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This month: the medium-sized business 100 – which…
A Leeds-based packaging manufacturer has reported the highest turnover in its 170-year history despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.
Founded in 1852 by William Roberts, Roberts Mart is an independent, privately-owned company run by the sixth generation of the Roberts family.
The company, which has 240 staff, supplies printed flexible packaging to clients in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors.
Recently filed accounts for Roberts, Mart (Holdings) Co show turnover of £43.7m as recorded in the year ending 31 December 2021, up from £39.3m in 2020.
Pre-tax profit was £2.29m, compared to £2.49m the year before.
Marketing director Ben Roberts told Insider: “This significant investment in our main site in Thornes Farm Way is possible because of consistently strong growth during the past few years. We have a healthy order book and a number of loyal long-term customers – with new customers coming through the pipeline as well.
“Inevitably the global pandemic created challenges for us, as for everyone, but the substantial growth in eating at home, rather than dining out, meant an increase in demand for both packaged food and drink and home care products such as wet wipes and other hygiene products.
“Our significant investment in new equipment over the past few years, including state-of-the-art presses, slitters and laminators, has made our production process swifter, sharper and more efficient, enabling us to meet this increased demand.”
Roberts Mart installed its new ten-colour Allstein flexographic press during the year, enabling it to offer enhanced print quality and higher running speeds to customers. A new chilled water system was delivered into the extrusion division along with an NGR recycling machine capable of reprocessing polythene waste.
The group is set to take delivery of a new pouch machine from Italy in late 2022.
Ben Roberts said: “We are definitely not resting on our laurels. We see a potential gap in the market in our industry as many of our closer competitors have recently been acquired by much larger multinational organisations who may not be as flexible and customer-focussed as we are.
“Meanwhile the challenges presented by Brexit and the global pandemic have also meant many packaging buyers have sought to source their goods more locally from within the UK.”
Roberts accepted that the plastics manufacturing sector was under pressure because its negative perception in the media and the subsequent changing consumer attitudes.
“We are acutely aware of the importance of protecting the environment and of reducing plastic waste,” he added. “Our plastic film extrusion division is integral to our strategy of reducing waste and our new range of sustainable packaging is designed to minimise plastic waste to protect the environment.”
Roberts Mart /
Stephen Farrell, Senior Digital Staff Writer
T: 0844 980 0183
E: stephen.farrell@newsco.com
Andy Slim, Managing Director, North
T: 0113 220 4411
E: andrew.slim@newsco.com
T: 0161 907 9711
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