In a landmark moment for India’s pet care industry, Drools Pet Food Pvt. Ltd. has earned the distinction of becoming the country’s first pet food unicorn, following a minority investment by Swiss food giant Nestlé S.A., the parent company of Nestlé India. While the financial terms haven’t been shared publicly, the deal marks a significant endorsement from one of the world’s most trusted names in nutrition.
Despite the global backing, Drools says it will continue to chart its own course — with no changes to its day-to-day operations or strategic independence.
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This fresh funding follows a $60 million investment in mid-2023 by L Catterton, the private equity firm linked to luxury group LVMH. That round, too, was for a minority stake, and was aimed at helping the brand scale further in a market that’s evolving fast.
Drools was started in 2010 by Fahim Sultan, who saw a gap in India’s pet food sector at a time when imported brands dominated the shelves. Over the past decade, the company has transformed into a homegrown powerhouse, offering over 650 product variants through 40,000 retail points across the country. Beyond Indian borders, Drools products are now shipped to 22 countries — and online, they’re already a dominant force in categories like cat food on platforms such as Amazon.
“This milestone belongs to every Indian pet parent who believed in us,” said Sultan. “We’ve built this brand on the back of science-based nutrition and a commitment to quality.”
Drools currently runs six manufacturing units and operates a warehouse footprint of 1.6 million square feet. The company employs 3,400 people, with nearly half of them focused entirely on sales — a reflection of its aggressive push into homes, stores, and hearts across India.
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With Nestlé now on board, Drools seems poised to raise the bar for pet food standards not just in India, but across its expanding global presence.
