May 5, 2026
DNA Partners Acquires Majority Stake in Circle Sales & Import, Partnering with Management to Accelerate Next Phase of Growth
Family-owned Canadian branded consumer goods leader to continue scaling North American footprint and pursue international expansion alongside new majority partner.
MONTRÉAL, May 5, 2026 — DNA Partners today announced the acquisition of a majority interest in Circle Sales & Import (“Circle” or the “Company”), a Montréal-based, family-owned branded consumer goods company specializing in outdoor recreation, ignition, and portable fuel categories. The founding family will retain a meaningful ownership stake in the business, and the existing leadership team will continue to lead Circle into its next phase of growth.
Circle is the third-generation operator behind several proprietary brands, including Olympia (butane fuel canisters and outdoor recreational products) and Gofire (fire starters and ignition products). The Company has built a specialized sourcing, compliance, and distribution platform across regulated dangerous goods categories, supplying a broad network of leading North American retailers.
Circle has delivered a period of exceptional growth in recent years, propelled by the successful launch and rapid scaling of its U.S. operations. Since establishing its U.S. footprint, the Company has expanded across the largest big-box retailers in the country and has more recently secured a series of additional retail programs that are now ramping into shelves. Together with continued momentum in Canada, these wins position Circle for its next chapter of expansion.
A partnership built on alignment, not just capital
“We have spent more than a decade transforming Circle into the platform it is today, and the momentum we are seeing across North America reflects the work of a team that has consistently outworked the category,” said Zach Lazar, Chief Executive Officer of Circle. “When we decided to bring on a partner, we were not looking for capital alone. We were looking for a partner who would roll up their sleeves alongside us, who shared our long-term vision, and who could help us execute on the next chapter of growth: international expansion, deeper penetration of institutional channels, and selective acquisitions. We met several strong groups through this process. The DNA principals stood out from the very first conversation. The chemistry, the alignment, and the way they think about building businesses made the choice clear for our family.”
“Circle is exactly the type of business we were built to back,” said Jean-Marc Bougie, CEO and Managing Partner of DNA Partners. “It is a profitable, category-defining platform with a genuinely defensible niche, exclusive supplier relationships, real product innovation, and a leadership team that has already proven it can win and scale with the most demanding retailers in North America. Zach, Brandon, and Greg have built something special. Our job is to help them build on that foundation, support the international and institutional opportunities ahead of them, and bring an additional layer of strategic and operational depth as the business continues to grow. We are honoured by the trust the Lazar family has placed in us.”
Continuity of leadership and strategic priorities
Following closing, Zach Lazar will continue as Chief Executive Officer, Brandon Reti will continue as Chief Operating Officer, and Greg Lazar will remain in his commercial leadership role. The strategic agenda going forward will focus on continuing to scale recently secured U.S. retail programs, expanding into new segments, pursuing international growth opportunities (notably in Europe), and evaluating selective acquisitions that complement Circle’s category and channel footprint.
About Circle Sales & Import
Circle Sales & Import is a Montréal-based, family-owned branded consumer goods company specializing in outdoor recreation, ignition, and portable fuel categories. Through its proprietary brands, including Olympia and Gofire, Circle designs, sources, and distributes a tailored catalogue of dangerous goods and outdoor living products to a broad network of leading retailers across Canada and the United States. The Company combines exclusive supplier relationships, deep regulatory and compliance expertise, and an in-house product design capability to differentiate within otherwise mature product categories.
About DNA Partners
DNA Partners is a Canadian private equity firm focused on investments in lower mid-market businesses across North America. The firm partners with founders and management teams to accelerate growth through international expansion, operational improvement, and selective acquisitions, with a hands-on approach grounded in long-term alignment.