How do I find a bulk food store for sale?
Find a bulk food store for sale by searching listing sites and broker pages under several names (bulk, refill, zero waste, health food), looking at franchise resales as well as independents, and approaching owners and suppliers directly. On a first call, ask why the owner is selling and whom any listing broker acts for.
Bulk food, refill and zero waste stores go by many names, so search under several. Some sell dry goods from bins, some sell soaps and cleaners from drums and some do both. Plan on a few weeks of searching with several wordings and several routes, and keep notes so you can compare the stores you find.
Search terms and listing sites
Search business-for-sale sites and broker pages for bulk food, bulk store, refill store, zero waste store, health food and natural foods. Listings may describe the same shop in very different words, and many leave out the town. Save your searches and set alerts so a new listing reaches you quickly.
Franchise resales and independents
Some bulk food stores belong to a chain, and a franchisee may be selling a location. That brings a franchisor with its own approval process, so ask early what it requires of a buyer. An independent store has no one to approve you but may have fewer written systems. Decide which you prefer before you start calling.
Approaching owners and suppliers
Some owners never list. A polite letter or visit, saying who you are and that you will keep things confidential, can start a conversation. Suppliers, equipment dealers and your accountant may know of owners who are thinking about leaving. Do not ask staff or customers about a sale.
What to ask on the first call
- Why is the owner selling, and how soon?
- If a broker is involved, whom does the broker act for?
- Is the lease transferable, and how long does it run?
- Which products sell most, and which suppliers matter?
Health food stores overlap with bulk food stores, and how to find a health food store for sale shows a similar search.
Related reading
15 pages on the same subject, grouped by topic.
Buying
- Expert answerHow do I find a health food store for sale?
- Expert answerHow do I find a fruit and produce store for sale?
- Expert answerHow do I find a fish market or seafood store for sale?
- Expert answerHow do I find a chocolate shop or candy store for sale?
- Expert answerHow do I find a pet store for sale in my area?
- Expert answerHow do I compare candy store franchise opportunities?
- Expert answerDoes a farmers market stall come with a vendor business you buy?
- Expert answerShould I buy an existing water store or open a new one?
- Expert answerHow can I check whether a health food store is profitable before buying?
- Expert answerHow do I check a pet supply store’s regular food delivery customers?
- Expert answerHow do I find out why long-time store employees might leave after a sale?
- Expert answerHow do I check a pet store’s delivery service for heavy bags of food?
- Expert answerWhat should I look at in a feed store’s bulk storage bins and bagging setup?
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWorking with a broker to find a business to buy
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 04Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernment13 terms you need to understand before signing your commercial real estate lease
Deavo is an advertising and listings platform, not a brokerage, law firm or valuation firm. This page is general information, not legal, tax, accounting or valuation advice, and rules differ by province. Confirm anything you rely on with a qualified professional before you act on it.