Pet care is set to become India’s next FMCG battleground in 2026
Dear reader, as 2025, a year of global tumult and volatility, rolls by, Mint's reporters and columnists look around the corner on what is coming in 2026—to help you know what to expect and prepare for it. Tell us what you think at [email protected].Bengaluru: India’s pet care market is suddenly swelling with contenders, as consumer giants chase a new generation of indulgent pet parents and their ‘fur babies’.
The scramble is set to make 2026 the most competitive year yet for a category once ruled almost entirely by Mars Inc., and now contested fiercely by global majors and homegrown fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) firms.The shift became evident this year, with Godrej Consumer Products launching its Ninja dog food and Nestlé SA increasing investments in Drools, supported by visits from global executives at Purina. Homegrown startups also sought funding to accelerate their growth.
Towards the end of 2025, Reliance Retail entered the pet food market with Waggies, set to scale aggressively across its stores starting early 2026, while Wipro Consumer Care plans to introduce HappyFur, intensifying competition, Mint reported earlier this year.According to Euromonitor International, India’s pet care market grew from $690.5 million in 2023 to $786.6 million in 2024, and is projected to reach $884.4 million in 2025, reflecting the strong momentum. Its data also shows that India’s overall pet population grew by around 5% in 2024 and is expected to touch 39 million in 2025.New entrants are getting backed.
Data from research firm Tracxn shows funding for ‘pet tech’ and ‘pet care’ startups in India peaked between 2021 and 2023, with over $100 million invested over 66 rounds of funding. In 2025, companies in these categories
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