Demand for halal foods is increasing, not only in the U.S., Europe and Canada, but also in the Middle
East, Southeast Asia, North Africa and Australia. Latest estimation by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, there is about 1.57 billion Muslims in the world today. They comprise 23% of the global population of 6.8 billion. Over 60% of them live in Asia, and one-fifth in the Middle East and North Africa.
Over the past 30 years, many halal markets, ethnic stores and restaurants have sprung up, mainly in
major metropolitan areas. For the most part, the food industry has ignored this population group and
concentrated its efforts towards exporting to Muslim nations. In the past, Muslim businessmen
slaughtered their own animals, and the concept of halal certification was foreign to them. However, in
the late 1990s, small to mid-size companies recognized the vacuum and need to capture this
niche.
Halal certification is becoming as popular for domestic products as it has been for exported products. Foods and beverages bearing halal certification are readily accepted by Muslim consumers, as well as customers from other religions, provided it is from a reputable certification organization.
Making halal cuisine readily available in tourist destinations will encourage more tourists from Muslim countries to visit the Philippines. Halal food would help the country get a bigger share of the global Muslim tourist market. There is a need to make our Muslim tourists and travelers more welcome by having more establishments cater to their dietary requirements. Islam is the fastest- growing religion with an estimated global Muslim population of two billion and today, Muslims are as cosmopolitan as anyone else and traveling in greater and greater numbers.
Travellers expect certain services to be available where they go, and wise businesses that want to tap
into the market had better take notice. One area is Halal food. The growing culinary trend is in direct
proportion to the growing population and mobilization of the group. Adding menu items and even entire outlets dedicated to this unique style of food can go a long way in helping one capture some of those travellers.
Facts about Halal Food Market
• Halal food exporting giants are among non-Muslim countries such as EU, USA, Brazil, India, Russia, and Canada.
• Halal food barons even in Muslim countries are mainly non-Muslim.
• High purchasing power of Muslim consumers makes U.S. and E.U. to biggest niche Halal food markets of 17.5 and 26.3 billion USD.
• Kosher products are widely trusted among Muslim in North America (Kosher: Halal, 86:1 in 2006 U.S. market)
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