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Sparrow International: Re-creating the aura

The company is bringing a unique coffee and gelato experience to the region

The UAE is all set to have a refined coffee and gelato experience. With the launch of Sparrow International, exclusive distributors for high quality HoReCa brands in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Marc Hijazi, founder of the iconic French Bakery and the La Marquise Group, is back to re-creating the aura of great F&B service in the country and beyond.
“In less than a year’s time Sparrow International is going to have a solid base in the UAE. We are currently working on the foundation with the idea to keep our focus on high quality coffee and gelato for two big markets – the UAE and Saudi Arabia. While the UAE shall be our main hub, we are branching out majorly into the Saudi market. Since it is in my nature to focus on ‘quality’, at Sparrow International that is what our area of specialisation is going to be,” Marc Hijazi, CEO, Sparrow International told Khaleej Times.

Hijazi, who first came to Dubai way back in 1995, is credited with transforming the bakery landscape of the emirate by setting up the French Bakery in Al Qusais. Within a short span of time, connoisseurs came to acknowledge the brand as a benchmark in quality, value and service. Says Hijazi, “Dubai was an interesting place in 1995 with less competition and less expensive in terms of cost but today the market is globally known. I believe there is going to be a process of filtering out and eventually those who believe in quality products and delivering professional services will last.”

Earning numerous accolades during his chequered career, which saw him donning various hats in Europe and the Middle East, including that of a computer programmer, watch-dealer, real estate developer and bakery professional, Hijazi was conferred the ‘Le Grand Prix National’ award by the Electricite de France for setting new technical standards in residential heating systems in the Geneva region. The UAE government gave him an official recognition as a ‘member of the UAE’s business elite’ for his pioneering role in the country’s F&B industry.

In 2013 Marc Hijazi founded the Sparrow International, a long-term stratergic partnership with Al Rugaib Holding Co, a multibillion holding company of Saudi Arabia. “Most of our products are Italian. The country, in general, is famous for the quality of its food. There is ample scope to work with some of the world’s finest family businesses making coffee and gelato and popularise the products and services in this part of the world,” Hijazi concludes.