Product Watch: Control Print pioneers single-serve co-packaging solutions

Control Print, through V-Shapes, it's brand, is poised to revolutionise the Indian packaging landscape with its integrated single-serve co-packaging facility in Nalagarh. The facility, operational in June 2025, offers brands a unique opportunity to pilot or scale their single-serve product lines without significant upfront machinery investment. While initially optimised for food and beverage, the centre will also support cosmetic applications through a trusted partner. The Nalagarh centre is equipped to form, fill, and seal packs in a compliant, hygienic production environment.

Ankush Gupta, head of marketing for V-Shapes, emphasises how V-Shapes' patented technology addresses the growing demand for convenient, hygienic, and eco-conscious packaging solutions.

Citing an example, Gupta says, "This is a story of how technology met insight in the world of grooming. Bombay Shaving Company, an Indian grooming brand, was looking to elevate the experience of its users by offering premium grooming amenities in the hospitality sector. While searching for packaging that could make a lasting impression — both in usability and visual identity — they discovered the V-Shapes single-serve format. What stood out for the Bombay Shaving Company was not just the design, but the convenience, inclusivity, and innovation the patented technology brought. With just one hand, a user can open the pack, dispense the product, and get on with their routine. It solved a real-world problem elegantly."

Customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Guests appreciated the clean and intuitive dispensing, the lack of spills or mess, and the premium feel of the packaging. Hotel partners noted improved brand recall and satisfaction among clientele.

Gupta points out, "By packing their shave gel in our patented single-serve format, Bombay Shaving Company delivered a differentiated experience to their hospitality partners and, more importantly, to hotel guests. It brought a sense of premium quality, elevated hygiene, and convenience to a daily routine."

Additionally, each single-serve pack is tamper-evident and non-resealable, providing consumers with visible assurance that the product is safe and untouched once opened. This combination of patented structure and tamper-evident functionality builds trust and authenticity. Gupta says, "V-Shapes' patented packaging technology serves as a strong deterrent against counterfeiting. Its unique structure and dispensing mechanism make the packs inherently difficult to replicate."

Sharing his experience with the new product, Shiv Shivakumar, operating partner of Advent International, posted on LinkedIn, "The new Bombay Shaving Company shaving gel is easier and better to use than the old Gillette sachet. It was really painful to open the Gillette sachet. I have a lot of respect for P&G, but on this packaging, they are not consumer-led."

The response at CMPL Mumbai was overwhelmingly positive from both end-users and brand owners. Gupta says, "Many saw V-Shapes' single-serve technology as a powerful differentiator in a competitive market, allowing brands to offer a premium, user-friendly pack that opens effortlessly without tearing, cutting, or squeezing."

The WhatPackaging? team shared an anecdote about two octogenarians who found the V-Shapes samples very convenient, underscoring the inclusive design of V-Shapes, which prioritises accessibility for people of all ages and physical abilities. Gupta concurred, stating, "Your anecdote about the two octogenarians who tested the samples is a perfect example of our pack’s inclusive design. V-Shapes was created with accessibility in mind, ensuring that people of all ages and physical abilities can open and use the product easily, with minimal effort. Whether it’s shampoo in a bath or ketchup at a dining table, the pack puts convenience and dignity back into everyday routines."

Sustainability is a core priority for V-Shapes, with active development underway for recyclable and environmentally friendly options compatible with its technology. A key advantage of the V-Shapes format is its ability to prevent microplastic litter common with traditional sachets; the single-serve packs remain intact as one connected unit even after opening, making them easier to manage and dispose of responsibly. V-Shapes is also focused on developing new fully recyclable mono-polymer polypropylene laminates for their sachets, certified by Interseroh and verified by Tomra.

Gupta says, "With most conventional sachets, users tear off a corner or edge, which detaches and contributes to microplastic litter. In contrast, our single-serve packs remain intact as one connected unit, even after opening. This makes them not only more user-friendly but also easier to dispose of responsibly.”