Prepared specifically for
Steele Windle and the CenterGate Capital Investment Team
Evaluating a U.S. Supply Chain Option Before Close
A preliminary four-week approach to assess U.S. supply-chain feasibility, validate product claims, and evaluate current co-manufacturing food-safety practices for a rapidly growing Canadian premium pet-food business.
Our Understanding of the Decision
CenterGate is evaluating a premium pet-food company whose growth and U.S. market exposure make supply-chain optionality important before the transaction closes.
Steele described a phase-one feasibility question: could a U.S.-based supply chain be established, how quickly could it be done, and what would the likely benefits, costs, and risks be—without assuming that a move from the existing Canadian network is already the right answer?
The requested work also includes an assessment of the current Quebec co-manufacturer’s food-safety practices and testing protocols, plus an independent review of whether the product’s formulation and ingredient claims are supportable. The goal is a decision-ready view before close, with clear next steps rather than false precision.
Preliminary Transaction Context
Working assumptions captured from the September 9 discussion and subject to confirmation.
Three Concurrent Workstreams
All three workstreams would begin together and advance in parallel to fit the diligence timetable.
U.S. Supply-Chain Feasibility
- Map the current Canadian supply chain, economics, lead times and dependencies
- Identify capable U.S. co-manufacturers, meat emulsifiers, blenders and raw-material sources
- Evaluate capacity, process fit, food-safety readiness, packaging and distribution implications
- Compare full-U.S., U.S.-market-only and dual-country network options
- Develop directional timing, cost and transition-risk ranges
Decision: Is a credible U.S. option available, and under what conditions?
Ingredient and Claims Assessment
- Review owned formulations, specifications, labels and supporting documentation
- Procure representative finished product from multiple lots
- Coordinate independent laboratory analysis where required
- Evaluate synthetic-free, nutritional and formulation claims against available evidence
- Identify gaps, confidentiality considerations and follow-up requirements
Decision: Are the principal product claims supportable and appropriately controlled?
Current Co-Man Food Safety
- Conduct an appropriately disclosed or blinded on-site assessment in Quebec
- Review preventive controls, sanitation, traceability, supplier controls and testing protocols
- Evaluate quality-system maturity and execution at the point of work
- Assess U.S. market and supply-chain implications, including FSMA-related readiness
- Report findings, risks, priorities and corrective-action recommendations
Decision: Is the current manufacturing and quality system sufficiently robust?
Quality and Food-Safety Capability
Quality-system experience is central to the engagement—not a secondary checklist.
From standards to operating practice
Delta Driver has implemented SQF and ISO 9001:2015 quality systems for prior clients and brings extensive experience in food, feed, dairy, packaged products and pet-food operations.
The team is trained in internal quality-system auditing and understands how certification requirements, management controls and shop-floor behavior must work together to produce a reliable system.
Food-Safety Quality Assessment
A structured assessment used to define the robustness of a food-safety and quality system, supported by a complete written report.
SQF and GFSI Experience
Practical experience implementing and operating within recognized food-safety frameworks—not only reviewing documentation.
ISO 9001:2015 Implementation
Experience building process ownership, internal controls, corrective action and management-review disciplines for previous clients.
Internal Audit Training
Ability to test whether written procedures are understood, followed and supported by objective operating evidence.
Four-Week Parallel Execution Plan
The schedule assumes timely access to management, data, relevant documentation, facilities, suppliers and laboratories.
All workstreams operate concurrently. Four weeks is a target based on preliminary information; access, laboratory turnaround and confidentiality protocols may affect timing.
Preliminary Team and Cost Framework
A planning range for discussion—not a final proposal.
Preliminary Professional-Fee Range
Plus reasonable travel and direct third-party expenses. The working model assumes approximately 3.5 consultant equivalents per week across the three concurrent workstreams.
Core team deployment
- Paul Manring — food operations, quality systems and analytics
- Owen Schmidt — cross-border supply chain and co-manufacturing strategy
- Bob Brennan — engagement leadership, food manufacturing and diligence
- Specialist analytical, food-safety and technical resources as required
- Independent laboratory testing coordinated and billed at cost
Relevant Experience and Supporting Work
Selected examples directly related to pet food, cross-border supply chains, operating diligence, relocation and quality-system implementation.
Fresh Pet Food Launch
Hands-on support for launching and scaling a fresh pet-food operation where process capability, food safety, capacity and execution were central.
View success story →International Relocation Feasibility
A structured evaluation of operating requirements, supply-chain implications, risks and economics associated with an international manufacturing relocation.
View success story →Meat Processor Due Diligence
Food-industry operational diligence addressing manufacturing capability, capacity, food-safety risk and investment assumptions.
View success story →Precision Machining Relocation
A relocation assessment connecting facility, process, capital, labor, timing and execution considerations into a practical decision framework.
View success story →ISO 9001:2015 Implementation
Implementation of a durable quality-management system with process controls, accountability, internal auditing and measurable performance improvement.
View success story →Pet Food Co-Manufacturing Search
Pet-food carve-out support involving co-manufacturer identification, supply-chain transition planning and operating requirements.
View success story →Confirming the Right Scope Before Proposal
We would welcome a second discussion with Steele and the CenterGate team to test these preliminary assumptions, confirm the required depth of each workstream, and adjust the schedule and cost structure before preparing a formal proposal. The objective is to give CenterGate a useful pre-close decision view while protecting confidentiality and avoiding work that does not change the investment decision.