SIG has announced the opening of its first production plant for aseptic carton packs in India. Completed in 20 months in Ahmedabad, the investment hopes to strengthen the company’s presence in the market.
The company says the new plant in the state of Gujarat has an initial annual production capacity of up to 4 billion aseptic carton packs, creating more than 300 local jobs. The plant will supply SIG’s filler base which serves dairy and non-carbonated soft drink players in India.
According to SIG, with less than 10% of India’s milk consumption packaged and a lack of cold chains, the aseptic cartons enable the long-term storage of food and beverages without the need for preservatives or energy-intensive refrigeration during distribution and storage. SIG anticipates that its new plant will achieve shorter delivery lead times, greater responsiveness to market demand and enhance support for the country’s dairy and non-carbonated soft drink producers.
The official opening ceremony was held in the presence of Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Helene Budliger Artieda, and a Swiss economic delegation. The SIG Board of Directors has already approved plans to invest an additional €50 million in a local extrusion line, set to be operational by 2027.
SIG teamed up with Indian dairy company MilkyMist and AnaBio Technologies in 2024 to introduce the ‘world’s first’ long-life probiotic buttermilk in aseptic carton packs. The product is said to remain stable for long periods at room temperature, reducing food waste and energy consumption during storage and transport.
At the end of 2024, the company collaborated with WWF Switzerland and WWF Thailand to launch a project to protect forest landscapes in Thailand. Aligning with its commitment to create, restore, protect, or improve the management of 650,000 hectares of forest by 2030, the initiative aims to enhance forest management and connectivity in the Dawna Tenasserim, Lower Songkhram, and Dong Phayayen landscapes.
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