Skanem Group partners with Indian converter

Skanem will buy 51 percent of the shares in Indian label converter Interlabels.

Owner and CEO of Skanem Ole Rugland said: ‘By partnering with a company that matches Skanem’s corporate culture, we will strengthen the group’s overall vision and strategy. Interlabels is a professional company with great experience in handling demanding customers and complex orders. They also have competence and a solid knowledge base, which will be extremely useful for the cooperation in India, as well as for Skanem Group worldwide.’

Skanem already has one factory in Asia – located in Bangkok, Thailand which opened in 2007 – but Interlabels is its first establishment in India. Rugland continued: ‘Interlabels is today a well run, profitable company. Our aim is to support this profitable growth. We therefore want to build on the existing management and staff on site.’

Interlabels has a leading position in India with two factories, as well as a factory in Nairobi, Kenya and a large customer reach. Bhavin Kothari, managing director of Interlabels, said: ’We believe this alliance with a global leader like Skanem will help ensure a continual strong focus on innovations and leadership in the South Asian region.’

Kothari further explained the strong synergies between the two companies: ‘The product range and customer profiles of both companies are quite similar. We also believe that Skanem’s global presence and expertise combined with Interlabels local experience and coverage will make the venture a formidable force in the Indian label industry.’

Rugland concluded: ‘India is a market with a great potential and rapid consumption growth. Through this partnership, we get access to this exciting market.’

Pictured: (L-R) Sales and marketing director of Interlabels Gautam Kothari, CEO and owner of Skanem Group Ole Rugland and managing director of Interlabels Bhavin Kothari

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