MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO — United Raw Pet Foods Inc., owned by Dane Creek Capital Corp., has further expanded its raw pet food portfolio by acquiring The Wild Side Pet Boutique Inc., a pet specialty retailer in Canada that specializes in raw, dehydrated, baked and freeze-dried food for dogs and cats.

The Wild Side currently operates two stores — one in Nanaimo and another in Qualicum Beach — in British Columbia, Canada. Dane Creek Capital shared its purchase price for The Wild Side represents 39% of the retailer’s expected revenues for 2021.

The acquisition was an all-cash transaction and closed on March 31.

This marks Dane Creek Capital’s 15^th acquisition or investment and its second acquisition of a pet specialty retailer. The company’s pet industry acquisitions have been focused on the Canadian raw pet nutrition market as it aims to grow its presence in the category.

“I am delighted to be making this announcement,” said Mark Warren, co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Dane Creek. “The addition of the Wild Side locations expands our presence on Vancouver Island, creates efficiencies for our operations there and brings another retailer into the Dane Creek family that is first and foremost focused on raw feeding.”

The company most recently acquired Growlies Pet Foods Inc., a raw pet food retailer in Victoria, British Columbia, in December 2020. It also acquired Tollden Farms Inc., a raw pet food producer, in March 2020, and RawPaw Natural Foods, a Quebec-based supplement distributor, in March 2019.

The Wild Side was founded by Lisa Robinson in 2017, when she opened the first location in Qualicum Beach. Robinson then opened the Nanaimo location in October 2020. Today, each location houses more than 15 freezers and over 10 brands of raw pet food options.

Robinson will continue to manage the company, assuming a management and community education leadership role on the United Raw Pet Foods team. United Raw Pet Foods plans to expand The Wild Side in the coming years.

“I look forward to being part of the United Raw team and taking on these new and exciting challenges,” Robinson said.

Dane Creek Capital noted the expanded COVID-19 public health orders issued by the Government of British Columbia, effective March 30, will not directly impact The Wild Side’s or Growlies’ retail locations.

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