Roberts Mart & Co Ltd chairman John Roberts is this year celebrating 50 years of service to the family-run business.
John Roberts has been with the Yorkshire-based flexible packaging printers since 1964 and took over operational control of the firm from his father Peter in 1974. In 2009 he handed over the day-to-day management to his two sons, William and Ben, the sixth generation of the Roberts family to be in charge.
The business changed dramatically Mr Robert’s service; from being predominately a commercial printer and paper bag manufacturer to a company at the cutting edge of the flexible packaging market with significant investment in both plant and equipment during his tenure.
He masterminded a major sea change 10 years ago when the company uprooted from its landmark site of 113 years at Bank Mills on the Leeds waterfront to a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on the outskirts of the city at Thornes Farm Way.
Despite the then ongoing national economic challenges, John Roberts stood by his decision to modernise the company helped guide it through some choppy waters to successfully turn the business, with the support of his family and fellow directors, into its current position as one of the UK powerhouses of the flexible printing and packaging industry.
Company director, William Roberts, said, ‘He has been a real stalwart at Roberts Mart. To complete 50 years’ service is a remarkable achievement and he still gets in early each day and opens the post.’
