UPIM to open stores in Malta

Joe Borg

Oct 2nd 2008, 17:19

Well done UPIM ! Another big name store chain opening in Malta.
A definite advantage of being part of the European Union, was surely the amount of rights and opportunities the consumer has benefited from. Back in pre-EU Malta, one importer used to import a particular product, this resulted in a monopolization of the market, with that one person earning loads of profit; at everyone else's expense! However with the recent influx of discount supermarkets and what not, the situation has changed somewhat - in favour of the consumer.
I can now buy a product for much less than before, because large supermarkets can afford to put down the prices when they sell in bulk. This means that I save money and stop making some greedy, X5 driving importer richer than he already is.
As regards Maltese products, well I would buy them but only if it suited me. I would have to be a fool to pay more for a Maltese product, when I can buy a foreign product of similar quality for less. After all no Maltese producer ever gave me a portion of his earnings in return for my custom !

m farrugia

Sep 18th 2008, 11:59

The close mindedness of a number of Maltese is unbelievable. They are not even aware that UPIM is a clothes department store and not a supermarket, and they are already panicking that they want to see Maltese items on display!

Regarding agents, wholesalers, they have had it too good for quite some time now. Where did all the savings from the removal of govt levies on products such as cheeses go, savings from changeover to EURO elimating exchange rate charges and reduction in port fees? They surely did not end up in consmers' pockets. Consumers welcome more competition. Yes, a small IKEA warehouse would be most welcome.

Hamish Dempster

Sep 18th 2008, 08:52

Come guys , Lets be patriotic and push local product before reverting to cheap foreign rubbish we sometimes find on the big super markets. I for one have not and do not intend to visit any of these foreign super markets since I expect to find what I want and not any common product which has an unknown brand name. Who knows what is in it.

D.Galea

Sep 18th 2008, 08:22

I'll only be fully satisfied someone decides to bring IKEA over here...I know, we're on the good track! The more they open the better, it's needed to maybe help eradicate the archaic maltese business mentality for those who want to understand what I mean!

Sha Ata

Sep 17th 2008, 23:40

To C. Calleja...

Who told you that UPIM is like LIDL?? People like you are only putting negative ressure on Maltese people and workers who read such articles. It seems that you did not do your research well. I suggest that you consult UPIM's website before starting spreading cheap news. Prestigous brands like UPIM can only bring positive things wth it, such us the employment of Maltese people. What's wrong with that?

James Sultana

Sep 17th 2008, 23:25

I can`t understand some of the people ....

The 90`s were spent pushing for the EU so that WE would have choice to work abroad... and WE would have the chance to export our goods abroad. WE can work abroad, We can export our products ... WE can conquer Europe.

In 2004 Malta chooses the EU and EUREKA !!! WE discover that just as much as we can go and work abroad, THEY can come and work here too.... just as much as WE can sell our products there, THEY can come and sell here too.

Now we are crying foul because more stores are coming here ... and these stores will force ours to close. Now WE want to stop these shops from coming here or else, if they come they have to employ locals! We moan against monopolies and now we want to protect cartels! What makes grocers special compared to factories?

WAKE UP!!! THIS IS WHAT MALTA WANTED - THIS IS WHAT IT HAS TO TAKE. They are not employing Italians instead of Maltese: THEY ARE EMPLOYING EUROPEANS. For the law we are all the same!

EJ Gatt

Sep 17th 2008, 21:45

Hey guys

Have you forgotten that we are in a free-market economy. Some of you here are still with the mentality of protectionism a la' 70's & 80's. But that is over sorry. Now everyubody has to face competition and whoever offers the best product (not necessarily the cheapest but the best value for money) will survive.

And yes, I do work in an economic sector where foreign names are coming over to Malta in direct competition to my work. We have to compete by offering a better service! (and no, we are not offering it cheaper).

Denis Catania

Sep 17th 2008, 20:41

Local government should be included in this process. To ask these companies to hire locals and the give Maltese products good premium shelf space. Local government do this in the USA, and it is effective. We must understand they have to bring some of their people to keep up the standard of their brand's name, but they should be able to train enough locals, to make up for the lost jobs.

Paul Pace

Sep 17th 2008, 20:17

for everyone's information Upim is not a supermarket but a family brand which offers clothes for women, men and kids plus a selection of homeware - I got this info from their website.

As regards to italian workers this is not the case. I am positive that the persons who will be in charge of the business will definaetly employ maltese workers.

We should be thankful to all these ppl that are investing their money to offer us consumers a better choice and opportunities for jobs.

E. Azzopardi

Sep 17th 2008, 19:36

Excellent news. More competition. Survival of the fittest. Having said that, we should all remember that ''Expensive is cheap and cheap is expensive''. Those with some common sense know what I mean and should act accordingly. End of story.

C. Azzopardi

Sep 17th 2008, 19:32

@ Charmaine Mangion
Don't you realise that the economy is a chain? If local grocers, wholesalers and food importers lose their jobs then indirectly it will affect the livlihood of other workers as these will not spend their money elsewhere. So even if your or your family's job has nothing to do with this sector it can still affect you. Lidl is a proven case. Sales have plummeted for the Maltese market and seeing that Lidl hardly sells any Maltese products and employs mainly Italian workers most of our hard-earned cash is not being generated in Malta itself.

Ewdward Cassar

Sep 17th 2008, 18:51

@charmaine.
A lot of Maltese workers will be losing their job as sure enough many local grocers can never compete with these kind of giants so they will fire their staff.A lot of these workers will then drain more the social services,which means that in the long run you and I have to pay more taxes ,which means that what you save at these type of supermarkets you will have to lose later. Plus that there will be less money in these workers pockets so less spending in the local market. As the Maltese market is very small it is very easy to be put in turmoil.Can you tell me what kind of work you and your family do? What would you say if your work is taken over by someone from overseas who will deliver services cheaper than you do ???????

J.Spiteri

Sep 17th 2008, 18:48

Competition is good,some grocer shops in Malta are a rip off, with their prices, hope the new stores are near Marsascala

Sam Ramage

Sep 17th 2008, 18:20

The thing is as well these stores have been earmarked for here for a long time you just don't build and open two department stores that size in two months. So which town is going to benifit from them on their doorstep? How many more supermarkets can Malta take?

L Galea

Sep 17th 2008, 18:02

@Denis Catania
Agree with you 100%
How I wish that this proposal was made in the 70's and 80's when all local products were looked down upon!

@charmaine mangion
Did you ever check the quality Charmaine?
Your comments also indicate that your husband or any of your family do not work in the sector.

Denis Catania

Sep 17th 2008, 17:12

If they don't hire locals, locals shouldn'y shop at these store. Also the Maltese stores need to drop their prices to a realistic profit margin, and they won't have no problems, with the share of he market.

charmaine mangion

Sep 17th 2008, 17:03

silly us!! instead of thanking god to send us supermarkets like lidl and now upim, we cry because we wants to be skinned by other maltese supermarkets.
stupid are the maltese not to go to lidl themselves to buy things but buy them from the grocers.
and what the hell as long as we can save money to continue with our tight budget, let them open. if there are other big supermarkets that wants to open in malta, YOU"RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME AND SAVE US MONEY.

M. Fenech

Sep 17th 2008, 16:11

Welcome to Malta!!! 4 UPIM stores in 2 years ... nice competition, but unhealthy market share! Think twice ... LIDL experience in Malta meant that many grocers have become indirect LIDL agents ... buying at cheaper price from LIDL instead from the agent, and re-selling the same product/same LIDL tag for the same price, they used to sell it before. That's creative-grocer-management a la Maltaise!! The impact ... well, just ask the wholesalers, how their sales plumeted to ridicolous levels since LIDL made it to our shores!:)

M D Fenech

Sep 17th 2008, 16:05

Poor Maltese grocers and Supermarkets! Will UPIM employ mostly Italian staff like the Lidl Supermarkets?

C Calleja

Sep 17th 2008, 15:45

Does this mean more raping of Maltese precious land ala LIDL??