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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended September 27, 2024

OR

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

For the transition period from _________ to _________

Commission file number: 001-35249

THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

20-3031526

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

100 East Ridge Road

Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203) 894-1345

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

Title of each class			Trading Symbol(s)			Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01			CHEF			The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes  ☒    No  ☐

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

Large accelerated filer

☒

Accelerated filer

☐

Non-accelerated filer

☐

Smaller reporting company

☐

Emerging growth company

☐

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Number of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding at October 28, 2024: 39,554,511

1

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THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

FORM 10-Q

Table of Contents

Page

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited):

4

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

6

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

8

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

9

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

17

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

22

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

22

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

22

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

22

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

22

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

23

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

23

Item 5.

Other Information

23

Item 6.

Exhibits

24

Signatures

25

 

2

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this report regarding the business of The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (the “Company”) that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and management estimates; actual results may differ materially. Words such as “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “seeks”, “estimates” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, are difficult to predict and/or could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties which could impact these statements include, but are not limited to the following: general economic conditions, including disposable income levels and changes in consumer discretionary spending; our ability to expand our operations in our existing markets and to penetrate new markets through acquisitions; the relatively low margins of our business, which are sensitive to inflationary and deflationary pressures and intense competition; the effects of rising costs for and/or decreases in supply of commodities, ingredients, packaging, other raw materials, distribution and labor; crude oil prices and their impact on distribution, packaging and energy costs; our continued ability to promote our brand successfully, to anticipate and respond to new customer demands, and to develop new products and markets to compete effectively; our ability and the ability of our supply chain partners to continue to operate distribution centers and other work locations without material disruption, and to procure ingredients, packaging and other raw materials when needed despite disruptions in the supply chain or labor shortages; risks associated with the expansion of our business; our possible inability to identify new acquisitions or to integrate recent or future acquisitions, or our failure to realize anticipated revenue enhancements, cost savings or other synergies from recent or future acquisitions; other factors that affect the food industry generally, including: recalls if products become adulterated or misbranded, liability if product consumption causes injury, ingredient disclosure and labeling laws and regulations and the possibility that customers could lose confidence in the safety and quality of certain food products; new information or attitudes regarding diet and health or adverse opinions about the health effects of the products we distribute; changes in disposable income levels and consumer purchasing habits; competitors’ pricing practices and promotional spending levels; fluctuations in the level of our customers’ inventories and credit and other related business risks; and the risks associated with third-party suppliers, including the risk that any failure by one or more of our third-party suppliers to comply with food safety or other laws and regulations may disrupt our supply of raw materials or certain products or injure our reputation; our ability to recruit and retain senior management and a highly skilled and diverse workforce; unanticipated expenses, including, without limitation, litigation or legal settlement expenses; the cost and adequacy of our insurance policies; the impact and effects of public health crises, pandemics and epidemics, such as the outbreak of COVID-19, and the adverse impact thereof on our business, financial condition, and results of operations; significant governmental regulation and any potential failure to comply with such regulations; federal, state, provincial and local tax rules in the United States and the foreign countries in which we operate, including tax reform and legislation; risks relating to our substantial indebtedness; our ability to raise additional capital and/or obtain debt or other financing, on commercially reasonable terms or at all; our ability to meet future cash requirements, including the ability to access financial markets effectively and maintain sufficient liquidity; the effects of currency movements in the jurisdictions in which we operate as compared to the U.S. dollar; the effects of international trade disputes, tariffs, quotas and other import or export restrictions on our international procurement, sales and operations; other factors discussed elsewhere in this report, including Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K and in our other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, as such, speak only as of the date made. A more detailed description of these and other risk factors is contained in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024 and other reports, including this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed by the Company with the SEC since that date. The Company is not undertaking to update any information in the foregoing reports until the filing or effective dates of its future reports required by applicable laws.

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PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 (Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands, except share data)

			September 27, 2024						December 29, 2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			$	50,705					$	49,878
Accounts receivable, net of allowances ($21,081 in 2024, $21,423 in 2023)			334,362						334,015
Inventories			336,289						284,528
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			70,958						62,522
Total current assets			792,314						730,943
Property and equipment, net			269,890						234,793
Operating lease right-of-use assets			181,689						192,307
Goodwill			356,591						356,021
Intangible assets, net			166,635						184,863
Other assets			6,507						6,379
Total assets			$	1,773,626					$	1,705,306
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable			$	232,153					$	200,547
Accrued liabilities			66,153						70,728
Short-term operating lease liabilities			23,045						24,246
Accrued compensation			43,046						37,071
Current portion of long-term debt			64,716						53,185
Total current liabilities			429,113						385,777
Long-term debt, net of current portion			666,558						664,802
Operating lease liabilities			174,991						184,034
Deferred taxes, net			19,829						14,418
Other liabilities			2,790						1,603
Total liabilities			1,293,281						1,250,634
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred Stock - $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at September 27, 2024 and December 29, 2023, respectively			—						—
Common Stock - $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 39,555,254 and 39,665,796 shares issued and outstanding at September 27, 2024 and December 29, 2023, respectively			396						396
Additional paid-in capital			358,647						356,157
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(2,564)						(1,832)
Retained earnings			123,866						99,951
Total stockholders’ equity			480,345						454,672
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity			$	1,773,626					$	1,705,306

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

			Thirteen Weeks Ended												Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
			September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023						September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023
Net sales			$	931,452					$	881,825					$	2,760,644					$	2,483,290
Cost of sales			706,704						674,127						2,097,458						1,897,440
Gross profit			224,748						207,698						663,186						585,850
Selling, general and administrative expenses			192,894						179,614						578,049						514,793
Other operating (income) expenses, net			(28)						2,535						3,385						8,269
Operating income			31,882						25,549						81,752						62,788
Interest expense			11,743						11,379						36,677						33,391
Income before income taxes			20,139						14,170						45,075						29,397
Provision for income tax expense			6,041						6,848						13,522						10,807
Net income			$	14,098					$	7,322					$	31,553					$	18,590
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(280)						(231)						(732)						43
Comprehensive income			$	13,818					$	7,091					$	30,821					$	18,633
Net income per share:
Basic			$	0.37					$	0.19					$	0.83					$	0.49
Diluted			$	0.34					$	0.19					$	0.77					$	0.49
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic			37,863,580						37,692,588						37,868,675						37,611,179
Diluted			45,941,315						45,717,496						45,888,029						39,143,774

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands, except share amounts)

			Common Stock												Additional Paid-in Capital						Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss						Retained Earnings						Treasury Stock												Total
			Shares						Amount																								Shares						Amount
Balance December 29, 2023			39,665,796						$	396					$	356,157					$	(1,832)					$	99,951					—						$	—					$	454,672
Net income			—						—						—						—						1,931						—						—						1,931
Stock compensation			—						—						3,590						—						—						—						—						3,590
Common stock repurchased			—						—						—						—						—						(134,553)						(5,004)						(5,004)
Warrants exercised			32,454						1						(1)						—						—						—						—						—
Cumulative translation adjustment			—						—						—						(323)						—						—						—						(323)
Common stock issued under stock plans, net of shares surrendered to pay tax withholding			75,105						1						(7,074)						—						—						—						—						(7,073)
Balance March 29, 2024			39,773,355						$	398					$	352,672					$	(2,155)					$	101,882					(134,553)						$	(5,004)					$	447,793
Net income			—						—						—						—						15,524						—						—						15,524
Stock compensation			—						—						3,946						—						—						—						—						3,946
Common stock repurchased			—						—						—						—						—						(129,523)						(5,000)						(5,000)
Warrants exercised			1,850						—						—						—						—						—						—						—
Cumulative translation adjustment			—						—						—						(129)						—						—						—						(129)
Common stock issued under stock plans, net of shares surrendered to pay tax withholding			30,512						—						(255)						—						—						—						—						(255)
Balance June 28, 2024			39,805,717						$	398					$	356,363					$	(2,284)					$	117,406					(264,076)						$	(10,004)					$	461,879
Net income			—						—						—						—						14,098						—						—						14,098
Stock compensation			—						—						3,813						—						—						—						—						3,813
Common stock retired			(264,076)						(2)						(2,364)						—						(7,638)						264,076						10,004						—
Warrants exercised			1,185						—						—						—						—						—						—						—
Cumulative translation adjustment			—						—						—						(280)						—						—						—						(280)
Common stock issued under stock plans, net of shares surrendered to pay tax withholding			12,428						—						835						—						—						—						—						835
Balance September 27, 2024			39,555,254						$	396					$	358,647					$	(2,564)					$	123,866					—						$	—					$	480,345

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THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (continued)

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands, except share amounts)

			Common Stock												Additional Paid-in Capital						Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss						Retained Earnings						Treasury Stock												Total
			Shares						Amount																								Shares						Amount
Balance December 30, 2022			38,599,390						$	386					$	337,947					$	(2,185)					$	65,361					—						$	—					$	401,509
Net income			—						—						—						—						1,401						—						—						1,401
Stock compensation			—						—						4,780						—						—						—						—						4,780
Cumulative translation adjustment			—						—						—						81						—						—						—						81
Common stock issued under stock plans, net of shares surrendered to pay tax withholding			944,741						9						(1,828)						—						—						—						—						(1,819)
Balance March 31, 2023			39,544,131						$	395					$	340,899					$	(2,104)					$	66,762					—						$	—					$	405,952
Net income			—						—						—						—						9,867						—						—						9,867
Stock compensation			—						—						4,704						—						—						—						—						4,704
Shares issued for acquisition			75,008						1						2,495						—						—						—						—						2,496
Cumulative translation adjustment			—						—						—						193						—						—						—						193
Common stock issued under stock plans, net of shares surrendered to pay tax withholding			46,552						—						(237)						—						—						—						—						(237)
Balance June 30, 2023			39,665,691						$	396					$	347,861					$	(1,911)					$	76,629					—						$	—					$	422,975
Net income			—						—						—						—						7,322						—						—						7,322
Stock compensation			—						—						4,729						—						—						—						—						4,729
Cumulative translation adjustment			—						—						—						(231)						—						—						—						(231)
Common stock issued under stock plans, net of shares surrendered to pay tax withholding			1,474						1						(14)						—						—						—						—						(13)
Balance September 29, 2023			39,667,165						$	397					$	352,576					$	(2,142)					$	83,951					—						$	—					$	434,782

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)

			Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
			September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income			$	31,553					$	18,590
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			29,361						24,167
Amortization of intangible assets			18,216						16,924
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts			8,228						5,216
Provision for deferred income taxes			5,416						3,018
Loss on debt extinguishment			512						—
Stock compensation			13,177						15,855
Change in fair value of contingent earn-out liabilities			(683)						2,850
Intangible asset impairment			—						1,838
Non-cash interest and other operating activities			3,233						6,040
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable			(8,708)						(27,387)
Inventories			(51,786)						(56,350)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(5,899)						(3,460)
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and accrued compensation			40,938						18,740
Other assets and liabilities			(3,501)						(5,996)
Net cash provided by operating activities			80,057						20,045
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(41,131)						(35,130)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(315)						(120,600)
Net cash used in investing activities			(41,446)						(155,730)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of debt and other financing obligations			(18,500)						(30,448)
Payment of finance leases			(5,001)						(2,996)
Common stock repurchases			(10,004)						—
Payment of deferred financing fees			—						(354)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			55						55
Surrender of shares to pay withholding taxes			(7,377)						(2,134)
Cash paid for contingent earn-out liability			(3,800)						(3,650)
Borrowings under asset-based loan facility and revolving credit facilities			6,801						50,000
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(37,826)						10,473
Effect of foreign currency on cash and cash equivalents			42						(530)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents			827						(125,742)
Cash and cash equivalents-beginning of period			49,878						158,800
Cash and cash equivalents-end of period			$	50,705					$	33,058

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Note 1 - Operations and Basis of Presentation

 

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

 

The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (the “Company”), and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a distributor of specialty food and center-of-the-plate products in the United States, the Middle East and Canada. The Company is focused on serving the specific needs of chefs who own and/or operate some of the nation’s leading menu-driven independent restaurants, fine dining establishments, country clubs, hotels, caterers, culinary schools, bakeries, patisseries, chocolateries, cruise lines, casinos and specialty food stores.

The Company’s quarterly periods end on the thirteenth Friday of each quarter. Every six to seven years, the Company will add a fourteenth week to its fourth quarter to more closely align its year-end to the calendar year. The Company’s business consists of three operating segments: East, Midwest and West that aggregate into one reportable segment, foodservice distribution, which is concentrated primarily in the United States.

Consolidation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all the accounts of the Company and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related interim information contained within the notes to such unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim information and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023 filed as part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “2023 Form 10-K”).

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements appearing in this Form 10-Q have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s 2023 Form 10-K, and in the opinion of management, include all normal recurring adjustments that are necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s interim period results. The year-end consolidated balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. Due to seasonal fluctuations and other factors, the results of operations for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from management’s estimates.

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Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition

 

The following table presents the Company’s net sales disaggregated by principal product category:

			Thirteen Weeks Ended																								Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
			September 27, 2024												September 29, 2023												September 27, 2024												September 29, 2023
Center-of-the-Plate			$	349,263					37.5		%				$	333,809					37.9		%				$	1,057,586					38.3		%				$	980,120					39.5		%
Specialty:
Dry Goods			148,345						15.9		%				134,398						15.2		%				441,730						16.0		%				395,723						15.9		%
Produce			137,898						14.8		%				137,760						15.6		%				400,318						14.5		%				310,313						12.5		%
Pastry			111,059						11.9		%				102,562						11.6		%				327,151						11.9		%				300,814						12.1		%
Cheese and Charcuterie			69,124						7.4		%				64,639						7.3		%				197,243						7.1		%				185,303						7.5		%
Dairy and Eggs			63,626						6.8		%				56,849						6.4		%				184,426						6.7		%				163,600						6.6		%
Oils and Vinegars			33,144						3.6		%				34,097						3.9		%				96,761						3.5		%				96,607						3.9		%
Kitchen Supplies			18,993						2.1		%				17,711						2.1		%				55,429						2.0		%				50,810						2.0		%
Total Specialty			$	582,189					62.5		%				$	548,016					62.1		%				$	1,703,058					61.7		%				$	1,503,170					60.5		%
Total net sales			$	931,452					100		%				$	881,825					100		%				$	2,760,644					100		%				$	2,483,290					100		%

The Company determines its product category classification based on how the Company currently markets its products to its customers. The Company’s definition of its principal product categories may differ from the way in which other companies present similar information. Net sales by product category includes estimates of product mix for certain locations that are not yet fully integrated into the Company’s information technology systems as of the reporting date.

Food Processing Costs

Food processing costs include, but are not limited to, direct labor and benefits, applicable overhead and depreciation of equipment and facilities used in food processing activities. Food processing costs included in cost of sales were $18,315 and $19,081 for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, respectively, and $55,662 and $47,370 for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, respectively.

Share Repurchases

The Company has a share repurchase program that is executed through purchases made from time to time either in the open market or through private market transactions. Prior to June 29, 2024, shares purchased under the program were recorded at cost and held as treasury stock. During the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2024, all shares repurchased under the share repurchase program have been retired. These shares were returned to the status of authorized and unissued shares. When treasury shares are retired, the Company allocates the excess of the repurchase price over the par value of shares acquired between additional paid-in capital and retained earnings. The portion allocated to additional paid-in capital is limited to the pro rata portion of additional paid-in capital for the retired treasury shares. Any further excess of the repurchase price is allocated to retained earnings.

Guidance Not Yet Adopted

Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures: In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance designed to improve the transparency and usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments include provisions to address the consistency of the income tax rate reconciliation and requirement to disaggregate income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company expects to adopt this guidance when effective and is evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements, which is limited to financial statement disclosures.

Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures: In November 2023, the FASB issued guidance which requires entities, including those with one reportable segment, to enhance reportable segment disclosures requirements particularly with respect to significant expenses. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company

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expects to adopt this guidance when effective and is evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements, which is limited to financial statement disclosures.

Note 3 – Net Income per Share

 

Basic net income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share adjusts basic net income per share for all the potentially dilutive shares outstanding during the period.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per common share:

			Thirteen Weeks Ended												Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
			September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023						September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023
Net income per share:
Basic			$	0.37					$	0.19					$	0.83					$	0.49
Diluted			$	0.34					$	0.19					$	0.77					$	0.49
Weighted average common shares:
Basic			37,863,580						37,692,588						37,868,675						37,611,179
Diluted			45,941,315						45,717,496						45,888,029						39,143,774

Reconciliation of net income per common share:

			Thirteen Weeks Ended												Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
			September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023						September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023
Numerator:
Net income			$	14,098					$	7,322					$	31,553					$	18,590
Add effect of dilutive securities
Interest on convertible notes, net of tax			1,322						1,369						3,950						403
Net income available to common shareholders			$	15,420					$	8,691					$	35,503					$	18,993
Denominator:
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding			37,863,580						37,692,588						37,868,675						37,611,179
Dilutive effect of unvested common shares			621,999						594,416						570,736						580,675
Dilutive effect of stock options and warrants			62,919						37,675						55,801						54,073
Dilutive effect of convertible notes			7,392,817						7,392,817						7,392,817						897,847
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding			45,941,315						45,717,496						45,888,029						39,143,774

 

Potentially dilutive securities that have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per common share because the effect is anti-dilutive are as follows:

			Thirteen Weeks Ended												Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
			September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023						September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023
Restricted share awards (“RSAs”) and restricted stock units (“RSUs”)			—						292,778						322,518						37,236
Stock options and warrants			—						300,000						—						—
Convertible notes			—						—						—						6,494,970

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Note 4 – Fair Value Measurements

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value

 

The Company’s contingent earn-out liabilities are measured at fair value. These liabilities were estimated using Level 3 inputs. The fair value of contingent consideration was predominantly determined based on a probability-based approach which includes projected results, percentage probability of occurrence and the application of a discount rate to present value the payments. A significant change in projected results, discount rate, or probabilities of occurrence could result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. Changes in the fair value of contingent earn-out liabilities are reflected in other operating expenses, net on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The following table presents the changes in Level 3 contingent earn-out liabilities:

																																	Total
Balance December 29, 2023																																	$	9,765
Cash payments																																	(4,500)
Changes in fair value																																	(683)
Balance September 27, 2024																																	$	4,582

The long-term portion of contingent earn-out liabilities were $682 and $50 as of September 27, 2024 and December 29, 2023, respectively, and are reflected as other liabilities on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. The remaining short-term portion of earn-out liabilities are reflected as accrued liabilities on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. Contingent earn-out liability payments in excess of the acquisition date fair value of the underlying contingent earn-out liability are classified as operating activities on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of cash flows and all other such payments are classified as financing activities.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts reported in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets for accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their immediate to short-term nature. The fair values of the asset-based loan facility and term loan approximated their book values as of September 27, 2024 and December 29, 2023, as these instruments had variable interest rates that reflected current market rates available to the Company and are classified as Level 2 fair value measurements.

The following table presents the carrying value and fair value of the Company’s convertible notes and its unsecured note issued in connection with the acquisition of Oakville Produce Partners, LLC (“GreenLeaf”) in fiscal 2023 (“GreenLeaf Note”). The fair value of the Company’s 2028 Convertible Senior Notes was based on Level 1 inputs. In estimating the fair value of its 2024 Convertible Senior Notes, the Company utilized Level 3 inputs including prevailing market interest rates to estimate the debt portion of the instrument and a Black Scholes valuation model to estimate the fair value of the conversion option. The Black Scholes model utilizes the market price of the Company’s common stock, estimates of the stock’s volatility and the prevailing risk-free interest rate in calculating the fair value estimate. The fair value of the GreenLeaf Note was determined based upon observable market prices of similar debt instruments.

						September 27, 2024												December 29, 2023
			Fair Value Hierarchy			Carrying Value						Fair Value						Carrying Value						Fair Value
2028 Convertible Senior Notes			Level 1			$	287,500					$	335,656					$	287,500					$	277,354
2024 Convertible Senior Notes			Level 3			$	39,684					$	40,738					$	39,684					$	38,609
GreenLeaf Note			Level 2			$	5,000					$	5,000					$	10,000					$	9,991

 

Note 5 – Acquisitions

The Company paid approximately $315 during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024 upon settlement of net working capital true-ups on prior year acquisitions, resulting in measurement period adjustments which increased goodwill by $656 and reduced prepaid expenses and other current assets by $341.

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The Company recognized professional fees related to acquisition activities of $710 and $3,338 during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2023, respectively, presented within other operating expenses, net on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. There were no professional fees related to acquisition activities recorded during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024.

Unaudited Pro forma Financial Information

The table below presents unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated income statement information of the Company as if the GreenLeaf and Hardie’s Fresh Foods acquisitions had occurred on December 30, 2022. The pro forma results were prepared from financial information obtained from the sellers of the business, as well as information obtained during the due diligence process associated with the acquisitions. The pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of the Company’s results of operations had the acquisitions been completed on the above date, nor is it necessarily indicative of the Company’s future results. The pro forma information does not reflect any cost savings from operating efficiencies or synergies that could result from the acquisitions, any incremental costs for transitioning to become a public company, and also does not reflect additional revenue opportunities following the acquisitions. The pro forma information reflects amortization expense related to the acquired intangible assets and depreciation expense on the acquired fair value of property and equipment. The pro forma information also reflects additional interest expense that would have been incurred by the Company to finance the acquisitions. Pro forma interest expense was estimated based on the prevailing interest rates charged on the Company’s senior secured term loan during fiscal 2022.

						Thirteen Weeks Ended												Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
									September 29, 2023												September 29, 2023
Net sales									$	881,825											$	2,577,474
Income before income taxes									$	14,170											$	30,479

Note 6 – Inventories

 

Inventories consist primarily of finished product and are reflected net of adjustments for shrinkage, excess and obsolescence to approximate their net realizable value totaling $11,941 and $11,205 at September 27, 2024 and December 29, 2023, respectively.

Note 7 – Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment is net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $164,831 and $137,008 at September 27, 2024 and December 29, 2023, respectively.

Note 8 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are presented as follows:

Carrying amount as of December 29, 2023			$	356,021
Goodwill adjustments			656
Foreign currency translation			(86)
Carrying amount as of September 27, 2024			$	356,591

The goodwill adjustments included in the table above represent measurement period adjustments related to certain acquisitions completed in the prior year.

Other intangible assets are net of accumulated amortization of $150,876 and $132,660 as of September 27, 2024 and December 29, 2023, respectively. Amortization expense for other intangibles was $5,874 and $6,468 for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, respectively, and $18,216 and $16,924 for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, respectively.

The Company recognized a customer relationships intangible asset impairment charge of $1,838, $1,333 net of tax, during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2023 related to the loss of a significant Hardie’s Fresh Foods customer post-acquisition.

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Note 9 – Debt Obligations

Debt obligations as of September 27, 2024 and December 29, 2023 consisted of the following:

			Weighted Average Effective Interest Rate at September 27, 2024						Maturity						September 27, 2024						December 29, 2023
Senior secured term loans			9.59		%				August 2029						$	262,750					$	276,250
2028 Convertible senior notes			2.77		%				December 2028						287,500						287,500
2024 Convertible senior notes			2.34		%				December 2024						39,684						39,684
Asset-based loan facility			7.40		%				March 2027						100,000						100,000
Finance leases and other financing obligations			6.54		%				Various						55,651						31,892
Unamortized deferred costs and premium															(14,311)						(17,339)
Total debt obligations															731,274						717,987
Less: current installments															(64,716)						(53,185)
Total long-term debt															$	666,558					$	664,802

Senior Secured Term Loan Credit Facility

In March 2024, the Company entered into an amendment (“Eleventh Amendment”) to its senior secured term loan agreement, which reduced the interest rate spread on its senior secured term loan facility. As a result of this amendment, the Company incurred a loss on debt extinguishment of $50 during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024, which represents the portion of unamortized deferred financing fees attributable to the lender that exited the loan syndicate. Arrangement fees of $775 and third-party transaction costs of $91 were expensed as incurred during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024 and included in interest expense and other operating expenses, respectively, within the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Additionally, during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024, the Company made voluntary principal prepayments totaling $12,000 towards the senior secured term loan. In connection with the prepayments, the Company wrote-off unamortized deferred financing fees of $146 and $462 during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024, respectively, which were included in interest expense within the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

GreenLeaf Unsecured Note

During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024, the Company made a scheduled principal payment of $5,000 towards the GreenLeaf Note. The GreenLeaf Note is presented under the caption “Finance leases and other financing obligations” in the table above.

Convertible Notes

The net carrying value of the Company’s convertible senior notes as of September 27, 2024 and December 29, 2023 was:

						September 27, 2024																		December 29, 2023
						Principal Amount						Unamortized Deferred Costs and Premium						Net Amount						Principal Amount						Unamortized Deferred Costs and Premium						Net Amount
2028 Notes						$	287,500					$	(4,870)					$	282,630					$	287,500					$	(5,730)					$	281,770
2024 Notes						39,684						(46)						39,638						39,684						(185)						39,499
Total						$	327,184					$	(4,916)					$	322,268					$	327,184					$	(5,915)					$	321,269

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The components of interest expense on the Company’s convertible notes were as follows:

			Thirteen Weeks Ended												Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
			September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023						September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023
Coupon interest			$	1,893					$	1,893					$	5,679					$	5,685
Amortization of deferred costs and premium			333						333						999						1,001
Total interest			$	2,226					$	2,226					$	6,678					$	6,686

As of September 27, 2024, the Company had reserved $29,377 of its asset-based loan facility for the issuance of letters of credit and funds totaling $170,623 were available for borrowing.

Note 10 – Stockholders’ Equity

Equity Awards

The following table reflects the activity of RSAs and RSUs during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024:

						Time-based												Performance-based												Market-based
						Shares						Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value						Shares						Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value						Shares						Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at December 29, 2023						461,752						$	32.13					1,078,169						$	32.88					421,056						$	30.00
Granted						259,522						38.25						313,188						38.53						55,270						34.68
Vested						(230,684)						31.87						(172,232)						32.07						(166,343)						31.43
Forfeited						(7,945)						34.62						(337,625)						33.55						(6,947)						31.39
Unvested at September 27, 2024						482,645						$	35.50					881,500						$	34.79					303,036						$	30.04

The Company granted 627,980 RSAs and RSUs to its employees and directors at a weighted average grant date fair value of $38.08 during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024. These awards are a mix of time-, market- and performance-based grants that generally vest over a range of periods up to 5 years. The Company recognized expense on its RSAs and RSUs totaling $3,813 and $4,730 during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, respectively, and $11,349 and $14,224 during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, respectively.

At September 27, 2024, the total unrecognized compensation cost for unvested RSAs and RSUs was $23,897 and the weighted-average remaining period was approximately 1.7 years. Of this total, $12,990 related to awards with time-based vesting provisions and $10,907 related to awards with performance- and market-based vesting provisions. At September 27, 2024, the weighted-average remaining period for time-based vesting and performance-based vesting RSAs and RSUs were approximately 1.6 years and 1.9 years, respectively.

No share-based compensation expense has been capitalized.

Share Repurchase Program

In November 2023, the Company announced a two-year share repurchase program in an amount up to $100,000, targeting $25,000 to $100,000 of share repurchases by the end of fiscal 2025. The remaining share purchase authorization was $90,000 at September 27, 2024. The Company is not obligated to repurchase any specific number of shares and may suspend or discontinue the program at any time.

Note 11 – Related Parties

 

The Chefs’ Warehouse Mid-Atlantic, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, leases a distribution facility that is 100% owned by entities controlled by Christopher Pappas, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and John Pappas, the Company’s Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, and are deemed to be affiliates of these individuals. Expense

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related to this facility totaled $176 and $123 during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, respectively, and $529 and $369 during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, respectively.

Note 12 – Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate was 30.0% and 48.3% for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, respectively, and 30.0% and 36.8% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, respectively. The higher effective tax rate in the prior year period was primarily due to a discrete charge for return-to-provision adjustments related to certain nondeductible costs identified in the completion of the Company’s fiscal 2022 tax return. The effective tax rate otherwise varies from the 21% statutory rate primarily due to state taxes and permanent adjustments.

The Company’s income tax provision reflects the impact of an expected income tax refund receivable of $25,592 as of September 27, 2024, which is reflected in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (the “OECD”) introduced a framework under Pillar Two which includes a global corporate minimum tax rate of 15%. Some jurisdictions in which the Company operates have started to enact laws implementing Pillar Two. The Company is monitoring these developments and currently does not believe the rules effective in fiscal 2024 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Note 13 – Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

			Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
			September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023
Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
Cash paid for income taxes			$	9,727					$	17,574
Cash paid for interest, net of cash received			$	29,555					$	28,339
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases			$	29,486					$	28,203
Operating cash flows from finance leases			$	1,540					$	524
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:
Operating leases			$	4,747					$	42,991
Finance leases			$	27,205					$	3,963
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Common stock issued for acquisitions			$	—					$	2,496
Unsecured notes issued for acquisitions			$	—					$	10,000
Contingent earn-out liabilities for acquisitions			$	—					$	5,765

Note 14 – Subsequent Events

On October 22, 2024, the Company entered into a twelfth amendment to its senior secured term loan agreement, which reduced the interest charged on the senior secured term loan B facility by 50 basis points.

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is provided as a supplement to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and footnotes to help provide an understanding of our financial condition, changes in our financial condition and results of operations. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023 (the “2023 Form 10-K”) filed with the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “Company”, “Chefs’ Warehouse”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Business Overview

We are a premier distributor of specialty foods in the leading culinary markets in the United States, the Middle East and Canada. We offer more than 70,000 stock-keeping units (“SKUs”), ranging from high-quality specialty foods and ingredients to basic ingredients and staples and center-of-the-plate proteins. We serve more than 44,000 core customer locations, primarily located in our 23 geographic markets across the United States, the Middle East and Canada, and the majority of our customers are independent restaurants and fine dining establishments. We also sell certain of our products directly to consumers through our Allen Brothers retail channel.

Acquisitions

On May 1, 2023, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement to acquire substantially all of the equity interests of Oakville Produce Partners, LLC (“GreenLeaf”), a leading produce and specialty food distributor in Northern California. The final purchase price was $88.2 million consisting of $72.2 million paid in cash at closing, $3.5 million paid upon settlement of a net working capital true-up, the issuance of a $10.0 million unsecured note, and 75,008 shares of the Company’s common stock with an approximate value of $2.5 million based on the trading price of the Company’s common stock on the date of acquisition.

On March 20, 2023, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Hardie’s F&V, LLC (“Hardie’s Fresh Foods”), a specialty produce distributor with operations in Texas. The final purchase price was approximately $41.4 million, consisting of $38.0 million paid in cash at closing, $0.6 million received upon settlement of a net working capital true-up, and an earn-out liability valued at approximately $4.0 million as of the acquisition date. If earned, the earn-out liability could total up to $10.0 million over a two-year period.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

			Thirteen Weeks Ended												Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
(in thousands)			September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023						September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023
Net sales			$	931,452					$	881,825					$	2,760,644					$	2,483,290
Cost of sales			706,704						674,127						2,097,458						1,897,440
Gross profit			224,748						207,698						663,186						585,850
Selling, general and administrative expenses			192,894						179,614						578,049						514,793
Other operating (income) expenses, net			(28)						2,535						3,385						8,269
Operating income			31,882						25,549						81,752						62,788
Interest expense			11,743						11,379						36,677						33,391
Income before income taxes			20,139						14,170						45,075						29,397
Provision for income tax expense			6,041						6,848						13,522						10,807
Net income			$	14,098					$	7,322					$	31,553					$	18,590

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Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2024 Compared to Thirteen Weeks Ended September 29, 2023

Net Sales

			2024						2023						$ Change						% Change
Net sales			$	931,452					$	881,825					$	49,627					5.6		%

Case count increased approximately 3.1% in our specialty category. In addition, specialty unique customers and placements increased 4.7% and 10.8%, respectively, compared to the prior year period. Pounds sold in our center-of-the-plate category increased 1.0% compared to the prior year. Estimated inflation was 4.3% in our specialty category and 1.4% in our center-of-the-plate category compared to the prior year period.

Gross Profit

			2024						2023						$ Change						% Change
Gross profit			$	224,748					$	207,698					$	17,050					8.2		%
Gross profit margin			24.1		%				23.6		%

Gross profit dollars increased primarily as a result of increased sales and price inflation. Gross profit margin increased approximately 58 basis points. Gross profit margins increased 50 basis points in the Company’s specialty category and increased 45 basis points in the Company’s center-of-the-plate category.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

			2024						2023						$ Change						% Change
Selling, general and administrative expenses			$	192,894					$	179,614					$	13,280					7.4		%
Percentage of net sales			20.7		%				20.4		%

The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to higher depreciation and amortization expenses driven by facility investments, and higher costs associated with compensation and benefits, facilities and distribution to support sales growth. Our ratio of selling, general and administrative expenses to net sales increased 30 basis points due to increased near-term costs associated with our investments in facilities.

Other Operating (Income) Expenses, Net

			2024						2023						$ Change						% Change
Other operating (income) expenses, net			$	(28)					$	2,535					$	(2,563)					(101.1)		%

Other operating (income) expenses, net decreased by $2.6 million primarily due non-cash charges of $1.8 million recorded during the thirteen weeks ended September 29, 2023 for changes in the fair value of our contingent liabilities compared to non-cash credits of $0.1 million recorded during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2024, as well as lower third-party deal costs incurred in connection with business acquisitions and financing arrangements during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2024 compared to the prior year quarter.

Interest Expense

			2024						2023						$ Change						% Change
Interest expense			$	11,743					$	11,379					$	364					3.2		%

Interest expense increased primarily due to higher aggregate principal amounts of debt outstanding, partially offset by lower interest rates.

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Provision for Income Tax Expense

			2024						2023						$ Change						% Change
Provision for income tax expense			$	6,041					$	6,848					$	(807)					(11.8)		%
Effective tax rate			30.0		%				48.3		%

The higher effective tax rate for the thirteen weeks ended September 29, 2023 was primarily driven by a $2.1 million charge in the prior year period for return-to-provision adjustments identified in the completion of our fiscal 2022 tax return and the impact of those adjustments on the fiscal 2023 estimated annual effective tax rate.

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2024 Compared to Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 29, 2023

Net Sales

			2024						2023						$ Change						% Change
Net sales			$	2,760,644					$	2,483,290					$	277,354					11.2		%

Organic growth contributed $175.8 million, or 7.1%, to sales growth and the remaining sales growth of $101.6 million, or 4.1%, resulted from acquisitions. Organic case count increased approximately 4.1% in our specialty category. In addition, specialty unique customers and placements increased 7.4% and 11.3%, respectively, compared to the prior year period. Organic pounds sold in our center-of-the-plate category increased 3.2% compared to the prior year. Estimated inflation was 2.9% in our specialty category and 3.4% in our center-of-the-plate category compared to the prior year period.

Gross Profit

			2024						2023						$ Change						% Change
Gross profit			$	663,186					$	585,850					$	77,336					13.2		%
Gross profit margin			24.0		%				23.6		%

Gross profit dollars increased primarily as a result of sales growth and price inflation. Gross profit margin increased approximately 43 basis points. Gross profit margins increased 35 basis points in the Company’s specialty category and increased 20 basis points in the Company’s center-of-the-plate category.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

			2024						2023						$ Change						% Change
Selling, general and administrative expenses			$	578,049					$	514,793					$	63,256					12.3		%
Percentage of net sales			20.9		%				20.7		%

The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to higher depreciation and amortization expenses, driven by acquisitions and facility investments, and higher costs associated with compensation and benefits, facilities and distribution to support sales growth. Our ratio of selling, general and administrative expenses to net sales increased by 20 basis points due to increased near-term costs associated with our investments in facilities and acquisitions.

Other Operating Expenses, Net

			2024						2023						$ Change						% Change
Other operating expenses, net			$	3,385					$	8,269					$	(4,884)					(59.1)		%

The decrease in net other operating expense was primarily due to an impairment charge on customer relationships intangible assets of $1.8 million recorded during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2023 related to the loss of a significant Hardie’s Fresh Foods customer post-acquisition, non-cash credits of $0.7 million for changes in the fair value of our contingent earn-out liabilities in the current period compared to non-cash charges of $2.9 million in the prior year period and lower third-party deal costs incurred in connection with business acquisitions and financing arrangements during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024, partially offset by charges associated with employee severance in the first quarter of 2024.

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Interest Expense

			2024						2023						$ Change						% Change
Interest expense			$	36,677					$	33,391					$	3,286					9.8		%

Interest expense increased primarily driven by higher average principal amounts of outstanding debt during the period and higher rates of interest charged on the variable rate portion of our outstanding debt.

Provision for Income Taxes

			2024						2023						$ Change						% Change
Provision for income tax expense			$	13,522					$	10,807					$	2,715					25.1		%
Effective tax rate			30.0		%				36.8		%

The higher effective tax rate for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2023 was primarily driven by a $2.1 million charge in the prior year period for return-to-provision adjustments identified in the completion of our fiscal 2022 tax return and the impact of those adjustments on the fiscal 2023 estimated annual effective tax rate.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

We finance our day-to-day operations and growth primarily with cash flows from operations, borrowings under our senior secured credit facilities and other indebtedness, operating leases, trade payables and equity financing.

Indebtedness

The following table presents selected financial information on our indebtedness (in thousands):

			September 27, 2024						December 29, 2023
Senior secured term loan			$	262,750					$	276,250
Total convertible debt			327,184						327,184
Borrowings outstanding on asset-based loan facility			100,000						100,000
Finance leases and other financing obligations			55,651						31,892

Recent Financing Transactions

In March 2024, we amended our senior secured term loan agreement, which reduced the interest rate spread by 75 basis points on our senior secured term loan facility. On October 22, 2024, we further amended our senior secured term loan agreement, which reduced the interest rate spread by an additional 50 basis points. Additionally, during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024, we made voluntary principal prepayments of $12.0 million towards the senior secured term loan.

During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024, we made a scheduled principal payment of $5.0 million towards the unsecured note issued in connection with the GreenLeaf acquisition. The note is presented under the caption “Finance leases and other financing obligations” in the table above.

In November 2023, we announced a two-year share repurchase program in an amount up to $100.0 million, targeting $25.0 million to $100.0 million of share repurchases by the end of fiscal 2025. During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024, we repurchased and retired 264,076 shares of our common stock at an average purchase price of $37.86 per share. The share repurchases were funded by our available cash. The remaining share purchase authorization was $90.0 million at September 27, 2024. We are not obligated to repurchase any specific number of shares and may suspend or discontinue the program at any time.

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Liquidity

The following table presents selected financial information on liquidity (in thousands):

			September 27, 2024						December 29, 2023
Cash and cash equivalents			$	50,705					$	49,878
Working capital(1), excluding cash and cash equivalents			312,496						295,288
Availability under asset-based loan facility			170,623						172,030

(1) We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities.

We expect our capital expenditures, excluding cash paid for acquisitions, for fiscal 2024 will be approximately $45.0 million to $50.0 million. We believe our existing balances of cash and cash equivalents, working capital and the availability under our asset-based loan facility, are sufficient to satisfy our working capital needs, capital expenditures, debt service and other liquidity requirements associated with our current operations over the next twelve months.

Cash Flows

The following table presents selected financial information on cash flows (in thousands):

			Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
			September 27, 2024						September 29, 2023
Net cash provided by operating activities			$	80,057					$	20,045
Net cash used in investing activities			(41,446)						(155,730)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(37,826)						10,473

Our cash provided by operating activities is predominately driven by net sales to our customers. Our cash used in operating activities is primarily driven by our payments to suppliers for our inventory, employee compensation, payments to support our facilities, our distribution network, interest on our indebtedness, payments to tax authorities and other general corporate expenditures. Net cash provided by operations was $80.1 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024 compared to $20.0 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2023. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to sales growth and lower inventory purchase levels in the current period as the prior year results included a strategic pull forward of inventory purchases that did not recur.

Net cash used in investing activities was $41.4 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024, driven by capital expenditures of $41.1 million.

Net cash used in financing activities was $37.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2024 driven by $18.5 million of payments of debt and other financing obligations, $10.0 million used to repurchase our common stock, $7.4 million paid for shares surrendered to pay tax withholding related to the vesting of equity incentive plan awards, $3.8 million of earn-out payments and $5.0 million of finance lease payments, partially offset by $6.8 million of borrowings under our revolving credit facilities.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Information related to new accounting guidance is included in Note 1 “Operations and Basis of Presentation” to our condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

Our exposure to interest rate market risk relates primarily to our long-term debt. As of September 27, 2024, we had aggregate indebtedness outstanding of $369.6 million that bore interest at variable rates. A 100 basis point increase in market interest rates would decrease our after-tax earnings by approximately $2.6 million per annum, holding other variables constant.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 27, 2024.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 27, 2024 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are involved in legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising out of the ordinary conduct of our business. Although we cannot assure the outcome, management presently believes that the result of such legal proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements, and no material amounts have been accrued in our condensed consolidated financial statements with respect to these matters.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes to our risk factors as previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A. included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2023. In addition to the information contained herein, you should consider the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES, USE OF PROCEEDS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

						Total Number of Shares Repurchased(1)						Average Price Paid Per Share						Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(2)						Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (in thousands)(2)
June 29, 2024 to July 26, 2024						—						$	—					—						$	90,000
July 27, 2024 to August 23, 2024						2,428						37.93						—						90,000
August 24, 2024 to September 27, 2024						—						—						—						90,000
Total						2,428						$	37.93					—						$	90,000

(1)Represents withholding of 2,428 shares of our common stock during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2024 to satisfy tax withholding requirements related to restricted shares of our common stock awarded to our officers and key

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employees resulting from either elections under 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or upon vesting of such awards.

(2)In November 2023, we announced a two-year share repurchase program in an amount up to $100.0 million targeting $25.0 million to $100.0 million of share repurchases by the end of fiscal 2025.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

None.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Rule 10b5-1 and Non-Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangements

During the quarterly period covered by this report, none of the Company’s directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Securities Exchange Act, of 1934, as amended) adopted, terminated or modified any contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of the Company’s common stock that was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1(c) or any non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K).

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.						Description
31.1						Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2						Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1						Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2						Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS						XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear on the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH						XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL						XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF						XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB						XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE						XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104						Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized on October 30, 2024.

									THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
									(Registrant)
Date: October 30, 2024									/s/ James Leddy
									James Leddy
									Chief Financial Officer
									(Principal Financial Officer)
Date: October 30, 2024									/s/ Timothy McCauley
									Timothy McCauley
									Chief Accounting Officer
									(Principal Accounting Officer)

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