Dubai's Tomato Man says people backed small businesses - in pictures

  • The name Tomato Man caught on as chefs referred to Yassine Azzouni after the premium product he supplied. The business adapted from supplying to restaurants to home deliveries during the Iran war. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
    The name Tomato Man caught on as chefs referred to Yassine Azzouni after the premium product he supplied. The business adapted from supplying to restaurants to home deliveries during the Iran war. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
  • Yassine Azzouni, better known as the Tomato Man, said social media posts and WhatsApp messages helped popularise the tomatoes among regular people. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
    Yassine Azzouni, better known as the Tomato Man, said social media posts and WhatsApp messages helped popularise the tomatoes among regular people. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
  • Milan Jurkovic, chef at 21grams, and staff at the Balkan bistro in Dubai forwarded Yassine Azzouni's contact to customers who wanted to purchase the tomatoes for consumption at home. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
    Milan Jurkovic, chef at 21grams, and staff at the Balkan bistro in Dubai forwarded Yassine Azzouni's contact to customers who wanted to purchase the tomatoes for consumption at home. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
  • Yassine Azzouni in his warehouse in Dubai. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
    Yassine Azzouni in his warehouse in Dubai. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
  • Yassine Azzouni (right) and Milan Jurkovic, chef at 21grams, reflect on strong partnerships built on trust. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
    Yassine Azzouni (right) and Milan Jurkovic, chef at 21grams, reflect on strong partnerships built on trust. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
  • The premium 'pink paradise' tomatoes are a Japanese variety grown in Uzbekistan. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
    The premium 'pink paradise' tomatoes are a Japanese variety grown in Uzbekistan. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
  • A classic tomato salad is a favourite on the menu at the 21grams bistro in Dubai. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
    A classic tomato salad is a favourite on the menu at the 21grams bistro in Dubai. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
  • Samiha Belmans, a Dubai resident, bought tomatoes from Yassine Azzouni and shared his story on community groups. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
    Samiha Belmans, a Dubai resident, bought tomatoes from Yassine Azzouni and shared his story on community groups. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
  • Samiha Belmans, a Dubai resident, speaks of sticking together to help small businesses. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
    Samiha Belmans, a Dubai resident, speaks of sticking together to help small businesses. Ahmed Ramzan / The National
  • Anna Rodrigues packs an order at the Golden Chariot, her family-run bakery in Dubai's Karama, that weathered a dip in demand during the Iran war with orders from loyal customers. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Anna Rodrigues packs an order at the Golden Chariot, her family-run bakery in Dubai's Karama, that weathered a dip in demand during the Iran war with orders from loyal customers. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Golden Chariot, a family-run bakery in Karama, experimented with supplying buns and snacks to cafes and small supermarkets in the early months of the Iran war. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Golden Chariot, a family-run bakery in Karama, experimented with supplying buns and snacks to cafes and small supermarkets in the early months of the Iran war. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Golden Chariot, a 20-year-old bakery in Dubai's Karama, has the support of thousands of loyal customers who snap up freshly baked hot cross buns, quiches and pies. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Golden Chariot, a 20-year-old bakery in Dubai's Karama, has the support of thousands of loyal customers who snap up freshly baked hot cross buns, quiches and pies. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A Dubai family-run bakery has decided to continue to focus on its core business of corporate events, school functions and parties. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A Dubai family-run bakery has decided to continue to focus on its core business of corporate events, school functions and parties. Antonie Robertson / The National