How should I tell my bakery’s early-morning delivery drivers about a sale?
Tell them in person, before they hear it elsewhere, and after you and the buyer have agreed what you can say. Pick a time when they are not mid-route, explain what changes and what does not, and be ready for questions about pay, schedules and the vans. Your lawyer should check your approach first.
Drivers hold much of the bakery’s value in their heads: which door to use, who signs, which customer wants the bread early. That makes how you tell them important. Decide first with the buyer when the news is shared and who says what, because a rumour that reaches them first is hard to undo.
Choose the setting with care. The drivers start before dawn, so a brief message in the loading bay can feel rushed. A short meeting at the end of a shift, with coffee and time for questions, is better. Speak plainly about what you know, admit what you do not and promise to share news as it arrives. Do not promise jobs or pay that are not yours to give.
Prepare for the questions: will the routes change, will the vans stay, who will they report to, and what happens to their schedules? If the buyer is willing, introduce the buyer in person soon after. Ask your lawyer what you may say and when, and how employment is handled in the sale. Staff who feel respected are more likely to stay through the change.
Key takeaways
- Agree with the buyer what is shared, when and by whom.
- Tell the drivers in person, at a time when they can ask questions.
- Do not promise pay, jobs or routes that are not yours to guarantee.
- Introduce the buyer early so the drivers meet the person who will lead them.
Related reading
12 pages on the same subject, grouped by topic.
Buying
- Expert answerHow do I judge whether a bakery’s morning rush is a one-person operation?
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Succession
Due diligence
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- Expert answerHow do I judge a last-mile delivery company’s driver turnover before I buy?
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaIndustryHow to sell your business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernment7 steps to increase your business’ value—before you sell it
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