SIG, a solutions provider of packaging, recorded exponential growth and aims to become one of the fastest-growing aseptic packaging brands in India. The brand also plans to expand its business in India with increased manufacturing capacities and partnerships with most of the biggest Indian beverage, juice, and dairy players.
In 2017, SIG began operating in the Indian market. The brand has expanded its operations significantly and will have over 40 SIG filling lines for aseptic carton packs in operation for its customers in India by end of 2023.
The CEO of the SIG Group, Samuel Sigrist, visited India between April 3 and 5, accompanied by SIG executives, to open SIG’s second production plant in Palghar, which specializes in the production of SIG’s bag-in-box and spouted pouch packaging, previously marketed under Scholle IPN and Bossar. The aim of his visit was also to further develop good relationships with industry experts, strategic partners, and customers.
SIG India’s aseptic carton journey started with two iconic customers: ITC and Coca-Cola India, as it set up its local headquarters in Gurgaon in November 2017. Its growth in the sector can be attributed to its strong value proposition, which provides clients with innovative, aseptic packaging solutions. As a result, SIG is now associated with leading beverage players in India like Amul, Parle Agro, Coca-Cola, ITC, Milky Mist, PepsiCo, KMF, Dabur, Haldiram, and Creamline Dairy. Today, with a strong base of installed filling machines across the country and a full-fledged, experienced local team, SIG is looking to further accelerate its growth trajectory in India.
Samuel Sigrist, CEO of SIG said “The Switzerland-based food & beverage packaging major SIG Combibloc Group AG is betting big on India to meet its Net Zero Target by 2050. We have a huge challenge globally to feed the population and the effective way to do that is to reduce food waste. With our industry-leading packaging products that offer a substantial shelf life and durability while transportation, food wastage can be kept in check significantly. The population growth in India will continue to fuel our market growth and we are super happy to be part of that.”
Angela Lu, president & general manager of Asia-pacific South at SIG said “SIG has received positive feedback from its customers, signaling a promising future for the company in the years to come. Recognizing the potential for growth in the sector, India is a crucial market for SIG. Our company’s objective is to establish a comprehensive framework for sustainable packaging solutions that can be customized, provides flexibility, and can meet the demands of customers and every Indian consumer.”
Vandana Tandan, head of markets for India, and Bangladesh said “It is impressive to see SIG’s operations in India expand rapidly, even amidst market fluctuations and challenges. The company has demonstrated remarkable potential, and I am confident that this success can be attributed to its focus on sustainability and integrated production capacities. With these strengths at its core, SIG is poised to remain at the forefront of the industry.”
In the current context, SIG’s expansion plans are in line with ‘Make in India’ initiative aimed at promoting local production. Keeping this in mind, the company recently announced the construction of its first aseptic carton plant in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It will invest up to €60 million over the period 2023–2025. The aim is to reach a production capacity of 4 billion packs per annum. Additionally, significant further capacity investments can be made over time and buildings will be financed through a long-term lease with an NPV of approximately €30 million.
