Animal health company Vets Plus Inc. has expanded its Wisconsin footprint with the takeover of Merrick’s Inc., a manufacturer of boluses, tablets, powders and electrolytes for livestock.
Vets Plus, whose product array includes supplements, treats and Probios probiotics, reported that Merrick’s will operate as a subsidiary under the name Merrick’s Animal Health.
Financial terms were not released.
“Merrick’s products and customer portfolio are complementary to our existing business and allow us to leverage our strength as one company in expanding relationships with existing customers and creating new ones,” Vets Plus CEO Raj Lall said.
Merrick’s operates a factory in Wonewoc, Wisconsin, and maintains offices 60 miles away in Middleton. Vets Plus is headquartered in Menomonie, Wisconsin.
“We are experiencing rapid growth as a company and see Merrick’s as a great addition to our product offerings and manufacturing capacity,” Vets Plus President David Nelson said. “With the addition of 66,000 square feet of production and warehouse space at the Wonewoc plant, Vets Plus now has over 350,000 square feet of production and warehouse space.”
All Merrick’s employees were retained, including director of food animal sales and former CEO Johanna Kuehn and chief operations officer Dan Shields, MS, Ph.D.
“Both Ms. Kuehn and Dr. Shields bring extensive product and market knowledge and customer relationships to the new company and work well with our team at Vets Plus,” Nelson said.