulfilling its duties, the nominating/corporate governance committee shall:

The board of directors has determined that all members of the nominating/corporate governance committee are “independent” under the SEC rules and regulations, NYSE Rules and our corporate governance guidelines. For information relating to nomination of directors by shareholders, please see “— Selection of Director-Nominees.”

Under the terms of its charter, the compensation committee has overall responsibility for evaluating and approving the company’s compensation plans, policies and programs. The compensation committee’s duties and responsibilities include:

For fiscal 2020, the compensation committee completed its annual review of our compensation philosophies and practices with respect to our employees and concluded that the risks arising from such policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us. While risk is inherent in any strategy for growth, the company’s compensation programs minimize risk through the following design elements, among others:

The board of directors has determined that all members of the compensation committee are “independent” under SEC rules and regulations, NYSE Rules and our corporate governance guidelines.

Under the terms of its charter, the finance committee reviews and makes recommendations with respect to financial matters affecting the company. The finance committee’s duties and responsibilities include:

Mr. Deese, our former executive chairman of the board of directors, is non-executive chairman and continues to provide guidance regarding the strategic direction of the company. Mr. McMullian, in his role as president and chief executive officer, has primary responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the company. In his role as non-executive chairman of the board of directors, Mr. Deese continues to set the strategic priorities for the board of directors (with input from the presiding director), preside over its meetings and communicate its strategic findings and guidance to management. The board of directors believes that the close working relationship between the president and chief executive officer and non-executive chairman of the board of directors will continue to provide consistent communication and coordination throughout the organization, which results in a more effective and efficient implementation of corporate strategy. The board of directors further believes that Mr. Deese’s continued active role on

the board of directors is important in unifying the company’s strategy behind a consistent vision as the company transitions through its established succession plans.

As noted earlier, the independent non-management directors reappointed Mr. Griswold as independent presiding director in fiscal 2020, which provides balance to the board’s leadership structure. With a supermajority of independent directors, an audit committee, compensation committee, nominating/corporate governance committee and finance committee each comprised entirely of independent directors, and an independent presiding director to oversee all meetings of the independent directors, the board of directors believes the existing leadership structure provides for an appropriate balance that best serves the company and its shareholders. The board of directors annually reviews its leadership structure to ensure that it remains the optimal structure for the company and its shareholders.

The board of directors is actively involved in oversight of risks that could affect the company. This oversight is conducted primarily through the audit committee, as described above and in the audit committee charter, but the full board of directors has retained responsibility for general oversight of risks. Specifically, the board of directors has responsibility for overseeing, reviewing and monitoring the company’s overall risks, and each board committee is responsible for the oversight of specific risk areas relevant to its purpose as provided in the committee charters. The overall responsibility of the board of directors and its committees is enabled by an enterprise risk management model and process implemented by management that is designed to identify, assess, manage and mitigate risks. The board of directors satisfies this responsibility through full reports by each committee chair regarding the

committee’s considerations and actions, as well as through regular reports to the board of directors directly from management responsible for oversight of particular risks within the company. In addition, the compensation committee, nominating/corporate governance committee and finance committee are responsible for the oversight of specific risks, as described above and in each committee’s charter. The company believes that the board’s leadership structure, discussed in detail above, supports the risk oversight function of the board of directors. Strong directors chair the various board committees involved with risk oversight, there is open communication between management and directors and all directors are actively involved in the risk oversight function.

In accordance with our corporate governance guidelines, directors are expected to rigorously prepare for, attend and participate in all meetings of the board of directors and meetings of the committees on which they serve and to devote the time necessary to appropriately discharge their

responsibilities. Aside from these requirements, the company does not maintain a formal policy for attendance by directors at annual meetings of shareholders. All of our directors attended the annual meeting of shareholders held virtually on May 21, 2020.

The nominating/corporate governance committee identifies and considers director candidates recommended by its members and other directors, as well as management and shareholders. A shareholder who wishes to recommend a prospective director-nominee for the committee’s consideration should submit the candidate’s name and qualifications to Flowers Foods, Inc., 1919 Flowers Circle, Thomasville, Georgia 31757, Attention: Chief Legal Counsel. The nominating/corporate governance committee will also consider whether to

recommend for nomination any person identified by a shareholder pursuant to the provisions of our bylaws relating to shareholder nominations. Recommendations by shareholders that are made in accordance with these procedures will receive the same consideration given to nominees of the nominating/corporate governance committee.

The nominating/corporate governance committee believes that any director-nominee must meet the director qualification criteria set forth in

our corporate governance guidelines before such director-nominee can be recommended for election to the board of directors. These factors include:

The nominating/corporate governance committee considers these factors as it deems appropriate, as well as other factors it determines are pertinent in light of the current needs of the board of directors. The nominating/corporate governance committee may use the services of a third-party executive search firm to assist it in identifying and evaluating possible director-nominees.

The board of directors will give proper attention to written communications that are submitted by shareholders and other interested parties and will respond if appropriate. Shareholders and other interested parties interested in communicating directly with the board of directors as a group, the independent, non-management directors as a group or any individual director may do so by writing to Flowers Foods, Inc., 1919 Flowers Circle, Thomasville, GA 31757,

Attention: Presiding Director. Absent circumstances contemplated by committee charters, the chair of the nominating/corporate governance committee and the presiding director, with the assistance of our chief legal counsel, will monitor and review all correspondence from shareholders and other interested parties and provide copies or summaries of such communications to other directors as they deem appropriate.

Sustainability. Sustainability is core to our strategy and how we connect with consumers and grow our company. Our leading brands and delicious bakery foods are made with a commitment to operating efficiently, reducing waste, and sourcing ingredients responsibly.

As part of that strategy, we recognize our responsibility to uphold the company’s founding values, which for more than 100 years have centered on working ethically, responsibly, and with integrity. We also look for ways to make a positive difference at work and in our communities. By collaborating with stakeholders, including team members, business partners, suppliers, and customers, we’re working to become a more sustainable company.

We integrate environmental, social and governance objectives into our decision making to deliver long-term value. In doing so, we consider

guidance by our stakeholders and third-party frameworks, including the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).

To reduce our environmental impact and to improve our operational efficiency, we have set specific goals focused on addressing carbon emissions, energy usage, water sustainability, waste and recycling, packaging, and logistics.

Flowers Foods 2025 Sustainability Goals:

During 2020, the directors’ compensation package for non-employee directors was based on the following principles:

The nominating/corporate governance committee annually reviews the status of director compensation in relation to other comparable companies and other factors it deems appropriate. In 2020, that committee engaged Meridian Compensation Partners (“Meridian”), an independent compensation consultant, to assist it in its assessment of the competitiveness of director compensation. Meridian developed two peer groups of companies comparable to Flowers Foods in size – an

industry-specific group and a general industry group – and provided details of the values and designs of the director pay programs at those companies. The nominating/corporate governance committee considered that data, the frequency of expected changes to director

pay at Flowers Foods, the expected rate of change in that data and other relevant factors to determine the 2020 program shown below.

The resulting program, slightly modified for 2020, is in the midrange of both peer groups.

Non-employee directors are eligible to participate in the 2014 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”) and the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the “EDCP”).

Non-employee directors have the option to convert their annual cash board retainer fees into deferred stock equal in value to the cash payments they would otherwise have received. These deferred shares

vest pro rata over a one-year period based on service. Accumulated dividends are paid upon the delivery of the vested shares.

Non-employee directors may alternatively elect to defer all or any portion of their annual retainers and cash committee fees into an interest-bearing account in the EDCP. Generally, the deferral plus interest is paid to the director upon retirement or termination from the company’s board of directors.

In order to align the economic interests of directors with those of shareholders, all directors are expected to hold shares of common stock in the company. A non-employee director must own shares of common stock with a value of at least six times the annual cash retainer paid to the non-employee directors. In addition, the non-executive chairman of the board of directors is required to hold six times his

annual board retainer plus his additional cash retainer. All direct holdings of our common stock, certain indirect holdings, and all vested and unvested shares of deferred stock are included for purposes of determining compliance. Directors have five years to meet the required guidelines. All non-employee directors with at least five years of service were in compliance with the guidelines as of March 8, 2021.

Chris Mulford, the son-in-law of George E. Deese, the non-executive chairman of the board of directors, was employed by the company throughout fiscal 2020 as a general plant manager. In fiscal 2020, he was paid an aggregate salary and cash bonus and received vested time-based restricted stock units for total compensation of $244,818. Mr. Mulford is not an executive officer of the company.

Additionally, Margaret Ann Marsh, the daughter of Robert Benton, an executive officer, was employed by the company throughout fiscal 2020 as the Vice President of Sustainability and Environmental Sustainability. In fiscal 2020, she was paid an aggregate salary and cash bonus and received vested time-based restricted stock units for total compensation of $199,634. Ms. Marsh is not an executive officer of the company.

Any transaction between the company and a related party is disclosed to the nominating/corporate governance committee and then presented to the full board of directors for evaluation and approval. The company’s policies with respect to related party transactions are set forth in our corporate governance guidelines, which state that the company does not engage in transactions with related parties if such a transaction would cast into doubt the independence of the director, present the appearance of a conflict of interest or violate any applicable law, rule or regulation. Each of the transactions set forth above were reviewed and approved by the full board of directors in accordance with the company’s policies.

During 2020, Ms. Lewis, Messrs. Griswold and Singer, and Dr. Stith served on the compensation committee. No member of the compensation committee was, during 2020, an officer or employee of the company, was formerly an officer of the company, or had any relationship requiring disclosure by the company as a related party

transaction under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. During 2020, none of the company’s executive officers served on the board of directors or the compensation committee of any other entity, any officers of which served either on the company’s board of directors or its compensation committee.

COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted our business operations and results of operations during fiscal 2020. The resulting dramatic changes in consumer buying patterns has led to a significant rise in demand for our branded retail products, but sales through our non-retail category, which includes foodservice, restaurant, institutional, vending, thrift stores, and contract manufacturing, have declined substantially during the pandemic. The additional week in fiscal 2020 and decreases in legal settlement charges also contributed to the increase in income from operations, partially offset by greater restructuring and consulting costs and appreciation bonuses paid to frontline workers. Although sales of our branded retail products have moderated as the pandemic has continued, we cannot currently estimate when or if they will return to levels prior to the pandemic.

During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee evaluated the impact of the pandemic on the company and, in consultation with its compensation consultant and management, determined not to make any discretionary adjustments to any component of the 2020 executive compensation program, including equity and non-equity performance-based compensation. However, in recognition and support of our frontline workers, we paid $12.3 million in bonuses to eligible hourly and non-exempt employees, leased labor, and contract workers in fiscal 2020. These appreciation bonuses are in addition to the company’s annual bonus program, in which all Flowers employees participate.

Looking Ahead

Today, we are a brands focused company dedicated to the consumer and committed to growing our most profitable brands through innovation, market expansion, and prudent mergers and acquisitions. Based on insights gained from the completion of Project Centennial, we have redefined our strategic priorities and our long-term goals which are as follows:

Strategic Priorities:

Long-term Goals:

The primary objective of our executive compensation program is to attract, retain and motivate qualified executives necessary for the future success of the company and the maximization of shareholder value. Our compensation program is designed to motivate our executives by rewarding them for the achievement of specific annual, long-term and strategic goals of the company. The program aligns our executives’ interests with those of our shareholders by rewarding performance above established goals, with the ultimate objective of improving shareholder value. We strive to foster a sense of ownership among our executives by establishing stock ownership guidelines that require them to maintain ownership of a specified amount of our common stock.

The compensation committee evaluates both performance and compensation to ensure that (i) the company maintains its ability to attract, retain and motivate the most qualified executives; (ii) each executive’s compensation remains competitive relative to the compensation paid to similarly situated executives in comparable companies; and (iii) each of the company’s primary objectives with respect to compensation is being fulfilled. To meet those goals, our compensation program has historically included three primary components:

Certain retirement and other post-employment benefits are also included in the executives’ compensation package. In addition, see the section entitled “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” of this proxy statement for details on payments and benefits payable (or realizable) upon termination of employment and a change of control of the company. We do not offer perquisites as part of our executive compensation program. In addition, our cash bonus and long-term incentive plans are not directly impacted by any potential purchases of the company’s common stock.

Each element of our compensation program is described in greater detail below, including a discussion of why the company chooses to pay each element, how we determine the amount of each element to pay and how each element and the company’s decisions regarding that element fit into our overall compensation objectives.

The objectives of our executive compensation program are accomplished through a balance of pay components that are competitive with market practice and place considerable emphasis on performance-based compensation. Salary and non-equity incentive compensation, equity compensation, and other compensation

expressed as a percentage of total compensation for each Named Executive for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 were as shown below. There is no prescribed mix of our compensation elements; the mix below is driven by Relevant Market Data (as defined below) for each element of pay.

The compensation committee, which is comprised solely of independent directors, has overall responsibility for evaluating, analyzing and approving the company’s compensation plans, policies and programs.

The president and chief executive officer, with the assistance of the chief human resources officer, consults with and advises the compensation committee with respect to the company’s compensation philosophy and makes recommendations regarding the compensation of other executive officers including the Named Executives, but not regarding his own compensation. All recommendations of the president

and chief executive officer to the compensation committee regarding the compensation of other executive officers are independently evaluated by the committee.

The chief financial officer, or his designee, assists the compensation committee in understanding the key drivers of company performance, particularly those measures used in our annual cash bonus and long-term incentive plans and also provides the compensation committee with regular updates on company performance as it relates to certain performance measures used in our annual cash bonus and long-term incentive plans.

For fiscal 2020, the compensation committee engaged Meridian as its independent compensation consultant. At the compensation committee’s request, Meridian evaluated the competitiveness of the base salaries, annual bonuses and long-term incentives awarded to the Named Executives, provided competitive market data on new compensation arrangements and evaluated the continued appropriateness of existing arrangements. Meridian attended compensation committee meetings at the committee’s request and was available to provide guidance to the compensation committee on compensation questions and issues as they arose.

In February 2021, the compensation committee, in accordance with SEC rules and regulations, considered various factors related to

consultant conflicts of interest. In connection with this review, the compensation committee considered the following six factors established by the SEC:

As a result of its review of these six factors, the compensation committee determined that the work of the compensation consultant did not raise any conflicts of interest.

Base salary represents the fixed and recurring part of each Named Executive’s annual compensation. Its objective is to reward experience and expertise, functional progression (i.e., the development of the executive through a series of work experiences and duties and accountabilities relevant to the current position held), career development, skills and competencies. It rewards core competence in the executive role. We choose to pay base salary because it is a standard element of pay for executive positions and is required to attract and retain talent.

We have established a system of tiered salary grades, and executives are assigned an appropriate salary grade considering the position’s internal value as well as external comparisons to the Relevant Market

Data. With respect to the position’s “internal value,” we have developed salary grades on the basis that a given position is at least one salary grade below that of the supervising position, which is the only weight assigned to internal value in establishing the salary grades.

Named Executives’ base salaries are related to a salary grade and the base salaries for the grades are determined based on (i) external competitive market base salaries, as determined through benchmarking analysis of the Relevant Market Data and (ii) the internal relationships (i.e., value and progression) of these positions. We periodically make adjustments to the base salaries based on the factors discussed above as well as the performance of the respective Named Executive.

Individual salaries for Named Executives reporting directly to the president and chief executive officer are subject to approval by the compensation committee after consideration of the recommendations he submits. The president and chief executive officer’s salary is subject

to review and approval by the compensation committee. Base salaries for all Named Executives are reviewed annually by the compensation committee and the board of directors.

For 2020, the annual cash incentive awards were granted to Named Executives under our Omnibus Plan, which was designed to provide an incentive to achieve critical annual goals that lead to our long-term success. We choose to pay it in order to motivate achievement of annual performance metrics critical to continued company growth and shareholder value creation.

For 2020, the compensation committee established target bonus levels under the Omnibus Plan, which are expressed as a percentage of each Named Executive’s base salary (the “Target Bonus Percentage”). Target Bonus Percentages for each Named Executive in 2020 were as follows:

The Actual Bonus Percentage would have been 0% if actual EBITDA were less than 90% of the EBITDA Goal. This mechanism provided motivation for each Named Executive to strive for improved company performance in 2020 even if the EBITDA Goal itself was not attained.

The company does not pay bonuses under the Omnibus Plan to any Named Executive until such time as the compensation committee has

certified the Actual Bonus Percentage and the annual report on Form 10-K for the applicable fiscal year has been filed with the SEC. For 2020, the Company achieved EBITDA of $521,690,000 versus the target of $452,412,000 (the “2020 EBITDA Goal”). Actual bonus amounts earned by each Named Executive for 2020 are shown in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.

In keeping with the compensation committee’s pay-for-performance philosophy, stock-based incentives comprise our entire long-term incentive program and a significant portion of total compensation opportunity for Named Executives. We believe our stock-based incentives, as designed, are fundamental to the enhancement of shareholder value, reward performance over the long-term and align the Named Executives’ interests with those of our shareholders. The 2020 awards under the Omnibus Plan contain elements designed to focus the Named Executives’ attention on one of the company’s primary goals – the long-term success of the company, and ultimately, the enhancement of shareholder value. Individual long-term incentive grants are reviewed annually and approved by the compensation committee with reference to the Relevant Market Data it receives from its compensation consultant.

Similar to our 2019 grants, the compensation committee allocated equity-based awards for 2020 between two types of performance-contingent restricted stock, as described below. The use of performance-contingent restricted stock is intended to encourage Named Executives to focus on capital investments that produce returns in excess of the Company’s weighted average cost of capital, the sum of the after-tax costs of each capital component multiplied by its weight (“WACC”), and to enhance the company’s total shareholder return (“TSR”) relative to food industry peers.

The determination of 2020 performance-contingent restricted stock award levels for the Named Executives was based on the Relevant Market Data.

The 2020 performance-contingent restricted stock agreement (the “Performance Restricted Stock Agreement”) provides the terms and conditions under which the shares of restricted stock will vest. The vesting of the 2020 awards occurs approximately three years from the date of grant (after the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K) to the extent that the vesting conditions described below are satisfied. The performance will be measured from December 29, 2019 to December 31, 2022 for ROIC-Based Performance-Contingent Restricted Stock and from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022 for TSR-Based Performance-Contingent Restricted Stock (the “Performance Period”).

ROIC-Based Performance-Contingent Restricted Stock Awards. Similar to our 2019 awards, the Performance Restricted Stock Agreement provides that, as to 50% of the restricted stock underlying each executive’s performance-contingent restricted stock award (the “ROIC-Based Award”), vesting will occur in the manner set forth below, if the Company’s return on invested capital (“ROIC”) exceeds its WACC by the following levels during the Performance Period:

For performance between the levels described above, the degree of vesting is interpolated on a linear basis.

ROIC is based on the following formula: the time-weighted quarterly average during the ROIC Performance Period of the sum of net income and after-tax interest expense divided by the sum of the time-weighted two-point average quarterly book value of the Company’s debt and the time-weighted two-point average quarterly book value of the Company’s equity capital. GAAP amounts used in the calculation of ROIC shall be adjusted for items that in the Committee’s judgment affect comparability during the ROIC Performance Period and/or between the numerator and denominator.

TSR-Based Performance-Contingent Restricted Stock Awards. The Performance Restricted Stock Agreement provides that, as to the remaining 50% of the restricted stock underlying each Named Executive’s performance-contingent restricted stock award (the “TSR-Based Award”), vesting will occur based on the company’s performance, measured by Company TSR over the Performance Period, as compared to the TSR of the companies in a specified peer group (the “TSR Peer Group”).

TSR is based on the following formula:

For 2020, the TSR Peer Group consisted of the following 17 publicly traded packaged food and meats companies:

Hypothetical payouts based on the TSR for the company and each member of the TSR Peer Group are calculated at the end of each of the four quarters of the Performance Period using the performance/payout schedule below and then averaged to determine the actual payout:

For performance between the percentiles described above, the degree of vesting is interpolated on a linear basis.

Vesting Upon Death, Disability, Retirement or Change of Control. For the 2020 grants, if the grantee dies or becomes disabled, the performance-contingent restricted stock awards generally vest at target

level immediately. If the grantee retires at age 65 (or age 55 with at least ten years of service with the company) or later, on the normal vesting date the grantee will receive a prorated number of shares based upon the retirement date and actual performance for the entire performance period. For the 2020 grants, “double-trigger” vesting applies if a change of control occurs. In addition to change of control, double-trigger vesting requires either that an award fail to be assumed by a successor employer or that the executive’s employment be terminated under specific circumstances within a specified period of time following the change of control before accelerated vesting can occur.

Dividends. Dividends accrue on the restricted stock and are paid in cash to the executive on the vesting date on all shares of restricted stock that vest.

Timing of Grants. Performance-contingent restricted stock awards were granted on December 29, 2019. It is expected that this timing of granting awards will continue for consistency and planning purposes. Except in unusual circumstances, we typically do not grant equity awards to the Named Executives at other dates. The grant price of our performance-contingent restricted stock grants is the closing market price on the grant date.

The Omnibus Plan provides the compensation committee with the flexibility to determine whether to provide for the cancellation or forfeiture of an award or bonus or the forfeiture and repayment to the company of any gain related to an award if a participant has engaged in detrimental activity. Currently, the company’s performance share award agreements provide for such cancellation, forfeiture or repayment, as applicable.

The recoupment provision provides that if the board of directors has reliable evidence of knowing misconduct by a participant that results in an overstatement of the company’s earnings or other financial measurements that were taken into consideration in awarding grants or bonuses and, as a result of such overstatement, the participant

(i) received a bonus and/or (ii) either received a grant or had a prior grant vest or become nonforfeitable, the participant shall be required to reimburse (or forfeit, as the case may be) the full amount of any grants or bonuses that resulted from the overstatement.

On November 15, 2019, the board adopted a standalone clawback policy (the “Clawback Policy”), which was incorporated in long-term incentive awards beginning with the 2020 grants. The Clawback Policy applies to executive officers and provides for mandatory recoupment in the event of an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements and discretionary recoupment in the event the recipient engages in detrimental activity.

We provide retirement benefits to our Named Executives and other executives as noted below. The objective is to provide a competitive array of benefits that is affordable to the company. Retirement benefits reward continued employment and indirectly reward achievement of the metrics in the Omnibus Plan. We choose to pay them to remain competitive in the marketplace and to provide compensation that extends into employees’ non-earning years.

The company provides a defined contribution benefit to executives through the 401(k) Plan and the EDCP. Pension benefits were previously provided to executives under the Flowers Foods, Inc. Retirement Plan No. 1 (the “Retirement Plan”). On September 28, 2018, the board of directors approved a resolution to terminate the Retirement Plan, effective December 31, 2018. The Retirement Plan’s termination, including the payout of remaining benefits to our Named Executives in a lump sum, was completed in the first quarter of fiscal 2020.

The Retirement Plan was a qualified defined benefit pension plan that provided a pension upon retirement to eligible employees of participating subsidiaries (but not to employees of the company) based upon each year of service with the participating subsidiary until December 31, 2005. Additionally, the Retirement Plan provided a pension upon retirement to eligible employees (including employees of non-participating subsidiaries and of the company) who were participants under the Flowers Industries, Inc. Retirement Plan No. 1 prior to the company’s spin-off from Flowers Industries, Inc., based upon each year of service with Flowers Industries, Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries. No additional years of credited service were granted other than for actual years of credited service in the Retirement Plan.

Participation in the Retirement Plan was closed to new employees beginning January 1, 1999, and effective December 31, 2005 benefits under the Retirement Plan were frozen and no additional benefits will accrue under the Retirement Plan. The frozen pension benefit is the sum of annual credits earned during eligible employment. The basic credit formula at the time the Retirement Plan was frozen was 1.35% of the first

$10,000 of W-2 earnings (subject to certain exclusions) plus 2% of W-2 earnings (subject to certain exclusions) in excess of $10,000 for each year of service up to 35 years. For each year of service in excess of 35 years, 1.8% of W-2 earnings (subject to certain exclusions) was credited. Earnings in any calendar year may not exceed the maximum limitations for that year as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. Certain additional fixed benefit amounts were provided for a limited group of participants in the Retirement Plan, including certain of the Named Executives.

On September 28, 2018, the board of directors approved a resolution to terminate the Retirement Plan, effective December 31, 2018. In the first quarter of 2020, the company distributed a portion of the pension plan assets as lump sum payments, including to our Named Executives, who received the full remaining amount of their benefits through such payments. The remaining balance of pension plan assets were transferred to an insurance company in the form of a nonparticipating group annuity contract, in which none of the Named Executives will participate due to their lump sum payouts.

The EDCP provides additional deferred compensation opportunities to certain members of management. In particular, the EDCP allows these members of management to defer the receipt of a percentage of their salary and bonus. The EDCP is not a tax-qualified plan.

The participants’ deferrals are credited to a book keeping account established for the participant that is deemed to be credited with interest until paid. Additionally, the company allocates matching contributions pursuant to the plan on behalf of the participant that are also deemed to be credited with interest until paid.

Interest credited on deemed participant deferrals and company contributions to the EDCP are based on the Merrill Lynch U.S. Corp., BBB-rated Fifteen-Year Bond Index plus 150 basis points. Interest is considered above-market if earned at a rate which is 120% or more of the applicable federal long-term rate. Earnings in the EDCP are interest-based credits that exceed this threshold. The company credits interest at above market rates because participants’ EDCP accounts are unfunded and unsecured and therefore subject to substantial risk of loss should events ever befall the company causing it to reorganize or

liquidate. Interest credited to the EDCP on behalf of the Named Executives amounted to $235,009 in fiscal 2020.

Generally, the deemed deferrals and company contributions plus interest are paid to the participant upon a specific date or termination of employment.

Distributions from the EDCP are made from the company’s general assets. During 2008, participants were given a one-time, irrevocable opportunity to convert their EDCP deemed cash account for some or all prior years’ deferrals to an account that tracks the performance of our common stock. Balances as of the end of the fiscal year for participants making such an election were converted, based on the closing price of our common stock on January 2, 2009. The EDCP tracking account will be distributed in shares of our common stock at the time elected by the participant for the deferral year(s) in question. The EDCP tracking account will be credited with dividends paid on company common stock for the number of shares deemed held in such account, and such dividends will then be deemed to be invested in the cash account and will earn interest as described above.

We maintain change of control severance arrangements with our executives, including the Named Executives, as set forth in the Flowers Foods, Inc. Change of Control Plan (the “Change of Control Plan”). Such arrangements have several business objectives important to the company, including stability of the executive team in the event of a threatened or pending change of control, and post-employment restrictive covenants (non-competition, non-solicitation and trade secret protection, among others). The Change of Control Plan rewards executives for remaining employed with the company on a timetable

convenient to the company rather than to the executive. We choose to make such payments to obtain the business objectives mentioned. The Change of Control Plan provides double-trigger severance at market-level amounts, has no excise tax gross-up provisions and is consistent with current corporate governance norms (see section entitled “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control” in this proxy statement for additional details). In 2015, the compensation committee adopted a policy that, without shareholder approval, future cash severance arrangements may not exceed 2.99 times salary and bonus.

Based on the view of the compensation committee that the ownership of an equity interest in the company by executives, including Named Executives, is a component of good corporate governance and aligns executive and shareholder interests, share ownership guidelines were adopted that require key members of the company’s management team to directly own minimum amounts of the company’s common stock. All direct holdings of our common stock, certain indirect holdings, and all vested and unvested shares of deferred stock are included for purposes of determining compliance. The guidelines for the

Named Executives, which were amended by the board of directors in February 2016, are set forth in the table below.

The holdings of each of the Named Executives are currently either at the guideline or on track to meet it, and progress toward the guidelines is reviewed annually by the nominating/corporate governance committee.

Executives subject to the guidelines must hold at least 75% of all net shares received through vesting or realized through stock option exercises until the applicable guidelines are achieved.