The Chefs' Warehouse(US:CHEF)2025-04-30 12:30Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales increased by approximately 8.7% to $950.7 million from $874.5 million in Q1 2024 [12] - Gross profit increased by 7.9% to $226 million, with gross profit margins decreasing by approximately 18 basis points to 23.8% [14] - GAAP net income was $10.3 million or $0.25 per diluted share, compared to $1.9 million or $0.05 per diluted share in Q1 2024 [15] - Adjusted EBITDA was $47.5 million for Q1 2025, compared to $40.2 million for the prior year [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Specialty sales grew by 10.7%, driven by unique customer growth of approximately 4.5% and placement growth of 7.7% [8] - Gross margins in the specialty category increased by approximately six basis points, while gross margins in the center of the plate category decreased by approximately 83 basis points year over year [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net inflation was 5.2%, with 4.8% inflation in the specialty category and 5.9% in the center of the plate category [12] - Average revenue per case in Hardee's increased approximately 12% versus Q1 2024 [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on digital platform investments to improve profitability and customer engagement, with 58% of customers ordering online [11] - The company is diversifying its supply chain to mitigate tariff impacts and has alternative sources for many products [22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the demand environment, noting that April trends were as expected and that the company is well-positioned for economic fluctuations [24][25] - The company remains cautiously optimistic about future growth, despite some concerns regarding tourism and economic conditions [80] Other Important Information - Total liquidity at the end of Q1 was $278.9 million, with net debt approximately $535.2 million [16] - Full year 2025 guidance estimates net sales between $3.96 billion and $4.04 billion [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about tariffs and input costs - Management indicated that tariffs are a small percentage of overall business and that they have diversified their supply chain to mitigate risks [20][22] Question: Impact of international travel on sales - Management noted that while tourism is significant, most business is conducted in suburban areas, which are less affected by tourism fluctuations [30][32] Question: Slowdown in new restaurant formation - Management reported no significant slowdown in new restaurant openings, particularly in growing areas [41] Question: Update on Chef Middle East performance - The business is performing well, with growth continuing and a new facility opened [45] Question: Impact of non-core customer exits on margins - Management explained that attrition from low-margin customers was anticipated and factored into guidance, with a focus on improving profitability [87][90]