The acquisition is part of Macfarlane’s strategy to expand its protective packaging business through organic and acquisitive growth.

Gottlieb, based in the Manchester, has an experienced team of 15 employees and generated sales of £4.5m in 2022, with EBITDA and pre-tax profits of £0.7m. The deal is financed entirely from Macfarlane’s existing £30m bank facility.

Peter Atkinson, chief executive of Macfarlane, said: “Gottlieb is a well-run, successful protective packaging distributor with an experienced management team.

“The acquisition of Gottlieb complements the recent opening of our new distribution facility in Heywood and further strengthens our ability to serve customers in the North-West of England. We look forward to working with the team at Gottlieb to support its continued growth.”