Pioneering a Farm to Fork Concept
Fresh to Go Foods Ltd was established in 2019 as a company dedicated to the processing of fresh produce.
Company origin
As a manufacturing plant, the whole operation includes washing, cutting and packaging fruit and vegetables which are then distributed to its retailer network. The owners of the organisation have been operating in the local food and retail industry for over 30 years. Besides owning and running a successful supermarket chain, the company supplies to various outlets and businesses including restaurants, marine as well as corporate offices.
Company operations
The company prides itself in maintaining the highest standards throughout the entirety of the supply chain. Various checks are conducted to make sure that the levels are met and maintained. The management also ensures that its suppliers follow the same principles to ensure the supply chain is not compromised.
Fresh to Go Foods has excelled in various audits within the last year conducted by a selection of international food chains.
Company vision
The management team is a strong believer in fairness, quality and hard work, and these principles are reflected in the company’s vision. Fresh to Go Foods Ltd gives utmost importance to three pillars throughout its supply chain: Environment, Society and Economical Sustainability.
These three pillars are crucial for the sustainability of the entire infrastructure. The company takes pride in sourcing the best raw materials available, while investing heavily in waste management systems to reduce the carbon footprint from its discarded resources and raw materials. The company continuously works hard to sustain a farm to fork concept, making the manufacturing process fully traceable, a new concept to the Maltese Islands.
Company team
Matthew Sammut - Managing Director
Matthew, the youngest of 3 siblings, started his role in the family business at a very young age, and he has always been involved in the fruit and vegetable side of the operations. As the business there was thriving, Matthew explored a niche that Greens Supermarket had managed to find within this industry, namely shifting a part of the business to a B2B type of consumer. This successful strategic pivot transformed into a start-up business that now operates from a factory in Burmarrad, known as Fresh to Go Foods Ltd.
Mario Farrugia - General Manager
Mario joined the company as General Manager where he oversees all manufacturing operations and the organisation projects. His main priorities are to drive product development and to maintain efficiency throughout the operations.
Mario brings a wealth of knowledge from the culinary world, having graduated from ITS in Food Preparation and Production and working in some of the best 5 star hotels in Malta and Europe occupying various managerial roles. He has also managed the refurbishment and opening of various hotels in Malta. Mario has also participated in various international culinary competitions.
Current and future plans
Fresh to Go Foods operates in a farm to fork concept, where produce is sourced and bought directly from local farmers. This strategy is transformational in the food system since it directly affects the supply chain by introducing traceability. It covers production and processing, transport and distribution, sales and marketing to retail and consumption. This concept is being pioneered by Fresh to Go Foods, as the company aims to raise the standard in the industry
Despite the many natural challenges a new business must face to penetrate the market, Fresh to Go Foods had to also endure an incredibly challenging time for the hotel and restaurant industry. The COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be the toughest time for this industry with very unsettled as well as changing times. The company has used this time to improve its systems and technology and worked hard to establish new relationships as well as nurture the existing ones.
Certification
It is currently certified by RBI and YUM Approved Suppliers and is working on getting the BRC Accreditation. Fresh to Go Foods is also Costa Coffee approved and it will continue to expand its portfolio of products to provide convenience for the catering industry in the Maltese Islands.
