'Drools' Pet Food Brand Emerges as India's Fourth Unicorn of 2025.
Economy Business
In May 2025, Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh)-based Drools Pet Food Private Limited, backed by United States of America (USA)-based L Catterton, achieved Unicorn status. This milestone followed the purchase of a minority stake in Drools (Target) by Vevey (Switzerland)-based Nestlé S.A. (Acquirer).
- The strategic investment led to the elevation of Drools’ valuation to above USD 1 billion, marking Nestlé’s first-ever funding in an Indian brand.
- Drools Pet Food has become India’s first pet food brand to attain unicorn status, reaching a valuation of over USD 1 billion. This milestone highlights the brand’s rapid growth and rising prominence in the Indian pet care industry.
- It is also the fourth Indian startup in 2025 to enter the unicorn club, following Netradyne Technology Private Limited from Bengaluru (Karnataka), Juspay Technologies Private Limited, and Porter, an on-demand logistics platform.
Main Point :- (i) This achievement follows a USD 60 million minority investment in Drools by Louis Vuitton-backed L Catterton, a leading global consumer-focused private equity firm, made in June 2023.
(ii) Drools distributes its pet food products through over 40,000 retail outlets in India and exports to 22 countries. The company operates 6 manufacturing units and offers more than 650 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs), including high-protein and prescription diets for pets.
(iii) India is one of the fastest-growing pet care markets globally, projected to expand at approximately 20% annually over the next five years, reaching a value of over USD 1.2 billion by 2028.
About Drools Pet Food Private Limited
CEO : Shashank Sinha
Headquarters : Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh
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