With more than three decades of supplying packaging solutions to Australia’s food and beverage sector, Plasdene Glass-Pak plays a key role in a brand’s identity. Plasdene Glass-Pak began in1987, with zero sales and just its founder Ken Pearson. This article first appeared in the 2022 January/February edition of Food & Drink Business.
Fast forward to 2022 and the company is the largest independent, family-owned packaging distribution business in the country with more than 10,000 SKUs.
Plasdene supplies glass and plastic bottles, jars, containers, closures, cartons, dividers, cans, flexible and bulk packaging from hundreds of manufacturing platforms, globally.
Pearson says the company’s national presence allows it to offer an “unparalleled” range of local and imported products.
“We have seven packaging showrooms and distribution centres across Australia in every capital city.
“Our sophisticated sourcing capabilities, inventory management and extensive warehousing capability ensures we’re well placed to support customers through every stage of their packaging and procurement process,” he says.
Since the company’s infancy, Pearson has instilled a culture of “make it happen”, which has manifested into the company’s Packaging Plaza concept, affording choice of product and supply regardless of scale.
“We long ago recognised a genuine market need for a packaging distribution model with a strong service culture in Australia. We bring together a multitude of packaging formats sourced from hundreds of manufacturing platforms around the world, and make the products accessible to all,” he explains.
Berry farmers and multi-award-winning jam and condiment makers Nicki and Dave Penn credit Plasdene with playing a central role in their business Cuttaway Creek.
“We have been dealing with Plasdene since our business began almost twenty years ago. As our primary supplier of glass packaging, it has played a vital role in the development and ongoing growth of the Cuttaway Creek brand and business.
“From assisting in the design of our signature embossed jars to ensuring consistent supply and a high level of quality control, all of our dealings with Plasdene and their staff have been positive and productive,” Dave Penn says.
Pearson says the Penns’ experience reflects on the depth of knowledge, expertise, and global sourcing resourcefulness of the company’s business development unit (BDU).
The BDU works with customers from the initial project brief to product delivery. It can provide a presentation of off-shelf globally sourced packaging options, assist with design concepts, co-ordinate mould development, troubleshoot, collaborate with design and marketing teams, provide technical advice, and liaise directly with the manufacturer.
“The team takes the hard work out of a customer’s search for that special packaging that will encapsulate their brand, while delivering against the client’s timeframe, profile, and budget,” he says.
“There has to be mutual growth, profit, and security for a partnership to succeed. Our premium service gives you improved productivity. Our inventory and supply management reduces your costs. And our stock holdings, global sourcing capability and ability to deliver cost effective, signature custom packaging, ultimately increase your sales and bottom line,” Pearson says.
At Plasdene, packaging is its expertise, but an enduring supply partnership is its commitment.
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