US halal market opportunities largely untapped
Halal consumers spend $20bn on food in the United States each year but few manufacturers are tapping into this affluent market segment, according to director of halal market development at IFANCA (Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America) Asma Ahad.
Speaking to FoodNavigator-USA at the Research Chefs Association conference in San Antonio, Texas, Ahad said that globalization of the food and ingredient supply chain has meant it has become much easier for food manufacturers to gain halal certification, as many more suppliers carry certified ingredient lines, suitable for many different global markets, than they did even ten years ago.
She added that manufacturers might consider offering halal certified products in much the same way as they might consider offering gluten-free products, or foods that are suitable for diabetics as part of a product portfolio that caters to different lifestyle and dietary choices.
