RIDGEFIELD, Conn., May 03, 2016 (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 25, 2016.

Financial highlights for the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015:

  • Net sales increased 32.6% to $262.4 million for the first quarter of 2016 from $197.9 million for the first quarter of 2015.
  • Net income increased 2.7% to $993,000 for the first quarter of 2016 compared to $967,000 in the first quarter of 2015.
  • Earnings per diluted share were $0.04 for the first quarter of 2016 compared to $0.04 for the first quarter of 2015.
  • Modified pro forma earnings per diluted share1 were $0.05 for the first quarter of 2016 compared to $0.08 for the first quarter of 2015.
  • Adjusted EBITDA1 increased 36.5% to $10.4 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared to $7.6 million for the first quarter of 2015.

“Our core specialty business is off to a strong start in 2016. During the quarter we reported organic growth of nearly 8% in our specialty division and case, unique customer and placement growth all in the mid to high single digits,” said Chris Pappas, chairman and chief executive officer of The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.  “Our protein division experienced very strong gross margin improvement compared to a year ago.  We still have improvements to realize in that part of the business, but we are pleased with our progress so far.  We see significant opportunity for much further improvement as we further integrate our protein operations with our specialty operations to promote cross selling, consolidate buying power, and leverage computer systems and management.  We also opened our new facility in San Francisco during the quarter.  This new facility will enable us to consolidate three facilities into one, allowing us to better leverage our distribution infrastructure.”

First Quarter Fiscal 2016 Results
Net sales for the quarter ended March 25, 2016 increased 32.6% to $262.4 million from $197.9 million for the quarter ended March 27, 2015.  The increase in net sales was primarily the result of organic growth and the acquisition of Del Monte in April 2015, which accounted for approximately $52.1 million of net sales growth for the quarter.  Organic growth contributed approximately $12.4 million, or 6.3%, to quarter-over-quarter growth.  Compared to the first quarter of 2015, the Company’s case count grew approximately 7.5%, while the number of unique customers and placements grew 5.1% and 6.1%, respectively, in the core specialty business in the first quarter of 2015.  Inflation was approximately 0.7% during the quarter, driven largely by inflation in the dairy, chocolate and baking categories offset in part by deflation in proteins.

Gross profit increased approximately 32.6% to $66.0 million for the first quarter of 2016 from $49.8 million for the first quarter of 2015. Gross profit margins were flat at 25.1% for both the first quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2015.  Gross profit margins decreased approximately 52 basis points in the Company’s specialty division compared to very strong margins in the first quarter of the prior year.  Gross profit margins increased approximately 417 basis points in the protein division due to improved performance of the Company’s Allen Brothers subsidiary and the mix contribution from Del Monte.

Total operating expenses increased by approximately 30.0% to $60.6 million for the first quarter of 2016 from $46.6 million for the first quarter of 2015. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses were 23.1% in the first quarter of 2016 compared to 23.6% in the first quarter of 2015.  The decrease in the Company’s operating expense ratio is largely attributable to favorable transportation related costs and prior year transaction costs related to the Company’s acquisition of Del Monte, offset in part by higher occupancy related costs associated with the new warehouse facilities and higher amortization expense related to the Del Monte acquisition.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2016 was $5.4 million compared to $3.1 million for the first quarter of 2015.  As a percentage of net sales, operating income was 2.0% in the first quarter of 2016 compared to 1.6% in the prior year’s first quarter.  The increase in operating income as a percentage of net sales was driven primarily from the improvement in operating expense leverage discussed above.

Net income was $1.0 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2016 compared to $967,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2015.  The first quarter of 2015 included a $204,000 after-tax gain on the sale of assets.  The diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2016 does not include the dilutive effect of the subordinated convertible notes issued as part of the Del Monte acquisition in April 2015 since they were anti-dilutive in the first quarter of 2016.

On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted EBITDA1 was $10.4 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared to $7.6 million for the first quarter of 2015.  For the first quarter of 2016, modified pro forma net income1 was $1.3 million and modified pro forma EPS1 was $0.05 compared to modified pro forma net income of $1.9 million and modified pro forma EPS of $0.08 for the first quarter of 2015. The modified pro forma EPS for the first quarter of 2016 does not include the dilutive effect of the subordinated convertible notes issued as part of the Del Monte acquisition in April 2015 since they were anti-dilutive in the first quarter of 2016.

Full Year 2016 Guidance

Based on current trends in the business, the Company is updating its financial guidance for fiscal year 2016, which includes a 53rd week:

  • Net sales between $1.15 billion and $1.18 billion
  • Adjusted EBITDA between $68.0 million and $73.0 million
  • Net income between $20.5 million and $22.0 million
  • Net income per diluted share between $0.75 and $0.80
  • Modified pro forma net income per diluted share between $0.77 and $0.83

This guidance is based on an effective tax rate of approximately 41.5% to 42.0% and fully diluted shares of approximately 27.25 million shares.

First Quarter 2015 Earnings Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss first quarter 2016 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 (877) 870-5176 or (858) 384-5517 for international callers; the conference ID is 13634657. The replay will be available until Tuesday, May 10, 2016, 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 begin servicing 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 4, 2016 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 34,000 products to more than 26,000 customer locations throughout the United States and Canada.

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
THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED MARCH 25, 2016 AND MARCH 27, 2015
(in thousands except share amounts and per share data)
       
   Thirteen Weeks Ended 
   
  March 25, 2016   March 27, 2015
  (unaudited)   (unaudited)
       
Net Sales $   262,401     $   197,891  
Cost of Sales   196,443       148,135  
Gross Profit   65,958       49,756  
       
Operating Expenses   60,598       46,616  
Operating Income   5,360       3,140  
       
Interest Expense   3,656       1,836  
Loss (Gain) on Disposal of Assets     3         (349 )
       
Income Before Income Taxes   1,701       1,653  
       
Provision for Income Tax Expense   708         686  
       
Net Income $   993     $   967  
               
       
Net Income Per Share:      
Basic $   0.04     $   0.04  
Diluted $   0.04     $   0.04  
       
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:          
Basic     25,884,051         24,666,557  
Diluted     25,917,350         24,722,275  
       

 

         
THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF MARCH 25, 2016 AND DECEMBER 25, 2015
(in thousands)
         
      December 25,  
  March 25, 2016   2015  
  (unaudited)      
         
Cash $   2,745     $   2,454    
Accounts receivable, net   113,333       124,139    
Inventories, net   91,266       92,758    
Deferred taxes, net   5,022       5,256    
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     8,791         9,164    
Total current assets     221,157         233,771    
         
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net     56,023         54,283    
Software costs, net     4,725         4,511    
Goodwill     155,848         155,816    
Intangible assets, net     129,500         132,211    
Other assets     3,286         3,089    
Total assets $   570,539     $   583,681    
         
         
Accounts payable $   57,920     $   64,888    
Accrued liabilities     23,554       24,258    
Accrued compensation     5,807       7,732    
Current portion of long-term debt     4,701       6,030    
Total current liabilities     91,982       102,908    
         
Long-term debt, net of current portion     262,615       266,207    
Deferred taxes, net     9,954       9,316    
Other liabilities     16,183       17,286    
Total liabilities   380,734       395,717    
         
Preferred stock     –          –     
Common stock     263       263    
Additional paid in capital     125,433       125,170    
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment     (2,364 )     (2,949 )  
Retained earnings     66,473       65,480    
Stockholders’ equity     189,805       187,964    
         
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $   570,539     $   583,681    
         

 

THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED  MARCH 25, 2016 AND MARCH 27, 2015
(unaudited; in thousands)
   
  March 25, 2016   March 27, 2015
       
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net Income $   993     $   967  
       
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
Depreciation     1,206         887  
Amortization     2,783         1,345  
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts     1,034         662  
Deferred credits     869         (15 )
Deferred taxes     1,159         (722 )
Amortization of deferred financing fees     358         284  
Stock compensation     560         324  
Loss (Gain) on disposal of assets     3         (349 )
Change in fair value of earn-out liability     (345 )       40  
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:      
Accounts receivable     9,855         3,272  
Inventories     1,626         4,249  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     377         2,268  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     (10,773 )       (5,762 )
Other liabilities     (271 )       (156 )
Other assets     (519 )       (87 )
Net cash provided by operating activities     8,915         7,207  
       
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Capital expenditures     (3,161 )       (9,053 )
Proceeds from asset disposals     –          1,516  
Net cash used in investing activities     (3,161 )       (7,537 )
       
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Payment of debt     (1,897 )       (1,884 )
Net change in revolving credit facility     (3,382 )       2,600  
Cash paid for contingent earnout obligation     –          (1,420 )
Surrender of shares to pay withholding taxes     (297 )       (222 )
Net cash used in financing activities     (5,576 )       (926 )
       
Effect of foreign currency translation adjustment on cash and cash equivalents     113         (112 )
       
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents     291         (1,368 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     2,454         3,328  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $   2,745     $   1,960  
       

 

THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.   
RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA TO NET INCOME   
THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED MARCH 25, 2016 AND MARCH 27, 2015   
(unaudited; in thousands)   
         
  Thirteen Weeks Ended   
  March 25, 2016   March 27, 2015  
                 
Net Income: $ 993     $ 967    
Interest expense   3,656       1,836    
Depreciation   1,206       887    
Amortization   2,783       1,345    
Provision for income tax expense   708       686    
EBITDA (1)   9,346       5,721    
                 
Adjustments:                
Stock compensation (2)   560       324    
Duplicate rent (3)   303       392    
Integration and deal costs/third party transaction costs (4)   223       1,014    
Change in fair value of earn-out obligation (5)   (345 )     40    
Moving expenses (6)   304       119    
                 
Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 10,391     $ 7,610    
                 
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 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 San Francisco, CA and Los Angeles, CA facilities.
 

 

THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC. 
 
RECONCILIATION OF MODIFIED PRO FORMA NET INCOME TO NET INCOME
 
THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED MARCH 25, 2016 AND MARCH 27, 2015
 
(unaudited; in thousands except share amounts and per share data) 
 
         
   Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
  March 25, 2016   March 27, 2015  
         
Net Income $   993     $   967    
         
Adjustments to Reconcile Modified Pro Forma Net Income to Net Income (1):  
Duplicate rent (2)     303         392    
Integration and deal costs/third party transaction costs (3)     223         1,014    
Moving expenses (4)     304         119    
Change in fair value of earnout obligation (5)     (345 )       40    
Tax effect of adjustments (6)     (202 )       (649 )  
         
Total Adjustments     283         916    
         
Modified Pro Forma Net Income $   1,276     $   1,883    
                 
Diluted Earnings per Share – Modified Pro Forma $   0.05     $   0.08    
         
Diluted Shares Outstanding – Modified Pro Forma     25,917,350         24,722,275    
         
1.  We are presenting modified pro forma net income and modified pro forma  
  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 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 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 2016
(unaudited; in thousands)
 
  Low-End    High-End   
  Guidance   Guidance  
         
Net Income: $   20,500     $   22,000    
Provision for income tax expense   14,500       16,000    
Depreciation & amortization   16,000       17,000    
Interest expense     14,000         14,500    
EBITDA (1)     65,000         69,500    
                 
Adjustments:                
Stock compensation (2)     2,100       2,300    
Duplicate occupancy and moving costs (3)     700       800    
Change in fair value of earn-out obligations (4)     200       400    
                 
Adjusted EBITDA (1) $   68,000     $   73,000    
         
         
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.  
         
4.  Represents the non-cash change in fair value of earn-out liabilities related to the Company’s acquisitions.   
   

 

THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
2016 FULLY DILUTED EPS GUIDANCE RECONCILIATION TO 2016 MODIFIED 
PRO FORMA FULLY DILUTED EPS GUIDANCE (1)(2)
       
  Low-End   High-End
  Guidance   Guidance
       
Net income per diluted share $   0.75     $   0.80  
               
Duplicate occupancy and moving costs (3)     0.02         0.02  
Change in fair-value of earn-out obligation (4)     –          0.01  
               
Modified pro forma net income per diluted share $   0.77     $   0.83  
       
       
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 27.25 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.
       
4.  Represents the non-cash change in fair value of contingent earn-out liabilities related to the Company’s 
  acquisitions. 

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