The CEO of SIG Group, Samuel Sigrist, recently opened the company’s second production plant in Palghar, specializing in sustainability focused bag-in-box and spouted pouch packaging.
SIG, a leading packaging solutions provider, is making exponential growth in India and is on its way to becoming one of the fastest growing aseptic packaging brands in the country. The company aims to expand its business in India by increasing manufacturing capacities and forging partnerships with major beverage, juice, and dairy players. SIG has a unique portfolio of aseptic carton, bag-in-box, and spouted pouch packaging, coupled with its sustainability focus, innovation capabilities, and end-to-end solutions, has helped it make exponential growth in India. With its expansion plans and partnerships with major Indian beverage, juice, and dairy players, SIG is set to become one of the fastest growing aseptic packaging brands in the country.
Expansion in India
Since its inception in the Indian market in 2017, SIG has significantly expanded its operations, with over 40 SIG filling lines for aseptic carton packs set to be in operation at its customers’ locations by the end of 2023. Samuel Sigrist, the CEO of the SIG Group, recently visited India to open the company’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.
SIG’s CEO on Reducing Food Waste and Market Growth
Samuel Sigrist, the CEO of SIG Combibloc Group AG, a Switzerland-based food and beverage packaging major, believes that the effective way to feed the growing population globally is to reduce food waste. He is betting big on India to meet its Net Zero Target by 2050, as the population growth in India will continue to fuel market growth. With SIG’s industry-leading packaging products that offer a substantial shelf life and durability during transportation, food wastage can be kept in check significantly.
Promising Future for SIG
Angela Lu, the President and General Manager Asia-Pacific South at SIG, has received positive feedback from 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. The 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.
Business Operations in India
Vandana Tandan, the Head of Markets for India and Bangladesh at SIG, is impressed with SIG’s operations in India, expanding rapidly, even amidst market fluctuations and challenges. She believes that the company has demonstrated remarkable potential, and 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.
Also Read: Sustainability: Myntra eliminates 100% single-use plastic packaging
Strong Customer Base
SIG India’s aseptic carton journey began with two iconic customers, ITC and Coca Cola India, when the company set up its local headquarters in Gurgaon in November 2017. Today, with a strong base of installed filling machines across the country and a full-fledged, experienced local team, SIG is associated with leading beverage players in India, such as Amul, Parle Agro, Coca-Cola, ITC, Milky Mist, PepsiCo, KMF, Dabur, Haldiram, and Creamline Dairy.
Sustainability and Growth
Samuel Sigrist, the CEO of SIG, believes that the effective way to feed the growing population globally is to reduce food waste, and SIG’s industry-leading packaging products can play a substantial role in achieving that goal. Angela Lu, the President and General Manager Asia-Pacific South at SIG, has received positive feedback from customers, signaling a promising future for the company in the years to come. Vandana Tandan, the Head of Markets for India and Bangladesh at SIG, is confident that SIG’s operations in India can remain at the forefront of the industry, thanks to its focus on sustainability and integrated production capacities.
Also Read: Sustainability: Myntra eliminates 100% single-use plastic packaging
Impact of Make in India
SIG’s expansion plans in India are in line with the “Make in India” initiative aimed at promoting local production. The company recently announced the construction of its first aseptic carton plant in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, with an investment of up to €60 million over the period 2023–2025, with the aim of reaching a production capacity of 4 billion packs per annum.
SIG a Swiss Company
Founded in 1853, SIG is headquartered in Neuhausen, Switzerland, and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The skills and experience of our approximately 9,000 employees worldwide enable us to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of our customers in over 100 countries. In 2022, SIG produced 49 billion packs and generated €3.1 billion in pro forma revenue (incl. unaudited revenue from recent acquisitions). SIG has an AA ESG rating by MSCI, a 13.4 (minimal risk) score by Sustainalytics and a Platinum CSR rating by Eco Vadis.
Aseptic Packaging
Growing aseptic packaging refers to the rising demand for packaging solutions that use aseptic technology to preserve the quality and freshness of liquid food and beverages, without the need for refrigeration or preservatives. This demand is being driven by changing consumer preferences towards convenience, sustainability, and healthy living, as well as the need to reduce food waste and increase supply chain efficiencies.
