Trevor Kamins, group CEO at Hally Labels says, “We have
been looking for extra capacity in Australia, particularly to serve NSW and
Victoria. Everyone knows AC Labels is an excellent business; the culture, the
structure, the cost base, the management and staff, and the facilities are in
tremendous shape. It will be a great asset to the Hally Labels business.”
AC Labels was owned by Frank Gavrilos and his management
team, who bought it in 2004 from the founders. AC Labels was originally
established in 1974 as a family owned business. Before buying AC Labels
Gavrilos was CEO of labelstock supplier Avery Dennison.
Gavrilos, who remains a shareholder, and his team will stay
at AC Labels. Kamins says that there will be no restructuring for the foreseeable
future, and no redundancies, but he does expect to see synergies.
The business operates at Wetherill Park in Sydney with
sales throughout Australia, employing approximately 50 people.
Hally Labels is a family-owned specialist labelling
business that has been operating since 1965. It operates three manufacturing
sites across NZ and Australia, employs approximately 200 people, and has sales
throughout the South Pacific Region. Group head office is based in Auckland and
the Australian headquarters are located in Darra, Brisbane, which currently has
85 employees.
Hally set up the Darra business, but Kamins says he
favoured buying an existing business for expansion into the southern states, he
says, “AC Labels not only has a great fleet of flexo and digital presses, but
it has excellent procurement, warehousing and distribution.”
A statement issued by Halls Labels says: This investment
offers Hally Labels an opportunity to grow its business by incorporating a complementary
business that includes an excellent management team and skilled personnel, like
equipment and a complementary customer base. It will also enable Hally Labels
to develop a greater share of the Australian labelling market, strengthen its
operations, provide additional opportunities for staff, and a more secure
future for the business through the strategic continuous growth program. The
digital capability existing in AC Labels will complement the Hally Labels New
Zealand digital press business and provide the Australian business with
increased flexibility and an improved market offer.
Hally Labels is one of the top three label printers in New
Zealand, and is now probably one of the top half dozen in Australia. Between Auckland and Sydney it now has
four HP Indigo label presses and a battery of flexo presses.
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