One of the owners of Ta’ Frenċ group, Ino Attard, 58, died suddenly early on Saturday.

Described by his business partner and long-time best friend, Lino Cefai, as a positive and energetic person, Mr Attard of Victoria leaves to mourn his loss his wife, Mary Grace, who happened to be in Sicily when he passed away, and his three children, Rebekkah, 21, Isaac, 19 and Jakob, 16.

His energy was also a characteristic that struck psychiatrist Anton Grech, his brother-in-law, who described him as “a force of nature”.

“He had loads of energy and vision and that is how he achieved what he achieved.

“He built an empire from nothing. He was like another brother to me, being married to my sister. We were very close,” Dr Grech said when contacted. Mr Cefai and Mr Attard were at school together and always got along very well. They began their first business venture just as they left school, renting out properties in Xlendi.

In 1979, they set up Ta’ Frenċ Estates and, in the 1980s, entered the construction industry.

Both having catering backgrounds, they opened Ta’ Frenċ Restaurant in 1982.

Mr Attard would look after clients, spending time speaking to them and seeing to their needs.

He had a keen passion for food and was responsible for reintroducing the use of Maltese herbs in traditional cooking.

Mr Cefai said Mr Attard was a man who was dedicated to his work, the business and, most of all, his family.