As India’s dairy industry evolves beyond traditional white milk toward high-value, nutrition-driven products, Vandana Tandan, Head of Markets, India & Bangladesh at SIG, outlines how the company is aligning global innovation with local manufacturing strength to power the next phase of growth. We had the opportunity to interact with Ms Vandana during 52^nd Dairy Industry Conference & Exhibition (DIC) 2026.

Expanding beyond aseptic cartons

“SIG, globally, is one of the largest suppliers of packaging materials, equipment, and services for the liquid dairy and beverage industry,” Ms Vandana begins. “Today, we have a very extensive portfolio.”

SIG has significantly expanded its capabilities. “We offer aseptic carton, spouted pouches and bag-in-box solutions. So we have a complete range of packaging formats that can serve different kinds of customers for their evolving consumers at different price points

Over the past two years, she notes, the company’s portfolio has become “very comprehensive and significantly expanded,” enabling it to serve diverse consumption occasions and market segments.

India: A strategic growth market

SIG formally entered India in 2018 by establishing its local entity. The growth trajectory since then has been strong.

With the growth we've seen over the past seven years, we have now our manufacturing plant in Ahmedabad. We are now supplying packaging materials from this facility,” Ms Vandana says. “The company has grown significantly in India, and we currently employ nearly 255 people. We see India as a very strong market and plan to keep expanding the capacities of the plant over time.”

The Ahmedabad facility is already fully operational. “In Phase One, we started with printing and finishing operations, with a capacity of nearly 4 billion sleeves annually. In subsequent phases- we plan to expand capacity to almost 10 billion sleeves- in the next few years.

This investment underscores SIG’s long-term commitment to one of the world’s most competitive and price-sensitive FMCG markets.

Showcasing the Future at DIC

Industry platforms such as the 52^nd Dairy Industry Conference & Exhibition (DIC) play a strategic role in SIG’s engagement model. “When it comes to participating in trade shows like DIC, the key objective is that the entire industry comes together- processing partners, customers, and stakeholders,” she explains. “It gives us an opportunity to showcase our entire global portfolio in one place.”

This year’s theme centres on the future of value-added dairy in India. “We are showcasing products from everywhere in the world possible to highlight global trends and possibilities that can be adapted for the Indian Dairy market.”  

Value-Added Dairy: The next big shift

Globally, dairy is a key focus area for SIG- but the emphasis is increasingly on value-added categories. “Dairy is a very important segment for us globally. Beyond white milk, our big focus is on value-added dairy,” Ms Vandana explains.

In India, rising health awareness is reshaping consumption patterns. “Protein, which was just a buzzword five years ago, has now become a real focus. Awareness about daily protein intake is growing.”

This shift is fuelling demand across multiple segments including Greek yogurt, High-protein beverages and paneer, Lactose-free variants, Probiotic products, Low-sugar, clean-label offerings, etc.

“Probiotics are another major trend, as consumers are increasingly concerned about gut health,” she says. “We have partnered globally with AnaBio and now have the technology to pack probiotic products with long shelf life in UHT packaging- something that was not possible earlier. In fact, the first UHT-packaged probiotic product in the world has just been launched.”

High-particulate & meal-replacement solutions

SIG is also enabling innovation in high-particulate dairy formats. “High-particulate products are another strong area for us. With our technology, manufacturers can add up 10 % content of fruits, oats, grains, or other ingredients to create products that can even replace a full breakfast,”.

Convenience is central to this shift. “Consumers today prefer convenient, on-the-go options, and many are looking to reduce the number of meals they consume in a day by opting for nutritious drinkable formats.”

She believes this transformation is structural rather than temporary. “We see value-added dairy not only growing rapidly today but becoming the key trend over the next five years. A significant portion of dairy consumption will shift toward value-added products.”

Beyond Packaging: Integrated innovation partner

SIG positions itself as more than a packaging supplier. “We do not just provide packaging- we look at the product, the process, and the entire solution,” Ms. Vandana emphasizes.

Through collaborations with leading processing technology companies, SIG supports the development of lactose-free, high-protein, and high-particulate products. “We aim to offer an integrated solution: the recipe, the processing technology, the packaging equipment, and the final pack design- so customers are ready to launch in the market.”

The company also supports brand owners with design and market intelligence. “By analysing market data and trends, we help ensure that products align with consumer preferences. Our goal is to play a meaningful role in expanding the value-added dairy segment in India.”

Competing in a price-sensitive market

Operating in India comes with distinct challenges. “India is one of the most demanding markets in the world. Consumers expect the best quality at the lowest possible price. “FMCG price points such as ₹5, ₹10, ₹15 or ₹20 are difficult to change due to market dynamics and coinage constraints.”

With inflationary pressures rising, cost management becomes critical. “To succeed here, operational efficiency must be exceptionally high. Every aspect of the value chain must be tightly managed. That is both the challenge and the opportunity in India.”

Flexibility as a Differentiator

SIG’s flexibility provides a competitive edge. “Our machines offer unmatched flexibility- we can produce up to nine different SKU sizes on a single machine,” she says. “Today’s market demands multiple SKUs across channels and consumption occasions. A single-pack, single-machine model no longer works.”

Local manufacturing further strengthens responsiveness. “With our plant in India, we can respond quickly to demand fluctuations without relying on imports. If demand for one variant increases or decreases, we can adjust accordingly.”

This agility spans machinery, supply chain, and processes- making SIG faster and more adaptive in a dynamic market.

The road ahead for Indian dairy

According to her, India, already the world’s largest dairy producer, has significant untapped potential in value-added segments. “Dairy is undoubtedly the future for India,” Ms Vandana concludes. “As the world’s largest dairy producer, India has tremendous domestic potential and could also become one of the biggest dairy exporters worldwide.”

However, she underscores that growth must be responsible. “We have a responsibility to deliver truly value-added, clean, and nutritious products to consumers. It is not just about marketing- it is about offering real nutritional benefits and being responsible about sugar levels, ingredients, and overall product quality.”

For SIG, the path forward lies in innovation, efficiency, and deep collaboration across the dairy ecosystem- positioning value-added dairy as the defining growth engine of India’s next dairy decade.