Family-run packaging business celebrates 160 years
Family-run Roberts Mart & Co is celebrating 160 years in business and says the secret of its success lies in its ability to attract several generations of employees’ families to the workforce.
Since its humble beginnings as a paper merchant Roberts Mart has survived two world wars, a general strike and several recessions to become one of the UK powerhouses of the flexible printing and packaging industry.
William Roberts founded the business in 1852 and from producing paper bags it now develops the latest range of specialised, high performance films to meet growing demand from a variety of industry sectors including food, bottled water and textiles.
To help expansion into new markets Roberts Mart has spent more than £13million over the past eight years on its state-ofthe- art manufacturing site. In addition the company plans to announce a further £2million investment in new plant, machinery and additional staff.
Another factor in the firm’s longevity is the family nature of the business from the boardroom through to the shop floor. There has always been a Roberts at the helm and the present joint managing directors are father and son John and William. Over the years sons, daughters and wives have all joined their husbands and fathers as employees both at Roberts Mart and subsidiary specialist film converter Romar Packaging.
“Although Roberts Mart is an extremely family oriented business we are committed to developing a team with a diverse range of skill sets and to this we always welcome new recruits selected by merit to join the company and become a part of our extended family,” explains Ben Roberts.
Roberts Mart employs 140 people across both its Leeds sites with a number of household names among its customers. Generations of families have helped the company go from strength to strength to put Roberts Mart at the forefront of flexible packaging provision.
Roberts Mart & Co
T: +44 (0)113 202 6500