Chaitry thrives as India develops taste for mithai and namkeen

Surat's thriving business environment, skilled workforce, and strategic connectivity have been key to Chaitry Offset’s growth. The city's entrepreneurial spirit has encouraged innovation and expansion.

Ajjaay M Kariya, promoter of Chaitry Offset, concurs. He says, "Our decision to diversify from sweet boxes into rigid boxes was driven by the growing demand for premium and luxury packaging across various industries in Surat. While sweet boxes remain important, rigid boxes cater to sectors like cosmetics, skincare, electronics, and gifting, opening up vast opportunities for business growth."

Surat's thriving business environment, skilled workforce, and strategic connectivity have been key to Chaitry Offset’s growth, with the city's entrepreneurial spirit encouraging innovation and expansion.

Kariya says, "Sweet box trends are shifting towards premium, customised, and eco-friendly designs, with customers increasingly preferring boxes that tell a brand story and ensure product safety. Growth opportunities lie in seasonal, festival, and export packaging, with demand for innovative printing techniques and value-added finishes."

The Chaitry game-plan

Currently, Chaitry Offset targets a balanced packaging portfolio: around 30% mono cartons, 60% rigid boxes, and 10% other packaging solutions, depending on evolving market needs.

This is the reason the group has invested in a new facility in Surat, along with an operational ecosystem. Kariya says, "The Surat facility is designed for large-scale production with a strong focus on both rigid and mono cartons. It is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery to cater to bulk orders while ensuring premium quality, with an initial focus on expanding into high-value packaging for diverse industries."

Chaitry Offset has invested in a streamlined production ecosystem, integrating advanced machinery, skilled manpower, and efficient logistics. Investments are made with a long-term vision, balancing innovation and practicality, and guidance is sought from industry veterans, market research, and customer feedback.

Surat's thriving business environment, skilled workforce, and strategic connectivity have been key to Chaitry Offset’s growth, with the city's entrepreneurial spirit encouraging innovation and expansion

Equipment and workflow

The company's machinery selection, including an automated robotic rigid box-making machine and two fully loaded multi-colour offset presses, reflects a focus on precision, speed, and scalability. These machines allow for consistent quality and high-volume production, with a projected ROI within a three to five-year timeline. Kariya says, "Pre-press is critical for ensuring design accuracy, colour consistency, and print readiness, with the in-house team working closely with clients.

Chaitry's primary customers include confectionery brands, cosmetics, FMCG, and corporate gifting companies. While quality is consistent for all, export strategies involve compliance with international packaging standards and adapting to local market aesthetics.

Today, Chaitry Offset offers an extensive range of value-added finishes such as metallic foiling, embossing, UV drip-off, and special coatings. Their sales pitch emphasises that these enhancements elevate perceived product value, helping brands stand out.

The company is committed to sustainability by using eco-friendly raw materials, adopting waste-reduction practices, and integrating recyclable packaging solutions.

The company's machinery selection, including an automated robotic rigid box-making machine and two fully loaded multi-colour offset presses

Innovations and design support

Chaitry Offset is introducing magnetic closures, premium inserts, and innovative structural designs for rigid boxes that combine luxury with functionality. Their in-house design team works with clients from concept to execution, tailoring each box to the brand’s vision, functionality, and budget.

One of the things that stood out at the Chaitry stall during CMPL 2025 was the differentiating "Mithai and Namkeen packaging". Kariya says, the three key differentiators between mithai and namkeen packaging are "Freshness preservation". He says, "Mithai boxes often require food-safe linings for moisture and freshness, while namkeen packaging focuses on crispness."

Then there is aesthetic appeal. Kariya says, "Mithai packaging leans more toward festive, ornate designs, while namkeen boxes may be more minimalistic or brand-focused. And finally, there is structural strength. Kariya says, "Mithai packaging often uses sturdier bases to hold weight and maintain shape."

Future outlook and collaborations

In the next five years, Chaitry Offset aims to be a leading name in premium packaging solutions across India with a strong global presence. Plans for further expansion include exploring new product lines, particularly in luxury gifting and specialised export packaging.

Chaitry Offset positions itself as a partner, not just a supplier, by focusing on innovation, design, quality, and customer relationships. They are specifically focused on innovative packaging for the beauty and skincare sector, creating packaging that reflects the premium nature of beauty products. Collaborations are underway with cosmetic brands, gourmet food manufacturers, and high-end gifting companies to create signature packaging lines.