Link issue12 Final One - SCLG

16 Supply Chain
Halal food for
thought
The potential value of global halal food market
could rise to US$500 billion, according to figures
released by the International Market Bureau of
Canada.
Halal is an Arabic word meaning lawful or
permitted. In reference to food, it is the dietary
standard for Muslim population, as prescribed in
Islamic holy book.
Globally, there are an estimated two billion
Muslim consumers of halal food, which are set to
rise to three billion by as soon as 2010. As a
demographic group, they spread across countries,
typical diets and income groups, creating both a
marketing and distribution challenges.
Middle East analysts believe there are massive
opportunities for local and regional producers to tap
into and network with international distributors to
cater to the demand for halal foodstuffs.
Hasan A. Rimawi, Chief Technical Officer of Dubai
Co-operative Society, tells The Link about
complexities of Halal Food market and Al Islami’s
successes.
Please brief us about Al Islami Foods.
The Al Islami story unfolds in the early seventies,
when Hajj Saeed Bin Ahmad Lootah instituted the
Dubai Co-operative Society. With relentless
dedication, untiring efforts and outstanding
integrity, the company soon began to set standards
for others to follow. And in 1981, with a goal to
make real halal food available for consumers, Dubai
Co-operative Society established Al Islami. By coordinating
Islamic supervision on all meat products
imported from outside the UAE, Al Islami quickly
gained the trust of millions of consumers through its
first product line - frozen chicken - across the UAE
and the Gulf. Spurred on by this success, Al Islami
continued its efforts to produce a variety of real
halal meat products like mutton, beef, burgers,
sausages, kebabs, minced meat and much more.
How big is the halal food market in the UAE?
Hasan A. Rimawi
Chief Technical Officer,
Dubai Co-operative Society,
Globally, halal food is US $150-billion market and
caters to over two billion consumers worldwide. The
UAE is witnessing a food consumption growth of an
average 30 per cent and the food services segment
makes up a considerable percentage of that
amount. Unfortunately halal food does not have
separate statistics to quote, but as the UAE
population grows, imports of halal food products are
also on the rise. Consumers here are very conscious
of what they are eating and sensitive to halal aspect
when trying new products. Without doubt, the halal
issue is very important and high in demand.
What are the complexities involved in halal food
chain?
Halal food on the surface appears to be simple to
many people who only associate the halal food with
animal slaughtering methods. Many non-Muslims
associate halal as a marketing and labelling scheme.
However, halal is a much more complex process – it
requires complete Islamic supervision of food
Supply Chain & Logistics Group | www.sclgme.org