Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino yesterday visited the new factory Golden Harvest will be moving to soon, from Gzira. He praised the management for their courage in investing Lm7 million (EUR 16.3million) at a time when the bread production industry was under pressure because of the international prices of grain.

The new factory, at San Gwann industrial estate, would prove positive in three main ways, Mr Pullicino said. Golden Harvest would be improving its product because it would now have the best machinery in the market, which would enable it to consider expansion in new markets.

The factory design and its machinery would also improve efficiency and reduce hardships for the employees. The factory was also built with the environment in mind. A substantial part of the investment was for systems which improved the production line and used less energy, both in lighting and in refrigeration.

Solar water heaters were installed on the roof which would save the company Lm20 a day in electricity consumption. Rainwater would also be collected for use by the factory.

Mr Pullicino said Golden Harvest’s move would also be beneficial to residents in Gzira, who would have more room and less inconvenience because of the elimination of the delivery trucks and pollution.