Unipak: two decades of excellence – A chat with Julian and Hank Anderson
For over 20 years, Unipak™ has been a trusted name in personal protection and food packaging across New Zealand, and it felt like the perfect time to reflect on the journey. With a cuppa in hand, we sat down with founder Julian Anderson and his son, General Manager Hank Anderson, to chat about the milestones, challenges, and what’s next.
From humble beginnings to industry leader
Julian smiles as he remembers the early days. “I started Unipak back in 2004 as a small wholesaler, just focusing on getting quality gloves to businesses. I never imagined we’d grow into a national leader. It’s been quite the ride.”
Hank, who took over as General Manager in 2020, nods. “Dad built this company on trust and hard work. By 2005, our reseller network had expanded nationwide – suddenly, we were supplying businesses from Cape Reinga to Bluff and also importing some food packaging products for businesses asking.”
“A key moment for us was in 2006,” Julian adds. “We onboarded a major New Zealand agriculture company, and demand for disposable gloves doubled overnight. That really cemented our place in the industry.”
Then in 2012, a game-changing partnership with Bastion Australia led to the creation of Bastion New Zealand, our dedicated personal protection brand. “That was a huge step,” says Julian. “It allowed us to offer even more specialised solutions and a whole range of top-quality personal protection products.”
The food packaging side of the business kept evolving too. “In 2015, we introduced a compostable packaging range, which was a big move towards sustainability,” Hank says. “Then in 2016, we launched Emperor™ and Green Choice™ for the food packaging products– two brands that helped us build a stronger presence in the market.”
Supporting communities and expanding reach
Beyond business growth, Unipak has always been about giving back. “In 2019, we donated 500,000 gloves to Starship Hospital and Whanganui Hospice,” Julian says proudly. “That kind of support is just part of our DNA.”
This commitment continued during the pandemic, when Unipak became an essential partner to New Zealand’s healthcare sector. “We supplied 246 million protective gloves and clothing to frontline medical staff,” Hank recalls. “It was a crazy time, but we knew we had a responsibility.”
Hank stepped into the leadership role just before the pandemic. “It was definitely a challenging time to take over,” he admits. “But our tight-knit team pushed through. We kept growing, investing millions into product development and expanding our manufacturing partnerships into Southeast Asia.”
In 2021, Unipak also launched an industrial safety glove range and ramped up donations, including 400,000 disposable gloves to the SPCA. “It’s about more than business; it’s about supporting the communities we’re part of,” says Hank.
A new era of Unipak
Now celebrating 20 years in business with over 1,500 customers (and many more through our reseller network), Unipak is evolving once again. “Last year (in 2024) we refreshed our brand – officially becoming Unipak™ instead of Uni-Pak,” Hank says. “Our product brands, Bastion, Green Choice, and Emperor™, also got a makeover, a look and personality to reflect who we had become and becoming.”
Julian adds, “It’s about staying relevant and making sure we’re always improving. The heart of this company has always been about keeping people safe for life’s best moments. That won’t change.”
Giving back remains a top priority. “We continue to donate personal protection products as well as funding to charities across New Zealand and further afield to those supported by the Global Funding Team; including the Rapid Relief Team, One School Global, the Vision Foundation, the National Assistance Fund, and the Benevolent Relief Fund.”
Looking ahead, Unipak has big plans. “We’ve launched a brand-new eCommerce website and started developing new state-of-the-art offices and larger warehouse facilities,” Hank shares. “We’re focused on growth, and making sure we’re always there for our customers.”
Through two decades of innovation, expansion, and community engagement, Unipak remains a trusted partner for Kiwi businesses. And with Julian and Hank leading the way, the future looks brighter than ever.