About us

Welcome to Derek Garden Centre!
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Derek Garden Center, a family-owned business with over a century of history, was founded by Pawlu Galea in 1896. Initially a small trader in the meat industry, the business flourished when his son, Carmelo Galea, took over in 1901. During World War I, Carmelo served and supplied the English fleet, gaining recognition from admirals and pilots. In 1941, the business transitioned to the third generation, three brothers who continued operations during World War II, supplying meat to The Victory Kitchen and serving the British armed forces.

Post-war, the fourth generation, Melosaul Balzan, joined his maternal uncles. Between the 1970s and 1980s, the company gained popularity by not only importing but also processing livestock. They supplied local markets, hotels, and restaurants, introducing modern machinery for burger production, mortadella, and ham slices

In 1988, Melosaul diversified into horticulture, importing and selling plants and trees. He established a connection with Tuscany, Italy, importing trees to Malta. Despite initial hesitancy towards plants and decoration, people gradually sought Melosaul's advice on gardening. Thus, the landscaping department emerged, influencing Maltese culture with foreign aesthetics.

In 2017, Nick Balzan, the fifth generation, took charge of the landscaping department, while Melosaul managed the nursery and garden. The company expanded significantly and offered landscaping, civil works, and excavation services for private clients and the Maltese government. Derek Garden Centre, part of the GEB Landscaping consortium, successfully secured a five-year tender for landscaping, beautification, and maintenance of selected areas in Malta starting from January 2023.

VAT Number: MT 1011-3836
Company Registration: C10483


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