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Chefs’ Warehouse (NASDAQ: CHEF) boosts 2026 net income and EBITDA outlook

Filing Impact
(High)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. reported strong growth for the fourth quarter and full year 2025 while absorbing a non-core impairment charge. Fourth-quarter net sales rose 10.5% to $1.14 billion, driven mainly by organic growth of 9.7% and modest contribution from acquisitions.

Gross profit increased to $276.6 million, though operating income slipped to $43.2 million from higher other operating expenses, including an $8.0 million impairment of a non-core customer relationship intangible asset. Net income for the quarter was $21.7 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, while Adjusted EBITDA improved to $80.3 million.

For fiscal 2025, net sales grew to $4.15 billion and net income reached $72.4 million, or $1.68 per diluted share, with Adjusted EBITDA of $258.3 million. For 2026, the company guides net income to $88–$92 million and Adjusted EBITDA to $276–$286 million, signaling expectations for continued earnings growth.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.

Insights

Solid 2025 growth, stronger non-GAAP margins, and higher 2026 EBITDA guidance support a constructive outlook.

Chefs’ Warehouse delivered double-digit top-line expansion in Q4 2025, with net sales up 10.5% to $1.14 billion. Growth was largely organic, reflecting healthy demand from upscale and higher-end dining customers and market share gains, particularly in specialty products.

Profitability showed a mixed picture. Gross profit increased to $276.6 million, and Q4 Adjusted EBITDA rose to $80.3 million, but GAAP operating income dipped to $43.2 million after an $8.0 million impairment on a non-core customer relationship intangible asset. Full-year net income improved to $72.4 million, with Adjusted EBITDA at $258.3 million, highlighting stronger underlying operations.

Guidance for fiscal 2026 points to further earnings expansion, with net income of $88–$92 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $276–$286 million. Actual results will depend on sustaining organic volume growth, managing cost inflation, and executing planned investments in facilities and fleet detailed in recent spending trends.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

______________________

 

FORM 8-K 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 11, 2026 

 

THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC. 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

     
Delaware 001-35249 20-3031526
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(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 

     
Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

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 is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company  

 

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

 

 

 

 
 

 

Item 2.02.

Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

In a press release dated February 11, 2026 (the “Press Release”), The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (the “Company”) announced financial results for the Company’s thirteen and fifty-two weeks ended December 26, 2025. The full text of the Press Release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

 

The information contained in Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
99.1   Press Release of The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. dated February 11, 2026.
     
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

  THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
   
  By: /s/ James Leddy
  Name:
Title:
James Leddy
Chief Financial Officer

 

Date: February 11, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

The Chefs’ Warehouse Reports Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Ridgefield, CT, February 11, 2026 - The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHEF) (the “Company” or “Chefs’”), a premier distributor of specialty food products in the United States, the Middle East, and Canada, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter ended December 26, 2025.

 

Financial highlights for the fourth quarter of 2025:

 

Net sales increased 10.5% to $1.14 billion for the fourth quarter of 2025 from $1.03 billion for the fourth quarter of 2024.
GAAP net income was $21.7 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to $23.9 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Adjusted net income per share1 was $0.68 for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to $0.55 for the fourth quarter of 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA1 was $80.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to $68.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2024.

 

“Business activity and demand remained consistently strong through the fourth quarter amidst a healthy environment for our core upscale-casual to higher-end dining customer base. Our teams, across domestic and international markets, provided excellent product and service amidst a busy holiday season,” said Christopher Pappas, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Company. “During the quarter, we continued growing market share, closing the year with strong year-over-year organic volume growth, unique item placements and new customer acquisition. I would like to thank the entire Chefs’ Warehouse team for their dedication and commitment in delivering a strong 2025 for our team members, our customers and supplier partners, and our shareholders.”

 

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results

 

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2025 increased 10.5% to $1.14 billion from $1.03 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024. Organic sales increased $99.9 million, or 9.7% versus the prior year quarter. Sales growth of $9.1 million, or 0.8%, resulted from acquisitions. Organic case count increased approximately 3.3% in the Company’s specialty category for the fourth quarter of 2025 with unique customer and placement increases of 1.2% and 4.2% respectively, compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. Organic pounds sold in the Company’s center-of-the-plate category decreased approximately 2.4% for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to our exit of a non-core commodity poultry program in fiscal 2025.

 

Gross profit increased 10.2% to $276.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2025 from $251.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. The increase in gross profit dollars was primarily a result of increased sales volumes, price inflation and acquisitions. Gross profit margins decreased approximately 8 basis points to 24.2%. Gross profit margins increased 45 basis points in the Company’s specialty category and decreased 50 basis points in the center-of-the-plate category.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by approximately 8.9% to $225.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2025 from $206.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to higher costs associated with compensation and benefits to support sales growth, higher depreciation driven by facility and fleet investments and higher self-insurance costs. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 19.7% in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to 20.0% in the fourth quarter of 2024.

 

 

 

 

1Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share are non-GAAP measures. Please see the schedules accompanying this earnings release for a reconciliation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share to these measures’ most directly comparable GAAP measure.

 

 
 

 

Other operating expenses (income), net was expense of $8.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to income of $2.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. The fourth quarter of 2025 reflected an impairment charge on a non-core customer relationship intangible asset of $8.0 million. The fourth quarter of 2024 included non-cash credits of $2.6 million for changes in the fair value of our contingent liabilities.

 

Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2025 was $43.2 million compared to $46.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease in operating income was driven primarily by the $10.5 million increase in other operating expenses, net as discussed above. As a percentage of net sales, operating income was 3.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025 as compared to 4.5% in the fourth quarter of 2024.

 

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2025 was $21.7 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, compared to $23.9 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2024.

 

Adjusted EBITDA1 was $80.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to $68.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. For the fourth quarter of 2025, adjusted net income1 was $29.9 million, or $0.68 per diluted share compared to adjusted net income of $23.9 million, or $0.55 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2024.

 

2026 Guidance

 

We are providing our fiscal 2026 full year financial guidance as follows:

 

Net sales in the range of $4.35 billion to $4.45 billion,
Gross profit to be between $1.053 billion and $1.076 billion and
Adjusted EBITDA1 to be between $276 million and $286 million.

 

Fourth Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call

 

The Company will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter 2025 financial results today at 8:30 a.m. ET. Hosting the call will be Chris Pappas, chairman and chief executive officer, and Jim Leddy, chief financial officer. The conference call will be webcast live from the Company’s investor relations website at http://investors.chefswarehouse.com. An online archive of the webcast will be available on the Company’s investor relations website.

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

We present EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share, as well as forecasted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA ranges, which are not measurements determined in accordance with the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), because we believe these measures provide additional metrics to evaluate our operations and our forecasted results and which we believe, when considered with both our GAAP results and the reconciliation to net income and net income available to common shareholders, provide a more complete understanding of our business than could be obtained absent this disclosure. We use EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share together with financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as revenue and cash flows from operations, to assess our historical and prospective operating performance and to enhance our understanding of our core operating performance.

 

 

 

 

 

1EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share are non-GAAP measures. Please see the schedules accompanying this earnings release for a reconciliation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share to these measures’ most directly comparable GAAP measure.

 

2 
 

 

The use of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share as performance measures permits a comparative assessment of our operating performance relative to our GAAP performance while isolating the effects of some items that vary from period to period without any correlation to core operating performance or that vary widely among similar companies.

 

Other companies may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently, and therefore our measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures should only be used as supplemental measures of our operating performance.

 

Please see the schedules accompanying this earnings release for a reconciliation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share to these measures’ most directly comparable GAAP measure.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Statements in this press release regarding the Company’s business 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. The risks and uncertainties which could impact these statements include, but are not limited to the following: our success depends to a significant extent upon general economic conditions, including disposable income levels and changes in consumer discretionary spending; the relatively low margins of our business, which are sensitive to inflationary and deflationary pressures and intense competition; changes in our credit profile and any effect they may have on our relationships with suppliers; the effects of rising costs for and/or decreases in supply of commodities, ingredients, packaging, other raw materials, distribution and labor; price reductions by our manufacturers of products that we sell which could cause the value of our inventory to decline or our customers to demand lower sales prices; fuel cost volatility and its 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; dependence on independent certifications for products; 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, adverse judgments, or impairment charges; the cost and adequacy of our insurance policies; the impact and effects of public health crises, pandemics and epidemics and the adverse impact thereof on our business, financial condition, and results of operations; economic and other developments, or events, including adverse weather conditions, in the culinary markets in which we operate; information technology system failures, cybersecurity incidents, or other disruptions to our use of technology and networks; our ability to realize the benefits we anticipate from investments in information technology;

 

 

3 
 

 

our ability to protect our intellectual property; significant governmental regulation and any potential failure to comply with such regulations; changing rules, public disclosure regulations and stakeholder expectations on ESG-related matters; federal, state, provincial and local tax rules in the United States and the foreign countries in which we operate, including tax reform and legislation; climate change, or the legal, regulatory or market measures being implemented to address climate change; the concentration of ownership among our existing executive officers, directors and their affiliates which may prevent new investors from influencing significant corporate decisions; 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; and the effects of international trade disputes, tariffs, quotas and other import or export restrictions on our international procurement, sales and operations. Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 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 Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 25, 2025 and other reports filed by the Company with the SEC since that date. The Company is not undertaking to update any information until required by applicable laws. Any projections of future results of operations are based on a number of assumptions, many of which are outside the Company’s control and should not be construed in any manner as a guarantee that such results will in fact occur. These projections are subject to change and could differ materially from final reported results. The Company may from time to time update these publicly announced projections, but it is not obligated to do so.

 

About The Chefs’ Warehouse

 

The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (http://www.chefswarehouse.com) is a premier distributor of specialty food products in the United States, the Middle East and Canada 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 Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. carries and distributes more than 90,000 products to more than 55,000 customer locations throughout the United States, the Middle East and Canada.

 

Contact:

Investor Relations

Jim Leddy, CFO, (718) 684-8415

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 
 

THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited; in thousands except share amounts and per share data)

  Thirteen Weeks Ended   Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
  December 26, 2025   December 27, 2024   December 26, 2025   December 27, 2024
Net sales $ 1,142,564   $ 1,033,568   $ 4,149,537   $ 3,794,212
Cost of sales 865,999   782,607   3,145,447   2,880,065
Gross profit 276,565   250,961   1,004,090   914,147
               
Selling, general and administrative expenses 225,151   206,803   849,789   784,852
Other operating expenses (income), net 8,195   (2,297)   9,195   1,088
Operating income 43,219   46,455   145,106   128,207
               
Interest expense 10,061   11,998   41,564   48,675
Income before income taxes 33,158   34,457   103,542   79,532
               
Provision for income tax expense 11,474   10,531   31,181   24,053
               
Net income $ 21,684   $ 23,926   $ 72,361   $ 55,479
               
               
Net income per share:              
Basic $ 0.56   $ 0.63   $ 1.87   $ 1.46
Diluted $ 0.50   $ 0.55   $ 1.68   $ 1.32
               
Numerator:              
Net income $ 21,684   $ 23,926   $ 72,361   $ 55,479
Add effect of dilutive securities:              
Interest on convertible notes, net of tax 1,192   1,284   4,767   5,234
Net income available to common shareholders $ 22,876   $ 25,210   $ 77,128   $ 60,713
Denominator:              
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding 38,723,944   38,048,739   38,719,025   37,914,060
Dilutive effect of unvested common shares, stock options and warrants 827,613   909,257   787,321   745,064
Dilutive effect of convertible notes 6,494,970   7,136,289   6,494,970   7,323,941
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding 46,046,527   46,094,285   46,001,316   45,983,065

 

 

 

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THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited; in thousands)

  December 26, 2025   December 27, 2024
Cash and cash equivalents $ 120,982   $ 114,655
Accounts receivable, net 392,374   366,311
Inventories 385,722   316,014
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 70,811   71,063
Total current assets 969,889   868,043
       
Property and equipment, net 342,019   275,781
Operating lease right-of-use assets 205,270   191,423
Goodwill 362,742   356,298
Intangible assets, net 137,310   160,383
Other assets 10,777   6,763
Total assets $ 2,028,007   $ 1,858,691
       
Accounts payable $ 275,622   $ 266,775
Accrued liabilities 78,458   68,538
Short-term operating lease liabilities 24,832   21,965
Accrued compensation 66,350   50,078
Current portion of long-term debt 28,197   18,040
Total current liabilities 473,459   425,396
       
Long-term debt, net of current portion 720,333   688,744
Operating lease liabilities 201,542   187,079
Deferred taxes, net 22,424   15,891
Other liabilities 5,940   3,935
Total liabilities 1,423,698   1,321,045
       
Common stock 407   402
Additional paid in capital 405,020   399,111
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (2,763)   (3,807)
Retained earnings 201,645   141,940
Stockholders’ equity 604,309   537,646
       
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 2,028,007   $ 1,858,691

 

 

 

 

 

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THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited; in thousands)

  Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
  December 26, 2025   December 27, 2024
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net income $ 72,361   $ 55,479
       
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment 53,652   40,562
Amortization of intangible assets 24,478   24,372
Provision for allowance for credit losses 12,118   11,982
Deferred income tax provision 6,533   1,464
Stock compensation 21,242   17,778
Change in fair value of contingent earn-out liabilities   (3,266)
Intangible asset impairment 8,023  
Non-cash interest and other operating activities 6,449   6,144
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:      
Accounts receivable (35,853)   (44,812)
Inventories (67,114)   (32,205)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 404   (6,036)
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and accrued compensation 31,367   87,312
Other assets and liabilities (4,441)   (5,713)
Net cash provided by operating activities 129,219   153,061
       
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Capital expenditures (41,426)   (49,506)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired (4,583)   (315)
Cash paid for contingent earn-out liabilities (750)  
Net cash used in investing activities (46,759)   (49,821)
       
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Payment of debt and other financing obligations (13,000)   (22,995)
Payment of finance leases (15,566)   (7,057)
Common stock repurchases (15,004)   (17,393)
Payment of deferred financing fees (658)  
Proceeds from exercise of stock options   175
Surrender of shares to pay withholding taxes (11,994)   (7,412)
Cash paid for contingent earn-out liabilities   (3,800)
Borrowings under asset-based loan and revolving credit facilities   46,430
Payments under asset-based loan facility (20,000)   (26,430)
Net cash used in financing activities (76,222)   (38,482)
       
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents 89   19
       
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 6,327   64,777
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 114,655   49,878
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 120,982   $ 114,655

 

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THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA

(unaudited; in thousands)

  Thirteen Weeks Ended   Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
  December 26, 2025   December 27, 2024   December 26, 2025   December 27, 2024
Net income $ 21,684   $ 23,926   $ 72,361   $ 55,479
Interest expense 10,061   11,998   41,564   48,675
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment 14,607   11,201   53,652   40,562
Amortization of intangible assets 6,291   6,156   24,478   24,372
Provision for income tax expense 11,474   10,531   31,181   24,053
EBITDA (1) 64,117   63,812   223,236   193,141
               
Adjustments:              
Stock compensation (2) 6,691   4,601   21,242   17,778
Other operating expenses (income), net (3) 8,195   (2,297)   9,195   1,088
Duplicate rent (4) 1,185   862   4,060   4,157
Moving expenses (5) 96   1,232   534   2,843
               
Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 80,284   $ 68,210   $ 258,267   $ 219,007

 

1.See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of the press release.
2.Represents non-cash stock compensation expense associated with awards of restricted shares of our common stock and stock options to our key employees and our independent directors.
3.Represents non-cash changes in the fair value of contingent earn-out liabilities related to our acquisitions, non-cash charges related to asset disposals, asset impairments, including intangible asset impairment charges, certain third-party deal costs incurred in connection with our acquisitions or financing arrangements and certain other costs.
4.Represents rent and occupancy costs expected to be incurred in connection with our facility consolidations while we are unable to use those facilities.
5.Represents moving expenses for the consolidation and expansion of several of our distribution facilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED NET INCOME AND
ADJUSTED NET INCOME PER SHARE

(unaudited; in thousands except share amounts and per share data)

  Thirteen Weeks Ended   Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
  December 26, 2025   December 27, 2024   December 26, 2025   December 27, 2024
Net income $ 21,684   $ 23,926   $ 72,361   $ 55,479
Adjustments to reconcile net income to adjusted net income (1):              
Other operating expenses (income), net (2) 8,195   (2,297)   9,195   1,088
Duplicate rent (3) 1,185   862   4,060   4,157
Moving expenses (4) 96   1,232   534   2,843
Debt modification and extinguishment expenses (5) 150   173   675   1,460
Tax effect of adjustments (6) (1,361)   9   (4,221)   (2,864)
               
Total adjustments 8,265   (21)   10,243   6,684
               
Adjusted net income (1) $ 29,949   $ 23,905   $ 82,604   $ 62,163
               
Diluted adjusted net income per common share (1) $ 0.68   $ 0.55   $ 1.90   $ 1.47
               
Numerator:              
Adjusted net income (1) $ 29,949   $ 23,905   $ 82,604   $ 62,163
Add effect of dilutive securities:              
Interest on convertible notes, net of tax 1,192   1,284   4,767   5,234
Adjusted net income available to common shareholders $ 31,141   $ 25,189   $ 87,371   $ 67,397
Denominator:              
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding 38,723,944   38,048,739   38,719,025   37,914,060
Dilutive effect of unvested common shares, stock options and warrants 827,613   909,257   787,321   745,064
Dilutive effect of convertible notes 6,494,970   7,136,289   6,494,970   7,323,941
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding 46,046,527   46,094,285   46,001,316   45,983,065

 

1.See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of the press release.

 

2.Represents non-cash changes in the fair value of contingent earn-out liabilities related to our acquisitions, non-cash charges related to asset disposals, asset impairments, including intangible asset impairment charges, certain third-party deal costs incurred in connection with our acquisitions or financing arrangements and certain other costs.

 

3.Represents rent and occupancy costs expected to be incurred in connection with our facility consolidations while we are unable to use those facilities.

 

4.Represents moving expenses for the consolidation and expansion of several of our distribution facilities.

 

5.Represents debt modification costs, extinguishment costs and interest expense related to the write-off of certain deferred financing fees related to our credit agreements.

 

6.Represents the adjustments to the tax provision values to reflect a normalized annual effective tax rate on adjusted pretax earnings of 30.0% for the fourth quarters and year-to-date periods of 2025 and 2024.

 

 

9 
 

THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA GUIDANCE FOR FISCAL 2026

(unaudited; in thousands)

  Low-End Guidance   High-End Guidance
Net income: $ 88,000   $ 92,000
Provision for income tax expense 34,000   36,000
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment 85,000   87,000
Interest expense 41,000   42,000
EBITDA (1) 248,000   257,000
       
Adjustments:      
Stock compensation (2) 23,500   24,000
Duplicate rent (3) 3,500   3,500
Other operating expenses (4) 1,000   1,500
Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 276,000   $ 286,000

 

1.See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of the press release.

 

2.Represents non-cash stock compensation expense associated with awards of restricted shares of our common stock and stock options to our key employees and our independent directors.

 

3.Represents rent and occupancy costs expected to be incurred in connection with our facility consolidations while we are unable to use those facilities.

 

4.Represents non-cash changes in the fair value of contingent earn-out liabilities related to our acquisitions, non-cash charges related to asset disposals, asset impairments, including intangible asset impairment charges, certain third-party deal costs incurred in connection with our acquisitions or financing arrangements, moving expenses for the consolidation and expansion of several of our distribution facilities and certain other costs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

FAQ

How did The Chefs’ Warehouse (CHEF) perform in Q4 2025?

The Chefs’ Warehouse grew Q4 2025 net sales 10.5% to $1.14 billion. Organic sales rose 9.7%, with acquisitions adding 0.8%. Net income was $21.7 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, and Adjusted EBITDA increased to $80.3 million, reflecting stronger underlying operating performance.

What were The Chefs’ Warehouse’s full-year 2025 financial results?

For 2025, The Chefs’ Warehouse generated $4.15 billion in net sales. Net income reached $72.4 million, or $1.68 per diluted share, and Adjusted EBITDA was $258.3 million. These results reflect broad-based sales growth and higher profitability versus 2024 across its specialty food distribution business.

What 2026 financial guidance did The Chefs’ Warehouse (CHEF) provide?

The company guided 2026 net income to $88–$92 million. It also expects EBITDA of $248–$257 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $276–$286 million. This outlook suggests further earnings growth versus 2025, assuming continued demand strength and execution on cost and investment plans.

How did margins and operating income trend for Chefs’ Warehouse in Q4 2025?

Q4 2025 gross profit rose to $276.6 million, but operating income fell. Operating income declined to $43.2 million, mainly due to an $8.0 million impairment on a non-core customer relationship intangible asset and higher other operating expenses, even as Adjusted EBITDA improved year over year.

What drove Chefs’ Warehouse’s sales growth in Q4 2025?

Sales growth was primarily organic, supported by strong customer demand. Organic sales increased $99.9 million, or 9.7%, aided by higher specialty case volumes, more unique item placements, and new customer acquisition. Acquisitions contributed an additional $9.1 million, or 0.8%, to quarterly net sales growth.

How did non-GAAP metrics like Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income trend?

Non-GAAP profitability improved significantly in Q4 2025. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $80.3 million from $68.2 million, while adjusted net income increased to $29.9 million, or $0.68 per diluted share. These figures exclude items such as non-core intangible impairment, duplicate rent, and moving expenses.

What does the balance sheet show about Chefs’ Warehouse’s financial position at year-end 2025?

At December 26, 2025, total assets were $2.03 billion and equity was $604.3 million. Cash and cash equivalents were $121.0 million, inventories $385.7 million, and total liabilities $1.42 billion, including $748.5 million of current and long-term debt, reflecting a sizable but managed leverage profile.

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2.72B
36.11M
11.27%
97.58%
9.85%
Food Distribution
Wholesale-groceries, General Line
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United States
RIDGEFIELD