A recap of pet industry M&A news ending 2021 – Pet Food Processing

KANSAS CITY, MO. — From September to December 2021, pet food and treat suppliers, manufacturers and retailers were busy accomplishing their goals. Whether the goal was to expand capabilities, product offerings, international reach or carve out more territory, this market was booming with mergers and acquisitions.
Throughout four short months, 25 mergers and acquisitions were announced; 11 by industry suppliers, 11 were made by manufacturers and three by retailers. Pet Food Processing has compiled this M&A news to provide a glimpse of mergers and acquisitions throughout industry from September 2021 up to the end of the year.
 
Manufacturers
On Sept. 10, Manna Pro Products announced it had acquired Dinovite, Inc., an e-commerce platform selling premium supplements and other wellness products for dogs and cats. Dinovite added to Manna Pro’s growing portfolio of online pet companies, which includes Bullymake and ZuPreem added in 2020.
AUA Private Equity Partners announced Sept. 15 its pet treat and supply subsidiary, Westminster Pet Products, LLC, had fully acquired Pet Ventures Inc. dba Pet ‘n Shape, an emerging pet treat and chew brand. Pet ‘n Shape is a direct-to-consumer e-commerce brand selling through its own website and Chewy.com.
On Sept. 15 Petmate, a manufacturer of pet products and treats based in Arlington, Texas, was acquired by Platinum Equity. Petmate’s portfolio includes brands like Chuckit!®, Pet Qwerks®, Healthy Chews™, Gamma2®, JW® and La-Z-Boy®.
Cosmic Pet, a developer and distributor of pet treats and accessories, was acquired by Platinum Equity on Oct. 25. The company was later combined with Petmate, which the Platinum Equity previously acquired in September 2021.
On Oct. 27, United Petfood, a Belgian private label manufacturer, acquired Teeling Petfood. The acquisition added Teeling’s two manufacturing facilities to United Petfood’s network, expanding its facility total to 19 across eight European countries.
Private equity firm Alpine Investors launched a pet-focused omnichannel platform, Antelope, and on Nov. 22 acquired Bocce’s Bakery. Antelope shared that Bocce’s Bakery would continue operations under its own name.
On Nov. 29, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) announced it had completed its acquisition of Sojaprotein, a leading European provider of non-GMO soy ingredients with sales in 65 countries. The addition of Sojaprotein to ADM’s portfolio is the latest significant investment as the company continues to expand its protein portfolio.
The J.M. Smucker Co., a manufacturer of food products, announced on Dec. 1 it had sold off its private label dry pet food business to Diamond Pet Foods, Inc. for roughly $33 million. The J.M. Smucker Co. assured that this sale would not affect any of its other products or its private label wet pet food business.
On Dec. 3 Inspired Pet Nutrition, a UK-based pet food and treat manufacturer, announced its plans to acquire Pet Food UK from its previous founders and owner Piper PE LLP. Acquired by CapVest Partners in 2020, Inspired Pet Nutrition announced further plans for international expansion through this acquisition.
Sweden-based Voff Premium Pet Food announced its acquisition of AniForte, a natural pet supplement producer distributing across Europe, on Dec. 14. Since its founding in 2014, Voff has acquired six pet food companies, which range from meat-based and frozen foods to treats, chews and supplements.
ADM announced Dec. 22 it had finalized its acquisition of Invivo Sanpo, a Tianjin, China-based pet nutrition company. Invivo Sanpo was established in 2017 as a joint venture between ADM and Tianjin Jinkangbao. ADM purchased the remaining 40% shareholding of Invivo Sanpo, giving it total ownership of the company.
 
Suppliers 
Unibloc Pump announced Sept. 8 it acquired Flotronic Pumps, a manufacturer of specialized air-operated double diaphragm (AODD) pumps and accessories based in the United Kingdom. Chris Stevens, chief executive officer of Unibloc joined the leadership team at Flotronic, which will continue operations under its own name.
To strengthen the company’s position in the gluten-free milled grains market, Ardent Mills LLC on Sept. 27 announced it reached an agreement to acquire all assets of Firebird Artisan Mills. On Dec. 7, Ardent Mills revealed it successfully completed the acquisition and would continue integrating Firebird Artisan Mills’ products to boost its gluten-free milling capabilities.
On Oct. 13 Givaudan announced intentions of acquiring DDW, The Color House, a supplier of natural colors to the food and beverage industry, including pet food manufacturers. The acquisition was part of Givaudan’s 2025 strategy to expand its portfolio, and on Dec. 10 the company announced the acquisition was complete.
Following its merger with NiceLabel in January 2021, Loftware on Oct. 13 debuted a new, unified brand combining the two companies’ now integrated capabilities and offerings as a complete labeling solutions provider. Loftware announced further plans to launch a combined website and new brand identity with NiceLabel.
On Oct. 21 Wayne Farms LLC reached an agreement to sell the company’s Laurel, Miss., poultry production complex to Batesburg, S.C.-based Amick Farms, which is a subsidiary of OSI Group. Amick Farms agreed to acquire the complex immediately, including live production, hatchery, feed mill, manufacturing and production facilities located in Laurel.
ADM expanded its health and wellness portfolio by acquiring Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes on Nov. 4. With the addition of Deerland, ADM said that its annualized revenue in health and wellness will exceed $500 million.
On Nov. 9, 3D Corporate Solutions, operating under ownership of Olympus Partners, acquired LinkOne Marine Solutions. 3D Corporate Solutions manufactures specialty proteins and fats for the pet food industry, and the addition of LinkOne Marine Solutions expanded the company’s protein portfolio.
In December D&D Ingredient Distributors, Inc. was acquired by the Swanson Family of Companies, a Turlock, Calif-based organization that also owns Associated Feed, Nutrius and Virtus Nutrition. Under the acquisition, D&D Ingredient Distributors changed its name to D&D Ingredients LLC and continued operations with its own management team.
Flexible packaging leader ProAmpac announced Dec. 20 it had acquired Prairie State Group (PSG), a flexible packaging and labeling supplier based in Franklin Park, Ill. The founders and management team at PSG have remained with the business following the acquisition.
On Dec. 28 Darling Ingredients Inc. announced it entered into an agreement with Valley Proteins, Inc., to acquire all shares of the company for roughly $1.1 billion in cash. The agreement is still pending closing conditions.
Denmark-based Oterra announced on Dec. 29 that it closed its acquisition of Diana Food’s color business from Symrise AG. The transaction was first announced in September. The acquisition now gives Oterra a total of 10 production sites throughout Europe.
 
Retailers
Dane Creek Capital Corp. on Oct. 22 acquired Pets West & Supplies Ltd., a pet specialty retailer based on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, through its majority-owned subsidiary, United Raw Pet Foods. Dane Creek acquired Pets West for approximately half of the retailer’s expected revenue for the current fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2021. Following the acquisition, Dane Creek announced plans to expand the retailer’s frozen pet food section.
On Oct. 27, a bidding war for Zooplus Ag, a leader in the European online pet products space, was resolved between Hellman & Friedman and EQT Private Equity. The two companies partnered up to acquire Zooplus together for roughly €480 per share and announced plans for EQT to act as a joint controlling partner with Hellman & Friedman.
EarthWise Pet announced late November its acquisition of 18 Pet Pros locations in Washington, expanding its United States network to 151 retail stores. Earthwise revealed it would continue to seek additional purchasing and partnerships to expand its reach in the United States.
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