Drools Pet Food Private Limited, India’s first home-grown pet food company, has secured investment through the acquisition of a minority stake by Nestlé S.A., the parent company of Nestlé India. The company will continue to operate independently, both strategically and operationally.
This follows a previous minority investment by consumer-focused private equity firm L Catterton in June 2023.
Established in 2010, Drools has expanded its presence to over 40,000 retail outlets and exports to 22 countries. It is currently undertaking expansion plans aimed at building a global presence while retaining its Indian origins.
“This is a testament to the love and trust of millions of pet parents and to our unwavering commitment to quality,” said Mr. Fahim Sultan, Founder of Drools Pet Food Pvt. Ltd. “Backed by a strong focus on science-based nutrition, Drools continues to drive innovation and build meaningful engagement with the evolving demographic of Indian pet parents, positioning itself at the forefront of the country’s pet care industry.”
The company operates six manufacturing units and maintains a warehousing footprint of 1.6 million square feet. It employs 3,400 people, including 1,800 sales professionals, and offers more than 650 stock-keeping units covering various nutritional needs. Drools also has a presence in the cat food segment and is listed on e-commerce platforms such as Amazon.
L Catterton Partner and Head of India, Anjana Sasidharan, said, “Drools has achieved significant growth since we invested in the company two years ago, through the high-quality in-market agility and execution, and a range of operational initiatives we have been working on with its management team to create value. We are thrilled that Nestlé, that has such a renowned position in the global pet care and consumer brands space, joins as a minority partner.”
