Drools bets on fresh pet food with $19.5M investment

Pet food manufacturer Drools is entering the fresh pet food market, backed by a ₹180 crore ($19.5M/€17.9M) investment in advanced processing and packaging.

“India’s pet food market continues to evolve rapidly, and we believe fresh pet food represents the next phase of this transformation, bridging the gap between convenience and quality,” says the company.

The Mumbai-headquartered business claims that its fresh pet food range for dogs is made with 90% real meat and vegetables and contains no added preservatives. The line currently offers 4 chicken-based variations.

Partnership with Tetra Pak

The range is supported by a collaboration with the multinational food-processing and packaging company Tetra Pak.

With this partnership, Drools becomes the first pet food brand in Asia to introduce fresh pet food in Tetra Recart, a retortable carton package made with up to 71% paper-based content.

Drools says this allows the product to remain shelf-stable without preservatives and requires no refrigeration before opening.

The Indian pet food market

According to market research firm IMARC Group, the Indian pet food market generated $2.5 billion (€2.3B) in revenue in 2025 and is projected to reach $4.6 billion (€4.2B) by 2034, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.9% from 2026 to 2034.

Recently, the European Union (EU) and India concluded a free trade agreement (FTA). Tariffs on pet food, currently as high as 50%, will be eliminated under the agreement, which could boost the internal market.

Company background

Founded in 2010, Drools offers cat and dog food, including treats, across wet, dry and fresh formats, as well as cat litter. Last year, the company received backing from Nestlé through a minority stake acquisition.

Drools’ CEO Shashank Sinha says the company is working toward achieving unicorn status by 2027, focusing on product innovation, market expansion and new partnerships to sustain its growth trajectory.