Adapted from a press release:
United Raw Pet Foods Inc. ('United Raw'), a majority-owned subsidiary of Dane Creek Capital Corp ('Dane Creek'), has completed two acquisitions of pet specialty retailers in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.First, United Raw has acquired Lucky Paws Enterprises Inc. ('Lucky Paws'), a pet specialty retailer with two locations. Lucky Paws was founded by Shannon Wetselaar in 2012 when she opened her first location in Mill Bay, British Columbia. The second location, opened in South Duncan in 2019, offers pet food and supplies, bathing and select grooming services. Wetselaar will continue to manage both locations.
Second, United Raw has acquired A Pet’s Life Ventures Inc. with its sole location at the corner of Fort and Foul Bay in Victoria, British Columbia. The store has operated in Oak Bay for over 30 years, serving pet owners in Victoria and neighboring communities. In 2019, it was acquired by Chad McMillan, a pet industry professional. McMillan will also become part of the United Raw team.
The combined prices paid for both represent approximately 40% of the acquired business’ combined expected 2021 revenues. No other terms were announced.
With the completion of both transactions, United Raw now owns six pet specialty retail locations on Vancouver Island. Earlier this year, it announced the acquisition of Growlies Pet Foods Inc. (‘Growlies’), located in Langford, British Columbia, and The Wild Side Pet Boutique Inc., with its two locations in Nanaimo and Qualicum, British Columbia.
“Vancouver Island represents a unique opportunity in the pet industry. Supported by outstanding demographics and high levels of pet ownership, the island offers an opportunity to create a pet-focused ecosystem of products and services unlike virtually any other part of Canada,” said Mark Warren, chairman & CEO of Dane Creek.
The retail focus for all United Raw stores is on the promotion and sale of frozen raw pet food, the fastest-growing category of pet food in Canada. In aggregate, United Raw’s six retail locations feature over 70 freezers and offer more than 35 brands of raw food, bones, broths, yogurts, sides and toppers. National brands, like Bold by Nature, Naturawls, and Tollden Farms, are complemented by local brands, such as Just Raw, Irrawsistible and Pets Go Raw. United Raw plans to increase aggregate freezer space in its retail locations by 20% over the next six months.
A Pets Life and Lucky Paws will continue to operate under their current brand names, consistent with United Raw's previous acquisitions of Growlies and The Wild Side.
“The strength of consumable pet brands is with the retailer, not with the manufacturer,” said Warren. “As the leading owner of raw food brands and pet specialty retailers in Canada, we recognize the influence that well-trained retail staff can have on the decisions pet owners make when it comes to their pets’ nutritional needs.”
Other recent acquisitions by Dane Creek
United Raw acquired The Wild Side Pet Boutique Inc. ('Wild Side'), a leading pet specialty retailer specializing in raw, dehydrated, baked and freeze-dried food for pets. Wild Side has locations in Nanaimo and Qualicum Beach, British Columbia.
United Raw acquired pet specialty retailer Growlies Pet Foods, a pet specialty retailer based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, in an all-cash transaction.