SIG, headquartered in Neuhausen, Switzerland, and a global leader in aseptic packaging and filling solutions, announces the grand opening of its first production plant for aseptic carton packs in India. This EUR 90 million investment, completed in just 20 months in Ahmedabad, marks a major milestone for SIG as it strengthens its presence in one of the world’s most dynamic and fastest-growing markets.
Designed with cutting-edge technology, the plant in the state of Gujarat has an initial annual production capacity of up to 4 billion aseptic carton packs, meeting the highest environmental standards while creating more than 300 local jobs. The plant will supply SIG’s growing filler base, which serves all leading dairy and non-carbonated soft drink players in India. The official opening ceremony, held in the presence of Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda and a Swiss economic delegation, highlights the significance of this achievement for both SIG and the Indian-Swiss partnership.
India, the world’s largest milk market and a major juice-producing country, presents immense growth opportunities for aseptic packaging solutions. With less than 10 % of its milk consumption packaged and a lack of cold chains, aseptic cartons are a safe, sustainable, and convenient solution, as they enable the long-term storage of nutritious food and beverages without the need for preservatives, energy-intensive refrigeration during distribution and storage. SIG’s new plant in India will ensure shorter delivery lead times, greater responsiveness to market demand, and enhanced support for the country’s dairy and non-carbonated soft drink producers.
Since entering the Indian market in 2018, SIG has experienced rapid business expansion, achieving robust double-digit revenue growth in 2024. This new plant positions SIG to meet increasing demand efficiently while paving the way for future growth. The SIG Board of Directors has already approved plans to invest an additional EUR 50 million in a local extrusion line, set to be operational by 2027.
The Indian soft drinks sector is currently experiencing a notable disruption due to the price war initiated by Campa Cola. With the incumbent market leaders, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo joining the price war, it is an all-or-nothing war for a share of the consumer’s wallet in the Indian soft drinks sector, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Parthasaradhi Reddy Bokkala, Lead Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The Campa Cola brand, once a common sight across India when Coca-Cola and PepsiCo did not operate in the country due to regulations, was revived in 2022 by Reliance Retail. Backed by the deep pockets of its parent, Reliance Industries, the company embarked on an aggressive pricing model to capture market share.
“With the INR10 (USD 0.12) price of a 200 ml cola bottle and INR 20 (USD 0.24) for a 500 ml bottle, Campa Cola has undercut PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and other companies’ prices by 50 %, as 200 ml bottles of colas are generally available at a price of INR20 (USD 0.24). To counter this, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo launched promotional pricing for their larger bottles. This led to a lull in the price war as Campa Cola’s distribution reach was still low.”
Francis Gabriel Godad, Consumer Business Development Manager, GlobalData India, notes: “The impact on market leaders Coca-Cola and PepsiCo’s market share was low due to the lack of distribution reach for Campa Cola. Thanks to the gradual increase in Campa Cola’s distribution reach, the situation changed in recent quarters as the aggressive prices and expanded distribution disrupted the operations of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. The two companies have been forced to withdraw from the status quo and increase promotions on their products. For instance, Coca-Cola recently launched a 350 ml bottle (150 ml free) of its flagship Coca-Cola brand at INR 20 (USD 0.24).”
Godad continues: “The predatory pricing has also affected the volumes of non-cola categories and brands. For instance, PepsiCo’s Tropicana and ITC’s B Natural brands suffered volume losses due to the expanding price differential between nectars and colas.”
Reddy concludes: “The price war in the Indian soft drinks sector is a multifaceted issue driven by aggressive pricing strategies, shifting consumer preferences, economic pressures, and a growing focus on health. As companies continue to adapt to these dynamics, the competition is likely to intensify, with potential long-term implications for brand loyalty and market positioning. With all the major players having deep pockets, the market is in for a long-drawn price war, which can lead to a consolidation in the market, as smaller players may not be able to sustain in a long-drawn price war.”
ADM, a global leader in sustainable agriculture supply chains, is advancing its commitment to fostering sustainable farming practices and enhancing community resilience through a strategic partnership with Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to empowering women in low-income, climate-threatened communities. The core of this collaboration is SSP’s innovative Women-led Climate Resilient Farming (WCRF) model—an empowering force that enables women to act as influential change agents, driving the adoption of food-secure practices on their farms.
Funded by ADM, the project kicked off last December and is scheduled to run for a year, supporting some 1,500 women farmers across 30 villages in Maharashtra district. In the face of climate change in India, where erratic weather conditions have wiped out crops across an area of 9.4 million hectares in Maharashtra1, small farmers in the region, especially women, face struggles, including crop failures and limited resources. Yet even among adversity, women’s roles in agriculture remain crucial and transformative.
“While the WCRF model is centred on Marathwada in the Indian state of Maharashtra, we recognise the broader challenges across India and have incorporated our philosophy and practises into various corporate social responsibility programmes since 2019,” said Amrendra Mishra, Country Manager of India and Managing Director of Oilseeds at ADM. “Recognising the profound impact of climate change on the livelihoods of small and marginal farming households in the region, ADM is committed to driving positive change and resilience. Through comprehensive training and the promotion of economic and social resilience, we aspire to contribute to the enduring sustainability of women and their households. Our efforts focus on improving productivity, increasing income, enhancing family health and nutrition, and building resilience for a more robust and secure agrarian community.”
Through the WCRF model, ADM aims to equip women farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge for climate-resilient farming practices. The project not only addresses environmental concerns but also empowers communities from within, paving the way toward a sustainable and food-secure future for all involved. The WCRF model centers around four key components: empowerment, food security,
livelihoods, and natural resources.
To implement this model effectively, SSP has established a supportive network that involves collaboration with the government, agro-tech partners, training partners, and knowledge and resource partners. On the ground, Krishi Samvad Sahayak (KSS), an agriculture conversation facilitator, plays a pivotal role, serving as a bridge between the model’s network and women farmers by disseminating the model, ensuring constant communication, and providing support for the women farmers involved.
“SSP has been working closely with ADM for the past two years, and together we have embarked on meaningful initiatives that brought positive results,” said Mr. Upmanyu Patil, Director of Programs at SSP. “In our first year, we built 100 farm ponds in Dharashiv District and developed water conservation plans for 100 villages. In the current year, we are dedicated to promoting climate-smart agriculture reaching out to 30 villages and 1,500 farmers in the Marathwada region. Leveraging ADM’s ability to implement and scale as an industry leader, we believe that the potential for collaboration is vast. Collectively, we can support market linkages, ensure access to government schemes, and advance water-efficient irrigation practices and crops, supporting and empowering local female farmers to become change- makers in agriculture.”
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Azelis, a leading innovation service provider in the specialty chemicals and food ingredients industry, is delighted to announce its new distribution agreement with BENEO, a prominent manufacturer of functional ingredients for the food, feed, and pharmaceutical industries. Effective immediately, Azelis will be the exclusive distributor for inulin, oligofructose, scFOS, texturised wheat proteins, faba beans, Beta-glucans, meatless solutions, and specialty rice ingredients in India and the entire portfolio in Bangladesh. This new agreement strengthens Azelis’ existing and successful partnership with BENEO in EMEA.
BENEO is a leading expert in developing and producing functional ingredients derived from natural sources such as chicory roots, sugar beet, rice, and wheat. In Food & Nutrition, BENEO’s plant-based functional ingredients help improve the nutritional and technical properties of a wide variety of products, while maintaining or even improving taste or texture.
This new mandate reinforces Azelis’ offering in India and Bangladesh; this partnership completes its advanced product offering for food and beverages, including bakery, confectionery, meat, and dairy products, as well as plant-based alternatives for the latter two applications. Moreover, BENEO’s strong commitment to sustainability aligns with Azelis’ strategy to provide innovative and sustainable formulations to its customers.
Azelis, a leading innovation service provider in the specialty chemicals and food ingredients industry, announced the extension of its partnership with dsm-firmenich, a leading global innovator in nutrition, health, and beauty. Effective immediately, Azelis India will be the sole distributor of dsm-firmenich’s food enzymes and cultures range throughout India, a portfolio that includes dairy cultures, dairy enzymes, dairy test kits and bakery enzymes. This agreement expands Azelis India and dsm-firmenich partnership beyond the Western region to also cover India’s Northern, Southern, and Eastern regions.
dsm-firmenich has over 150 years of expertise in innovation and a strong commitment to developing accessible solutions that serve to nourish, protect, and improve life. Thanks to their innovative portfolio, dsm-firmenich supports customers in the food & nutrition industry with ingredients that improve the taste, texture, and nutritional profile of formulations across a wide range of applications. This expanded partnership with dsm-firmenich strengthens Azelis’ lateral value chain with additional advanced solutions and enables the group to further meet market demand for sustainable formulations that enhance taste, and nutrition, and help improve life.
Christian Petersen, Regional Sales Manager Asia Pacific at dsm-firmenich, comments:
“Having partnered with Azelis India in the food market for more than a decade and pharma since 2022, we are pleased to expand that relationship to all of India for our enzymes and cultures portfolio for Food & Nutrition. This strategic decision has been made to streamline and enhance our distribution model in India to further increase our customer intimacy and strengthen our market penetration. We value Azelis as a trusted preferred partner with an excellent reputation, in-depth technical expertise and outstanding lab capabilities which are well-aligned with our technical solution-centric approach.”
Aparna Khurana, Managing Director of Azelis India, adds:
“We are thrilled about the expansion of our collaboration, a great recognition of the trust and confidence our valued principal dsm-firmenich has in our partnership. Our team has extensive knowledge of dsm-firmenich’s ingredients, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to share our expertise with a wider audience and support customers in dairy, bakery, nutrition, and more applications. Being able to exclusively offer dsm-firmenich’s advanced enzymes and cultures portfolio and nutrition solutions across India greatly expands our lateral value chain and nicely complements our current food and nutrition portfolio.”
Taking a major step to support a circular economy, Coca-Cola® launched in rPET in pack sizes of 250 ml and 750 ml across several markets in India.
After being the first company in India to launch a one-litre bottle made from 100 % recycled PET (rPET) for its packaged drinking water brand Kinley, Coca-Cola India is taking another meaningful step towards creating a circular economy and has announced the launch of Coca-Cola® in rPET in pack sizes of 250 ml and 750 ml. These rPET bottles are being manufactured by Coca-Cola bottling partners – Moon Beverages Ltd., and SLMG Beverages Ltd.
The rPET bottles expansion showcases Coca-Cola India’s transformative journey towards building a sustainable and greener future for all. The bottles made from 100 % food-grade rPET (excluding caps and labels) have an on-pack call to action “Recycle Me Again” message and will also drive consumer awareness with “100 % recycled PET bottle” displayed on the pack.
These rPET bottles are crafted from food-grade recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The plastic is recycled as per the technologies approved by the US FDA and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for food-grade recycled material and repurposed into new PET bottles, reducing the need for virgin plastic for producing PET Bottles.
The Coca–Cola Company now offers 100 % rPET bottles in over 40 markets, bringing it closer to its World Without Waste goal of making bottles with 50 % recycled content by 2030. Announced in 2018, the sustainable packaging platform also includes a goal to collect and recycle the equivalent of a bottle or can for every one the company sells globally by 2030, and to make 100 % of its packaging recyclable by 2025.
The Food Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) has approved the use of recycled PET in food packaging. Similarly, the Government of India’s, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Bureau of Indian Standards has enabled befitting regulations and standards to facilitate the use of recycled plastics in food and beverage packaging.
Coca-Cola is making it convenient for consumers to return their empty PET bottles by recycling them at conveniently placed drop-off points or Reverse Vending Machines (RVM’s). Earlier this year, Coca-Cola India launched a ‘Return and Recycle’ initiative with Zepto that focuses on gathering PET bottles directly from consumers. This also helps in establishing an organised process of collecting PET bottles with 100 % traceability. Specifically for India, Coca-Cola introduced ASSP (Affordable Small Sparkling Pack) for the 250 ml PET bottle. ASSP, a proprietary Coca-Cola innovative technology is used to reduce plastic usage in the production of PET bottles for sparkling products by up to 40 percent.
Important addition to SIG’s manufacturing footprint in India
SIG, a leading packaging solutions provider, announces the opening of a second production plant in Palghar, India. The plant will specialize in production of SIG’s bag-in-box and spouted pouch packaging, previously marketed under Scholle IPN and Bossar.
The new production plant, located 90 km north of Mumbai and a short drive from SIG’s first plant in Palghar, houses production assets used to manufacture components and finished packaging, including blown film extruders, injection molding cells, bag-in-box manufacturing machines, and a mold-making facility for packaging fitments and closures for both bag-in-box and spouted pouches.
Samuel Sigrist, CEO of SIG: “The Indian market is a key growth market for SIG. Our expertise in aseptic packaging and our ability to provide sustainable solutions that benefit customers, consumers and the environment are making a difference and increasingly becoming the focus of food and beverage manufacturers in India.”
Ross Bushnell, President of SIG’s bag-in-box and spouted pouch business: “We’re making an important statement. 15,000 m2 of vertically integrated production capacity puts us in a winning position for the Indian market in aseptic processed fruits, beverage concentrates, fruit puree, and aseptic dairy for foodservice channels. I am excited to see our India team embrace the challenge of growing rapidly in this very strategic market and I am confident that we have the tools in place to fully enable a locally produced solution for both our India customers and throughout the South Asia region.”
“The second production plant in Palghar is an important addition to our manufacturing footprint in India,” said Dhandutt Shah, Managing Director India for SIG’s bag-in-box and spouted pouch business. “Combined with our existing plants in Palghar, where packaging material for bag-in-box and spouted pouch are manufactured, and Pune, where Horizontal Form-Fill-Seal Machine (HFFS) equipment is built, we will offer “Total Packaging Solutions” ensuring SIG offers to the market a significant differentiator by offering finished packaging in-country. At-scale, we will have around 150 new production and engineering professionals working in the new plant, all dedicated to one thing: providing better packaging solutions for our customers.”
SIG’s new plant in Palghar will be fully commissioned by the end of April.
For more information please visit the bag-in-box and spouted pouch website at www.scholleipn.com.
SIG will construct its first aseptic carton plant in India, the world’s largest milk market, and one of the largest juice producing countries globally. The plant will be in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat. SIG entered the Indian market in 2018 and has seen a rapid expansion of its business. The plant will supply its growing filler base, which now serves all leading dairy and non-carbonated soft drink players.
The investment will cover state-of-the art production capacity, for the printing and finishing of aseptic carton packs with high environmental standards. Construction will commence in Q1 2023, and commercial production is expected towards the end of 2024. Phase one of construction is expected to create around 300 jobs.
SIG will invest approximately EUR 60 million over the period 2023–2025, to reach production capacity of up to 4 billion packs per annum. Subsequent investments could increase capacity up to 10 billion packs per annum. Land and buildings will be financed through a long-term lease with an NPV of approximately EUR 30 million.
Azelis, a leading global innovation service provider in the specialty chemicals and food ingredients industry, announces that it has reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Ashapura Aromas Private Limited, a leading distributor of ingredients in the flavours & fragrances market in India.
This acquisition provides Azelis with a strong F&F platform in Asia Pacific, creating a global F&F network, following its 2021 acquisitions of Vigon in the US and Quimdis in France, serving the Americas and EMEA regions respectively. Ashapura’s extensive product portfolio strategically complements the group’s lateral value chain in the fast-growing F&F market segment, strengthening the offering and technical expertise Azelis provides to customers.
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Mumbai, Ashapura is the leading distributor of F&F ingredients in India, representing more than 225 principals with well-established partnerships and serving over 900 customers globally through the breadth and depth of its portfolio of products. Ashapura’s 100 plus employees will join Azelis, along with founders and owners Ajaykiran and Nayan Gudka, who will remain to lead the business post-integration. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the third quarter, after fulfilment of customary closing conditions.
The trade fair welcomed more than 6,000 buyers who interacted with over 260 exhibitors during its three days, reinforcing that the physical exhibitions are irreplaceable and that ANUTEC – International FoodTec India is “the platform” for the industry.
The largest and most comprehensive exhibition for the food and beverage technology finally took place after a hiatus of nearly two years caused by the pandemic. The 15th edition of ANUTEC – International FoodTec India, held from 2-4 December 2021 at IECC, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, coincided with PackEx India and Food Logistics India. “The success of ANUTEC – International FoodTec India and PackEx India signals a turning point for the Indian food and beverage technology providers industry. We are pleased to have been able to deliver a physical exhibition of this magnitude and are immensely grateful for the overwhelming response,” said Milind Dixit, Managing Director of Koelnmesse YA Tradefair Pvt Ltd. The exhibition received 6,102 visitors from 13 countries and 268 exhibitors from 20 nations. As a result of the successful conclusion of the exhibition, the food and beverage business will take off, which has been eagerly anticipating new technologies and serving customised consumer demands.
Viki Khakhrawala, founder- Shanta G Technofoods LLP, shared his delightful experience and stated, “We have been participating in ANUTEC – International FoodTec India for the last 2-3 times and always participate with high hopes. This time we are happier because we got what we expected and got the bonus business. We are thrilled to see the footfalls and responses we are getting here. I want to give every new Food & Beverage business a message that all should participate in the exhibitions like ANUTEC – International FoodTec India. It’s the best place to identify your expertise, and it will be the best learning experience for newbies.” Vineta Singh of Fresh-O-Veg, said, “We are into food processing end-to-end consulting services. ANUTEC – International FoodTec India is a good platform for companies like us. After a gap of two years, we are quite relieved to interact with people and get back to the market.” Sunita Chaudhary, co-founder, EcoCosmos, shared her experience, “We deal in imported food processing machines. Essentially, we import from Taiwan, Turkey, and South Korea. We participated in this exhibition with some expectations, and those have been met. We were looking for responsive and mature clientele and are getting that on this platform.”
Several premium industry associations supported the event this year, including the All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA), Indian Flexible Packaging and Folding Carton Manufacturers Association (IFCA), and Health Food and Dietary Supplements Association (HADSA). With industry support, the event reached new heights and attracted top buyers.
Under the umbrella of ANUTEC – International FoodTec India Knowledge Forum, a series of powerful side events were organised. “India Food Supply Chain Summit” was co-organised by Logistics Insider and Food Logistics India. IFCA and PackEx India organised a seminar on “Packaging – Continuous Enabler for Creation of Value” followed by IFCA Star Awards, a National Seminar on “Technology Foresight to Modernise the Indian Food Industry for a Significant Global Role” was organised by AIFPA and Koelnmesse YA Tradefair Pvt Ltd. The event attracted who’s who from the industry, senior representatives from the Government of India and influential buyers from the neighbouring countries.
The next ANUTEC – International FoodTec India, PackEx India, and Food Logistics India will be organised from 14-16 September 2022 in Bombay Exhibition Center, Mumbai. The event will be co-located with the flagship Annapoorna – ANUFOOD India.
Dole Sunshine is synonymous with good taste and good health across the world. With its entry into the India market in 2019, the brand now offers a wide array of deliciously guilt-free offerings including dried fruits, Dole juice gels and fruit bowls. Dole Sunshine actively supports the idea of fresh, natural flavours based on real fruits. In keeping with this festival timing, Dole Sunshine India is all ‘juiced up’ to launch Dole 100 % Fruit Juice – a refreshing pineapple drink enriched with Vitamin C.
In a huge market for juices, most of the packed fruit juices contain added sugar and preservatives along with the fruit pulp, whereas Dole is introducing 100 % Pineapple Juice which is all-natural with no added sugar or artificial preservatives. This successfully makes it one of the very few juice offerings in the market that does not contain added sugar. What’s more, its zesty pineapple flavour with vitamin C fortification makes it a terrific choice when looking for a pick-me-up during work, a fresh drink after a workout or if one simply want to pour the kids a tall glass of all-natural fruit juice.
As a brand, Dole Sunshine India has always believed in the wholesome goodness of fruits and this new beverage launch perfectly ties in with their principles. “At Dole, we believe that fruits are real powerhouses of nutrition. As an F&B brand, it is our duty to leverage this goodness for our consumers, so that they can incorporate such healthy changes in their daily lives. Moreover, we’ve always been against the idea of added preservatives or flavours, since our offerings have always been pure and packed with nutrition. And that’s how Dole 100 % Fruit Juice came about. This new beverage is made from fresh fruit concentrate and is an excellent source of Vitamin C. It’s also GMO-free and gluten-free, which makes it a tasty but healthy offering for children, too,” says Mudit Mathur of Dole Sunshine India.
Apart from being nutritious, unadulterated and pure, Dole 100 % Fruit Juice is also a versatile drink. One can sip it as is, serve it in a mocktail or even use it to shake up a cocktail or two, to serve at house parties and get juiced up. Simply put, it’s pure pineapple goodness.
Young Indian beer lovers are leading the way in responsible beer consumption, as the latest research from Mintel highlights that more than two in five (41 %) Indian beer drinkers aged 25 – 34 say they are interested in switching from standard strength beer to low/no alcohol (LNA) versions.
While alcohol moderation is becoming more pronounced among Indians as a whole, with an average of 38 % of Indian beer consumers* interested in switching to low/no alcohol versions, the over 45s (32 %) are less enthusiastic about making this switch.
The top three barriers for beer consumption among Indian consumers include health reasons (48 %), to avoid getting drunk (35 %) and to avoid hangovers (31 %).
Natasha Kumar, Mintel Food and Drink Analyst, India, said: “Responsible and healthy drinking has become the mantra amongst young Indians today. While this behaviour is seen across all age groups with Indians showing interest in LNA beer, it is more noticeable amongst young consumers aged 25-34 years. Brands need to explore opportunities around reduced or no alcohol options since this consumer group makes up a significant majority of beer drinkers in the country. With the current pandemic causing consumers to be even more conscious about their health and diet, the LNA category is expected to grow further post the lockdown. It also offers brands the opportunity to connect with health-conscious and responsible beer drinkers, which will prevent them from dropping out of the beer category entirely.”
Indian beer lovers are watching their waistlines
Shining a spotlight on health and wellbeing, Mintel research highlights that many Indian consumers are interested in trying low-calorie (43 %) and gluten-free (32 %) beer. In fact, over a third of consumers (34 %) say low-calorie content is an important factor when purchasing beer.
“As consumers claim that health is a key deterrent for regular beer consumption, the opportunity lies in expanding beer offerings with healthier profiles addressing concerns surrounding health. Low-calorie, low-carb and gluten-free beers can all appeal to this consumer need. As one of the largest producers of millet in the world, Indian brewers can turn towards this unconventional grain to cater to consumer demand. Countries such as Norway and Spain can act as good reference points for Indian brands to take inspiration for gluten-free beer. Diversifying the portfolio will help brands to expand consumer base to those health-conscious consumers,” continues Natasha Kumar.
Packaging innovations in craft beer can cater to the masses
Finally, Mintel research highlights that the most preferred type of beer includes lager (63 %) and wheat beer (51 %). In addition, craft beer is consumed by almost half of Indian consumers (45 %) and is perceived to be of high quality and worth a premium price, as three in four consumers (75 %) agree that it is worth paying more for it over mainstream beer.
“The popularity of lager and wheat beer indicate that lighter beers are more suitable to the Indian palate. For craft beer to appeal to a larger population of consumers, brands should innovate and introduce more craft beer varieties in lager, ale and wheat beer. One of the main benefits of craft beer is that consumers perceive it is better quality and as such, they are willing to pay more for it. Brands can premiumise their brand portfolio by adding craft beers to target consumers who are willing to pay extra. Craft beer was gaining significant traction in the country, however, the lockdown has caused pubs/microbreweries to shut, limiting the majority of craft beer sales. Bottling/canning could be the next step for craft beer brands, ensuring it reaches consumers with wider distribution, retail stocking and relatively longer shelf life.” concludes Natasha Kumar.
*1,655 Indian internet users aged 25+ who have drunk beer in the past six months
9,925 visitors, 201 exhibitors and a total floorspace of 11,400 square meters (gross) – these are the figures achieved by drink technology India (Messe München), co-located with pacprocess and food pex India (Messe Düsseldorf). The growth of drink technology India remains strong. The trade fair that is taking place in a yearly rotation between Mumbai and New Delhi is now well established in the Indian Capital. The supporting program was expanded and addressed all segments and topics of the beverage, dairy and liquid food industry in conferences and seminars. Together with its partners, drink technology India underlines its status as India’s leading knowledge platform.
Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Messe München, is very pleased with how the trade fair went: “The event’s sizable growth demonstrates the fact that the trade fair has also become the most important industry event for solutions, networking and knowledge sharing at its location in New Delhi.” “This confirms our strategic decision of organizing drink technology India every year at alternating locations—Mumbai and New Delhi—to cover the Indian market,” adds Petra Westphal, Exhibition Group Director at Messe München. Bhupinder Singh, CEO of Messe München India, comments: “The 30 percent increase in exhibition floorspace is proof that companies are responding to the continued high demand in India for machinery for producing, processing and packaging beverages, dairy and liquid food products.”
Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the VDMA’s Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association, also confirms the importance of the event: “Demand amongst Indian consumers is growing across all segments of the beverage and liquid food industry and is expected to have risen by around 89 percent by 2022 according to market researchers. Indian suppliers are therefore importing systems and machinery in order to be able to meet this demand. This represents a great opportunity for international companies wishing to gain a foothold in the Indian market.”
At drink technology India, international exhibitors accounted for 12 percent, with China being the most represented country, followed by other international exhibitors from Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey.
Supporting program – A 360 degree view oft he industry’s topics
Avisha Desai, Group Project Director of Messe München India, is pleased with the new value added for customers: “drink technology India has been successful in setting up valuable partnerships with associations from all the industry’s segments. All the areas from the beverage, dairy and liquid food industry were covered by exhibitors as well as by the trade fair’s supporting program.”
The Packaging Design Innovation & Technology Conference was held for the first time at the trade fair. Companies operating in the consumer goods industry presented interesting solutions and thought-provoking impulses relating to packaging design, sustainability, food safety and smart packaging. The supporting program also included the Indian Dairy Association’s Conference, which showcased packaging solutions for the dairy industry, as well as the FSSAI seminar, which highlighted regulations and initiatives as part of India’s “Eat Right Movement”. The Oil Technologists’ Association of India (OTAI) hosted a seminar on oils and fats. Special focus was given to food and non-food-related uses of palm oil. The place2beer and the Buyer Seller Meetings, which were with more than 400 business talks extremely popular again, are now firm fixtures of drink technology India.
drink technology India, pacprocess and food pex India
drink technology India is staged yearly in conjunction with the pacprocess and food pex India trade fairs of Messe Düsseldorf. Exhibitors and visitors can benefit from the advantages given by this unique combination of three trade fairs as this means they can leverage synergies given by the co-location. The three trade fairs cover the entire bandwidth of the beverage, dairy and liquid food technology (drink technology India), packaging and related processes (pacprocess India) as well as food and confectionery processing and packaging (food pex India) all under one roof and is unrivaled in the region.
drink technology India alternates every year between Mumbai and New Delhi. The next drink technology India will take place in Mumbai from December 9 to 11, 2020.
“The Trade show Duo”- ANUTEC – International FoodTec India & PackEx India once again underscores its position as the leading event for the suppliers of the food & drink and packaging industry in the SAARC region. The exhibition ended on a high note for all 470 exhibitors witnessing over 10,000 one-time registered trade visitors during its three-day trade fair. The exhibitors were satisfied with the quality and quantity of the visitors who attended the trade fair. Key visitors from different industry sectors were present during all three days. The exhibition once again confirmed its position as the best business platform that provides customized solutions for the Indian and neighbouring markets. The exhibition was actively supported and promoted by IPMMI (Institute of Packaging Machinery Manufacturers of India) and IFCA (Indian Flexible Packaging & Folding Carton Manufacturers Association) both being the leading industry association leaders for Packaging Industry.
Both ANUTEC – International FoodTec India & PackEx India acted as a great platform for the buyers and sellers of technology in food, drinks, dairy, confectionery, bakery, snacks and pharmaceuticals along with others to facilitate more business for the future. “We have achieved a new level with this result. Our success will be measured by the opportunities; the business and the value addition that we as an exhibition organiser are able to give to our exhibitors. All the exhibitors are really happy with us and this in turn makes us happy. Our exhibitor’s success is rightly our success”, said Ashwani Pande, Managing Director, Koelnmesse YA Tradefair India Pvt. Ltd.
The exhibition inauguration was held in the gracious presence of Mr. Hemant Malik, Chief Executive Officer- Food Division, ITC Limited, Mr. Ganesh K. Sundararaman, SBU Chief Executive, ITC Limited, Mr. Sanjeev Gupta, Director, Kanchan Metals, Mr. Manoj Paul, Country Head, Heat & Control (South Asia) Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Samir Limaye, President, IPMMI, Mr. Ashwani Pande, Managing Director, Koelnmesse YA Tradefair Pvt. Ltd. along with other dignitaries. In their inaugural speech, Mr. Hemant Malik congratulated Team Koelnmesse for creating a one-stop location for the Indian food and beverage industry in the form of ANUTEC – International FoodTec India & PackEx India. Mr. Ganesh K. Sundararaman, stressed the fact that India is a large consumption country where food processing is one of the most important sectors. To cater to the demand of this sector, ANUTEC – International FoodTec India & PackEx India is the only ideal place in India that showcases the latest for the food & drink technology thereby building partnerships and business. Key visitors from ITC, Haldiram’s, HUL, Cremica, Dabur, Pepsico, Nestle, Prataap Snacks, Balaji wafers, Vadilal, Hatsun Agro, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Abbott, Cipla and many others were present during all three business days. The feedback received from the key visitors from different sectors benchmarking ANUTEC – International FoodTec India & PackEx India as a truly international exhibition organised world over. The visitors have also expressed their satisfaction over the wide spectrum of technological solutions being showcased at the exhibition for their needs. The exhibitors underlined the increased quality of the trade visitors to the exhibition over other trade shows and showed keen interest to book stands for the next edition with bigger area.
Koelnmesse YA Tradefair Pvt Ltd will be hosting the 15th edition of the largest technology event catering to the food, drink and packaging industries: ANUTEC – International FoodTec India – International supplier fair for the food & drink industry and PackEx India – International exhibition on Packaging material and Technology along with ANUTEC Ingredients India and Food Logistics India from 23.09. to 25.09.2020 at Hall No. 1, 2, 3 & 4, Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai.
Protein is an essential macronutrient, but latest research from the world’s leading market intelligence agency Mintel reveals that a staggering 85 %* of Indians aren’t able to correctly identify the key sources of proteins.
Moreover, a significant number of Indian consumers aren’t fully aware of the actual benefits of the macronutrient. While over one-third (36 %) associate protein with being beneficial for bone health, just a quarter (24 %) are aware that proteins help in building muscles and a fifth (19 %) with weight loss.
Even among consumers who are aware of protein sources, Mintel research reveals that a third (32 %) strongly agree that it is hard to know if they are getting enough protein from their daily diet.
Natasha Kumar, Food & Drink Analyst, India, at Mintel, said: “Our research indicates that the majority of Indian consumers are unable to correctly identify the sources of proteins, while a significant number aren’t aware of the actual benefits of the macronutrient. As such, there is a clear need for companies and brands to help consumers differentiate between the various protein sources and their associated health benefits. Companies and brands should not only emphasise the quality of protein consumption but the quantity as well as how it relates to the recommended dietary daily allowance of protein.”
Move away from fad diets
Meanwhile, Mintel research also reveals there is an opportunity for companies and manufacturers to move away from fad diets, and instead, target the general consumer with food and drink products with added proteins. While a fifth (21 %) of Indian consumers say that they have tried a high-protein diet in the past, over two-thirds (68 %) either agree or strongly agree that high-protein diets are just a fad.
“Packaged food and drink products with added protein should be targeted at the general consumer and not just those who follow a high-protein diet. Companies and brands need to take advantage of the behavioural changes of increasingly health-conscious Indians who incorporate high or added protein packaged food and drink into their everyday diets. Given that most consumers question whether they are getting the recommended allowance of protein in their diets, one way to appeal to the masses would be to include these claims in products that Indians already consume in their daily lives,” Natasha continued.
Introducing high-protein food and drinks in mass categories
Finally, Mintel research highlights that over one in four (27 %) Indian consumers strongly agree that there aren’t enough high-protein packaged food and drink products. Indeed, research from Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD) indicates that just 5 % of food and drink products launched in India between 2016-2018** featured high/added protein claims. Of this, 84 % were food products and the rest (16 %) were drinks. However, the growth of high/added protein claims is being driven by drinks, increasing from 8 % in 2017 to 25 % in 2018.
“Currently, high or added protein claims exist in very niche categories like cereal bars and meal replacement drinks, which tend to have smaller audiences in India. Companies, brands and manufacturers will stand to benefit from expanding these claims to more prevalent categories like milk, yoghurt, biscuits and snacks, all of which have a larger consumer base. Such added claims can also be essential in converting more consumers to packaged food from fresh food. For instance, added protein claims in yoghurt can be a way to lure consumers to opt for a packaged option over fresh homemade yoghurt,” concluded Natasha.
*3,000 urban Indians aged 18+
**January 2016-December 2018
Following the recent news that The Coca-Cola Company plans to relaunch its sports drink Powerade in India within the next two months as part of its strategy to compete with PepsiCo’s Gatorade, Shagun Sachdeva, Consumer Insights Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view:
“The news comes as no surprise as the demand for functional sports drinks is growing exponentially in India and resonates well with millennials. Coca-Cola, being one of the country’s leading beverage companies, is now looking to tap into this category and increase its non-aerated drinks portfolio.
“Coca-Cola has collaborated with ICC World Cup as official sponsor with an aim to compete with Gatorade-owner PepsiCo in India. The calculative strategy is a part of company’s larger focus to evolve into a total beverage company by investing around $5bn by 2020 and make India as its third largest market. This is the second time Coca-Cola is trying to launch Powerade in the country.
“Powerade, which registered billion dollar plus sales globally, is currently available in India through imports. GlobalData forecasts the Indian sports drink market to grow from US$2.81bn in 2017 to US$5.87bn by 2023, propped up by healthy and better-for-you functional beverage options.
“Coca-Cola has collaborated with ICC World Cup as an official sponsor with an aim to compete with Gatorade-owner PepsiCo in India. The calculative strategy is a part of the company’s larger focus to evolve into a total beverage company by investing around $5bn by 2020 and making India its third largest market. This is the second time Coca-Cola is trying to launch Powerade in the country.
drink technology India South (dti-South), which took place for the first time in Bengaluru from April 10 to 12, has established a strong position on the South Indian market. With more than 90 brands, 6,481 visitors and an extensive supporting program, the dti family further expands its footprint to the southern region of India.
“We are delighted that the first edition of dti-South in Bengaluru was so compelling. With it we have created an especially customized platform best suited to address the needs of our participants with even better networking opportunities with relevant buyers of the region.,” says Petra Westphal, Exhibition Group Director of Messe München. The local approach is intended in particular to address those sectors that are represented locally. Bhupinder Singh, CEO of Messe Muenchen India, explains: “In this region of India, non alcoholic beverages as well as beer are predominant segments. Key exhibitors addressing these sectors, such as Ambicon Breweries, DVKSP, Goma Engineering and Hilden Packaging, presented their solutions and were able to get the most out of the visitor potential in the metropolitan region.” This is also reflected by the positive response of the exhibitors as expressed by Mr. Jeetendra C Rane, Aquapuro Equipment Pvt. Ltd.: “For the first time we are targeting the South Region and the idea behind participating in dti-South was to target the Bengaluru and South Market: We are not only happy with the number but also with the quality of visitors. We will be participating in all the upcoming editions of drink technology India.”
Supporting program: Buyer-Seller Meetings and beer trends
With over 500 meetings, the Buyer-Seller forum was very well received. Prior to the trade fair, potential customers were able to register for the meetings in order to meet specific exhibitors and initiate new business relationships. These included Amrut Distilleries, Hindustan Coca Cola, John Distilleries, Kaveri Industries,Marico Limited, Mondelez International, Mother Dairy, Pepsi, Pernod Ricard, and United Breweries, to name a few. Vijaya Kumar, Team Leader- Quality Assurance, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd. one of the key buyer quoted: “The purpose of our visit to drink technology India-South was to understand the new technologies in the market. This event was organized very well. We were able to sense some of the new technologies which we can engage in our organization and we would like to thank the organizers for this beautiful event. The quality of the meetings were very good at the buyer seller forum.”
From trends and ingredients for brewing to craft beer variations: In addition to the Buyer-Seller Meetings, the place2beer and the Brewer World Seminars provided insights into future topics of the industry. Representatives of microbreweries, medium-sized and industrial breweries as well as suppliers for the brewing industry used the place2beer for networking and knowledge exchange. In addition to this platform, where even Indian beer was tasted, the Brewer World Seminars took place on the first and second days of the trade fair. There, experts discussed topics such as quality assurance of raw materials and ingredients and global trends in beer brewing.
dti-North
dti-North will take place in New Delhi in December of this year in conjunction with pacprocess and food pex India from Messe Düsseldorf India. “We are pleased to host the trade fairs at Pragati Maidan from December 12 to 14, 2019,” says Mr. Singh. In North India, the focus is on dairy, soft drinks and beer.
drink technology India continues to be the international hub for beverages, dairy and liquid food industry in India. The next event will take place from December 9 to 11, 2020 in Mumbai.
The success of the most important event for India’s beverage industry remains unchecked: The trade fair alliance consisting of drink technology India (dti), organized by Messe Muenchen, and indiapack pacprocess and food pex India, organized by Messe Duesseldorf, recorded higher numbers of exhibitors and occupied more exhibition space. The number of visitors remained at a very high level as well. The fair’s further growth reflects the dynamic development of the Indian beverage and liquid food market, in which high growth rates are again forecast to climb.
“The figures speak for themselves: 201 exhibitors from 17 countries presented their products and solutions at dti. They occupied around 23 percent more net exhibition area than at the last event in Mumbai,” Georg Moller, head of the business division at Messe Muenchen, said in describing the fair’s success. Bhupinder Singh, the CEO of Messe Muenchen India, was also pleased by the continued growth: “It underscores the huge meaning of dti for the Indian market.”
Together with indiapack pacprocess and food pex India, 343 exhibitors presented themselves on an area of around 16,500 square meters from October 24 through 26. Moller pointed in particular to the very professional cooperation with the partner Messe Duesseldorf: “Joint staging of the fairs is not only a big gain for us. As a result, visitors obtain a comprehensive overview of all areas of the beverage and packaging industry.” This offer was widely used by visitors, as for example Partho Ghosh, Executive Vice President bei KHS Filling & Packaging Worldwide says: “We had many talks with visitors and have received new leads this year. The Indian beverage industry is looking for innovations which will bring the development of the industry a big step forward.”
Together with indiapack pacprocess and food pex India, 343 exhibitors presented themselves on an area of around 16,500 square meters from October 24 through 26. Moller pointed in particular to the very professional cooperation with the partner Messe Du?sseldorf: “Joint staging of the fairs is not only a big gain for us. As a result, visitors obtain a comprehensive overview of all areas of the beverage and packaging industry.” This offer was widely used by visitors, as for example Partho Ghosh, Executive Vice President bei KHS Filling & Packaging Worldwide says: “We had many talks with visitors and have received new leads this year. The Indian beverage industry is looking for innovations which will bring the development of the industry a big step forward.”
Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association, also described dti as an important driving force for the industry: “For companies that produce machines to make, process and package beverages and liquid-food products, India is one of the major sales markets in Asia.” The outlook for the market is consistently positive. In the process, the important role played by dti will continue to grow.
Further training and networking: Supporting program of unprecedented breadth
dti’s supporting program was highly popular among visitors and very well attended on all three days. Day two of the Round Table Talks revolved around beer, wine and spirits. According to the VDMA, India ranks ninth among the top ten sales countries for alcoholic drinks. Beer is the top-selling alcoholic beverage in India. The experts generally agree that demand for high-quality beers and for wine and spirits will grow as the population’s income rises.
Visitors were able to try Indian beer variations at the new place2beer. The focus at the platform was not only on beer tastings, but above all on networking and sharing knowledge among representatives from microbreweries, medium-sized and industrial breweries, and brewing suppliers. In the Craft Beer Seminars, experts from the scene demonstrated what impact microbreweries are having on beer brewing and what trends are influencing the craft beer sector. Bruno Bonacchelli, brew master at Castle Malting Belgium and one of the speakers at the seminar, was enthusiastic: “I’m impressed by the high technical standards in the Indian craft beer market and about how quickly the latest methods and technologies are adapted.” Further talks were given by representatives from Brewbot Mumbai, Gateway Brewing Mumbai and White Owl.
The focus of the buyer-seller meetings was networking and initiation of new business relationships. About 430 discussions between exhibitors and potential customers were held, a clear indication of the concept’s popularity. The customers who made a special point of attending the trade fair to create new business relationships with exhibitors included Bohemian Beer, Good Drop Wine Cellars, Hindustan Coca Cola, Jyanti Beverages and Parle Agro.
Two new additions to the supporting program of dti in Mumbai were the seminar of the Oil Technologists’ Association of India (OTAI) and the seminar of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The OTAI Seminar addressed the growing importance of oils and fats in the Indian market and in particular challenges in packaging edible oils. The FSSAI Seminar provided insights into the regulations on and regulatory framework for beverages in India.
All items on the supporting program went down very well with visitors. The seats at the forum were always full. With the supporting program, dti once again proves that it gives key boosts and stimuli to the beverage and liquid food industry in India.
dti, indiapack pacprocess and food pex India
drink technology India is staged in conjunction with indiapack pacprocess and food pex India of Messe Du?sseldorf. This combination of four trade fairs covers the topics of drink technology, dairy and liquid food together with those of the related packaging industry (drink technology India), packaging and related processes (pacprocess India), packaging materials and aids as well as machines and technology for the production of packaging materials and aids (indiapack) and also food and confectionery processing and packaging (food pex India) all under one roof and is unrivaled in the region.
The next dti in Mumbai will be held from December 9 to 11, 2020. In 2019, dti will be held in Bengaluru for the first time. It is scheduled for February 28 to March 2. As part of the trade fair alliance, the event will also be held next year once again – from December 5 to 7 in New Delhi.
Combines the ‘Power of 3’ in a tasty snack for small hunger pangs
Taking another step towards its commitment to provide an array of healthy and nutritious beverage choices to consumers, Coca-Cola India expanded its portfolio of Minute Maid by launching Minute Maid Smoothie, a delicious snack that combines the ‘Power of 3’ ingredients – Fruits, Milk and Nutrients. The launch is a continuation of Coca-Cola India’s efforts to expand its portfolio including, ‘Health and Wellness’. This is a significant addition in Minute Maid fraternity and underlines company’s commitment towards the Fruit Circular Economy initiative.
Made from locally sourced fruits, the product has been designed to suit the Indian palate and cater to the increasing needs of mothers looking for a combination of nutritious goodness and taste. Minute Maid Smoothie is available in Mango & Banana variants, priced at INR 30 for 250 ml.
In the first phase of the launch, the product will be available in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, followed by other states. In the coming months, Coca-Cola India will also expand the Smoothie range by introducing other popular flavours.
