Chefs' Warehouse (CHEF) executive compensation, 2026 proxy

Christopher Pappas, Chief Executive Officer, was paid $22M in 2025, up 279% from $5.8M the year before. The CEO-to-median-employee pay ratio was 384:1, on median employee pay of $57,246.

Filed
March 25, 2026
Annual meeting
May 8, 2026
Pay year
2025
Named executives
5
CEO total pay
$22M+279% vs prior year
CEO to median employee
384:1median $57,246
CEO pay in equity
78%$17.1M in awards
Prior say-on-pay support
93%of votes cast
CEO Total Compensation
$21,961,898Fiscal 2025 total pay
CEO Stock Awards
$17,084,933Grant date fair value
CEO Non-Equity Incentive
$3,536,143Annual cash incentive
Say-on-Pay Support
93%Prior year approval

How Pappas was paid

$22M in total for 2025, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table. Equity awards are valued at grant, not at what they turned out to be worth.

Salary5%Stock awards78%Non-equity incentive16%All other compensation1%

Named executive officers

ExecutiveTotal
Christopher PappasChief Executive Officer$21,961,898
John PappasVice Chairman$8,495,385
James LeddyChief Financial Officer$4,280,277
Alexandros AldousGeneral Counsel$4,103,028
Christina PolychroniChief Human Resources Officer$3,568,524

What changed and why

  • $22MChristopher Pappas received total compensation of $21,961,898 in fiscal 2025, representing an increase from $5,793,249 in fiscal 2024.
  • $17.1MStock awards for Christopher Pappas totaled $17,084,933 in fiscal 2025, which included performance-based restricted shares and transaction-contingent PSUs.
  • $3.5MNon-equity incentive plan compensation for Christopher Pappas was $3,536,143 for the 2025 fiscal year.
  • 93%Stockholders overwhelmingly approved the 2025 advisory say-on-pay proposal with over 93% support.
  • The CEO to median employee pay ratio was calculated as 383.6 to 1 for fiscal 2025.

About this page

Figures are automated and can be wrong; check the filing for the exact numbers. Totals follow SEC rules, which value stock and option awards at grant. Read the DEF 14A proxy statement for footnotes and the compensation committee's full reasoning.