We combine the elements of a family-owned business with modern practices in order to achieve growth, Joseph Tabone and Martin Vella, recently appointed CEO and chairman respectively at the Halmann Vella Group, say.

At the entrance to the Halmann Vella showroom in Lija, there are two imposing stone panels with a series of holes cut into them, like giant Connect Four boards. The stone circles weren’t thrown away – rather, they were used as a table base in the Group’s board room.

“If you look closely, you’ll see that the circles are not perfect,” Tabone says. “However, with good design, modern production methods and a sound knowledge of materials, you can still create something that is aesthetically pleasing.”

Given the size of the company, this design element is only a fraction of Halmann Vella’s production capacity. However, it perfectly encapsulates the mission and vision of the company: grounding in tradition with an outlook on innovation.

Halmann Vella first started operating more than six decades ago when Vincenzo Vella and his brother bought a small tile making machine press. As their business grew, the brothers started producing various forms of tiles and eventually introduced natural stone and marble to the local market.

Since then, the company has grown and diversified in other sectors. Moreover, it has been involved in various prestigious projects. These projects include the Valletta City Gate project, Smart City, Skyparks Business Centre, the Midi project and Portomaso project as well as various other hotels in Malta.

“We have seen more than 60 years of growth, yet we remain a family-owned business,” chairman Martin Vella says. Together with his brothers Joseph and Mark as well as other family members, Vella runs the group.

“This gives us strength, knowledge as well as a strong sense of belonging,” Vella adds. “However, we combine the elements of a family-owned business with a modern company structure.”

“Moreover, despite our growth, we have maintained a gentlemanly approach to business,” Vella says. “In businesses, as in anything else, issues will always crop up. However, whoever works with us, from partners to creditors, knows and appreciates our approach.”

Halmann Vella is now in its third generation. This gives the company continuity, which is also fuelled by continuous investment, innovation and training.

Brooks Brothers Outlet

“It is this continuous innovation that enables us to be involved in large projects,” Tabone says. “The Valletta City Gate project and new parliament was an important and prestigious project. The logistics involved were complex. However, we invested a lot, including the training of our employees, in order to be able to complete this project. This training, in turn, will enable us to have the required readiness to work on similar projects locally and internationally.”

Apart from investing in production methods and employee training, Halmann Vella also gives design its due importance.

“Nowadays, there is a greater appreciation of a building’s aesthetic appeal, in both a commercial and residential context. This is why we collaborate with our clients to give a property added aesthetic value,” Tabone says.

Halmann Vella is involved in various sectors, ranging from stone and property to fashion, hospitality and food. The group also operates various retail outlets, including Guess, Brooks Brothers and 7Camicie, as well as Lovage Bistro. As a group, Halmann Vella employs 200 people in all its divisions, including 170 in manufacturing.

“The domestic market is very important for us,” Vella says. “Our business development manager’s role is also to help us position ourselves in the international market. Working on Renzo Piano’s City Gate project is not only prestigious for its own sake, but it also boosts our international standing.”

In the latter months of 2014, Halmann Vella issued a formal notice in connection with the issue of €30 million secured bonds. The main aims of this issue were to modernise the Halmann Vella factory in Lija, finance the construction and development of a mixed use commercial property, and invest in a new production capacity in Ħal Far.

“Our aim is to achieve further growth while keeping abreast of developments in the sectors in which we operate,” Tabone says. “The modernisation of our factory in Lija has enabled us to increase our production capacity while investing in cleaner and more modern technology. Our new factory in Ħal Far, which covers 14,000 square metres, has also boosted our capacity while easing our operational flow.”

“Our aims for 2016 are to deliver on our bid bond commitments,” Vella says. “We want to consolidate and invest because we believe that we have the potential to grow further, both locally and internationally.”