About us
We bring 95 years of experience, we meet the needs of clients throughout New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. We carry a complete range of printing papers, boards, synthetics, laminates and self-adhesives sourced from over 20 different countries, and our extensive range of specialty paper is second-to-none.
Our relationships with many of the world’s leading paper producers enables us to continue adding new print options that offer sustainability and creativity, whilst still guaranteeing quality and value.
Our Journey
A FAMILY BUSINESS
B&F is a family business, founded in 1931 when Charles Tripp purchased an existing paper merchant. To represent the source of the paper it imported, Charles changed that company’s name to British and Foreign Papers Ltd.
In 1946 his son, Ken, returned from service as an officer in the Royal Navy to join the company and continued its growth trajectory.
The third generation of Tripps, Barry, returned from the UK to join the business in 1974, becoming Managing Director in 1987. Barry ultimately handed that title over to his daughter, Penelope, the company’s current Managing Director.
A GROWING BUSINESS
B&F’s growth took off in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s after Ken’s visits to international paper merchants gave him inspiration for the New Zealand market. Exports to the Pacific Islands began, along with expansion into the lower half of the North Island, and a shift to purpose-built premises.
In 1989, the company transitioned to become ‘B&F Papers’, reflecting both common parlance and the fact that the company now sourced a substantial proportion of its paper from New Zealand mills.
In 1993 it was time to open in Christchurch, providing B&F with national distribution. In 1998, the national head office, located in Auckland, was upgraded with purpose-built premises, and in 2014, the Palmerston North branch was relocated to Wellington. B&F still offers service and support from these three regional offices.
AN EVER EVOLVING BUSINESS
In 2016 B&F bought an Atlas Titan slitter rewinder and expanded into the roll label space, now a significant part of the business.
The company has continued to grow, with the Auckland warehouse being extended twice (2011 and 2018) and the purchase of the Wellington premises in 2023/24.
We continue to look at new ways to diversify our revenue and customer base by expanding our packaging range and investing in equipment that supports continued growth.
In 2026, Accolade Packaging joined B&F Papers as part of the wider B&F Group. Accolade specialise in flexible packaging products, equipment and service support and, like B&F Papers, they are 100% NZ owned and operated.
Our Community
B&F is committed to contributing and giving back to the local community by supporting the following causes and events.
NZ POLICE MANAGERS' GUILD
Established in 1997 as a charitable trust, the Police Managers' Guild Trust provides straightforward, useful information that helps people avoid becoming victims of crime and works toward a safer community for you, your families and your businesses.
AUCKLAND PHILHARMONIA
B&F is pleased to sponsor the Auckland Philharmonia. If you aren't already aware of who they are, click here to check out their website.
WILL&ABLE
B&F is happy to provide the substrate for the labels used by Will & Able, New Zealand's only range of eco-friendly cleaning products creating jobs for New Zealanders with disabilities.
PRIDE IN PRINT
As sponsors of the Pride in Print Awards we are proud to join in showcasing New Zealand printing excellence and celebrating the passion and pride of the New Zealand print industry.
EPRO8
The EPro8 School Challenge is an inter-school problem solving competition that encourages students from Year 5 to Year 13 to learn hands-on about science and engineering. B&F is delighted to support young people embrace science and problem-solving.
Our Environment
B&F is committed to being an environmentally responsible company. That commitment is reflected in the products we offer, and the way we operate.
It starts with our core business - paper. Being recyclable and compostable, paper is inherently good for the environment and, in addition, B&F has a full range of environmentally sound papers. We try to ensure that you are aware of the environmental credentials (such as FSC® or PFAS-free) of your paper, so that you can make informed choices. Our spec sheets outline how our products meet various environmental standards, but if you need any advice on picking the best environmental option for your project, just ask your B&F rep.
Our Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification is one further major step we have taken to provide you with papers that have been sourced from well managed and responsible forests.
Our warehouse in Auckland has been built with an emphasis on natural lighting and water conservation.
We go to great lengths to recycle our paper off-cuts, and ream and pallet wrapping, and all of our pallets are returnable and re-used multiple times
PAPER - AN ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICE
Paper is the ultimate regenerative and recyclable product. Paper technology today means that water is recycled and re-used within mills, minimising net consumption; some products require very little water at all.
Forests that produce the majority of the world's paper - and certainly the paper products that B&F stock - are under careful and considered guardianship. There is also a range of other environmental and social standards that govern the industry.
To bust some of the myths about paper, check out Two Sides.
