As of January 2022, Bushra has joined the Southern Market where she continues to serve her delectable meals, fusing her Moroccan heritage with her husband's Indian roots.
LANCASTER, PA, March 15, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Bushra Fakier has been inducted into Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Long before Flavors of Morocco was established, its founder Bushra Fakier was born and raised in the small city of Ksar el-Kebir in the Kingdom of Morocco. Despite growing up in a large family of 11, she pursued a PhD in Physics from University Cadi Ayyad and University of Perpignan in France while also taking care of her young child. She then worked in HR positions at the Ministry of Interior and spent her free time volunteering with local charities and associations that aimed to aid the elderly, orphans, and those in need, especially women.
In the summer of 2010, Bushra began a new chapter in her life by leaving Morocco to settle in Canada with her two children as a single mother. Although she was an ocean away from her home country, her deep affection for it remained unchanged. Rather than continuing her career in human resources, she sought to embark on a fresh journey by introducing people to her culture. She started open houses at ARGANA Moroccan Canadian women association.
This led her to establish Argan Treasures, a cosmetics brand that specialized in selling pure Argan Oil imported from small Moroccan cooperatives. Although the brand failed to gain momentum, she persisted and remained steadfast in her passion for her heritage. This prompted her to team up with two close friends and create a food business called Royal Tagine, with a focus on catering and events. It was through this venture that she found her true calling and the perfect gateway to showcase her Moroccan heritage to the community.
A few years later around 2015, Bushra moved to the U.S. to start a new chapter with her husband Feizal. She carried the torch of Royal Tagine and brought it to Lancaster, PA where it would become a crowd favorite but not before overcoming some challenges. After her cultural events continued to gain popularity in the area, Bushra saw an opportunity to expand her business and have a permanent storefront where she can offer her delicacies which have accumulated a massive demand. In 2018, she rebranded her business as Flavors of Morocco and opened a stand at the Lancaster Market. Excited for this new venture, Bushra was determined to continue representing her country and sharing its unique flavors with the community.
Bushra's business was thriving until the pandemic struck in early 2020, forcing the market to shut down, bringing her business to a standstill. She took on a temporary translation job to make ends meet but remained determined to pursue her true passion. Despite the global pandemic, Bushra's customers persisted in calling her, eager for her food even though her stand was closed. Faced with this demand, Bushra defied the odds by starting a Gofundme crowdfunding campaign to construct a commercial kitchen in her farmhouse's basement. Through her efforts, she managed to raise $3,500 and began building her dream project from scratch with her husband.
Flavors of Morocco made a comeback in January 2021, with the vibrant and colorful kitchen passing inspection and officially reopening for business, albeit limited to takeout. With the help of nonprofit ASSETS, Bushra transformed her backyard into an outdoor dining space featuring a covered gazebo, unique dishes, artistic decor, comfortable cushions, and Moroccan music, which quickly gained popularity through social media and word of mouth. The pop-up restaurant was a hit, with daily crowds throughout the spring and summer of 2021. However, with the colder months approaching, maintaining the outdoor setting became difficult, prompting Bushra to adapt and seize a new opportunity at the recently opened Southern Market.
As of January 2022, Bushra has joined the Southern Market where she continues to serve her delectable meals, fusing her Moroccan heritage with her husband's Indian roots. Her culinary prowess has garnered significant attention, leading to features in notable publications such as Lancaster Newspaper, Lancaster County Magazine, and Fig Magazine. She has also been recognized as one of Lancaster's Women Entrepreneurs of the Year 2022. Flavors of Morocco has cemented its position as one of the top-rated restaurants in Lancaster and attaining the #1 spot in sales and repeat customers at the Southern Market over the past year.
Bushra is driven to expand her business, with plans to operate the outdoor pop-up during the warmer months and continue serving her customers year-round at the Southern Market. In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, she is committed to her mission of serving as a positive representative of Morocco and giving back to her home country by supporting vulnerable women and girls. She aims to provide employment opportunities to those in need, making a meaningful difference in the lives of those in her community and beyond.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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