A group of major Maltese businesses spanning food production, catering, healthcare and community care has been brought together under a new corporate identity, ETERNA Group.

The group comprises James Caterers, Malta Healthcare Caterers, Healthmark, The Food Factory and Kore, employing around 6,600 people and generating annual revenue of €244.6 million.

Its operations include the preparation and supply of around 48,500 meals every day and more than two million domiciliary care interventions and visits annually.

The launch of ETERNA Group brings these five businesses under a common corporate identity and strategic direction, while retaining their individual brands. It does not involve a change in ownership.

Speaking at the launch, Chairman James Barbara said ETERNA builds on over 35 years of work, which all started when he established James Confectionary as a small family-run business back in 1989.

“We chose ETERNA because we want to build a group that will outlive us all,” he said. “Each of our businesses has grown by meeting a need in people’s everyday lives, whether that means preparing a meal, caring for someone at home or training the people who deliver those services."

“Bringing our expertise together gives us a stronger foundation to invest in our teams, improve our services and take Maltese capabilities into new markets for sustainable long-term growth.”

ETERNA’s strategy centres on food, health and innovation as its three main pillars.

At the heart of its food operations is The Food Factory in Bulebel, a facility extending over approximately 35,000 square metres and representing an investment of more than €50 million, including a recent expansion programme.

The group exported 593,908 food products last year, reaching some 10 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.

In healthcare, Healthmark supports more than 10,000 clients across Malta and Gozo through its domiciliary care services. Investment in skills is supported by Healthmark Academy in Malta, the Ceserani Hospitality Training Centre and the group’s healthcare training centre in Dubai, which had trained more than 600 nurses and carers by October 2025.

Innovation connects the group’s food and healthcare activities through developments such as therapeutic and texture-modified meals for patients and elderly people, digital patient-menu ordering, integrated production-management systems and dedicated product research.

Environmental investment includes approximately 2,000 photovoltaic panels generating around 890,000 kWh of electricity annually, alongside heat-recovery, water-efficiency, waste-reduction and packaging initiatives.

Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Alex Borg were both present at the launch.