PetBridge 2026: Forging India’s B2B Backbone for a Global, High-Growth Pet Economy

Q. What gap in India’s pet-business ecosystem led you to create PetBridge, and why do you believe the market needs a dedicated B2B platform at this stage?

Vicky Menezes: India’s pet industry has evolved significantly, with rapid growth in pet ownership, premiumisation, organised retail, e-commerce, veterinary care and new product categories.

However, the business ecosystem supporting this growth is still fragmented. There are manufacturers, brands, distributors, retailers, veterinarians, groomers, technology companies, investors and international businesses, but there has been a need for a platform that brings these stakeholders together with a clear B2B and business-development focus.

PetBridge was created to become that missing bridge — connecting businesses, markets and opportunities across the pet-care value chain. At this stage of the industry's evolution, India needs a platform focused not just on showcasing products, but on creating commercial connections and enabling the next phase of industry growth.

Q. PetBridge is being positioned as more than a conventional trade show. What specific business outcomes do you want exhibitors, buyers and visitors to achieve?

Vicky Menezes: Our objective is simple: people should leave PetBridge with business opportunities, not just brochures. For exhibitors, that means meeting relevant distributors, retailers, e-commerce companies, international buyers and potential OEM/private-label partners. For buyers, it means discovering new brands, products, suppliers and sourcing opportunities. For international businesses, it means understanding India and identifying credible partners for market entry or expansion.

The exhibition is therefore only one part of the experience. Hosted Buyers, Speed Networking, knowledge sessions, and curated business meetings are designed to turn participation into meaningful business conversations.

Q. How will PetBridge ensure meaningful matchmaking rather than simply creating exhibition-floor visibility?

Vicky Menezes: Matchmaking is central to the PetBridge model. We are building buyer profiles around what companies are actually looking for — whether that is distribution opportunities, private-label manufacturing, sourcing, new brands, technology, veterinary products, or export partnerships.

Our Speed Networking and Hosted Buyer Programmes are designed around these requirements. The aim is to facilitate relevant introductions before and during the show rather than expecting buyers to simply walk around the exhibition floor and find the right companies themselves.

Q. PetBridge is being launched in association with Zoomark. What specific value does this partnership bring?

Vicky Menezes: Our association with Zoomark brings an important international dimension to PetBridge. Zoomark has deep experience in the global pet industry and an established international

network. This creates opportunities for Indian businesses to connect with international markets while also giving global companies a more structured platform to explore India.

For us, the partnership is about combining India market knowledge and execution with international expertise, networks, and standards. We want PetBridge to become a platform through which Indian companies can think beyond the domestic market and international companies can look at India as a serious business opportunity.

Q. With your experience building CMPL Expo, which lessons have influenced the design of PetBridge?

Vicky Menezes: My experience with CMPL taught me that a successful B2B exhibition is not fundamentally about square metres or footfall. It is about bringing the right ecosystem into one place and creating reasons for people to do business.

We have carried that learning into PetBridge. We are focusing strongly on buyer quality,

targeted matchmaking, industry participation, and creating multiple opportunities for

conversations.

The pet industry is different from FMCG, but the underlying B2B principle remains the same. The value of a platform is ultimately measured by the quality of connections it creates.

Q. How do you see PetBridge helping Indian companies expand nationally and access export opportunities, while helping international brands enter India?

Vicky Menezes: We see PetBridge as a two-way bridge. Indian manufacturers and brands can use the platform to meet distributors, retailers and international buyers, explore OEM and private-label opportunities and build export relationships.

At the same time, international companies can meet Indian distributors, retailers, e- commerce businesses and other potential partners who understand the local market.

Our ambition is to make PetBridge a place where India's pet businesses can go global and global pet businesses can enter India.

Q. Looking beyond the inaugural edition, what long-term role do you want PetBridge to play?

Vicky Menezes: Our ambition is bigger than creating an annual exhibition. We want PetBridge to evolve into a business ecosystem for the pet industry — connecting companies, knowledge, capital, talent, technology and markets throughout the year.

Over time, success will not simply be measured by exhibitor numbers or visitor numbers. We will look at the quality of business meetings, partnerships created, distribution agreements, sourcing relationships, export opportunities and international participation generated through the platform.

Ultimately, if PetBridge can help accelerate the professionalisation and globalisation of India's pet industry, we will have achieved what we set out to build.