The Latest News and Press - AliliMorocco.com

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	November 30, 2009 Dining Without Borders: International foods are serving up retail success
	(Excerpt) ...Morocco produces an item that is known as no less than “liquid gold.” Argan oil is a product with great health benefits, says Soufiane Lailani, executive director of sales for Alili Morocco, including high levels of vitamin E and essential fatty acids. As an example of the country’s amazing microclimates (ski in the morning, beach in the afternoon), the Moroccan desert soil provides for the perfect growing conditions for argan trees, producing an oil that is similar to no other. Therefore, the trees are officially protected to preserve the quality of the oil. Alili’s Organic Argan Oil has received numerous awards, has a distinctive, nutty flavor and should be used sparingly as a replacement for truffle or olive oil on salads and grilled meats or fish. According to Lailani, the oil was launched several years ago to a resounding flop in response. But recently, he says, there has been a rise in popular culture “glamour” associated with Morocco (hello, Casablanca, hello, interior design shows) leading to increased interest in its culinary offerings as well and argan oil’s success worldwide. But, Lailani continues, this glamorization can sometimes take away from the true cultural identity found in traditional foods. As a result, the company prefers to strictly maintain its product line in accordance with Moroccan traditions. For example, the company removed an artichoke product from its line because—even though it was doing well—artichokes are not traditional to Moroccan cuisine. However, the company did concede to a bit of glamour in its packaging, which makes the products easy to sell by speaking to consumers’ draw to the exotic, says Lailani. To read the full article, go to:Whole Foods Magazine: Greenbook.

	August 4, 2009 Alili Forges Westward
	ALILI continues to stretch our reach across the United States, and our recent feature in 360 West magazine is the perfect exposure as our product reaches the the west and southwestern United States. Tivoli Wines, one of the Dallas area's premier wine stores is expanding its product selection with a special focus on Moroccan specialties. We are thrilled that our line has been chosen as special store spotlight. 360 West magazine is a lifestyle publication that gives affluent Texans a full-circle view on the area they live. To download the full feature, click here.

	August 4, 2009 ALILI Morocco on DC TV
	Alili was recently featured on The Capital Cooking Show, a popular DC based web / video series featuring host Lauren DeSantis. Centered on the Washington 'foodie' lifestyle, ALILI has been following Lauren's culinary adventures for nearly 2 years and we are thrilled to have finally become one! Check out Lauren's Morocco feature.

	July 14, 2009 Marie Claire Gets 'Chic' with ALILI
	Alili Graces the pages of MARIE CLAIRE (in July) with 'Chic Eats: Argan Oil (by Christine Cho)' Marie Claire magazine, one of the world's best selling women's lifestyle publications, continued it's goal at raising global awareness of issues related to all women, with its special Argan feature in its July issue. Writer Christine Cho followed the culinary's latest cult ingredient, Moroccan Argan, and featured ALILI's award-winning premium oil in a simple, delicious recipe of hummus and pita. To see the full article online, click here.

	June 19 - 21st ALILI GOES ASPEN
	ALILI is thrilled to announce our participation in one of the foodservice industry's most spectacular events, the 27th Anniversary FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen to be held June 19 - 21, 2009. Soufiane Lailani (Executive Director of Sales) and Evelin Weber (National Sales Representative) will be offering our award-winning Moroccan indulgences in this beautiful setting and pleasure-packed weekend full of cooking demonstrations, food samplings and wine tastings. To learn more, click here.

	April 30, 2009 And the sofi Award goes to... ALILI!
	Alili Organic Argan Oil and Harissa come up trumps having placed as Silver Finalists at the sofi Awards this spring. The sofi Awards, standing for Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation, recognize excellence in specialty foods and beverages in 31 categories. Formerly known as the NASFT Awards, the sofi Awards are judged by a national panel of specialty food experts. This past year 1,433 submissions were tasted and evaluated. A sofi™ Award is the specialty food industry’s highest honor and is known to vitalize awarded products with an exceptional amount of attention from buyers, the press and food critics. The competition is open to NASFT members in good standing only and past winners report enjoying an extensive climb in sales.... Read more

March 19, 2009
ALILI Adds Organic Argan Oil, New Gift Packaging and More New Moroccan Ingredients

We are proud to announce the arrival of our new Organic Argan Oil, two new olive varieties, an artichoke spread and the unveiling of a new gift-size glass jar available in 6 ingredient varieties.

Alili Organic Argan Oil (known popularly as Moroccan Gold) is organically produced from the nuts of the Argan tree, a gnarled plant that grows exclusively in the southern Essaouira region of Morocco. The oil, known for its distinctive nutty flavor, is hand-extracted by native women organized in argan cooperatives...

Download full press release

	February 25, 2009 ALILI Honey Goes 'Town & Country'
	ALILI's mountain honey trio again gained national attention appearing in Town & Country's March Tea Time feature highlighting a handful of artisan producers including Harney & Sons and Eleni's Cookies. We are very honored for this important mention. Town & Country remains America’s premier lifestyle magazine for the affluent, that shares and shapes its readers’ discerning tastes in fashion, travel, design, beauty, health and the arts and antiques. Sumptuous photography and fine writing grace its pages each month. Download the full mention from our ALILI Press Book.

	February 18, 2009 The ALILI Lune Shines Over Miami
	ALILI is thrilled to be escaping the East Coast winter by traveling to Miami, where we will be showcasing our product line at The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine. This national, star-studded, four-day destination event showcases the talents of the world’s most renowned winemakers, spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities. Hosted by Southern Wine & Spiritsof Florida and Florida International University (FIU), the festival benefits the Teaching Restaurant and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center, both located at FIU. Visit us at South Tent Booth #419. For more information, click here.

	February 18, 2009 ALILI Showcases Natural & Organic in CA
	ALILI is actively extending our national awareness, particularly on the West Coast. We are excited to be exposing our Organic Argan Oil along with our entire all-natural ingredient line in the world’s largest natural and organic products trade show. We will be one of over 50,000 attendees and 3000 exhibits. This exciting event is held in Anaheim's beautiful, state-of-the-art Convention Center located in the heart of Southern California. Visit us March 6th - 8th, 2009. For more info, visit www.expowest.com

	January 29, 2009 ALILI Tagged By 'The Dieline'
	ALILI is proud to announce that we have been 'tagged' and added to The Dieline's list of the world's best packaging designs. Our line's distinctive packaging and unique logo and label shape were the chief elements highlighted as reason for this honorable inclusion in the most visited website on package design in the world. The Dieline's thoughts about our logo design: "The distinctive logo utilizes hand-painted lettering, which reinforces the products' gourmet qualities. The color theme is predominantly white accented with vibrant pink and yellow for a warm - yet refreshing - look. The white also sets off the colorful jar contents very effectively." The Dieline's thoughts about our packaging: "The attractive glass jars and bottles are what really set Alili's packaging apart. The brand feels upscale and unique due to the beautiful jar and bottle forms, requiring little emphasis from the labels. The attention Alili has placed on packaging shape/structure has paid off handsomely for the brand, enabling them to gain plenty of media attention and shelf space in a relatively short time (the company officially launched July of 2007)." Thanks Dieline! We appreciate the notice! ABOUT THE DIELINE: Established in 2007 by Andrew Gibbs, The Dieline is dedicated to the progress of the package design industry and its practitioners, students and enthusiasts. Its purpose is to define and promote the world’s best examples of packaging, and provide a place where the package design community can review, critique and stay informed of the latest industry trends and design projects being created in the field. The Dieline has quickly grown into the most visited website on package design in the world, and has become the voice of the industry. It is an active sponsor of the Pentawards, the first and only professional design competition devoted exclusively to the art of brand packaging, further promoting the field.

January 8, 2009
Alili & Fancy Food In San Francisco

Alili Makes its West Coast Debut in San Francisco
Alili will be showcasing our expanding specialty food line at the 34th Winter Fancy Food Show at the Moscone Center in San Francisco from January 18-20th, 2009. Representing the best of Morocco, we are thrilled to to be a part of the west coast's largest specialty food and beverage show, which includes over 1,500 exhibitors from around the world.

>> Visit us at booth #329!

Show Days & Hours
Sunday, January 18: 10am - 5pm
Monday, January 19: 10am - 5pm
Tuesday, January 20: 10am - 4pm

Click here for more information

October 23, 2008
France. DC. NYC. San Francisco.... Alili Exhibits.

ALILI continues to expand its reach, which is evident in our exhibition line-up that is currently underway.
ALILI is currently exhibiting at the SIAL Show in Paris (October 19-23), one of Europe's most prestigious and the world's most anticipated food showcases. On November 7-9 ALILI will be among a select group of esteemed exhibitors on Pier 94 at the Tastings NY Event. And on November 8-9 we will be featured exhibitor at the DC Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show at the Washington Convention Center.
For more information and to attend any of these delicious events, check out the event links: SIAL 2008 and Tastings NYC

October 21, 2008
New Alili Products

The ALILI line continues to grow. We are proud to announce the latest product additions to our retail line. In addition to our Organic Argan Oil, we have added the addictive Sweet Hot Cherry Peppers, the satisfyingly savoury Artichoke Spread, and two hot new olive mixes -- The Casablanca Olives, which features Oil Cured Olives with Crushed Red Peppers, and our Sahara Mix, which blends crisp Picholine Olives with Harissa.

In addition to the new items, we are also featuring a 250 ml EVOO and a beautiful new gift jar size, perfect for gift baskets, hotels, and which will be featured in forthcoming gift box collections. The new items are scheduled to arrive in the U.S. in late 2008 / early 2009. Stay tuned.

October 20, 2008
New Collections: Comfort & Joy

Give it to yourself, or give it away!' Just in time for the 2008 Holiday Season, ALILI announces 3 new seasonally inspired collections of affordable luxury, perfect for giving. Each collection comes with a special gift card with recipe and usage suggestion.

- The Comfort Collection contains our EVOO / Lavender Flower Honey / Green Olive Tapenade / Marrakech Olive Mix

- The Joy Collection contains our EVOO / Lavender Flower & Jujube Honey / Green Olive Tapenade / Harissa / Marrakech Olive Mix / Pickled Lemon

- The Jubilance Collection contains our EVOO / Lavender Flower, Jujube & Carob Seed Honey / Green & Black Olive Tapenades / Harissa / Pickled Lemon / Caper Berries / Capers / Marrakech Olive Mix.

September 17, 2008
NY Times Says Sweet Stuff About Alili Honeys

For two years ALILI has scoured the Moroccan landscape looking for new ingredients to introduce to the American market. Three of the products that we have huge enthusiasm for were also enthusaiastically received by esteemed food writer, author and NYTimes head food journalist FLORENCE FABRICANT, who made our three honeys, the Lavender Flower, Carob Seed, and Jujube, a centerpiece for her FOOD STUFF column on September 17th, 2008. We are thrilled and honored by the recognition. Our promise to bring more cutting edge ingredients continues with the addition of our Organic Argan, which arrives in late 2008, along with a slew of new ingredients which will be announced shortly. All three honeys are available through our eCommerce.

Read the full New York times article.

August 17, 2008
Alili Meets The Food Network

On August 17th, 2008 ALILI gave a special culinary presentation at the Food Network headquarters in Manhattan. The event included an introduction of the full ALILI specialty food line, a multimedia presentation, and a 6 course tasting menu, complete with wines from Morocco's most acclaimed winery for 25 members of the Food Network creative and production teams. PR guru Jane Walsh (of JCW PR) initiated the event which not only served as an introduction of ALILI to the Food Network Team, but also as a creative driving force for ideas and themes for the upcoming season of shows.

	June 16, 2008 ALILI 'Dada' Party
	On Wednesday, June 11, ALILI and Special Guest / Host famed Chef and Restaurateur David Bouley celebrated the ALILI line with a festive celebratory launch party, held at the Bouley Test Kitchen in Tribeca. The culinary event, called DADA, (a term for the traditional Moroccan women of the house who pass recipes down from generation to generation) was prepared by the 'dada' of ALILI partner, Driss Chaouni. The sumptuous feast, which included 6 salads and 9 entrees also served as a showcase for the ALILI product line. The meal was accompanied by a trio of fine Moroccan wines. The event was attended by numerous foodie, fashionista and press guests, including Academy Award-nominated director Adrian Lyne, fashion designer Catherine Malandrino and representatives from the New York Post, The Food Network, and ELLE Decor. (Pictured, ALILI CEO Majid Slimani and Restaurateur and Executive Chef David Bouley.) >> View our multimedia image gallery of event highlights.

	March 18, 2008 The ALILI Product Line is a Winner
	The ALILI product line claimed its first award at the Restaurant and Foodservice Show held at the famed Jacob Javits Center in New York City on March 16-18th, 2008. Of the nearly 30 new products and product lines submitted for audience review and approval, highlighting product quality and innovation, the ALILI product line of Mediterranean ingredients received the People's Choice Award -- First Runner Up. Alili Inc. partners Majid Slimani and Driss Chaouni who both attended the award ceremony are thrilled at the recognition from their peers.

	March 1, 2008 ALILI launches new FoodService line at the Restaurant / Foodservice Show in NYC
	Due to increasing demand by the northeast's most demanding chefs and culinary advisors, ALILI launches its exclusive food products for foodservice. This exciting launch took place at the famed Javits Center in NYC. In addition to the foodservice line, which is available in beautifully designed 10# cans, ALILI also unveiled its beautiful gift-sized jars, which are perfect for high-end roomservice, hotel gift baskets, and beyond.

February 14, 2008
ALILI expands exotic sweetness with the addition of JUJUBE HONEY

It has been our mission since starting ALILI to scour the Moroccan landscape looking for the rare and exotic. Our most recent find has been our honey-line extension, Jujube Honey. Sourced in the high Atlas mountain range, Jujube honey is produced by bees who exclusively feed on the Jujube fruit blossom.

The Jujube fruit in appearance is similiar to a crab apple. With red flesh it is a miniature bittersweet bite. Golden in color, ALILI Jujube honey is complex, light, and truly one of the most unique honey flavor profiles we have ever come across. It is a deep golden color with a bittersweet-floral aroma and flavor.

FALL / WINTER 2007
Morocco Calling, by Kelli Colaco (Foodstyle Magazine 2007)

We stood in a circle raising chilled glasses of fresh, sweet strawberry juice in the air. They said ‘Welcome to Morocco. May you always return.’

From the saffron colored vistas of the Atlas Mountains, the ancient Roman fingerprints that grace the ruins of Voloubilis, the antique gem that is Fez, the magic of Marrakech, to the past-future amalgam that is Casablanca, Morocco spread out before us like an endless feast. The goal of our sojourn was to become acquainted with the country’s culinary splendours and famous markets. The experience far eclipsed my expectations.

utside the cool mosaic walls of our *Riad, Fez awaited. Still considered the country’s leading religious and cultural centre, walking Fez’s *medina, feels like being transported back in time. Your eyes dart from one stimulating sight to another...MORE

	July 12, 2007 ALILI product line of Morocco's Best unveils at the Fancy Food Show
	After years of planning, the ALILI product line officially was officially launched at the International Fancy Food Show at the Jaob Javits Center in New York City. Our first 17 products were featured and tasted, and were enthusiastically received from distributors and retailers across the globe. The initial shipment of our products is still being finalized and packaged in Morocco, and will be available for purchase in the fall.