United Box, based in Scotland, was originally set up as a joint venture between Scott Group and James Jones & Sons in 2003, to manufacture and distribute boxes for the food industry. Today, the £1.7m-turnover business manufactures and prints boxes for potato growers across the UK, from its circa-16,000sqm facility in Airlie. 

Under the acquisition, which was completed at the end of March, all 14 members of staff have been retained and the business is continuing to operate as normal.

Founded in Scotland in the 1800s by James Jones, the company has expanded across the UK and most recently into Australia, through organic growth and continuous acquisition. It employs around 1,220 staff across 29 locations worldwide in sectors including sawmilling, timber engineering, pallet and packaging manufacturing and forestry and land management.

James Jones & Sons Group chairman, Tom Bruce-Jones, said: “Our recent acquisitions, combined with a progressive investment philosophy, are part of our disciplined global strategy and these two additions to our group demonstrates our strong support of the rural and farming communities in the UK and Australia. This broadens our product portfolio and provides confidence to all our end users of our vertically integrated local supply chains, particularly given the current global trade war.”

At the same time, James Jones announced the acquisition of Pallet & Bin in Australia, by its Australian subsidiary Hyne Group.