Online boost sees Macfarlane up 27%

Growing business from online retailers helped packaging firm Macfarlane Group beat the consumer slowdown and post a 27 per cent rise in profits for the first half of the year.

The Glasgow-based company said yesterday that in the six months to 30 June, profit before tax and exceptional items was £900,000, up from £700,000 in the first half of 2010, as it successfully passed on rising costs to its customers when suppliers pushed through a series of price hikes.