A figurehead of PNG business, the Brian Bell Group is only expected to grow as the year goes on.
The Brian Bell story is one of tenaciousness, legacy and success.
Today, the Brian Bell Group comprises 17 retail stores, six trade centres, a luxury residential development and over 1300 team members scattered across Papua New Guinea (PNG) – but this wasn’t always the case.
Australian-born Sir Brian Bell CSM, KBE, CStJ opened his first retail store in Port Moresby’s thriving commercial centre in 1958. Having recently moved to PNG, Bell fell in love with the way of life, eventually becoming Port Moresby’s Deputy Lord Mayor.
Image: Brian Bell Group
With Bell’s promise that his stores would “service whatever we sell”, Brian Bell Group has become much more than just a store since it opened its doors.
“The Brian Bell Group is a 67-year-old, 100-per-cent PNG-owned business that operates in seven of PNG’s largest regional centres,” Brian Bell chairman Ian Clough told PNG Mining. “We operate retail businesses, wholesale businesses, support the agriculture sector, and we are working in the health sector through our Meddent business. We also have an extensive property portfolio across the country that includes residential and commercial facilities as well as a large land bank for future growth.”
Brian Bell secured the full acquisition of the Meddent business in January 2024. Over a year on, the medical and diagnostic equipment supplier is thriving under the group’s leadership.
“Our goal is to be the supplier of choice for PNG’s medical and scientific supplies in 2025 and beyond,” Meddent general manager Todd McKenzie told PNG Mining.
Image: Brian Bell Group
“Our strengths are in our professional service and after-sales support, our readily available stock and our fast delivery for items not in stock.”
The Meddent arm of the business is now part of the 45,000 active products Brian Bell maintains at any given time.
According to Clough, it’s all part of the group’s aim to do more for the people of PNG.
“We employ 1300 team members, the majority of which are Papua New Guinean, and through our business and through the Sir Brian Bell Foundation, we are committed to doing more for our customers, our team members and our communities,” he said.
Image: Brian Bell Group
The Sir Brian Bell Foundation was established to honour Bell’s love for PNG and his drive to give back to the country and its people. One of the main aims of the foundation is to improve the quality of life in PNG, becoming a catalyst for change for future generations. The foundation has provided over K42 million ($16.15 million) to communities across PNG since 2016.
Image: Brian Bell Group
Long-term partnerships have become part of the Brian Bell Group’s DNA. The company has fostered relationships with some of the country’s biggest miners in the last decades.
“Some of these partnerships date back some 40 years and operate across our commercial service division, our chemicals teams, our trade electrical division and now with our recent acquisition, our Meddent business,” Clough said.
“We have presence across the country with many of our divisions and we support our larger clients with resources from our central team in Port Moresby. We also opened a new Trade Electrical, Chemicals and Agriculture site in Goroka late last year to support this key region.”
Siva Raman, general manager of Brian Bell Chemicals, said the company takes pride in its ability to manufacture chemicals and keep up with the nation’s demand.
Image: Brian Bell Group
“No matter the size and scope of the project, Brian Bell Chemicals can offer a solution,” Raman told PNG Mining.
“We understand the PNG market and its growing needs which enables us to evolve with new solutions.The business has doubled in size in the last decade without flattening out, a great indicator that 2025 will be another milestone year for our division.”
Brian Bell’s medical and chemicals businesses are joined by Brian Bell Homecentres, Trade Electrical, and Agriculture, Industrial and Property – all companies that have experienced rapid growth.
Brian Bell Homecentres, for example, boasts the title of the largest home furnishings retail and wholesale business in PNG, continuing to innovate, develop and source new international brands and products every year.
The group’s service to the mining industry is no different.
“We have an extensive supply chain network which allows us to move product effectively and efficiently throughout the country,” Clough said. “We also have a team of specialists that support our mining customers with end-to-end management of their requirements. From sourcing discussions that help to crystallise their requirements to managing the logistics from source to delivery, our team can help make any project seamless for our customers.
“Most importantly, our customers have peace of mind when they work with us as we have a team of trained technicians in place to ensure customers are supported with preventive maintenance programs and warranty and repair works.”
Brian Bell Trade Electrical division gives its customers the confidence they need that their operations will succeed.
“As PNG’s mining and industrial sectors continue to expand, the need for reliable, high-quality electrical solutions will increase,” Trade Electrical general manager Nazar Shaffee told PNG Mining.
“We are committed to staying at the forefront of innovation by offering advanced electrical products and solutions that meet industry demands. Additionally, our focus on sustainability through energy-efficient technologies will drive further growth. By continuously improving our service offerings and expanding our reach, we aim to solidify our position as the trusted electrical solutions provider in PNG for years to come.”
Brian Bell’s corporate sales arm can also lend a hand in mining matters.
“Our commercial services division was established to specifically support the growing product and service needs of corporate account customers throughout PNG,” corporate services general manager Matthew Forssman told PNG Mining.
Image: Brian Bell Group
“Our corporate services offer a wide range of procurement services catering to the needs of growing small-to-medium enterprises, right through to the largest corporate projects throughout the country.
“This includes many of the largest mining and construction project builds throughout Papua New Guinea.”
Janoah Smith, general manager of Brian Bell’s agricultural and industrial division, told PNG Mining that almost all arms of the business have strong relationships with PNG’s miners, both major and artisanal.
Image: Brian Bell Group
“We have strong partnerships with mining companies supporting their community services projects supplying seeds, fertilizers, nursery equipment, tramontina spades and bush knives for their sustainability programs within the mine impact communities,” Smith said.
“We are also a supplier of choice for artesian and small scale miners for mining equipment such as gold dredges, water pumps, panning equipment and portable gensets.”
It’s been a busy couple of years at Brian Bell, and this trajectory shows no signs of slowing.
New warehouse sites are set to launch in mid-2025, along with increased investments to expand the company’s supply chain capacity.
Brian Bell is particularly optimistic about the reopening of the Porgera gold mine in Enga Province, seeing it as a great opportunity to continue providing value to its mining customers.
“We can help stage projects for our customers, reducing their handling and storage costs and assisting them with any space challenges,” Clough said.
“As many long-awaited projects come online, we look forward to these sites providing successful outcomes for investors but more importantly, providing opportunities and development for Papua New Guinea while helping its people realise the country’s potential.”
Image: Brian Bell Group
This feature appeared in the April–May 2025 issue of PNG Mining.
