Do people just not know about this type of business, or is it not worth it to deal with companies like Bimbo and Mission?
Just a heads up, this forum is for asking and answering questions about small businesses. If your post doesn’t follow the rules listed, it might get removed, and you could face a temporary or permanent ban. If you think this is a mistake, contact the mods.
Most people see it as buying a job instead of running a real business. And like with dairy farming, it’s tough to take a vacation. It’s exhausting.
Ocean said:
Most people see it as buying a job instead of running a real business. And like with dairy farming, it’s tough to take a vacation. It’s exhausting.
Totally agree. These big companies expect deliveries six days a week without breaks. They’d be better off just hiring employees instead of calling them contractors.
Ocean said:
Most people see it as buying a job instead of running a real business. And like with dairy farming, it’s tough to take a vacation. It’s exhausting.
When I started in business, I wish I’d bought a small route. It’d have been a good way to learn and make money in my 20s instead of working for others and waiting until my 30s to start something on my own.
@Dezi
The problem is that many of these businesses don’t scale. You’re stuck with the risks of owning a business but without the upside of growth. That’s why it’s often called buying a job.
I’ve seen this industry from the trucking side. It’s messy. There are fees like $700 just to unload a few pallets. The whole thing feels like union-busting and exploiting contractors. It’s wild that it’s allowed.
I think people still want to do this, but it’s expensive. The cost of distribution is high, and partnering with bigger distributors often eats up profits.
Are you talking about routes?
Briar said:
Are you talking about routes?
Yeah, that’s what I mean.
Feels like people ask about bread routes on this forum every month.
Maybe the bigger companies bought out the independents?
Mal said:
Maybe the bigger companies bought out the independents?
Not really. The big companies actually prefer them to stay independent. It saves them money on logistics and employee costs.
There’s too much overhead now. Inflation, fees, and low pay make it hard for small operators to survive. It was a decent gig a decade ago, but not anymore.
These routes are just a way for companies to pass costs onto workers. I ran a bread route for 10 years, and my advice? Stay far away. It’s a trap.
West said:
These routes are just a way for companies to pass costs onto workers. I ran a bread route for 10 years, and my advice? Stay far away. It’s a trap.
I hear you. Feels like this setup should be illegal.
I’d let a Bimbo boss me around in the right context, but not in a bakery.
Remy said:
I’d let a Bimbo boss me around in the right context, but not in a bakery.
Bimbo’s corporate setup is a mess. They’re the worst.
This is more of a specialty distributor issue.
My neighbor has a Pepperidge Farm route. He seems to like it, but I don’t see the appeal. He owns all the equipment, has to work almost every day, and can’t pay someone else to cover for him. His son helps occasionally, but it’s not really scalable or flexible.