Understand the working capital the business needs to run
Inventory and receivables tie up real cash between purchase and collection; establish the requirement and whether it's included. Working capital is often the biggest swing in the price.
wholesale and distribution business for Sale in Ontario
Similar businesses sell at 1.4x to 5.7x SDE. Compare live listings and connect with sellers.
2 results
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Other Wholesalers & Distributors
Other Wholesalers & Distributors
Perishable Food Import and Wholesale Distribution Business, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto, ON, CA
An established importer and wholesale distributor of perishable food products, supplying wholesalers and retailers across Canada from an Ontario base. The business has traded under the same ownership and management for more than fifteen years. Revenue in the most recent completed fiscal year was approximately $9.1 million, up from approximately $6.6 million three years earlier. The company carries no bank debt. Warehousing, cold storage, handling and loading are purchased as a service on a per-load basis rather than owned. Cost moves with volume, and a buyer inherits no deferred replacement cycle. What the business does own is harder to replicate. Supplier relationships built over decades in the trade, across multiple facilities in more than one offshore origin country. Its own brands and labels. A federal food import registration, with the audit and traceability record behind it. The business is run by a single working principal who leads buying, selling and customer relationships, with support from others in the business. The sale is driven by retirement. The principal will remain for whatever period a buyer requires to take the business over confidently, with no limit set on that commitment. Growth is available without changing the model: additional lines through the existing supplier base, extension of distribution beyond the current core province to all regions of Canada, and expansion of the direct retail account base. The opportunity suits a food distributor or importer of perishable goods, an operator with existing cold chain and logistics infrastructure that could absorb volume at low marginal cost, or an owner-operator with trade or import experience.
$1,750,000Asking Price
$9,100,000Revenue
-Cash Flow
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Food & Related products
Other Wholesalers & Distributors
Food & Related products
+1
Eastern Canada Specialty Food Distributor - $12M+ Revenue
Ontario, Canada
ON, CA
A profitable, well-established wholesale food distribution business serving one of Canada's fastest-growing ethnic food categories is available for acquisition. Operating for 20 years from a GTA-based distribution facility, the business has more than doubled in revenue over the past five years and is currently tracking $12M+ in annual sales with expanding margins. The company serves a highly diversified customer base across Eastern Canada through long-standing supplier relationships and a deep product catalog. Business Highlights - Trailing revenue of $12M+ with consistent gross margins above 22% - Normalized EBITDA of $600K+ with margin expansion underway - Customer base of several hundred active accounts spanning ethnic grocers, supermarket chains, and food service operators across Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and the Maritimes - Top customer represents less than 3% of revenue (excellent diversification) - Catalog of over 1,800 SKUs across multiple product categories - Network of 40+ established supplier relationships in Canada and the United States - 20+ trained employees and a fleet of nine delivery trucks - Leased distribution facility with renewal option in place - Owner-operator transitioning out, willing to support a structured handover Growth Opportunities Active expansion plans into mainstream supermarket chains, geographic extension into Western Canada, e-commerce and direct-to-consumer channel development, and adjacent ethnic food category extension leveraging existing distribution infrastructure. Transaction Terms Asking Price: Available upon NDA execution Structure: Share sale preferred for tax-efficient treatment to vendors Qualified buyers will be required to execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement before receiving the Confidential Information Memorandum.
-Asking Price
$12,000,000Revenue
-Cash Flow
Market Snapshot
National transaction benchmarks for wholesale and distribution business businesses.
Under $500K
Median revenue$810k
Median cash flow$129k
Median sale price$299k
Multiple range1.4x - 2.8x
$500K to $2M
Median revenue$2.13m
Median cash flow$299k
Median sale price$914k
Multiple range2.3x - 3.8x
Over $2M
Median revenue$8.49m
Median cash flow$1.07m
Median sale price$4.27m
Multiple range3.3x - 5.7x
A variety of factors can cause businesses to trade outside this range, including earnings quality, operational transferability, key-person risk, growth trajectory, and geography, so a listing priced above or below the typical multiple usually reflects real differences in the underlying business.
What to know about wholesale and distribution business acquisitions
GW
Cofounder & CEO
Key diligence, valuation, financing, and transition considerations for buyers evaluating wholesale and distribution business acquisitions.
Examine inventory quality, not just quantity
Dead, obsolete, and slow-moving stock inflates the balance sheet; get an aged analysis and value it realistically.
Quantify supplier and customer concentration
A key manufacturer or a few large accounts can carry the business and walk; if a senior rep with a big attached book leaves at close, you lose it. Review terms and exclusivity.
Confirm supplier agreements and exclusivities transfer
Distribution rights, territories, and pricing tiers are often the real asset and may not pass to a new owner.
Pressure-test margins and pricing power
Distribution margins are thin and exposed at both ends; understand gross margin by line and how much room exists when costs move.
Assess the warehouse, logistics, and systems
Facilities, fleet (new trucks run $80K–$150K each), and inventory systems drive the operation; tour the warehouse and budget deferred items.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common buyer questions for this market.
Yes, but lenders watch working capital, concentration, and inventory quality closely. Transferable supplier agreements and clean, current inventory make these far easier to fund.