Longbow Ltd
4 generations of customer care – since 1938
Today we meet Ben Farrugia, M.D. of Longbow, one of Malta’s key players in the HORECA sector.
Q: Why do you think these are exciting
times in this sector?
A: Well, it is very evident to see how
more than ever, client opinion matters.
Of course the market answers to where
and how the public wants to spend their
money; if there is the wish for vegan
food in St. Julian’s, up sprout vegan
eateries in the area. But it is quickly be-
coming more than that.
Q: What would you say are the more
prevalent ways in which this is happen-
ing?
A: of course it goes down to certain de-
tail like the raw material of the prod-
uct, whether it is biodegradable or not,
whether it is manufactured according to
the right food safety regulations, quality
and so on. Certifications have become
required for almost all products these
days, and while the legally mandatory
ones have become common place, the
race has moved above and beyond it to
environmental and safety levels wherein
HOSPITALITY MALTA
hotel guests are very pleased to see their
certifications hung in hotel lobbies.
This is the value added of these brands,
they speak directly to the users for the
benefit of the client.
Another instance on how public opin-
ion is affecting trends more than ever
is the food we are finding at restau-
rants. Food trends are followed to the
point that for the international supply
to reach demand targets, not very sus-
tainable methods - such as unsustaina-
ble deforestation - are at times applied.
I find the vastness of that effect to be
mind blowing.
Allergies. While of course this is not a
trend, these are apparently on the rise.
However there is no comparison to the
caution taken these days to, say, 10 years
ago. Food information is important
enough for the HORECA market to in-
vest in a new colour which has become
the food allergy kitchen colour: PUR-
PLE. We can now find entire kitchen
accessories to be used for allergy free
ingredients and preparation. Purple
chopping boards, purple utensils, dish-
es and so forth… an entire new line to
serve growing public needs.
Q: I understand what you mean by ex-
citing times: plenty of volatile market
trends coming out of customer opinion
which is as quick as social media and not
just a fashion, which is normally for an
entire season. So do you think Longbow
is up for the challenge?
A: Totally.
22, Owen bldg, Office No 3
Triq L-Ahwa Zammit, Qormi QRM05, Malta
Tel: (+356) 2144 1877, (+356) 2148 8268
EMail: [email protected]
www.longbowmalta.com
Issue 06
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