MARBLEHEAD — Marblehead’s Grab The Bagel has built a loyal following on the North Shore over the past three years, but owner Dave Aldrich recently received an order that took his small business to an international stage.

A customer contacted Aldrich to order three dozen bagels and cream cheese. The request initially seemed routine until he learned the bagels were headed to France for the family of Moroccan soccer star Neil El Aynaoui.

El Aynaoui is a midfielder for Italian Serie A club Roma and the Morocco national team. He was a key contributor to Morocco’s quarterfinal run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, appearing in six matches, including the team’s Round of 16 victory against Canada before Morocco was eliminated by France in the quarterfinals.

Members of El Aynaoui’s family had been staying in the Boston area while watching him compete in the tournament. After trying Aldrich’s bagels, they enjoyed them enough to request that several dozen be packed for their trip to Nancy, France.

“I couldn’t believe it at first,” Aldrich said. “They told me they were taking them to France.”

Aldrich vacuum-sealed the bagels in his signature packaging and delivered the order as the family prepared to leave for Logan International Airport. The bagels arrived in France, where they were shared and enjoyed by El Aynaoui and his family.

For Aldrich, the order marked an unexpected milestone for the Marblehead-based business, which recently celebrated its third anniversary.

When he founded Grab The Bagel, Aldrich said he had a simple goal: to bake a bagel that made people say, “This is a good bagel.” He was not interested in becoming the biggest or being declared the best. Instead, he wanted to use the business as a way to bring happiness to others.

He acknowledged that, much like pizza and Chinese food, bagels inspire plenty of strong opinions. Still, he was not prepared for how widely his products would travel.

Grab The Bagel has shipped orders to customers in California, Oregon, Florida, New York, and Alaska. Aldrich also regularly sells out at the Marblehead and Swampscott farmers markets on Saturdays and Sundays.

He said the order for El Aynaoui’s family carried a different significance.

He compared the endorsement to visiting the Vatican and receiving the pope’s blessing, saying it made him feel as though he had entered the “Promised Land of bagels.”

Despite the growing attention, Aldrich said his greatest satisfaction continues to come from serving the local community.

Through what he calls “Random Acts of Bagelness,” Aldrich surprises residents, businesses and organizations with free bagels and cream cheese. He recently delivered an order to Marblehead Bank employees and said their response was overwhelming.

“They were so genuinely appreciative,” Aldrich said.

He compares those moments to handing out freeze pops to children at the farmers markets, where he operates under the mantra, “Happy children, happy world.”

Aldrich said there is nothing more rewarding than seeing children run toward his stand with smiles on their faces, knowing the market is a special place for them.

“It’s way more than a bagel,” he said.

Cephise, El Aynaoui’s cousin, has become one of Grab The Bagel’s most loyal customers. She is expected to appear in a new video promoting the Random Acts of Bagelness campaign after returning from six weeks in France.

Aldrich said the project is intended to bring joy, appreciation and comfort to people, including those who may be struggling with mental health challenges.

“I think the world has gone mad; it’s almost unrecognizable to me and millions of others,” Aldrich said. “If we can deliver unconditional and unbridled joy, especially to folks struggling with mental health issues, along with appreciation and comfort to others, then our job is complete. The bagels are just a vehicle to make it happen.”

Aldrich credited the Jewish Community Center and its members for supporting the business from the beginning. He also said Grab The Bagel’s success would not have been possible without customers in Marblehead and Swampscott.

“I’ve got the best customers on the planet,” Aldrich said.