How do I find a bread or delivery route for sale in Canada?

Routes are not always advertised in the way a shop or restaurant is. Many pass from one operator to another through the supplier, or by word of mouth between drivers. If you search only on listing sites, you will see some of them. A search that also reaches the supplier and the people already on the road will show more.

Ask the supplier first

Call the bakery, dairy or snack company and ask whether it keeps a list of routes that are for sale or about to be. Some suppliers want a say in who takes over, and they may prefer to introduce buyers themselves. Be ready to explain your background, your funding and the area you want to cover. The supplier’s attitude toward you tells you something about how the relationship would run.

Listings, operators and brokers

Business-for-sale sites sometimes carry routes under distribution or delivery. Current operators know of colleagues who want out. Brokers who work with distribution businesses may hear first. Our guide to what kinds of distribution businesses come up for sale can help you sort the listings you see.

Screening a listing

• Ask for the distribution agreement and read what it says about transfer.
• Ask which stores and territory are covered, and who decides.
• Find out whether the truck is owned or leased, and its condition.
• Ask for the supplier’s settlement statements for the route.
• Ask why the owner is leaving.

Be careful with “near me” and name-brand searches

If you search by supplier name or by city, treat what you find with care. A listing that uses a well-known brand does not mean the brand has approved the sale. Confirm with the supplier directly, and not through the seller alone. Before you spend money on a lawyer or an inspection, check that the supplier is willing to consider you.