New Delhi, Aug 13: Propelis, the global brand services group created through the merger of SGK and SGS & Co, is expanding its focus on India as part of its broader Southeast Asia growth strategy. With India‘s retail and FMCG sectors evolving at pace, the company sees the market as central to its ambition of helping brands launch faster, adapt smarter and execute more consistently across the region.
The merger was announced in January 2025 and valued the new entity formed by combining SGK and SGS & Co at an enterprise value of approximately US Dollar 900 million. After completing the merger in May 2025, Propelis had over 10,000 employees in more than 30 countries, nearly USDollar1 billion in annual sales and more than 2,000 clients around the world. Building on SGX’s established packaging production and artwork capabilities in India, Propelis is now expanding Marks’ creative services and integrated delivery model to provide clients with broader support across strategy, creative development, packaging and execution.
India is seen as a priority market for Propelis’ integrated go-to-market model, with the country’s retail market to reach USDollar 2 trillion by 2035 and the continued growth of organised retail and changing consumer preferences. It’s a major opportunity for brands seeking more connected ways to manage creative, packaging, content and local market execution.
The complexity of getting products to market has increased considerably as brands expand their product portfolios, accelerate product launches and respond to changing consumer expectations. Today in India, packaging is more than simply design. It encompasses regulatory compliance, pricing, nutrition information, multiple adaptations, print production and traceability from brief to shelf. As these functions are often managed across separate teams and systems, brands can face slower launches, inconsistencies and operational inefficiencies. Propelis helps address these challenges through an integrated model that brings creative, packaging, production and AI-enabled workflow technology together in a connected workflow, providing greater visibility, speed and control from concept to shelf.
“India is one of the most dynamic consumer markets in the region, with brands navigating increasing portfolio complexity, multiple retail channels and evolving consumer expectations,” said Kathryn Sloane, Executive Managing Director, APAC MEA, Marks, a Propelis company. “Our connected operating model enables brands to balance global consistency with local relevance while simplifying creative, packaging and content execution. India combines scale, talent, manufacturing capability and one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets, making it a natural priority within our Southeast Asia growth strategy. We see India playing a central role in helping brands launch faster, adapt confidently and grow more effectively.
Propelis integrates creative, packaging, localisation, content production and workflow technology into one connected operating model, allowing brands to simplify go-to-market execution, cut complexity and boost speed and consistency across consumer touchpoints. The group will support FMCG, food & beverage and retail brands in India with creative adaptation, packaging production, transcreation and technology-enabled workflows. Propelis has also named Sean Silveira as Client Director, Marks, as part of its continued investment in the region and enhances its creative leadership across India and Southeast Asia.
“The merger only matters if clients see the impact in the work,” said Sean Silveira, Client Director, Marks, a Propelis company. “In India, something as simple as a packaging refresh involves multiple languages, regulatory requirements, printers, retailers and digital commerce platforms before it reaches the consumer. Our focus is to remove that complexity by bringing together creative, packaging, technology and workflow into one connected model, enabling brands to launch faster, reduce risk and deliver stronger outcomes in the market. As Marks continues to strengthen its creative capabilities in India, we also see significant opportunity to build more integrated partnerships by combining creative services with Propelis‘ established packaging, artwork and production expertise. “
Propelis is expanding into healthcare, digital, electronics and quick service restaurants while deepening its relationships with existing FMCG and retail clients and further deepening partnerships with global brands across India, APAC and the Middle East. Post the merger, the company has extended its work with brands including PepsiCo India, Royal Canin India and Nestlé India and also added new clients including Blooming Foods and Kitco in the Middle East, proving its ability to bring global expertise with deep local market insight.