An independent family story
We set out to develop sparkling drinks with character: distinctive flavours, inviting aromas and a place at the table.
Two engineers. One independent streak.
Our approach brings together imagination, careful development and quiet confidence.
Each drink is being developed with food, flavour and good company in mind.
Meet the Engineer Father–Daughter Duo
The founders
Zulfiqar, the father, is a chemical engineer whose decades of process-engineering experience inform a meticulous attention to detail. Roshanay, the daughter, is a mechanical engineer who brings structure, fresh thinking and creative conviction.
Together they combine engineering discipline with imagination, giving Ma’rūf a thoughtful foundation and an independent spirit.
There is considerably more personality, and plenty more family humour, in their story below.
Our product philosophy
The Ma’ruf Way
Aroma as part of the experience
Aroma is not an afterthought, it is part of the ritual. Each Ma’rūf drink is designed to offer a subtle, distinctive scent that enhances the drinking experience.
More than a novelty: flavour and drinkability come first.
With good food or enjoyed on its own.
The invitation before the first sip.
Familiar pleasure with a curious streak.
Take the moment rather than rush it.
No unsupported medical promises.
Careful development and confirmation before sale.
Crafted in Scotland
Scottish by upbringing. Inventive by nature. For auld lang syne: good friends, long evenings and memories worth savouring.
Sparkling Composure.
Full of character. Never full of itself. Explore three distinctive sparkling drinks, developed for food, flavour and good company.
OUR STORY · SCOTTISH ROOTS. A CURIOUS SPIRIT.
Two engineers.
One shared idea.
I started Ma’rūf with my father because we make an excellent team.
I know exactly what I want. He knows how much work that will involve.
I’m a mechanical engineer, born in Scotland, and I started this business at 27. Dad is a chemical engineer with 40 years of experience. Between us, we have a useful balance of fresh thinking, technical knowledge and confidence.
He also has a quietly inventive streak. Give him something that works and he’ll wonder whether it could work better. Nothing is quite safe from improvement. He brings that same patience to developing drinks.
We wanted a sparkling drink with character: curious, composed and good company over food. Something for an evening you’re enjoying, without an urgent suggestion that you should be doing something more extreme.
Being thirsty seemed a modest enough requirement. We didn’t think it needed a motivational speech.
So we began with Natural Cola. Rich cola, bright citrus, smooth vanilla and gentle spice. I had a clear idea of the flavour. Dad found possibilities in the details: the aroma before the first sip, the balance across a whole can, the finish before another mouthful of food.
I’d ask for something unexpected. He’d find a way to make it belong.
That brought us to Yuzu, Apricot + Osmanthus, our bright spark, and Peach, Fig + Magnolia, our smooth operator. Three personalities, developed through a process of curiosity, careful adjustments and me saying, “Nearly.”
Dad is remarkably composed about “nearly”.
Scotland gave us an independent streak, a dry sense of humour and a belief in doing things properly. It also taught us that a warm welcome needn’t involve making a great performance of yourself. Put something good on the table. Let people settle in.
We called it Ma’rūf for its Arabic associations with kindness and right conduct. A thoughtful name for what we’re building together, and a useful principle when one of us gets particularly attached to an idea.
We’re ambitious. We simply like our feet on the ground and our fizz in the glass.
I bring the conviction. Dad brings the composure. The creativity tends to happen somewhere between us.
And when we both reach for another sip, there’s very little left to argue about.
Full of character. Never full of itself.
Bring the fizz. Leave the fuss. The world can wait.