India’s Pet Industry Meets in Hyderabad Tomorrow
India’s pet industry has a big date in the diary. Pet Conclave 2026 takes place in Hyderabad tomorrow, 7 October 2026. The Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) organises the event. Its newly formed National Pet Industry Committee of India powers it.
The theme sets the tone: “Shaping the Future of Pet Retail in India.” Over one day, leaders from pet food, pet products, retail and veterinary care will share one stage. Three panel discussions will tackle the sector’s biggest questions, from premium products to quality standards to growth.
Why TPCI Formed a Pet Industry Committee
The conclave is the first major move by the National Pet Industry Committee of India. TPCI formed the committee to give the sector a dedicated voice at the national level.
Team TPCI explained the timing. “India’s pet industry is experiencing an unprecedented transformation,” they said. They also pointed to three clear drivers: changing consumer lifestyles, rising pet ownership, and a growing focus on pet health and wellness.
That transformation shows up everywhere. Pet parents now treat their animals as family. They want better food, better care, and better products. Yet India’s industry still lacks the kind of unified structure that mature pet markets already have.
TPCI wants to close that gap. The committee’s mission is simple: foster structured dialogue, address policy and trade opportunities, and build a sustainable, future-ready framework for the sector.
Who’s on the Committee
The committee brings together voices from across the pet ecosystem. Its members include:
- Nitin Jain
- Manish Syag
- Abhishek Agarwal
- Dhanu Roy
- Kartikeya Gupta
- Akshay Mahendru
- Manaal Maniyar
- Shobhit Mohanty
- Saurabh Jain
- Dr. Makarand Chavan
- Ankur Jain
- Amogh Tiwari
- Sundeep Dhar
Together, the 13 members cover pet food, pet products, retail, startups, veterinary care and media. That mix matters. Policy decisions affecting pet food and pet care need input from every corner of the industry, not just one.
Inside Pet Conclave 2026: Three Panels, Three Big Questions
The conclave is built around three focused panel discussions. Each one tackles a different challenge the industry faces today.
Panel 1: Premiumisation & the New Indian Pet Market, Make in India
The first panel looks at how Indian pet parents are trading up. It also asks how Indian brands can meet that demand at home. The speakers include:
- Mr. Nitin Jain, COO, Godrej Pet Care
- Mr. Abhishek Agarwal, CEO & Chairman, Innomalous
- Dr. Saurabh Shekhar, Managing Partner, Petcare, Wipro Consumer Care
- Mr. Saurabh Jain, CEO, Zigly
- Mr. Varun Sharma, CEO, GNV Commodities
- Dr. Sandeep Bidre, Business Head, Reliance Pet Care
This panel stands out for its sheer scale. Godrej, Wipro and Reliance all share one stage. Together, they represent some of the biggest new entrants in Indian pet care.
Panel 2: Building Trust: Quality, Standards & Regulation
The second panel turns to a question every pet parent cares about. Can they trust what goes into the bowl? The speakers include:
- Dr. Saurabh Shekhar, Managing Partner, Petcare, Wipro Consumer Care
- Dr. Umesh Kallahalli, MVSc, MSc (England)
- Mr. Dhanu Roy, Founder, Right4Paws
- Mr. Vasu Vutukuri, Quality & Food Safety Head, Mars India Pet Nutrition
- Mr. Govind Suryawanshi, Corporate Affairs Director, Royal Canin
This mix brings veterinary science, food safety and animal welfare into one discussion. Mars and Royal Canin add a global quality lens to the debate.
Panel 3: The Road Ahead: From Opportunity to Action
The final panel looks forward. It focuses on how founders can turn India’s pet boom into lasting businesses. The speakers include:
- Mr. Varun Sharma, CEO, GNV Commodities
- Mr. Kartikeya Gupta, Co-Founder, Smylo
- Mr. Akshay Mahendru, Co-Founder & CEO, Nootie
- Mr. Sundeep Dhar, Co-Founder, Canine Craving
- Mr. Manaal Maniyar, Founder & CEO, Tailblaze
This panel gives the stage to India’s new-age pet startups. Their voices matter, since many of the sector’s fresh ideas start with smaller brands like these.
The Bigger Market Story Behind the Conclave
This event didn’t emerge in a vacuum. India remains a net importer of pet food. That single fact tells a bigger story. Indian pet parents increasingly want premium, therapeutic, wet, and specialised nutrition. But domestic manufacturers haven’t fully met that demand yet.
Global trends add more context. The Asia-Pacific region held a 44.1% share of the global pet care market in 2025. Africa, meanwhile, is projected to become the fastest-growing region between 2026 and 2031.
India sits in an interesting position within that picture. Demand is rising fast at home. Supply, especially for high-end products, still leans heavily on imports. That’s exactly why a “Make in India” panel opens the day.
What the Committee Could Actually Change
Trade bodies often draw skepticism, and fairly so. Plenty of committees form with big promises and quietly fade. But this one addresses a genuine structural gap.
India’s pet industry currently lacks a single, unified platform connecting manufacturers, product innovators, and veterinary professionals. Policy conversations happen in silos. Export opportunities go unexplored. Smaller pet product companies rarely get a seat at the table when regulations get discussed.
A properly functioning national committee could change that. It could push for clearer import-export policies. It could support Indian manufacturers looking to compete with global pet food brands. It could also help smaller innovators, not just large corporate players, shape the industry’s future direction.
Why This Matters for Everyday Pet Parents
You might wonder why an industry conclave matters if you’re simply feeding your dog or cat at home. Here’s the honest answer: it matters more than it seems.
Better industry coordination often leads to better products. Stronger domestic manufacturing can eventually mean more affordable, high-quality pet food options. Clearer quality standards can also improve safety and labelling transparency, something Indian pet parents have long asked for.
In short, decisions made on stages like this one eventually reach every pet bowl across the country.
What Comes Next
All eyes now turn to Hyderabad on 7 October. The conclave gives the committee its first real chance to show what it can do. India’s pet industry has grown large enough, and important enough, to warrant a dedicated national platform.
With 13 industry members on board, the committee starts with real backing behind it, not just intent on paper. Pets News Network will bring you the key takeaways from the conclave.
Pets News Network is India’s first dedicated media platform for the pet and animal industry. For breaking global pet news, brand coverage, and advertising enquiries, contact: info@petsnewsnetwork.com
