The Chefs' Warehouse Reports 12.9% Revenue Growth to $1.17 Billion in Latest Quarter

The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. reported significant financial growth in its latest quarterly filing, with net sales reaching $1.17 billion for the thirteen weeks ended June 26, 2026, a 12.9% increase from $1.03 billion in the same period last year. For the first half of the fiscal year, net sales totaled $2.23 billion, up 12.2% from $1.99 billion in the prior year. The company attributed this growth to organic sales increases and the acquisition of Italco Food Products, which contributed approximately $7.6 million to sales. Organic growth was driven by a 6.0% increase in case counts in the specialty category and an 8.8% increase in pounds sold in the center-of-the-plate category.

Gross profit for the second quarter was $292.9 million, reflecting a 15.2% increase from $254.3 million in the previous year, with gross profit margins improving to 25.1% from 24.6%. The increase in gross profit was primarily due to effective pricing strategies in an inflationary environment and improved product cost management. Selling, general, and administrative expenses rose to $234.2 million, a 9.6% increase, but as a percentage of net sales, these expenses decreased to 20.0% from 20.7%, indicating improved operational efficiency.

Operationally, the company served over 55,000 core customer locations across 23 geographic markets, with unique customers and placements in the specialty category increasing by 3.6% and 7.2%, respectively. The company also reported a decrease in interest expenses, down to $9.4 million from $10.7 million, due to lower debt levels and interest rates. The effective tax rate increased to 31.4% from 28.0%, influenced by permanent tax differences related to compensation expenses.

Looking ahead, The Chefs' Warehouse expects to continue leveraging its recent acquisition and operational efficiencies to drive growth. The company anticipates capital expenditures between $45 million and $55 million for fiscal 2026, supported by strong cash flows from operations, which amounted to $96.7 million for the first half of the year, compared to $64.1 million in the prior year. The company maintains a robust liquidity position, with cash and cash equivalents totaling $135.5 million as of June 26, 2026, and availability under its asset-based loan facility at $185.6 million.