Company founders leave their legacy in safe hands while launching a long-term employee ownership model
In 2008, Daisy and Adam Orser, the founders of The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer Ltd. (The Root Cellar), first started their company’s journey by moving across the province to Victoria, BC, with two little boys and a newborn in tow. What started as a small seed grew into a flourishing family business with a loyal customer base. The couple’s passion for delivering fresh, locally-sourced foods at affordable prices helped the business become a staple in the community.
The Orsers’ industry experience, and passion for sustainable and socially responsible business practices, helped The Root Cellar evolve into a thriving company with over 150 employees. After many successful years, the couple said they made the tough decision to start a new chapter. They couldn’t step away, however, without the having confidence that The Root Cellar’s future owners would uphold the same values, culture, and experience that their customers appreciated.
Our M&A team stepped in to help the Orsers take their business to market and supported them with finding the right buyer from a range of potential candidates. We helped them in their negotiations throughout the deal until closing and collaborated closely with our Tax team.
Teamshares Canada (Teamshares) quickly proved to be the right fit as a buyer of The Root Cellar. The Root Cellar viewed Teamshares as being a values-driven organization with an employee ownership model that resonated with the Orsers. They shared a vision to create better financial outcomes for the business and its people, offering the opportunity for the employees who helped build the business to share ownership alongside Teamshares .
As a new season begins for The Root Cellar, the Orsers also begin a new chapter with the confidence that their legacy will continue to thrive in the hands of Teamshares and their long-standing employees.
Client
The Root Cellar
Transaction type
Divestiture
Services provided
M&A
Sector
Retail food and beverage
Close date
November, 2025
Our M&A team helped the owners of Grizzly Lodge successfully sell their business, supporting with the entire process from preparing marketing documents and finding the right buyer, to negotiations and bringing the deal to a close.
Two BC-based food and beverage businesses committed to serving their local communities
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