Sidel installs Britannia’s first aseptic PET line to scale dairy drinks in India

INDIA – Britannia Industries has commissioned its first aseptic PET packaging line for dairy beverages, partnering with Sidel to support expansion of its Winkin’ Cow portfolio.

The new line has been installed at Britannia’s greenfield dairy facility in Ranjangaon, Maharashtra, marking a strategic step in strengthening its position in India’s fast-growing value-added dairy drinks segment.

Britannia entered the category in 2018 under the Winkin’ Cow label, targeting flavored milk and ready-to-drink dairy-based beverages.

With demand rising for convenient, shelf-stable formats, the company sought a fully integrated aseptic PET solution capable of ensuring product safety, longer shelf life and packaging flexibility.

Sidel delivered a complete line featuring its Aseptic Combi Predis system, operating at 24,000 bottles per hour.

The solution integrates preform sterilization, blow moulding, filling and capping into a single continuous process, reducing contamination risk while optimizing footprint and operational efficiency.

The aseptic PET configuration is designed to maintain product integrity for sensitive dairy formulations without the need for preservatives or refrigeration during distribution, supporting wider market reach across India’s diverse retail landscape.

Harbinder Kathuria, vice president of sales for South Asia at Sidel, said the company provided end-to-end support for the project.

“From bottle and label design to product-packaging validation, the line has empowered Britannia to expand its dairy beverage portfolio and offer safe, high-quality products with enhanced packaging flexibility to Indian consumers since 2023,” he noted.

Supporting category growth

India’s dairy beverage segment has seen steady growth driven by urbanization, premiumization and demand for on-the-go nutrition.

Aseptic PET formats offer lightweighting benefits compared to traditional cartons or glass, while enabling differentiated bottle designs and branding.

For equipment suppliers such as Sidel, the project underscores rising interest among Indian food and beverage manufacturers in high-speed, integrated aseptic technologies to scale production while meeting stringent food safety standards.

Industry observers say the investment reflects a broader shift toward advanced PET-based aseptic packaging in emerging markets, where producers are balancing cost efficiency, supply chain resilience and sustainability considerations in response to evolving consumer preferences.

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