RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Jan. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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 announced that the Company will participate in a fireside chat at the ICR Conference in Orlando, FL on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The fireside chat will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET. Investors and interested parties may listen to a webcast of the fireside chat by visiting the Company’s i ...

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Core Insights - The Chef's Warehouse is a prominent food distributor catering to high-end clients, including luxury hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants, focusing on the top 10% of earners globally [1][2] Financial Performance - The Chef's Warehouse has consistently exceeded earnings expectations for eight consecutive quarters, with Q3 2025 revenue reaching $1.02 billion, marking a 10% year-over-year increase from Q3 2024 and surpassing the consensus estimate of $986 million [4] - The company's stock has appreciated by 113% over the past two years, closing 2025 with three consecutive months of gains and a 25% increase for the year [5] - Analysts project a 7.2% increase in total sales for 2026, indicating a positive growth trajectory for the company [5][7] Market Position - The luxury food distribution market remains resilient, with high-income earners unlikely to reduce spending on fine dining, suggesting a stable demand for The Chef's Warehouse's products [2]

Core Viewpoint - Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF) has shown strong year-to-date performance, significantly outperforming the Consumer Staples sector, which has seen negative returns. Group 1: Company Performance - Chefs' Warehouse has returned approximately 21.7% since the beginning of the calendar year [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CHEF's full-year earnings has increased by 8.6% over the past quarter, indicating improved analyst sentiment [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), suggesting a favorable outlook for future performance [3] Group 2: Sector Comparison - The Consumer Staples sector has an average return of -0.5% year-to-date, highlighting Chefs' Warehouse's superior performance within this group [4] - Another outperforming stock in the Consumer Staples sector is JAPAN TOB (JAPAY), which has increased by 47.9% year-to-date [4] - Chefs' Warehouse is part of the Food - Miscellaneous industry, which has seen an average loss of 14.5% this year, further emphasizing CHEF's strong performance [5]

Group 1 - The presentation is led by Brian Harbour from Morgan Stanley, focusing on the restaurant and food distribution sectors [1] - Chefs' Warehouse is highlighted as the main topic of discussion, with the presence of its Founder, Chairman, and CEO Chris Pappas, along with CFO Jim Leddy [2]

Summary of Chefs' Warehouse Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Chefs' Warehouse (NasdaqGS: CHEF) - **Industry**: Food distribution, specifically targeting upscale dining and food service sectors Key Points and Arguments Demand and Market Resilience - Chefs' Warehouse has observed an acceleration in customer spending, which is better than anticipated, indicating strong demand in the upscale dining market [5][6] - The company has a long history of resilience through economic downturns, including the financial crash, 9/11, and COVID-19, suggesting a consistent demand for upscale dining experiences [5][6] - The business model is designed to flex with demand, utilizing a commission-based sales team that adjusts based on sales performance [7] Customer Base and Market Segmentation - The customer base primarily consists of independent restaurants rather than chains, which are perceived to be more resilient in the current market [10][12] - Chefs' Warehouse serves a diverse range of clients, including upscale bakeries, cruise ships, airlines, and fine dining establishments, indicating a broad market reach [11] Market Share and Growth Strategy - The company has been successful in gaining market share due to its extensive experience and focus on the fragmented food distribution industry [13][14] - Chefs' Warehouse has been less acquisitive recently but plans to continue seeking smaller specialty companies for acquisition to enhance market presence [14] - The company is focused on organic growth through investments in facilities and technology, which are expected to drive efficiency and service improvements [15][22] Financial Performance and Margins - The company emphasizes gross profit dollars per unit rather than just gross margins, indicating a focus on overall profitability [27] - Chefs' Warehouse aims to expand EBITDA margins through operational efficiencies and leveraging investments made in infrastructure [29][32] - The company has experienced a drag on EBITDA margins due to significant investments in new markets but expects improvements as these investments mature [32][33] Technology and Innovation - Chefs' Warehouse is utilizing AI for procurement and pricing optimization, enhancing customer engagement through predictive analytics [40][41] - The company is exploring automation in its facilities but emphasizes the importance of human labor for certain tasks, indicating a balanced approach to technology integration [42] Capital Allocation and M&A Strategy - The capital allocation model is flexible, allowing for opportunistic share buybacks and debt management while maintaining a focus on organic growth [51] - The company is selective in its M&A strategy, focusing on fold-in acquisitions that complement existing operations and enhance capacity [49][50] Future Outlook - The company anticipates stable demand and continued growth in margins over the next 12 months, driven by operational leverage from past investments [52][54] - Chefs' Warehouse is optimistic about its growth trajectory, with expectations to exceed its 2028 goals through ongoing investments and market expansion [21][54] Additional Important Insights - The company has made significant investments in training and retaining its salesforce, which is crucial for maintaining competitive advantage in the market [16][18] - Chefs' Warehouse has adapted to inflationary pressures by offering diverse product solutions to its customers, helping them manage costs effectively [34][36] This summary encapsulates the key insights from the Chefs' Warehouse conference call, highlighting the company's strategic focus, market dynamics, and future growth prospects.

Core Viewpoint - Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, indicating a positive earnings outlook that could lead to increased stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in a company's earnings picture, which is a significant factor influencing stock price movements [2][4]. - Rising earnings estimates for Chefs' Warehouse suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, likely resulting in higher stock prices as investors respond positively [5][10]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - The system maintains a balanced distribution of "buy" and "sell" ratings, ensuring that only the top 5% of stocks receive a "Strong Buy" rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions [9][10]. Recent Earnings Estimate Revisions - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Chefs' Warehouse is expected to earn $1.90 per share, unchanged from the previous year, but the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by 8.6% over the past three months [8].

Core Viewpoint - The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. will participate in a fireside chat at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference on December 2, 2025, at 8:45 a.m. ET [1]. Company Overview - The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. is a leading distributor of specialty food products in the United States, the Middle East, and Canada, catering to chefs operating independent restaurants, fine dining establishments, and various culinary businesses [3]. - The company distributes over 88,000 products to more than 50,000 customer locations across its operational regions [3]. Investor Information - Investors and interested parties can access a webcast of the fireside chat through the company's investor relations website [2]. Contact Information - Investor relations contact is Jim Leddy, CFO, reachable at (718) 684-8415 [4].

Core Insights - Chefs' Warehouse has chosen RELEX Solutions to enhance its forecasting and replenishment processes across 49 distribution centers [1] - The partnership aims to improve operational efficiency with a focus on fresh food categories [1] - Chefs' Warehouse manages over 88,000 SKUs across various business units, indicating a complex supply chain that requires advanced planning solutions [1]

Core Insights - The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) is experiencing significant activity in the options market, particularly with the Dec 19, 2025 $30 Call option showing high implied volatility, indicating potential for a major price movement [1][3] Company Overview - The Chefs' Warehouse holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) within the Food – Miscellaneous industry, which is currently positioned in the bottom 29% of the Zacks Industry Rank [3] - Over the past 60 days, there have been no increases in earnings estimates for the current quarter, with one analyst reducing their estimate, leading to a consensus estimate drop from 70 cents to 67 cents per share [3] Market Sentiment - The high implied volatility suggests that options traders are anticipating a significant price movement for The Chefs' Warehouse shares, which could be indicative of an upcoming event that may lead to a rally or sell-off [2][4] - Seasoned options traders often seek to sell premium on options with high implied volatility, aiming to benefit from the decay of the option's value if the stock does not move as much as expected by expiration [4]