For Canadian retailers, packaging has quietly become a high-stakes problem. Global freight delays, inconsistent quality, sustainability mandates, and rising tariffs are squeezing margins and putting the customer experience at risk. It’s no longer just about what’s inside the bag — it’s about the bag itself.
Progress Luv2Pak, a century-old Canadian packaging company, has stepped up with a bold new solution: local, premium bag manufacturing through a major investment in a new brand, Gather Packaging. Designed for retailers seeking control, speed, quality, and sustainability, Gather aims to de-risk the supply chain and elevate packaging into a strategic brand asset.
“Retailers told us they needed faster response times, more consistent quality, and better alignment with their brand,” said Ben Hertzman, President of Progress Luv2Pak and Gather Packaging. “So we built it — right here in Canada.”
A Family Legacy of Packaging Excellence
The roots of Progress Luv2Pak go back to 1917, when an immigrant named Morris Lukofsky fled war-torn Russia and arrived in Canada. He found work in a hat factory and noticed that every hat was placed in a beautiful box. That insight sparked a business idea: he opened a hat box factory to build a future for his family.
By mid-century, the company was supplying packaging to nearly every major Canadian retailer: Holt Renfrew, Hudson’s Bay, Eaton’s, Simpsons, and others. In 1981, Ben Hertzman’s father acquired the business. “My dad wanted to run something of his own,” said Hertzman. “He bought a factory where everything we sold was produced in-house, from gift boxes to board game packaging. We even made boxes for Trivial Pursuit in the early ’80s.”
Over the following decades, Luv2Pak evolved into a design-led, globally sourced supplier of coordinated packaging programs, including shopping bags, tissue, ribbon, and seasonal items. “Most people have one of our products in their homes, even if they don’t know it,” said Hertzman.
Supply Chain Breakdown Sparks a New Vision
But when COVID hit, the model buckled. “Shipping a container from Asia used to cost us $4,000. Suddenly it was $20,000,” said Hertzman. “Goods were stuck off the coast, rail strikes disrupted delivery, and we couldn’t get product to customers on time. It was a wake-up call.”
The solution? Bring manufacturing back home.
In response, Luv2Pak launched Gather Packaging: a state-of-the-art, Toronto-based facility focused on premium paper shopping bags. The goal was clear: create a local option for retailers seeking quality, reliability, and sustainability without the risks of offshore sourcing.
Built for Retailers: Speed, Control, Sustainability
“We designed the factory from scratch with the needs of retailers in mind,” said Hertzman. “We’re not 11 time zones away. We answer the phone. We walk the floor. We deliver what we promised, when we promised it.”
Today, the facility has eight automated lines running daily. It uses FSC-certified paper, with every bag made to be 100% recyclable. The factory is pristine, built for flow, with full quality control and advanced colour consistency testing.
“Our customers care deeply about their brand. That means the logo must be the right colour every time, the handles can’t fall off, and the bag can’t tear. We built Gather Packaging to meet and exceed that standard,” said Hertzman.
Retailers across categories — from apparel and grocery to telecom and health — are already placing their trust in Gather Packaging. “One major retailer told us they had been burned by a missed shipment from overseas,” said Hertzman. “We turned around a critical order in just a couple weeks to keep them in stock. That’s the difference local makes.”
Your Most Overlooked Branding Tool? The Shopping Bag
“Packaging is a walking billboard,” said Hertzman. “You wouldn’t spend millions on stores and let a customer walk out with a flimsy bag that doesn’t reflect your brand. And yet, that’s what too many retailers are doing today.”
He emphasized that great packaging extends the retail experience beyond the store. “When your customer walks through a mall with your bag in hand, everyone sees it. At home, it continues to shape how they perceive your brand. That’s powerful.”
Even in e-commerce, he noted, packaging matters. “When you sell online, you only have two critical times to provide a customer experience. First, and most evident is when the customer visits your website. The second, and just as important, is when the product arrives at their home. Don’t let it come in a generic brown box. Make it feel special.”
Why Luv2Pak and Gather Packaging are Different
Progress Luv2Pak and Gather Packaging don’t just supply packaging — they protect brands at scale.
“We have an in-house design team, custom inventory programs, and proactive quality control. We’re deeply involved from concept to delivery,” said Hertzman.
Take the company’s 70-year relationship with Harry Rosen. “They’ve trusted us from a single store on Parliament Street to today’s national footprint. Every piece of packaging they use — from boxes to tissue to bags — is made by us, and it’s all coordinated, recyclable, and perfectly matched to their iconic green.”
This consistency, sustainability, and attention to detail is what top retailers are seeking as they rethink packaging.
A Smarter Supply Chain for a New Retail Era
Hertzman believes Canadian retail is at a turning point.
“Margins are tight. Expectations are high. Tariffs are uncertain. But consumers still expect excellence — and fast,” he said. “The smartest retailers are investing in brand and supply chain resilience.”
Progress Luv2Pak is ready. Its initial investment in domestic manufacturing with Gather Packaging is just the beginning. The company is expanding and continuously innovating to support retailers of all sizes.
“We’ve made countless products over all the years we have been in business. We know what can go wrong, so we’ve built the systems to get it right,” said Hertzman. “Some of our employees have been with us longer than I’ve been alive. That’s the kind of consistency we deliver.”
Final Word: Rethink the Bag
For retailers still importing their packaging, Hertzman has a clear message: rethink it.
“If you’re still sourcing bags from overseas, now’s the time to bring it home. Packaging is too visible, too important, and too strategic to leave in someone else’s hands,” he said.
With history, innovation, and a brand-first mindset, Progress Luv2Pak and Gather Packaging are making the case for a new era of Canadian-made packaging: fast, sustainable, beautiful, and fully under your control.
How to Get in Touch
How to Get in Touch
For retailers interested in learning more, the company encourages reaching out directly through its website at gatherpackaging.com, luv2pak.com or contacting Ben Hertzman directly via LinkedIn or email ben@gatherpackaging.com
