It was through the insight of the late, Sir Kenneth R. Hunte, who approached Mr. J.C. Roberts in the early 1940's regarding the possibility of forming a company out of Mr. Roberts' small soap and margarine operations, that Roberts Manufacturing Co. Ltd.. was established in 1944.

Mr. James Clifford Roberts started making "Swan" soap as early as 1937, with the assistance of about five workers. Between that date and when Roberts was established some seven years later, the "Oleo" brand of margarine was also added to his production and the work force had increased to twenty-five people.

Initially, both Mr. J.C. Roberts, his brother Mr. Edward Roberts and his son, Mr. Clifton Roberts were shareholders in the company. Mr. Edward Roberts became the company's first General Manager, whereas Mr. Clifton Roberts was the Manager of the Soap Plant. Sir Kenneth R. Hunte was appointed as Managing Director, a position that he held until his retirement in September, 1983.

From the early days soap was exported to St. Lucia, Dominica and St. Vincent. In 1945 Mr. Keith Hunte joined the company as chemist and subsequently was appointed General Manager to replace Mr . Edward Roberts on his retirement. Three years later, Mr. Maurice Foster also joined the company and he was later to take over the reigns from Mr. Keith Hunte. Over the years there were improvements in the production of soap with the Mazzoni Plant being commissioned in 1955. On the closure of the Soap Plant in 1973, this Mazzoni Plant was sold to Dominica.

As the soap plant was being upgraded in the mid 1940's, so was the margarine plant operations. It was felt that the "Oleo" brand of margarine was not up to standard for the tourist industry and as a result, the company acquired its first votator in 1947. At that time the margarine plant was located at the old B.I.C.O. building in Bay Street. For the first time in Barbados a good quality shortening was produced. Two products, Glow-Spread and Mello Kreem, were launched on the market in 1949 and they quickly gained recognition both on the local and export markets. Some years later, in 1969, the shortening and margarine plant was relocated to its previous home in Government Hill. The plant was further expanded at this time and much automation of the production flow took place, due to Mr. Geoffrey Archer's ingenuity. Other excellent brands of shortening and margarine have been added through the years. Some of these are Velvo Kris, Southern Gold, Sunflower, Roberts Deluxe, Garlic and Health Spreads.

It was in 1956 that Sir Kenneth Hunte decided to add the production of feed to Roberts' operations, and negotiated the purchase from DaCostas of their Fairchild Street plant. The company was subsequently appointed agents for the Quaker Oats Company and when the production of Full-O-Pep commenced, it necessitated the building of a new plant at Government Hill. At the time Mr. Jack Simpson of D.M. Simpson & Co. Ltd.. arranged the purchase of the old Joe's River Sugar Crane and this was used as the metal frame around which the plant was erected. Presently the company produces the "Wayne" brand of feed under franchise for the Continental Milling Corporation, as well as its own brands of Premier B.A. and Pinnacle.

In 1957, Hilary F. Roett joined the company as Assistant Accountant. Mr. Roett was subsequently appointed General Manager in 1970 and Managing Director in 1989. Under his leadership, Roberts purchased the majority shareholding in Vitamin Pet Foods Ltd.. The products presently manufactured by this company are dog and puppy food under the Vitapet Brand, together with the Roberts brand of dog food. In 1990 Roberts Manufacturing purchased 50% of the shares in Chickmont Foods Limited. In 1993 subsidiary company, Roberts Extraction Co. Ltd. was established to produce Soya Meal and Oil from Soyabeans.

For a period of time between 1962 and 1989, Roberts Manufacturing also operated a canning plant, which produced cans and pails for its shortening and margarine products, as well as paint cans. However, influenced by consumer demand, the packaging of its shortening and margarine was changed to plastic containers which forced the closure of this plant.

Onward in its growth and expansion, Roberts installed a new computerised feed plant in 1988. This was the first division of the company to relocate to its present home at Lower Estate. This was followed by the administration offices later that year and the retail store in 1989. The shortening & margarine plant followed in 1991. Finally, the most recent addition at this new location was its soyabean extraction plant which started operating in October, 1993 at a cost of approximately $7.2 million.

In November 2000, Roberts Manufacturing Co. Ltd. merged its feed operation with Barbados Feeds Ltd.  The new company operates under the name Pinnacle Feeds Ltd.

Mr. Allan Fields is the current Chairman of the Board of Directors.