New partnerships help gourmet food purveyor Mackenzie Limited grow its product line and audience reach.

By Reported Donna Loyle

* Try not to overproject sales figures for the company you’re considering buying, says McManus. “We looked at Ducktrap’s annual sales and projected that we would bring in 75 to 80 percent of that. But our consultant, Stephen Lett, advised us that we were being too optimistic,” says McManus.

* Don’t get sidetracked. Decide what’s important to you and your current business, and winnow down the list of deals you’re considering to only those that fit your pre-determined goals. “For Mackenzie, exclusivity in product line is a must,” notes McManus. “And that’s what was most appealing to us in the Ducktrap deal.”