Satinder Singh, GM India, Royal Canin
“The whole market has been transformed since we first arrive at India,” says Satinder Singh, GM India or the Petrition Company Royal Canin, which has just launched a global campaign to address the obesity of pets. The erroneous information and lack of consciousness are in the heart of this heavy theme among pets, says the French brand, owned by the amount of American multinational Petcart of Mars. The brand arrived in India in 2007.
Despite its acquisition of Mars in 2002, Royal Canin has always remained a separate entity, says Singh, because he has a different philosophy and model. While Mars operates as an FMCG company, Royal Canin has a specialized approach and wallet, driven by veterinary recommendations. As Singh explains, Royal Canin was initiated by a veterinarian to treat a pet that suffers a specific condition, using specialized foods. “There are so many vulnerable moments in the life of a pet, and our portfolio is Av Byr anyone to support the required nutrition at each critical health moment.”
The big changes
Singh describes how, when Royal Canin first arrived at India, it was predominantly a dog market, but now cats also have a large part. “In general, the pet food market is approximately $ 550 million in India,” he says, and adds that 5 percent before, the proportion of cat food is 25-30 percent today.
Another trend that marks is the change in preference from large to smaller breeds and, in terms of pet food, from cheap economic brands to premium brands. And yet, when it comes to what and how much to feed a limit, the lack of consciousness is rampant, as well as overlapping and the constant delights of human foods, according to the company’s survey on obesity.
The veterinary business in India has its share of unique challenges. To begin with, there is a great shortage of veterinarians. “We produce around 3,500 veterinarians every year. But only 5 percent bind to the practice of small animals,” he says. The rest opts for large animals, higher studies, corporate jobs, academia or move from India, he adds.
“Even among those specializing in small animals, the nutrition approach is very limited,” he says. Royal Canin is investing in further developing the veterinary industry in India, he says. “We invite highly qualified veterinarians from developed countries to interact with the veterinary community here. Secondly, we are providing 500 veterinarians with an AI tool, which they can use to obtain a second opinion. This is through a collaboration with the GEKKOVET veterans firm. Third, we take veterinarians from India of India to interact with academies and practitioners there, “he says there.
“Our greatest investment is in education, and this forms the basis of our strategy. The construction of the share capital is key to us,” says Singh, pointing out how the parent company Mars recently invested in Crown Veterinary Services, a veterinary clinic chain.
Growing presence
While Royal Canin does not manufacture in India, unlike Mars, who has a factory in Hyderabad, last year he invested about ₹ 100 million rupees to establish a packaging center in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra. “Indian consumers do not buy in 94 percent of the bags sold in the Indian market in the pet food industry are less than 1-2 kg each. Therefore, the global portfolio, which we were importing, could not address local needs. This PAFT.
Worldwide, Royal Canin has around 500 recipes, which translates into approximately 1,250 storage maintenance units (SKU). “In India we have, from now on, around 250 sku,” says Singh.
But India is a fast -growing market, he says, pointing out how, after Covid, there is a large pile in pet property. The pet food market is seeing an annual growth rate composed of 15 percent. “We are growing marginally higher than the category,” he says.
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Posted on April 20, 2025