Propelis, the newly merged global branding and packaging group, is intensifying its focus on India to streamline creative services and capitalise on the country’s growing yet complex retail landscape, marking a significant shift in regional strategy.
Propelis is putting India at the heart of its Southeast Asia push as the newly combined brand services group works to help consumer companies manage creative work, packaging and market execution more efficiently. The company, formed from the merger of SGS & Co and SGK, says the market’s scale, manufacturing base and fast-changing retail landscape make it a natural hub for its regional strategy.
The merger, completed in May 2025, created a business with more than 10,000 employees in over 30 countries, almost $1 billion in annual sales and more than 2,000 clients, according to Propelis. The group has been building on SGK’s packaging production and artwork operations in India while expanding Marks’ creative services so it can offer a broader mix of strategy, content, packaging and production support.
India’s appeal is not just size but complexity. Brands operating there often need to juggle language adaptation, regulatory requirements, pricing, nutritional information, print production and traceability across multiple channels, from physical retail to digital commerce. Propelis says its pitch is to bring those functions into one connected workflow, supported by technology designed to improve visibility and speed while reducing errors and duplication.
Kathryn Sloane, executive managing director for APAC and MEA at Marks, a Propelis company, said in a statement that India is among the region’s most dynamic consumer markets and that the company sees strong demand for a model that balances global consistency with local relevance. Sean Silveira, who has been named client director at Marks, said the aim is to strip out unnecessary complexity from packaging refreshes and launch processes, especially where multiple languages, retailers and printers are involved.
The expansion comes as Propelis widens its focus beyond consumer packaged goods into healthcare, digital, electronics and quick-service restaurants, while deepening work with existing food, beverage and retail clients. The company says it has continued work with brands including PepsiCo India, Royal Canin India and Nestlé India, alongside new business in the Middle East, as it looks to pair global scale with local delivery.
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