K.W. Doggett buys Jaeger Fine Paper

With Doggetts taking over the Brookvale-based firm, Jaeger Fine Papers the consolidation of the paper merchanting industry in Australia continues apace. The move gives Doggetts a presence in all three east coast states and consolidates its reputation as a growing vigorous independent paper merchant.

Industry observers estimate Doggetts is now the fifth largest –and the largest family-owned – paper merchant in Australia with five to ten per cent of the market after the two PaperlinX companies, Daltons and Spicers, then Edwards Dunlop and CPI.

According to Ken Doggett the takeover will spark a major reorganisation of the business with a rapid rebranding as K.W.Doggetts and a move to a more centrally located warehouse somewhere in the western suburbs. The intention is to put in a sheeter to serve the Sydney market.

“We’re going in carefully. We don't take over until July the first. The staff can feel confident that we will grow the business and increase the amount of stock.

Reflecting on the company's rapid growth in recent years he maintains the move to Sydney was a logical step.

“The move makes sense to us. Our mill customers have been at us for years to move into the Sydney market. Whenever they had a new paper they had to get a different company to service one of the biggest market in the country. Now we’ll be able to give them a better service,” he said.

Simon and Nathan Doggett, Ken’s sons, who now work in the company in finance and marketing respectively, negotiated the deal.

“John [Ken’s brother and partner] and I didn’t take part in the negotiations. We’re friends with Tom and didn’t want to sit across the table haggling with him. The boys were the driving force for the deal to go through. They are very eager for us to expand into Sydney. It will make us stronger and put us in a nice and healthy position. It will be a different company in 12 months time.”

Ken said the total cost of the deal is yet to be determined as it depends on the full stocktaking of Jaeger’s warehouse. Tom Baker will stay on with the company, mostly taking on a sales role .