Huhtamaki’s India Gambit: $500M and a Mission to Dominate the Shelf

Huhtamaki India, the domestic arm of Finnish packaging giant Huhtamaki Oyj, is gearing up for a major acquisition drive with a war chest of $400–500 million, aiming to consolidate its position in India’s fast-evolving packaging sector.

The company is actively scouting for mid-sized, scalable packaging firms that can expand its product portfolio and geographic reach.
 

This aggressive M&A strategy comes amid a broader consolidation wave in the Indian packaging industry, with players like Essel Propack and Manjushree also on the hunt for strategic buys. Huhtamaki’s focus is on acquiring companies with strong domestic distribution, innovative product lines, and sustainable manufacturing capabilities.

 

Key Highlights:

 

The company is targeting local packaging firms with proven scale and profitability, especially in flexible packaging and food-grade materials.

Huhtamaki is open to debt financing in addition to its internal reserves to fund acquisitions.

The move aligns with its global strategy to deepen presence in high-growth emerging markets.

India’s packaging sector is projected to grow at 11–13% CAGR, driven by e-commerce, FMCG, and sustainability trends.

The company has already held exploratory talks with multiple targets and is expected to close its first deal by early 2026.

 

With this bold push, Huhtamaki India is positioning itself not just as a packaging supplier—but as a platform consolidator in one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets.

 

Source: Mint Ahmedabad, Medial