With warehouse expansions doubling floorspace at its Plymouth and Avonmouth, Bristol, warehouses, Macfarlane has also retained a second Bristol site, in Patchway, that will reinforce capacity across the south-west England operations of the Glasgow-headquartered packaging group.

The Patchway facilities will enable customers to store their own palletised products on a short-term basis to give Macfarlane’s client base secure storage options over the Brexit period.

Group regional director Phil Rees said: “The sites, including Plymouth, Avonmouth (Bristol) and Patchway, will meet the growing needs of our customers and support our growing business in the South West. The Patchway facility is strategically located to allow our customers to store their own palletised products on a short-term basis.

“The move was a response to growing customer demand in the South West. However, the expansion provides our customers with short-term secure options for storing stock over the Brexit period and beyond.

“While we cannot discuss in too much detail at present, our plans for the future are based around continued investment in technologies for transactional simplicity, our innovation lab and our people, wider geographic coverage and stronger supplier relationships to offer the latest innovative packaging solutions.”

Results posted last month showed Macfarlane had enjoyed its ninth consecutive year of growth in 2018 with a turnover for the 12 months up to 31 December boosted by 11% on the previous year to £217.3m. Its future focus on a group level will include bolstering its labels wing by installing a new Mark Andy press and HP Indigo digital printer.

Currently, the group employs more than 900 people.