As executive chairman of Gray Mackenzie Retail Lebanon (GMRL) — the company behind Spinneys, Grab’n Go and the fast-growing digital platform Nok Nok — Hassan Ezzeldine is equal parts strategist and optimist, navigating one of the world’s most unpredictable markets. A Tripoli native who grew up between the north of Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, Ezzeldine brings a deeply personal connection to the country he now helps feed. We sat down with him to talk about home, ambition, Lebanese entrepreneurship and why he is betting big on a golden age just around the corner.

You grew up between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. How did those two worlds shape you?

I’m from Tripoli — born there, and every summer my father made sure we went back. We would stay in the north most of the time, spend time in the beaches, visit my grandfather’s house. It became a ritual, something I looked forward to every year. My main connection then was to Saudi, where I was educated and where most of my life was based. But Lebanon was always there, pulling at something. Today, I make sure my own children spend their summers there. I am taking them back to the same place where I was born and raised.

How would you describe your relationship with Lebanon today?

Honestly, when I was younger, Lebanon was a summer destination. A beautiful one, but it was not where my life was rooted. That changed when I came to work here. I truly discovered this country as an adult, and what I found was something extraordinary. There is nowhere in the world I would rather be, and nowhere I would rather raise my family. I think this place is heaven. I really do adore it.

And how do you enjoy your free time when you manage to find it?

Lebanon gives you everything. The nightlife, the mountains, the sea — you can ski in the winter and be on the beach two hours later. The restaurants here are world class, the social life is unlike anywhere else. As a Lebanese, I think we sometimes forget how remarkable that is. We make a point of having a day or two of genuine rest each week — it is the only way to keep pace with this country.

You have become a notable supporter of Lebanese entrepreneurs and young talent, especially through your appearance on “Shark Tank Lebanon.” What draws you to that space?

I think what excites me most is the quality of what is coming through. At events like the HORECA Innovation space, every year I see a real step forward. What I would love to see more of is dialogue — more workshops, more structured communication between entrepreneurs and the private sector, so that we can actually understand what they are building and offer guidance that is useful. The last thing you want is for promising ideas to get lost. With time, I believe we will only get better at that.

How is Spinneys actively supporting Lebanese producers?

It has become a real priority for us. We are doing contract farming with farmers in the Bekaa, in Akkar, all across the country, working directly with the Ministry of Agriculture to build that farm-to-shelf pipeline. In the last two or three years, the number of local factories and producers on our shelves has grown considerably. What is gratifying is seeing Lebanese brands genuinely competing with multinationals — not because we are pushing them, but because the quality and the price are there. The consumer decides. Our role is to give space to whoever earns it.

Do you think Lebanese designers will feature in Spinneys Home?

Absolutely — that is the direction we want to go. Spinneys Home is still a young brand, barely a year and a half old, so there is a lot of development ahead. But Lebanese designers will definitely be part of it. We would love that.

Spinneys the Hub, your new flagship store in Antelias, has been generating a great deal of buzz. What has the response been like?

I remember the day we opened very clearly. All of us were there, and the feedback from consumers was extraordinary. When someone comes to you and says: “Bravo, this is excellent, we love what you have done” — that is the proudest moment you can have as a business. We heard that a great deal. But it also comes with real responsibility. What do we give them next? That is the conversation we are having now. Every two or three years, you have to offer something new. We are enjoying this moment, and already thinking about the next one.

So, what is next for Spinneys and the wider group?

We are expanding into areas where Spinneys has not been present before — Amioun, Zahle, Beit Mery, Mdawar and Khalde. Five new branches, all signed and locked, all in catchment areas that currently have no Spinneys. For Grab’n Go, we are moving into franchising and will be opening applications for around 100 new locations. And for Nok Nok, our online platform, we are adding warehouses across Lebanon and launching aggregation — which means delivering food from restaurants as well. The footprint is growing in every direction.

After everything Lebanon has been through, what gives you so much optimism?

I look at what we have built and what we have survived. I see the resilience of the people I work with — what this company went through and where we stand today. We have maintained our standards, and in many ways we have done better than we were doing in 2018. I look at the young talent we have been nurturing within our teams, and I see how far they have come. As long as we keep growing the company, keep doing the right things, we create room for more of that.

Lebanon is on the rise again. With that comes opportunity — real opportunity. I hope we are going to see the golden age of Lebanon very soon. I genuinely believe that.

If you enjoyed reading this, check out our interview with restaurateur and entrepreneur Tony Ramy.