James Caterers, Healthmark among businesses unveiled under ETERNA Group

Five Maltese businesses operating in the food, catering and healthcare sectors have been brought together under a new corporate identity, ETERNA Group, which employs around 6,600 people.

The group comprises James Caterers, Malta Healthcare Caterers, Healthmark, The Food Factory and Kore, with operations supplying around 48,500 meals daily and delivering more than two million home-care visits and interventions annually.

Prime Minister Robert Abela (left) and Opposition Leader Alex Borg (right) attended the event

Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Alex Borg attended the event marking the unveiling of ETERNA Group’s new corporate identity.

The rebranding is intended to support further investment and international expansion, with the company stressing that it does not involve a change in ownership.

The group traces its origins to 1989, when James Confectionery was established as a small family-run business. Over the following 35 years, the organisation expanded to serve hospitals, elderly-care facilities, schools, airlines, businesses and households.

In the healthcare sector, Healthmark provides domiciliary care services to more than 10,000 clients across Malta and Gozo. The group also operates training facilities, including Healthmark Academy in Malta and a healthcare training centre in Dubai, which had trained more than 600 nurses and carers by October 2025.

ETERNA brings together James Caterers, Malta Healthcare Caterers, Healthmark, The Food Factory, and Kore

At the centre of its food operations is The Food Factory in Bulebel, a 35,000-square-metre facility representing an investment of more than €50 million.

The facility houses specialised kitchens, bakery and pastry production areas, dedicated dietary production facilities, research and development, testing, packaging and logistics operations.

Last year, the group exported 593,908 food products to approximately 10 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.

It has also invested approximately €3 million in a new 500-square-metre central production unit in Xewkija, strengthening its operations in Gozo.

The group’s environmental investments include approximately 2,000 photovoltaic panels generating around 890,000 kWh of electricity annually, alongside initiatives aimed at improving heat recovery, water efficiency, waste reduction and packaging.

Its international operations also include a healthcare training centre in Dubai and catering operations in the UAE, which commenced in 2025. Together with its established food exports, these operations form part of the group’s plans for further overseas expansion.