In this exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Steven Wright sits down with Ben Hertzman, President of Progress Luv2Pak and the visionary driving the launch of Gather Packaging. With a rich family legacy spanning over 100 years, Ben shares how his company is redefining Canadian manufacturing by investing in cutting-edge technology and creating premium, sustainable packaging solutions right here at home. As global supply chains face increasing uncertainty, Ben highlights the critical advantages of local production—from superior quality and customization to mitigating risks tied to tariffs and overseas delays. His forward-thinking approach not only strengthens brand experiences for major retailers but also fuels a renewed sense of Canadian pride and resilience in manufacturing.
Ben Hertzman is the President of Progress Luv2Pak, a family-led packaging company with over a century of history. Founded in 1917, the company has grown from manufacturing hat boxes in Toronto to becoming a global leader in custom, sustainable packaging solutions. Under Ben’s leadership, Progress Luv2Pak partners with iconic brands like Canada Goose, Williams Sonoma, and Mejuri, combining innovation with a deep commitment to sustainability.
What drove the decision to launch gather packaging now and what needs does it solve?
Our company, Progress Luv2Pak, is a legacy Canadian business with over 100 years of experience in supply and packaging. With a proud heritage of serving Canadian retailers, I’d venture to say that nearly every retailer featured in your publication has been a customer of ours at some point — and if they haven’t yet, chances are they will be.
Our story began as a manufacturer of hat boxes and gift boxes for iconic brands like Hudson’s Bay and Holt Renfrew in downtown Toronto, near the St. Lawrence Market. Over the decades, we grew into a trusted packaging partner for major Canadian and U.S. retailers, evolving alongside the industry.
About 15 years ago, we made the strategic decision to exit manufacturing — but what’s old is new again. We firmly believe the future of production lies in bringing supply chains closer to home. With that in mind, my father David and I made a significant investment in our facility near York University, undertaking a multi-million dollar renovation and acquiring state-of-the-art equipment. Today, we’re proud to provide Canadian retailers with world-class shopping bags — made right here at home.
Are there misconceptions people might have about thinking it’s got to come from China because it’s cheaper?
Much to the contrary. There are so many benefits to buying something locally. De-risking your supply chain by having domestic sources is one of the best things you can do for your business.
I try to buy as much locally as I can because I know that when there’s instability in the global economy—tariffs aside—there’s always something. Every year, without question, there’s a rail strike or a port strike, or the cost of freight goes through the roof. There are shortages in labor, or just general unpredictability you come to expect. When you can mitigate that risk by buying something locally, that’s a huge load off your shoulders.
When it comes to domestically manufactured shopping bags—which is the category we’re producing—it’s paper shopping bags with a twisted paper handle. The kind you’d get with takeout from Starbucks or Uber Eats. That’s what we’re making, but at an elevated level.
Historically, local manufacturers are commodity providers. That means the quality is acceptable—not always great, but acceptable. The print quality isn’t amazing. The bags are a little rough. The pricing is fair, though often high, and the service isn’t always where it needs to be.
What we aim to provide is a cut above.
We’ve invested in state-of-the-art printing technology that allows us to make vibrant graphics on shopping bags—something no other North American manufacturer can currently do. We’ve also invested in state-of-the-art converting equipment. We have a few machines that produce elevated paper shopping bags called turn-top or J-cut, which are often used by higher-end retail brands. We’re the only manufacturer on the continent with these machines, which we’re very proud of.
We’ve also invested in machinery that can apply an adhesive strip inside the bag. If you’ve ordered delivery from McDonald’s or Tim Hortons, you’ve seen these tamper-resistant strips—we can do that, too.
Because we’ve progressed, my legacy business has catered to the most demanding retailers for so many years. We’ve learned how to produce products of very high quality, and that’s exactly what we’re bringing forward into our manufacturing business.
These are bags that not only print beautifully, but function properly. I can imagine everyone reading this has had the experience of a paper shopping bag where the bottom falls out or the handle tears off. That’s not what you’ll find here.
You’ll find a beautifully printed bag, made with exceptionally smooth paper, with handles that can hold up to 40 pounds. The handles won’t fall off, and the bottom won’t collapse. The bag will function properly. The level of quality we’ve built into every stage of the manufacturing process ensures you’re getting something you really won’t find made by any other North American manufacturer.
Let’s talk about building a factory in Canada and why that was important to the vision of the company as it launches and grows.
Canada runs through my blood—it’s where I’ve raised my family, and it’s always been home for our business. We’ve proudly operated as a Canadian company for 108 years, so when it came time to build a factory, it was a no-brainer: we were going to do it here.
We own a building near Keele and Finch, not far from York University, and for us, supporting the local economy was incredibly important. For so many reasons, we felt it was critical to invest in Canadian manufacturing and build our facility on home soil.
One of the things we’re most proud of is being able to bring back people who were once part of our team—some from as far back as the 1980s. Our current plant manager was one of our first printing press operators in our original paper box factory, and he’s returned to lead this new chapter with us. That continuity and legacy mean a lot.
We’re also able to support Canadian suppliers—for paper, glue, ink, corrugated boxes—and we’re creating meaningful local jobs in the process. At a time when Canadian pride feels stronger than ever, that means everything to us.
We encourage any retailer considering working with us to come visit the plant. We’ve built a state-of-the-art facility that truly reflects our values: bright, clean, efficient, and inspiring. When you walk in, you’ll see beautiful shopping bags rolling off brand-new equipment—and you’ll feel the care and quality in every step. Being able to do all of this here, at home, makes it even more rewarding.
How can Gather Packaging help retailers regain control and reduce risk because of the the state of Tariffs?
What you do know is that when you buy something made domestically, you’re de-risking your supply chain. It’s one less thing to worry about. You know exactly where your product is coming from—and you can come and see it for yourself.
Many of the brands we work with care deeply about their image and packaging. They often visit the production floor during printing to approve their jobs in real time, and we welcome that. We want retailers to know: you’re invited. You can see your bags coming off the line, approve the print, and ensure everything meets your brand’s standards—without getting on a plane or waiting four to six months for overseas delivery.
Even if there might be a slight cost saving with offshore manufacturing, buying locally is a smart investment. It de-risks your operations, supports Canadian business, and gives you peace of mind.
What makes this even more compelling is the technology we’ve invested in. Our equipment allows us to produce elevated bags—like turn-top and J-cut styles—that historically were only available overseas. We’re now the only manufacturer on the continent with this machinery.
From what I’m hearing from friends in retail and senior leaders at some of Canada’s biggest brands, the surge in demand for Canadian-made products is unlike anything they’ve seen in their lifetimes.
So when you can offer your customers a choice—a bag made overseas, or a beautifully crafted, competitively priced paper bag made right here in Canada—the decision is easy.
I’ve never seen this kind of surge of interest for Canadian business in my lifetime, it’s a good time to be a Canadian manufacturer.
A shopping bag is a retailer’s or food service company’s walking billboard and to have that as your the key touchpoint to every customer who passes through your stores or your restaurants with your branding on it, to pair that up with a proudly made in Canadian message is a nice pairing to have.
When was the launch of Gather Packaging?
Our factory began running its first order just a couple of months ago. While the facility has been under construction for several years, these machines take a long time to produce, ship, and install—so getting to this point has been a major milestone for us.
We’ve been fulfilling our first order for a major global apparel retailer and are now preparing for broader production. We will have limited capacity available, and we expect it to sell out quickly as other retailers, grocers, and food service brands look to source their shopping bags locally.
The response so far has been phenomenal. Retailers who have toured our plant have looked around and said, “Wow.” It’s unlike most North American factories they’ve visited. The ability to purchase a high-quality shopping bag domestically simply hasn’t existed until now, and that’s a game-changer.
To give an example, in this industry, it’s historically been impossible to get a sample of your bag before placing an order. That’s just been the norm across North America. But with us, you can. Another industry standard has been fixed sizes—manufacturers only offer a small selection of set dimensions. Our machinery allows us to make adjustments, so if a client needs a bag that’s slightly taller or wider, we can accommodate that.
Many of our legacy customers—major retailers who’ve trusted us for decades—are now relying on us not just to source globally, but to manufacture something beautiful right here at home. That message is resonating.
Just recently, I was speaking with a senior leader at one of Canada’s largest retailers, and I said, “You’re buying a Canadian bag made with Canadian paper.” He looked at me and said, “Why wouldn’t I want to do that?”
Let’s talk about the vision for the next few years, growing while maintaining obsession for quality and service. Tell me about some of the future growth plans here as business progresses.
We’re doing our small part—and proud of it. What I can say is that there’s room to expand our capabilities and add additional manufacturing lines within our plant.
Historically, the best way we’ve grown our business has been by partnering with some of the most iconic Canadian, American, and global brands, and by adapting to serve their needs as they evolve. When a customer comes to us and says, “I love what you’re producing here, but we also use this type of product—can you make it for us?” our answer has always been: “Of course. Let me figure it out.”
In our industry, there are different types of paper bags and a wide range of packaging items that retailers may need. Right now, we’re laser-focused on getting exceptionally good at producing one particular category: twisted-handle paper shopping bags. Technically, we’re manufacturing two types, but it really falls within one core category.
I spend a lot of time on the road—attending equipment shows, visiting manufacturers, and researching the latest technology—so when the time comes to expand, we’ll be ready to bring in the most advanced paper packaging production equipment available.
There’s definitely room for growth. I can already foresee additional product lines in our future, though I’ll keep the details under wraps for now. But what will never change are our core principles: a strong commitment to quality, a relentless focus on customer service, and making everything right here at home.
