India: major FMCG and pharma players tap into the pet industry

Indian corporations are venturing into the fast-growing pet care market, catering to rising domestic demand as pet populations increase in the country. 

According to consultancy firm Redseer, the country’s pet care market is set to double from the current $3.5 billion (€3B) to $7 billion (€5.9B) by 2028.

Reliance Products

Bengaluru-based Reliance Consumer Products (RCP), the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) business from one of India’s largest conglomerates, Reliance Industries, is venturing into pet care with the launch of its own pet food brand Waggies.

Local media reports that the company plans to price its new product 20-50% lower than existing market players, aiming to make pet food more accessible to consumers.

For fiscal year (FY) 2025, Reliance Consumer Products reported revenue of ₹11,450 crore ($1.38B/€1.27B). Currently, it offers a range of everyday products under brands such as soaps, dishwashing bars and liquids, flour, rice, and edible oils, as well as toilet and floor cleaners.

In 2025, RCP became a direct subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures (RRV), Reliance Industries’ retail business. RRV has more than 349 million registered customers across major consumption categories, including grocery, consumer electronics, fashion and lifestyle, and pharma.

Mankind Pharma

Mankind Pharma, one of the top 5 pharmaceutical companies in the country, has recently entered the cat food segment with the launch of PetStar Delight. The move will strengthen the company’s presence in India’s expanding pet nutrition market.

In 2022, Mankind Pharma first ventured into the pet care market with the launch of PetStar dog food. This latest expansion builds on the company’s aim to deliver high-quality and affordable pet nutrition across India’s rapidly evolving pet care market.

The company has a presence in more than 34 countries worldwide and offers over 1,000 products across segments, including pet care, veterinary health, consumer healthcare and agritech.

Tata 1mg

Healthcare platform Tata 1mg has also entered the pet care segment with the launch of PawsNPurrs, a new vertical offering medicines, supplements, food and grooming products for pets. 

The platform is leveraging its existing digital and logistics infrastructure to reach customers across several areas in India.

The move marks an expansion of Tata 1mg’s broader healthcare ecosystem into animal wellness, reflecting growing consumer demand for convenient access to veterinary products.

According to Prashant Tandon, Founder and CEO of Tata 1mg, the company sees strong potential in the segment, citing both unmet needs and long-term growth opportunities in the pet care market.