Food giant Nestlé has had a wholly owned Malta subsidiary company since 1923. It has three offices, three different legal entities, four stores and nine local distributors for its various businesses. So, understandably, the Nestlé global brand image is spread rather thinly on the ground.
Giorgio Mondovì, managing director of Nestlé Malta Limited, wants to change all that. Although he has headed the company, which has a turnover of about €20 million (Lm8.6 million), for barely six months, he aims to 'transform' Nestlé Malta into a 'single' company - one legal entity all under one roof with the business directly managed by Nestlé Malta.
"It is important to talk more about Nestlé," he told me when I visited him at his new offices in Attard last month. "I am happy to be in Malta at the right time," he added, pointing to the great changes that were occurring internally.
He is expanding the local operation from its current 43 employees and the company is seeking to recruit. "We are looking for growth in all sectors and, depending on the new steps, we are going to have the structure that will enable us to grow even faster."
2006 was a better year than 2005. "We are physically in the position to compete. We have to increase staff. The current premises (in Attard) are three times bigger than Valletta, yet our plans include expanding our premises by a further 100,000 m2. I expect to have the growth to fill the place. I also expect efficiency to be further increased."
Mr Mandovì showed me the huge stores that the company has in Attard, with plans to build a cold room, and he indicated where the planned expansion would be.
Growth should come from new businesses. However, he adds, it is more important to do things better than before and, as a consequence, expand the business. Staff joining Nestlé Malta also have the opportunity to pursue their careers internationally.
"We held a team building activity at the Radisson SAS Golden Sands some time ago," he said. "I was very happy and proud of the team but the move from (Lascaris Wharf), Valletta, was the real team-building exercise in practice."
Following the move to Attard, he believes a new era has begun for Nestlé Malta. "We are aware of our strengths. We want to build value through our partners, distributors and clients. We have to remain humble, respect the competition and treat our clients as guests. Our attitude cannot be arrogant.
"We want to create a virtuous circle: the set-up, people, our counterparts and the products. We also want to show we are 'having fun' at our job. I want my team to think on a second floor now that we have a first floor. We have to have the ambition of doing our work better."
Apart from wanting to place Nestlé Malta on the local map, Mr Mandovì also wants to put Malta on the international map of Nestlé. He pointed to a recent three-day meeting of the board of directors of Nestlé Italy, which was held in Malta, with other similar meetings planned in future.
Nestlé Malta wants to add value to the community. He pointed to various initiatives to create awareness on obesity, including organising a survey on kids' eating habits - one of the biggest on the subject in Malta. "Internally we want our staff to be fit and aware of the reasons why they should keep fit. We also promote healthy food in the staff canteen.
"We distributed a fitness booklet listing the key things to know and do to have a healthy lifestyle. We are promoting a healthy range of foods. We are rewording our product labels for people to know what they are eating, how much and what they could do to live better."
The Nestlé range of products is impressive, with brands like Motta, Antica Gelateria del Corso, Buitoni, Perugina, Quality Street, After Eight, Perrier, San Pellegrino, Vera, Panna, Friskees, Gourmet and Purina. Not surprisingly, Nestlé has the ambition to become the leading food and wellness company in the world.
In terms of market share, Mr Mandovì said Nestlé is dominant in the Malta market in coffee and milk modifiers, like Neskwik and Aero.
The company is a major player in 'impulse' ice-creams and the home market. It is also very big in chocolate - either the leader or number two.
In cereals it is number two but is growing by 25 per cent every year. It is a relevant player in pet food; a leader in milk; and he sees room for growth in food in jars. It recently successfully launched the range of Buitoni oven-ready foods.
The logistics of importing all these foods is mind-boggling. For example, Nestlé imports coffee into Malta that is produced in 13 countries, depending on the blend and type of packaging.
Looking to the future, Mr Mandovì said he plans to do "a lot of interesting things". He sees room for consolidation: "The market is full of too many little traders and I expect the market to consolidate in the years to come.
"When I leave Malta I want the company to be in a much better position than I inherited. It will be one of the biggest players in the food business locally. We should take advantage of our size, working with our partners and retaining our relationship with them."