Australian Packaging has been bought by New Zealand’s Gravure Packaging as part of the Kiwi firm’s strategy to expand its business on both sides of the Tasman.
The Sydney packaging printer, which offers eight-colour flexographic printing, solventless lamination and perforation, will maintain its staff and name with its owners retiring.
Gravure Packaging (GPL) managing director Greg Chapman says Australian Packaging’s flexo strengths complement GPL’s gravure expertise and deliver a proven customer base.
“Their customer base is Australia-wide and stretches into New Caledonia and Fiji, with one of the most recognised brands being Mrs Mac’s,” he says.
“The acquisition will provide an opportunity to cross-sell on both sides of the Tasman and it also opens up a new technology for each company.”
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Australian Packaging’s two directors, Ray Cranfield and Dianne Anderson, will be retained for at least 12 months to ensure a smooth transition in all areas of the business.
Peter Barnes will become production manager and Vivienne Tasker the commercial manager while Chapman will split his time between the two companies.
“Once we have bedded in the acquisition, then we can examine the interaction between the two companies from an administrative point of view to see what additional alignments and synergies we can achieve,” Chapman says.
With the Australian enterprise to continue operating under its current trading name, Chapman has moved to provide assurances for the immediate future.
“The previous owners of the business had wanted to retire and, having been approached by a broker on their behalf, we were invited ahead of three other parties to enter the due diligence process,” he says.
“I guess our approach is most closely aligned to their hearts. It is what you would call a responsible sale: one where they wanted the future of the business to be secured and the long-term relationships with employees, customers, and suppliers maintained.
“Those relationships are of paramount importance to both the new and previous owners of Australian Packaging.”
Chapman sees numerous similarities between the two businesses including their size; they have existed for about 30 years; and each comes from a family-owned background.
“The complementary product lines will add a real strength to our overall capabilities,” he says.
“Australia has suffered the same thing we have in New Zealand whereby a lot of manufacturing is moving offshore. But there is enormous potential growth in the packaging sector on both sides of the Tasman.
“People will always need to eat, drink and consume products. And consumers want more convenience around their food products — smaller, individualised portions and very personalised pre-packaged products — so packaging is going to survive and thrive.”
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