UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 30, 201829, 2019
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _________ to _________
Commission file number: 001-35249
THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 20-3031526
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
   
100 East Ridge Road
Ridgefield, Connecticut
 06877
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203) 894-1345
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  ☒    No  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  ☒    No  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)Smaller reporting company
   Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  ☐    No  ☒
Number of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding at May 7, 2018: 28,702,526April 29, 2019: 29,937,683


THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
FORM 10-Q
Table of Contents
  Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
   
Item 1.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
Item 2.
   
Item 3.
   
Item 4.
   
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 
   
Item 1.
   
Item 1A.
   
Item 2.
   
Item 3.
   
Item 4.
   
Item 5.
   
Item 6.
   
 




CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this report regarding the business of The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (the “Company”) that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and management estimates; actual results may differ materially. Words such as “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “seeks”, “estimates” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, are difficult to predict and/or could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. 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 fromfollowing: our acquisitions; the Company’s and its customers current economic environment, changes in disposable income levels and consumer discretionary spending on food-away-from-home purchases; the Company’s sensitivity to general economic conditions, including vulnerabilitydisposable income levels and changes in consumer discretionary spending; our ability to expand our operations in our existing markets and to penetrate new markets through acquisitions; we may not achieve the benefits expected from our acquisitions, which could adversely impact our business and operating results; we may have difficulty managing and facilitating our future growth; conditions beyond our control could materially affect the cost and/or availability of our specialty food products or center-of-the-plate products and/or interrupt our distribution network; our increased distribution of center-of-the-plate products, like meat, poultry and seafood, involves increased exposure to price volatility experienced by those products; our business is a low-margin business and our profit margins may be sensitive to inflationary and deflationary pressures; because our foodservice distribution operations are concentrated in certain culinary markets, we are susceptible to economic and other developments, including adverse weather conditions, in the geographic markets in which it operates; the risks of supply chain interruptions due to lack of long-term contracts, severe weather or more prolonged climate change, work stoppages or otherwise; 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 reporting unit 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 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; increasedthese areas; fuel cost volatility and expectations regarding the usemay have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of fuel surcharges; fluctuationsoperations; our ability to raise capital in the wholesale prices of beef, poultryfuture may be limited; we may be unable to obtain debt or other financing, including financing necessary to execute on our acquisition strategy, on favorable terms or at all; our business operations and seafood, including increases in these prices as a result of increases in the cost of feeding and caring for livestock; the loss offuture development could be significantly disrupted if we lose key members of the Company’sour management team and the Company’s ability to replace such personnel; the strain on the Company’s infrastructure and resources caused by its growth;team; and other risks and uncertainties included under the heading Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 9, 20181, 2019 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).




PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.            CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
March 30, 2018
(unaudited)
 December 29, 2017March 29, 2019
(unaudited)
 December 28, 2018
ASSETS 
  
 
  
Current assets: 
  
 
  
Cash and cash equivalents$45,074
 $41,504
$17,317
 $42,410
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $7,641 in 2018 and $8,026 in 2017135,344
 142,170
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $7,461 in 2019 and $7,460 in 2018152,123
 161,758
Inventories, net101,523
 102,083
113,540
 112,614
Prepaid expenses and other current assets8,328
 11,083
12,216
 11,953
Total current assets290,269
 296,840
295,196
 328,735
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net69,544
 68,378
Software costs, net5,560
 6,034
Equipment, leasehold improvements and software, net88,549
 85,276
Operating lease right-of-use assets118,792
 
Goodwill177,133
 173,202
195,546
 184,280
Intangible assets, net135,730
 140,320
145,242
 130,033
Other assets3,005
 2,975
3,787
 4,074
Total assets$681,241
 $687,749
$847,112
 $732,398
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
  
 
  
Current liabilities: 
  
 
  
Accounts payable$68,490
 $70,019
$78,120
 $87,799
Accrued liabilities21,259
 21,871
22,872
 24,810
Short-term operating lease liabilities16,499
 
Accrued compensation7,726
 12,556
8,536
 12,872
Current portion of long-term debt3,432
 3,827
1,804
 61
Total current liabilities100,907
 108,273
127,831
 125,542
Long-term debt, net of current portion313,668
 313,995
281,675
 278,169
Operating lease liabilities111,140
 
Deferred taxes, net7,092
 6,015
9,952
 9,601
Other liabilities and deferred credits10,986
 10,865
8,091
 10,410
Total liabilities432,653
 439,148
538,689
 423,722
Commitments and contingencies
 

 
Stockholders’ equity: 
  
 
  
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized,
no shares issued and outstanding March 30, 2018 and December 29, 2017

 
Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized,
28,706,726 and 28,442,208 shares issued and outstanding at March 30, 2018 and December 29, 2017, respectively
287
 284
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding March 29, 2019 and December 28, 2018
 
Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 29,941,184 and 29,968,483 shares issued and outstanding at March 29, 2019 and December 28, 2018, respectively300
 300
Additional paid-in capital167,359
 166,997
207,911
 207,326
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(2,471) (1,549)(2,166) (2,221)
Retained earnings83,413
 82,869
102,378
 103,271
Stockholders’ equity248,588
 248,601
308,423
 308,676
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$681,241
 $687,749
$847,112
 $732,398
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 


THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Thirteen Weeks EndedThirteen Weeks Ended
March 30, 2018 March 31, 2017March 29, 2019 March 30, 2018
Net sales$318,615
 $287,690
$357,027
 $318,615
Cost of sales239,093
 213,786
266,838
 239,093
Gross profit79,522
 73,904
90,189
 79,522
Operating expenses73,782
 70,783
84,039
 73,782
Operating income5,740
 3,121
6,150
 5,740
Interest expense4,979
 5,933
4,551
 4,979
Loss on asset disposal34
 
Income before income taxes761
 (2,812)1,565
 761
Provision for income tax expense217
 (1,170)431
 217
Net income (loss)$544
 $(1,642)
Net income$1,134
 $544
Other comprehensive income (loss): 
  
 
  
Foreign currency translation adjustments(922) 1
55
 (922)
Comprehensive loss$(378) $(1,641)
Net income (loss) per share: 
  
Comprehensive income (loss)$1,189
 $(378)
Net income per share: 
  
Basic$0.02
 $(0.06)$0.04
 $0.02
Diluted$0.02
 $(0.06)$0.04
 $0.02
Weighted average common shares outstanding: 
  
 
  
Basic28,122,723
 25,952,222
29,457,257
 28,122,723
Diluted28,197,247
 25,952,222
29,840,979
 28,197,247

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.




THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
 Common Stock Additional Paid in Capital Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Retained Earnings Total
 Shares Amount    
Balance December 28, 201829,968,483
 $300
 $207,326
 $(2,221) $103,271
 $308,676
Cumulative effect adjustment due to adoption of new accounting standard
 
 
 
 (2,027) (2,027)
Net income
 
 
 
 1,134
 1,134
Stock compensation(23,680) 
 915
 
 
 915
Exercise of stock options20,383
 
 412
 
 
 412
Cumulative translation adjustment
 
 
 55
 
 55
Shares surrendered to pay withholding taxes(24,002) 
 (742) 
 
 (742)
Balance March 29, 201929,941,184
 $300
 $207,911
 $(2,166) $102,378
 $308,423
Balance December 29, 201728,442,208
 $284
 $166,997
 $(1,549) $82,869
 $248,601
Net income
 
 
 
 544
 544
Stock compensation284,618
 3
 834
 
 
 837
Cumulative translation adjustment
 
 
 (922) 
 (922)
Shares surrendered to pay withholding taxes(20,100) 
 (472) 
 
 (472)
Balance March 30, 201828,706,726
 $287
 $167,359
 $(2,471) $83,413
 $248,588

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)
Thirteen Weeks EndedThirteen Weeks Ended
March 30, 2018 March 31, 2017March 29, 2019 March 30, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities: 
  
 
  
Net income (loss)$544
 $(1,642)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: 
  
Net income$1,134
 $544
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: 
  
Depreciation2,316
 2,122
2,881
 2,316
Amortization2,903
 2,820
2,877
 2,903
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts497
 667
851
 497
Deferred rent312
 45
Non-cash operating lease expense537
 312
Deferred taxes340
 1,163
1,131
 340
Amortization of deferred financing fees549
 543
522
 549
Stock compensation837
 744
915
 837
Change in fair value of contingent earn-out liability124
 24
107
 124
Loss on asset disposal34
 
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: 
  
 
  
Accounts receivable6,497
 5,412
13,778
 6,497
Inventories754
 (3,427)677
 754
Prepaid expenses and other current assets2,759
 4,053
(207) 2,759
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and accrued compensation(7,324) (4,081)(18,010) (7,324)
Other liabilities(443) (56)
Other assets(125) (264)
Other assets and liabilities164
 (568)
Net cash provided by operating activities10,540
 8,123
7,391
 10,540
Cash flows from investing activities: 
  
 
  
Capital expenditures(2,903) (3,764)(4,125) (2,903)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash received(2,377) 
(27,990) (2,377)
Net cash used in investing activities(5,280) (3,764)(32,115) (5,280)
Cash flows from financing activities: 
  
 
  
Payment of debt(1,179) (1,191)
Payment of debt, finance lease and other financing obligations(37) (1,179)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options412
 
Surrender of shares to pay withholding taxes(472) (240)(742) (472)
Net cash used in financing activities(1,651) (1,431)(367) (1,651)
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents(39) 16
(2) (39)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents3,570
 2,944
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents(25,093) 3,570
Cash and cash equivalents-beginning of period41,504
 32,862
42,410
 41,504
Cash and cash equivalents-end of period$45,074
 $35,806
$17,317
 $45,074

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share amounts and per share data)

Note 1         Operations and Basis of Presentation

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

The financial statements include the consolidated accounts of The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (the “Company”), and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company’s quarterly periods end on the thirteenth Friday of each quarter. Every six to seven years, the Company will add a fourteenth week to its fourth quarter to more closely align its year end to the calendar year. The Company operates in one reportable segment, food productfoodservice distribution, which is concentrated primarily on the East and West Coasts ofin the United States. The Company’s customer base consists primarily of menu-driven independent restaurants, fine dining establishments, country clubs, hotels, caterers, culinary schools, bakeries, patisseries, chocolatiers, cruise lines, casinos and specialty food stores.

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include all the accounts of the Company and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related interim information contained within the notes to such unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim information and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 29, 201728, 2018 filed as part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 9, 2018.1, 2019.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements appearing in this Form 10-Q have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 9, 2018,1, 2019, and in the opinion of management, include all normal recurring adjustments that are necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s interim period results. The year-end consolidated balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. Due to seasonal fluctuations and other factors, the results of operations for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 201829, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from management’s estimates.

Guidance Adopted in 20182019

Clarifying the Definition of a Business:Leases: In January 2017,February 2016, the FASBFinancial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued guidance which clarifies whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions of(“ASC 842”) to increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing right-of-use assets or businesses.(“ROU assets”) and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The guidance requiresCompany adopted ASC 842 on December 29, 2018, using an entityoptional transition method that allows entities to determine if substantially all of the fair value of the assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If this criterion is met,initially apply the new guidance would definelease standard at the adoption date. Under this as an asset acquisition. Furthermore,approach, comparative periods are not restated. The Company adopted a package of practical expedients that allowed the guidance requires a business to include, at a minimum, an input and substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs.Company to:

Revenue from Contracts with Customers: In May 2014,apply hindsight in determining the FASB issued guidance to clarifylease term of its leases;
not reassess whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases;
not reassess the principleslease classification of any expired or existing leases; and
not reassess initial direct costs for recognizing revenue. This guidance includes the required steps to achieve the core principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company adopted this guidance as of December 30, 2017any existing leases.


using the modified retrospective approach. Under this approach, prior financial statements are not restated and theThe use of hindsight in assessing lease term resulted in a $2,027 cumulative effect adjustment was immaterialto opening retained earnings. Adoption had a material impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as a result of recognizing ROU assets and lease liabilities for its operating leases of $118,031 and $126,309, respectively, but it did not materially impact the Company’s consolidated statements of operations or debt covenants. There has been no significant change to the Company’s financial statements. In addition, the Company made an accounting policy election to adopt the permitted practical expedient that allows an entity to expense the incremental costs of acquiring a contract as incurred if the amortization period is one year or less.

Guidance Not Yet Adoptedfinance leases.

Comprehensive Income: In February 2018, the FASB issued guidance that permits a Company to reclassify the stranded tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income resulting from the enactment of H.R. 1, originally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), to retained earnings. The guidance also requires companiesCompany elected to disclose the accounting policy for releasingnot reclassify such amounts to retained earnings. The Company releases disproportionate tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income.income as individual items are liquidated. The Company adopted this guidance on December 29, 2018 and adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement Service Contract: In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance that aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to obtain or develop internal-use software. The Company adopted this guidance prospectively on December 29, 2018 and adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Guidance Not Yet Adopted

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments: In June 2016 and as further amended in November 2018, the FASB issued guidance which requires entities to use a forward-looking expected loss model to estimate credit losses. It also requires additional disclosure related to credit quality of trade and other receivables, including information related to management’s estimate of credit allowances. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted.2019. The Company expects to adopt this guidance when effective and adoption is not expected to have a material impacteffect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Leases: In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance to increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Current GAAP does not require lessees to recognize assets and liabilities arising from operating leases on the balance sheet. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company expects to adopt this guidance when effective and is in the early stages of implementation. Adoption will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, primarily to the consolidated balance sheets and related disclosures, as a result of recognizing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities arising from its operating leases.

Note 2         Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Revenue Recognition

Revenues from product sales are recognized at the point at which control of each product is transferred to the customer. The Company’s contracts contain performance obligations which are satisfied when customers have physical possession of each product. The majority of customer orders are fulfilled within a day and customer payment terms are typically 20 to 60 days from delivery. Shipping and handling activities are costs to fulfill the Company’s performance obligations. These costs are expensed as incurred and presented within operating expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. The Company offers certain sales incentives to customers in the form of rebates or discounts. These sales incentives are accounted as variable consideration. The Company estimates these amounts based on the expected amount to be provided to customers and records a corresponding reduction in revenue. The Company does not expect a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized. Sales tax billed to customers is not included in revenue but rather recorded as a liability owed to the respective taxing authorities at the time the sale is recognized.

The following table presents the Company’s net sales are disaggregated by product category. The center-of-the-plate category consists of an extensive line of products including custom cut beef, seafood, poultry, and other entrée proteins. The specialty product category consists of all other remaining net sales.

The following table presents our net sales byprincipal product category:
 Thirteen Weeks Ended
 March 30, 2018 March 31, 2017
Specialty$176,872
 $163,162
Center-of-the-plate141,743
 124,528
Net sales$318,615
 $287,690
 Thirteen Weeks Ended
 March 29, 2019 March 30, 2018
Center-of-the-Plate$156,616
 43.9% $141,743
 44.5%
Dry Goods63,754
 17.9% 54,673
 17.2%
Pastry50,205
 14.1% 43,677
 13.7%
Cheese and Charcuterie35,355
 9.9% 32,911
 10.3%
Dairy and Eggs25,614
 7.2% 22,768
 7.1%
Oils and Vinegar18,693
 5.2% 16,874
 5.3%
Kitchen Supplies6,790
 1.8% 5,969
 1.9%
Total$357,027
 100% $318,615
 100%



The Company determines its product category classification based on how the Company currently markets its products to its customers. The Company’s definition of its principal product categories may differ from the way in which other companies present similar information.

Deferred Revenue

Certain customer arrangements in the Company’s direct-to-consumer business, includingprepaid gift plans and gift card purchases, result in deferred revenues when cash payments are received in advance of performance. The Company recognizes revenue on its prepaid gift plans when control of each product is transferred to the customer. Performance obligations under the Company’s prepaid gift plans are satisfied within a period of twelve months or less. Gift cards issued by the Company do not have expiration dates. The Company records a liability for unredeemed gift cards at the time gift cards are sold and the liability is reduced when the card is redeemed, the value of the card is escheated to the appropriate government agency, or through breakage. Gift card breakage is estimated based on the Company’s historical redemption experience and expected trends in


redemption patterns. Amounts recognized through breakage represent the portion of the gift card liability that is not subject to unclaimed property laws and for which the likelihood of redemption is remote.
The following table presents the changes inCompany recorded deferred revenue,revenues, reflected as accrued liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets:sheets, of $1,362 and $1,496 as of March 29, 2019 and December 28, 2018, respectively.

Balance as of December 29, 2017$1,283
Cash payments received3,028
Net sales recognized(3,479)
Balance as of March 30, 2018$832

Right of Return

The Company’s standard terms and conditions provide customers with a right of return if the goods received are not merchantable. Customers are either issued a replacement order at no cost, or are issued a credit for the returned goods. The Company recorded a refund liability of $256$288 as of March 30, 2018.29, 2019. Refund liabilities are reflected as accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company recognized a corresponding asset of $161$181 as of March 30, 201829, 2019 for its right to recover products from customers on settling its refund liabilities. This asset is reflected as inventories, net on the consolidated balance sheets.

Contract Costs

Sales commissions are expensed when incurred because the amortization period is one year or less. These costs are presented within operating expenses on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Leases

The Company leases various distribution centers, office facilities, vehicles and equipment. The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at contract inception. An arrangement is or contains a lease if the agreement identifies an asset, implicitly or explicitly, that the Company has the right to use over a period of time. If an arrangement contains a lease, the Company classifies the lease as either an operating lease or as a finance lease based on the five criteria defined in ASC 842.

Lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of the remaining lease payments over the lease term. The corresponding ROU asset is recognized for the same amount as the lease liability adjusted for any payments made at or before the commencement date, any lease incentives received, and any initial direct costs. The Company’s lease agreements may include options to renew, extend or terminate the lease. These clauses are included in the initial measurement of the lease liability when at lease commencement the Company is reasonably certain that it will exercise such options. The discount rate used is based on the Company’s incremental borrowing rate since the implicit rate in the Company’s leases is not readily determinable.

Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and presented within operating expenses on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Finance lease right-of-use assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the lease term. Interest expense on the finance lease liability is recognized using the effective interest rate method and is presented within interest expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Variable rent payments related to both operating and finance leases are expensed as incurred. The Company’s variable lease payments primarily consists of real estate taxes, maintenance and usage charges. The Company made an accounting policy election to combine lease and non-lease components (maintenance, taxes and insurance) when measuring lease liabilities for vehicle and equipment leases.

The Company has elected to exclude short-term leases from the recognition requirements of ASC 842. A lease is short-term if, at the commencement date, it has a term of less than or equal to one year. Lease expense related to short-term leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.


Note 3         Earnings (Loss) Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:
Thirteen Weeks EndedThirteen Weeks Ended
March 30, 2018 March 31, 2017March 29, 2019 March 30, 2018
Net income (loss) per share:   
Net income per share:   
Basic$0.02
 $(0.06)$0.04
 $0.02
Diluted$0.02
 $(0.06)$0.04
 $0.02
Weighted average common shares: 
  
 
  
Basic28,122,723
 25,952,222
29,457,257
 28,122,723
Diluted28,197,247
 25,952,222
29,840,979
 28,197,247

Reconciliation of net income (loss) per common share:
Thirteen Weeks EndedThirteen Weeks Ended
March 30, 2018 March 31, 2017March 29, 2019 March 30, 2018
Numerator:      
Net income (loss)$544
 $(1,642)
Net income$1,134
 $544
Denominator: 
  
 
  
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding28,122,723
 25,952,222
29,457,257
 28,122,723
Dilutive effect of unvested common shares74,524
 
383,722
 74,524
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding28,197,247
 25,952,222
29,840,979
 28,197,247

PotentiallyThe following table presents potentially dilutive securities that have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per common share because the effect is anti-dilutive:
 Thirteen Weeks Ended
 March 30, 2018 March 31, 2017
Restricted Share Awards (RSAs)81,218
 400,997
Stock options191,808
 201,878
Convertible subordinated notes1,237,374
 1,237,374
 Thirteen Weeks Ended
 March 29, 2019 March 30, 2018
Restricted share awards (RSAs)
 81,218
Stock options
 191,808
Convertible notes91,053
 1,237,374

Note 4         Fair Value Measurements

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value

The Company’s contingent earn-out liabilities are measured at fair value. These liabilities were estimated using Level 3 inputs. Long-term earn-out liabilities were $4,352$5,960 and $4,228$2,792 as of March 30, 201829, 2019 and December 29, 2017,28, 2018, respectively, and are reflected as other liabilities and deferred credits on the consolidated balance sheets. The remaining short-term earn-out liabilities are reflected as accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of contingent consideration was determined based on a probability-based approach which includes projected results, percentage probability of occurrence and the application of a discount rate to present value the payments. A significant change in projected results, discount rate, or probabilities of occurrence could result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. Changes in the fair value of contingent earn-out liabilities are reflected in operating expenses on the consolidated statements of operations.



The following table presents the changes in Level 3 contingent earn-out liabilities:
 Del Monte Fells Point Total
Balance December 29, 2017$649
 $4,579
 $5,228
Changes in fair value24
 100
 124
Balance March 30, 2018$673
 $4,679
 $5,352
 Fells Point Bassian Other Acquisitions Total
Balance December 28, 2018$3,649
 $
 $1,441
 $5,090
Acquisition
 4,080
 
 4,080
Changes in fair value79
 
 28
 107
Balance March 29, 2019$3,728
 $4,080
 $1,469
 $9,277

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value, due to the immediate to short-term nature of these financial instruments. The fair values of the revolving credit facility and term loans approximated their book values as of March 30, 2018 and December 29, 2017, as these instruments had variable interest rates that reflected current market rates available to the Company. The fair value of these debt instruments were estimated using Level 3 inputs.

The following table presents the carrying value and fair value of the Company’s convertible subordinated notes.unsecured note. In estimating the fair value of these convertible secured notes,the Note, the Company utilized Level 3 inputs including prevailing market interest rates to estimate the debt portion of the instrument and a Black Scholes valuation model to estimate the fair value of the conversion option. The Black Scholes model utilizes the market price of the Company’s common stock, estimates of the stock’s volatility and the prevailing risk freerisk-free interest rate in calculating the fair value estimate.
  March 30, 2018 December 29, 2017
  Carrying Value Fair Value Carrying Value Fair Value
Convertible Secured Notes $36,750
 $39,909
 $36,750
 $38,091
  March 29, 2019
  Carrying Value Fair Value
Convertible unsecured note $4,000
 $4,029

Note 5         Acquisitions

Fells PointBassian

On AugustFebruary 25, 2017, the Company entered into2019, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement, to acquirethe Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Fells Point Wholesale Meats,Bassian Farms, Inc. and certain affiliated entities (“Fells Point”Bassian”), a specialty protein manufacturer and distributor based in the metro Baltimore and Washington DC area.northern California. The finalaggregate purchase price for the transaction at acquisition date was approximately $34,124, including $29,722 paid in cash at closing, $3,300 consisting of 185,442 shares of the Company’s common stock$31,990 and $1,102 payable upon settlement ofis subject to a netcustomary working capital true-up. The acquisition was funded with $27,990 in cash and the issuance of a $4,000 unsecured convertible note.



DuringThe Company will also pay additional contingent consideration, if earned, in the first quarterform of 2018,an earn-out amount which could total $9,000 over a four year period. The payment of the earn-out liability is subject to the successful achievement of certain gross profit targets. At March 29, 2019 and February 25, 2019, the Company finalizedestimated the fair value of this contingent earn-out liability to be $4,080. The Company is in the process of finalizing a valuation of the earn-out liability, and tangible and intangible assets of Fells PointBassian as of the acquisition date. As a result, the Company recorded a measurement period adjustment that increased goodwill by $2,300 and decreased customer relationships and trademarks by $1,500 and $800, respectively. These assets arewill be valued at fair value using Level 3 inputs. Customer relationships and trademarks are being amortized over 15 and 20 years, respectively. Goodwill is beingfor the Bassian acquisition will be amortized over 15 years for tax purposes. The goodwill recorded primarily reflects the value of acquiring an established meat processor to grow the Company’sCompany's protein business in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic regions,West Coast region, as well as any intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition. The Company recognized professional fees of $178 in operating expenses related to the Bassian acquisition. For the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018,29, 2019, the Company reflected net sales and income before taxes of $15,042 and $924, respectively,$5,527 for Fells PointBassian in its consolidated statement of operations. The Company has determined that separate disclosure of Bassian earnings is impracticable due to the commencement of integration of the Bassian business into the Company's operations in the San Francisco market.

The table below sets forth the purchase price allocation of the Fells PointBassian acquisition:
Fells Point
Bassian
Current assets (includes cash acquired)$6,971
$6,659
Customer relationships13,600
11,984
Trademarks7,300
6,071
Non-compete agreement400
Goodwill9,035
11,247
Fixed assets2,459
1,159
Other assets10
Current liabilities(1,196)(1,060)
Earn-out liability(4,445)(4,080)
Total consideration$34,124
$31,990


Note 6     Inventories

Inventories consistsconsist primarily of finished product. Our different entities record inventoryinventories using a mixture of first-in, first-out and average cost, which we believe approximates first-in, first-out. Inventory isInventories are reflected net of reservesadjustments for shrinkage, excess and obsolescence totaling $2,140$2,044 and $1,934$1,921 at March 30, 201829, 2019 and December 29, 2017,28, 2018, respectively.

Note 7     Equipment, and Leasehold Improvements and Software

Equipment, and leasehold improvements and software as of March 30, 201829, 2019 and December 29, 201728, 2018 consisted of the following:
 Useful Lives March 30, 2018 December 29, 2017 Useful Lives March 29, 2019 December 28, 2018
Land Indefinite $1,170
 $1,170
 Indefinite $1,170
 $1,170
Buildings 20 years 1,292
 1,292
 20 years 1,292
 1,292
Machinery and equipment 5-10 years 16,553
 16,183
 5-10 years 18,467
 17,837
Computers, data processing and other equipment 3-7 years 10,164
 9,924
 3-7 years 11,962
 11,244
Software 3-7 years 22,779
 22,779
Leasehold improvements 7-22 years 57,298
 53,653
 7-22 years 60,580
 60,565
Furniture and fixtures 7 years 3,102
 3,100
 7 years 3,277
 3,268
Vehicles 5-7 years 2,570
 2,570
 5-7 years 3,227
 2,769
Other 7 years 95
 95
 7 years 95
 95
Construction-in-process   13,771
 15,030
   19,887
 15,757
   106,015
 103,017
   142,736
 136,776
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization   (36,471) (34,639)   (54,187) (51,500)
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net   $69,544
 $68,378
Equipment, leasehold improvements and software, net   $88,549
 $85,276

Construction-in-process at March 30, 201829, 2019 and December 29, 201728, 2018 related primarily to the implementation of the Company’s Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”)ERP system and the buildout of the Company’s headquarters in Ridgefield, CT and distribution center in Union City CA.Dallas, TX. The buildout of the Company’s Union Cityheadquarters and distribution center wasis expected to be completed during the first quarter of fiscal 2018.2019. The rollout of its ERP system will continue through fiscal 2019.2020.

AtThe net book value of equipment financed under finance leases at March 30, 201829, 2019 and December 29, 2017, the Company had $530 of equipment28, 2018 was $910 and vehicles financed by capital leases.$52, respectively. The Company recorded depreciation on equipment under capital leases of $16$43 and $15$16 on these assets during the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2019 and March 30, 2018, and March 31, 2017, respectively.



Depreciation expense, excluding capitalfinance leases, was $1,827$1,930 and $1,732$1,827 for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2019 and March 30, 2018, and March 31, 2017, respectively.

Capitalized software has an estimated useful life of three to seven years. Amortization expense on software was $473$908 and $375$473 for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 201829, 2019 and March 31, 2017,30, 2018, respectively.

Note 8     Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company occasionally makes small tuck-in acquisitions that are immaterial, both individually and in the aggregate. Therefore, increases in goodwill and gross intangible assets per the below tables may not agree to the increases of these assets as shown in Note 5 “Acquisitions.”

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are presented as follows:
Carrying amount as of December 29, 2017$173,202
Goodwill adjustments3,303
Acquisitions666
Foreign currency translation(38)
Carrying amount as of March 30, 2018$177,133
Carrying amount as of December 28, 2018$184,280
Acquisitions11,247
Foreign currency translation19
Carrying amount as of March 29, 2019$195,546

The goodwill adjustment relates to the Fells Point acquisition (see Note 5).








Other intangible assets consist of customer relationships being amortized over a period ranging from four to twenty years, trademarks being amortized over a period of one to forty years, and non-compete agreements being amortized over a period of two to six years. Other intangible assets as of March 30, 201829, 2019 and December 29, 201728, 2018 consisted of the following:
March 30, 2018:Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Amount
March 29, 2019:Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Amount
Customer relationships$116,132
 $(29,687) $86,445
$131,476
 $(38,334) $93,142
Non-compete agreements7,579
 (7,131) 448
7,579
 (7,269) 310
Trademarks59,908
 (11,071) 48,837
65,960
 (14,170) 51,790
Total$183,619
 $(47,889) $135,730
$205,015
 $(59,773) $145,242
December 29, 2017: 
  
  
December 28, 2018: 
  
  
Customer relationships$117,006
 $(27,704) $89,302
$119,488
 $(36,185) $83,303
Non-compete agreements7,566
 (6,946) 620
7,579
 (7,251) 328
Trademarks60,734
 (10,336) 50,398
59,862
 (13,460) 46,402
Total$185,306
 $(44,986) $140,320
$186,929
 $(56,896) $130,033

Amortization expense for other intangibles was $2,903$2,877 and $2,820$2,903 for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2019 and March 30, 2018, and March 31, 2017, respectively.

Estimated amortization expense for other intangibles for the remainder of the fiscal year ending December 28, 201827, 2019 and each of the next fivefour fiscal years and thereafter is as follows:
2018$8,757
201911,203
$10,394
202010,930
12,230
202110,926
12,204
202210,146
11,340
20239,118
10,380
Thereafter74,650
88,694
Total$135,730
$145,242
 


Note 9        Debt Obligations

Debt obligations as of March 30, 201829, 2019 and December 29, 201728, 2018 consisted of the following:
March 30, 2018 December 29, 2017March 29, 2019 December 28, 2018
Senior secured term loan$287,640
 $288,435
$239,745
 $239,745
Convertible subordinated notes36,750
 36,750
Capital leases and financed software280
 664
Convertible unsecured note4,000
 
Asset based loan facility44,185
 44,185
Finance leases and other financing obligations1,021
 193
Deferred finance fees and original issue discount(7,570) (8,027)(5,472) (5,893)
Total debt obligations317,100
 317,822
283,479
 278,230
Less: current installments(3,432) (3,827)(1,804) (61)
Total debt obligations excluding current installments$313,668
 $313,995
$281,675
 $278,169

Convertible Unsecured Note

On February 25, 2019, the Company issued a $4,000 convertible unsecured note (the “Note”), maturing on June 29, 2023, to Bassian Farms, Inc. (the “Holder”) as partial consideration in the Bassian acquisition. The interest rate charged on the Note is 4.5% per annum and increases to 5.0% after the two-year anniversary of the closing date. The Company may, in certain instances beginning eighteen months after issuance of the Note, redeem the Note in whole or in part for cash or convert the Note into shares of the Company’s common stock at the conversion price of $43.93 per share. After the two-year anniversary of the closing date, the Holder may convert the Note into shares of the Company’s common stock at the conversion price. Upon a


change of control event, the Holder may convert the Note into shares of the Company’s common stock at the conversion price or redeem the Note for cash.

As of March 30, 2018,29, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants and the Company had reserved $11,495$15,800 of the asset based loan facility (“ABL facilityFacility”) for the issuance of letters of credit. As of March 30, 2018,29, 2019, funds totaling $63,505$90,015 were available for borrowing under the ABL facility.Facility. The interest raterates on the Company’s senior secured term loan was 5.88%and ABL Facility were 6.0% and 4.0%, respectively, at March 30, 2018.29, 2019.

Note 10        Leases

The components of net lease cost were as follows:
 March 29, 2019
Operating lease cost$6,632
Finance lease cost 
Amortization of right-of-use asset43
Interest expense on lease liabilities17
Total finance lease cost$60
Short-term lease cost411
Variable lease cost651
Sublease income(180)
Total lease cost, net$7,574

Supplemental balance sheet information related to finance leases was as follows:
 Balance Sheet LocationMarch 29, 2019
Short-term finance lease liabilitiesCurrent portion of long-term debt$179
Long-term finance lease liabilitiesLong-term debt, net of current portion$824

The maturities of the Company’s operating and finance lease liabilities for the remainder of the fiscal year ending December 27, 2019 and each of the next four fiscal years and thereafter were as follows:
 Operating Leases Finance Leases
 Related Party Real Estate Third Party Real Estate Vehicles and Equipment Total Vehicles and Equipment
2019$388
 $7,489
 $10,048
 $17,925
 $181
2020365
 11,172
 11,621
 23,158
 242
2021
 10,685
 9,338
 20,023
 236
2022
 10,657
 7,293
 17,950
 227
2023
 10,120
 4,797
 14,917
 171
Thereafter
 84,439
 2,354
 86,793
 151
Total$753
 $134,562
 $45,451
 $180,766
 $1,208
Less interest      (53,127) (205)
Present value      $127,639
 $1,003

At March 29, 2019, the weighted-average lease term for operating and finance leases was 10.4 years and 5.3 years, respectively. At March 29, 2019, the weighted-average discount rate for operating and finance leases was 6.6% and 5.7%, respectively.

As of March 29, 2019, the Company is contractually obligated to make payments of approximately $23,500, related to a lease for a distribution center and for several vehicle and equipment leases that have not commenced. Accordingly, the Company has not recognized ROU assets or lease liabilities associated with these leases.



The Company’s future minimum lease payments as of December 28, 2018, in accordance with legacy lease accounting standards, under non-cancelable operating and finance lease agreements were as follows:
  Operating Leases Finance Leases
2019 $24,666
 $56
2020 23,047
 55
2021 19,918
 50
2022 17,838
 42
2023 14,876
 4
Thereafter 47,330
 
Total minimum lease payments $147,675
 207
Less interest   (49)
Present value of capital lease obligations   $158

Note 1011         Stockholders’ Equity

The following table reflects the activity of restricted share awards (“RSAs”)RSAs during the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018:29, 2019:
 Shares Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
 Shares Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at December 29, 2017 329,761
 $16.69
Unvested at December 28, 2018 526,730
 $20.60
Granted 285,624
 23.24
 
 
Vested (55,559) 19.00
 (67,610) 19.99
Forfeited (1,006) 16.49
 (23,680) 18.30
Unvested at March 30, 2018 558,820
 $19.81
Unvested at March 29, 2019 435,440
 $20.81

The Company granted 285,624 RSAs to its employees and directors at a weighted average grant date fair value of $23.24 each during the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018. These awards are a mix of time and performance based grants which will vest over periods of 3 months to 4 years. The Company recognized expense totaling $687$801 and $604$687 on its RSAs during the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 201829, 2019 and March 31, 2017,30, 2018, respectively.

At March 30, 2018,29, 2019, the total unrecognized compensation cost for unvested RSAs was $7,218$3,993 and the weighted-average remaining useful life was approximately 2.61.8 years. Of this total, $3,755$2,059 related to RSAs with time-based vesting provisions and $3,463$1,934 related to RSAs with performance-based vesting provisions. At March 30, 2018,29, 2019, the weighted-average remaining useful lives for time-based vesting and performance-based vesting RSAs were approximately 2.51.9 years and 2.61.7 years, respectively.

The following table summarizes stock option activity during the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2019:
 Shares Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
 Aggregate Intrinsic Value 
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term
(in years)
Outstanding December 28, 2018191,808
 $20.23
 $2,129
 7.2
Granted
 
    
Exercised(20,383) 20.23
    
Canceled/Forfeited
 
    
Outstanding and vested at March 29, 2019171,425
 $20.23
 $1,855
 6.9
Exercisable at March 29, 2019171,425
 $20.23
 $1,855
 6.9

The Company recognized expense of $150$114 and $140$150 on stock options during the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 201829, 2019 and March 31, 2017, respectively. At March 30, 2018, the total unrecognized compensation cost for these options was $565 to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 0.9 years.respectively.

As of March 30, 2018,29, 2019, there were 269,090266,937 shares available for grant under the Company’s 2011 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. No share-based compensation expense has been capitalized.



Note 1112         Related Parties

The Chefs’ Warehouse Mid-Atlantic, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, leases a distribution facility that is 100% owned by entities controlled by Christopher Pappas, the Company’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, and John Pappas, the Company’s vice chairman and one of its directors, and Dean Facatselis, a former non-employee director of the Company and the brother-in-law of Messrs. Pappas, and are deemed to be affiliates of these individuals. Expense related to this facility totaled $108 and $133 during the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 201829, 2019 and March 31, 2017.30, 2018. This lease was amended during the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and expires on September 30, 2019.2020.



The Company purchases products from ConAgra Foods, Inc. of which Steve Goldstone, a Director of the Company, is the Chairman. The Company purchased approximately $315 and $202 worth of products from ConAgra Foods, Inc. during the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively.

John DeBenedetti is a prior owner of Del Monte and served on the Company’s board of directors through April 20, 2018. Mr. J. DeBenedetti, indirectly through TJ Investments, LLC, owns an 8.33% ownership interest in Old World Provisions, which supplies products to the Company since the Del Monte acquisition. The Company purchased approximately $382 and $376, respectively, of products during the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018 and March 31, 2017. Mr. J. DeBenedetti is not involved in the day-to-day management of Old World Provisions.

Christopher Pappas’s brother, John Pappas, is one of the Company’s employees and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company paid John Pappas approximately $427$436 and $304$427 in total compensation respectively, for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2019 and March 30, 2018, and March 31, 2017.respectively. John Pappas did not receive any compensation during the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 201829, 2019 or March 31, 201730, 2018 for his service on the Company’s Board of Directors.

Note 1213         Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
Thirteen Weeks EndedThirteen Weeks Ended
March 30, 2018 March 31, 2017March 29, 2019 March 30, 2018
Net cash received from income taxes$(585) $(4,234)
Supplemental cash flow disclosures: 
  
Cash paid for income taxes, net of cash received$964
 $(585)
Cash paid for interest$4,035
 $4,976
$5,271
 $4,035
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:   
Operating cash flows from operating expenses$5,890
 $
Operating cash flows from finance leases$17
 $
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:   
Operating leases$131,819
 $
Finance leases$854
 $
Other non cash investing and financing activities:   
Convertible notes issued for acquisitions$4,000
 $
Contingent earn-out liabilities for acquisitions$4,080
 $



ITEM 2.         MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is provided as a supplement to the accompanying consolidated financial statements and footnotes to help provide an understanding of our financial condition, changes in our financial condition and results of operations. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 9, 2018.1, 2019. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms Company, Chefs’ Warehouse, we, us“Company”, “Chefs’ Warehouse”, “we”, “us” and our“our” refer to The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

OVERVIEW

We are a premier distributor of specialty foods in eight of the leading culinary markets in the United States. We offer more than 48,00055,000 SKUs, ranging from high-quality specialty foods and ingredients to basic ingredients and staples and center-of-the-plate proteins. We serve more than 30,00034,000 customer locations, primarily located in our 1516 geographic markets across the United States and Canada, and the majority of our customers are independent restaurants and fine dining establishments. As a result of our acquisition of Allen Brothers, Inc. (“Allen Brothers”) we also sell certain of our center-of-the-plate products directly to consumers.

We believe several key differentiating factors of our business model have enabled us to execute our strategy consistently and profitably across our expanding customer base. These factors consist of a portfolio of distinctive and hard-to-find specialty food products, an extensive selection of center-of-the-plate proteins, a highly trained and motivated sales force, strong sourcing capabilities, a fully integrated warehouse management system, a highly sophisticated distribution and logistics platform and a focused, seasoned management team.

In recent years, our sales to existing and new customers have increased through the continued growth in demand for specialty food products and center-of-the-plate products in general; increased market share driven by our large percentage of sophisticated and experienced sales professionals, our high-quality customer service and our extensive breadth and depth of product offerings; the acquisition of other specialty food and center-of-the-plate distributors; the expansion of our existing distribution centers; our entry into new distribution centers; and the import and sale of our proprietary brands. Through these efforts, we believe that we have been able to expand our customer base, enhance and diversify our product selections, broaden our geographic penetration and increase our market share.

RECENT ACQUISITIONS

On AugustFebruary 25, 2017, the Company entered into2019, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement, to acquirewe acquired substantially all of the assets of Fells Point,Bassian Farms, Inc. and certain affiliated entities (“Bassian”), a specialty protein manufacturer and distributor based in the metro Baltimore and Washington DC area.northern California. The finalaggregate purchase price for the transaction at acquisition date was approximately $34.1$32.0 million including $29.7and is subject to a customary working capital true-up. The acquisition was funded with $28.0 million paid in cash at closing, $3.3 million consisting of 185,442 shares ofand the Company’s common stock and $1.1 million payable upon settlementissuance of a net working capital true-up.$4.0 million unsecured convertible note.

Our Growth Strategies and Outlook

We continue to invest in our people, facilities and technology in an effort to achieve the following objectives and maintain our premier position within the specialty foodservice distribution market:

sales and service territory expansion;
operational excellence and high customer service levels;
expanded purchasing programs and improved buying power;
product innovation and new product category introduction;
operational efficiencies through system enhancements; and
operating expense reduction through the centralization of general and administrative functions.

Our growth has allowed us to improve upon our organization’s infrastructure, open new distribution facilities and pursue selective acquisitions. Over the last several years, we have increased our distribution capacity to approximately 1.21.6 million square feet in 2329 distribution facilities at March 30, 201829, 2019 and have invested significantly in acquisitions, infrastructure and management.





Key Factors Affecting Our Performance

Due to our focus on menu-driven independent restaurants, fine dining establishments, country clubs, hotels, caterers, culinary schools, bakeries, patisseries, chocolatiers, cruise lines, casinos and specialty food stores, our results of operations are materially impacted by the success of the food-away-from-home industry in the United States and Canada, which is materially impacted by general economic conditions, weather, discretionary spending levels and consumer confidence. When economic conditions deteriorate, our customerscustomers’ businesses are negatively impacted as fewer people eat away-from-home and those who do spend less money. As economic conditions begin to improve, our customers’ businesses historically have likewise improved, which contributes to improvements in our business. Likewise, the direct-to-consumer business of our Allen Brothers subsidiary is significantly dependent on consumers’ discretionary spending habits, and weakness or uncertainty in the economy could lead to consumers buying less from Allen Brothers.

Volatile food costs may have a direct impact upon our profitability. Prolonged periods of product cost inflation may have a negative impact on our profit margins and results of operations to the extent we are unable to pass on all or a portion of such product cost increases to our customers. In addition, product cost inflation may negatively impact consumer discretionary spending decisions within our customers’ establishments, which could adversely impact our sales. Conversely, our profit levels may be negatively impacted during periods of product cost deflation even though our gross profit as a percentage of sales may remain relatively constant. However, some of our products, particularly certain of our proteincenter-of-the-plate items, are priced on a cost plus a dollar“cost plus” markup, which helps mitigate the negative impact of deflation.

Given our wide selection of product categories, as well as the continuous introduction of new products, we can experience shifts in product sales mix that have an impact on net sales and gross profit margins. This mix shift is most significantly impacted by the introduction of new categories of products in markets that we have more recently entered, the shift in product mix resulting from acquisitions, as well as the continued growth in item penetration on higher velocity items such as dairy products.

The foodservice distribution industry is fragmented but consolidating, and we have supplemented our internal growth through selective strategic acquisitions. We believe that the consolidation trends in the foodservice distribution industry will continue to present acquisition opportunities for us, which may allow us to grow our business at a faster pace than we would otherwise be able to grow the business organically.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, certain income and expense items expressed as a percentage of net sales:
 Thirteen Weeks Ended Thirteen Weeks Ended
 March 30, 2018 March 31, 2017 March 29, 2019 March 30, 2018
Net sales 100.0% 100.0 % 100.0% 100.0%
Cost of sales 75.0% 74.3 % 74.7% 75.0%
Gross profit 25.0% 25.7 % 25.3% 25.0%
Operating expenses 23.2% 24.6 % 23.5% 23.2%
Operating income 1.8% 1.1 % 1.8% 1.8%
Other expense 1.6% 2.1 % 1.3% 1.6%
Income (loss) before income tax expense 0.2% (1.0)%
Income before income tax expense 0.5% 0.2%
Provision for income taxes 0.1% (0.4)% 0.1% 0.1%
Net income (loss) 0.1% (0.6)%
Net income 0.4% 0.1%

Management evaluates the results of operations and cash flows using a variety of key performance indicators, including net sales compared to prior periods and internal forecasts, costs of our products and results of our cost-control initiatives, and use of operating cash. These indicators are discussed throughout the Results“Results of OperationsOperations” and Liquidity“Liquidity and Capital ResourcesResources” sections of this MD&A.







Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, 201829, 2019 Compared to Thirteen Weeks Ended March 31, 201730, 2018

Net Sales

Our net sales for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 201829, 2019 increased approximately 10.7%12.1%, or $30.9$38.4 million, to $318.6$357.0 million from $287.7$318.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2017.30, 2018. Organic growth contributed $15.9$17.9 million, or 5.5%5.6% to sales growth in the quarter. The remaining sales growth of $15.0$20.5 million, or 5.2%6.5%, resulted from the acquisition of Fells Point on August 25, 2017.acquisitions. Organic case count grew approximately 4.5%5.2%, in our specialty category. In addition, growth incategory with unique customers and placements grew 3.5%growth at 6.2% and 3.1%5.2%, respectively, compared to the prior year quarter. Excluding the impact of the Fells Point acquisition, poundsPounds sold in our center-of-the-plate category increased 0.3%3.1% compared to the prior year quarter. Estimated inflation was 3.8% and 1.5%1.4% in our specialty category and 1.3% in our center-of-the-plate categories, respectively,category compared to the prior year quarter.

Gross Profit

Gross profit increased approximately 7.6%13.4%, or $5.6$10.7 million, to $90.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2019, from $79.5 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018, from $73.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2017.2018. Gross profit margin decreasedincreased approximately 7330 basis points to 25.0%25.3% from 25.7%, due in large part to the impact of inflation in certain center-of-the-plate categories.25.0%. Gross margins in the Company’s specialty category decreased 239 basis points and decreased 146increased 106 basis points in the Company’s center-of-the-plate category compared to the prior year quarter.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses increased by approximately 4.2%13.9%, or $3.0$10.3 million, to $84.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2019 from $73.8 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018 from $70.8 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2017.2018. The increase in operating expense relates primarily to certain corporate related costs and facilities costs as a result of growth. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses were 23.5% in the first quarter of 2019 compared to 23.2% in the first quarter of 2018 compared to 24.6% in the first quarter of 2017. The 145 basis point decrease in the Company’s operating expense ratio is due largely to better utilization of the Company's warehouse facilities and selling organization, which decreased approximately 21 basis points and 10 basis points, respectively, lower year-on-year compensation and benefit costs related to our management infrastructure which improved by 82 basis points and depreciation and amortization expense, which improved by 8 basis points.2018.

Operating Income

Operating income for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 201829, 2019 was $5.7$6.2 million compared to $3.1$5.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2017. As a percentage of net sales, operating income was 1.8% for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018 compared to 1.1% for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2017.2018. The increase in operating income was driven primarily by increased gross profit, offset in part by higher operating expenses, as discussed above. As a percentage of net sales, operating income was 1.8% for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2019 and March 30, 2018.

Interest Expense and Other Expense

Total interestInterest and other expense decreased to $4.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2019 compared to $5.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018 compared to $5.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2017 due to a reduction inlower effective interest rates charged on the Company’s outstanding debt.debt and the conversion of the $36.8 million of convertible subordinated notes during the third quarter of 2018.

Provision for Income Taxes

For the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018,29, 2019, we recorded an effective income tax rate of 28.5%27.5%. For the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2017,30, 2018, our effective income tax rate was 41.6%28.5%. The reduction in effective tax rate is a result of the enactment H.R. 1, originally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), on December 22, 2017. Among other changes to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, the Tax Act reduced the U.S. federal corporate top tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0%. 

Net Income

Reflecting the factors described above, net income was $1.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2019, compared to net income of $0.5 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018, compared to net loss of $1.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2017.2018.








Product Category Sales Mix

The sales mix for the principal product categories for thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018 and March 31, 2017 is as follows (dollars in thousands):
 Thirteen Weeks Ended
 March 30, 2018 March 31, 2017
Center-of-the-Plate$141,743
 44.5% $124,528
 43.3%
Dry Goods54,673
 17.2% 49,722
 17.3%
Pastry43,677
 13.7% 40,928
 14.2%
Cheese and Charcuterie32,911
 10.3% 31,040
 10.8%
Dairy and Eggs22,768
 7.1% 19,479
 6.8%
Oils and Vinegar16,874
 5.3% 16,325
 5.7%
Kitchen Supplies5,969
 1.9% 5,668
 1.9%
Total$318,615
 100% $287,690
 100%

Beginning in the first quarter of 2018, we revised our product categories by combining cheese and charcuterie. Historically, charcuterie was included in the center-of-the-plate product category. We also slightly altered the way we report certain performance related metrics related to organic growth, inflation and changes in gross profit margins. These metrics were previously reported on a legal entity basis as “protein”, referring to the four protein entities we acquired since 2013, and “specialty”, referring to our specialty distribution entities. Going forward we will report these metrics using a product category basis as “center-of-the-plate” and “specialty”. Center-of-the-plate will encompass all sales of protein products across Chefs’ Warehouse, while specialty will encompass all remaining sales not considered center-of-the-plate.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

We finance our day-to-day operations and growth primarily with cash flows from operations, borrowings under our senior secured credit facilities and other indebtedness, equity financing, operating leases, and trade payables.

Senior Secured Term Loan Credit Facility

On June 22, 2016, Chefs’ Warehouse Parent, LLC (“CW Parent”) and Dairyland USA Corporation (“Dairyland”), as co-borrowers, and The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (the “Company”) and certain other subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, entered into a credit agreement (the “Term Loan Credit Agreement”) with a group of lenders for which Jefferies Finance LLC (“Jefferies”) acts as administrative agent and collateral agent. The Term Loan Credit Agreement provides for a senior secured term loan B facility (the “Term Loan Facility”) in an aggregate amount of $305.0 million with a $50.0 million six-month delayed draw term loan facility (the “DDTL”; the loans outstanding under the Term Loan Facility (including the DDTL), the “Term Loans”). On June 27, 2016, the Company drew $14.0 million from the DDTL to help pay fund the acquisition of M.T. Food Service, Inc. On September 14, 2016, the Company entered into an amendment to the Term Loan Credit Agreement under which the remaining portion of the DDTL was terminated, the Company’s interest rate schedule was modified and the Company repaid $25.0 million of the outstanding balance of the Term Loans. Additionally, the Term Loan Facility includes an accordion which permits the Company to request that the lenders extend additional Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million (less the aggregate amount of certain indebtedness incurred to finance acquisitions) plus an unlimited amount subject to the Company'sCompany’s consolidated Total Leverage Ratio not exceeding 4.90:1.00 on a pro forma basis. Borrowings under the Term Loan Facility were used to repay the Company’s senior secured notes, as well as the prior term loan and revolving credit facility. Remaining funds will be used for capital expenditures, permitted acquisitions, working capital and general corporate purposes of the Company.

On December 13, 2017, the Company completed a repricing of the Term Loan Facility to reduce the Applicable Rate (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) from 475 basis points to 400 basis points over LIBOR. The interest rate on this facility at March 30, 2018 was 5.88%.

The final maturity ofIn connection with the Term Loan Facility is June 22, 2022. Subject to adjustment for prepayments,repricing, the Company paid debt financing costs of $0.8 million which were capitalized as deferred financing charges. On July 6, 2018, the Company made a $47.1 million prepayment and is no longer required to make quarterly amortization payments on the Term Loans in an amount equal to 0.25% ofLoan Facility. On November 16, 2018, the aggregate principal amountCompany completed a repricing of the Term Loans.


Loan Facility to reduce the Applicable Rate from 400 basis points to 350 basis points over LIBOR. In connection with the repricing, the Company paid debt financing costs of $0.6 million which were capitalized as deferred financing charges. The Company wrote off unamortized deferred financing fees of $1.1 million as a result of this repricing.

The interest rates per annum applicable to Term Loans, will be, at the co-borrowers’ option, equal to either a base rate or an adjusted LIBOLIBOR rate for one, two, three, six or (if consented to by the lenders) twelve-month interest periods chosen by the Company, in each case plus an applicable margin percentage. The interest rate on this facility at March 29, 2019 was 6.0% and the final maturity of the Term Loan Facility is June 22, 2022.

The Term Loan Facility contains customary affirmative covenants, negative covenants (including restrictions, subject to customary exceptions, on incurring debt or liens, paying dividends, repaying payment subordinated and junior lien debt, disposing assets, and making investments and acquisitions), and events of default for a term loan B facility of this type, as more particularly described in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

As of March 30, 2018,29, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants under the Term Loan Facility.

Asset Based Loan Facility

On June 22, 2016,29, 2018, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “ABL Credit Agreement”) with a group of lenders for which JPMorgan ChaseBMO Harris Bank, N.A., acts as administrative agent and collateral agent. The ABL Credit Agreement provides for an asset based loan facility (the “ABL Facility”) in the aggregate amount of up to $75.0$150.0 million. Availability under the ABL Facility will be limited to a borrowing base consisting of the difference of (a)equal to the lesser of: (i) the aggregate amount of commitments or (ii) the sum of specified percentages of eligible receivables and eligible inventory, minus certain availability reserves minus (b) outstanding borrowings.reserves. The co-borrowers under the ABL Facility are entitled on one or more occasions, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, to request an increase in the commitments under the ABL Facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $25.0 million. The ABL Facility matures on the earlier of June 22, 2021.29, 2023 and 90 days prior to the maturity date of the Company’s Term Loan Facility.

The interest rates per annum applicable to loans, other than swingline loans, under the ABL Credit Facility will be, at the co-borrowers’ option, equal to either a base rate or an adjusted LIBOLIBOR rate for one, two, three, six or (if consented to by the lenders) twelve-month, interest periods chosen by the Company, in each case plus an applicable margin percentage. The Company will pay certain recurring fees with respect to the ABL Facility, including fees on the unused commitments of the lenders.The


lenders. The ABL Facility contains customary affirmative covenants, negative covenants and events of default as more particularly described in the ABL Credit Agreement. The ABL Facility will require compliance with a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio of 1:1 if the amount of availability under the ABL Facility falls below a specified dollar amountthe greater of $10.0 million or percentage10% of the borrowing base.

There were no outstanding balances under the ABL as of March 30, 2018. Borrowings under the ABL Facility will be used, and are expected to be used, for capital expenditures, permitted acquisitions, working capital and general corporate purposes of the Company. On July 6, 2018, the Company borrowed $47.1 million under the ABL Facility and made an equivalent prepayment on its senior secured term loan. There was $44.2 million outstanding under the ABL Facility as of March 29, 2019, bearing an interest rate of 4.0%.

As of March 30, 2018,29, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants under the ABL Facility and the Company had reserved $11.5$15.8 million of the ABL facilityFacility for the issuance of letters of credit. As of March 30, 2018,29, 2019, funds totaling $63.5$90.0 million were available for borrowing under the ABL facility.Facility.

Convertible Subordinated NotesUnsecured Note

On April 6, 2015,February 25, 2019, the Company issued $36.8a $4.0 million principal amount of convertible subordinated notes with a six-year maturity bearing interest at 2.5% and a conversion price of $29.70 per shareunsecured note (the “Convertible Subordinated Notes”“Note”), maturing on June 29, 2023, to certain of the Del Monte entitiesBassian Farms, Inc. (the “Holder”) as partial consideration in the Del MonteBassian acquisition. The holdersinterest rate charged on the Note is 4.5% per annum and increases to 5.0% after the two-year anniversary of the Convertible Subordinated Notesclosing date. The Company may, in certain instances beginning one yeareighteen months after issuance of the Note, redeem the Convertible Subordinated NotesNote in whole or in part for cash or shares ofconvert the Company’s common stock. Moreover, the Company may, at its discretion, pay the outstanding principal amount due and owing under the Convertible Subordinated Notes at maturity in either cash or shares of the Company’s common stock. Interest is payable annually in cash with the first interest payment due on April 6, 2016. The Convertible Subordinated Notes, which are subordinate to the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ senior debt, are convertibleNote into shares of the Company’s common stock byat the holders at any time at a conversion price of $29.70.$43.93 per share. After the two-year anniversary of the closing date, the Holder may convert the Note into shares of the Company’s common stock at the conversion price. Upon a change of control event, the Holder may convert the Note into shares of the Company’s common stock at the conversion price or redeem the Note for cash.

Liquidity

We believe our capital expenditures, excluding cash paid for acquisitions, for fiscal 20182019 will be in the range of $14.0$24.0 million to $16.0$26.0 million. The increase in projected capital expenditures in fiscal 20182019 as compared to fiscal 20172018 is the result of planned expansions of several of our distribution facilities and renovations to our corporate headquarters. Recurring capital expenditures will be financed with cash generated from operations and borrowings under our ABL Facility. Our planned capital projects will provide both new and expanded facilities and improvements to our technology that we believe will produce increased efficiency and the capacity to continue to support the growth of our customer base. Future investments and acquisitions will be financed through either internally generated cash flow, borrowings under our senior secured credit facilities


in place at the time of the potential investment or acquisition or through the issuance of equity or debt securities, including, but not limited to, longer-term, fixed-rate debt securities and shares of our common stock.

On August 25, 2017, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Fells Point, a specialty protein manufacturer and distributor based in the metro Baltimore and Washington DC area. The final purchase price for the transaction at acquisition date was approximately $34.1 million, including $29.7 million paid in cash at closing, $3.3 million consisting of 185,442 shares of the Company’s common stock and $1.1 million payable upon settlement of a net working capital true-up.

On December 19, 2017, we completed a public offering of 1,900,000 shares of our common stock which resulted in net proceeds to us of approximately $34.0 million after deducting underwriters’ fees, commissions and transaction expenses. The net proceeds are currently being held as cash and cash equivalents for use in general corporate purposes including as possible consideration for future acquisitions. 

Net cash provided by operations was $10.5$7.4 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018, an increase29, 2019, a decrease of $2.4$3.1 million from the $8.1$10.5 million provided by operations for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2017.30, 2018. The primary reasons for the increasedecrease was a decrease in cash from working capital changes, partially offset by increased cash generated through net income and favorable working capital changes.income. The primary cause for the increase in net income was an increase in operating income and a reduction inlower interest expense as a result of our Term Loan repricing on December 13, 2017.expense. The increasedecrease in cash provided by changes in working capital was primarily due to increasesa decrease in cash provided by inventoriesfrom accounts payable changes and accounts receivableprepaid expenses and other current assets changes of $4.2$10.7 million and $1.1$3.0 million, respectively, partially offset by an increaseincreases in cash used in from accounts payable changes and prepaid expenses and other current assetsreceivable changes of $3.2 million and $1.3 million, respectively.$7.3 million.

Net cash used in investing activities was $5.3$32.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018,29, 2019, an increase of $1.5$26.8 million from the net cash used in investing activities of $3.8$5.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2017.30, 2018. The increase in net cash used was primarily due to a small tuck-in acquisition completed during the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018 partially offset by a decrease inmore cash paid for acquisitions and capital expenditures of $0.9 million.expenditures.

Net cash used in financing activities was $1.7$0.4 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018, an29, 2019, a cash increase of $0.2$1.3 million from the $1.4$1.7 million used in financing activities for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2017.30, 2018. This increase was primarily due to an increasethe fact we are no longer required to make quarterly amortization payments on our Term Loan as a result of the $47.1 million prepayment we made in the valuesecond quarter of shares surrendered to satisfy tax withholding requirements upon the vesting of restricted shares of our common stock awarded to our officers and key employees.2018.

Seasonality

Excluding our direct-to-consumer business, we generally do not experience any material seasonality. However, our sales and operating results may vary from quarter to quarter due to factors such as changes in our operating expenses, management’s ability to execute our operating and growth strategies, personnel changes, demand for our products, supply shortages, weather patterns and general economic conditions.



Our direct-to-consumer business is subject to seasonal fluctuations, with direct-to-consumer center-of-the-plate protein sales typically higher during the holiday season in our fourth quarter; accordingly, a disproportionate amount of operating cash flows from this portion of our business is generated by our direct-to-consumer business in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year. Despite a significant portion of these sales occurring in the fourth quarter, there are operating expenses, principally advertising and promotional expenses, throughout the year.

Inflation

Our profitability is dependent on, among other things, our ability to anticipate and react to changes in the costs of key operating resources, including food and other raw materials, labor, energy and other supplies and services. Substantial increases in costs and expenses could impact our operating results to the extent that such increases cannot be passed along to our customers. The impact of inflation and deflation on food, labor, energy and occupancy costs can significantly affect the profitability of our operations.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of March 30, 2018,29, 2019, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.




Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements requires it to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The SEC has defined critical accounting policies as those that are both most important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results and require its most difficult, complex or subjective judgments or estimates. Based on this definition, we believe our critical accounting policies include the following: (i) determining theour allowance for doubtful accounts, (ii) inventory valuation, with regard to determining the reserveinventory balance adjustments for excess and obsolete inventory, (iii) valuing goodwill and intangible assets, (iv) vendor rebates and other promotional incentives, (v) self-insurance reserves, and (vi) accounting for income taxes and (vii) contingent earn-out liabilities. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates as compared to our critical accounting policies and estimates described in the Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2018.1, 2019.

ITEM 3.         QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

As of March 30, 2018,29, 2019, we had $287.6an aggregate of $283.9 million of indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Secured Term Loan and $0.3 million outstanding under a software financing agreementABL Facility that bore interest at variable rates. A 100 basis point increase in market interest rates would decrease our after tax earnings by approximately $2.1 million per annum, holding other variables constant.

ITEM 4.         CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management,The Company, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officerits management, including the Chief Executive Officer and chief financial officer,the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosurethe design and operation of the Company's "disclosure controls and procedures pursuant toprocedures" (as defined in Rule 13a-1513a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act),"Exchange Act")) as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q. The evaluation included certain internal control areas in which we have made and are continuing to make changes to improve and enhance controls. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.

report. Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officerthe Chief Executive Officer and chief financial officerthe Chief Financial Officer concluded that ourthe Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the endas of the period covered by this Form 10-Q to provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.March 29, 2019.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have implemented new internal controls to ensure we adequately evaluated our contracts and properly assessed the impact of the new accounting standard related to leases on our financial statements as a result of its adoptionon December 29, 2018. There were no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal periodquarter ended March 29, 2019 that may have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.




PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.         LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are involved in legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising out of the ordinary conduct of our business. Although we cannot assure the outcome, management presently believes that the result of such legal proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements, and no material amounts have been accrued in our consolidated financial statements with respect to these matters.

ITEM 1A.         RISK FACTORS

There has been no material changes with respect to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2018.1, 2019.

ITEM 2.         ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 
Total Number
of Shares
Repurchased(1)
 
Average
Price
Paid Per
Share
 
Total
Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
 
Maximum Number
(or Approximate
Dollar Value) of Shares
That May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
December 30, 2017 to January 26, 2018
 $
 
 
January 27, 2018 to February 23, 20181,317
 $20.35
 
 
February 24, 2018 to March 30, 201818,783
 $23.65
 
 
Total20,100
 $23.44
 
 
 
Total Number
of Shares
Repurchased(1)
 
Average
Price
Paid Per
Share
 
Total
Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
 
Maximum Number
(or Approximate
Dollar Value) of Shares
That May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
December 30, 2018 to January 25, 2019
 $
 
 
January 26, 2019 to February 22, 2019
 $
 
 
February 23, 2019 to March 29, 201924,002
 $30.85
 
 
Total24,002
 $30.85
 
 

(1)During the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2018,29, 2019, we withheld 20,10024,002 shares to satisfy tax withholding requirements upon the vesting of restricted shares of our common stock awarded to our officers and key employees.

ITEM 3.     DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4.         MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

None.

ITEM 5.         OTHER INFORMATION

None.


ITEM 6.         EXHIBITS

Exhibit No. Description
   
 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
101.INS XBRL Instance Document
  
101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
  
101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
  
101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
  
101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
  
101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized on May 9, 2018.1, 2019.
 THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
 (Registrant)
  
Date: May 9, 20181, 2019  /s/ James Leddy
 James Leddy
 Chief Financial Officer
 (Principal Financial Officer)
  
Date: May 9, 20181, 2019  /s/ Timothy McCauley
   Timothy McCauley
   Chief Accounting Officer
   (Principal Accounting Officer)

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