Title: Roberts Mart wins BRC/IoP accreditation
Publication: www.readymeals info.com
Date: February 16th 2005
News homepage


One of the UK’s leading printers and converters of flexible packaging, Roberts Mart & Co Ltd, has secured the much sought after British Retail Consortium Institute of Packaging (BRC/IoP) accreditation following a recent inspection of its newly built factory, by the Product Authentication Inspectorate (PAI).
The company is hoping that the accreditation will not only endorse existing customer confidence but also attract new business from major multiple food retailers. Having been mainly involved in household, textile, retail and healthcare packaging, Roberts Mart now intends to expand its current level of activity in the food and drinks sector.
The BRC/IoP accreditation follows the company’s recent move to its £8.75 million state-of-the-art facility located on a seven-acre site, in the Aire Valley area of Leeds, where the company has been operating since August 2004.
Commenting on Roberts Mart’s future plans, newly appointed group operations manager, Simon Plomer-Roberts, says attaining the standard will add value to the service and widen its customer portfolio: “We have a strategy to penetrate the food and drink sector, and with the new premises and accreditation we are now poised to strengthen our presence. I will be able to move the business forward by offering a complete service to potential customers that we have not been able to approach prior to the accreditation.”
The BTC Global Food Standard is used by certified bodies operating worldwide and is designed to ensure due diligence in the food industry and compliance with the Food Safety Act 1990. The standard sets out the benchmark for food safety management systems, laying down the criteria against which companies can be assessed and so allowing purchasers to buy in confidence.
PAI is a leading approved certifier of food products, food authenticity, labelling claims and food chain traceability, and, it is one of the most respected certification bodies in Europe.
Since Roberts Mart’s move last year, the company has invested in both people and equipment to help take the business into the demanding retail packaging market. It has acquired a regenerative thermal oxidizer from the manufacturers Enviroxi of Spain, a 10-colour printing press from Fischer & Krecke, and also recently appointed Simon.
In addition to the two purchases, Roberts Mart has also bought a CMD – a new Canadian high-speed polythene-bag machine – along with a number of other peripheral equipment.
“The news of the accreditation went down very well with the staff as it underpins our overall message that the business is serious about developing new markets and new customers,” Simon concluded.

News homepage