Miss Italia inaugurates Berloni showroom

Eleonora Pedron, the reigning Miss Italia 2002, was in Malta for a day last Friday week to inaugurate the fully refurbished Berloni showroom in Valley Road, Birkirkara.

Guests at the inauguration, including Finance Minister John Dalli, heard Miss Pedron make extraordinary efforts in English to wish the new outlet every success - only to be told afterwards that most of the guests understood Italian!

Leo Vassallo Cesareo, chairman of Domestica Ltd, local representatives of Berloni, recalled how Mr Dalli was present some 15 years back when Domestica, with Marcello Berloni of the Italian Gruppo Berloni furniture giant, had opened a Centro Cucina. Domestica had entered into a joint venture with Berloni to manufacture Berloni kitchens under licence in Malta.

Since then the Berloni group had expanded its product range to include sitting rooms, bedrooms, office furniture, refrigeration and home furnishings, which Domestica was now importing directly from the manufacturers in Pesaro, Italy.

Domestica, he recalled, was set up in 1969 and has built a strong customer base and has a strong reputation for offering good service and after sales. Berloni products now come with a five-year manufacturer's guarantee.

Mr Dalli commented on how the Maltese had built synergies with the outside world and how their experience had been of benefit to the local market. The current choice facing local customers enabled them to better express their personality.

The availability of products that can be seen on the media in Malta was a positive development and he wished Domestica success in their new business venture.

During her day in Malta, Miss Pedron met members of the public at the Berloni showroom, autographing posters and in the evening made an appearance on popular TV show Xarabank to announce the donation by Domestica of a Berloni kitchen worth over Lm2,000 for next Saturday's L-Istrina charity campaign.

Miss Pedron, 20, whose father died in a tragic car accident earlier this year when she was returning home from a rehearsal for Miss Italia, was accompanied on her visit by Berloni Export Manager Alessandro Cecchini.