New Delhi, Delhi, India | 30th September 2025: At World Food India 2025, organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Rödl & Partner unveiled a landmark paper charting strategic pathways for India’s fast-growing pet food sector. Alongside, MoFPI and EY hosted a high-level session on “India’s Pet Food Industry: Scaling for Domestic & Global Growth” at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, underscoring the sector’s untapped potential.
India’s Pet Food Market: Rapid Growth Ahead
The report revealed that India’s pet population stood at 42.2 million in 2024 and is projected to exceed 100 million by 2035. Correspondingly, the pet food market, valued at USD 720 million in 2024, is forecasted to hit USD 2 billion by 2035.
- Dog food currently dominates with an 85% share.
- Cat food is emerging as the fastest-growing category.
- E-commerce continues to act as a major growth accelerator.
Call for Regulatory Reforms
Despite strong momentum, the industry still operates under outdated frameworks. The paper urges the creation of a harmonized, science-backed regulatory system to boost trust, affordability, and access. Key recommendations include:
- Rationalizing GST to align pet food with essential nutrition categories.
- Making BIS standards legally enforceable.
- Introducing a single-window compliance system.
- Expanding accredited testing infrastructure.
- Ensuring consistent labeling and quality standards across online and offline markets.
Veterinarian Dr. Umesh Kalahalli emphasized that enforceable regulations would empower vets to guide responsibly and reassure pet parents about the quality of nutrition their pets receive.
Industry Leaders Weigh In
The panel brought together top voices from the pet care industry:
- Salil Murthy, MD, Mars Petcare India, highlighted the need for a science-aligned framework, GST rationalization, and nationwide awareness campaigns. He stressed that manufactured pet food penetration is still below 10% in India compared to near-universal adoption in developed markets.
- Satinder Singh, GM, Royal Canin, underlined that dedicated regulations could reinforce the Make in India initiative, establish India as a global export hub, and ensure safe, high-quality pet nutrition.
Other speakers included Rinka Banerjee (Thinking Forks Consulting), Ram Soni (Praxis Global Alliance), Abhishek Agarwal (Innomalous), and moderator Pallavi Anand (Nestlé Purina Petcare – South Asia).
Alignment with Make in India & Global Exports
MoFPI reiterated the sector’s alignment with the Make in India initiative. At the CEO roundtable, the Ministry stressed that regulation should act as an enabler, driving balanced growth and positioning India as a confident player in the global pet food supply chain.
