Drools Becomes India’s First Pet Food Unicorn with Nestlé Investment

May 26, 2025

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In a landmark move for India’s pet care industry, Drools, the country’s first homegrown pet food brand, has secured a strategic minority investment from Swiss giant Nestlé SA. This investment not only propels Drools into the unicorn club—valuing it at over $1 billion—but also marks Nestlé’s first foray into India’s fast-growing pet food segment.

The partnership is expected to help Drools scale its manufacturing, distribution, and R&D capabilities to match global standards in a market projected to surpass ₹10,000 crore by 2025.

Nestlé Backs India’s Homegrown Leader

Drools, launched in 2010 by Fahim Sultan, has grown to become a leading player in the Indian pet nutrition space, capturing over 38% of the market share. The brand is known for its locally manufactured, vet-recommended, and affordable product lines catering to both dogs and cats. Nestlé’s minority stake is not just capital infusion—it brings global expertise in nutrition and supply chain to an Indian company that has built its reputation through grassroots growth and deep customer understanding.

India’s packaged pet food market was valued at ₹4,000 crore in 2023 & the sector is projected to more than double in the next few years.

India’s Pet Food Market: Poised for Rapid Expansion

India’s pet ownership has surged post-pandemic, with an estimated 30 million pets in 2024 and growing. This has driven the packaged pet food industry to become one of the fastest-growing FMCG segments. Valued at ₹4,000 crore in 2023, the sector is projected to more than double in the next few years. Drools’ unicorn milestone underscores the growing investor appetite in pet wellness and nutrition, positioning it as a scalable success story amid global food majors like Mars and Nestlé Purina.

Drools’ unicorn status and Nestlé’s investment are a strong signal of confidence in India’s evolving pet care ecosystem. As demand for high-quality, affordable pet nutrition accelerates, Drools is poised to lead the charge in India’s booming pet food industry, with global backing and local agility.