Buying or selling an existing Global Pet Foods store is a retail resale with a community-store feel — the price and the lease matter, but so does the franchisor's consent, the perishable and health-focused inventory that has to be counted and valued at closing, and whether the store's loyalty program and customer relationships transfer cleanly.
Global Pet Foods resales follow the franchisor's own approval process on top of the usual purchase mechanics — here's how the two run together.
Getting approved
The offer sets price and structure — asset or share — conditioned on the franchisor's consent and landlord consent to assign the lease, the two items most likely to set the pace.
1–2 weeks†Global Pet Foods reviews the incoming owner's fit with the brand before consenting to the transfer of that specific location.
2–4 weeks†An Arthur Wishart Act disclosure document may still be required even where the deal is framed as a private resale — Ontario courts read the exemption narrowly, so this gets confirmed early.
assessed early†Getting to closing
The landlord's written consent to assign the retail lease is typically the practical bottleneck for a plaza or strip-mall location.
2–6 weeks†Perishable and health-focused pet food stock is counted and valued at closing, and supplier and vendor accounts are re-established under the incoming owner.
1–2 weeks, around closing†Funds, keys, and inventory change hands, and the store's loyalty program and regular customers transition to the new owner alongside the sign staying the same.
1 day, plus a short tail†CFA Look For A Franchise listing confirms an established Canadian franchise network, describing itself as a wholly Canadian-owned and operated pet-specialty retail chain
Founded in Ontario in 1976, this pet retail chain has a large share of its locations in the province
This is the first real decision in a Global Pet Foods resale — and it changes what you're buying, what you're taking on, and how the franchise agreement moves.
| Question | Asset purchase | Share purchase |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | The store's assets — inventory, fixtures, the lease, the loyalty program membership, and the benefit of the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent. | The shares of the operating corporation — every store it holds, and everything the company owes. |
| Franchisor consent & ROFR | Required for the specific store changing hands. | Required for the change of control itself, across every location the corporation operates. |
| The lease | Needs the landlord's consent to assign — often the pacing item for a plaza or strip-mall location. | Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause. |
| Inventory (perishable & health-food stock) | Counted and valued at closing, with expiry-dated product reviewed separately from shelf-stable goods. | Inventory stays with the company; no separate count is needed. |
| Loyalty program & customer data | Membership records transfer with appropriate PIPEDA-compliant notice to customers. | Records stay with the corporation regardless of who holds the shares. |
| Tax angle | Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased. | Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares. |
The store's assets — inventory, fixtures, the lease, the loyalty program membership, and the benefit of the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent.
The shares of the operating corporation — every store it holds, and everything the company owes.
Required for the specific store changing hands.
Required for the change of control itself, across every location the corporation operates.
Needs the landlord's consent to assign — often the pacing item for a plaza or strip-mall location.
Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause.
Counted and valued at closing, with expiry-dated product reviewed separately from shelf-stable goods.
Inventory stays with the company; no separate count is needed.
Membership records transfer with appropriate PIPEDA-compliant notice to customers.
Records stay with the corporation regardless of who holds the shares.
Buyer gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased.
Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares.
We tell you which structure fits — before you sign anything.
No open-ended hourly surprises — the cost is confirmed in writing before any work begins.
| Type of work | Fee | How it's confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Straightforward purchase or sale | Starting from $3,388.87 Our charges · taxes included | Confirmed in writing once we see the agreement. |
| Larger or more complex deal | Quoted to scope | Short call → fixed written quote before any work begins. |
| Searches, filings & third-party fees | At cost | Itemized on your invoice, not marked up. |
A single storefront changing hands between one buyer and one seller.
Start my file →A multi-store operator selling several locations as one operating company, or a resale where the franchisor's consent or a disclosure question needs to be worked through before terms are final.
Book a consultation →Not sure which you are? That's our job to figure out, not yours. As a rough guide, most deals under a couple of million dollars are the first kind — above that, you're usually in Mergers & Acquisitions territory.
Not formally, but the store's value is closely tied to knowledgeable staff who give in-store nutrition and product advice. Franchisor onboarding covers product training, and continuity of experienced staff through the transition is worth negotiating for.
Generally not automatically — most supplier accounts are re-established under the incoming owner's name. We map out which vendor relationships matter most to your store's product mix before closing.
They typically transfer with appropriate customer notice under PIPEDA. Since Global Pet Foods stores build a lot of value through repeat community customers, keeping that program running without interruption is usually a priority for both sides.
Not necessarily. Ontario courts read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, and franchisor involvement in the resale can be enough to trigger a full disclosure requirement anyway — we confirm whether it applies to your deal early.
Often, yes. An operating company holding multiple stores is more commonly sold as shares, so every location's franchise agreement and lease stay intact at the same time rather than being individually re-consented.
Related
Where we close franchise resale deals
Treadstone Law is an independent law firm. We act for buyers and sellers of franchise businesses. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or retained by Global Pet Foods or its franchisor.
Tell us about your Global Pet Foods resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.