Brands
Explurger steps up to PM Modi’s call for homegrown tech
MUMBAI: Time to log off and step out! Responding to prime minister Narendra Modi’s call for indigenous innovation, Explurger, a proudly made-in-India social media app, is reimagining how we connect online, and offline.
Launched with the mantra “Get out – get social,” Explurger encourages users to explore the world, meet people in real life, and share authentic travel and lifestyle experiences. Every journey, check-in, or post automatically creates a digital travelogue, making social media as much about living life as sharing it.
“The prime minister’s call underscores India’s growing confidence in building its own tech frameworks,” said Explurger founder and CEO Jitin Bhatia. “Our app is entirely developed in India, powered by Indian talent, and designed to resonate globally. Explurger shows that Indian technology can inspire, innovate, and compete on the world stage.”
Rooted in the Make in India and Digital India missions, Explurger reflects the spirit of self-reliance. With over 17 million users, it signals a new era of homegrown digital innovation, one where technology doesn’t just connect, it empowers and enriches real-world experiences.
Brands
Mars appoints Manish Syag as managing director for pet nutrition in India
FMCG veteran takes charge as managing director amid booming $2 billion market opportunity
DELHI: Mars Incorporated has elevated Manish Syag to managing director of its pet nutrition business in India, betting on two decades of FMCG expertise to capture a market poised for explosive growth.
Syag, who brings senior leadership experience from Hindustan Unilever and GSK Consumer Healthcare, joined Mars in 2024 as chief sales officer. He succeeds Salil Murthy, who has been promoted to global vice-president of enterprise transformation at Mars Pet Nutrition and will be based at the company’s London headquarters.
The appointment comes as India’s pet care market stands at what Syag calls “a defining moment”. The sector is projected to double to $7 billion in sales by 2028, up from $3.5 billion last year, according to Redseer Strategy Consultants. The number of pets in Indian households rose to 32 million in 2024 from 26 million in 2019.
“India is at a defining moment for the pet food market, which is expected to grow into a $2 billion category in a decade, evolving much as mainstream FMCG did in its early growth years, driven by access, awareness and trust,” Syag said.
Mars, which makes Pedigree, Whiskas and Sheba pet food brands, has been in India since 2002 and set up its first manufacturing facility five years later. The parent company’s other brands in chocolate and snacks include M&M’s, Snickers, Pringles and Cheez-It.
Large players in India’s pet care space include Mars, Nestlé, Heads Up For Tails and Drools. Reliance entered the category late last year, signalling growing corporate interest in a market that’s barely scratched the surface. With India’s rising pet ownership and premiumisation trends, the battle for bowls is only just beginning.
