Built on legacy. Focused on the future.
Dowel Holdings was founded to acquire one exceptional small to mid-sized business and carry its legacy forward into the future. As an owner-operator focused on the long-term, our commitment is to preserve what makes your business special and invest thoughtfully in its continued growth.
The Dowel Holdings difference
Industry focus
Exclusively targeting businesses within the food, retail, and CPG industries allowing our founder to leverage his experience to ensure a smooth transition and his existing network to develop opportunities for future growth.
Flexible ownership and management transition
Whether you’d like to retain some ownership or transition out of day-to-day management gradually or quickly, we’ll collaborate with you to create a plan that meets your needs.
People oriented approach
We look beyond the numbers. As an experienced operator, we recognize that people are the foundation of your business. We are committed to treating you and your team with respect and planning a future with the interests of your team in mind.
Long-term horizon
We are looking to acquire a business to own and operate for the long term. We are not financial buyers seeking a quick exit. We believe lasting success is built through continuity, steady leadership, and long-term commitment - and we are fully prepared for this journey.
Dedicated management
The business we acquire will become our founder’s sole focus upon closing. We will not be balancing its management alongside other competing interests. It will receive the full attention, energy, and leadership required to succeed.
Discretion and confidentiality
We understand that exploring options to transition from your business is both a serious and sensitive decision. We are committed to maintaining the highest level of discretion and confidentiality throughout every step of the process.
Team
Yonas Mebrahtu, Founder & Managing Director
Yonas is a seasoned operator based in Toronto, Canada, with over a decade of leadership experience across Fortune 500 companies, management consulting, high-growth scale-ups, and entrepreneurial ventures.
He has held management and executive roles at Elefante Farms, SNDL, Kraft Heinz, Deloitte, and Loblaw, where he led cross-functional teams, executed complex integrations, and delivered meaningful improvements in profitability and operational performance.
Before founding Dowel Holdings, Yonas co-founded Elefante Farms, an international agriculture venture, while continuing to advance his career as an executive with SNDL. As the business scaled, he parted ways with SNDL to join Elefante Farms as a full-time member of the management team focused on capital raising, route-to-market execution, and operations. Previously in his role as Vice President, Integrated Planning at SNDL, he played a key role in the company’s transformation from near insolvency to Canada’s largest regulated product platform, leading planning, integration, and supply chain functions during a period of significant growth and consolidation.
Yonas offers deep expertise across supply chain, strategic planning, post-M&A integration, and operations.
He holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.
As a second-generation Canadian whose parents immigrated to Canada, Yonas developed early an appreciation for hard work, humility, adaptability, and community - values that shape his approach to both life and business.
Outside of work Yonas enjoys living an active lifestyle, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.
+1 (647) 638-4661 | [email protected]
Investment Criteria
Key characteristics that Dowel Holdings is looking for in a business
Business:
- Manufacturing and/ or distribution focus
- Differentiated product or service
- Low customer concentration
- Operates within the food, retail, or CPG industry
Financial:
- Between $1-10M CAD in annual revenue
- Between $0.5-2M CAD in annual EBITDA
- Profitable in recent years
- Recurring revenue
Geography:
- Ontario, Canada
- Greater Toronto area
- Halton region
- Southwestern Ontario
Interested in learning more?
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