United Raw Pet Foods acquires two Canadian pet specialty retailers

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 Lucky Paws location in Mill Bay, British Columbia. The second location was opened in South Duncan in 2019 and, in addition to pet food and supplies, offers bathing and select grooming services. Ms. Wetselaar will continue to manage both locations.

Second, United Raw has acquired A Pet’s Life Ventures Inc. (‘A Pet’s Life’) with its sole location at the corner of Fort and Foul Bay in Victoria, British Columbia. The store has been a fixture of Oak Bay for over 30 years, serving pet owners in Victoria and neighbouring communities. In 2019, it was acquired by Chad McMillan, a longtime pet industry veteran. Mr. 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.

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. With Growlies leading the way, raw food has become the choice of pet parents throughout Vancouver Island. 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, all designed to make dogs and cats happier and healthier. 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,’ added Mr. 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’.

These two acquisitions mark Dane Creek Capital Corp.’s third and fourth acquisitions of pet specialty retailers and bring the total of owned locations on Vancouver Island to six. 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.