The Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF) Cash Flow: Operating & Free Cash Flow

The Chefs' Warehouse Cash Flow Statement Analysis

Values in millions USD

Income Statement Balance Sheet Cash Flow Ratios

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Cash flow statement showing operating, investing, and financing activities for The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) - Annual data in millions USD
Breakdown	FY 2025	FY 2024	FY 2023	FY 2022	FY 2021	FY 2020	FY 2019	FY 2018	FY 2017
Period ending	Dec 2025	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020	Dec 2019	Dec 2018	Dec 2017
Operating Activities
Net Income	72.36	55.48	34.59	27.75	-4.92	-82.90	24.19	20.40	14.37
Depreciation & Amortization	78.13	64.93	55.61	38.25	34.97	33.28	25.99	22.21	20.55
Deferred Income Tax	6.53	1.46	8.11	9.60	-1.85	-18.42	2.06	2.55	-0.70
Stock Based Compensation	21.24	17.78	20.04	13.60	11.48	9.29	4.40	4.09	3.02
Change in Working Capital	-75.64	-1.45	-75.17	-97.94	-62.35	63.28	-26.81	-13.51	-11.45
Change in Accounts Receivable	-35.85	-44.81	-48.81	-48.23	-70.78	77.59	-13.21	-19.47	-13.46
Change in Inventory	-67.11	-32.21	-28.76	-49.93	-60.80	49.05	-9.44	-6.33	-11.78
Change in Accounts Payable	31.37	87.31	19.60	19.16	71.52	-64.68	1.96	13.80	15.17
Change in Other Working Capital	6.45	-11.75	-17.19	-18.94	2.60	1.32	-6.12	-1.51	-1.37
Other Operating Activities	6.45	14.86	18.45	31.88	2.60	38.36	15.17	9.33	5.71
Net Cash from Operating Activities	129.22	153.06	61.64	23.13	-19.90	42.88	45.01	45.08	31.50
Investing Activities
Capital Expenditures	-41.43	-49.51	-57.43	-45.85	-38.80	-7.04	-16.08	-19.82	-12.31
Acquisitions	-4.58	-0.32	-121.88	-186.18	-10.19	-60.93	-28.08	-13.90	-30.10
Other Investing Activities	-0.75	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.03	0.00
Net Cash from Investing Activities	-46.76	-49.82	-179.31	-232.02	-48.99	-67.97	-44.15	-33.69	-42.41
Financing Activities
Debt Repayment	-48.57	-10.05	24.45	278.65	-57.61	-1.29	103.92	-6.68	-12.83
Common Stock Issued	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	85.94	0.00	0.00	34.02
Common Stock Repurchased	-15.00	-24.81	-2.13	-2.67	-1.83	-3.67	-1.02	-0.76	-0.50
Other Financing Activities	-12.65	-3.63	-13.31	-22.76	-3.36	-2.93	-5.95	-3.00	-1.26
Net Cash from Financing Activities	-76.22	-38.48	9.01	253.22	-9.22	78.06	96.95	-10.44	19.43
Summary
Effect of Forex Changes on Cash	0.09	0.02	-0.26	-0.68	-0.01	0.08	0.02	-0.05	0.12
Net Change in Cash	6.33	64.78	-108.92	43.65	-78.11	53.05	97.82	0.91	8.64
Cash at Beginning of Period	114.66	49.88	158.80	115.16	193.28	140.23	42.41	41.50	32.86
Cash at End of Period	120.98	114.66	49.88	158.80	115.16	193.28	140.23	42.41	41.50
Free Cash Flow	87.79	103.56	4.21	-22.71	-58.70	35.85	28.93	25.27	19.19
Supplemental Disclosures
Interest Paid	-	42.76	42.07	27.23	15.39	-	-	-	-
Income Taxes Paid	-	18.52	17.93	4.28	-0.23	-	-	-	-

Source: Company financial statements from annual and quarterly filings. Data as of Jun 30, 2026. Data sources and methodology

Frequently Asked Questions About The Chefs' Warehouse Cash Flow

What is The Chefs' Warehouse's free cash flow?

The Chefs' Warehouse generated free cash flow of $87.79M in fiscal 2025 (fiscal year ended Dec 31, 2025), operating cash flow of $129.22M minus $41.43M of capital expenditures. That was down 15.2% from $103.56M a year earlier. Free cash flow equaled 2.1% of revenue.

How much does The Chefs' Warehouse spend on capital expenditures?

The Chefs' Warehouse spent $41.43M on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, compared with $49.51M a year earlier. That equals 32.1% of operating cash flow.

Does The Chefs' Warehouse pay dividends or buy back shares?

Yes. In fiscal 2025 The Chefs' Warehouse returned $15.00M in share buybacks to shareholders, according to its cash flow statement.

What is free cash flow?

Free cash flow is operating cash flow minus capital expenditures. It is the cash a company has left for dividends, buybacks, debt repayment or acquisitions after funding its operations and investment. Full definition