Drools has announced a ₹180 crore investment to enter India’s nascent fresh pet food segment, partnering with Tetra Pak to introduce aseptically packaged meals at scale.
The move positions Drools as the first brand in Asia to launch fresh pet food in Tetra Recart® cartons, marking a shift from conventional dry and wet formats towards minimally processed, “home-style” nutrition. The range, available in variants such as Real Chicken & Vegetables and Real Chicken Biryani, will be sold in 150g and 350g packs across India.
At a time when pet ownership is rising and premiumisation is accelerating, the company is betting on fresh food as the next growth frontier. India’s pet food market, currently valued between $700 million and $900 million, is expanding at an estimated 11–16 per cent CAGR, with demand increasingly driven by pet humanisation trends.
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Speaking about this industry-first innovation, Fahim Sultan, Founder, Drools Pet Food Pvt. Ltd., said, “India’s pet food market is at an inflection point, with consumers actively seeking better, fresher, and more transparent nutrition for their pets. At Drools, we have always believed in building the category ahead of demand. Our investment and collaboration with Tetra Pak allow us to bring global advancements in food processing and packaging to India, making fresh pet food both accessible and scalable. This is not just a product innovation—it is a step towards redefining pet nutrition in the country.”
Enabled by Tetra Pak’s retorting and aseptic packaging technology, the products are designed to remain shelf-stable without preservatives or refrigeration before opening, addressing a key logistical hurdle that has limited the scale of fresh pet food in India.
Cassio Simões, Managing Director, South Asia Markets, Tetra Pak, added: “The evolution of pet nutrition in India reflects a broader shift towards quality, safety, and sustainability. Our collaboration with Drools demonstrates how advanced processing and packaging technologies can unlock entirely new categories by combining the benefits of fresh nutrition with convenience and scalability. We believe this innovation will play a key role in shaping the future of the pet food industry in India.”
Sanjiv Mehta, Executive Chairman, L Catterton India and Former Chairman / CEO, Hindustan Unilever Limited, said, “This collaboration is a strong reflection of forward-thinking leadership—one that embraces sustainability, technology, and innovation as core pillars of growth. It aligns seamlessly with the needs of the future and positions Drools ahead of the curve, setting new benchmarks for progressive thinking in the industry.”
The collaboration also underscores a broader shift in packaging strategy, with Tetra Recart® cartons offering extended shelf life, reduced reliance on cold-chain infrastructure, and a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional metal cans.
Backed by Nestlé S.A. and L Catterton, Drools continues to double down on innovation-led growth, aiming to shape evolving consumer expectations in India’s fast-maturing pet care market.
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