The Halal industry
is based on a belief that Muslims should consume goods that are “Halalan Toyyiban'', which is directly translated to permissible and wholesome. It’s also important to note that Halal has gained an increasing acceptance among non-Muslim consumers due to its connection with ethical consumerism and over all healthiness.The Halal industry has now expanded beyond the food sector to include pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, health products, toiletries and medical devices as well as service sector components such as logistics, marketing, print and electronic media, packaging, branding, and financing. Coming in second after Islamic Financing, the Halal food sector is emerging as one of the most profitable and influential market arenas in the world food business today.
Factors Contributing to Growth
There are many crucial factors contributing to the industry growth of the Halal foods market. With a large, diverse, and educated young consumer base, the Halal economy can be considered as one of the fastest growing sectors globally. Moreover, the growing awareness of Halal food and its positioning as hygienic and healthy among both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities’ entails an increase in the consumption and acceptance of Halal food. As the global market for Halal foods continues to grow, there will be an increasing demand from countries that do not have the means to produce sufficient quantities of their own Halal food. The leading importers of Halal food in 2015 among OIC countries were Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and United Arab Emirates, with one of the most popular imported foods being meat. Other emerging Muslim countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia have large Muslim populations and adhere to Islamic traditions regarding diet. As many other nations emerge economically, the increased purchasing power of these Muslim majority countries would prove astronomical. This can also be said for the European markets. There is an ever-increasing demand for Halal certified products in Europe, especially in countries that have large Muslim communities such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
Reasons for the Halal option
With the ever-increasing population of the Islamic faith along with acceptance from non-Muslim consumers, more people are investing in the Halal option regardless of religious affiliation. Halal products are an essential product for a Muslim community but are also a more humane and potentially healthier alternative for non-Muslim consumers. Under Islamic Halal laws only the windpipe, throat, and blood vessels are cut during the slaughter of an animal. This is important because the animal’s spinal cord and nervous system is not severed. This process is not only more humane to the animal, but also eliminates the risk the animal can go into cardiac arrest, clogging the animal’s veins with blood. This swift and humane process allows the blood to be drained quickly. There is reason to believe that Halal meats may be healthier to consume than non-Halal as well. As mentioned, the meat is prepared in a way where the remaining blood is drained from the carcass. Blood is a good transporter of bacteria thus the removal of blood quickly minimizes the unwanted risks. Consumers of Halal meat consider it ‘more desirable’ in comparison to traditional methods of slaughter, citing that the meat is more tender and tastes better because it stays fresh longer. Aside from the religious aspect of obtaining Halal products, more secular contributors are interested in the Halal guidelines regarding the preparation of the product.
It’s set to become a competitive force
