When Propak Cape 2026 opens at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on 27 October, Tetra Pak will bring a clear message to food and beverage producers: the biggest gains now come from looking beyond packaging.

Under the theme “More than Packaging”, Tetra Pak will show how manufacturers can create value through integrated solutions that span processing, packaging, services, automation and digitalisation.

“Propak Cape is an important opportunity to engage with food and beverage manufacturers on how an integrated approach to processing, packaging, automation and services can unlock greater efficiency and long-term value,” says Wael Khoury, Managing Director for Southern Africa at Tetra Pak. “By connecting the whole line, we can help producers look beyond individual equipment investments towards solutions that support their broader operational and sustainability ambitions.”

The timing is critical. Food and beverage manufacturers across Southern Africa are under pressure from several directions at once. Production costs continue to rise. Consumers want greater variety and better quality. Sustainability expectations are growing across the value chain. And businesses still need to stay competitive and protect their margins.

For many producers, the challenge now goes beyond making a quality product. They need to make it consistently and efficiently while preparing for future growth. That shift is changing how manufacturers invest.

Traditionally, packaging, processing, automation and services were treated as separate decisions. Today, leading producers are looking at how these elements work together to improve performance across the plant and pay off over the long term.

When equipment, processing technologies, automation platforms and services are connected, manufacturers gain a clearer view of their operations. They can reduce downtime and make better-informed decisions. Digitalisation takes this further: real-time operational data helps manufacturers spot inefficiencies and respond faster to changing market conditions.

Sustainability now carries real commercial weight. Consumers, retailers and regulators expect companies to show tangible progress towards environmental goals without compromising product quality or business performance.

Tetra Pak’s own work here extends beyond packaging design to the recycling value chain. With partners including PETCO and local recyclers, the company is helping to build collection networks and recycling capacity for used beverage cartons in South Africa. In 2025, Tetra Pak Southern Africa reported a post-consumer carton collection rate of 33% and a recycling rate of 31% for liquid board packaging, up from 24% in 2024. Its ambition is to reach a 40% recycling rate by 2030.

These trends are reshaping food and beverage manufacturing across categories such as dairy, juice, plant-based beverages and prepared foods. At Stand E3, visitors will see Tetra Pak’s end-to-end aseptic packaging and processing portfolio.

Alongside it, the company will showcase Tetra Pak Factory OS, an automation and digitalisation platform designed to make food and beverage factories “AI-ready”. By bringing production data together in real time, it helps manufacturers raise efficiency and reduce waste while keeping product quality consistent, supporting their sustainability goals. The platform is built to grow with a plant, so capabilities can be added over time.

Visit Tetra Pak at Hall 1A, Stand E3
Propak Cape 2026, CTICC, Cape Town, 27 to 29 October
Book a meeting at the show: OfficeForms

More than Packaging. Integrated solutions for the future of food and beverage production.