Attwoods – the packaging people, has packed up and moved its distribution centre to a new location in Hamilton’s fast-growing north.
The packaging supplier officially opened its new doors at Arthur Porter Drive in May, to around 150 guests, including team, family, suppliers and customers.
Outgrowing the existing site at The Boulevard within seven years meant some thorough planning was needed to provide facilities that would cater to the commercial explosion that has taken place in Waikato in recent times.
The Arthur Porter site was the opportunity to design a building that would future-proof the company.
The Attwood family requested a building that would be “flagship” for the future and Downey Construction alongside project manager Stephen van Wonderen have certainly achieved this.
“To use the term ‘gobsmacked’ is an understatement – it is a significant milestone in the company’s 66-year history,” said operations manager Bruce Chapman.
The approximately 3000-square metre building built by Downey Construction (on time and under budget) has a modern design, with a carefully thought out production set-up.
It provides a more efficient and user-friendly environment to cater to their ever-expanding customer base. It has an automated picking order system installed, and the property has plenty of room for expansion, one that will serve the company well in “The Golden Triangle” – Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga.
The design, internal warehouse systems and computer systems were all done in-house, led by project manager Stephen van Wonderen. To get some ideas, they were given the opportunity to view the facilities of Farmers’ distribution centre and Torpedo7 to see how they operate. Attwoods was grateful for the opportunity and utilised their experience.
The family business sells an extensive range of packaging including boxes, cardboard tubes, strapping, bubble, pallet wrap and packaging tape to name a few. Recently, industrial safety supplies have been added to the range. They also provide cafeteria supplies and commercial stationery, plus much more with more than 8000 product lines.
The company is built on solid family and old-fashioned values – integrity, honesty service and quality. The business was started in 1953 in Auckland by Eddie Attwood who once said, “Customers are not an interruption to our work, they are the purpose of it”.
In 1967, Attwoods branched into Waikato and since then the business has moved to several new locations as larger premises were required due to rapid growth. The first store was set up in Keddell St, Frankton, Hamilton. George Rae was the manager initially. The company moved to Sunshine Avenue in Te Rapa in 1978, and Rae retired in 1987. Kerry Murray took over and in 2012 they moved again to The Boulevard, Te Rapa. Tere Campbell is now the Hamilton branch manager. Working with him is a small but experienced team and they are extremely enthusiastic about this latest move.
The Hamilton branch is very important to the overall performance of the company accounting for nearly 25 percent of annual turnover. It is well placed to cover other areas such as Pokeno, Drury and Papakura as they continue to grow.
Eddie Attwood saw the staff as an extension of his family, and his values have continued today with many of the staff long-serving. They appreciate the amicable working environment.
The Attwood family owns the business and are still heavily involved. With Milton Attwood, Eddie’s son, as the managing director, and three grandsons, Carl Attwood, Ryan Attwood and Sam Jones, all involved it will remain a family business for some time to come. Milton has indicated his impending retirement and has appointed joint CEOs Carl Attwood and John Isemonger to take over.
The business now operates nationally in Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton and Mount Maunganui.
