India Pet Food Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 - 2031)

India Pet Food Market Trends and Insights

Surging Pet Ownership in Urban Households

Post-pandemic pet adoption has fundamentally altered household dynamics in Indian metros, where shrinking family sizes and apartment living create ideal conditions for companion animal ownership. In 2024, the pet population has grown to over 31 million dogs and 2.44 million cats, with urban households driving the majority of this expansion^{[1]Source: ET Bureau, “India’s pet population crosses 31 million dogs,” economictimes.indiatimes.com}. Nuclear families increasingly treat pets as family members, leading to higher per-pet spending on nutrition and healthcare. This demographic shift creates a compounding effect where each new pet owner becomes a long-term customer with predictable purchasing patterns. Urban pet ownership density has reached levels where veterinary services and pet retail infrastructure can achieve profitable scale, creating a self-reinforcing ecosystem that supports continued market expansion.

Rising Disposable Income and Pet Humanization

India's expanding middle class, with rising per-capita disposable income, has transformed pet care from basic sustenance to comprehensive wellness programs that mirror human health trends. Pet humanization is evident in purchasing decisions, where owners seek products with human-grade ingredients, organic certifications, and specialized formulations tailored to life stages and health conditions. This behavioral shift drives premiumization across categories, with gourmet offerings including Atlantic salmon, boneless duck, and even pet-safe bakery items gaining acceptance. The willingness to spend on pet nutrition correlates directly with household income levels, creating distinct market segments where premium brands can command higher margins.

Expansion of E-commerce and Quick-Commerce Delivery

Digital commerce platforms have eliminated geographic and availability barriers that historically constrained access to specialty pet food, and pet owners now purchase food online. Quick-commerce platforms like Zepto have expanded SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) counts to over 6,000 items, enabling broad assortment coverage that includes higher-value pet food categories. These platforms achieve average order values exceeding INR 450 (approximately USD 5.07), with pet food contributing to the improvement in AOV through larger pack sizes and premium positioning. The 10-minute delivery model particularly benefits repeat-purchase categories, such as pet food, where convenience drives customer loyalty and reduces churn from traditional retail channels.

Domestic Extrusion Capacity Expansion Lowers Retail Prices

Manufacturing localization by major players has created a supply-side revolution that reduces import dependency and enables competitive pricing for mass market penetration. Mars, Incorporated Petcare's USD 96 million (INR 800 crore) total investment, including a USD 60 million (INR 500 crore) second-phase expansion, doubles domestic production capacity and eliminates foreign exchange volatility from pricing structures. Domestic extrusion facilities enable smaller pack sizes that align with Indian consumer preferences, where 85% of purchases are under 1.2 kilograms, making premium nutrition accessible through trial-friendly formats. Local manufacturing also facilitates compliance with FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) regulations and enables rapid product iteration based on regional taste preferences and nutritional requirements. 

High Price Sensitivity in Tier-2/3 Cities

Value-focused consumers in smaller cities impose natural ceiling effects on premium product penetration, constraining market expansion beyond metropolitan areas where disposable income levels support higher per-unit spending. Price elasticity remains high in these markets, where pet ownership exists but purchasing power limits adoption of packaged nutrition solutions. The challenge intensifies as distribution costs to tier-2/3 cities often exceed metropolitan delivery expenses, creating margin pressure that prevents aggressive pricing strategies. This geographic constraint forces manufacturers to develop India-specific value propositions that balance nutritional adequacy with affordability, often requiring reformulation and packaging innovations to achieve target price points while maintaining profitability.

Low Packaged-Food Penetration vs Homemade Diets

Cultural preferences for homemade pet nutrition create persistent competition for packaged alternatives, with only few pet owners feeding manufactured food exclusively. Traditional feeding practices using kitchen scraps and locally-sourced ingredients remain deeply embedded in pet care routines, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas where veterinary guidance on nutritional requirements is limited. The educational barrier requires significant marketing investment to demonstrate the health benefits of balanced commercial nutrition over homemade alternatives. This penetration challenge limits volume growth potential and necessitates sustained consumer education campaigns that can extend customer acquisition timelines and increase marketing costs per converted customer.

Segment Analysis

By Pet Food Product: Food Dominance Drives Volume Growth

Food products maintain a 76.05% market share in 2025, reflecting their essential nature and repeat-purchase characteristics that create predictable revenue streams for manufacturers. Dry pet food represents the largest sub-segment within food products, benefiting from extended shelf life and cost-effective distribution models that enable mass market penetration. Wet pet food commands premium pricing but faces supply constraints due to import dependency and cold chain requirements. 

Food products emerge as the fastest-growing segment, with a 12.18% CAGR through 2031. The segment's growth is further supported by the rising awareness among pet owners regarding the importance of proper pet nutrition and the shift towards premium and specialized food options. Kibbles remain the most popular choice within dry pet food due to their affordability, convenience, and ability to meet pets' dietary requirements, while wet pet food maintains its appeal due to its high moisture content and palatability.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Pet Type: Dogs Lead While Cats Accelerate

Dogs command 91.55% market share in 2025, reflecting their dominant position in Indian pet ownership patterns and higher per-pet food consumption compared to cats. The dog food segment benefits from established feeding routines and owner familiarity with commercial nutrition options, creating stable demand patterns that support inventory planning and distribution efficiency. The segment's growth is driven by increasing urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and growing awareness about pet nutrition among dog owners. The demand for premium dog food products, including dry pet food, specialized treats, and veterinary diets, has significantly contributed to the segment's dominance. 

 The segment is projected to maintain its strong growth trajectory, with an estimated CAGR of around 11.66% through 2031, driven by rising pet ownership rates and an increasing preference for commercial pet food products. The expanding distribution networks and the availability of diverse product options through various channels, including specialty stores and online platforms, have further strengthened the segment's position. 

By Distribution Channel: Specialty Stores Face Digital Disruption

Specialty stores are expected to maintain a 32.10% distribution channel share in 2025, leveraging their product expertise and customer relationships to enable premium positioning and consultative selling approaches. These stores have successfully positioned themselves as one-stop destinations for pet owners by offering expert guidance, personalized product recommendations, and a wide range of premium and specialized pet food options. The segment is experiencing remarkable growth and is projected to expand, supported by the increasing trend of pet ecosystem stores and the rising demand for specialized pet diets. 

Specialty store platforms emerge as the fastest-growing channel, with a 14.26% CAGR through 2031, fundamentally altering purchase patterns through convenience and a 10-minute delivery promise. Leading specialty store chains, such as Heads Up For Tails, with 75 retail locations across India, are revolutionizing the pet retail landscape by combining product offerings with value-added services, including pet grooming and veterinary consultations. The success of specialty stores can be attributed to their customer-centric approach, knowledgeable staff, and ability to stock both mainstream and niche pet food brands, making them the preferred choice for discerning pet owners who prioritize quality and expert guidance in their purchasing decisions.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

Geography Analysis

West India commands the largest regional market share in 2025, leveraging Mumbai and Pune's established pet ownership culture and higher disposable incomes that support the adoption of premium products. The region benefits from well-developed retail infrastructure and early adoption of e-commerce platforms, creating multiple touchpoints for consumer engagement and brand building. Manufacturing presence by major players like Mars, Incorporated, and Royal Canin in Maharashtra provides supply chain advantages and enables rapid product launches. The regulatory environment in West India aligns with the implementation of FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) standards, ensuring product quality and safety compliance that builds consumer confidence in packaged pet nutrition solutions.

North India represents the second-largest regional market, driven by the urban pet population in Delhi NCR and the increasing acceptance of commercial pet nutrition among affluent households. The region exhibits strong growth potential as tier-2 cities, such as Jaipur and Chandigarh, develop pet retail infrastructure and veterinary services that support the adoption of packaged food. Government policy initiatives focused on animal welfare and pet registration in major cities create awareness that translates into increased demand for commercial nutrition. The presence of corporate headquarters and high-income demographics in Gurgaon and Noida particularly favors premium segment growth, while traditional markets in Delhi maintain mass segment volumes.

South India emerges as the fastest-growing region through 2031, propelled by Bengaluru and Chennai's technology sector prosperity and lifestyle changes that favor pet companionship in nuclear families. The region demonstrates higher online penetration rates and early adoption of subscription-based pet food delivery models that create customer loyalty and predictable revenue streams. Cultural acceptance of vegetarian pet food options in South India creates unique product opportunities that differentiate from other regions.