Overview

• Nestlé SA has taken a minority stake in Drools Pet Food Pvt Ltd, marking its first direct investment in India’s homegrown pet care sector.
• The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, has valued Drools at over $1 billion, granting it unicorn status.
• Drools will maintain full strategic and operational autonomy despite the new partnership with Nestlé.
• Since its 2010 founding, Drools has expanded to more than 650 SKUs, sold through 40,000+ retail outlets and exported to 22 countries.
• India’s pet care market is projected to grow at an 18–20% CAGR to about $7 billion by 2027–28, driven by rising pet ownership and investor confidence.