In the world of pet care, innovation often begins with empathy — the ability to see joy, comfort, and connection from a pet’s perspective. For Frostreats, India’s first real pet ice cream brand, that empathy was born on a warm summer evening in 2024.
The story began with a simple moment: a dog, happily immersed in a tub of vanilla ice cream, his snout covered in white, eyes gleaming with unfiltered delight. Watching that scene unfold, Uday Verdi Jain, Product Lead at Frostreats, couldn’t help but smile — and worry. The joy was unmistakable, but the ice cream wasn’t meant for dogs. That fleeting mix of happiness and concern sparked a thought that would soon evolve into a category-defining idea: Why shouldn’t dogs have an ice cream made just for them?
That question became the seed for Frostreats, a brand that today stands at the intersection of indulgence, functionality, and emotional connection in India’s rapidly growing pet ecosystem.
From Inspiration to Innovation
The opportunity emerged later that year when Zimero Gourmet, the company behind Frostreats, began exploring offbeat ice cream categories. “India’s cities were getting hotter — some touching 52°C — and at the same time, pet adoption and spending on pet wellness were soaring,” recalls Jain. “There was a clear gap for something cooling, safe, and joyful — a product that could bring relief and happiness to pets while fitting seamlessly into a modern pet parent’s lifestyle.”
Over the next two months, Jain and his team embarked on an ambitious journey to create a safe, vet-approved, and irresistibly tasty ice cream for dogs. Working closely with veterinary experts, nutritionists, and pet cafés, they tested multiple formulations, balancing flavour, texture, and nutrition.
To ensure real-world acceptance, Frostreats conducted extensive trials — engaging over 500 pet parents and 25+ pet cafés across India. Out of this emerged one of the brand’s most unique metrics: the “lick rate.” As Jain explains, “It’s simple — we measure how many pets accept and enjoy the product after their natural rounds of smell and curiosity. It’s our most honest form of feedback.” By July 2024, Frostreats had achieved an impressive 90% lick rate, confirming that their idea had struck the right chord.
With that validation, Frostreats launched in August 2024, quickly capturing the imagination of pet owners nationwide. A ready-to-eat, creamy, vet-approved ice cream designed exclusively for dogs — with no freezing, mixing, or prep — it was indulgence with care, convenience, and credibility.
Creating a Category, Not Just a Product
From the start, Frostreats aimed higher than simply launching a new product — it sought to create a new category in the Indian pet market. The development journey reflected that ambition.
“The first phase was all about safety,” says Jain. “Every ingredient, texture, and formulation was vetted by professionals to ensure that it wasn’t just safe but also functional.” Then came an unconventional step — human sampling. Nearly 50 volunteers tasted the product to evaluate texture, aroma, and sensory appeal. “We wanted Frostreats to feel like real ice cream — not a compromise — even if it wasn’t meant for humans. That balance between indulgence and safety became our guiding principle,” he adds.
The final validation came from dogs of all breeds, ages, and eating preferences. Their reactions — wagging tails, eager licks, and happy messes — helped fine-tune the final recipe that balanced health, joy, and comfort in every scoop.
Building with Collaboration and Community
As Frostreats took shape, partnerships played a pivotal role. Collaborations with pet cafés, bakeries, and dog parks helped the team understand how pets and pet parents interacted with the product in real-world settings.
“Our biggest learning was that while a pet parent’s trust drives the first purchase, the pet’s reaction decides the next one,” Jain reflects. This insight shaped Frostreats’ product design, branding, and sampling strategy. The team also observed how environmental factors — from temperature to ambience — influenced pet behaviour. “We noticed something beautiful,” Jain says. “When a parent opens a Frostreats cup and offers it to their pet, there’s this moment of love — a shared joy that goes beyond the treat itself.”
These learnings continue to shape the brand’s go-to-market approach. Frostreats is now available across 10 Indian cities, partnering with over 50 pet cafés, retailers, and modern trade outlets. The brand’s presence across both online and offline channels ensures pet parents can easily access Frostreats wherever they shop.
Beyond Ice Cream: Expanding the Frostreats Universe
With growing traction, Frostreats has quickly expanded beyond ice cream into a broader ecosystem of pet indulgence. The brand now offers six flavours and two formats — the 125ml single-serve cup and the 750ml tub for multi-pet households.
Recently, Frostreats introduced two new product lines — Dog Waffles and Dog Honey — both of which have seen strong adoption across major cities. “We realized our customers loved having multiple ways to reward their pets,” Jain explains. “Our goal is to make Frostreats the go-to brand for moments of joy — not just during summers, but all year round.”
The company’s innovation pipeline remains strong, with two new ice cream variants in development: one health-oriented blend featuring leafy greens and natural supplements, and a seasonal summer flavour set to launch in March 2026, following the success of the Mango flavour last year.
Scaling with Purpose
Looking ahead, Frostreats aims to strengthen both reach and recall. The next 18 months will see the brand deepen its offline footprint in metros like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, while expanding into Tier-2 cities through local events, experiential marketing, and retailer partnerships.
Currently operating at a 70:30 online-to-offline split, Frostreats plans to reach parity by 2026, ensuring availability wherever pet parents make purchase decisions — from pet boutiques to modern trade and grooming spas. The brand is also preparing for an entry into quick commerce, broadening its accessibility to time-pressed urban consumers.
“Our vision is simple,” says Jain. “We want to make Frostreats a part of every pet family’s everyday life — a small, joyful ritual that connects pets and parents.”
The Heart of the Brand
At its core, Frostreats isn’t just about pet treats — it’s about emotion. In a category built on trust, the brand has established itself through empathy, transparency, and a deep understanding of pet-parent dynamics.
Each cup of Frostreats represents more than an indulgence; it’s a moment of shared love. Whether it’s a post-walk cool-down, a midweek “pet-me” ritual, or a Sunday cricket celebration, Frostreats has become a small but meaningful part of family time.
As Jain puts it, “We’re not just selling ice cream — we’re creating memories. Every lick, every wag, every smile — that’s what Frostreats stands for.”
And with its mission to spread joy, comfort, and connection across homes in India, Frostreats is well on its way to becoming a household name — one scoop, and one wagging tail, at a time.
