Title: City company packing up for new premises
Publication: Enterprising north
Date: New Year 2004 (Leeds City Council)
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The largest independent printer in Leeds is moving to new premises within one of the North's biggest ever regeneration schemes; the multi-million pound Aire Valley - Leeds.
Roberts Mart, which was established in the city 150 years ago, is to switch its operation to Thornes Farm, one of the key development sites within Aire Valley.
The company produces and prints flexible packaging and film for the food, healthcare, home textiles and retail sectors. Founded by William Roberts in 1852, it has occupied its current premises, a mile from the city centre for over 100 years.
Chairman and Managing Director John Roberts, a fifth generation member of the Roberts family said "We have a great affinity with our current premises, but to continue our rate of expansion we need newer, purpose-built premises.
The company's new premises will occupy more than 80,000 sq ft in a single-storey building, giving the company far more operational flexibility than its current six-story home."
"The Aire Valley - Leeds regeneration area is perfect for us," Roberts explains. "Geographically it's close to where we are now and to our subsidiary company Romar Packaging Limited - which is great for our employees, and already having an infrastructure to support business.
Development opportunities along the River Aire have enabled us to realise the value of our existing long-standing site and invest it in high-tech premises to take us into our third century."
Covering 79 acres, Thornes Farm is already home to Macfarlane Transport's new £6M distribution centre and the headquarters of Premier Motor auctions - the largest independent car auction site in the UK.
A new £11m facility for national flooring products specialist Mercado is also under construction. Work on the new Roberts Mart premises is already under way and the company is expected to be on site by June 2004.

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