Good Earth

Good Earth has been bringing natural, organic and carefully sourced foods to Maltese kitchens since 1985. It started as a one-man venture selling brown rice and vegetable burgers around the towns and villages, and it has grown into an importer and distributor with a catalogue that runs to hundreds of products from every inhabited continent.

For UK visitors who follow a particular diet, the company is a helpful discovery. Gluten free, wheat free, dairy free and plant-based lines are a large part of what it carries, which can make self-catering on the island simpler. It sits in our organic food directory for Malta alongside other specialist food businesses.

History and founder

Good Earth was set up in January 1985 by Matthew de Giorgio, who wanted to bring high-quality natural food to Malta's health-conscious community. His early career as a sailor took him to food markets around the Mediterranean, in Greece and Sicily, where stalls of cheeses, herbs, spices and cold cuts left a lasting impression and set him on a career seeking out excellent produce.

In the first year it was a one-man job. Matthew drove round towns and villages, and the initial challenge was to get people to try products that had not been available locally, such as Brazil nuts, soya beans and apricots, while showing that nutritious, tasty recipes were possible all year round. His nephew Nikolai de Giorgio joined in 2003, and the two of them built the business up together.

Interest in natural food has grown considerably since those early days. Good Earth now stands for high quality at fair prices, with an environmental conscience: the company believes in active conservation so that the planet keeps flourishing, and treats its work as a shared responsibility towards communities as well as customers. For a visitor, that translates into a shop where reading the ingredients list is rewarding rather than alarming.

What Good Earth sells

The product range is arranged by type: beans and lentils, dried fruits, flours and flakes, gluten free cereals, honey, herbs and spices, juices, nuts, oils and vinegars, pasta, rice and grains, seeds, sugar and superfoods, plus a dedicated organic line. Imported brands include Clipper, Doves Farm, Genius Gluten Free, Jordans, Kallo, Whole Earth, Bottlegreen, Clearspring, Marigold and Green Vie, among others, and it distributes Alpro and Ecover.

The aim is minimally processed food made without artificial flavourings, colourings, preservatives or sweeteners, and the company steers away from hydrogenated fats, MSG and genetically modified ingredients. Sourcing follows principles of honesty and openness, with growers and suppliers who share the same ideals.

The website also carries recipe ideas, grouped into main dishes, sides and salads, sweets and desserts, breakfast boosters, and soups and starters, which is useful if you have bought an unfamiliar grain or flour and want to know how to use it.

Shops, ordering and getting there

The head office is at Hardrocks Business Park on Burmarrad Road in Naxxar, but shoppers will mostly meet Good Earth through its retail outlets. These include the Good Earth Balluta shop in St Julian's and a shop in the Smart Supermarket. Consumers who want to place a shopping order or arrange a delivery are asked to contact the outlets directly.

Balluta is a short ride from Sliema hotels and the wider where to stay in Malta areas, and many nearby businesses are listed in our directory, including 7R Diving Malta, Accurit Accountancy and 24/7 Fitness Club San Gwann.

Living and eating well in Malta

Residents setting up home will find specialist suppliers invaluable, and our Malta relocation guide covers other practical steps for new arrivals. If healthy eating is part of a wider routine, A New Better Life is another local business worth a look, and our things to do in Malta guide helps fill the days.

To ask about products, availability or supply, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Good Earth.