Food In Canada

Canadian pet food manufacturer acquired by Dane Creek Capital

By Food in Canada   

Food In Canada Business Operations Pet Food


March 30, 2020, Kemptville, Ont. – Dane Creek Capital Corp. (DCCC), a privately held Canadian merchant banking venture dedicated to the pet industry, has acquired Tollden Farms Inc., a leading Canadian manufacturer of frozen raw pet food located in Kemptville, Ont.

The acquisition was made by United Raw Pet Foods Inc., which is 70-per-cent owned by DCCC and 30-per-cent owned by other shareholders of DCCC.

Tollden Farms was founded in 2002 by Annette and Kevin McAleer. Tollden Farms’ frozen raw pet food recipes use only human-grade meat and vegetables, and are available in three formats: meat and vegetable blends; meat and botanical blends; and a selection of DIY meat and vegetable components for the growing number of pet owners looking to customize their pets’ diets.

Annette McAleer will stay on as head of Tollden Farms and will become a key member of the DCCC team.

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“We are delighted to make this announcement,” said Mark Warren, chairman and CEO of DCCC. “Over the last several weeks, we have witnessed a dramatic shift in consumer buying habits, many of which we believe will outlast the current health crisis being faced by Canadians.

“While we are not naive about the long-term impact on the overall Canadian economy, we also believe that the sudden and significant growth in the stay-at-home-economy witnessed recently will outlast the current economic turmoil and benefit the pet industry specifically.”

Tollden Farms represents United Raw’s fifth acquisition of a Canadian frozen raw pet food manufacturer, succeeding United Raw’s acquisitions of: Mountain Dog Enterprises Inc. in October 2017 (Edmonton, Alta); Pets 4 Life in January 2018 (St. Thomas, Ont.); Naturawls Pet Products in April 2018 (St. Thomas, Ont.); and Natural Chow Pet Food Corp., the maker of Spring Meadows in June 2018 (Saskatoon, Sask.). United Raw also acquired a minority stake in Pet Plate in 2018.

With the acquisition of Tollden Farms, United Raw has extended its leadership position as the largest family of raw pet food brands in Canada.

Tollden Farms foods can be found in pet specialty retailers in Ontario and parts of Quebec. Its protein range includes such exotic meats as kangaroo and boar, as well as an extensive selection of raw meaty bones – another fast-growing segment aimed at filling the ever-expanding freezer sections in pet specialty retailers.


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