Your Ultimate Guide to Buying Martin’s bread routes for Sale: Everything You Need to Know

Do you need a break from the routine of everyday life? Do you enjoy baking and want to start your own business? Stop looking! All your questions about becoming a Martin's bread distributor will be answered in this comprehensive guide I've put together for you. The most frequently asked questions about buying Martin's bread route will be answered over a casual meal. For as long as I can remember, I have had a soft spot in my heart (and stomach!) for Martin's rolls. Their light, airy consistency, and buttery flavor never fail to put me in a euphoric mood. My desire to help others achieve their goal of owning a Martin's Bread route was sparked by my passion for the brand, which led me to write this guide. So, grab a roll (or two!) and get ready to learn all about Martin's bread routes for sale, and don't forget to sign up for our email list to be notified as soon as any routes for sale become available in your area!

Don’t tell me you  Never heard of Martin’s potato rolls. 

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania is home to Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc., a bakery run by the Martin family. Lloyd and Lois Martin started the company in 1955 by making and selling bread out of their garage. With distribution across the country and even internationally, Martin's is now one of the largest manufacturers of potato bread and rolls in the United States. 

When it comes to ingredients, nobody does it better than Martin's. That's why you'll always find things like unbleached flour, pure cane sugar, and real butter in their products. Moreover, their bread is distinguished by the use of special potato flour. Bread and roll varieties from this company include white bread, whole wheat bread, honey wheat bread, and rolls like potato rolls, sandwich rolls, and dinner rolls. For institutional and food service customers, they also provide wholesale options in addition to retail. 

The Martin family owns and operates Martin's, with members of the second and third generation currently in charge. In 2020, however, Martin's revealed an alliance with Flowers Foods, a major Georgia-based baking company. The Martin family retained a substantial ownership stake and continued to be involved in the day-to-day operations of the business even after Flowers Foods acquired a controlling interest in Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc. Despite the new partnership, Martin's will never stray from its quality standards or family-owned roots.

OK…What type of bread do they sell? 

Are you feeling hungry yet? It's important to know what you'll be distributing before you jump into Martin's bread routes for sale. The bakery goods from Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc. are legendary, especially their bread and rolls. High-quality ingredients like unbleached flour, pure cane sugar, real butter, and Martin's signature potato flour are the key to making their bread so delicious. But where do you start, when there are so many varieties of bread and rolls to choose from? Take a look at this sampling of what Martin's has to offer in the way of bread and rolls:

Potato Bread: One of Martin's best-known offerings, this is a customer favorite. It's white bread with a soft, moist texture and a mildly sweet flavor thanks to the addition of potato flour. You can use potato bread for anything from breakfast toast to breakfast sandwiches.

Whole Wheat Bread: Martin's offers 100% whole wheat bread, which is baked with only whole wheat flour and has no added sugars or artificial preservatives for those who prefer products with fewer processed ingredients. It's great on sandwiches or as a side dish because of its hearty, nutty flavor.

Honey Wheat Bread: The honey complements the flavor of the whole wheat flour in this bread. It's great for making sandwiches or toast, and it has a mildly sweet flavor.

Dinner Rolls: Martin's has both plain and flavored dinner rolls like butter and honey wheat available. They are small, fluffy, and soft, making them ideal for snacking or serving alongside a meal.

Sandwich Rolls: Martin's Sandwich Bread offers several different types of sandwich rolls, such as potato, sesame, and whole wheat. You can use them to make sandwiches or burger buns because they are larger than dinner rolls.

Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns: Martin's buns for hamburgers and hot dogs are famous all over the United States. They're comfortable to wear and durable enough to withstand a burger or hot dog's juiciness.

Whether you're looking for traditional white bread or healthier whole-grain options, Martin's has you covered. Because they use only the finest ingredients and employ innovative baking methods, their bread, and rolls consistently rank among the best available.

Will I get any support as an independent route owner?

In addition to providing excellent bread and rolls, Martin's Bread is committed to supporting its franchisees. Some of the ways that Martin's Bread helps its route owners are listed below.

Training: Martin's Bread invests heavily in its independent route owners by providing them with extensive training to equip them with the skills they'll need to run successful businesses. They provide courses on how to sell and market products as well as general product knowledge.

Marketing Support: Martin's Bread helps its independent route owners expand by providing them with marketing resources. They provide route owners with marketing materials and campaigns to help them reach a wider audience and boost revenue.

Product Discounts: Martin's Bread gives its independent route owners price breaks on its products so that they can raise their profit margins and stay competitive.

Territory Protection: Independent route owners for Martin's Bread enjoy the benefits of territory protection, which includes a secure clientele and freedom from competition from other route owners in the same area.

Business Planning: Martin's Bread provides its independent route owners with assistance in creating business plans and ongoing support to help them succeed.

Martin's Bread, as a whole, is dedicated to the growth and success of its franchisees and their delivery routes. Martin's Bread helps its route owners succeed and expand their businesses through dedicated support services like training, marketing, product discounts, territory protection, and strategic planning.

And what work is required when buying martins bread routes for sale?

There are several responsibilities that come along with selling Martins's Bread routes. Some of the necessary steps are as follows:

Stocking Shelves: Keeping the shelves stocked with freshly baked goods from Martin's Bread is a top priority. Owners of routes are liable for placing orders with the company and seeing to it that their deliveries occur on schedule. After that, they need to stock the shelves and rotate the products so that the oldest ones sell first.

Taking Orders: Owners of routes must accept orders from customers and see that they are promptly filled. They need to remember what each customer likes and only send them what they ordered.

Removing Expired and Stale Products: To keep the quality of Martin's Bread products at a high standard, any products that have expired or gone stale must be removed from sale. Owners of delivery routes are responsible for checking shelves frequently and promptly removing any perishable items they find.

Sales and Marketing: To expand their businesses, route owners must devote time and energy to sales and promotion. Relationship-building, advertising, social media, and discounting are all part of marketing Martin's Bread products.

Managing Finances: Financial management is the sole responsibility of each Martin's Bread route owner. To maximize profits, it is necessary to monitor and control costs, sales, and stock levels.

In addition to the tasks mentioned above, another important responsibility of Martin's bread route owner is to navigate a set route daily. This means delivering products to the same set of customers regularly. 

By sticking to a routine, route owners for Martin's Bread are better able to get to know their customers and cater to their individual preferences. This will allow them to better target their audience and boost sales. 

To ensure timely and efficient delivery, route owners may use GPS technology to help them navigate the route and track their progress.

Owning Martin's bread route does not come without its difficulties, though. Owners of routes must be able to work long hours, lift heavy objects, and travel in all kinds of weather. It's also wise to do your homework before committing to buying a route, as there are several warning signs to look out for.

Will anyone compete with me when buying Martin’s bread route?

Yes, Martin's Bread routes are territorial protected. The buyer of a Martin's Bread route gains sole distribution authority over a specified territory. This guarantees the buyer an exclusive market in which to sell Martin's Bread products and prevents any other route owner from entering it. The size and boundaries of the territory are specified in the purchase agreement and can vary based on factors such as location and market demand. The purpose of territorial protection is to prevent route owners from competing with one another within the same geographic area.

To which types of businesses or retailers do Martin's distribute their bread?

If you're interested in buying a Martin's Bread distribution route, you should know where the company's bread is sold. Throughout the United States and Canada, Martin's supplies their bread to a wide range of establishments, including: 

Stores like Walmart, Target, Kroger, Safeway, Publix, Wegmans, Whole Foods Market, and Costco, as well as many others like convenience stores, specialty grocery stores, food service businesses, restaurants, schools, and hospitals. 

Martin's bread can be purchased not only in stores but also online from the company's website and other e-commerce sites. You can better gauge the potential bread route clientele by learning where Martin's bread is distributed.

OK, but how much money can I make?

While $1,200 to $1,500 per week is a common estimate for the profit potential of Martin's bread routes for sale, it's important to keep in mind that this range can vary depending on the specific route in question. Martin's Bread route's potential earnings may be affected by factors such as route size and location, customer base, and local competition. Therefore, before deciding to buy Martin's bread route, it is important to carefully assess each opportunity. To estimate the profitability of a given Martin's Bread delivery route, it is necessary to conduct research, examine financial records, and consult with current and former route owners.

Do I have to buy a Martin’s bread route or can I just start one?

If you're interested in selling martins Bread, you can do so by purchasing a route from an existing owner or from Martin's Bread. While it is possible to launch your own bread delivery business from scratch, purchasing a route from Martin's will give you immediate access to Martin's dedicated customer base and high-quality bread offerings. In addition, rather than starting from scratch, you can enter the market at a lower cost by purchasing Martin's bread route. However, it is essential to examine the logistics and economics of a route in depth before making a purchase.

For more details on available routes and how to get started as Martin's Bread route owner, you can check out the company's website or get in touch with their sales team.

Finally, consumers all over the United States know and love the bread and roll products from Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc. Those with an entrepreneurial spirit and a love for getting their hands dirty can find a golden opportunity in the purchase of a Martins bread route for sale. Do your homework and keep an eye out for red flags before committing to anything, as is the case with any business venture. It's important to do some careful math and think about things like gas money and vehicle upkeep before committing to a route. If you give it some thought and put in the effort, running Martin's bread route can be a rewarding and lucrative business venture. If you're interested in Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc.'s bread routes or any of their other products, don't hesitate to visit their website.

 Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. The laws and regulations regarding business licenses may vary from state to state and are subject to change. It is important to contact your local state office to determine which licenses are required for any specific businesses. Additionally, please note that this article contains affiliate links and we may earn a commission from our affiliate partners or Amazon links. If you are considering starting a business, it is recommended that you seek the advice of a qualified lawyer, business broker, or professional in your area. The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. We want to make it clear that BizRoutes is not sponsored by or affiliated with Martins or any other companies mentioned in our articles. Our content is completely independent and based solely on our research and opinions.