Family businesses ‘struggling with profitless growth’ – Chamber Vice President

Family businesses have been successful in driving top-line revenues during the pandemic years, but the majority have struggled to convert that growth into profit, according to Malta Chamber Vice President and Chairperson of its Family Business Section, Silvan Mifsud.

Mr Mifsud was commenting ahead of an upcoming The Malta Chamber event examining structure, governance and digitalisation in family-owned enterprises.

He said a central finding of the Chamber's 2026 family business survey, that was carried out by EMCS together with The Malta Chamber, is that while family firms grew revenues strongly in the past pandemic years, most experienced "profitless growth" over the same period.

The survey's full results, to be presented at the event being held at The Malta Chamber’s premises in Valletta on 1st October 2026 from 8:30am to 12:00pm, will explore the reasons behind this in more detail.

Asked why family businesses appear more exposed to this pattern than other companies, Mr Mifsud pointed to structural factors specific to family ownership.

"Unlike non-family businesses – which typically leverage institutional governance and purely commercial decision-making – family enterprises face unique structural friction from informal management styles, emotional dynamics, and a persistent lag in formal succession & strategic planning and board independence."

According to the Chamber, the survey points to a need for stronger strategic planning, enhanced governance structures, improved productivity and greater adoption of digital tools among family businesses, and the event will bring together business leaders, policymakers and family business owners to discuss how these challenges can be addressed.

“Turning Growth into Profit: Structure, Governance & Digitalisation in Family Business” is being organised in collaboration with the Family Business Office and EMCS Advisory.

Registration is open via The Malta Chamber's website.