Monday, September 25, 2017

Dane Creek Capital Corp. Announces One Acquisition and Two Strategic Investments in Frozen Raw Pet Food Manufacturers




Merchant bank with pet industry focus to become first company in Canada
with multiple manufacturing interests in growing 
frozen raw pet food category



Mississauga, Ontario – September 14, 2017. Dane Creek Capital Corp. ('DCCC’ of
the ‘Company’), a merchant bank with a focus on the pet industry, is pleased to
announce it has agreed to acquire 100% of Mountain Dog Enterprises Inc. (‘Mountain
Dog’), a leading manufacturer of frozen raw pet food based in Edmonton, Alberta; up to
49% of Totally Raw Natural Dog Food Inc., a leading manufacturer of frozen raw pet
food based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; and 40% of a leading manufacturer of frozen
raw pet food based in southern Ontario. The combined transactions will make Dane
Creek the leader in Canada in the rapidly growing frozen raw pet food category and the
only corporation with manufacturing interests in multiple provinces.


Mountain Dog is one of the largest manufacturers of frozen raw pet food in Canada and
the only manufacturer in the country with HACCP certification. Founded in 2000 by
Dean Ricard, its products are manufactured out of a single facility in Edmonton, Alberta
and sold mainly through pet specialty retailers throughout Canada. Ricard will continue
to act as President and CEO of Mountain Dog post-completion. The purchase price
represents approximately 0.5 times Mountain Dog’s expected 2017 revenue. The
transaction is subject to customary due diligence and scheduled to close before the end
of September. The acquisition will mark DCCC’s first investment in the Province of
Alberta.
Totally Raw is the leading brand of frozen raw pet food in Atlantic Canada with a unique
business model that includes its own retail store fronts. Founded in 2003 by Karen
Campbell and Doug Malloy, its products are manufactured out of a single facility in
Burnside, Nova Scotia and sold through both pet specialty retailers and its stores.
Totally Raw also recently began distributing its product in Quebec and Ontario.
Campbell will continue to act as President of Totally Raw and Malloy will act as Director
of Operations. The transaction is subject to customary due diligence and is expected to
close on or before the end of October. No other details were announced. The deal will
mark the Company’s fourth direct investment in the Province of Nova Scotia.
DCCC’s third investment is in one of the fastest growing frozen raw pet food
manufacturers in Canada and a leading brand in southern Ontario. Its products are
manufactured out of a single facility and sold mainly through pet specialty retailers. The
transaction is subject to customary due diligence and is expected to close on or before
the end of October. The company expects to announce further details in the coming
weeks. The deal will mark DCCC’s second investment in the Province of Ontario.

With the closing of these transactions DCCC will be the first company in Canada with
interests in multiple frozen raw pet food manufacturers, a position the Company intends
to strengthen through further acquisitions and/or investments in the frozen raw category
in both Canada and the United States over the coming months. Combined revenues for
all three companies in 2017 are projected to exceed $5.4 million. DCCC believes given
the nature of the frozen raw category, which requires that product remain frozen during
transportation, changes in the alignment of food companies in the mass grocery and pet
specialty retail category, and the concentration in pet specialty retail ownership and
alterations in traditional distribution models, access to a national network of
manufacturing facilities with co-packing potential for all of its brands will give it and its
portfolio companies in the space a strategic advantage over other market participants.
Its investments in the frozen raw category will be held via a wholly owned subsidiary.

'We are very pleased to be making this announcement,' said Glen Tennison, President
and CFO of DCCC. 'This is without a doubt the biggest announcement we have made to
date and demonstrates our commitment to supporting innovators in the companion
animal industry. We believe our investment model will allow them to continue to grow
their businesses to the benefit of all involved. These transactions also speak to our
commitment to investing in newer, rapidly growing categories in the companion animal
sector which we believe are well placed to take advantage of current trends in pet
ownership.'

About Dane Creek Capital Corp.
With over 30 years of experience in the pet industry and an extensive network of
industry professionals, we offer valuable financial and management support to up-and-coming companies in the companion animal sector through selective, strategic
investments. Our investment horizon is long-term taking into account current trends and
changes in pet owner demographics with a current focus on opportunities in pet food
products sourced from sustainable ingredients, alternative models for veterinary care,
biotechnology, pet insurance, pet hotels, and pet-related technological applications for
pet owners.

For more information visit www.danecreekcap.com.

Contacts:
Mark Warren
Chairman & CEO, Dane Creek Capital Corp.
emw@danecreekcap.com
1 (905) 581-7467

Glen Tennison

President & CFO, Dane Creek Capital Corp.
gt@danecreekcap.com
1 (905) 581-7412

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Leading Canadian raw pet food manufacturer Red Dog Blue Kat to attend PIJAC’s National Pet Industry Trade Show



For Immediate Release                                                                                September 11, 2017
           
Leading Canadian raw pet food manufacturer Red Dog Blue Kat to attend PIJAC’s National Pet Industry Trade Show

Port Coquitlam, B.C. – Western Canada’s leader in the production of raw food for pets, Red Dog Blue Kat, is attending PIJAC’s National Pet Industry Trade Show. Showcasing their Red Dog Blue Kat raw food for dogs and cats, they will be situated in booth 737.

Earlier this year, Red Dog Blue Kat moved to a state-of-the-art, 13,000 sq. ft. production facility to meet customer demand for quality, real, nutritious food for pets (also known as raw pet food). The new facility has allowed Red Dog Blue Kat to increase production capacity and grow the company’s research and development in the areas of nutrition and convenient packaging, all with the purpose of helping families to transform the lives and longevity of their pets.

Over the past decade, the focus on pet health and wellness has substantially increased. From service animals to family pets, there is a special bond between people and their dogs and cats. Studies show that pets can profoundly improve our physical and mental health. And yet, today’s dogs and cats are aging faster, dying younger, and suffering from higher instances of ailments than ever before*, with cancer being one of the top health issues.**

CEO and owner, Inna Shekhtman, said that: “Red Dog Blue Kat wants to help pets live longer and healthier lives. We want to shift the statistics for life expectancy of our pets – to give them longer, healthier and happier lives. Dogs and cats are members of the family and when they thrive, it benefits the well-being of the entire family.” She added: “At Red Dog Blue Kat, we have spent more than a decade educating consumers and pet retailers about the benefits of feeding pets unprocessed, real food because we know that fresh food makes a difference in preventing illness and improving longevity and quality of life. As a company, we are investing heavily in pet nutrition education – a major gap in the $30 billion North American pet food market.”

Canadians spent $7 billion on pet food in 2016, and that number is expected to grow to $9.2 billion by 2019 – cites a report in The Canadian Pet Market Outlook.*** According to leading pet experts and in-depth research done by the Red Dog Blue Kat team, feeding our pets real food that meets their nutritional needs using quality, non-medicated proteins and organic juiced vegetables puts less stress on pets’ bodies (organs, immune system, nervous system, etc.). It provides your dog or cat with the resources needed to maintain health and to ward off disease.

If you are interested in setting a meeting with Red Dog Blue Kat at the National Pet Industry Trade Show, please e-mail: inna@reddogbluekat.com.

About Red Dog Deli
Red Dog Blue Kat (www.reddogbluekat.com) was founded in 2004. Red Dog Blue Kat real pet food products contain free-range, non-medicated meat and certified organic vegetables for maximum bioavailability and absorption. Red Dog Blue Kat products can be found in more than 160 quality pet retailers, including holistically-minded veterinarians’ offices in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

-END-

For an interview with Inna Shekhtman, please call Paul Holman of AHA Creative Strategies at: 604-846-8461 or e-mail: paul@ahacreative.com.


** Animal Cancer Foundation: http://www.acfoundation.org/faqs/


PET INDUSTRY LEGAL SERVICE - New Benefit for PIJAC Canada Members



DISCOUNT ON LEGAL SERVICES

We are pleased to announce the addition of a new member benefit. Members will now have the option to take advantage of reduced rates on legal services and a free 45 minute consultation with the law firm Bobila Walker Law

Last fall we were approached by lawyer Daniel Walker with his plans to create a niche service for pet industry businesses.  Daniel explained the goal of his firm was to provide legal services that would meet the unique needs and challenges faced by business in the pet sector.  In response we distributed a survey asking whether this would be valuable to our member companies and the responses were overwhelmingly positive.

The challenge when assessing a new benefit is to make sure it will be available to all members across all jurisdictions.  The way we have worked this one out is, all association members, regardless of province of residence, would be able to access a free consultation through Bobila Walker Law.  French language services are going to be offered through a referral basis.  Should a situation arise where jurisdiction requires local council for a member, Bobila Walker will provide the name of a lawyer from their network in that region.

Our goal is to give our members the tools to succeed.  Take a look at petindustrylaw.com for more details



RABAIS SUR LES SERVICES JURIDIQUES - NOUVEL AVANTAGE POUR LES MEMBRES DE PIJAC CANADA


RABAIS SUR LES SERVICES JURIDIQUES

Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer l’addition d’un nouvel avantage offert aux membres. En tant que membre de PIJAC Canada, les membres auront maintenant l’option de profiter de tarifs réduits sur les services et vous obtiendrez une consultation gratuite de 45 minutes avec le cabinet d’avocats Bobila Walker Law.

Nous avons été approchés l’an dernier par l’avocat Daniel Walker nous informant de son intention de créer un service de niche pour les entreprises de l’industrie des animaux de compagnie. Daniel nous a expliqué que l’objectif de son cabinet était de fournir des services juridiques qui répondraient aux besoins spécifiques du secteur des animaux de compagnie. Notre réponse a été de distribuer un sondage pour savoir si cette option serait avantageuse pour nos entreprises membres et la réponse a été incroyablement positive.

Le défi lorsque l’on doit évaluer un nouvel avantage, il faut s’assurer qu’il sera disponible pour tous les membres, dans toutes les juridictions. La façon dont nous avons résolu cet aspect est que tous les membres, sans égard à leur province de résidence, serait d’obtenir une consultation gratuite avec Bobila Walker. Des services de langue française seront offerts sur une base de référence. Si une situation survient où la juridiction requiert des services locaux pour un membre, Bobila Walker fournira le nom d’un avocat faisant partie de leur réseau dans la région.

Notre objectif est donner aux membres les outils dont ils ont besoin pour réussir. Jetez un coup d’œil à petindustrylaw.com pour voir comment les services offerts. 



Monday, September 11, 2017

PETCUREAN LEADS THE PACK WITH NEW RECIPES - Press Release



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        Contacts: Julia Smith, 604-803-0897
                                                                               
 PETCUREAN LEADS THE PACK
INTRODUCING 100 PERCENT FRESH, NON-GMO STEWS AND PÂTÉS
IN 100 PERCENT RECYCLABLE PACKAGING AND
NEW LIMITED INGREDIENT DIET RECIPES


Chilliwack, B.C. and Mississauga, ON (September 11, 2017) – Known for its high quality premium pet food and commitment to sustainability, Petcurean, is expanding its popular NOW FRESHTM line with stew and pâté recipes for dogs and cats, made with 100 percent fresh wild salmon, turkey or pork in nutrient-rich turkey bone broth, with zero genetically engineered ingredients, and available in industry-leading recyclable and reclosable Tetra Pak® cartons. The GO! SENSITIVITY + SHINETM Limited Ingredient Diet line is growing with new recipes, featuring grass-fed lamb and MSC-certified pollock.   

“Our NOW FRESH stew and pâté recipes have a number of characteristics that make them a unique category leader in the wet food market, including fresh, human-grade ingredients, and innovative packaging, which takes up 40 percent less shelf space than cans,” said Walter Cosman, General Manager at Petcurean.  “Our new GO! LID recipes are great for all dogs and cats, but formulated especially for those with specific dietary needs and food sensitivities.”

NOW FRESH STEWS AND PÂTÉS INNOVATIVE RECIPES AND PACKAGING

Perfect served as a treat, topper, or as a complete and balanced meal, Petcurean’s new NOW FRESH stews and pâtés are available in six delicious recipes: turkey stew for dogs and cats, pork stew for dogs, wild salmon stew for cats, pork pâté for cats and wild salmon pâté for cats. All recipes are non-GMO and made in a human-grade facility with human-grade ingredients including 100 percent fresh wild salmon, turkey or pork, and fresh potatoes, carrots, peas, cranberries, sweet potatoes, and apples - all excellent sources of antioxidants, essential vitamins and minerals and dietary fiber to support digestive health. NOW FRESH stews and pâtés are made with turkey bone broth, which adds a great source of collagen and a meaty flavor that both dogs and cats love. Other recipe highlights include:

·         Omega 3 & 6 oils from coconuts and canola to promote skin and coat health
·         Flaxseed, an excellent source of dietary fibre and essential omega 3 & 6 fatty acids
·         Dried kelp, a natural source of iodine, dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals
·         Zero grains, gluten, wheat, beef, chicken, corn or soy
·         Zero rendered meats, by-products, added growth hormones or artificial preservatives

Petcurean is one of the first pet food companies to choose Tetra Pak® cartons as an innovative and sustainable packaging option. Sixty-five percent of the carton material is made using renewable resources, it is 100 percent recyclable, and it uses less raw material and ships more compactly than cans. With an easy-to-open tear-off strip and no sharp edges, Tetra Pak® cartons are safe to handle, and easy to transport and store. In addition, the new packaging uses up to 40 percent less shelf space than cans and cups, which means less stocking and more selling!

GO! SENSITIVITY + SHINE LIMITED INGREDIENT DIET

Food sensitivities in pets are a growing concern and GO! SENSITIVITY + SHINE Limited Ingredient Diet pet food provides a solution with a single source of meat protein and as few ingredients as possible to meet the nutritional requirements of dogs and cats. New to the line are MSC-certified pollock recipes for cats and dogs, and a grass-fed lamb recipe for dogs.

The three new recipes contain premium quality meat or fish protein (fresh meat + meal) as their first two ingredients, followed by coconut oil for easy digestion and energy, tapioca, an easily digestible source of carbohydrates, chicory root, a pre-biotic that promotes digestive health.
·         The MSC-certified pollock recipe for cats and dogs, features sustainably harvested Alaskan pollock, one of the most abundant and versatile fish in the world. A part of the cod family, Alaskan pollock has high nutritional value and is an excellent source of protein, minerals and omega fatty acids, and is low in carbohydrates, cholesterol and fat.
·         The grass-fed lamb recipe for dogs features lamb sourced from Australia and New Zealand which is lower in fat and higher in omega-3 fatty acids than meat from animals that are fed grains.

All recipes are grain-free, gluten-free and potato-free. The new products will be shipping in the Fall.  For further questions, please contact your Petcurean sales representative.

About Petcurean
Petcurean is a family-owned Canadian company that creates premium-quality pet food recipes; GO!, NOW FRESH, GATHER and SPIKE TREATS for dogs and cats (and cats and dogs). GO! provides solutions for your pet’s unique dietary needs; NOW FRESH is the only dry pet food to use 100% fresh meat and fresh omega oils; GATHER is crafted from certified and organic ingredients, sustainably produced; and SPIKE lets you reward your dog with treats made using all natural ingredients. Petcurean pet foods are sold exclusively through pet specialty retailers in Canada, the United States, and more than 20 countries internationally. At Petcurean, with every decision they make and every recipe they create, they put pets first. Please visit www.petcurean.com to learn more


 # # #

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Le moment de la procrastination vient de passer!


La pré-inscription pour le salon National de l’industrie se termine dans 1 semaine!
Voilà votre chance pour vous pré-inscrire, et d’avoir vos passes disponibles lorsque vous arrivez au salon.
 Inscription sur place disponible

Vous connaissez le QUOI, le QUAND et le POURQUOI, maintenant découvrez le…..