Anna-Maria Pinto

What does your company do?

Apak Packaging is a South African company that specializes in cold chain packaging solutions—designed to protect temperature-sensitive products during transport. We focus heavily on the pharmaceutical, medical, and perishable goods industries, offering products that maintain specific temperature ranges like frozen, refrigerated (2–8 °C), and ambient (15–25 °C) conditions. - Design & Manufacture: We create custom insulated packaging—like box liners, pouches, mailers, and pallet covers—tailored to clients’ temperature and duration needs. - Thermal Performance: Our materials are engineered for high thermal efficiency while being space-saving and eco-conscious. - Custom Solutions: Whether it’s extended shipping durations or unique temperature profiles, we thrive on designing the right product for special requirements.

What is your biggest success?

From Garage to Growth: The Apak Packaging Story Apak Packaging was born in a small garage in Benoni, fueled by a simple belief: healthcare products deserve protection that never fails. With just basic tools and a bold vision, I began crafting and testing cold chain packaging by hand. It wasn’t long before I noticed a gap—pharmaceutical and public health sectors needed more than boxes; they needed precision, accountability, and compliance. Securing our first major client was the breakthrough. Their trust pushed us to scale, reinvest, and refine everything from process to product. Today, Apak Packaging is a trusted name in the industry. We serve clients across sectors—from vaccine distributors to agri-exporters—offering innovative, sustainable packaging solutions built on the same determination that opened that garage door. Our mission remains clear: to safeguard what matters, every single time. We’ve embraced innovation, implementing IoT-enabled temperature monitoring, adopting eco-conscious materials, and offering fully customized packaging solutions. But no matter how far we’ve come, we’ve never lost the garage mindset: hands-on, agile, and fiercely committed to getting it right. Because at Apak, we don’t just deliver packaging. We deliver peace of mind.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

One of the biggest hurdles I’ve faced in building my business at has been competing in a male-dominated industry. Cold chain logistics and packaging aren’t typically seen as spaces where women lead—but that’s exactly why I’ve been determined to change the narrative. Earning respect in rooms where my presence was unexpected meant I had to bring more than just expertise. I had to be relentless in execution, strategic in communication, and unapologetically myself. I didn’t just want a seat at the table—I wanted to reshape the table entirely. Every challenge sharpened my clarity, and every doubt from others fueled my drive. Today, I’m proud not only of how far Apak Packaging has come but of what it represents: innovation, reliability, and the power of persistence in an industry that’s finally starting to recognize new voices.