Reflex Group has taken over Macfarlane Labels Ltd of Kilmarnock, and its subsidiary companies, Macfarlane Group Ireland Limited and Macfarlane Group Sweden AB from Macfarlane Group.
With label printing a core activity for Reflex, the acquisition is expected to bring sales of around £22m, adding to the company’s “run rate” of £135mn. All 109 Macfarlane Labels employees will join Reflex’s current staff of around 800.
Reflex Group CEO Ian Kendall said: “We are delighted to have made this acquisition and we welcome our new colleagues and customers. We are aware of the heritage and importance of the business to all its stakeholders. As always Reflex will focus on sustainability, both environmental and financial, the aim being to create financial strength combined with the lowest level of environmental impact.
“With this move we expand our operational footprint into Scotland, Ireland and Sweden.”
Macfarlane Labels Limited was originally founded in 1948 as N.S Macfarlane.
In 1988 it acquired Ayrshire Labels and Adhesive Labels and in 2000 it took over Abbott Labels in Ireland and Resealit in Sweden. The business has customers throughout the globe.
Macfarlane CEO Peter Atkinson added:“ 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.”
