The Convenience Shop Group said it is seeing early positive signs after successfully transitioned all its subcontracted staff – some 200 people – to direct employment.
Convenience Shop CEO David Tabone tells WhosWho.mt that recruitment and retention have already improved, with initial feedback from customers and staff extremely encouraging.
In its 2025 financial statements, the group, which operates over 100 convenience stores and supermarkets, said it decided to directly employ all of its staff as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its workforce.
“This strategic move, combined with a comprehensive training programme across the entire workforce, has created a more engaged, skilled and loyal team that forms a solid foundation for scaleable growth,” it said.
Mr Tabone said the group wanted to ensure that customers are served by a fully engaged, trained and loyal team, which necessitated placing them in direct employment.
It also provides greater stability, a stronger sense of belonging to the business, and a closer connection to the teams and operations they support every day.
“We believe this has had a positive impact on engagement and the overall employee experience,” he said.
He noted that the more obvious benefits have already made a substantial difference, with recruitment and retention improving.
“Whilst we are constantly optimising our operational procedures, the feedback we are getting from our customers and staff is extremely encouraging,” he said.
In its financial statements, Convenience Shop said this investment in its workforce led to a temporary reduction in profitability in 2025.
While turnover increased by 14 per cent to €53 million and gross profitability edged upwards from €5.9 million to €6 million, the Group’s profit before tax dipped from €1.6 million in 2024 to €1.1 million in 2025. EBITDA stood at €3.2 million, down from €3.3 million in 2024.
Turnover is expected to rise to €58.3 million in 2026, with gross profitability expected to rise to €7.9 million, profit before tax to €2.1 million, and EBITDA to €4.3 million.
Main Image:Convenience Group
