Net Sales Growth of 10.3%

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., May 09, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHEF), a premier distributor of specialty food products in the United States and Canada, today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Financial highlights for the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016:

• Net sales increased 10.3% to $287.7 million for the first quarter of 2017 from $260.8 million for the first quarter of 2016.
• GAAP net loss was $(1.6) million or $(0.06) per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2017 compared to net income of $1.0 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2016.
• Modified pro forma loss per diluted share^[1] was $(0.05) for the first quarter of 2017 compared to modified pro forma earnings per diluted share $0.05 for the first quarter of 2016.
• Adjusted EBITDA¹ was $9.3 million for the first quarter of 2017 compared to $10.4 million for the first quarter of 2016.

“We are very pleased with our first quarter results, which included strong organic case and placement growth in our core specialty business, as well as growth in pounds in our protein division.  We also experienced strong organic growth in the number of unique customers, which is a significant driver of future growth in our business.  Despite the poor weather and Easter calendar shift during the first quarter, we executed very well and were able to meet our internal targets,” said Chris Pappas, chairman and chief executive officer of The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. “We continue to invest in additional talent and improving our technology to make us a leaner and more nimble company.  We are certain these initiatives will strengthen CW’s ability to scale and will allow us to be the distributor of choice for independent chef driven restaurants in North America.”

First Quarter Fiscal 2017 Results
Net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 increased 10.3% to $287.7 million from $260.8 million for the quarter ended March 25, 2016.  Organic growth contributed $15.0 million, or 5.7% to sales growth in the quarter. The remaining sales growth of $11.9 million, or 4.6% resulted from the acquisition of M.T. Food Service, Inc. on June 27, 2016. Compared to the first quarter of 2016, case counts in the Company’s specialty division grew approximately 6.0%, while the number of unique customers and placements grew 4.7% and 5.8%, respectively, in the core specialty business in the first quarter of 2017. Pounds sold in the Company’s protein division increased 1.3% for the first quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year quarter.  Inflation was approximately 0.5% during the quarter, consisting of 1.1% inflation in the specialty division and deflation of 0.6% in the protein division.

Gross profit increased approximately 12.0% to $73.9 million for the first quarter of 2017 from $66.0 million for the first quarter of 2016. Gross profit margin increased approximately 40 basis points to 25.7% from 25.3%.  Gross profit margins increased approximately 26 basis points in the Company’s specialty division, despite the slightly lower margin contribution from MT Food Service.  Gross profit margins increased approximately 42 basis points in the protein division as performance in each of the Company’s protein business units continues to improve.

Total operating expenses increased by approximately 16.8% to $70.8 million for the first quarter of 2017 from $60.6 million for the first quarter of 2016. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses were 24.6% in the first quarter of 2017 compared to 23.2% in the first quarter of 2016.  The increase in the Company’s operating expense ratio is largely attributable to increased warehouse labor and occupancy costs related to the Company’s expanded warehouse capacity, higher delivery labor and fleet related expenses and higher compensation costs related to additional management infrastructure.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2017 was $3.1 million compared to $5.4 million for the first quarter of 2016.  The decrease in operating income was driven primarily by higher operating expenses offset in part by higher gross profit, as discussed above.  As a percentage of net sales, operating income was 1.1% in the first quarter of 2017 compared to 2.1% in the first quarter of 2016. 

Interest expense increased to $5.9 million for the first quarter of 2017 compared to $3.7 million in the first quarter of 2016 due to higher levels of debt and financing costs as a result of the Company’s previously disclosed refinancing completed in June, 2016.

Net loss for the first quarter of 2017 was $(1.6) million, or $(0.06) per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.0 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2016.  

Adjusted EBITDA¹ was $9.3 million for the first quarter of 2017 compared to $10.4 million for the first quarter of 2016.  For the first quarter of 2017, modified pro forma net loss¹ was $(1.4) million and modified pro forma loss per share¹ was $(0.05) compared to modified pro forma net income of $1.3 million and modified pro forma EPS of $0.05 for the first quarter of 2016.

Full Year 2017 Guidance
Based on current trends in the business, the Company is providing the following updated financial guidance for fiscal year 2017:  

• Net sales between $1.27 billion and $1.29 billion
• Gross profit between $323.0 million and $330.0 million
• Net income between $9.3 million and $10.5 million
• Net income per diluted share between $0.35 and $0.40
• Adjusted EBITDA between $63.0 million and $66.0 million
• Modified pro forma net income per diluted share between $0.36 and $0.41

This guidance is based on an effective tax rate of approximately 41.5% to 42.0% and fully diluted shares of approximately 26.5 million shares.  Note that the Company does not expect the outstanding convertible notes to be dilutive and accordingly those convertible shares are not included in the fully diluted share count.

First Quarter 2017 Earnings Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call to discuss first quarter 2017 financial results today at 5:00 p.m. EST. Hosting the call will be Chris Pappas, chairman and chief executive officer, and John Austin, chief financial officer. The conference call will be webcast live from the Company’s investor relations website at http://investors.chefswarehouse.com/. The call can also be accessed live over the phone by dialing (877) 407-4018, or for international callers (201) 689-8471. A replay will be available one hour after the call and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921 or (412) 317-6671 for international callers; the conference ID is 13658180. The replay will be available until Tuesday, May 16, 2017, and an online archive of the webcast will be available on the Company’s investor relations website for 30 days.

Forward-Looking Statements
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: 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 Company's ability to successfully deploy its operational initiatives to achieve synergies from the acquisition of the Del Monte entities; the Company's sensitivity to general economic conditions, including the current economic environment, changes in disposable income levels and consumer discretionary spending on food-away-from-home purchases; the Company's vulnerability to economic and other developments in the geographic markets in which it operates; the risks of supply chain interruptions due to a lack of long-term contracts, severe weather or more prolonged climate change, work stoppages or otherwise; the risk of loss of customers due to the fact that the Company does not customarily have long-term contracts with its customers; the risks of loss of revenue or reductions in operating margins in the Company’s protein business as a result of competitive pressures within this segment of the Company’s business; changes in the availability or cost of the Company's specialty food products; the ability to effectively price the Company's specialty food products and reduce the Company's expenses; the relatively low margins of the foodservice distribution industry and the Company's and its customers' sensitivity to inflationary and deflationary pressures; the Company's ability to successfully identify, obtain financing for and complete acquisitions of other foodservice distributors and to integrate and realize expected synergies from those acquisitions; the Company's ability to service customers from its new Chicago, San Francisco and Las Vegas distribution centers and the expenses associated therewith; increased fuel cost volatility and expectations regarding the use of fuel surcharges; fluctuations in the wholesale prices of beef, poultry and seafood, including increases in these prices as a result of increases in the cost of feeding and caring for livestock; the loss of key members of the Company's management team and the Company's ability to replace such personnel; and the strain on the Company's infrastructure and resources caused by its growth. 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 March 10, 2017 and other reports filed by the Company with the SEC since that date. The Company is not undertaking to update any information in the foregoing report until the effective date of its future reports 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 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, chocolatiers, cruise lines, casinos and specialty food stores. The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. carries and distributes more than 43,000 products to more than 28,000 customer locations throughout the United States and Canada.

¹ Please see the Consolidated Statements of Operations at the end of this earnings release for a reconciliation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, modified pro forma net income and modified pro forma EPS to these measures’ most directly comparable GAAP measure.

THE CHEFS' WAREHOUSE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED MARCH 31, 2017 AND MARCH 25, 2016
(unaudited, in thousands except share amounts and per share data)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 31, 2017				March 25, 2016
Net Sales	$	287,690			$	260,836
Cost of Sales		213,786				194,878
Gross Profit		73,904				65,958
Operating Expenses		70,783				60,598
Operating Income		3,121				5,360
Interest Expense		5,933				3,656
Loss on Disposal of Assets		-				3
(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes		(2,812	)			1,701
Provision for Income Tax (Benefit) Expense		(1,170	)			708
Net (Loss) Income	$	(1,642	)		$	993
Net (Loss) Income Per Share:
Basic	$	(0.06	)		$	0.04
Diluted	$	(0.06	)		$	0.04
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic		25,952,222				25,884,051
Diluted		25,952,222				25,917,350

 

THE CHEFS' WAREHOUSE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF MARCH 31, 2017 AND DECEMBER 30, 2016
(in thousands)
	March 31, 2017				December 30, 2016
	(unaudited)
Cash	$	35,806			$	32,862
Accounts receivable, net		121,886				128,030
Inventories, net		91,152				87,498
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		12,184				16,101
Total current assets		261,028				264,491
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net		63,916				62,183
Software costs, net		5,842				5,927
Goodwill		166,625				163,784
Intangible assets, net		125,623				131,131
Other assets		6,054				6,022
Total assets	$	629,088			$	633,538
Accounts payable	$	64,048			$	65,514
Accrued liabilities		17,521				17,546
Accrued compensation		7,034				9,519
Current portion of long-term debt		15,764				14,795
Total current liabilities		104,367				107,374
Long-term debt, net of current portion		316,112				317,725
Deferred taxes, net		8,260				6,958
Other liabilities		7,726				7,721
Total liabilities		436,465				439,778
Preferred stock		-				-
Common stock		264				263
Additional paid in capital		127,683				127,180
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment		(2,185	)			(2,186	)
Retained earnings		66,861				68,503
Stockholders' equity		192,623				193,760
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	629,088			$	633,538

THE CHEFS' WAREHOUSE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED MARCH 31, 2017 AND MARCH 25, 2016
(unaudited; in thousands)
	March 31, 2017				March 25, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (Loss) Income	$	(1,642	)		$	993
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		2,122				1,206
Amortization		2,820				2,783
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts		667				1,034
Deferred rent		45				869
Deferred taxes		1,163				1,159
Amortization of deferred financing fees		543				358
Stock compensation		744				560
Loss on disposal of assets		-				3
Change in fair value of earn-out liability		24				(345	)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable		5,412				9,855
Inventories		(3,427	)			1,626
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		4,053				377
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(4,081	)			(10,773	)
Other liabilities		(56	)			(271	)
Other assets		(264	)			(519	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		8,123				8,915
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(3,764	)			(3,161	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(3,764	)			(3,161	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of debt		(1,191	)			(1,897	)
Net change in revolving credit facility		-				(3,382	)
Surrender of shares to pay withholding taxes		(240	)			(297	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(1,431	)			(5,576	)
Effect of foreign currency translation adjustment on cash and cash equivalents		16				113
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		2,944				291
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		32,862				2,454
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	35,806			$	2,745

THE CHEFS' WAREHOUSE, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA TO NET (LOSS) INCOME
THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED MARCH 31, 2017 AND MARCH 25, 2016
(unaudited; in thousands)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 31, 2017				March 25, 2016
Net (Loss) Income:	$	(1,642	)		$	993
Interest expense		5,933				3,656
Depreciation		2,122				1,206
Amortization		2,820				2,783
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense		(1,170	)			708
EBITDA (1)		8,063				9,346
Adjustments:
Stock compensation (2)		744				560
Duplicate rent (3)		86				303
Integration and deal costs/third party transaction costs (4)		-				223
Change in fair value of earn-out obligation (5)		24				(345	)
Moving expenses (6)		350				304
Adjusted EBITDA (1)	$	9,267			$	10,391
1. We are presenting EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are not measurements determined in
accordance with the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, because we believe
these measures provide additional metrics to evaluate our operations and which we believe, when
considered with both our GAAP results and the reconciliation to net income, provide a more
complete understanding of our business than could be obtained absent this disclosure.  We use
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, 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.
The use of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as performance measures permits a comparative
assessment of our operating performance relative to our performance based upon GAAP results
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.
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 duplicate rent expense for our Bronx, NY, Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA distribution facilities.
4. Represents transaction related costs incurred to complete and integrate acquisitions, including due
diligence, legal, integration and cash and non-cash stock transaction bonuses.
5. Represents the non-cash change in fair value of contingent earn-out liabilities related to our acquisitions.
6. Represents moving expenses for the consolidation of our Chicago, IL, San Francisco, CA and Los Angeles,
CA facilities.

THE CHEFS' WAREHOUSE, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF MODIFIED PRO FORMA NET (LOSS) INCOME TO NET (LOSS) INCOME
THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED MARCH 31, 2017 AND MARCH 25, 2016
(unaudited; in thousands except share amounts and per share data)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	March 31, 2017				March 25, 2016
Net (Loss) Income	$	(1,642	)		$	993
Adjustments to Reconcile Net (Loss) Income to Modified Pro Forma Net (Loss) Income (1):
Duplicate rent (2)		86				303
Integration and deal costs/third party transaction costs (3)		-				223
Moving expenses (4)		350				304
Change in fair value of earnout obligation (5)		24				(345	)
Tax effect of adjustments (6)		(191	)			(202	)
Total Adjustments		269				283
Modified Pro Forma Net (Loss) Income	$	(1,373	)		$	1,276
Diluted Earnings per Share - Modified Pro Forma	$	(0.05	)		$	0.05
Diluted Shares Outstanding - Modified Pro Forma		25,952,222				25,917,350
1.  We are presenting modified pro forma net (loss) income and modified pro forma earnings per share (EPS),
which are not measurements determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles,
or GAAP, because we believe these measures provide additional metrics to evaluate our operations and which
we believe, when considered with both our GAAP results and the reconciliation to net income available to common
stockholders, provide a more complete understanding of our business than could be obtained absent this
disclosure.  We use modified pro forma net income available to common stockholders and modified pro forma
EPS, 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.  The use of modified pro forma net income available to common stockholders
and modified pro forma EPS as performance measures permits a comparative assessment of our operating
performance relative to our performance based upon our GAAP results 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.
2.  Represents duplicate rent expense for our Bronx, NY, Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA distribution facilities.
3.  Represents transaction related costs incurred to complete and integrate acquisitions, including due
diligence, legal, integration and cash and non-cash stock transaction bonuses.
4.  Represents moving expenses for the consolidation of our Chicago, IL, San Francisco, CA and Los Angeles,
CA facilities.
5.  Represents the non-cash change in fair value of contingent earn-out liabilities related to our acquisitions.
6.  Represents the tax effect of items 2 through 5 above.

 

 

THE CHEFS' WAREHOUSE, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA GUIDANCE FOR FISCAL 2017
(unaudited; in thousands)
	Low-End Guidance			High-End Guidance
Net Income:	$	9,300		$	10,500
Provision for income tax expense		6,700			7,500
Depreciation & amortization		21,000			21,000
Interest expense		22,200			23,000
EBITDA (1)		59,200			62,000
Adjustments:
Stock compensation (2)		3,400			3,500
Duplicate occupancy and moving costs (3)		400			500
Adjusted EBITDA (1)	$	63,000		$	66,000
1. We are presenting estimated EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are not measurements determined in accordance
with the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, because we believe these measures provide
additional metrics to evaluate our currently estimated results  and which we believe, when considered with both
our estimated GAAP results and the reconciliation to our estimated net income, provide a more complete
understanding of our business than could be obtained absent this disclosure.  We use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA,
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 performance
relative to our performance based upon GAAP results 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.
2. Represents non-cash stock compensation expense expected to be associated with awards of restricted shares
of our common stock to our key employees and our independent directors.
3. Represents occupancy costs, including rent, utilities and insurance, and moving costs expected to be incurred in
connection with the Company's facility consolidations while we are unable to use those facilities.

 

THE CHEFS' WAREHOUSE, INC.
2017 FULLY DILUTED EPS GUIDANCE RECONCILIATION TO 2017 MODIFIED
PRO FORMA FULLY DILUTED EPS GUIDANCE (1)(2)
(Unaudited)
	Low-End			High-End
	Guidance			Guidance
Net income per diluted share	$	0.35		$	0.40
Duplicate occupancy and moving costs (3)		0.01			0.01
Modified pro forma net income per diluted share	$	0.36		$	0.41
1. We are presenting estimated modified pro forma EPS, which is not a measurement determined in
accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, because we believe this
measure provides an additional metric to evaluate our currently estimated results and which we
believe, when considered with both our estimated GAAP results and the reconciliation to estimated
net income per diluted share, provides a more complete understanding of our expectations for our
business than could be obtained absent this disclosure. We use modified pro forma EPS, 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. The use of modified pro forma EPS as a
performance measure permits a comparative assessment of our expectations regarding our
estimated operating performance relative to our estimated operating performance based on our
GAAP results 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.
2. Guidance is based upon an estimated effective tax rate of 41.5% to 42.0% and an estimated fully
diluted share count of approximately 26.5 million shares.
3. Represents occupancy costs, including rent, utilities and insurance, and moving costs expected to be
incurred in connection with the Company's facility consolidations while we are unable to use those facilities.

Contact:
Investor Relations 
John Austin, CFO, (718) 684-8415 

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