Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
The Company, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's "disclosure controls and procedures" (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 26, 2025.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a–15(f) and 15d–15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, our management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2025. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this assessment, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 26, 2025.
The Company’s financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K have been audited by BDO USA, P.C., an independent registered public accounting firm, as indicated in the report appearing elsewhere within this Form 10-K. BDO USA, P.C. has also provided an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Changes In Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 26, 2025 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
76
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Stockholders and Board of Directors
The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.
Ridgefield, Connecticut
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.’s (the “Company’s”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO criteria”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 26, 2025, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 26, 2025 and December 27, 2024, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended December 26, 2025, and the related notes and our report dated February 24, 2026 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying “Item 9A, Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting”. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ BDO USA, P.C.
Stamford, Connecticut
February 24, 2026
77
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Rule 10b5-1 and Non-Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangements
During the quarter ended December 26, 2025, none of the Company’s directors or executive officers adopted , modified or terminated any contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of the Company’s common stock that was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1(c) or any “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement.”
Item 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
None.
78
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information to be set forth under the captions “Corporate Governance,” “Proposal 1 - Election of Directors” and “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 8, 2026, which we intend to file within 120 days after our fiscal year-end, is incorporated herein by reference. As provided in General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K and Instruction 3 to Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K, information regarding executive officers of our Company is provided in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption, “Information about our Executive Officers.”
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information to be set forth under the caption “Executive Compensation” in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 8, 2026, which we intend to file within 120 days after our fiscal year-end, is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information to be set forth under the caption “Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 8, 2026, which we intend to file within 120 days after our fiscal year-end, is incorporated herein by reference.
The following table provides certain information with respect to equity awards under our equity compensation plans as of December 26, 2025:
Plan Category Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in the
second column)
Plans approved by stockholders 100,876 $ 20.23 1,442,674
Plans not approved by stockholders — — —
Total 100,876 $ 20.23 1,442,674
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information to be set forth under the captions “Corporate Governance – Director Independence” and “Corporate Governance – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 8, 2026, which we intend to file within 120 days after our fiscal year-end, is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information to be set forth under the captions “Proposal 2 – Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Fees Paid to BDO USA, P.C.” and “Proposal 2 – Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services” in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 8, 2026, which we intend to file within 120 days after our fiscal year-end, is incorporated herein by reference.
79
PART IV
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
1. Financial Statements – See Index to the Consolidated Financial Statements at Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
2. Financial Statement Schedules - Supplemental schedules are not provided because of the absence of conditions under which they are required or because the required information is given in the financial statements or notes thereto.
3. Exhibits – The exhibits listed in the accompanying Index of Exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
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INDEX OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit
No. Description
2.1 Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 11, 2015, by and among The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Del Monte Capitol Meat Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, T.J. Foodservice Co., Inc., a California corporation, TJ Seafood, LLC, a California limited liability company, John DeBenedetti, Victoria DeBenedetti, Theresa Lincoln, and John DeBenedetti, as the Sellers’ Representative (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 15, 2015) (Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, the schedules and exhibits to this agreement are omitted, but will be provided supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request).
2.2 Merger Agreement, dated as of January 11, 2015, by and among The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Del Monte Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Del Monte Capitol Meat Co., Inc., a California corporation, David DeBenedetti, Victoria DeBenedetti, DeBenedetti/Del Monte Trust, and John DeBenedetti, as the Sellers’ Representative (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 15, 2015) (Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, the schedules and exhibits to this agreement are omitted, but will be provided supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request).
2.3 Indemnification Agreement, dated April 6, 2015, by and among Del Monte Merger Sub, LLC, The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc., Del Monte Capitol Meat Company, LLC, DeBenedetti/Del Monte Trust, Victoria DeBenedetti, David DeBenedetti, Del Monte Capitol Meat Co., Inc., T.J. Foodservice Co., Inc., TJ Seafood, LLC, John DeBenedetti, Theresa Lincoln and John DeBenedetti, as the Selling Parties' Representative (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Company's 8-K filed on April 9, 2015) (Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, the schedules and exhibits to this agreement are omitted, but will be provided supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request).
2.4 Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of August 25, 2017, by and among Fells Point, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Fells Point Wholesale Meats, Inc., a Maryland close corporation, Erik M. Oosterwijk, and Leendert H. Pruissen (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s 8-K filed on August 25, 2017) (Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, the schedules and exhibits to this agreement are omitted, but will be provided supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request).
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, dated as of July 27, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 2, 2011).
3.2 Bylaws of the Company, dated as of November 5, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 5, 2024).
3.3 Amended Bylaws of the Company, dated as of August 3, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2021) .
3.4 Certificate of Designation of the Voting Powers, Designation, Preferences and Relative, Participating, Optional or Other Special Rights and Qualifications, Limitations and Restrictions of the Series A Preferred Stock of The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 23, 2020).
4.0 Description of Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.0 to the Company's From 10-K filed on February 24, 2020).
4.1 Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s S-1/A filed on July 1, 2011).
81
Exhibit
No. Description
4.2 Rights Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2020, between The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 23, 2020).
4.3 Indenture, dated as of December 13, 2022, between The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 13, 2022).
4.4 Form of 2.375% Convertible Senior Note due 2028 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 13, 2022) .
10.1 Joint and Several Guaranty of Payment, dated as of April 26, 2012, among The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc., Chefs’ Warehouse Parent, LLC, Dairyland USA Corporation, The Chefs’ Warehouse Mid-Atlantic, LLC, Bel Canto Foods, LLC, The Chefs’ Warehouse West Coast, LLC, and The Chefs’ Warehouse of Florida, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 30, 2012).
10.2 Lease between The Chefs’ Warehouse Leasing Co., LLC and Dairyland USA Corporation, dated as of December 29, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form S-1/A filed on June 8, 2011).
10.3 First Amendment of Lease dated as of January 1, 2015 between Dairyland USA Corporation and TCW Leasing Co., LLC, f/k/a The Chefs' Warehouse Leasing Co., LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed on August 5, 2015).
10.4 Lease Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, between CW LV Real Estate, LLC, The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc., Chefs' Warehouse Parent, LLC and The Chefs' Warehouse West Coast, LLC, jointly and severally as the Tenant, and CW Nevada Landlord, LLC, as the Landlord (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Form 8-K filed on July 7, 2015).
10.5* Employment Agreement between Christopher Pappas and The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, dated as of August 2, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 2, 2011).
10.6* Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between John Pappas and The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, dated as of January 12, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 19, 2012).
10.7* Offer letter between Chefs’ Warehouse Holdings, LLC and Alexandros Aldous, dated as of February 18, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on March 13, 2013).
10.8* The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. Executive Change in Control Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 6, 2020).
10.9 Credit Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2016, by and among Dairyland USA Corporation and Chefs’ Warehouse Parent, LLC, as Borrowers, and The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. and the other Loan Parties party thereto, as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and Jefferies Finance LLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Term Loan Facility”) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 22, 2016).
10.10 Amendment No. 1, dated as of September 14, 2016, to the Term Loan Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 15, 2016).
10.11 Amendment No. 2, dated as of September 1, 2017, to the Term Loan Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on November 8, 2017).
82
Exhibit
No. Description
10.12 Amendment No. 3, dated as of December 13, 2017, to the Term Loan Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2019).
10.13 Amendment No. 4, dated as of November 16, 2018, to the Term Loan Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 19, 2018).
10.14 Amendment No. 5, dated as of November 28, 2019, to the Term Loan Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Company's Form 10-K filed on February 24, 2020).
10.15 Amendment No. 6, dated June 8, 2020, to the Term Loan Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2020).
10.16 Amendment No. 7, dated February 24, 2021, to the Term Loan Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2023) .
10.17 Amendment No. 8, dated as of August 23, 2022, to the Term Loan Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed on October 26, 2022).
10.18 Amendment No. 9, dated as of December 7, 2022, to the Term Loan Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Company's Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2023).
10.19 Amendment No. 10, dated as of November 6, 2023, to the Term Loan Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed on July 30, 2025.
10.20 Amendment No. 11, dated as of March 18, 2024, to the Term Loan Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 18, 2024).
10.21 Amendment No. 12, dated as of October 22, 2024, to the Term Loan Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 24, 2024).
10.22 Amendment No. 13, dated as of June 16, 2025, to the Term Loan Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 16, 2025).
10.23† Amendment No. 14, dated as of January 20, 2026, to the Term Loan Facility.
10.24 Credit Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2018, by and among Chefs’ Warehouse Parent, LLC and Dairyland USA Corporation, as Borrowers, and The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc., The Chefs’ Warehouse Mid-Atlantic, LLC, Bel Canto Foods, LLC, The Chefs’ Warehouse West Coast, LLC, The Chefs’ Warehouse Of Florida, LLC, Michael’s Finer Meats, LLC, Michael’s Finer Meats Holdings, LLC, The Chefs’ Warehouse Midwest, LLC, Fells Point Holdings, LLC and other Loan Parties party thereto as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and BMO Harris Bank N.A., as Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender (the “ABL Facility”) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 2, 2018).
10.25 Amendment No. 1, dated as of November 28, 2019, to the ABL Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the Company's Form 10-K filed on February 24, 2020).
10.26 Amendment No. 2, dated as of February 24, 2021, to the ABL Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Company's Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2023).
10.27 Amendment No. 3, dated as of March 11, 2022, to the ABL Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on April 27, 2022).
83
Exhibit
No. Description
10.28 Amendment No. 4, dated as of August 23, 2022 to the ABL Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed on October 26, 2022).
10.29 Amendment No. 5, dated as of December 7, 2022 to the ABL Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Company's Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2023).
10.30 Amendment No. 6, dated as of July 7, 2023, to the ABL Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed on August 2, 2023).
10.31 Amendment No. 7, dated as of March 12, 2025, to the ABL Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2025).
10.32* Offer Letter, dated October 17, 2017, by and between The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. and James Leddy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2017).
10.33* Offer Letter, dated February 19, 2018, by and between The Chefs’ Warehouse Inc. and Tim McCauley (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 20, 2018).
10.34 Cooperation Agreement dated January 15, 2018, among The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc., Legion Partners, L.P. I, Legion Partners, L.P. II, Legion Partners Special Opportunities, L.P. VII, Legion Partners, LLC, Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC, Legion Partners Holdings, LLC, Christopher S. Kiper, and Raymond White (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 16, 2018).
10.35 Cooperation Agreement dated March 1, 2024, among The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc., Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC, Legion Partners, L.P. I, Legion Partners, L.P. II, Legion Partners, LLC, Legion Partners Holdings, LLC, Christopher S. Kiper, and Raymond White (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 4, 2024).
10.36 Amendment to Cooperation Agreement, by and among The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. and Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC, dated May 31, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2024).
10.37* Form of Indemnification Agreement by and between The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. and its directors and executive officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Company’s Form S-1/A filed on July 14, 2011).
10.38* The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. Amended and Restated 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on May 26, 2022).
10.39 Amendment No. 1 to The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. Amended and Restated 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on June 16, 2025).
10.40* Form of Restricted Share Award Agreement under The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on July 31, 2019).
10.41* Form of Performance Restricted Share Award Agreement under The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on July 31, 2019).
84
Exhibit
No. Description
10.42* Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on July 31, 2019).
10.43* Form of Restricted Share Award Agreement under The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 6, 2020.
10.44* Form of Executive Severance Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 6, 2020).
10.45* The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc 2020 Cash Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on February 23, 2021).
10.46* 2021 Form of Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement - Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on July 28, 2021).
10.47* 2021 Non-Employee Director Deferral Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on July 28, 2021).
10.48* The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on August 11, 2023).
10.49* Form of Amended and Restated Executive Severance Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.44 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2024).
10.50 Form of Performance Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement – Officers and Employees under The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.49 to the Company's Form 10-K filed on February 25, 2025).
14.1 The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 6, 2013).
19 The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. Insider Trading Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 19 to the Company's Form 10-K filed on February 25, 2025).
21† Subsidiaries of the Company.
23.1† Consent of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1† Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2† Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1† Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2† Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
97 The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. Dodd-Frank Clawback Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97 to the Company's Form 10-K filed on February 25, 2025)
85
Exhibit
No. Description
101.INS† XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear on the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH† XBRL Schema Document
101.CAL† XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF† XBRL Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB† XBRL Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE† XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
* Management Contract or Compensatory Plan or Arrangement
† Filed herewith
86
SIGNATURES
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 February 24, 2026.
THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.
February 24, 2026 /s/ Christopher Pappas
Christopher Pappas
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Capacity Date
/s/ Christopher Pappas Chairman, President and February 24, 2026
Christopher Pappas Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ James Leddy Chief Financial Officer February 24, 2026
James Leddy (Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Timothy McCauley Chief Accounting Officer February 24, 2026
Timothy McCauley (Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ John Pappas Director and Vice Chairman February 24, 2026
John Pappas
/s/ Ivy Brown Director February 24, 2026
Ivy Brown
/s/ Steven F. Goldstone Director February 24, 2026
Steven F. Goldstone
/s/ Aylwin Lewis Director February 24, 2026
Aylwin Lewis
/s/ Lester Owens Director February 24, 2026
Lester Owens
/s/ Richard N. Peretz Director February 24, 2026
Richard N. Peretz
/s/ Debra Walton-Ruskin Director February 24, 2026
Debra Walton-Ruskin
/s/ Wendy M. Weinstein Director February 24, 2026
Wendy M. Weinstein
87