What B&F Papers does

B&F Papers is a New Zealand family-owned distributor of paper, packaging, and label products, founded in 1931 and currently led by the third generation of the Tripp family under Managing Director Penelope Tripp. The company operates as an importer and distributor — not a mill — sourcing product from more than 20 countries and supplying it to commercial printers, packaging converters, and label producers across New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

The product range is organized into two categories. Sheet-fed papers span coated, digital, packaging, speciality, uncoated, and utility grades. Roll-fed materials cover gloss paper, laminating film, specialty pressure-sensitive labelstocks, synthetic pressure-sensitive labelstocks, unsupported tag, and variable data pressure-sensitive labelstocks. The firm also holds FSC chain-of-custody certification, enabling it to supply certified papers to print buyers with sustainability mandates. Capacity is anchored by an Auckland-based Atlas Titan slitter rewinder for roll label converting, added in 2016.

B&F Papers runs a direct sales model through three regional offices — the Auckland (Takanini) headquarters plus Wellington and Christchurch branches — with quote-based, per-job pricing. The company is privately held with no external funding, sits in an 11–50 employee headcount band, and self-positions as the only 100% New Zealand-owned print supply company in the market.

Name

B&F Papers

Legal name

B&F Papers

Website

https://bfpapers.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

B&F Papers is a New Zealand family-owned distributor of paper, packaging, and label products, founded in 1931, supplying commercial printers, packaging converters, and label producers across New Zealand and the Pacific Islands from offices in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paper & Packaging Distribution

NAICS

Converted Paper Product Manufacturing (3222), Paper Manufacturing (322)

SIC

Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products (5110), Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods (No Contaners/Boxes) (2670)

akta.pro primary industry

Paper Converting Services (slitting, sheeting, coating, laminating, rewinding) (IMAMAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Printing & Writing Paper Manufacturing (IMAMAEAA), Colored, Art & Premium Paper Manufacturing (IMAMAEAG)

Keywords

• Paper distribution
• Label materials
• Packaging products
• Specialty papers
• Print supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Takanini

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Paper and Packaging Distribution: B&F Papers generates revenue through the distribution and sale of paper, packaging materials, and labels. The company carries a complete range of printer papers, boards, synthetics, laminates, and self-adhesives sourced from over 20 different countries worldwide.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

B&F Papers manufactures and distributes a comprehensive range of printer papers, boards, synthetics, laminates, and self-adhesive label materials for the New Zealand and Pacific Islands commercial printing market. The company splits its offering into sheet-fed papers (Coated, Digital, Packaging, Speciality, Uncoated, Utility) and roll-fed label materials (Gloss Paper, Laminating Film, and Pressure Sensitive products), sourced from over 20 countries and supplied through three regional offices.

Product overview

B&F Papers offers a comprehensive portfolio of paper, packaging, and label products organized into two main product lines: Sheet-Fed products (Coated, Digital, Packaging, Speciality, Uncoated, Utility papers) and Roll-Fed products (Gloss Paper, Laminating Film, Specialty Pressure Sensitive, Synthetic Pressure Sensitive, Unsupported Tag, Variable Data Pressure Sensitive). The company also provides customer resources including a Glossary, Label Templates, Paper Calculator, Paper Price Comparison, Paper Sizes, and Craft Ideas tools. As New Zealand's only 100% owned and operated print supply company, B&F supplies printer papers, boards, synthetics, laminates, and self-adhesives from over 20 countries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sheet-Fed Paper Products Sheet-fed printing papers available in Coated, Digital, Packaging, Speciality, Uncoated, and Utility categories for versatile commercial and specialty printing applications across New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
• Roll-Fed Label Materials Roll-fed label materials including Gloss Paper, Laminating Film, Specialty Pressure Sensitive, Synthetic Pressure Sensitive, Unsupported Tag, and Variable Data Pressure Sensitive products for high-speed label production.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NZ Police Managers' GuildminorGTM or Marketing PartnerB&F supports the NZ Police Managers' Guild, established in 1997 as a charitable trust that provides information to help people avoid becoming victims of crime and works toward safer communities.
• Auckland PhilharmoniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerB&F is a proud sponsor of the Auckland Philharmonia, a major orchestral ensemble in New Zealand.
• Will & AbleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB&F provides the substrate for labels used by Will & Able, New Zealand's only range of eco-friendly cleaning products that create jobs for New Zealanders with disabilities.
• Pride in PrintminorGTM or Marketing PartnerB&F is a sponsor of the Pride in Print Awards, which showcase New Zealand printing excellence and celebrate the passion and pride of the New Zealand print industry.
• New Zealand Forest Products LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs of 1989, the company sourced a large proportion of paper from New Zealand Forest Products Ltd, representing a significant domestic supply partnership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Antalis: One of the world's largest paper, packaging, and visual communication distributors, with presence across Europe, APAC, and beyond; competes with B&F on multinational accounts and global sourcing scale.
• Domtar: North American integrated pulp and paper manufacturer producing printing, specialty, and packaging papers; relevant as both supplier and competitor across commercial print and packaging substrate categories.
• Mondi Group: Global paper and packaging manufacturer with strong presence in uncoated and specialty papers; supplies to and competes with merchants like B&F across packaging and printing substrates.
• International Paper: Global paper and packaging manufacturer and distributor; relevant as a major upstream supplier whose products B&F distributes and as a broad incumbent across the same end markets.
• Fujifilm Business Innovation: Major supplier of digital printing equipment and consumables to commercial printers in New Zealand; comparable as a participant in the same NZ commercial print supply chain, though with a hardware-led model.

Direct peers

• Ball & Doggett: Australian paper and packaging merchant with a specialty paper focus, serving commercial printers and converters; comparable to B&F's specialty paper and label substrate distribution model.
• Spicers: Australia and New Zealand paper and packaging merchant (now part of the Opal/Visy group), distributing commercial print, label, and packaging substrates to printers and converters across the same geographic footprint as B&F.
• BJ Ball Papers: Trans-Tasman paper merchant distributing printing, packaging, and specialty papers across Australia and New Zealand; directly comparable as a regional paper distributor serving the same commercial printer and converter customer base.
• KW Doggett Fine Paper: Australian fine paper merchant focused on premium, specialty, and sustainable printing papers; comparable to B&F's specialty paper range and FSC-certified positioning for printers and designers.

Regional players

• OfficeMax New Zealand: New Zealand office supplies and paper reseller serving SMEs and corporate customers; overlaps with B&F on commodity printing paper and office paper distribution in the same domestic market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bfpapers
• Instagraminstagram.com/bfpapers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bfpapers

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 B&F Papers