Gozitan tomatoes make it to the UK - in ketchup bottles

Gozo's agricultural and farming heritage was recognised and honoured in London during the launch and presentation of quality products destined for the British market.

Red Lion Foods already has a range of food products available in leading UK supermarkets, and now they have appointed Magro Brothers of Gozo to produce their tomato sauce under the brand name Red Lion - a popular, mainstream product that is consumed by millions of British consumers.

Red Lion Foods embraces a noble business philosophy, that of donating all profits from sales to charity, with special emphasis to individuals and families of ex-servicemen who have served their country during wars or in combat. Several representatives from institutions with military linkages, such as the British Legion and the Poppy Legion, were present for the event, and owners and senior directors of major supermarket chains, such as Tesco, Coop and Sainsbury, pledged their commitment to ardently promote sales for this project.

Red Lion Foods managing director Andrew Gidden said that his choice of Malta and Magro Brothers did not come about by chance.

Malta's history and linkages with the British Empire during the pre and post Second World War era still had its own sentimental values. Stories and events that took place on the tiny island still held special meanings to many British citizens, so Malta made perfect sense for Red Lion's new ketchup.

Hundreds of different ketchup bottles were tried and tested and the Magro product was, according to Mr Gidden, “undoubtedly the best one can find in Europe”.

Thanking Mr Gidden for his confidence in Malta and praise for his ketchup, John Magro admitted that this new venture was of utmost importance to his company, as well as for Malta and Gozo.