PDC - PAPER DISTRIBUTION CONFERENCE 2027

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Paper merchant (distributor)

A company that buys paper and packaging from mills, stocks it in regional warehouses and sells cut sizes, rolls or converted products to printers, packaging converters, jan-san and foodservice accounts, often with next-day delivery.

2

Mill

The papermaker that produces parent rolls or sheets from pulp or recycled fiber. In the NPTA channel, mills sell through merchant distribution and set mill-brand programs, allocation and price-change announcements.

3

Basis weight and GSM

Basis weight is the weight in pounds of a ream (or 1,000 sheets) at a defined sheet size, so it varies by grade family. GSM (grams per square meter) is the metric equivalent and is the common way to compare grades across mills.

4

Parent roll / jumbo roll

A large mill roll, typically several tonnes, that a converter or merchant sheeter cuts down into smaller rolls, folio sheets or cut-size reams.

5

Converting

The step after papermaking where parent rolls become saleable products: sheeting, rewinding, slitting, coating, laminating or folding into cartons, bags and foodservice items.

6

Cut size and folio

Cut size refers to small ream-packed sheets such as 8.5 x 11 for office and digital print. Folio covers larger press sheets, commonly 17 x 22 or 23 x 35, sold in skids for commercial printers.

7

Fine paper

Communication papers for printing and writing, including offset, digital, opaque and text grades, as distinct from packaging board, tissue or newsprint.

8

Packaging and protective grades

Corrugated sheet and boxes, folding carton board, void fill, mailers and stretch film that distributors stock alongside paper for e-commerce and industrial accounts.

9

Jan-san and foodservice (AFH)

Janitorial-sanitation and away-from-home foodservice disposables: tissue and towel, cups, containers, can liners and cleaning supplies. Paper distributors often run these as a second core category.

10

Tissue and away-from-home (AFH)

Bath tissue, roll towel and folded towel sold to buildings, hospitality and healthcare rather than retail consumers; usually quoted on case and pallet pricing.

11

LTL (less-than-truckload)

Freight for shipments smaller than a full truckload, common on paper orders where weight and cube drive cost. Distributors negotiate LTL rates and minimum order thresholds to protect margin.

12

Private label vs mill brand

Private label is product manufactured for and branded by the distributor. Mill brand is the papermaker's own line. The mix affects pricing flexibility, customer loyalty and how promotions are funded.

13

Chain of custody (FSC / SFI)

Certification that tracks certified and recycled fiber through the supply chain. Distributors keep certificate numbers on file so print and packaging customers can make on-product claims.

14

Inventory turns and fill rate

Two core distribution metrics: turns measure how often stock cycles in a year, fill rate measures the share of order lines shipped complete. Paper merchants balance them against warehouse space and mill lead times.

15

Price protection and rebate programs

Mill and supplier terms that shield distributors from announced price increases on inventory already ordered, or return a rebate when volume targets are met. These terms are typically reviewed face to face at the annual conference.