About the client

 Established in 1959 in Nanaimo, BC, Mid Island Co-op (Mid-Island) has become a cornerstone of the local community. From fuel and convenience stores to liquor stores, the business supports a range of needs for its members and customers.  

Over six decades, Mid-Island has grown to become one of the largest gas and liquor store groups on Vancouver Island. The management team were looking to continue that growth by finding BC-based businesses that would be a good fit for their portfolio. Knowing where to start when acquiring a business can be daunting and they wanted professional advice to help the process run smoothly. 

Our M&A team was brought in to help them source potential acquisition opportunities and guide them through the process. This started with researching and reaching out to businesses that could be a good fit. Discovery Foods Limited (Discovery Foods), a respected business with two locally owned and operated stores, soon became the front runner. Our advisors also helped Mid-Island with their negotiations and due diligence—key steps required for the deal to close smoothly. 

Discovery Food’s two grocery retail locations in Oyster River and the Willow Point area in Campbell River, BC are now set to join the Mid-Island family. Both Discovery Foods and Mid-Island have been an integral part of their local communities over the years, so this deal was a natural fit. Management at Mid-Island are now well positioned as they continue towards their long-term goals for growth and better serving communities across BC. 

Fast facts

Client

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Mid Island Co-op

Transaction type

Transaction type

Acquisition

Services provided

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M&A

Sector

Sector

Retail food and beverage

Close date

Close date

November, 2025

The client experience
“The M&A team at Doane Grant Thornton brought invaluable expertise that helped us identify and secure the right acquisition for our portfolio. We couldn’t be happier with how they ran the acquisition process—each phase was well-executed, and they worked closely with us each step of the way. We’re truly excited to welcome Discovery Foods to the Mid-Island Co-op family as it means we can provide new services to our local members and customers in Oyster River and the Willow Point area in Campbell River.”
Ian Anderson CEO of Mid Island Co-op