Posted: Dec. 3, 2012, 2:00 p.m. EST
A new company, CanAm Pet Treats Inc., today reported its purchase of Darford International, a Canadian manufacturer of all-natural dog food and treats.
The price paid for Darford, which went into receivership Oct. 23, was not disclosed.
Among the new owners is Brian Connolly, who with his wife, Shelley Gunton, co-founded Castor & Pollux Natural PetWorks, a maker of natural and organic pet food, in 2000 in Clackamas, Ore. They sold the company in April to Merrick Pet Care Inc. of Amarillo, Texas. Connolly and other investors share ownership of CanAm, said spokeswoman Maureen McEwan.
Darford’s Holistic slow-baked treats are made without grain, wheat and corn. |
CanAm will focus on producing Darford's pet treats and fulfilling all outstanding customer orders, McEwan stated. No decision has been made about the future of Darford’s Zero/G food line, she added.
“We are committed to the continued production of top-quality treats and to ensuring our customers’ needs are met,” Connolly said.
The company, based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada, will develop new treats using CanAm's proprietary technology, he noted.
CanAm will produce treats at Darford’s Vernon plant and plans to open a U.S. facility to supply the American marketplace, McEwan said.
Darford, which also made the
Omega Booster dog food topper and private-label foods and treats, was started in the kitchen of Darcy Bomford in 1987. He took the company public in 2009 and maintained majority ownership as president and CEO.
The company operated plants in Vernon and in Eden, Ohio, and Blaine, Wash. Its products were sold to pet owners in North and South America, Asia and Europe.
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