Do the wholesaler accounts carry over when I buy a convenience store?

A convenience store lives on frequent deliveries. Bread, milk, snacks and drinks often come from different suppliers on different days, and most of those accounts are opened in the name of the person who owns the store today. When ownership changes, the supply side needs its own handover plan. Start it early, because an empty cooler in the first week is hard to recover from.

List every supplier and who holds the account

Ask the seller for a list of wholesalers and delivery vendors, with the account holder, the delivery day and the usual order. Check which ones sell through the store’s own account and which supply on a different basis. Your lawyer can tell you whether any supplier agreement limits a transfer, and the seller can introduce you.

Expect to apply for credit yourself

A new owner is a new customer. Suppliers may ask for a credit application, a deposit or payment on delivery until you have a record with them. Ask each one what it needs and how long it takes. Build that cash need into your plan and tell your lender about it, since it affects working capital in the first weeks.

Time the first orders around closing

Match each supplier’s route day to your closing date. Ask the seller to stop placing large orders just before closing, so you are not buying stock you did not agree to, and to share the usual order sizes so yours are right. Read what to expect when the supplier relationships change hands for rebates.

Introduce yourself in person

• Visit each driver or sales rep with the seller before closing.
• Confirm in writing when the first order under your name begins.
• Ask each supplier to stop invoicing the seller from closing day.
• Keep a short list of backup suppliers in case an account is delayed.