What Kale Print does

Kale Print is a family-owned commercial printing company headquartered in Tauranga, New Zealand, founded in 1984 by Stephen and Jill Kale. The company provides a comprehensive suite of printing and related services, including offset printing (A1 and A2 UV presses plus New Zealand's first RMGT 920ST-4 LED UV press), digital printing (Fujifilm Iridesse six-colour production press with specialty toners), wide format printing (Mimaki JFX600 flatbed), signage, packaging, labels, branded merchandise, in-house graphic design, and finishing services such as PUR, perfect, case, and saddle-stitch binding. Kale Print operates four production sites across Tauranga, Rotorua, Te Awamutu, and Whitianga following three regional acquisitions between 2021 and 2024, and is constructing a 2,600 square metre purpose-built headquarters at Tauriko Business Estate for early 2026.

The company serves a horizontal mix of small and medium businesses, large corporate and government organisations, and other printers through a trade print channel, positioning itself as one of New Zealand's largest trade print suppliers. Pricing is quote-based and project-driven across offset, digital, and wide format work, with separate revenue streams from print services, signage and display, packaging, labels, merchandise, graphic design, finishing, and logistics. Customer relationships span multi-year enterprise accounts (CrestClean, FMG, Ballance, FUJIFILM Business Innovation, Tauranga City Council) alongside a high-volume SMB and trade print tail supported by an online ordering portal.

Kale Print differentiates on technology adoption (LED UV, Iridesse specialty toners, Kongsberg cutting, Mimaki flatbed), sustainability credentials (FSC chain of custody, Toitū Net Carbonzero certification aligned with ISO 14064-1), and award-winning craft quality, with consistent PrintNZ Pride in Print gold medals from 2019 through 2026 and an NPS of 93. The business has no outside institutional investors, operates with a 46-person workforce as of the 2023 reporting period, and generated 27 percent revenue growth alongside 31 percent headcount expansion during that period.

Name

Kale Print

Legal name

Kale Print Limited

Website

https://kaleprint.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kale Print is a family-owned New Zealand commercial printer offering offset, digital, wide format, signage, packaging, labels, and merchandise services to SMBs, corporates, government, and trade printers across four North Island production sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Printing Services

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Printing (32311), Printing and Related Support Activities (3231)

SIC

Commercial Printing (2750), Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Printing (Short-Run, Variable Data) (MPAJALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Finishing & Post-Press Services (Cutting, Folding, Collating, Laminating, Foil, Emboss) (MPAJALAF), Direct-to-Container & Digital Printing (Inkjet/Laser) (IMALAKAF), Flexible Packaging Printing (Film/Poly/Paper Print) (IMALAKAG)

Keywords

• Commercial printing services
• Offset printing
• Digital printing
• Wide format printing
• Packaging printing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tauranga

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Print Services: Offset printing (short-run to high-volume books and posters), digital printing, wide format printing for various materials
2. Signage and Display: Maps, plans, election signage, point-of-sale displays, vehicle wraps, building signage, window graphics, large posters, rigid signs, pull-up banners, exhibition walls
3. Packaging: Product packaging solutions for small and large quantities with prototyping and quality control
4. Labels: Labels supplied on sheets or rolls, custom laser-cut shapes
5. Branded Merchandise: Promotional merchandise including pens, tote bags, mugs, apparel and other branded items
6. Graphic Design Services: File setup to full brand development, design services for artwork
7. Finishing Services: Post-print processes including folding, trimming, laminating, binding (saddle stitch, perfect binding, case binding, spiral binding, PUR binding)
8. Logistics: Delivery and installation services for signage and print products

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kale Print provides a comprehensive range of commercial printing services spanning digital, offset, and wide format production, supported by in-house graphic design, finishing, and delivery/installation logistics. The company manufactures custom print products including business stationery, books, brochures, signage, packaging, labels, and branded merchandise for small businesses, large corporates, government organisations, and trade printers across New Zealand.

Product overview

Kale Print is a family-owned commercial printing company providing a comprehensive suite of print products and services. The core offering spans three main printing technologies: Digital Printing (Iridesse Production Press with specialty colours), Offset Printing (A1 and A2 UV Offset presses with LED UV technology), and Wide Format Printing (Mimaki JFX600 Flatbed). Supporting services include Graphic Design, Finishing (binding, laminating, die-cutting, embellishments), and Logistics. The product portfolio includes Business Cards, Flyers, Brochures, Posters, Pads, Pull-up Banners, Calendars, Christmas Cards, Annual Reports, Books, Presentation Folders, Signage, Packaging, Labels, and Branded Merchandise. The company operates multiple acquired brands including Advocate Print (Rotorua), Rosetown Print (Te Awamutu), and Endeavour Print (Whitianga). Kale Print serves small business to large corporate and government organisations, positioning as one of New Zealand's largest trade print suppliers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Advocate Print: Rotorua-based printing company acquired by Kale Print in November 2021. Founded by the Merrick family in the early 1980s. Retains its name as a subsidiary brand.
• Rosetown Print
• Endeavour Print

Products and services

• Digital Printing Short-run digital printing services using the Iridesse Production Press with six colour stations, capable of outputting specialty colours including white, gold, silver, and clear varnish. Serves clients needing premium embellishments without offset setup costs.
• Offset Printing Traditional offset printing services using A1 and A2 UV Offset printing presses, including LED UV technology for instant drying and compatibility with various substrates. Handles short-run to high-volume books and posters.
• Wide Format Printing Large format printing services for signage, displays, and promotional materials using the Mimaki JFX600 UV Flatbed Printer for direct-to-board printing on rigid substrates.
• Graphic Design In-house graphic design service providing file setup through full brand development, from artwork assistance to creative brand solutions for print, signage, and merchandise projects.
• Finishing Services Post-print finishing services including folding, trimming, laminating, die-cutting, embossing, debossing, binding (saddle stitch, perfect binding, spiral binding, case binding, PUR binding), and specialty embellishments.
• Logistics and Installation Delivery and on-site installation services including freight, packing, and professional installation of signage and large-format printed materials across New Zealand.
• Signage Large format signage products including maps, plans, election signage, point-of-sale displays, vehicle graphics, building signage, window graphics, exhibition walls, and rigid signs. Produced for businesses and government clients nationwide.
• Packaging Custom packaging solutions for small and large quantities with prototyping and quality control for retail packaging, food packaging, and product packaging.
• Labels Custom labels supplied on sheets or rolls, slittable for easy separation or laser-cut into custom shapes for various product and packaging applications.
• Branded Merchandise Promotional merchandise including pens, tote bags, mugs, apparel, lanyards, bags, and giftware branded with client logos for corporate gifting and brand visibility.
• Business Cards Business card printing with various finishes including foil, spot UV, white toner on coloured card, and specialty embellishments. Available via online ordering and custom quote.
• Flyers Single or multi-panel flyer printing with various paper stocks and finishes for promotional and informational use.
• Brochures Brochure printing with folding options including bi-fold, concertina/Z-fold, gate fold, double gate fold, and roll fold.
• Posters Large format poster printing for indoor and outdoor use.
• Pads Notepad and document pad printing for office and promotional use.
• Pull-up Banners Portable retractable banner systems for events and displays.
• Calendars Custom calendar printing including wall calendars and specialty binding styles like wire binding.
• Christmas Cards Festive greeting card printing for holiday communications and corporate gifting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Net Promoter Score of 93 from customer surveys
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Mimakicore1 July 2026Supplied Mimaki JFX600 UV Flatbed Printer enabling direct-to-board printing on wide range of rigid materials. Reduces vinyl mounting processes and eliminates approximately 312 square metres of vinyl waste monthly.
• Priority One - Partnering for NaturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Connected through Priority One membership, Kale Print participates in biodiversity projects in Tauranga Moana. Team participates in corporate volunteer days on QEII covenant land, supporting Bay of Plenty's goal of predator-free 2050.
• Fujifilm New ZealandcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2023Supplied Screen PlateRite PTR8600NII-S eight-page thermal CTP processing up to 32 plates per hour. Supports Kale Print's offset presses (Komori and RMGT) with improved reliability, quality, and productivity.
• FUJIFILM Business Innovation (formerly Fuji Xerox)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2021Supplied Iridesse Production Press with specialty toners (white, gold, silver, metallic, neon pink, clear varnish). Also provided training for production, studio, and sales teams. The partnership enables wider range of embellishments for Bay of Plenty clients at fraction of conventional manufacturing costs.
• Fuji Xerox New ZealandcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 August 2020Supplied Esko Kongsberg XN24 cutting table with powerful 3kW engine and automatic tool adjusting system. Partnership enables diverse range of signage, packaging solutions, and product development including furniture and flooring for boats.
• Cyber NZ / RMGTcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2019Supplied New Zealand's first RMGT 920ST-4 LED UV printing press. Installation support from Japan through to first commercial print job within three weeks. Backup support and engineer on call.
• CrestClean / RecycleKiwistrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 201925-year working relationship. Kale Print produces RecycleKiwi initiative materials - over 5900 free resource packs with 230,000 waste separation stickers distributed to schools and organisations nationwide. Partnership supports environmental education in te reo Māori.
• PrintNZstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry advocacy organisation that runs Pride in Print Awards. PrintNZ champions and celebrates the best in the printing business, elevating the print industry across Aotearoa New Zealand.
• EnvirohubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBay of Plenty environmental organisation Kale Print contacts for predator free initiatives. Envirohub provides free pest traps for personal backyard action.
• Bay Conservation AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional environmental organisation supporting biodiversity projects in Tauranga that Kale Print engages with through Partnering for Nature initiative.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IVE Group: ASX-listed Australian print and marketing services group with offset, digital, wide-format, packaging, and labels. Comparable as a broader ANZ incumbent offering overlapping capabilities across the same product categories Kale Print serves, but at significantly larger scale.
• Transcontinental Printing: Canadian-based large-scale printing and packaging group with offset, digital, and packaging capabilities across North America. Comparable as a broader industry incumbent offering overlapping commercial print and packaging services, though serving a different geography.

Emerging players

• Warehouse Stationery: NZ retail chain offering in-store printing, copying, and basic signage services to consumers and small businesses. Comparable as an emerging player encroaching on the low-end print market with convenient walk-in services, though lacking Kale Print's premium offset, embellishment, and trade capabilities.
• Cimpress: Parent of Vistaprint and several mass-customization print businesses, operating centralized production for business cards, marketing materials, signage, and packaging. Comparable as a digital-first mass-customization print platform competing for the same SMB and small-enterprise print spend.

Direct peers

• Minuteman Press: Global franchise commercial printing network providing digital, offset, signage, and marketing materials to SMB and mid-market customers. Comparable business model offering comprehensive print services with a mix of walk-in and trade work.
• Snap Print & Design: ANZ franchise network offering business cards, flyers, brochures, signage, and marketing materials to SMB customers. Directly comparable product mix targeting small businesses with online ordering and standardized print offerings.
• Blue Star Group: One of New Zealand's largest commercial printing groups, offering offset, digital, and large-format print plus packaging and labels. Directly comparable as a multi-location NZ trade and commercial printer competing for the same enterprise, government, and trade customers.
• Soar Print: Wellington-based NZ commercial printer offering offset, digital, large-format and finishing services. Comparable mid-market NZ commercial printer with similar one-stop product mix including signage, packaging, and design services.

Others

• Spicers Paper: ANZ paper and substrates wholesaler supplying Kale Print's press operations. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant providing critical inputs (FSC-certified papers) to NZ print production rather than directly competing for end-customer print work.

Regional players

• Adprint: Auckland-based NZ commercial printer offering offset, digital, large-format, and signage. Comparable mid-sized NZ regional printer with similar one-stop product offering targeting Auckland and upper North Island customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/kaleprint
• Facebookfacebook.com/KalePrint
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kale-print

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kale Print