A €27 million state of the art beer packaging facility was inaugurated by Farsons this evening at its brewery in Mrieħel.

The investment, in the brewery’s operational facilities, enables Farsons to produce and package beer and other beverages in exportable packages opening up new horizons. The facility was inaugurated by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and blessed by the Archbishop Charles J Scicluna.

Farsons group chairman Louis Farrugia said: “This facility is another important milestone as it makes it possible for the group to implement its vision of establishing itself as a regional player within the beverage sector.

“This major investment closely follows the €12.5 million investment in the new brewhouse, completed in 2012. Through our long term master plan, we have replaced most of our critical operational assets investing €135 million in 26 years. Farsons is now well placed to benefit from these investments for years to come.”

Mr Farrugia said the company also commissioned an international design agency to upgrade the packaging livery, which was now at par with the world’s best. It worked on developing the export business over a number of years and was achieving steady progress.

In 2015, it exported the equivalent of 400 20ft-containers and increased its export markets.

“We now cover 15 countries across five continents… This investment gives us the ability to extend our export reach even further, in line with our business aspirations for the future,” Mr Farrugia said.

The group, he said, also focused on retraining and upskilling its workforce.

Group CEO Norman Aquilina said the beer packaging facility, which was on three floors, had a footprint of 4,500 square metres and encompassed three packaging lines: two for returnable and non-returnable glass bottles, and a canning line.

 “Farsons now has the impressive capacity to package 30,000 bottles and 40,000 cans per hour to high European standards,” he said.