The World Artisan Guild LLC, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a new company that was established for the sole purpose of importing ARGAND’OR Argan Oil to America.
Stefan and Margaret Hauke, the founders of the World Artisan Guild, were first introduced to Argan Oil on a trip to Morocco where its presence cannot go unnoticed. Unfortunately, out of season, they were unable to find Argan Oil, neither in the markets of Casablanca nor in the souks of Marrakech.
As luck would have it, Stefan received a call from in late 2006 from ARGAND’OR, a German Company that imports hand-crafted gourmet quality Argan oil. ARGAND’OR Argan oil had been previously launched in Europe and Japan and had become an immediate success. It won the celebrated BioFach “Product of the Year” Award within weeks of being launched. Mohamed El Karz, the Moroccan civil engineer and founder of the company and his German partners were seeking help in bringing ARGAND’OR Argan Oil to America, where food enthusiasts had no access to hand-crafted gourmet Argan oil.
Margaret and Stefan recognized the importance of bringing this world heritage food to America. They were fascinated by ARGAND’OR Argan Oil and the story behind it. Not only is ARGAND’OR Argan Oil a delectable gourmet oil with a wide variety of uses in an innovative cuisine, but also a health food with more than twice the level of anti-oxidant tocopherols than olive oil and a unique combination of cholesterol-fighting sterols
In addition, they were intrigued by the unique production of ARGAND'OR Argan oil: Mohamed has partnered with Berber Women Cooperatives in the rural villages of the Arganeraie. This group of courageous women decided to continue producing Argan oil in the traditional Artisan way, despite the trend towards industrial extraction. ARGAND’OR commitment to a true Artisan product provides the Berber women with employment in Morocco’s rural areas that would otherwise be lost to mechanical presses.
Margaret and Stefan realized that America was missing out on this wonderful gift from nature. The couple established the World Artisan Guild and introduced the product to the American public at the All Things Organic Food Show in Chicago in May 2007.
