Drools Pet Food, a homegrown pet food company, claimed to have achieved unicorn status after Nestle SA, the parent company of Nestle India, acquired a minority stake in it.
Drools Pet Food’s achievement makes it the fourth Indian company to become a unicorn this year. The year started with deeptech startup Netradyne becoming the first unicorn of 2025 after raising $90 million in January.
The valuation at which Nestle acquired a stake in Drools is not disclosed.
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Following the investment, Drools will maintain its strategic and operational independence. “The company has also recently joined the ranks of India’s unicorn companies—a rare and significant milestone in the pet care space.” This milestone highlights the company’s growing prominence in the industry.
Nestle’s Purina brand already has a presence in India’s pet care market. Meanwhile, Drools Pet Food, founded in 2010, has built a vast distribution network spanning over 40,000 retail outlets and exports to 22 countries, with further expansion plans in the pipeline.
Drools boasts an impressive infrastructure, operating six manufacturing units and a sprawling 1.6 million square feet of warehousing space. With a team of 3,400 employees, including 1,800 sales professionals, the company offers a diverse portfolio of over 650 SKUs and claims to be one of the largest players on e-commerce platforms like Amazon.
Fahim Sultan, the founder of Drools Pet Food, highlighted the company’s commitment to pet nutrition. “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 was last valued at $600 million when L Catterton, backed by Louis Vuitton, bought a minority stake for $60 million in June 2023.
Drools counts a number of Bollywood celebrities among its brand ambassadors, including Hrithik Roshan, Sara Ali Khan, Disha Patani, Kartik Aryan, Rakul Preet Singh, and Ananya Panday, among others.
India is among the world’s fastest-growing pet care markets, with Drools predicting a 20% annual growth rate over the next five years, reaching over $1.2 billion by 2028. Despite currently low pet ownership penetration, with only 10% of households having pets, the trend suggests significant room for expansion in the market.
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