Salvo Grima History
Origins 1860
Salvatore Grima acquires the British ship chandling firm McDowall & Co. after working there for several years. He sets up Salvo Grima & Sons; based at No. Twelve, Barriera Wharf, in Valletta’s Grand Harbour.
The Second Generation 1905
Salvatore Grima remained in office as Managing Director until 1905. He was succeeded by his son, Michael Grima, who remained at the helm until 1935.
The Succession 1935
Michael Grima’s son Victor L. Grima takes over the company, subsequently passing it on to his five children: Vida Naudi, Mona Aquilina, Vera Aquilina Clews, Countess Enid Preziosi and JoJo P Grima. Upon his retirement, his daughter Vera Aquilina Clews ran the firm until the early seventies.
The Fifth Generation 1970s, Into The New Millennium
From 1974 onwards, Salvo Grima Group was run by the fifth generation of the Grima family and directors were Michael Aquilina Clews , Robert Aquilina , Ilona Naudi, followed by Vincent Borg-Carbott and later joined by the first non family board member, Ian Camilleri. During this period, Robert C. Aquilina served the Group as CEO.
Medina Offshore Services 1983
Salvo Grima Group set up Medina Offshore Services with the purpose of supplying products and services to the oil and gas industry in Libya.
Duty Free 1984
Salvo Grima Group enters the travel retail market with the Malta’s first duty-free outlet at the Valletta Harbour, providing a range of tobaccos, spirits, perfumes, skincare, cosmetics and electronic items.
Salvo Grima Freeport Operations 1988
Upon the launch of Malta Freeport at the port of Marsaxlokk in 1988, Salvo Grima opened warehousing facilities within the transshipment and logistic centre to provide a strategically located and integrated distribution centre for its clients.
Photo credit Malta Freeport
Duty Free at Malta International Airport 1992
Salvo Grima Group opened its first airport outlet at the MIA departures lounge specialising in skincare and cosmetics.
Tripoli International Airport 2001
Salvo Grima Group opens the Sabratha shop in the Tripoli International Airport as part of a four-way partnership between Maltese, German and Libyan partners.
New Premises 2003
Salvo Grima Group expands into new premises at 187, Pinto House, Wine Pressers Wharf, Marsa.
Super Yacht Supplies 2003
Salvo Grima sets up a division to cater exclusively to the needs of superyachts in Malta and Spain.
Travel Retail Outlets opened in Spain 2014
Salvo Grima opens four duty-free shops in the Palma De Mallorca Cruise Terminals, serving 1.4 million travelers every year.
Acquisition of Dutch FMCG Wholesaler Vladex B.V. 2015
Salvo Grima Group acquires Dutch wholesale firm Vladex B.V. based in Middelharnis, NL, ideally located between the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp.
New CEO for Salvo Grima Group 2016
Salvo Grima Group appoints Karl Aquilina as Chief Executive Officer in April 2016. Karl is a sixth generation member of the Grima family.
Marsa Offices 2017
2017 saw the Group move away from the original base in Valletta to a more strategic location adjacent to our warehouses.
Succession: 6th Generation of the Grima Family 2018
During 2018 the 6th generation of the Grima family become shareholders of the Group’s holding company. Meanwhile some members of the new generation with hands-on experience of the Group’s operations were entrusted with key roles in the management and development of the Group.
