Chefs' Warehouse Management
Management criteria checks 2/4
Chefs' Warehouse's CEO is Chris Pappas, appointed in Jan 1985, has a tenure of 41.58 years. total yearly compensation is $21.96M, comprised of 5.5% salary and 94.5% bonuses, including company stock and options. directly owns 5.22% of the company’s shares, worth $235.63M. The average tenure of the management team and the board of directors is 13.9 years and 4 years respectively.
Key information
Chris Pappas
Chief executive officer
US$22.0m
Total compensation
| CEO salary percentage | 5.47% |
| CEO tenure | 41.6yrs |
| CEO ownership | 5.2% |
| Management average tenure | 13.9yrs |
| Board average tenure | 4yrs |
Recent management updates
Recent updates
Narrative Update • Aug 12
CHEF: Future Returns Will Balance Premium Dining Demand With Margin And AI Execution
Analysts have raised the fair value estimate for Chefs' Warehouse from about $102 to roughly $117, citing higher price targets of up to $125, stronger recent quarterly performance including recovery in the Middle East business, and updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins, and long-term EBITDA margin potential that support slightly lower future P/E expectations. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Chefs' Warehouse highlights a mix of enthusiasm about the growth outlook and some caution tied mainly to valuation.
New Narrative • Jul 31
Expansion And AI Productivity Gains Will Likely Strain Margins Over The Long Term
Catalysts About Chefs' Warehouse Chefs' Warehouse supplies specialty and center of the plate ingredients to higher end and upscale casual foodservice customers in North America and the Middle East. What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?Seeking Alpha • Jul 30
The Chefs' Warehouse: Earnings Came Out Hotter Than I Expected
Summary Chef's Warehouse delivered stronger-than-expected results, prompting a significant upward revision in EBITDA guidance to $305–$315 million for FY 2025. CHEF's organic sales growth of 12.2% and margin expansion reflect robust demand and operational leverage in a resilient, premium restaurant economy. Valuation remains stretched, with shares trading at 17–18x EBITDA and a forward P/E of 44x, well above historical averages and requiring optimistic assumptions for upside. I maintain a 'Sell' rating, as justifying current prices demands both aggressive EBITDA growth and sustained premium multiples, leaving little margin of safety. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaNarrative Update • Jul 29
CHEF: Future Returns Will Balance Premium Dining Demand With AI Efficiency Execution
Chefs' Warehouse sees its analyst fair value estimate move from $92.44 to $102.44 as analysts lift price targets into a roughly $97 to $110 range, highlighting strong Q2 full service dining traffic, robust sales trends, and expectations for margin efficiencies and potential share gains in its niche distribution market. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Chefs' Warehouse presents a mix of enthusiasm about growth opportunities and caution on valuation, which gives you a clearer picture of how professionals are framing risk and reward today.Narrative Update • Jul 15
CHEF: Future Returns Will Hinge On AI Efficiencies And Premium Dining Resilience
The Analyst Price Target for Chefs' Warehouse has been raised by about $4, with analysts pointing to stronger full-service dining traffic, higher organic case growth assumptions, and expectations for margin efficiencies as key drivers behind the updated view. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Chefs' Warehouse clusters around higher price targets and upbeat assumptions on volume, mix, and margins, but it also flags a few areas where execution and market conditions could matter for how the stock trades.Narrative Update • Jun 24
CHEF: Future Returns Will Depend On AI Efficiency And Premium Dining Execution
Analysts have raised The Chefs' Warehouse fair value estimate from $86 to $88.25, citing higher Street price targets and expectations for improved efficiency and margin expansion as the company benefits from recent investments and AI driven initiatives. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Chefs' Warehouse highlights a mix of optimism around execution and efficiency, alongside some caution on how those plans translate into long term returns.Analysis Article • Jun 20
Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF) Stock Could Be 31% Below Fair Value After Its Recent Rally
Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF) has drawn investor attention after its recent share price move, with the stock closing at $95.40 and showing double digit returns over the past month and over the past 3 months. See our latest analysis for Chefs' Warehouse. For context, Chefs' Warehouse has seen strong recent momentum, with a 22.18% 1 month share price return and a 64.37% 3 month share price return, alongside a 1 year total shareholder return of 55.12% and 3 year total shareholder return of 187.44%...Narrative Update • Jun 06
CHEF: Future Returns Will Hinge On Premium Dining Execution And New Partnership Integration
The fair value estimate for Chefs' Warehouse has been increased from $76.13 to $86.00 as analysts factor in updated assumptions for discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E, alongside recent price target revisions across the Street. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Chefs' Warehouse has centered on revised price targets, with several bullish analysts raising their views and one more cautious firm trimming its target.Narrative Update • Jan 09
CHEF: Future Returns Will Depend On Upper Tier Food Away From Home
Analysts have kept their fair value estimate roughly steady at about US$76.13, while a new US$75 Street target and recent coverage framing Chefs' Warehouse as a focused play on the upper end of the food away from home market help explain the modest adjustments to discount rate, margin, growth, and future P/E assumptions. Analyst Commentary Bullish Takeaways Bullish analysts view Chefs' Warehouse as a focused way to get exposure to the upper tier of the food away from home market, which they see as a differentiated demand driver that can support the current fair value framework around US$76.13.Analysis Article • Jan 06
Is The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHEF) Trading At A 32% Discount?
Key Insights The projected fair value for Chefs' Warehouse is US$89.47 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity...Narrative Update • Dec 24
CHEF: Future Upside Will Rely On Upper Tier Food Away From Home
Analysts modestly lifted their price target on Chefs' Warehouse to $75.00 from $76.13, citing the company's strong positioning as a leading specialty distributor serving the upper end of the food-away-from-home market. Analyst Commentary Recent research highlights Chefs' Warehouse as a focused play on the upper tier of the food away from home market, with coverage initiated at an Overweight rating and a $75 price target.Narrative Update • Dec 10
CHEF: Future Upside Will Depend On Premium Food Away From Home Position
Analysts have nudged their price target on Chefs' Warehouse slightly lower, trimming it by $0.25 to $76.13, as they balance a modestly higher long term growth outlook and stable profitability assumptions against a more normalized valuation backdrop, informed by recent Street views on the company as a leading specialty distributor in the upper end of the food away from home market. Analyst Commentary Street commentary on Chefs' Warehouse remains largely constructive, with recent coverage reinforcing the view that the company is a targeted way to gain exposure to the higher end of the food away from home market.Analysis Article • Dec 03
We Ran A Stock Scan For Earnings Growth And Chefs' Warehouse (NASDAQ:CHEF) Passed With Ease
The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even...Narrative Update • Nov 26
CHEF: Future Performance Will Rely On Premium Market Position And Margin Stability
Analysts have slightly reduced their price target for Chefs' Warehouse from $76.63 to $76.38. This update comes as a result of modestly softer profit margins and revenue growth expectations after recent coverage updates.Analysis Article • Nov 21
Is Chefs' Warehouse (NASDAQ:CHEF) Using Too Much Debt?
Warren Buffett famously said, 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' So it might be obvious that you need to...Analysis Article • Oct 22
Chefs' Warehouse (NASDAQ:CHEF) Is Experiencing Growth In Returns On Capital
What are the early trends we should look for to identify a stock that could multiply in value over the long term...Analysis Article • Jul 25
At US$61.89, Is The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHEF) Worth Looking At Closely?
While The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. ( NASDAQ:CHEF ) might not have the largest market cap around , it saw a decent share...Analysis Article • Jul 08
Chefs' Warehouse (NASDAQ:CHEF) Is Looking To Continue Growing Its Returns On Capital
If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. Amongst other things, we'll want to...Analysis Article • Jun 14
The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:CHEF) Intrinsic Value Is Potentially 79% Above Its Share Price
Key Insights Chefs' Warehouse's estimated fair value is US$110 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Chefs...Analysis Article • May 20
Chefs' Warehouse (NASDAQ:CHEF) Has A Pretty Healthy Balance Sheet
Warren Buffett famously said, 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' So it seems the smart money knows that...Analysis Article • May 08
The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHEF) Looks Just Right With A 25% Price Jump
The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. ( NASDAQ:CHEF ) shareholders would be excited to see that the share price has had a great...Analysis Article • May 02
We Think The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:CHEF) CEO Compensation Looks Fair
Key Insights Chefs' Warehouse's Annual General Meeting to take place on 9th of May CEO Chris Pappas' total compensation...Analysis Article • Apr 22
We Ran A Stock Scan For Earnings Growth And Chefs' Warehouse (NASDAQ:CHEF) Passed With Ease
The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even...Analysis Article • Apr 07
Chefs' Warehouse (NASDAQ:CHEF) Might Have The Makings Of A Multi-Bagger
There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. Ideally, a business will show two...Analysis Article • Feb 07
The Price Is Right For The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHEF)
With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 47.5x The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. ( NASDAQ:CHEF ) may be sending very...Seeking Alpha • Jan 23
The Chefs' Warehouse: An Appetizing Stock With Strong Margin Expansion Ahead
Summary The Chefs’ Warehouse is a specialty food distributor supplying high-end steaks, seafood and other premium products to fine-dining restaurants, gourmet stores and luxury hotels. The US foodservice distribution market is very large at $354 billion and provides ample scope to grow. EBITDA margins to improve to 6.5-7% by FY28 (vs 5.6% for FY23). I expect EBITDA to reach $323 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 11% (2024E-2028E). I believe the strong uptick in profitability outlook is not yet fully reflected in the stock price. While the stock has surged 68% over the past year, it still trades at 13x forward EBITDA (vs. peak of 17.5x in Feb 2023). My target price is $63. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Jan 20
Is Chefs' Warehouse (NASDAQ:CHEF) Using Too Much Debt?
Warren Buffett famously said, 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' It's only natural to consider a company's...Analysis Article • Jan 04
Chefs' Warehouse (NASDAQ:CHEF) Is Experiencing Growth In Returns On Capital
To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? Firstly, we'll want to...Seeking Alpha • Dec 17
The Chefs' Warehouse: Still Flavorful On Expectations Of A Bright Future
Summary I remain bullish on The Chefs' Warehouse due to its strong revenue growth, improved profitability, and management's optimistic future projections. Recent performance shows a 20.5% stock increase, outpacing the S&P 500's 8%, with revenue up 5.6% year-over-year. Management's revised guidance for 2028 projects significant EBITDA growth, driven by organic revenue growth, cost efficiencies, and digital advancements. Despite trading in the fair value range, the company's future growth potential and planned share repurchases make it a soft 'buy' candidate. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Nov 21
Here's Why Chefs' Warehouse (NASDAQ:CHEF) Has Caught The Eye Of Investors
The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even...Analysis Article • Sep 27
Investors Appear Satisfied With The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:CHEF) Prospects
With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 41.7x The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. ( NASDAQ:CHEF ) may be sending very...
New Narrative • Sep 24
Critical Expansion And Digital Innovations Propel Market Reach And Revenue Growth
Strategic expansions in distribution and focus on organic sales growth are enhancing distribution reach and operational efficiency, fostering revenue growth and improved margins.Analysis Article • Sep 09
The Return Trends At Chefs' Warehouse (NASDAQ:CHEF) Look Promising
If you're not sure where to start when looking for the next multi-bagger, there are a few key trends you should keep an...Seeking Alpha • Aug 26
The Chefs' Warehouse: Shares Are Undervalued, With Revenue Growth And Profitability
Summary The Chefs' Warehouse operates in the food distribution market, distributing 70,000 SKUs to 44,000 customers, primarily in the foodservice space. Despite underperforming the market recently, the company has shown revenue growth, improved profitability, and optimistic guidance for the future. Management continues to invest in expanding physical capacity and making acquisitions to reach revenue targets of $4-5 billion by 2028, with potential for significant upside for investors. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Aug 20
Here's Why Chefs' Warehouse (NASDAQ:CHEF) Has A Meaningful Debt Burden
Howard Marks put it nicely when he said that, rather than worrying about share price volatility, 'The possibility of...Seeking Alpha • May 10
Chefs' Warehouse Stock: A Solid Start To 2024, But Valuation Appears Fully Cooked
Summary We recap the Q1 results from The Chefs' Warehouse. CHEF stock has benefited from strong demand for its specialty and gourmet foods. A pricey valuation relative to industry peers may limit the upside in shares from the current level. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaSeeking Alpha • Feb 15
The Chefs' Warehouse Looks Appetizing After Strong Q4 Results
Summary The Chefs' Warehouse saw its share price close up 7.6% after announcing strong financial results for Q4 of the 2023 fiscal year. Revenue grew significantly year over year, exceeding analysts' expectations by $41.3 million. Earnings per share fell short of expectations, but adjusted earnings per share came in higher than anticipated. Shares of the business are also attractively priced and likely have some upside potential from here. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaCEO Compensation Analysis
| Date | Total Compensation | Salary | Company Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26 2026 | n/a | n/a | US$92m |
| Mar 27 2026 | n/a | n/a | US$79m |
| Dec 26 2025 | US$22m | US$1m | US$72m |
| Sep 26 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$75m |
| Jun 27 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$70m |
| Mar 28 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$64m |
| Dec 27 2024 | US$6m | US$1m | US$55m |
| Sep 27 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$48m |
| Jun 28 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$41m |
| Mar 29 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$35m |
| Dec 29 2023 | US$5m | US$1m | US$35m |
| Sep 29 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$20m |
| Jun 30 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$21m |
| Mar 31 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$28m |
| Dec 30 2022 | US$5m | US$1m | US$28m |
| Sep 23 2022 | n/a | n/a | US$35m |
| Jun 24 2022 | n/a | n/a | US$30m |
| Mar 25 2022 | n/a | n/a | US$14m |
| Dec 24 2021 | US$6m | US$919k | -US$5m |
| Sep 24 2021 | n/a | n/a | -US$50m |
| Jun 25 2021 | n/a | n/a | -US$65m |
| Mar 26 2021 | n/a | n/a | -US$87m |
| Dec 25 2020 | US$4m | US$941k | -US$83m |
| Sep 25 2020 | n/a | n/a | -US$35m |
| Jun 26 2020 | n/a | n/a | -US$19m |
| Mar 27 2020 | n/a | n/a | US$9m |
| Dec 27 2019 | US$3m | US$855k | US$24m |
Compensation vs Market: Chris's total compensation ($USD21.96M) is above average for companies of similar size in the US market ($USD6.92M).
Compensation vs Earnings: Chris's compensation has increased by more than 20% in the past year.
CEO
Chris Pappas (66 yo)
41.6yrs
Tenure
US$21,961,898
Compensation
Mr. Christopher Pappas, also known as Chris, served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President at Qzina Specialty Foods, Inc. He Founded The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc., in 1985 and has been its Chairma...
Leadership Team
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founder | 41.6yrs | US$21.96m | 5.22% $ 235.6m | |
| Founder | 15.4yrs | US$8.50m | 3.22% $ 145.3m | |
| CFO & Assistant Secretary | 8.8yrs | US$4.28m | 0.31% $ 13.9m | |
| Gen. Counsel | 15.4yrs | US$4.10m | 0.084% $ 3.8m | |
| Chief Human Resources Officer | 3.7yrs | US$3.57m | 0.054% $ 2.4m | |
| Chief Accounting Officer | 8.5yrs | US$825.85k | 0.12% $ 5.4m | |
| Executive Vice President of Supply Chain & Business Intelligence | 13.9yrs | no data | no data |
13.9yrs
Average Tenure
61yo
Average Age
Experienced Management: CHEF's management team is seasoned and experienced (13.9 years average tenure).
Board Members
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founder | 15.4yrs | US$21.96m | 5.22% $ 235.6m | |
| Founder | 15.4yrs | US$8.50m | 3.22% $ 145.3m | |
| Independent Lead Director | 10.4yrs | US$202.49k | 0.087% $ 3.9m | |
| Independent Director | 5.6yrs | US$232.69k | 0.045% $ 2.0m | |
| Independent Director | 2.4yrs | US$197.93k | 0.015% $ 690.0k | |
| Independent Director | 2.4yrs | US$217.49k | 0.015% $ 690.0k | |
| Independent Director | 2.5yrs | US$202.49k | 0.010% $ 470.6k | |
| Independent Director | 2.4yrs | US$192.25k | 0.016% $ 728.8k |
4.0yrs
Average Tenure
65.5yo
Average Age
Experienced Board: CHEF's board of directors are considered experienced (4 years average tenure).
Company Analysis and Financial Data Status
| Data | Last Updated (UTC time) |
|---|---|
| Company Analysis | 2026/08/24 04:09 |
| End of Day Share Price | 2026/08/21 00:00 |
| Earnings | 2026/06/26 |
| Annual Earnings | 2025/12/26 |
Data Sources
The data used in our company analysis is from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. The following data is used in our analysis model to generate this report. Data is normalised which can introduce a delay from the source being available.
| Package | Data | Timeframe | Example US Source * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Financials | 10 years |
| |
| Analyst Consensus Estimates | +3 years |
|
|
| Market Prices | 30 years |
| |
| Ownership | 10 years |
| |
| Management | 10 years |
| |
| Key Developments | 10 years |
|
* Example for US securities, for non-US equivalent regulatory forms and sources are used.
Unless specified all financial data is based on a yearly period but updated quarterly. This is known as Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) or Last Twelve Month (LTM) Data. Learn more.
Analysis Model and Snowflake
Details of the analysis model used to generate this report is available on our Github page, we also have guides on how to use our reports and tutorials on Youtube.
Learn about the world class team who designed and built the Simply Wall St analysis model.
Industry and Sector Metrics
Our industry and section metrics are calculated every 6 hours by Simply Wall St, details of our process are available on Github.
Analyst Sources
The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. is covered by 16 analysts. 8 of those analysts submitted the estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to our report. Analysts submissions are updated throughout the day.
| Analyst | Institution |
|---|---|
| Todd Brooks | Benchmark Company |
| Kelly Bania | BMO Capital Markets Equity Research |
| Peter Saleh | BTIG |