UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14A Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ☒ Filed by the Registrant Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐ Check the appropriate box: ☐ Preliminary Proxy Statement ☐ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by rule 14a-6(e)(2)) ☒ Definitive Proxy Statement ☐ Definitive Additional Materials ☐ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): ☒ No fee required. ☐ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: (5) Total fee paid: ☐ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. ☐ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: (3) Filing Party: (4) Date Filed: Suburban Propane 240 Route 10 West Whippany, NJ 07981-0206 www.suburbanpropane.com Michael A. Stivala President and Chief Executive Officer March 23, 2021 Dear Fellow Suburban Propane Unitholder: You are cordially invited to attend the Tri-Annual Meeting of the Limited Partners of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. to be held on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, beginning at 10:00 a.m. E.T. As a result of the public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to prioritize the health and safety of our employees, Unitholders and community, this Tri-Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting of Unitholders, which will be conducted solely via live webcast on the Internet. There is no physical location for the Tri-Annual Meeting so Unitholders will not be able to attend the meeting in person. You will be able to attend and participate in the Tri-Annual Meeting online, vote your shares electronically and submit your questions prior to and during the meeting by visiting: www.meetingcenter.io/279296376 at the meeting date and time described in the accompanying proxy statement. The password for all Unitholders to attend the meeting is SPH2021. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting virtually, it is important that your units be represented at the meeting. You may vote on the matters that come before the meeting by completing the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the envelope provided. Alternatively, you may also vote over the Internet or by telephone before the Tri-Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Tri-Annual Meeting will be open to holders of record of common units as of the close of business on March 22, 2021. I look forward to greeting those of you who will be able to attend virtually during our online meeting. Sincerely yours, Michael A. Stivala President and Chief Executive Officer SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. NOTICE OF TRI-ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON May 18, 2021 The Tri-Annual Meeting of the Limited Partners of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (“Suburban”) will be held virtually at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, and can be accessed by visiting www.meetingcenter.io/279296376, for the following purposes: 1. To elect seven Supervisors to three-year terms; 2. To ratify our independent registered public accounting firm for our 2021 fiscal year; 3. To approve Suburban’s Amended and Restated 2018 Restricted Unit Plan; 4. To provide our Limited Partners with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers; and 5. To consider any other matters that may properly come before the meeting. Only holders of record of common units as of the close of business on March 22, 2021 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. By Order of the Board of Supervisors, Bryon L. Koepke Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary March 23, 2021 IMPORTANT Your vote is important. Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting virtually, we urge you to complete and return the enclosed proxy card at your earliest convenience in the postage-paid envelope provided, or vote using the Internet or by telephone prior to the virtual-only meeting. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE TRI-ANNUAL MEETING………..……………………….1 IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE MEETING…………………………………………………………………………….……………………….8 PROPOSAL 1 – ELECTION OF SUPERVISORS…………………………………………………………...9 NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS SUPERVISORS ..................................................................................... 9 Vote Required and Recommendation of the Board of Supervisors ............................................................ 12 INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ....................................................................... 13 PARTNERSHIP GOVERNANCE ............................................................................................................... 15 Board Committees ...................................................................................................................................... 15 ESG Strategy and Initiatives ……………………………………………………………………………...17 Supervisor Nominations and Criteria for Board Membership .................................................................... 21 Supervisor Independence ............................................................................................................................ 23 Attendance at Meetings .............................................................................................................................. 23 Unitholder Communications with the Board of Supervisors...................................................................... 24 Code of Ethics and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics ........................................................................ 24 Corporate Governance Guidelines ............................................................................................................. 24 NYSE Annual CEO Certification ............................................................................................................... 24 REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE .................................................................................................. 24 COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS ................................................................................ 26 Compensation Governance ......................................................................................................................... 26 Executive Compensation Philosophy ......................................................................................................... 30 Components of Compensation ................................................................................................................... 32 REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ............................................................................... 48 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION................................. 48 CEO PAY RATIO ……………………………………………………………….…………………………57 SUPERVISORS’ COMPENSATION .......................................................................................................... 58 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT ................ 59 PROPOSAL 2 – RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2021 FISCAL YEAR …………..………………….………………………………………..61 Principal Accountant Fees and Services ..................................................................................................... 61 Vote Required and Recommendation of the Board of Supervisors ............................................................ 62 PROPOSAL 3 – APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2018 RESTRICTED UNIT … PLAN…….……………………………………………………………………………………………….63 Reasons for Adoption of the Plan ............................................................................................................... 63 Summary of the Material Terms of the Amended Plan .............................................................................. 64 Securities Authorized For Issuance Under the 2009 and 2018 Restricted Unit Plans ................................ 68 New Plan Benefit........................................................................................................................................ 69 Vote Required and Recommendation of the Board of Supervisors ............................................................ 69 PROPOSAL 4 – ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION…………………………….70 Vote Required and Recommendation of the Board of Supervisors ............................................................ 71 APPENDICES……………………………………………………………………………………………...72 Appendix A................................................................................................................................................. A-1 SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. 240 Route 10 West Whippany, New Jersey 07981-0206 PROXY STATEMENT