Traditional Gozitan food producer Gozo Cottage has invested €1.7 million in strengthening its operations to increase production capacity, in a move to make products more widely available across the Maltese islands.

The company, which has been producing traditional Gozitan food products since 2005, was one of the firms that benefitted from European Union funding to grow, improve, and develop new products.

Gozo Cottage, located at Gozitano Agricultural Village in Xewkija, is in the process of developing a new plant where products such as ġbejniet (cheeselets), processed meat, and jam will be produced. Works are also ongoing on a winery, where new machinery will be purchased to produce Gozitan wine.

This investment is being done with the goal of modernising the process of production, developing new products, increase efficiency, as well as expanding its production capacity.

Gozo Cottage Director Joseph Grech explained that over the years, the factory’s work meant Gozo’s primary producers, farmers and the agricultural community, were given a new market that is constantly growing, allowing them to sell their products to local consumers, as well as tourists.

He remarked that the products developed through this new investment will continue to strengthen the Gozitan agricultural sector.

Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri and Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Chris Bonett both visited the factory to oversee the works ongoing through this investment.

“Through this investment, the company Gozo Cottage will ensure the products traditionally associated with Gozo will continue to be processed and be available to the consumer, and this will be done with total respect towards the rich culinary heritage that we have inherited from one generation to another and is associated with this island,” Minister Camilleri said.

Mr Bonett remarked that Gozo Cottage received €700,000 in funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

“From the new package of European funds, we will make sure to continue creating more schemes so that more businesses and companies can benefit from these funds that can help them grow, diversify, and offer better products, not just to the local consumer, but also to tourists that purchase local products while staying in Malta and Gozo,” he said.

With a focus on Gozo’s rich culinary history, Gozo Cottage offers a wide array of traditional products, ranging from marmalades and honey, to peppered cheeselets and olives. Its products are available in a number of stores across both Malta and Gozo.