VICTORIA – United Raw Pet Foods Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Dane Creek Capital Corp, announces that it has completed two acquisitions of pet specialty retailers on Vancouver Island in BC.
First, United Raw has acquired Lucky Paws Enterprises Inc., 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, BC. 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. with its sole location at the corner of Fort and Foul Bay in Victoria. 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 per cent 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., located in Langford, and The Wild Side Pet Boutique Inc., with its two locations in Nanaimo and Qualicum.
‘I am pleased to be making this announcement,’ said Mark Warren, Chairman & CEO of Dane Creek. ‘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. With six retail locations, we have established a strong base on which to add other pet-related product and services offerings.’
Recent surveys have reported that several communities on Vancouver Island, including Langford, are among the best places to live in Canada. Further, provincial statistics show that three communities on the island, including both Langford and Duncan, are among the top 10 fastest-growing communities in British Columbia.
‘I am delighted to now be a member of the United Raw team and look forward to helping make their vision for Vancouver Island a reality,’ commented Ms. Wetselaar. ‘My team here at Lucky Paws is excited to work with the teams at United Raw and our sister locations to make the retail experience for our pet parents even more enjoyable’.
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 per cent over the next six months.
‘I am very excited to be joining the team,’ said Mr. McMillan, who, in addition to continuing to run his current location, will also take over management of the Growlies location in Langford this September. ‘United Raw’s commitment to pets in our community and desire to make further investments made my decision to become part of the team easy’.
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’.
