Packaging takes the spotlight at MMS Hidden Gems

Two standout names from the packaging industry — Ekta Chandan, director of Aaum Paper Products, and Anil Namugade, founder of Trigon Digipacks — were recognised with the Hidden Gem Award at the Mumbai Mudrak Sangh Round Table Conference held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 10 to 12 July. Ekta Chandan is the first female recipient of the award. They were awarded by the guest of honour, Mangala Wijesinghe, chairman and CEO of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board.

The award, part of MMS’s annual celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation, honours those who have built sustainable, growth-focused businesses often away from the spotlight.

Ekta Chandan 

Ekta Chandan, founder of Bengaluru-based Aaum Paper Products, was honoured for her vision in building a packaging business grounded in sustainability and social empowerment. Aaum Paper Products was registered in January 2020 and began operations in October 2020. Chandan secured a loan against property and a business loan to fund the venture.

Chandan established a connection with an individual in the European paper industry in 2019, which led to sourcing machinery. The machinery arrived in July 2020.

Shortly after, Flipkart contacted Aaum Paper Products regarding a shift to paper mailer bags. Flipkart subsequently booked 80% of Aaum's capacity. Chandan then expanded operations to include Amazon as a client. By late 2021, Aaum Paper Products had four European machines. The company currently operates 16 machines, with three more planned.

Chandan, who transitioned from a corporate background into entrepreneurship, expressed that the award felt “very special” and credited her family, especially her husband, for supporting her journey. She emphasised that the goal was never just about sales but about “building a workplace where people feel safe, seen, and respected.”

Anil Namugade

Anil Namugade, co-founder of Trigon Digipacks, was recognised for building a scalable and highly service-oriented packaging business from the ground up. Trigon has carved a niche by servicing more than 600 startups and SMEs with flexible, short-run packaging solutions, including labels, pouches, cartons, and canisters.

Namugade began his career as a scanner operator and entered the packaging sector with no prior business background. While working at Kodak, he identified a gap in the market: brands required mock-ups and proof-of-concept packaging, but there were few service providers.

In 2008, he co-founded Trigon Digipack with Milind Deshpande to address this gap. The company positioned itself as a service-focused provider working with creative agencies, printers, and brand owners.

Trigon introduced digital mock-up services using advanced technology, but Namugade emphasised that the advantage was not hardware alone. According to him, the differentiator was the integration of software, skilled people, and a strong process framework. Since their inception, they have been a one-stop proofing and mock-up service provider for leading brands worldwide since their inception.

Namugade attributes the company’s stability to internal culture and team management. He describes his approach as team-oriented, where leadership is based on mutual respect and structured systems.