A long-time family business in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, Peter Pan Sales has been operating for nearly a century. Beginning as a local meat vendor, the business evolved into a supplier of various packaging, cleaning and industrial products. Still in the family, Peter Pan Sales continues to serve clients across the province.

Early inspo

It all started with local entrepreneur James Spurrell. In 1935, he opened a meat-packing business on George Street in the heart of downtown St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Originally, the company sold Peter Pan-branded ham and bacon, which is where the name Peter Pan Sales came from. Sarah Spurrell, James’ granddaughter and current co-owner of the business, says growing up, she used to tell friends the name was inspired by the Peter Pan statue the Bowring family had installed in Bowring Park. She felt the story was more fun. But the family business was actually named after the Peter Pan products it sold.

Growth and relocation

As business grew, a larger space was needed, so in the 1950s Spurrell moved his company to Lime Street. He continued to grow operations despite challenges, including having to rebuild after two fires. It was around this time that Peter Pan Sales got into the packaging business. Spurrell started slow with paper products and soon expanded into other supplies like garbage bags and batteries. Having found a new niche, in the 1960s, the family business stopped selling meat to focus exclusively on packaging materials and related products.

The business relocated again in 1975, this time moving just outside of St. John’s to Donovan’s Industrial Park in Mount Pearl (where it remains today). Its location on Clyde Avenue was especially appealing due to its proximity to the railway. Sarah Spurrell explained that trains came right to their building and unloaded in the warehouse before moving to the next stop.

Continuing to grow over time, in 1989, Peter Pan Sales joined Balpex, a non-profit organisation that helps members gain buying power by negotiating pricing, forging partnerships and more. It helped the Spurrells’ family business develop contacts with suppliers in their industry and compete with larger companies on price.

Flying strong

Today, operations at Peter Pan Sales continue in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. They supply companies of all sizes across Newfoundland and Labrador with products in three main categories: Food packaging, janitorial supplies and industrial supplies. The family business is currently owned and operated by the third generation, Sarah Spurrell and her two brothers.

Looking towards the future, Spurrell says they hope to continue the same level of service their customers expect, some of whom they’ve worked with for over 60 years. While they’ve recently made some changes like building a website to allow online and email orders, she feels their business maintains traditional values at heart. She commented: “We still offer an old-fashioned style of service. When you call, you’re greeted by a person, not a recording. Our customer service is paramount.”

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