People Planet Product | On a roll sandwich company

People, planet & product

How we support our people, reduce our impact and maintain the standards our customers trust

As a Middlesbrough-based sandwich manufacturer employing over 300 people, we know that success is about more than making great products. It’s about supporting our team, operating responsibly, sourcing carefully and maintaining consistently high standards across every part of the business.

From the way we invest in training and workplace culture to the systems we use to reduce waste and improve efficiency, we are committed to building a business that is forward-thinking, people-focused and built for the future.

At On a Roll, responsibility is built into the way we work.

We believe a great business starts with great people.

That’s why we continue to invest in our team through structured training, ongoing development and a working environment where people feel supported, valued and able to grow.

Our people-first approach includes:

extensive training programmes

opportunities for development and progression

team-building and staff engagement initiatives

reward and recognition activities

a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace culture

We know that when people feel connected, motivated and appreciated, it has a positive impact on every part of the business — from teamwork and quality to service and innovation.

A culture built on teamwork

Creating a positive workplace matters to us. Regular staff events and team-building activities help strengthen relationships across the business, celebrate success and recognise the contribution our people make every day.

As a local employer, we are proud to provide long-term job opportunities in Middlesbrough and to invest in the people who help drive our business forward.
Taking practical steps to reduce our impact

As a fresh food manufacturer, we understand the importance of operating responsibly and continually improving the way we work.

Our environmental approach focuses on practical improvements across energy, waste, transport, sourcing and packaging — helping us reduce our impact while maintaining the quality and efficiency our customers expect.

A more efficient operation

Our headquarters, The Pantry, was purpose-built in Middlesbrough in 2016 and includes energy-saving initiatives designed to support a more efficient operation.

These include:

a heat recovery system that captures heat from chiller units to help heat water on site

air source heat pumps to improve energy efficiency

the ongoing rollout of LED lighting across our facilities

Waste reduction and reuse

We are committed to reducing waste wherever possible and working with approved partners to manage materials responsibly.

Our current waste management approach includes:

recycling cardboard, paper and plastic buckets

segregating waste streams across the factory

sending food waste to an approved contractor, with around 95% used for biomass generation

cleaning and returning chemical drums to suppliers for reuse

ensuring production by-products such as bread crust waste are put to beneficial use

We are always looking for new ways to improve how we reduce, reuse and recycle across the business.

Local sourcing and lower food miles

Where possible, we aim to source ingredients locally to support regional businesses and reduce unnecessary transport miles.

This includes long-standing relationships with:

a local bakery supplying bread products

a nearby fresh fruit and vegetable supplier

Working closely with trusted local partners helps us maintain quality, improve responsiveness and reduce environmental impact across our supply chain.

Smarter transport - Reducing Carbon Footprint

Here at On a Roll our dedicated logistics team utilise Geotab to the best of our ability.

Geotab helps us reduce vehicle emissions by providing data-driven tools that target fuel efficiency, driver behaviour, and fleet operations. By centralising this data this enables the logistics team to lower the carbon footprint while simultaneously reducing operational costs.

Having access to our very own Sustainability Dashboard we can visualise the fleets fuel economy, CO2 emissions and idling trends.

Operational Impact on Emissions

idling Reduction: Geotab identifies "preventable" vs. "productive" idling, allowing managers to set alerts that notify drivers if they have idled for too long. Reducing idling has been shown to cut emissions by as much as 30% for some fleets.

Eco-Driving: The platform scores drivers on fuel-inefficient habits like harsh acceleration, speeding, and hard braking. Coaching based on this data can reduce fuel consumption and associated emissions by up to 10%.

Route Optimisation: Minimises unnecessary mileage and avoids heavy traffic congestion, directly leading to lower fuel usage and fewer emissions.

Proactive Maintenance: Real-time diagnostic alerts help identify engine faults, such as faulty oxygen sensors, which can decrease fuel efficiency by 15% if left unfixed.

We continue to operate a modern fleet using Euro 6 engines supported by AdBlue technology to help reduce vehicle emissions.

Vehicle tracking, route planning and driver monitoring also help us improve efficiency and reduce fuel usage across our delivery operation.
High standards from ingredient to finished product

For us, responsibility also means delivering products that meet the highest standards in quality, consistency and food safety.

We believe great food starts with the right foundations — trusted suppliers, robust processes, strong quality systems and a clear focus on freshness, value and customer expectations.

Our approach to product development and production is guided by:

quality

freshness

value

provenance

sustainability

innovation

Quality you can trust

We are committed to maintaining excellent standards throughout our production environment and supply chain.

Our business has achieved BRC Grade AA accreditation for multiple consecutive years, reflecting our commitment to food safety, compliance and operational excellence.

We work closely with approved suppliers and maintain robust controls across ingredients, packaging and manufacturing processes to help ensure every product meets the standards our customers expect.

Responsible packaging

Packaging is essential in protecting fresh food, maintaining shelf life and ensuring product safety — but we are also focused on making responsible choices wherever possible.

Our approach includes:

moving towards direct print onto laminates, packs and cartons, reducing the need for additional labels

distributing many products in reusable bread trays instead of single-use boxes

using FSC-certified board

ensuring all packaging is UK food grade

using low migration inks

sourcing only from approved packaging suppliers

Our packaging does not contain prohibited substances such as PVC, and we continue to review opportunities to improve packaging sustainability as technologies and recycling infrastructure evolve.