Mario Debono, the eldest son of Carmel Debono, Chairman of Maypole Group, today occupies the position of Director within the Group.

A baker by profession, he was introduced to the family business at a very young age. As a member of the Board of Directors, Mr Debono is responsible for product development, property management and business development.

Maypole’s product portfolio today includes bread, cakes, pastries, frozen food, ice-cream and party menus.

The Maypole Group’s origins go back to 1900 when two entrepreneurs got together to set up the company, established as the main bakery in Casal Fornaro. Carmel Debono acquired it in 1969 and registered the Maypole trade name. He first started operating from a bakery in Gżira that was owned by his future father-in-law. Then, in 1975, he acquired a small bakery in Garden Street, Qormi and the business continued growing and diversifying.

In 2011, a new, state-of-the-art centralised bakery and food manufacturing establishment was opened in Tal-Ħandaq, limits of Qormi. This entailed investment in automated bakery equipment and the recruitment of qualified staff, which, in turn, enabled the business to offer a wider range of products and services.

Carmel Debono opened Nenu The Artisan Baker, a restaurant in St Dominic Street, Valletta, the following year through the conversion of an old bakery still equipped with the original century old oven, which was reconditioned and remains in use. The eatery offers traditional Maltese cuisine while incorporating displays on the history of the bakery trade in Malta.

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