The Rizzo Marich Dynasty and the Tobacco Industry in Malta

The tobacco shop of the Rizzo Marich family, known as V. Marich & Co., was situated in a very prominent place in the city of Valletta: on Palace Square. It was not just any shop but a smoking divan, a popular rendezvous point for Maltese gentry, naval and military senior officers, where they could smoke, relax, and discuss the latest topics of the day. V. Marich & Co. was established in 1838 and closed in November 1959—a span of 120 years in which the tobacco industry had to face various challenges.

Noel Toledo, who holds a B.A. (Hons) in Public Administration, started his career within the Public Service in 1984 and has held various senior positions since then, the last being that of Director in Market Surveillance. Having resigned in 2012, he started working as a private consultant in product safety. His work has taken him to most EEA countries and has assisted various governments in candidate countries as well as Mongolia, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. He has a keen interest in family genealogy.