ENTREPRENEURS David Roberts and Rob Owen believe their newly-opened sandwich and burger bar will soon be the talk of the town.

The Whiston duo have opened The Lunch Box on Ormskirk Street in St Helens town centre and in their first week of trading reckon their choice of using only the best produce from local suppliers is paying dividends.

Thirty-two-year-old Rob has top kitchen credentials having worked as a chef for 13 years including a term at a restaurant in Southport and was part of the Jamie Oliver team for a television commercial about school meals.

Dave told the Star: “We aim to build an extensive range of creative and healthy sandwiches as well as having a crack at building a burger menu using high quality products supplied from local businesses.

“That way we can take on the multinational companies to try and offer St Helens a different option to what at the moment seems a very limited choice of take away offerings.

“Farm Fresh supply our salad and veg and our meat is sourced from Gavin’s.”

Dave, aged 24, graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with a degree in business management but after working in a kitchen for a year he decided to put his food knowledge to better use.

“I became aware of an opportunity in St Helens for a business that provides freshly made, creative food without the usual price tag. We’’ll develop a menu that will cater to people’s needs and wants," he said.

On the opening week Dave and Rob reckoned their breakfasts had proved most popular and demand means they will probably add pies to their 8am to 2.30pm menu.

“We’ll have a Christmas menu, perhaps with turkey baguettes and paninis,” said Rob