It was in 1865 that Paolo Cutajar set up his own business. He had already started a small trading company from his residence at 20, Strada Reale in Valletta in 1861, importing wheat and cereals. He was also active in the coal trade, buying a small steamer "Nave Elena" for this purpose.

But as business began to prosper, it was in 1865 that the firm P Cutajar & Co was born.

The business expanded rapidly, after several important distributorship agreements were concluded, including two which remain strong to this day:  Martini & Rossi (1880) and Benedictine (1886).

Mr Cutajar's business was opened the year Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. But even in those far-away years, Paolo understood that the future of trading was in branded products.

In 1880, he contacted Martini, then still a young company in Italy, with a view to importing Vermouth from them. The company still treasures a letter he wrote in July 1880 in which Paolo expressed his desire to start a business relationship with Martini (later Martini & Rossi). Today, P. Cutajar and Co is the oldest Martini distributor in the whole world.

Paolo Cutajar died in 1897 leaving the business to his nephew, Arthur Zammit Cutajar. As Arthur was too young at the time of Paolo Cutajar's death, his father Francesco Zammit administered the business until 1907.

In 1905, P. Cutajar & Co was appointed the exclusive distributor for Dewar's White Label Scotch Whisky. Once again, the company still retains this distributorship.

In the early part of the 20th century, the company started to focus on the ship agency business. In fact, in 1913, the company was the largest steamship agent in Malta, according to the historical book "Malta & Gibraltar".

In between the two world wars, the company concluded agreements with Eastman Kodak Company (1937) as the Kodak distributor.

Arthur Zammit Cutajar passed away in 1958, passing on the business to his sons Alfred, Francis and George, and the firm became a limited liability company.

The business is now in the hands of Denis Zammit Cutajar, son of Francis, who was handed the CEO baton earlier this year by his cousin Tony Zammit Cutajar.

P. Cutajar & Co. Ltd has since moved away from the ship agency business, focusing primarily on the importation and distribution of fast moving consumer goods.

Many additions were made to the company's portfolio over the years. Particularly noteworthy among them are Ferrero chocolates (1967) and Lavazza coffee (1987).

In more recent years, the company acquired the distribution rights for Bacardi, JP Chenet Wines, Highland Spring Mineral Water, Pasqua and Bersano Wines and Haagen Dazs zce Creams.

Last year, the company also branched out with its own brand of frozen food - OLLY'S, created from scratch. After launching six products last year, it has already expanded the range with two new products this year thanks to such a successful roll out.

The company is also involved in the high-end retail trade operating two Solaris sunglasses shops in Valletta and Sliema as well as a Coccinelle handbag store in Sliema.

By the early 1980s, the company already outgrown its new premises in Valletta which had served the company for more than 75 years, and moved to custom built premises in Mriehel in 1986.

P. Cutajar & Co Ltd more recently moved to another location, an airy and very attractive premises in San Gwann.

The company is built on very strong foundations, with a fantastic staff complement of 60 people, operating within a spirit of teamwork and excellence. The present management team is composed of seven persons and includes two members of the Cutajar family.

The company also boasts of having a very good relationship with its loyal customers who share the same values of honesty, integrity, and always striving for the best.

Mr Zammit Cutajar expressed these values by quoting a phrase he heard by business consultant Peter Matthies, who said in a recent speech: "You don't sell products, you sell trust."

"Each time we sell anything we ask the customer to trust us. When we promise trade clients that our products will sell off his shelves, we ask them to trust us. When we promise delivery on time and in good condition, we ask them to trust us," Mr Zammit Cutajar says.

"This is why we run an honest and transparent operation where we strive to deliver what we promise. This is why our customers trust us. We sell trust also to our suppliers who trust us to market their products and to give their products the service they deserve as well as to keep their product in stock all the time. Prospective employees trust us to be good employers when they come for an interview. They often tell us that one of the reasons they apply to work for us is because this company has a reputation as a serious company. We, in turn, insist with them to honour their commitment and to behave honourably because that builds trust all around."

For example, each bottle of wine sold by P. Cutajar bears the company's logo, showing that the product is being sold with pride.

"Each bottle has been specifically selected by the company as a wine of good quality and value. The sticker is a guarantee of quality. We are literally putting our name to the product and saying: This is something we recommend. Trust us," he says.

As the mission statement declares, the company strives to build profitable relationships with all its partners and it looks forward to many more years of successful trading.

The company insists on quality: ever since 2000 it has been ISO - 9000 certified.

Asked about the recently enacted Family Business Act, Mr Zammit Cutajar said that if properly implemented, the Act could help family businesses manage the transition from one generation to the next. Such transitions often offer challenges, so keeping in mind that family businesses employ some 40,000 people collectively, such legislation is welcome.

This year, the company set up the P. Cutajar Foundation, an independent foundation to support local charitable and cultural initiatives. When the foundation was launched, it called on the public to submit causes worthy of support. 

Chaired by corporate lawyer Gege Vella, the P. Cutajar Foundation was conceived as part of the company's 150th year anniversary celebrations.

"We want to give something back to the society which has shown its support to our company for 150 years. P. Cutajar & Co. Ltd. has always supported local charities and cultural initiatives, but this year we have decided to structure this process more formally by setting up a Foundation," said Mr Zammit Cutajar, also a member of the foundation's board together with Stephanie Caruana, already well known for her work with voluntary NGOs.

"We now have a firm and clear commitment to donate a percentage of our profit each year to the Foundation. We are also very open to receiving requests and ideas regarding charitable initiatives from the public, of which we may not be aware," he added. 

With a strong family tradition to continue, Mr Zammit Cutajar now looks towards the future with optimism, pride and a sense of excitement.

"We look forward to another 150 years of success," he says.