A whisky industry move towards distinctive bottle-shaped cartons for spirits is helping one Scottish supplier fight the slow-down.

Port Glasgow-based McLaren Packaging has just appointed Donald McLaren, son of owner and managing director James McLaren, as an operations manager for several fast-growing segments of its market.

"I am doing a lot of running around right now," says McLaren, a former senior consultant at Deloitte who has seven years' industry experience and a Masters in manufacturing and engineering from Strathclyde University.

The 30-year-old family firm that started out making corrugated cases has recently invested in new technology, including tube winding equipment, allowing it to make almost any design of tube for spirit bottles and other products. Its major cost pressures are in transport and tin plate.

"We as a company are trying our best to avoid passing on rising costs by being more efficient ourselves," McLaren said. "We are finding it tough but fortunately we are quite new in the market, have a lot of opportunities and are doing quite well. Drinks makers are trying to premiumise their product, and they see shaped tubes as being more original. It may be something to do with not wanting to look like a Pringles carton."