TAMPA, FLA. and SAN FRANCISCO — Omnichannel pet wellness platform Antelope has acquired Ark Naturals Company, a pet health and wellness brand. Under the acquisition, Ark Naturals will continue to operate under its own name.

Michael Stoeckle, chief executive officer of Ark Naturals, will maintain his position at the company.

“Choosing to partner with Antelope was an easy decision,” Stoeckle said. “Not only does Antelope have the expertise to help grow our brand and collection of innovative products, but we share the same core values of integrity, transparency, honesty and ingenuity with the ultimate goal of keeping our pets happy and healthy. As we enter our next chapter, we are excited to learn from each other and continue to provide the very best natural products to help care for our pets.”

Founded in 1996 by Susan and Jay Weiss, Ark Naturals has more than 70 SKUs of functional pet chews. The company’s chews are available in five categories: dental, hip and joint, overall wellness, senior, and skin and coat. Ark Naturals’ innovative dental chews, such as its Protection+ Brushless Toothpaste Chews, contain active ingredients to help stop plaque and tartar buildup. All the chews are formulated using natural ingredients and are backed by science.

The company also offers pet treats and other pet wellness products. Currently, Ark Naturals’ products are available in more than 12,600 retail stores including PetSmart, Petco, Whole Foods, independent pet stores, e-commerce platforms and others.

Antelope was launched in August 2021 by private equity Alpine Investors and has since grown to acquire many pet nutrition brands, including Bocce’s Bakery and Diggin’ Your Dog/Super Snouts. Ark Naturals is the company’s fourth acquisition.

“As one of the pioneers in the natural pet product space, we are excited to partner with Ark Naturals,” said Wendy Wen, founder and chief executive officer of Antelope. “We will work together to grow their customer base, expand their online presence and continue to develop differentiated products. Since starting Antelope late last year and with the addition of Ark Naturals, we are well on our way to be a next-generation conglomerate of high-quality natural pet brands.”

Morrison & Foerster served as legal counsel to Antelope and Lincoln International LLC served as financial advisor to Ark Naturals.

Read more about corporate strategy, financial performance, mergers and acquisitions on our Business page.