Has the EU affected the way we shop? Certainly consumer expectations are higher and, after the restricted choices of the past, we now expect to see variety. But do we really need 170 different cheeses? Scotts’ cheese counters are as long as those in the largest hypermarkets in the UK.

The retail landscape has changed considerably. Supermarkets are all teaming up with international partners, with Scotts opting for Conad and Nisa International.

“It is better to exploit their economies of scale and purchasing power. And it is better than relying on local importers as you get a more consistent supply,” consultant John O’Dea said.

“These partnerships would have been possible even without the EU but the streamlining of customs procedures has made a big difference,” Mr O’Dea said, adding that Scotts now received two trucks a week from Conad and a 40ft container of dry goods every week.

However, things did not change overnight. Managing director Mario Said recalled: “Even after accession, customs found it hard to accept their new role, and that they did not need to poke their noses in... We still had the police, sanitation and customs chasing each shipment.”

Adoption of the euro also helped as there were no currency changes, although purchases from the UK market were obviously still affected.

The move from small mom’n’pop shops to supermarkets, and now from local agents to big international brands has taken its toll on importers, who also have to face the problem of parallel imports.

“Many small importers are either disappointing or are being bought up by larger companies. Only a handful is left, the ones who can afford to have all the facilities for storage and temperature control and so on. The days of crates of milk being left on the pavement are long gone!”

The EU imposed a number of changes with regards to hygiene, labelling and so on.

“The consumer is much more aware of expiry dates and ingredients,” he said. “We have taken a zero tolerance approach: We will not accept anything with a shelf life below a minimum amount, for example. And we continuously monitor the temperature in real time on delivery trucks from the moment they leave the UK to when they arrive here. And we test employees’ hands and clothes and machinery every month.”

Scotts produces a range of products like cheeses and dips – and has an elaborate system to test random samples. And it trains its staff in health and safety and hygiene – and not only staff at the deli counter but across the board, including its drivers.

It has seen significant changes in the dairy sector. Before accession, almost all the products were local but the choice has now grown dramatically, not only in terms of local products but also foreign ones.

“We used to be at the mercy of the supplier. I remember times when we would only getchocolate flavoured milkshakes on Wednesdays and strawberry flavoured ones on Friday,” Mr Said joked.

The consumer is much more aware of expiry dates and ingredients

Although Malta Dairy Products has come a long way, he is still unhappy with some old restrictive practices: You can only buy through a designated reseller for any particular territory, for example.

Scotts was born from the ashes of Peter Blond, a textile company, and Mr Said believes that the EU was lenient with Malta.

“The textile industry has now all but disappeared but it lasted much longer than it should have because the EU allowed us to trade as if we were already members,” he recalled.

Overall, Mr Said believes that EU accession was a godsend.

“It ended the excesses of the past, such as the total banning of imports of some products. It is interesting to follow what is going on in the UK with regards to membership: If they look at the fact that 70 per cent of their trade is with the EU, the decision should be clear!” he said.

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