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Sheikh liked Italian restaurant so much ... he bought it
Sri Carmichael24 Apr 2009
An Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge is set to expand across the Middle East after it proved so popular with a wealthy Kuwaiti sheikh that he bought the franchise rights.
Signor Sassi, a favourite lunch spot for Harrods shoppers, will open in 22 countries, the first being Kuwait in July. Other locations will include Dubai, Riyadh and Cairo.
The brand is being taken overseas by retail mogul Sheikh Marzouk Al Kharafi, from one of the richest families in the Arab world. One of his relatives is hoping to buy Liverpool Football Club. The family's enormous business empire, the Americana Group, already owns the regional rights for Wimpy and KFC and is the single biggest shareholder in Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
The sheikh's personal fortune is thought to be more than £7billion. Signor Sassi's owner, Carlo Di Stefano, 65, said: "This is a really exciting opportunity, particularly in the current economic climate. The sheikh and his wife have often come here to eat and they fell in love with our food.
"He wanted to add a more upmarket restaurant to his businesses and the Signor Sassi brand is very well known in the Middle East as many of our diners are visitors from that area. It's a huge compliment."
The sheikh is said to have thought the restaurant's fish and pasta were "amazing" and the service unusually good. Signor Sassi, which has won a Les Routiers award, is part of the San Carlo Group, which has venues in Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester. The business posted revenues of nearly £17million last year, with profits of £1.2million.
Despite the recession, takings have risen by 10 per cent in the past year. Mr Di Stefano, who moved to Britain from Sicily aged 17 with just £12, puts success down to hard work and fair prices.
Reader views (9)
Al kharafi are great business ppl and kind ppl. They deserve all the best and have been great business developers in the Arab world. in my country thet where the first ppl to start investing after the war.
I have heared alot about this group and its all great especially mr nasser who has been a great supporter to all arab issues and the only name on the forbes list that has put his money under his feet and not on his head.
Mabrouk and INSHALLAH more success
- Bu Hussein, beirut, 16/11/2009 11:59
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For those of you who are jealous and envy. This is Kuwait; you can’t get a piece of the cake. It's only for her people, period!
Hey! Proud to be “Kuwaiti.”
- The Kuwaitan, Kuwait, 27/10/2009 06:02
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just like others , ones the italian cooks are gone it is all over . love to see them stay just look at LA PIAZZA ,IL FORNO , CAPRI , POMODORO . and the most buzing place for gezzing is the one and only lorenzo .
caio
- Baba, kuwait. safat, 20/10/2009 10:53
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I know Mr. Marzouk personally we use to go to the same PUPLIC SCHOOL in Kuwait, he is very nice guy, smart, hard working and down to earth disregarding all the wealth, what are you waiting from a business man if he liked something and he sees an opportunity of course he would take it, and he did.
Good Job Marzouk ...
- Yousef, Kuwait, 20/10/2009 07:28
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Brian, you are mistaken there! The best chianti this side of the Gulf is to be had in Kuwait never mind it isn't alcoholic.
- Talal, Dahiyat Abdalla Salam, Kuwait City, 19/10/2009 12:23
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Just to clarify, the use of the word "Sheikh" in the Middle East implies that the individual is from the ruling family. In Kuwait, it's the Al-Sabahs. Marzoug Al Kharafi should be a sheikh with all that money, but he's not- just a bloke with a lot of money.
His wife, on the other hand is related to the royal family.
- Deekay, Kuwait, 19/10/2009 11:23
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Isn't the old Sheikh lucky. If he was a British person trying to buy a business in Kuwait he would find it just couldn't be done. No foreigner is allowed to own a business. Everything has to be done through "sponsors" who have to be Kuwaitis, who just sit back, do nothing and watch as the money rolls in. Foreigners employed there also have to be "sponsored". My Indian workers had to pay about 40%of their wages to the Kuwaiti who sponsored them
- Fred, Horsham, 19/10/2009 11:23
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It is a pity this sheikh was not invited to 10 Downing Street - he could have bought the freehold out of his small change and turned the entire block into a home for destitute cats, for the fat lot of good Downing Street does for Joe Public.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster, 19/10/2009 11:23
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I bet there will be no chianti in Kuwait!
- Brian, Dubai, U.A.E, 19/10/2009 11:23
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