Gourmet On The Pet Plate

India’s pet food market is going premium, driven by a new generation of pet parents who want better, cleaner, and more personalised nutrition for their furry companions

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Picture a sweltering Delhi evening: a young professional is busy preparing dinner while her golden retriever watches her with hopeful eyes. She reaches for pet food, but instead of the usual bland, imported kibble, she serves fresh, premium chicken-and-quinoa meals tailored to her pet’s needs.

India’s pet food market is in its breakout phase, with your pampered pet finally getting gourmet meals, and the numbers are nothing short of explosive.

With more than 30 Mn urban households that have at least one pet, the sector reached $2.5 Bn in 2025 and is expected to become a $4.6 Bn opportunity by 2034. 

However, what’s driving this surge isn’t just pets, but a different breed of pet parents who treat their pets not like animals but family and are comfortable spending on specialised, premium, and even functional nutrition.

According to the cofounder & CEO of petcare brand Nootie, Akshay Mahendru, many pet parents are reading labels now. They are Googling ingredients they can’t pronounce. This wasn’t happening five years ago.

“This generation of pet parents treats their dog or cat the way they treat themselves. They are buying organic for their kids, they are reading about clean eating, and that is how they are feeding their pets,” he added.

“This........

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