Plain-language guides on valuing, selling, buying, and preparing food businesses — written from the operator's side of the table. Every article is written by Hector Aguirre and available in English and Spanish.
- Food industry M&A trends 2026: what the market is telling owners and acquirers heading into 2027
Fewer deals, but strategics are back and quality gets paid. Five 2026 trends — from Sysco–Jetro to a bifurcated market — and what they mean for 2027.
- Buy-side acquisition strategy: how acquirers are sourcing food distribution deals in 2026
In a bifurcated market, the best food acquisitions are sourced before a process starts. How disciplined buyers build a proprietary pipeline.
- Asset sale vs. stock sale: how deal structure shapes what you keep when you sell your food business
Why buyers want asset deals, why sellers want stock deals, the structures that bridge the gap, and what happens to your licenses and contracts.
- The working capital adjustment: the hidden line item that reshapes your food distribution sale price
How the net working capital peg works, why seasonal, inventory-heavy food distributors are exposed, and how to protect your proceeds.
- Sell-side due diligence: how food distribution owners prepare before going to market
Run diligence on yourself first: what buyers test in food distribution, a data room checklist, and why FSMA 204 readiness matters.
- Exit planning for food business owners: how to get sale-ready before you go to market
What buyers scrutinize in a food business, a 6–12 month readiness timeline, and how preparation turns into price.
- What is a food distribution business worth? A 2026 valuation guide
Indicative 6x–11x EBITDA ranges by size, the factors that move your multiple, who is buying in 2026, and the levers to pull before a sale.
- How to Value a Restaurant: Understanding the Different Approaches
SDE, EBITDA, comps, leases, liquor licenses, asset value, DCF, and unit economics — how buyers really value restaurants.
- Manufacturing vs. Distribution vs. Retail: How Food Businesses Differ and How Buyers Value Them
Three food business models, three economic profiles, three valuation approaches — with a side-by-side comparison.
- Why Food Businesses Are a Compelling M&A Opportunity in the Northeast
Why the dense NY/NJ/CT corridor is a compelling food M&A market — and what the acquisition process looks like.
- What Is Your Food Business Worth? A Guide to Valuation Multiples
EBITDA, SDE, and the factors that move your multiple up or down — plus how to prepare before you sell.
- Preparing Your Family Food Business for Sale: A Succession Checklist
Start early, clean the books, reduce key-person risk, and protect your team and legacy before a sale.
Services: Sell-Side · Buy-Side · Succession & Exit · Advisory
Industries: Ethnic Food Distribution · Hispanic Grocery & Bodegas · Produce Distribution
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This page is general education, not legal, tax, valuation, or financial advice. Every business is different; talk to qualified advisors about your specific situation.