It’s official, the long lunch in the office products industry is not dead. 

 

Michael Stathakis, sales director at Hamelin Brands, has revived the tradition by inviting a cohort of colleagues, former colleagues and industry friends to his 50th birthday lunch at the popular up-market China Doll restaurant at Woolloomooloo Bay on Sydney Harbour last Friday (13 March).

 

Michael’s invitation said it all: “I’m doing what I do best, stepping out of the office and sitting down to a long lunch.”

 

For more than half of his 50 years, Michael has been involved in the OP sector. 

 

With his father as his mentor and support, he established Australian Office Supplies in 1998, where he was wholesaling stationery products to resellers and the trade nationwide.

 

He acquired Bantex from France-based Groupe Hamelin in 2001 and, as managing director, oversaw the acquisition of Quill Stationery, Leadah and parts of the former WC Penfold group.

 

Hamelin re-entered the Australian school and office supplies market by taking a controlling interest in the Bantex Group in 2018.

 

PHOTOS: Group shot outside China Doll. Bottom right (from left) Bishop Richard Umbers (Archdiocese of Sydney), John Donaghy (Office National), Michael Stathakis and Nicholas Afriat (managing director of Hamelin Brands). Bottom left: Michael with some special guests, Marie-Anne Melidonis, Margaret De Francesco (Dynamic Supplies) and Anchanee Yamsiri (Winc),