What should I check before buying a vegan bakery?

A vegan bakery is a bakery first, so the usual checks on equipment, lease and records all apply. What sets it apart is that its products work without eggs and dairy, which is harder than it looks, and its customers often choose it for exactly that reason. These points are the ones to add to your list.

Are the recipes written down?

Ask to see the recipes, the method for each and the yields. Egg-free baking can be sensitive to small changes in flour, fat or humidity, and owners sometimes carry the fixes in their heads. Ask whether a baker other than the owner has produced each item to the same standard. If not, expect a learning period after the sale, and ask the owner what training they will offer.

Suppliers and substitutes

Specialty ingredients such as plant-based butters, milk alternatives and binders may come from a small number of suppliers. Ask which items have only one source, what happens if one is discontinued, and whether the owner has tested alternatives. Request supplier invoices and ask whether any supplier gives terms that may not carry over to you.

Cross-contact practices

Customers who rely on the vegan label expect the kitchen to keep it honest. Ask how ingredients are stored, how equipment is cleaned and what staff are trained to do. Labelling and allergen rules are set by regulators, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is a place to start reading. Your lawyer can tell you what applies to the sale.

Who buys because it is vegan?

List the wholesale and cafe accounts and ask how long each has bought, whether there is a written agreement and whether the account would stay if the bakery changed hands. Speak to the largest ones if the seller agrees. Compare this list against what to check before buying a home-based business if production happens from a residence.