Bridging the Gap: Connecting Horeca with Malta’s Food Producers
Weaknesses Must Be Seen As Opportunity – ACE
October 11, 2025
The Malta Food Agency is using online portals to bring hotels, restaurants, and caterers closer to local food producers, boosting supply chain efficiency and advancing the islands’ digitalisation goals.
Chief Business Development Officer, Justin John Camilleri, shares his insights with Stephen Gauci.
“A new chapter is opening for Malta’s food sector,” stated Justin John Camilleri, Chief Business Development Officer at the Malta Food Agency. “By adopting these portals, HoReCa businesses streamline operations while ensuring full traceability, transparency, and accountability in their sourcing.
Every purchase is recorded, confirming that ingredients are obtained directly from local producers. This not only builds customer trust and brand credibility but also demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting the local economy.”
“Operating within a governed system means every purchase is recorded, providing proof that ingredients come directly from local producers. This strengthens customer trust, enhances brand credibility, and underscores a commitment to supporting the local economy,” explained Camilleri.
Every transaction also feeds a growing database of market insights. This allows the Malta Food Agency to track trends, understand the needs of both buyers and producers, and take targeted action to close gaps between the HoReCa sector and suppliers.
The result is a stronger, more connected, and sustainable food chain, celebrating Malta’s produce, and delivering fresh, authentic flavours to the table.
Justin John Camilleri, Development Officer at the Malta Food Agency
Benefits across the supply chain include:
• Malta Food Agency: Unified data and data-driven policymaking.
• Food Producers: Access to tax incentives, digital tools, and market insights.
• Consumers: Fresher produce, better traceability, and greater sustainability.
“With tools like the new Direct Sales platform, upgraded market outlets, the Food Innovation Hub, and a new Farmers’ Market complex, we’re building a digital ecosystem that connects producers directly with consumers,” says Camilleri.
The Agency’s mission goes beyond agriculture: “We’re working with tourism, culture, health, and the private sector to put food high on the national agenda. Food is not only a cultural and social pillar, it’s a key economic priority for Malta and Gozo.”
As Camilleri concludes: “Our vision is a stronger, betterorganised food sector that supports our land, traditions, and local communities.”
• Malta Food Agency: Unified data and data-driven policymaking.
• Food Producers: Access to tax incentives, digital tools, and market insights.
• Consumers: Fresher produce, better traceability, and greater sustainability.
“With tools like the new Direct Sales platform, upgraded market outlets, the Food Innovation Hub, and a new Farmers’ Market complex, we’re building a digital ecosystem that connects producers directly with consumers,” says Camilleri.
The Agency’s mission goes beyond agriculture: “We’re working with tourism, culture, health, and the private sector to put food high on the national agenda. Food is not only a cultural and social pillar, it’s a key economic priority for Malta and Gozo.”
As Camilleri concludes: “Our vision is a stronger, betterorganised food sector that supports our land, traditions, and local communities.”
The Malta Food Agency (MFA) was set up to deliver public services in relation to food deriving from farming and fisheries.
Leading quality and valuable local food products to different markets. To move towards this vision and be part of the solution for adding value to food, the Agency works to support and strengthen the transformation of food along the value chain, supporting sales and marketing from production, trading, processing, and food manufacturing.
W: https://foodagency.mt/ | E: Info.maltafoodagency@gov.mt | Tel: +356 2292 6110
Click here to see Horeca Issue 21 online
