Macfarlane Group sells Kilmarnock factory in multi-million pound deal
The Glasgow-based packaging firm is selling its labels business
Workers at a long-established Kilmarnock printing firm will have new bosses as the Macfarlane Group agrees a deal to sell its labels business in a £6.4m deal.
Macfarlane Labels is being acquired the Reflex Group, who are taking on workforce of 109 at its factory in Ayrshire as well as subsidiary businesses in Ireland and Sweden.
The Macfarlane Group was started in Glasgow more than 70 years ago by Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden, who died in 2021 and was a major figure in the refurbishment of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
The business has sites all across the UK but the headquarters remain in Glasgow and the company says cash from the sale will be strategically invested in the continuing growth of its protective packaging businesses.
Peter Atkinson, Chief Executive of Macfarlane, said: “Macfarlane Labels has been a long-standing part of the Group. We believe that its sale to Reflex, with their well-established position and scale in the labels market, creates the best opportunity for Macfarlane Labels to develop.
“The sale will allow the Group to focus resources on growing our protective packaging businesses both in the UK and Europe.”