As of late October 2018, pet food companies, equipment manufacturers and ingredient suppliers have announced at least 44 mergers and acquisitions. While the latter part of the year hasn’t seen the same mega-acquisitions of earlier in the year, pet food industry businesses still continue to expand their positions or enter new territory. Several mergers and acquisitions involved vertical integration as pet food companies or suppliers purchased other businesses involved in the supply chain. Other business moves saw pet food companies moving into sectors outside consumables.
Mergers and acquisitions in the pet food industry
Dürr closes acquisition of environmental tech business
October 10, 2018 - The transaction creates one of the leading global providers of air pollution and noise control technologies offering companies from all industries a broad range of solutions for tightening emissions regulations worldwide.
Hill's Pet Nutrition acquires wearable sensor technology
October 10, 2018 - Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. has acquired the technology and related assets of the Vetrax wearable sensor technology from its developer AgLogica Holdings, Inc.
Darling Ingredients makes pet food acquisition
October 9, 2018 - Darling Ingredients Inc. is continuing to invest in the pet food industry as it announced, on Oct. 5, the acquisition of most of the assets of Triple – T Foods Arkansas Inc.
Wilbur-Ellis Feed acquires Ameri-Pac assets
October 2, 2018 - Wilbur-Ellis Feed L.L.C., an industry leader in the international marketing and distribution of nutrients for the livestock, pet food and aquaculture industries, has acquired the assets of Ameri-Pac Inc., a family-owned, value-added manufacturing business focused on animal health and nutrition specialty products for pet food, companion animals, livestock and aquaculture industries.
Schenck Process acquires Process Components
October 1, 2018 - The Schenck Process Group continues its growth: Schenck Process announced on Sept. 28 the acquisition of Process Components Ltd and its subsidiaries.
Arbor Investments to acquire Mars Petcare private label
September 19, 2018 - Mars Petcare US, Inc. ("Mars Petcare") and Arbor Investments (together with its affiliates, "Arbor") announced Sept. 13 that they have entered into an agreement under which Arbor will acquire Mars Petcare's U.S.-based Exclusive Brands (EB) business.
HorizonPSI acquires Pneu-Way Construction
September 11, 2018 - HorizonPSI, an engineering and manufacturing company that designs innovative material handling and automated transfer solutions for food, pet food, plastics and chemical manufacturers, has acquired Pneu-Way Construction of Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Outward Hound acquires Wholesome Pride pet treats
July 26, 2018 - This is the first acquisition for Outward Hound since being acquired by J.W. Childs Associates in December 2017.
JBT acquires FTNON, a pet food equipment supplier
July 24, 2018 - Privately held FTNON is headquartered in Almelo, the Netherlands.
Pet food packaging machine maker KHS USA to buy Scandia
July 9, 2018 - At the same time, access will be granted to several new market segments where KHS USA, Inc. has been inactive.
Belgian United Petfood buys Spanish pet food Bynsa Group
July 9, 2018 - The combined group will generate a turnover of 275 million euros with industrial activities in five European countries (Spain, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Poland).
ADM may acquire pet food ingredient supplier Neovia
July 3, 2018 - The acquisition is expected to close by the fourth quarter.
Charlee Bear Products acquires Hound and Gato pet foods
June 28, 2018 - Hound and Gatos is a nationally distributed line of canned pet food marketed as a ‘Paleolithic diet’ for dogs and cats.
Dutch IMCD acquires US pet food ingredient supplier, HORN
June 18, 2018 - With a head office in La Mirada, California HORN represents suppliers and is primarily focused on the West and Southwest regions of the US.
Barkstrong may buy more natural pet food brands in 2018
June 14, 2018 - Barkstrong is family owned and operated with its headquarters in Woodland Hills, California, USA.
Dane Creek Capital acquires Spring Meadows raw pet foods
June 13, 2018 - Spring Meadows is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and sells its products via pet specialty retailers mainly in western Canada.
Barkstrong acquires Pioneer Naturals dog food
June 12, 2018 - On May 29, California, USA-based Barkstrong announced its acquisition of Wild Calling! Pet Foods. On May 31, Great Life Pet Food announced its acquisition by Barkstong.
Mars buys UK veterinary services group Linnaeus
June 11, 2018 - The sale of the veterinary services provider group to the pet food company is Sovereign’s largest ever and will generate Sovereign’s strongest ever gross return.
Mars Petcare acquires AniCura veterinary service provider
June 11, 2018 - Mars Petcare announced that it has signed definitive agreements to acquire AniCura.
Barkstrong acquired Great Life Pet Food
June 1, 2018 - Barkstrong announced the finalized acquisition on May 31.
Animal nutrition company acquires Fruitables Pet Foods
May 31, 2018 - Manna Pro Products, a Missouri-based manufacturer and marketer of animal nutrition and care products, has purchased VetScience and their Fruitables brand of premium dog treats and food supplements.
Wild Calling! Pet Foods acquired after bankruptcy
May 29, 2018 - Barkstrong announced the completion of its acquisition of Colorado-based Wild Calling! Pet Foods.
Dutch ingredient supplier acquires grain specialist
May 23, 2018 - Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients is acquiring all shares of Unicorn Grain Specialties.
Tyson to buy American Proteins, AMPRO Products assets
May 15, 2018 - Subsidiaries of Tyson Foods have agreed to buy the poultry rendering and blending assets of American Proteins, and AMPRO Products, the companies announced.
Purina acquires majority of Tails.com custom dog food
May 14, 2018 - Tails.com will operate as it has under co-foudner and CEO James Davidson.
ProAmpac acquires Gateway pet food packaging maker
May 14, 2018 - Gateway is a pet food packaging manufacturer in North America.
Dane Creek acquires Naturawls raw pet food, treat maker
May 1, 2018 - Dane Creek Capital Corp. (DCCC) acquired Naturawls Pet Products, a manufacturer of raw pet food and dehydrated pet treats for dogs and cats in Canada.
Nestle to acquire French pet owner media company
April 30, 2018 - Wamiz's advertising activity and all of its other activities will continue to operate independently.
Private equity firm to acquire EU pet food company
April 26, 2018 - Headquartered in Hungary, PPF is a pet food manufacturer with nine manufacturing operations across Europe.
Mars Petcare acquires canine DNA diagnostics company
April 15, 2018 - Mars Petcare acquired OptiGen, LLC, a DNA diagnostics company specializing in canine inherited eye disorders.
United Petfood acquires Dutch pet treat producer
April 15, 2018 - United Petfood, a Belgium-based producer of pet food, has acquired the Dutch pet treat company Animal Lovers.
C.J. Foods acquires Lortscher Animal Nutrition
April 11, 2018 - Lortscher is based in Bern, Kansas, USA with additional locations in Seneca, Kansas and Brownwood, Texas.
Canadian Transcontinental Inc. acquires Coveris Americas
April 8, 2018 - Transcontinental Inc, a Canada-based printer and supplier of flexible packaging in North America, has agreed to acquire Coveris Americas, a converter of flexible packaging and other value-added products in North America.
J.M. Smucker will acquire Ainsworth Pet Nutrition
April 4, 2018 - The J. M. Smucker Company signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, LLC for approximately US$1.7 billion, after an estimated tax benefit of US$200 million.
Canadian packaging supplier acquires US supplier
March 12, 2018 - Transcontinental Inc., a Canadian supplier of flexible packaging, has acquired Multifilm Packaging Corporation, a flexible packaging supplier located in Elgin, near Chicago, Illinois, employing over 70 people.
General Mills buys Blue Buffalo for US$8 billion
February 23, 2018 - General Mills, Inc. and Blue Buffalo Pet Products, Inc. entered into a definitive agreement under which General Mills will acquire Blue Buffalo for approximately US$8 billion, or US$40 per share in cash.
GPP and ING acquired dog and cat treat supplier Schlotus
February 16, 2018 - Scholtus Group Holding B.V., a supplier of dog and cat treats in Europe, was acquired by Global Pet Products Holding (GPP), a investment firm active in the pet industry and ING Corporate lnvestments B.V., a 100 percent subsidiary of ING Bank N.V., reported GlobalPETS.
Danish Agro acquires Latvian pet food and agribusiness
January 25, 2018 - Danish Agro’s subisdiary Baltic Agro Latvia has concluded a deal to acquire 60 percent of the shares in agribusiness company Tukuma Straume, which also produces pet food.
Mars acquires pet genetic testing company Genoscoper
January 22, 2018 - On January 11, Mars Petcare announced their acquisition of Genoscoper Laboratories.
Kemin acquires Canadian animal feed distributor
January 10, 2018 - Kemin Industries, a global ingredient supplier, has announced the creation of a Canadian division and will hold a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on January 18, 2018, at its new location in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada.
Cargill acquires Pro-Pet private label pet food maker
January 2, 2018 - Cargill has reached an agreement to acquire Pro-Pet, an Ohio-based manufacturer of private label and co-manufactured pet foods, including premium dog food brand Black Gold.
From Petfood Industry Quick Hits
Schenck Process has acquired Raymond Bartlett Snow, a manufacturer of size reduction, classification and thermal processing equipment.
Thompson Street Capital Partners portfolio company, Tropichem Research Labs, has acquired Quebec-based TetraGenx, an independent animal health contract development and manufacturing organization.
Central Garden & Pet Company is acquiring all the business assets of General Pet Supply, a US supplier of pet food and supplies.
