Nichrome Partnering for Superior Potato Chips Packaging

Despite growing concerns about the ‘healthiness’ of fried foods, and the negative connotations of the word potato (‘couch potato’) – potato chips continue to hog a large percentage of the savoury snacks market.

The busy urban lifestyle, growing income levels and the sheer convenience and handiness of available snack packs are increasing the average Indian’s tendency to snack frequently through the day.

Last year’s study by global researcher Euro monitor estimated India’s salty snack market to be valued at more than $2 billion (Rs 17,000 core), and expects it to surpass sales of nearly $5 billion (Rs 35,801 core) by 2020. Earlier, a 2014 report by ratings agency Crisil had also stated that Indian packaged food firms could grow twice as fast as their multinational rivals such as PepsiCo by 2020 in this segment.

Nichrome Partnering for Superior Potato Chips Packaging

To differentiate itself in the crowded market, Lay’s had launched international flavors such as French Salt & Cracked Pepper, Chile Lemon, Caribbean Hot & Sweet Chili and Spanish Tomato, but these received a lukewarm response from Indian consumers. Meanwhile, homegrown companies like Haldirams, known for their “Aloo Bhujia” and “Bhujia Sev”, and Balaji, known for its “farsan”, have become household names by catering to the Indian palate. "We began our company by selling ‘desi farsan’ nearly three decades ago but consumers gradually moved to products such as wafers. Now, they still want chips but with Indian masala," said Chandu Virani, promoter of Balaji Wafers in a quote to Economic Times.

Moreover, "domestic manufacturers are increasing their distribution and penetration into rural India and have launched smaller packs at lower price points," Euro monitor said in a recent report.

Catering to this booming potato chips market is Nichrome, a leading potato chips packaging machine manufacturer in India. Nichrome’s automatic packaging machines maintain hygiene and freshness all through the supply chain, even in rural and remote areas.

Nichrome was the first snacks packaging machine manufacturer to innovate India’s first indigenous counter bagger ‘Snack pack’. Nichrome continuously innovates and adapts technology to cater to the growing and diverse needs of the snacks industry. Nichrome’s Vertical Form Fill Seal (VFFS) Snack pack Sprint 250 Continuous is a high-speed potato chips packing machine solution that packs 150 CSPP packs per minute, either single or in a chain of pouches. Snack pack’s gas-filled pouches protect the inherent fragility and odd shapes of potato chips & snack foods into account while ensuring a highly cost-efficient packaging process. Modern servo-technology helps to reduce and eliminate technical errors.

Nichrome’s snack packaging machine is also ideal for dry fruit pouch packaging, biscuit packaging and for retail packaging of other products like Wrapped Candies, Macaroni, Pasta, Seeds, Breakfast Cereals, etc. To know more about how Snack pack can benefit your snack industry, visit - http://www.nichrome.com/