Overseas trade

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 35

Overseas trade

Originally named Hotel and Catering Services, the Gibsons and Paterson Christchurch branch was previously located in Lichfield Street and owned and managed by Mr Doug Presto, with his partner, Mr Doug Healeg. The company was bought by Gibsons and Paterson in 1960, and renamed to complement its existing Auckland and Wellington operations. The firm moved to Tuam Street in 1962, and to the new Cashel Street premises this month. The late Mr Presto remained as South Island

manager until his retirement in 1974. He was succeeded by Mr Doug Sheldon until 1980, when the present manager, Mr David Mansbridge, was appointed.

What is not so generally known are the activities of Gibpat elsewhere.

Apart from Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland, Gibpat has established itself as the leading specialist table-top supplier in Australia.

Gibpat markets and distributes many New Zealand products — Crown Lynn vitrified ware being the best known, but also New Zealand-made stain-less-steel goods, catering trolley, plastic and polycarbonate “commercial” products (made in Christchurch), and other catering industry items. Operating with main warehouses and showrooms in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Gibpat has been responsible for many millions of export dollars.

Apart from Australia, Gibpat alSo services the Pacific Islands from Auckland, with two export managers covering the Pacific from Papua-New Guinea in the west to Tahiti in the east.