M&M Food Market operates as a frozen-food retailer rather than a food-service kitchen, and the brand itself explicitly markets 're-franchised' existing stores alongside new-build locations — meaning an established resale market is part of the system, not an afterthought. Freezer and refrigeration equipment, inventory, and the lease typically matter more here than a health-unit kitchen inspection.
M&M Food Market 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 terms, conditioned on the franchisor's consent and a satisfactory review of the store's freezer and refrigeration equipment and lease.
1–2 weeks†The franchisor reviews the proposed buyer and the deal terms as part of its re-franchising process, and may exercise a right of first refusal before approving an outside purchaser.
3–6 weeks†Whether a franchise disclosure document is required for this resale gets confirmed early, since the statutory resale exemption is read narrowly by Ontario courts — including where a brand actively facilitates re-franchised store sales.
reviewed alongside consent†Getting to closing
The commercial lease needs the landlord's consent to assign — usually in a strip mall or plaza setting typical of the format.
2–6 weeks†Freezer and refrigeration equipment is confirmed as owned, leased, or financed, and frozen inventory is counted and valued ahead of closing.
runs alongside the other steps†Funds, equipment, and the lease all change hands together, with frozen inventory settled at the count on closing day.
1 day, once conditions are met†Official mmfoodmarketfranchise.com site confirms 'new and re-franchised stores are available across the country'
National Canadian frozen-food retailer with numerous Ontario locations (examples cited include Nepean and Sault Ste. Marie)
Site explicitly markets 're-franchised' (existing) stores alongside new-build opportunities
This is the first real decision in a M&M Food Market 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 — freezer and refrigeration equipment, leasehold improvements, frozen inventory, the lease, and the benefit of the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent. | The shares of the operating company — every location it holds, and everything it owes. |
| Seller's liabilities | Generally stay behind with the seller's existing corporation. | Generally come with the company, known and unknown, across every location it operates. |
| Franchisor consent & re-franchising process | Required for the specific store changing hands, run through the franchisor's own re-franchising process for existing locations. | Required for the change of control itself — the franchisor reviews who is actually taking over. |
| The lease | Needs landlord consent to assign, typically in a strip mall or plaza setting — often the practical bottleneck for closing. | Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause. |
| Staff (ESA) | Employment Standards Act continuity rules typically apply to how store staff carry over. | Employment generally continues uninterrupted — the employer doesn't change. |
| Tax angle | Buyer generally gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased; an HST s.167 election may apply. | Seller may access the lifetime capital gains exemption on qualifying shares. |
The store's assets — freezer and refrigeration equipment, leasehold improvements, frozen inventory, the lease, and the benefit of the existing franchise agreement, subject to consent.
The shares of the operating company — every location it holds, and everything it owes.
Generally stay behind with the seller's existing corporation.
Generally come with the company, known and unknown, across every location it operates.
Required for the specific store changing hands, run through the franchisor's own re-franchising process for existing locations.
Required for the change of control itself — the franchisor reviews who is actually taking over.
Needs landlord consent to assign, typically in a strip mall or plaza setting — often the practical bottleneck for closing.
Usually stays in place unless the lease has its own change-of-control clause.
Employment Standards Act continuity rules typically apply to how store staff carry over.
Employment generally continues uninterrupted — the employer doesn't change.
Buyer generally gets a stepped-up cost base on the assets purchased; an HST s.167 election may apply.
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 M&M Food Market store changing hands between one buyer and one seller, with a standard lease and re-franchising consent process.
Start my file →A multi-unit operator selling several stores as one operating company, or a resale where the franchisor's right of first refusal or the equipment's financing 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 fundamentally — the franchisor actively facilitating existing-store sales doesn't change the underlying legal steps: consent, disclosure considerations, and a new franchise agreement still apply. What it does mean is there's a more established resale pipeline within the system, which can make the franchisor's process more predictable than at a brand where resales are rare.
Yes — since M&M Food Market sells packaged frozen product rather than preparing food on-site, diligence concentrates more on freezer and refrigeration equipment, cold-chain integrity, and inventory than on a health-unit kitchen inspection, which is a lighter step here than at a food-service brand.
Most deals count and value the frozen inventory at closing, added to the purchase price. The method — who counts, how any spoilage is handled — is agreed in the purchase agreement rather than improvised at the store on the day.
Not necessarily. Ontario courts have read the resale-disclosure exemption narrowly, and franchisor involvement in facilitating the resale can trigger a full disclosure requirement anyway — even where the brand itself markets the store as 're-franchised.' We confirm this early rather than assume it.
It varies by store — cold-storage and display equipment is frequently financed or leased given its cost, so a PPSA search and, if needed, a lien payout at closing are standard parts of the deal regardless of the individual store.
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 M&M Food Market or its franchisor.
Tell us about your M&M Food Market resale — we'll point you the right way and confirm the cost in writing before any work begins.