Tell us about your business.
Abbe is a proudly Australian, family-owned packaging business with a legacy spanning three generations. While the Abbe Group has operated for over 35 years, our roots trace back to 1954 when my grandfather founded Cardboard Containers. In 1991, my father reignited the family’s passion for packaging by reopening a small corrugating plant in Campbellfield. Today, I have the privilege of working alongside my two brothers, Anthony and Christopher, continuing that legacy with pride and purpose. We are extremely proud to have the next O’Sullivan generation entering the family business and working alongside us and the wider team.
We manufacture corrugated cartons for a wide range of industries, also offering retail display solutions, packaging automation and timber pallet manufacturing. Our reach extends across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, with specialist stores to service regional areas in Sunraysia and Far North Queensland. Now with 16 sites and over 1,100 employees, more than 6,500 customers trust us with their corrugated and other packaging requirements annually. Our success is built on strong customer relationships, operational flexibility, and speed to market, all qualities that have embedded our reputation as the most responsive and reliable in the Australian market.
What sets us apart is our agility and our ability to evolve as a business while staying grounded in family values. We’ve grown from a small operation into Australia’s third-largest corrugating packaging business, yet we remain deeply connected to our customers, our people and our heritage.
What has been your greatest success?
It’s difficult to isolate a single moment as our greatest success. In family business, success is rarely defined by one event—it’s built on a series of small wins, thoughtful decisions, and the resilience to learn from setbacks. Over time, these moments compound into something enduring. Family business is a long race, not a sprint. Building resilience and reinvesting both literally and metaphorically pays dividends for future generations, and that long-term mindset has shaped our journey.
If I had to highlight one defining achievement, it would be our recent acquisition of Oji Fibre Solutions Packaging Australia, a Japanese-owned corporate competitor. This strategic acquisition, along with bringing this key entity under Australia family ownership, adding three additional corrugating sites in Melbourne, Sydney, and Yatala, near Brisbane along with four regional stores in Far North Queensland and Mildura. We welcomed 300 new team members into the Abbe family, extending our footprint and capabilities across Queensland.
This move wasn’t just about growth it was about reinforcing our position as a viable, stable alternative to corporate competitors in the corrugated packaging space. With a combined team of well over 1,000 dedicated team members, broader capability across the eastern states and greater capacity to respond to seasonal demand, we’re now better equipped than ever to serve our customers now and for the next generations.
What do you value about FBA?
FBA has been a cornerstone of our journey for the past 17 years. Through Forum Groups, national conferences and peer connections, we’ve gained insights, support and perspective that has helped us navigate both challenges and growth. The trust and camaraderie we’ve built with fellow family business members especially during tough times has been a source of strength.
One of the most valuable aspects of FBA is the opportunity to learn from others who understand the unique dynamics of family enterprise. Whether it’s sharing stories, exploring governance models, or simply connecting over common challenges, FBA fosters a sense of community that champions long-term thinking and mutual support. It’s a place where business meets family, and where both are treated with equal importance.
What advice would you give to other family businesses?
Invest in good advice and understand that the best advice often comes at a cost. Whether it’s legal, financial or strategic, quality guidance pays off in the long run. Don’t cut corners when it comes to governance. Establish clear structures, define roles and create forums that allow for open, honest dialogue. These frameworks aren’t just operational they’re cultural. They create the space for the right conversations to happen at the right time.
One of the unique strengths of family business is the ability to bring different perspectives to the table without the fear of repercussions for speaking up. Healthy challenge is essential, but it only works in an environment built on trust. Encourage debate, welcome differing views, and make space for constructive tension. When you get that balance right, you unlock the full potential of your people and your legacy.
Above all, remember that family business is a privilege. It’s a chance to build something meaningful with the people you care about most. Treat it with care, invest in its future, and celebrate the journey—because it’s one worth sharing.
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