About Compack Cartons

The most recent addition to the McLaren Packaging family, Compack Cartons brings an exceptional level of skill and expertise both in printing and finishing, and in creating complex, cost effective, premium packaging solutions in cartonboard. From cartons for individual bottles, to skillets, multipacks and display cases, Compack Cartons has a wide range of capabilities to create the perfect packaging for your product.

1979
Founded by Mr James John McLaren producing corrugate cases
1983
Diversified into multipacks and basket packs
1985
Established solidboard divisions business
1986
Opened new factory in Port Glasgow
1988
Extended portfolio to include solidboard boxes
1991
Commenced litho printing at Battery Park Unit, Greenock
1994
Sold divisions business
1999
Extended premises in Port Glasgow
2006
Entered composite tubes market
2007
Purchased half of industrial estate for future expansion
2008
Donald McLaren appointed as Managing Director
2010
Awarded 'Carton Board Pack of the Year' by Packaging News
2011
Constructed state-of-the-art composite tube factory
2013
Acquired Blue Box Design, presentation box company
2013
Won Chamber of Commerce Awards for 'Best Manufacturing Company and Best Employer Over 25 People'
2015
Michael McLaren appointed as Sales & Marketing Director
2018
Opened new Design and Manufacturing facility for rigid boxes at Blue Box Design, Stirling
2019
Brought Interlok Divisions Limited back into the family
2020
Celebrated 40th Anniversary of McLaren Packaging with record turnover and capital investment
2021
McLaren Packaging signed up to United Nations (UN) Race to Zero
2022
Launch of Sustainable for Life ethos and Millhouse carbon offsetting project
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The story of McLaren Packaging

The McLaren Packaging story started with the vision of Jim McLaren and continues today, with the second generation, as a strong family of businesses which are 'Created with Experience', 'Inspired by Innovation' and 'Sustainable. For Life'.

In 1979, Jim McLaren founded McLaren Packaging with a clear ambition to become a specialist, independent supplier of paper-based packaging to the UK drinks sector. Through foresight and entrepreneurial vision, McLaren Packaging crafted a long-standing reputation for innovation, quality and service.

This allowed the business to grow organically, and acquire different specialist packaging companies, developing the internal expertise and knowledge to make McLaren Packaging the highly regarded and well respected organisation that it is today.

With premises in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde since inception, starting with one factory, and now consisting of four production facilities, the location has allowed McLaren to offer a successful One Stop Purchasing service to global brands.

McLaren Tubes, McLaren Corrugate and Interlok Divisions are all based in Port Glasgow today, with Blue Box Design in Stirling and Compack Cartons in Livingston, the group has production facilities across the central belt in Scotland.

Certifications & Accreditations

Compack Cartons is committed to working and operating to the highest standards. Our dedication to service levels and high quality and innovative products is supported by being part of accredited industry bodies.

BS EN ISO 9001 (Quality)
The International Quality Management Standard. Applicable to all types of company in any industry, the standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement.


We have been sourcing cartons from Compack Cartons for the last few years and found them to be a very reliable and proactive partner, and one that we would highly recommend to other suppliers."
Managing Director, Scottish Distillery
We have worked with Compack for over 20 years now. The reason for the long partnership is that their attention to detail is incredible. The quality of boxes and consistency of colours that we receive is the best we have seen. The team are also very attentive and will always do what they can to help us out. It is rare to find a supplier that will produce consistently high quality products over such a long period but Compack have done that for us."
Owner and Director, International Food Company
Compack cartons have been a supplier to us for the last 2 years, in those times we have seen some very trying times in the supply chain, due to Brexit and then Covid. During this period, we have come up against numerous obstacles and do feel that we have a worthy, reliable long term partner that is always willing to go above and beyond to find a solution. Customer service is extremely important to us when choosing a long term partner and Compack is first class and we like a supplier that comes up with alternative / proactive ideas, along with deliveries on time and in full."
Operations Manager, International Wine and Spirits Company