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An Indigenous-owned toilet paper startup that directs 50 per cent of profits to the Yalari Foundation will have greater business-to-business (B2B) reach after entering a distribution partnership with Bunzl ANZ, representing another milestone for Yarn'n after striking a deal with Woolworths Group (ASX: WOW) earlier this year.
Founded in 2023, Brisbane-based Yarn'n manufactures 100 per cent recycled and Forest Stewardship Council-certified toilet paper locally, with designs from First Nations artists and half the profits going towards scholarships for Indigenous children from regional and remote communities.
Yarn'n CEO Lane Stockton expected the Woolworths agreement would represent 40 per cent of turnover in the near term, and now expects the new Bunzl partnership will lift B2B distribution volume of its "Our Bunji" range by 20-30 per cent, marking an exciting step forward for the company to drive meaningful change at scale.
"Over time, as awareness and demand for culturally aligned, sustainable products grow, we expect this partnership could help Yarn’n double or even triple its commercial distribution reach over the next 18–36 months," he tells Business News Australia.
"With Bunzl’s extensive distribution network spanning Australia, New Zealand, and beyond, this partnership enables us to amplify the reach of First Nations businesses, foster cultural connection, and deliver ethical, environmentally responsible products to a broader audience," says Stockton, a proud Wiradjuri man who co-founded the business with former Australian rugby union player David Croft.
"More than just volume, this partnership ensures Yarn’n products are represented in the right environments and places where visibility, purpose, and practicality come together to support real impact."
A subsidiary of British-headquartered Bunzl, the ANZ arm employs 600 people and has 13 warehouses across Australia and New Zealand.
"We are delighted to partner with Yarn’n; an Australian company driven by purpose, culture, connection, Country, and community impact," says Bunzl ANZ managing director Mark Phelan.
"Yarn’n’s commitment to empowering First Nations businesses aligns perfectly with Bunzl’s ongoing efforts to support Indigenous supplier diversity, employment opportunities, and reconciliation.
"Together, we are making a tangible difference while upholding our shared values of sustainability and community empowerment."
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