Built on Trust: Why Independent Wrap Delivers When It Counts

In an industry where downtime can be the difference between a good season and a bad one, contractors and farmers need more than just reliable products - they need reliable people behind them.

That’s the gap Independent Wrap has been filling since 2004. Built from the ground up with a commitment to service, integrity and quality, Independent Wrap has grown into one of New Zealand’s most trusted suppliers of crop packaging products, with a reputation that is firmly rooted in how they treat their customers.

From its base in Taranaki the company has expanded carefully, establishing five permanent depots and setting up temporary sites during peak periods to ensure product is always within reach. And when urgency calls for it, they’ll get it to you personally. This blend of scale and agility has allowed Independent Wrap to operate with the efficiency of a national player and the attentiveness of a local operator - a rare combination in today’s agricultural supply chain.

The company’s founder Lydia Dickinson, knows what it means to start small and grow the right way. More than twenty years ago, she saw a need in the contracting world for a supplier that didn’t just sell bale wrap and pit covers but actually stood behind them. Since then she’s turned a small regional operation into a respected national supplier. The business now employs a team of seven across the country, including a strong field team backed by a meticulous and customer-focused office operation. Lydia still remains actively involved, even as she balances her time with other passions and family life.

For Lydia, success was never just about product, it was about building a business that customers could count on through the pressure of a silage season. It’s why the motto "The Honest Choice" anchors everything the business does. Whether it’s sending a pallet of wrap to a contractor who’s running low or taking responsibility for a rare product fault, the team takes pride in getting things sorted - and fast.

Jason, owner of Forage Services Ltd in the Manawatū, has been working with Independent Wrap for more than a decade. His operation focuses entirely on bulk silage, grass, maize and some cereals - and with 20 years of business under his belt, he’s seen plenty of products come and go. But he keeps coming back to Independent Wrap, not because they’re the cheapest, but because they’re consistent, responsive and their gear stands up to real-world pressure.

“We use the 15 by 300 rolls mostly,” Jason says.

“That size works well for our customers stacks. And we also use a few of the 2-in-1s - the clear film combined with the black and white sheet. It’s practical and saves time.”

For him though, it’s the durability that makes the real difference.

“You can pretty much drive on the stuff with a load of tyres when you’re covering the stack, and it doesn’t bother it. If the stack is compacted properly, you can drive on the plastic and it holds up. That’s huge.”

It’s feedback like this that speaks volumes about Independent Wrap’s product sourcing. Their primary crop packaging partner is Barbier, a family-owned company in France that shares the same values: quality, innovation and reliability. Barbier manufacture a broad range of polyethylene films and have worked closely with Independent Wrap to adapt their offerings for New Zealand conditions. Regular collaboration and site visits ensure product consistency, and the long-standing relationship has allowed for steady supply even during volatile seasons.

But even the best products are only half the story. Jason’s quick to point out the strength of the team behind the brand.

“Their service is just as good as their quality. You ring Paul up and he’s there with half a dozen rolls before you know it. That kind of responsiveness is hard to find these days.”

He’s also seen how they respond when something isn’t quite right.

“We’ve had a couple of small faults over the years, nothing major - but they were happy to credit it and sort the issue. That stuff matters.”

Across the country, Independent Wrap’s sales team brings decades of combined experience in agriculture, contracting, machinery and technical sales. Richard Howard the General Manager, lives in the Manawatū and has first-hand experience as an agricultural contractor. Sales team members like Shane Bennett, Shaun Langford, Wayne Treymane and Paul Peetoom each cover their own territories, drawing on backgrounds that range from manufacturing and contracting to agribusiness and machinery sales. They’re not just salespeople - they’re problem solvers and their understanding of local needs gives them a practical edge when helping customers choose the right solution.

The products themselves are varied, catering to the full range of crop packaging requirements. Their bale netting is made from high-quality raw materials to ensure maximum tensile strength and minimal tearing. Contractors frequently comment on the even coverage and clean cuts, making the net easy to handle and stays secure in the paddock.

Net replacement film has also seen strong uptake, especially among those looking to improve silage quality. With tighter wrapping and less oxygen ingress compared to traditional netting, it results in better feed and longer storage. The Isolstar Press range, in particular has been well received. Manufactured using advanced pre-stretch technology, it runs smoothly through a range of machines and delivers consistent results, with stretch rates of 10-15% and superior strength.

Twine is another cornerstone product, with imports from Juta and Sicor supplying the high-density baler market. Manufactured in the Czech Republic and Portugal, these twines are known for tight knots, high tear resistance and low wear on machinery - all features that contractors value when turnaround time matters.

Then there are the pit covers - an area where Independent Wrap has earned particular praise. Available in a wide range of sizes, these single-sheet covers are built with high impact resistance and clarity of measurement, with large clear metre markings printed every metre. Customers like Jason rely on them to perform under pressure.

“We’ve used other covers in the past,” Jason says, “and you walk on it with your gumboots and put your heel straight through it. Not with this stuff. That 150-micron cover is just tougher. It’s a strong product and you need that when you’ve got people walking all over the stack during covering.”

Independent Wrap also provides vacuum films and 2-in-1 pit covers with built-in oxygen barriers, which help reduce spoilage and feed value loss in silage stacks. Their superior oxygen barrier film, which boasts up to 99% effectiveness has been shown to reduce top-layer feed value loss by up to 80% compared to single-layer covers. It’s a more premium option, but one that contractors are increasingly adopting for better returns on investment.

Silage bags are also part of the offering, with 10-foot bags held in stock and other sizes available on request. Sourced from European companies, these bags are reinforced for strength and capacity and come with stretch indicators to make placement and loading more accurate and efficient.

Behind all of this is a genuine commitment to both the environment and the wider community - one that stretches well beyond the paddock. Independent Wrap is not content to simply provide quality products; the business is also deeply engaged in supporting a more sustainable future. Its backing of the circular economy reflects a broader vision, one that sees value in materials beyond a single-use lifespan and understands the importance of designing systems that reduce waste and improve resource efficiency. This commitment is more than just a marketing angle, it’s a practical, considered approach and the team spends real time and energy thinking about how best to implement it across their operation and supply chain.

That integrity carries through to how the company handles challenges. Independent Wrap has never claimed to have all the answers or get it right every time - but it has built a reputation for showing up, taking responsibility and putting things right when they don’t go to plan. That kind of accountability, rare in an era of finger-pointing and deflection, has not gone unnoticed. It’s helped the company build strong, long-term relationships with contractors and suppliers alike.

That ethos of transparency and service has been recognised beyond the farm gate too, earning Independent Wrap a string of business accolades including Best New Business and Service Industry Excellence at the Taranaki Business Awards - testament to a company that puts people, performance and principles at the heart of what it does.

In a market where many suppliers focus on volume and margin, Independent Wrap has carved out a space by focusing on the one thing that matters most - trust. Whether it’s making sure a pallet arrives on time, recommending the right product for a specific machine or application, or backing a customer through a tough season, the company’s approach remains grounded, personal and honest.

As Jason sums it up:

“They just go that extra mile. Quality and service - that’s what you want, and that’s what they deliver.”

In a business where word-of-mouth still carries more weight than any advert, that kind of endorsement counts. And it’s the reason Independent Wrap continues to grow, not by shouting the loudest, but by showing up, getting it done and doing it right.