French pet food maker, Royal Canin has opened a packaging plant in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra with an investment of Rs 100 crore. As Royal Canin’s first facility in India, it will have automatic packing machines and associated utilities installed for conversion of bulk products into retail packs catering to Indian pet owners requirements.

The plant will help to localise and also have a more flexible approach for the Indian market and address the pet owners' need by using smaller packs and promoting them to the veterinarians and breeders. The company globally has 750 formulas for cats and dogs, including those for every lifestage, as well as special formulas for specific breeds and specific health needs like skin issues.

Royal Canin, which was acquired by US packaged food giant Mars in 2001, also owns pet food brand Pedigree. The company operates in more than 120 countries, with 16 factories, two pet centres around the globe and a research & development centre and seven laboratories from Mars.

The packaging centre in India is the 17th facility added to its manufacturing network to strengthen the supply chain in the country.  The Indian pet care industry is worth USD 700 million and is registering a growth of 15 percent annually.