What action must be taken as soon as a store runs out of bread?

The correct action to take when a store runs out of bread is to notify the district manager. This is crucial because the district manager is responsible for overseeing multiple locations and can coordinate supply chains or make decisions that may involve ordering more stock promptly. They have the authority to take action that can alleviate the supply issue and ensure that the store can continue to operate effectively.

Timely communication with the district manager helps avoid extended periods without essential inventory, which directly impacts the store's ability to serve customers and maintain sales. It's important to ensure that such notifications happen swiftly to minimize disruption to service and to keep operations running smoothly.

While notifying the store manager may seem like an essential step, they typically would already be aware of the situation if the bread supply is depleted. Closing the store would not be a productive action to take, nor would checking local suppliers be the first line of response when there's a direct line of communication with the district manager who can provide a more centralized solution.