What Macfarlane Packaging does

Macfarlane Packaging is the trading name of Macfarlane Group UK Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Macfarlane Group PLC (LSE: MACF). Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Coventry, the company is the UK's leading distributor of protective packaging products and services, serving businesses across the UK, Ireland, and Continental Europe (Germany, Italy, Poland, Netherlands). The company employs 251-500 people and operates from 40+ UK locations including manufacturing facilities, warehouse distribution centers, and offices.

The product portfolio spans core protective packaging categories including cardboard boxes, tape (polypropylene, PVC, paper, gummed, custom printed), bubble wrap, inflatable air cushions (Airsac, Pacplan, FillAir, MINI PAK'R, PRO PAK'R), paper-based cushioning and void fill (PadPak, FillPak FSC, Geami WrapPak honeycomb), chilled and temperature-controlled packaging (Eutecma, CooliMate), and industrial/specialist packaging for aerospace, automotive, medical, offshore, and electronics sectors. Macfarlane distributes both first-party branded products and third-party brands through strategic partnerships with Ranpak (paper cushioning systems), Pregis (air cushioning machines), and Lantech (automation equipment). The company complements product distribution with value-added services including custom packaging design, packaging automation, and packaging optimization consulting that reportedly delivers up to 30% cost reductions for customers.

The business operates a sales-led B2B go-to-market model combining an e-commerce platform (macfarlanepackaging.com) for SMB and transactional customers, trade account relationships with credit terms for enterprise buyers, and a packaging specialist consultation channel accessible by phone, email, and online. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time product sales with volume-based bulk discounts, free delivery thresholds (£125 UK, €150 Ireland), and quote-based pricing for custom solutions. The company has pursued a consistent acquisition-led growth strategy, completing 17+ acquisitions since 2001, most recently acquiring The Pitreavie Group Limited in January 2025 for up to £18.0 million.

Name

Macfarlane Packaging

Legal name

Macfarlane Group UK Ltd

Website

https://macfarlanepackaging.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Macfarlane Packaging is the UK's leading distributor of protective packaging products, operating 40+ UK locations plus Ireland and Continental Europe under Macfarlane Group PLC (LSE: MACF). It sells cardboard, tape, air cushions, paper void fill, chilled, and industrial packaging to eCommerce, manufacturing, F&B, and electronics customers via B2B e-commerce, trade accounts, and specialist consultation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Protective Packaging Distribution

NAICS

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112), Plastics Packaging Materials and Unlaminated Film and Sheet Manufacturing (32611), Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)

akta.pro primary industry

Corrugated Packaging (Boxes, Sheets, Pads) (IMALACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins) (IMAMAHAA), Plastic Packaging Products Manufacturing (Rigid & Flexible) (IMANAOAF), Flexible Plastic Packaging (Bags, Pouches, Sachets) Manufacturing (IMANAEAC)

Keywords

• Protective packaging distribution
• Cardboard boxes supply
• Industrial packaging solutions
• Void fill cushioning
• Packaging automation systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Coventry

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices39 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Packaging Materials Distribution: Macfarlane Packaging generates revenue through the sale of protective packaging materials including cardboard boxes, tape, bubble wrap, air cushions, paper void fill, and specialty packaging to businesses throughout the UK, Ireland, and Europe. The company operates on a B2B distribution model with volume-based pricing and bulk discounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Macfarlane Packaging is a UK-based distributor of protective packaging products and services, operating as a trading name of Macfarlane Group UK Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Macfarlane Group PLC. The company distributes cardboard boxes, tape, bubble wrap, inflatable air cushions, paper void fill systems, chilled packaging, industrial/specialist packaging, and packaging automation equipment to businesses across the UK, Ireland, and Continental Europe. It also offers custom packaging design, packaging optimisation consulting, and automated packaging machinery.

Product overview

Macfarlane Packaging is a UK-based distributor of protective packaging materials serving businesses throughout the UK, Ireland, and Europe. The company operates as a broad packaging distribution platform offering an extensive portfolio organized into core product categories including Cardboard Boxes, Tape, Bubble Wrap, Airsac inflatable packaging, Paper (including Ranpak products like PadPak, FillPak, and Geami WrapPak), Protective Packaging, Chilled Packaging, Industrial & Specialist Packaging, and various bags and polythene products. The product portfolio includes both first-party branded products and distributed third-party brands (Ranpak, Pregis, Eutecma, Lantech). The company complements its product distribution with value-added services including Custom Packaging design, Packaging Automation solutions (case erectors, strapping machines, pallet wrappers), and Packaging Optimisation & Cost Reduction consulting. Recent new product introductions include the PadPak Guardian 30 paper cushioning system launched in February 2026, representing continued investment in sustainable paper-based void fill alternatives to plastic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Airsac®: Inflatable air cushioning packaging for protecting products during shipping, available for wine, beer, electronics, bottles, jars, and frames.
• BubbleGuard®
• BubbleMask™
• PadPak®
• Geami WrapPak®
• FillPak®
• Pacplan®
• Eutecma
• FillAir®
• MINI PAK'R®
• PRO PAK'R®

Products and services

• Cardboard Boxes
• Tape Polypropylene tape, premium PVC tape, paper tape, coloured tape, printed tape, tamper evident tape, reinforced tape, double sided tape, tape dispensers, and custom packing tape.
• Bubble Wrap Bubble wrap rolls, bubble wrap bags, anti-static bubble wrap, BubbleGuard, and BubbleMask for protective packaging.
• Airsac Inflatable Cushioning Inflatable cushioning packaging for wine, beer, electronics, jars, bottles, tins, frames, mirrors, and rolls for various product protection needs.
• Paper Packaging Kraft paper rolls, recycled paper rolls, paper sheets, waxed kraft paper, VCI kraft paper, Ranpak papers (PadPak, FillPak, Geami), printer paper, and tissue paper for wrapping and void fill applications.
• Protective Packaging Comprehensive range including foam packaging (packing chips, foam wraps, foam-lined sleeves, expandable foam), edge/corner/surface protection, paper void fill, air cushioning, and wood wool/vermiculite.
• Chilled Packaging Temperature-controlled packaging solutions including RecycoolMe, RecyCold Climaliner, CooliMate thermal liners, ice sheets, gel packs, Sorbatek, and Eutecma insulated shippers (PROTECT series) and ICECATCH cooling elements.
• Industrial & Specialist Packaging Heavy-duty corrugated boxes (triple wall, Tri-Mite), timber crates and boxes, protective cases (waterproof, aluminium, flight, plastic, rack), large transit containers, foam conversion, Correx products, handling/storage solutions, anti-static packaging, and sector-specific solutions for aerospace, automotive, engineering, export, instrumentation, medical, offshore, and space industries.
• Packaging Automation Automation solutions including case erectors, case sealers, tape automation, strapping machines, pallet wrappers, auto bagging, polythene automation, and protective automation equipment.
• Custom Packaging Custom packaging design and manufacturing services including custom boxes, custom tape, custom bags, custom paper, custom polythene, custom stretch wrap, and custom strapping. Innovation Labs available for packaging design.
• Packaging Optimisation & Cost Reduction Consulting services including packaging review, the Packaging Optimiser tool, cost reduction analysis, packaging design, customer experience enhancement, and EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) compliance support.
• Pacplan Air Cushioning Air cushioning and void fill solutions including Pacplan machines, air pillows, and inflation systems for protective packaging during shipping and handling.
• FillPak FSC Paper Void Fill Ranpak FillPak FSC packing paper void fill solution for high-volume applications with fast throughput and minimal downtime. Made from FSC-certified paper with recycled content options (75-100%), compatible with Ranpak converters.
• Geami WrapPak Honeycomb Paper Eco-friendly paper cushioning made from expanding honeycomb die-cut Kraft paper lined with tissue. Available in brown and white options with various sizes and converters (Geami MV, HV, Wrap 'n Go).
• FillAir Air Cushion Films Air cushion films available in various bag sizes for cushioning and void fill applications, including Rapid Fill Bags in multiple dimensions.
• MINI PAK'R Compact Air Cushioning Compact air cushioning machines designed for small workspaces, producing on-demand inflatable cushioning for packaging operations.
• PRO PAK'R Heavy-Duty Air Cushioning Heavy-duty air cushioning inflators from Pregis for fast operation and high-volume packaging requirements, available in various cushion types (Renew, Pillow Pak, Double Cushion, Quilt, Multitube).
• PadPak Guardian 30 Paper cushioning system developed by Ranpak for organisations dispatching more than 50 packages daily. Offers single and double-layer paper cushioning using 30-inch fanfold paper, providing an alternative to plastic-based void fill and foam-in-place products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% reductions in packaging expenses achieved through right-sizing

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RanpakcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRanpak is a key technology partner for Macfarlane Packaging, providing paper cushioning systems including PadPak Guardian 30, FillPak, and Geami WrapPak products. Macfarlane distributes Ranpak's paper void fill and cushioning solutions throughout the UK and Ireland, with Ranpak developing products like the PadPak Guardian 30 specifically designed for high-volume dispatch operations.
• LantechcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMacfarlane Packaging announced a new automation distributor agreement with Lantech in March 2024. Lantech provides automated packaging equipment that Macfarlane distributes as part of its packaging automation service offerings to customers looking to improve packing efficiency.
• CloudfyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCloudfy won Direct Commerce Awards recognizing its enterprise B2B eCommerce solutions implemented with Macfarlane Packaging. The partnership involves deep system integrations for complex packaging industry requirements.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DS Smith: Major UK-listed corrugated and protective packaging manufacturer and distributor with deep pan-European operations. Closest large-scale peer to Macfarlane's corrugated box and protective packaging distribution model, though DS Smith operates at significantly greater scale and owns integrated paper mills.
• Smurfit Kappa: Global paper-based packaging giant headquartered in Ireland with extensive European manufacturing and distribution. Comparable as a broadline packaging supplier serving FMCG and industrial customers across the same geographies Macfarlane operates in.
• Mondi: Global packaging and paper group with significant European corrugated and protective packaging operations. Comparable broadline peer competing for large enterprise packaging contracts across the same UK and European geographies.
• Sealed Air: Global protective packaging manufacturer (Bubble Wrap, Cryovac, Instapak) with UK and European operations. Comparable as a premium protective packaging supplier whose branded void-fill and cushioning products compete with Macfarlane's distributed Ranpak and Pregis lines.
• Antalis: European leader in paper-based and protective packaging distribution, recently merged with packaging distributor Kuber. Competes with Macfarlane in the UK and continental European protective and industrial packaging market across similar customer segments.

Direct peers

• Pregis: US-headquartered protective packaging manufacturer whose MINI PAK'R and PRO PAK'R air cushioning systems are distributed by Macfarlane. Operates in the same product category (air pillows and paper systems) and competes with Macfarlane's own Airsac brand.
• Davpack: UK-based packaging supplier specialising in cardboard boxes, mailing packaging, and protective packaging for B2B and eCommerce customers. Direct mid-market peer competing for the same SMB and enterprise parcel shipping customers.
• Rajapack: European packaging distributor serving UK and continental markets with cardboard boxes, void fill, and mailing packaging. Direct peer in the online B2B protective packaging distribution space with similar customer acquisition and pricing model.
• Kite Packaging: UK-based packaging distributor offering cardboard boxes, protective packaging, and stretch film to businesses. Direct competitor in the same mid-market B2B protective packaging distribution segment with overlapping product catalogue and customer base.
• Jiffy Packaging: UK-based protective packaging manufacturer and supplier (mailers, padded bags, bubble wrap). Direct peer in the protective packaging category serving eCommerce and industrial customers with overlapping product lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MacfarlanePKG
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MacfarlanePackaging
• Facebookfacebook.com/193587354004986
• Instagraminstagram.com/macfarlanepkg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/macfarlane-packaging

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A17 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Macfarlane Packaging