Online shopping boost for Macfarlane

Although the company's sales fell, profits for the year increased, helped by online shopping

Glasgow packaging firm Macfarlane said it expects good growth from online shopping.

The company reported a 27% rise in profits before one-off costs for 2012 of nearly £5m.

The group said the UK economic environment was "particularly challenging" last year "with weak demand and price deflation".

As a result, Macfarlane Group's sales in 2012 were 1.9% below the level achieved in 2011.

However, the company said it had experienced "good growth in sales to internet retail businesses both directly and through our partnerships with key 3PL companies".

It added that this area now represented almost 20% of all packaging distribution sales.

The company said it expected growth in this side of the business to continue in 2013.

Chairman Graeme Bissett said: "Our main market is the UK where demand levels have remained subdued, making the achievement of increased profit all the more creditable.

"We have attracted a range of new customers in 2012 and we continue to see success from the strategic development of our business in key sectors such as internet retail and with our partners in the third party logistics sector."