Packaging Solutions: Ajas Shaikh on Lamipak’s Role in Supporting the Growth of the Beverage Industry in the Middle East and Africa | Food Business Africa

Lamipak has been supporting the growth of the beverage industry in the Middle East and Africa for over a decade. Ajas Shaikh, Head of the Middle East and Africa Cluster, discusses the company’s well-established presence as the region’s first-choice aseptic packaging solutions partner, its ongoing support for the food and beverage industry, and new innovations aimed at supporting the transition to a circular economy.

Could you share a brief introduction to Lamipak and its journey into the Middle East and Africa region?

Lamipak is a global leader in aseptic packaging. From our two sites in Kunshan, China, and Indonesia, we supply high-quality liquid beverage cartons to leading food and beverage brands in over 87 countries worldwide. In 2023, we delivered over 13 billion packages to more than 430 dairy and juice customers globally.

Our journey into the Middle East and Africa region began in 2014 when we first started exporting our packaging materials to the region. We have earned the trust and confidence of our customers through our quality and dedicated service, which has helped us expand across the region and become a reliable supplier during challenging times.

Over the years, we have listened to our customers’ pain points and needs, which has allowed us to evolve from being just a packaging material supplier to a complete business solution provider. Today, in addition to our packaging, we offer our customers technical support services, which have been crucial in ensuring that many plants across the region operate at optimal capacities. What is truly unique about this service is that it is custom-tailored to meet our customers’ needs, ensuring both effectiveness and cost minimization.

What prompted Lamipak to expand its presence in this market, and what specific opportunities do you see here?

We expanded into the region because it presented immense potential for aseptic packaging. In 2023, the region consumed about 13 billion liters of white and flavored milk and around 7.6 billion liters of juice and juice drinks, according to GlobalData. This represents a significant market opportunity for aseptic packaging, as it is the most suitable solution for the region, given that ambient beverages are preferred due to limited refrigeration infrastructure. Additionally, our entry provided a reputable alternative aseptic packaging solutions supplier that customers had been seeking. We have not only filled this gap but have also comprehensively met our customers’ needs, growing alongside them.

Opportunities for growth are further amplified by the fact that the Middle East and Africa have one of the fastest-growing populations in the world. The World Bank estimates that Africa’s working-age population will grow by 450 million people—nearly 70%—by 2035. This trend is expected to further increase milk and juice consumption in the region, with volumes projected to grow by 600 million liters and 1.2 billion liters, respectively, over the next five years.

As suppliers of aseptic packaging solutions, we aim to be present and support industry players in meeting this growing demand for dairy and juice products.

What unique packaging products and solutions does Lamipak offer to cater to the specific needs of the Middle East and Africa market?

Given the vast and diverse nature of the Middle East and Africa, we have seen different markets favoring various packaging formats. For example, our pillow pack, which performs well in tough terrains, is highly favored in markets like Kenya, Egypt, and Nigeria, while markets in South Africa tend to lean toward the brick slim format for milk. The same trend is seen with juice, with many players across the region preferring our brick slim format, and brands seeking to differentiate themselves on the shelf are pivoting to more premium formats such as LamiDiamond, LamiEdge, LamiGemina, and LamiSlim Leaf.

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