NATURAL PETFOOD DEALS: May 2018

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NATURAL PETFOOD DEALS

Internet-based providers of custom and fresh pet food have kibble in the crosshairs. NomNomNow raised $13 million for custom dogfood with participation from Bullish, CircleUp, e.ventures, Tandem Capital, and Greycroft. Founded in 2015, NomNomNow says it is the only made-to-order fresh pet food company having its own U.S.-based dedicated facility.

PetPlate, a direct-to-consumer subscription service that delivers fresh-cooked pet meals, closed a $4 million seed round led by Dane Creek Capital. Other investors include Amity Supply, SWAT Equity, The Yard Ventures, Castor Ventures, and BrandProject. PetPlate sells human-grade meals for dogs in pre-portioned containers. “Demand for a healthy alternative to kibble will grow exponentially in the next few years,” predicted Mark Warren, chairman & CEO of Dane Creek.

Nestlé Purina PetCare purchased a majority stake in Tails.com, a direct-to-consumer, customized dog nutrition business, from Draper Esprit. Tails.com was launched in summer 2014 in the UK and creates custom kibble based on a proprietary algorithm that defines a dog’s nutritional profile. These custom pet food transactions follow premium pet food megadeals earlier in the year (General Mills’ acquisition of Blue Buffalo and J.M. Smucker’s of Ainsworth (Nutrish).

 

PET FOOD DEALS: June 2018

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PET FOOD DEALS

Shortly after acquiring Great Life Pet Food and Wild Calling! Pet Foods, Barkstrong LLC completed the purchase of Pioneer Naturals dog food in June. Pioneer Naturals is a kibble brand that is U.S. sourced and cooked at the lowest possible safe temperature to preserve nutrients, which include probiotics, flax, and fish oils. Great Life products address food allergies, sensitivities, and digestive ailments; and Wild Calling! canned dog and cat food is free-range and grain-free.

Dane Creek Capital Corp. acquired Spring Meadows Natural Pet Food, a manufacturer of frozen raw pet food for dogs and cats, in an all cash transaction. Spring Meadows sells via pet specialty retailers, mainly in western Canada. The purchase, at 0.72 times trailing 12-months revenue, marked Dane Creek’s fourth acquisition of a Canadian raw pet food manufacturer in the last 12 months.

Manna Pro Products LLC, a manufacturer of animal nutrition and care products, purchased Vetscience LLC and its Fruitables brand of premium natural dog treats and supplements. Fruitables grew out of university research into pet obesity using low-calorie pumpkin as a fortified food supplement.

Nulo Pet Food, a premium pet food brand, received a strategic growth investment from Main Post Partners. Nulo’s recipes are high in meat protein, grain-free, have low glycemic carbohydrates, and contain a patented probiotic for immune and digestive health.

Rover.com, a network of pet sitters and dog walkers, announced an investment of $125 million led by T. Rowe Price Associates and the closing of a $30 million credit facility with Silicon Valley Bank. Other key investors include Winslow Capital and Cross Creek. The company’s network of sitters and walkers now numbers over 200,000 throughout North America.