APRIL Group, a leading global producer of fibre, pulp and paper, has acquired a controlling stake in Origami, India’s leading consumer tissue products company, marking its entrance into the fast-growing India tissue and personal hygiene market. APRIL Group is a member of the Singapore-headquartered RGE group of companies.
Origami, a household name in India, is a fully integrated operation spanning tissue paper mills and converting plants operating at multiple locations and distribution centers across the country. As India’s leader in tissue and personal hygiene, Origami manufactures an extensive product range covering facial tissues, paper napkins, toilet tissue rolls, kitchen towels, hand towels, and wet wipes under the Origami and affiliated brands.
Origami was founded in 1995 by Neelam and Manoj Pachisia, who will continue to hold a significant minority stake in the company and continue to lead the business following the completion of the acquisition.
The Indian tissue market has shown significant year-on-year growth, driven on the back of India’s fast evolving middle class, consumer perceptions and habits on hygiene and personal care. This has created a market environment in which international-standard personal hygiene products are increasing in demand, with headroom to grow given that per capita consumption is well behind global standards.”
“The Indian tissue market is rapidly expanding, driven by consumers’ evolving perceptions and habits on hygiene and personal care,” said Suneel Kulkarni, Country Head, APRIL India & Subcontinent. “By bringing together APRIL and Origami, we’re well placed to serve the growing national demand for high quality, sustainable personal hygiene products.”
APRIL has been a leading exporter of pulp and paper products into India over the last 25 years. The acquisition of the controlling stake of Origami is part of APRIL’s strategy to expand its global footprint into the world’s most populous markets following recent investments into the tissue markets in China, Southeast Asia and Brazil. In India, APRIL plans to follow its successful model to integrate leading local enterprises into its global growth plans and provide the resources to upgrade technology and processes to provide world class environmental conscious products at affordable prices.
Leveraging the company’s status as a leading supplier of pulp to India, APRIL’s acquisition of the controlling stake in Origami also enables the group to ‘Make in India’ to further support foreign direct investment in local production.
“Together, APRIL and Origami are stronger,” Mr. Kulkarni added. “With this acquisition, APRIL is well-positioned to drive increasing penetration and access to high quality and sustainably produced tissue paper and other products to the Indian consumer. This growth will be achieved through additional investments across manufacturing, deepening existing channels, expanding and developing new channels, and product innovation.”
About APRIL Group – www.aprilasia.com
APRIL Group is a leading producer of fibre, pulp and paper with plantations and manufacturing operations in Riau Province, Indonesia. We are committed to sustainability in our business and in the broader landscapes where we operate. Under our production-protection model, we adopted a unique 1-for-1 goal where we aim to conserve one hectare of forest for every hectare of plantation. We currently conserve and restore about 360,000 hectares of forests, including the largest peatland restoration project in Indonesia.
About Origami – www.Origamiindia.com
Origami is India's largest tissue products company. Founded in 1995, Origami has grown rapidly to attain market leadership in India's away from home market as well as consumer market with the Origami and Good Karma Brands. Origami has developed environmentally friendly products and processes through a unique business model. Origami is a fully integrated player with multiple production and distribution facilities and nationwide distribution offering the widest product range for both home and export markets.
About RGE – www.rgei.com
Headquartered in Singapore, RGE manages a group of resource-based manufacturing companies with global operations. We produce sustainable natural fibres, edible oils, green packaging and clean natural gas used to create products that feed, clothe and energise the world. We help improve billions of peoples’ lives through sustainable products they use every day. With more than US$35 billion in assets and 80,000 employees, we are creating a more recyclable, biodegradable and lower carbon future.
Committed to sustainable development, conservation and community development, we strive towards what is good for the community, good for the country, good for the climate, good for the customer, and good for the company. With current operations spanning across Indonesia, China, Brazil, Spain and Canada, we continue to expand and engage new markets.