Edwin Vassallo, expenditure in the domestic market on food products in 2006 amounted to Lm1,553 million (EUR 3,617 million), or Lm38 million more than in 2005.
And during 2005, he told a news conference at Malta Enterprise, the wholesale and the retail trade sector employed around 3,000 persons, with an added value of around Lm32 million. The average pay for the wholesale food and beverage products trade in 2005 was Lm4,300 while that of the retail trade sector was Lm3,500.
A report commissioned by the Malta Institute of Management (MIM), and prepared by business consultant David Galea showed that a faster lifestyle has led consumers to frequently purchase ready prepared meals and make frequent use of convenience stores.
However, there is also an increase in the number of consumers who purchase healthy food products, Mr Galea said.
The report also displayed that the use of technology in this sector was still limited, and that shop owners questioned about online product purchasing said that this was not viable as food shops were easily found around the island and that consumers found it easy to go out shopping for these products.
Mr Galea said the report showed that the entry of Malta into the EU brought a number of regulations which needed to be reviewed, especially in relation to waste of packaging, food labelling, hygiene and health foods.
Even though these criteria enhanced quality, they also increased the prices, but these measures ensured that the product was according to established criteria, leading to improved protection and higher quality, said Mr Galea.
The report also showed that most of the products imported were from EU countries, and this meant that the quality level was already assured.
The secretariat, together with the Health Ministry, have released a food legislation booklet.
Health minister Louis Deguara said the launch of the booklet was another measure for the health inspectorate to enforce their efforts on those working in the food industry, which affects not only the Maltese but also the tourists who visit Malta.
The aim of the booklet is to ensure that small shops in the food sector have all the information required in terms of preparation and food selling according to the regulations.
He said that food inspection checks were ongoing and these were being carried out mainly through a process of consultation rather than through measures of obligation and imposition.