Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1517065
4 NEWS 7.3.2024 The Convenience Shop Group marks 15-years anniversary, looking to expansion abroad Successful workshop on real estate finance by MBA and Archi+ draws strong turnout THE Convenience Shop Group is cele- brating its 15th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in its journey of growth, innovation, and commitment to serving communities in Malta. Since its inception in 2009, e Convenience Shop Group has been dedicated to pro- viding quality convenience shopping experiences tailored to meet the evolv- ing needs of its customers. Reflecting on the past 15 years, Di- rector Ivan Calleja, one of the found- ing members of e Convenience Shop Group, highlights the key factor behind the company's sustained success: "Be- ing close to staff and customers has been integral to our journey. We believe in educating our staff to listen to our customer's needs and providing them with the tools to satisfy those needs ef- fectively. Customers are our lifeblood, and our employees are the backbone of our success. We remain dedicated to placing the customer at the centre of everything we do and strengthening even more our ties with the community. Corporate Social Responsibility is close to e Convenience Shop's heart, and we believe in giving back to the com- munity and supporting those in need." Joseph Pace, Director and also a founding member of e Convenience Shop Group commented on the finan- cial achievements of the past years. "Reflecting on the last 15 years, signif- icant financial achievements stand out for e Convenience Shop Group. Our commitment to driving growth and de- livering value to shareholders has been unwavering," he said. "Notably, our successful listing on the Malta Stock Exchange has been a piv- otal moment in our journey, further so- lidifying our position as a reputable and publicly traded entity. Furthermore, recent developments in our Human Re- sources department have strengthened our workforce, ensuring we have the talent and capabilities to support our continued growth and success." roughout its history, e Conveni- ence Shop Group has demonstrated its adaptability to shifts in consumer be- haviour. Director Kevin Deguara noted, "In the dynamic landscape of retail, we have observed significant shifts in con- sumer behaviour over the past 15 years. As a result, we have continuously adapt- ed our retail strategy to meet changing demands and preferences." Looking towards the future, Director Manuel Piscopo emphasised the impor- tance of innovation and strategic plan- ning: "We continually monitor custom- er trends and industry developments in the FMCG sector. e Convenience Shop Group consistently implements innovative strategies to enhance the shopping experience. is includes our exclusive collaboration with Coop Italian Food which has expanded our product range. ese initiatives reflect our dedication to meeting evolving customer needs and fostering strategic partnerships for mutual success." CEO Martin Agius shared his vision for the future. "As we commemorate this milestone, we envision implementing innovative strategies to drive continued growth and adapt to evolving consumer trends. Key upcoming milestones include the opening of additional franchised stores and the inauguration of e Conven- ience Shop's head office and flagship store in Qormi," Agius said. "Looking further ahead, e Conven- ience Shop Group aspires to make its first international placement by 2025, expanding its reach and tapping into new markets. Our commitment to serv- ing the community remains steadfast, and we will continue to evolve our role to meet changing customer needs." THE Malta Bankers' Association (MBA) and Archi+, on Wednesday 28 February, held the second edition of the Real Estate and Finance Valuation Workshop with a dedicated focus on ESG and sustainability requirements in real estate valuation. emed "e impact of ESG and sus- tainability on real estate investment, finance and valuation", for the second year around, the workshop attracted numerous bankers, stakeholders and other professionals from the real estate sector, further positioning the event as a valuable forum for knowledge sharing and exploration of the most pertinent and topical issues in the field. e workshop was opened by the Chair of the Malta Bankers' Associa- tion Marcel Cassar who welcomed the participants and introduced the context for the presentations and discussions on the agenda. In his speech Mr Cassar stressed that ESG is here to stay although in fact it has always been around. How- ever, ESG requirements will increas- ingly shape and influence real estate valuation. Cassar concluded his speech by main- taining that if we want a positive long- term return on real estate investment, be it residential or commercial, this will also increasingly come from sustain- ability-proof business models that are built on sound ESG principles. Archi+ property valuation expert Justin Mizzi commented: "In a period of rapidly changing global real estate market dynamics, the MBA and Archi+ annual workshop on real estate finance and valuation aimed to educate and en- courage discussion, knowledge sharing, and debate between the key local prop- erty stakeholders on diverse aspects of real-estate theory and practice. More- over, this year's workshops offered an insightful exploration of a topic that is becoming impossible to ignore: ESG (Environmental, Social and Govern- ance) - where we delved into the impact of sustainability and ESG factors on real estate finance, investment and valua- tion." Topical presentations were delivered by Michaela Ghigo (Central Bank of Malta), Chris Meilak (EY Malta), Ant- hea Huber (Archi+) and Clint Azzopar- di Flores (Malta Bankers' Association). e workshop concluded with a pan- el discussion "Dealing with the flaws, threats and challenges of ESG in real estate finance, investment and valua- tion", that was moderated by the Sec- retary General of the Malta Bankers' Association, Karol Gabarretta. e dis- cussion saw the participation of Perit David Xuereb (Chair MCESD and ESG Alliance), Clint Azzopardi Flores (Mal- ta Bankers' Association), Chris Meilak ((EY Malta), and Michael Warrington (CEO AX Group p.l.c.). is year's event was structured across two workshops to enable a well-paced exploration of the topic. e first work- shop was a physical event supported also by Bank of Valletta p.l.c. and BNF Bank p.l.c. is was followed with a live online event on 7 March, supported by PwC Malta.