Good Earth Group is set to be acquired by a joint venture between three leading Maltese firms.

The joint venture will be set up by major importer and distributor Francis Busuttil & Sons (Marketing), JCP Holdings, best known for its Dewfresh meat products, and Pacikka Holdings, the holding company of furniture firm Joinwell.

The Office for Competition announced the potential acquisition earlier this week, inviting interested third parties to submit their objections within seven days.

Good Earth Group was established by Matthew de Giorgio in 1985, with the objective of “channelling his awareness of high quality natural food products to the heart of Malta’s health conscious community.”

Good Earth products are a staple in many local grocers and supermarkets. It claims to have been a pioneer in introducing certain products like Brazil nuts and soya beans to the Maltese market.

Its current product line includes food for people following special diets, from plant-based diets to sugar or salt-controlled diets, as well as those with an intolerance to wheat, gluten and lactose.

These include popular brands like Alpro plant-based milks and yoghurts, Jordans cereals, Green Vie plant-based cheeses, Clipper teas, and the Ecover line of plant-based cleaning products.

Matthew de Giorgio’s nephew, Nikolai de Giorgio, joined Good Earth in 2003.

The joint venture would see the acquisition of all assets held by Good Earth Group.

Francis Busuttil & Sons (Marketing) Limited forms part of the group of companies of Francis Busuttil & Sons Limited which is involved in the business of manufacture and distribution of food and beverage and importation and distribution of fast-moving consumer goods.

JCP Holdings Limited manufactures, imports and distributes through its group of companies a wide range of frozen and chilled products. It is best known for ts flagship line of Dewfresh meat products.

Pacikka Holdings Limited is the holding company of Joinwell Limited which is involved in the manufacture and retail of furniture.