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26.09.19 5 FARSONS Group maintained its steady performance for the six-month period ending 31 July 2019, with all business segments registering gains over the comparative period. As a result of continuous capital in- vestments in operational assets and human resources, Farsons registered growth in both turnover, up 4% to €53.3 million, and profit after tax, up 4.7% to €6.4 million. Operating profit increased by €437,000 or 6% over the previous year. ese results were achieved despite a backdrop of intensifying competition and unfavourable weather conditions. Farsons Group will continue to focus on its strategic investments, on further product improvements and on pursuing its internationalisation plans. Farsons Group Chief Executive Nor- man Aquilina said it was encouraging to report a steady performance across all segments within the Group, which con- tinues to deliver robust results despite competitive pressures. "e changing market landscape and changes in consumer spending patterns, along with growing concerns on pack- aging waste, will continue to be impor- tant challenges for the Group, as will the maintenance of equitable market condi- tions that ensure a level playing field for all operators in the sector," he said. e Group registered a marginal in- crease in its brewing and beers segment notwithstanding ongoing market compe- tition in terms of new imported brands and pricing challenges. e beverage and food importation companies registered an improved 10.3% contribution to profit, while the franchised food retailing estab- lishments maintained steady growth with an 8.6% turnover increase. e Group's Chairman Louis A Farru- gia reaffirmed the Group's commitment in internationalising the business while remaining prudently optimistic of the growth potential in existing and new markets. "e Board of Directors recognise that the long-term investment strategy de- ployed over the years will continue to prove beneficial in providing in an effi- cient, competitive and profitable man- ner the diverisified high quality product mix sought by our customers," he said. Referring to the restoration and reha- bilitation of Farsons Old Brewhouse, Farrugia said that this landmark re- generation project was on time for the projected completion date during the first quarter of 2021. e project will provide a brewery Visitor Experience, a Microbrewery, a Brewpub, a Cisk bar, a food court and multiple indoor and out- door event areas for both business and leisure activities. Earnings per share increased by 4.4% to €0.213 for the period under review. e Board of Directors declared a net interim dividend of €1 million (2018: €1 million). Farsons maintains a steady performance Farsons' long-term investment strategy deployed over the years continued to be beneficial HERITAGE Malta is collaborating on a new animated docufiction TV series, entitled Storja Animalta. Culture Minister Owen Bonnici welcomed this initiative, and said that, "this series will present Maltese history in such an innovative way that it will certainly entice viewers to learn more about the rich heritage of the Maltese islands." He referred to Heritage Malta's achievements in making our history and heritage more available to the public thanks to inventive ways such as the senior and student passports, amongst others. Minister Bonnici said the govern- ment was investing directly in the culture sector, and that this project will hold an intrinsic role in bringing history into people's homes. Based on seven short episodes of around 25 minutes, each episode of this animated docufiction pro- vides the viewer with a self-con- taining narrative focused on a par- ticular character, group of people, or period. These episodes will recount six sto- ries spanning from the building of the prehistoric temples more than 5,000 years ago to the occupation of Malta by the French during the years 1798- 1800 – 7,000 years of history; temple builders; Phoenician mer- chants; St Paul's shipwreck; Norman masters; Ottoman attacks; and the French blockade. The viewer will be sent on a jour- ney through the ages in a chronolog- ical manner in order to help build a solid basis of some of the most important events and characters of Maltese history. The main aim of this series is to entice young and old viewers alike to learn more about the rich heritage of the Maltese islands. Supplementary information will be shown to complement the story and further illustrate the context of the characters. To complement this TV series, Heritage Malta has published a col- ouring book entitled: Colouring his- tory – Malta and Gozo through the ages. Apart from having fun colour- ing, the book includes also a short description about the history of the six stories recounted in Storja An- imalta. This colouring book can be bought from Heritage Malta's muse- um shops. Storja Animalta is produced by Reciprocal, in collaboration with Arts Council Malta under the Kul- tura TV initiative and Heritage Mal- ta. Storja Animalta will be aired at 8.30pm every Monday on One TV, starting from 30 September. Storja Animalta – an innovative animated TV series about Malta's rich heritage

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