Building the Business Bridge for India’s Next-Generation Pet Industry
Exclusive Interview by Abhinav Sonkar
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Brushes, Hairs & Fibres
Vicky Menezes, Show Director, PetBridge, discusses the thinking behind PetBridge, its business-first approach, the Hosted Buyer Programme, opportunities for Indian manufacturers and the platform’s ambitions for connecting India’s pet industry with global markets.
As PetBridge prepares for its first edition in India, the exhibition is positioning itself around business connectivity, sourcing and commercial relationships across the pet-care ecosystem. Rather than focusing primarily on consumer engagement, the platform aims to bring manufacturers, brands, distributors, retailers, buyers and other industry stakeholders together around specific business requirements.
In this conversation with Brushes, Hairs & Fibres, Vicky Menezes, Show Director, PetBridge, explains the thinking behind the platform, the role of its Hosted Buyer Programme, areas attracting interest across the industry and the opportunities PetBridge could create for Indian manufacturers and suppliers.
The Interview
PetBridge is preparing for its first edition in India. What was the thinking behind creating a dedicated B2B platform for the country’s pet care industry at this point in its development?
Vicky Menezes: India’s pet-care industry has reached an interesting stage. Pet ownership is growing, consumers are becoming more conscious about nutrition, health and wellness, and we are seeing the emergence of new brands, organised retail, e-commerce, technology and specialised services.
But while the consumer side of the industry has evolved rapidly, the business ecosystem behind it remains fragmented.
There are manufacturers, brands, distributors, retailers, veterinarians, groomers, technology companies, packaging suppliers, investors and international businesses — but there has been a need for a platform that brings these stakeholders together with a clear business and sourcing focus.
That was the thinking behind PetBridge.
We don’t see PetBridge simply as another exhibition. We want to create a platform where businesses can find partners, source products, build distribution networks, explore manufacturing opportunities and enter new markets.
The timing is important because India’s pet industry is moving from an emerging market towards a more organised and professional ecosystem, and the industry needs platforms that can support that transition.
PetBridge is positioned as a business-first platform rather than a conventional consumer pet show. What gap in the market are you looking to address?
Vicky Menezes: The fundamental gap is business connectivity.
Consumer shows are valuable for awareness and engagement, but the requirements of a manufacturer looking for a distributor, an international brand looking for an Indian partner, or an Indian company looking for an export opportunity are very different.
PetBridge is designed around those business requirements.
We want to bring together the entire value chain — pet food and nutrition, animal health, grooming, accessories, technology, manufacturing, OEM and private label, packaging and related services — and connect these businesses with the people who can take those conversations forward.
So the question we ask is not simply, “How many people will walk through the exhibition?”
It is:
“Who are the right people that need to meet each other, and how can we make those meetings happen?”
That business-first philosophy is at the heart of PetBridge.
The Hosted Buyer Programme is one of PetBridge’s key initiatives. What do you want the programme to achieve for both buyers and exhibitors, and how will the curated meetings work?
Vicky Menezes: We want the Hosted Buyer Programme to make participation purpose-driven for both sides.
For buyers, the objective is to give them access to relevant manufacturers, brands and suppliers based on their specific requirements — whether they are looking for distribution opportunities, private-label manufacturing, new products, sourcing partners or technology.
For exhibitors, it means bringing decision-makers to the platform who have a genuine business reason to be there.
The process starts before the event. We understand the buyer’s profile, requirements and areas of interest and then identify relevant exhibitors and suppliers. These conversations are further supported through our Speed Networking and curated business-meeting formats.
The idea is that a buyer shouldn’t have to spend two days walking around hoping to find the right company.
We want them to arrive knowing that relevant business conversations have already been identified for them.
PetBridge covers a wide range of segments, from pet food and nutrition and grooming to accessories, healthcare, technology and manufacturing. Which areas are currently seeing the strongest interest from exhibitors and buyers?
Vicky Menezes: We are seeing particularly strong interest around pet food and nutrition, animal health and wellness, OEM/private-label manufacturing and pet-care products and accessories.
OEM and private label are especially interesting because they create a two-way opportunity. Indian manufacturers can work with domestic and international brands, while brands can use India as a sourcing and manufacturing base.
We are also seeing growing interest in pet technology, functional products, hygiene, grooming and specialised pet-care solutions.
What is encouraging is that the ecosystem is becoming broader. The industry is no longer just about pet food and accessories. There is increasing interest in nutrition, preventive healthcare, technology, manufacturing, wellness and services.
That breadth is one of the reasons we designed PetBridge as an ecosystem platform rather than a single-category exhibition.
For Indian manufacturers and suppliers, what kinds of business opportunities do you see PetBridge creating, particularly for companies looking to enter or expand within the pet care market?
Vicky Menezes: I see three major opportunities.
- The first is domestic market expansion. Manufacturers and emerging brands can meet distributors, importers, retailers, e-commerce companies and other channels that can help them expand beyond their existing markets.
- The second is OEM and private-label business. There is a growing opportunity for Indian manufacturers to become sourcing partners for both Indian and international brands.
- The third is exports. PetBridge gives Indian companies an opportunity to meet international buyers and understand what global markets are looking for.
This is particularly important because many Indian companies have strong manufacturing capabilities but may not always have access to the right international networks.
Our ambition is to create a two-way bridge — helping Indian businesses go global while helping international businesses discover India.
As Show Director, what would you consider a successful first edition of PetBridge, and what would you like exhibitors and visitors to take away from the event?
Vicky Menezes: For me, a successful first edition is not defined by footfall alone.
Of course, we want a strong exhibition with good participation, but I would ultimately measure success by the quality of business conversations and relationships created.
- I would like an exhibitor to say, “I met the right distributor.”
- An international buyer to say, “I found a potential Indian manufacturing partner.”
- A brand to say, “I discovered a product or supplier I didn’t know about.”
- And an Indian company to say, “PetBridge helped us open a new market.”
If we can create those outcomes, then we have achieved what we set out to do.
Beyond the first edition, our ambition is to build PetBridge into a long-term business ecosystem for India’s pet industry, connecting companies, markets, knowledge and opportunities throughout the year.
Ultimately, we want PetBridge to become the bridge between India’s growing pet industry and the global pet-care ecosystem.
As PetBridge moves towards its first edition in Mumbai, its proposition is centred on bringing the right businesses together around sourcing, manufacturing, distribution and market opportunities. For Vicky Menezes, the longer-term objective extends beyond the exhibition itself: to build a business ecosystem that connects companies, markets, knowledge and opportunities throughout the year.
Event at a Glance
- Event: PetBridge 2026 (Powered by Zoomark International)
- Dates: 25–26 November 2026
- Venue: Hall 4, Bombay Exhibition Centre (NESCO), Goregaon (East), Mumbai
- Official Website: https://pet-bridge.com/
- Registration: Exhibitor and Trade Visitor registrations are open via the official portal.
Editor’s Note
Brushes, Hairs & Fibres thanks Vicky Menezes for sharing his valuable insights ahead of the inaugural edition of PetBridge 2026, powered by Zoomark International. We look forward to covering further developments from the exhibition as India’s pet care, grooming, and contract manufacturing ecosystem continues to expand and integrate with global supply chains.
Photo Credits
Photographs courtesy of PetBridge / Zoomark International. Published with permission.
