"Future Shops Daily Needs" is a new sign that will be familiar in no fewer than six localities around Malta by the end of the year.
Frank Grima's project, announced in these pages earlier this year, is running slightly behind schedule but, as he told The Sunday Times in an exclusive interview last week, he wanted to make sure he got the concept exactly right before he rolled it out.
"The first Future Shops outlet opens in Zabbar on Friday. A second opens in Fgura a week later and a third, in Zebbug, shortly after - an investment of Lm270,000. We should have three more open by the end of the year."
Mr Grima was in his customary upbeat mood, but he has clearly done his homework and is confident that he is hitting a niche of people - including singles living alone or single-parent families - who are too busy to have the time to prepare their food.
With their focus on the kitchen and the convenience of having all your ingredients ready to cook, with no cleaning necessary, either of the meat or veg, he is confident that the customers will come pouring in.
"This is a new shopping environment, designed to the highest specifications, with the latest technology of fridges and lighting to display meat and other fresh food at its best," Mr Grima explained.
"You can even buy single portions of fruit and vegetables - even a single clove of garlic, so you don't need to overshop. In this way we aim to eliminate waste, making the price more competitive."
Although Mr Grima has had a hand in the concept and design, he has employed specialists to ensure that the layout of each outlet is professionally done. "Consumers need not miss any item in the store since, from the moment they enter, they will be guided all around the various display cases and fridges."
Some 80 per cent of the products being sold in the Future Shops chain are being imported from Italy. "We are buying from source, so we will have economies of scale. While the prices will be reasonable, we intend to offer quality foods and meat products, for example, staying fresh for up to 15 days."
All stores will have products that need to be refrigerated, kept at the proper temperature both in the warehouse and in display cases - all up to EU standards.
Bread is to be baked in-house; marination-injected meat is to be the chain's forte - portioned and pre-packed. There will be 1,400 items in store, including 400 meat items, with traditional food like bragjoli and pulpetti.
Turning to his other projects and investments, Mr Grima said the park project is awaiting approval from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. After five years, the Portomaso restaurants are to be upgraded - although there has been lots of fine tuning since he took over the ten outlets he runs there.
"We track consumer trends and we are constantly refining the product," he said. "I believe Malta is going to be very big in the next two to three years, with the volume of tourists increasing."
Paceville needs to be further upgraded and his contribution is the total upgrade of the outlets in which he has an interest, starting with his flagship outlet, Plush, the former Clouds restaurant, all the way down to Bar Bamboo.
"I want to completely eradicate noise pollution from my outlets in Paceville," he affirmed. "I strongly believe that Paceville can again be the destination for everyone to enjoy, including families." Mr Grima and his partners have invested Lm300,000 in Plush, creating a bar café, boutique and night club - all in one.
Plush, which is aimed at the 25+ age group, has had a soft opening and has been open for business for the past two months. "This is the nicest place I have designed," Mr Grima said. "Again, we are using state-of-the-art technology in bar service, lighting, fabrics and décor."
The other outlets, to seat about 2,000 in all, will be upgraded by next summer. He knows that his confidence has led to owners of other outlets upgrading their premises.
Finally, yet another new line of business is the opening of a fashion outlet in Bisazza Street, Sliema. Thomas Lynch Fashions are to be imported directly from Calgary, Canada. Founded in 1999, designer and proprietor Thomas Lynch is rapidly establishing the TLF brand name for its sophisticated styles, and attention to detail and finish.
The TLF team has built the company on solid business principles and the artistic ideal of "originality embraced by taste". The collections are sexy, timeless, sophisticated, and designed for people to express their emotions through their clothes.
It includes men's suits, silk and cotton dress shirts, fitted shirts, knitted shirts, dress trousers, slacks, jeans and jackets. The women's collections are based on an extensive selection of skirts, tops, jeans, dressy trousers and suits.
Mr Grima aims to use Malta as a launch pad for TLF in the rest of Europe and he has persuaded Thomas Lynch of the potential of the greater European market.