The health benefits connected with halal food intake are driving the rise of the halal food business across the Middle East and North Africa. Before it is released to the market, halal food is subjected to severe halal production and trading standards. As a result of the low frequency of food contamination or food poisoning in halal cuisine, customers are increasingly adopting halal food items as a safe, natural, and nutritious diet.
Stringent halal rules, such as the UAE.S OIC/SMIIC 3, provide significant hurdles for small and medium-sized firms seeking to participate in the halal food industry. Furthermore, because of the additional procedures required by Islamic law, halal food is more expensive than its alternatives. Such obstacles may stifle market expansion in the near future.
According to Coherent Market Insights, the MENA Halal Food Market was valued at US$ 133.9 billion in 2017 and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 10.4% in terms of revenue from 2018 to 2025, reaching US$ 291.3 billion by 2025.
Leading companies in the MENA Halal Food Industry:
1. Cargill Inc.
Cargill Limited is headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, U.S, was established in 1865. Cargill Limited is a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Cargill, Incorporated, an international provider of food, agriculture and risk management products and services. Cargill Limited is one of Canada’s largest merchandisers and processors. Our interests include the processing of beef, poultry and oilseed, and the manufacturing of livestock feed. Cargill has made 23 acquisitions and 29 investments.
2. Al Islami Foods
Al Islami Foods is a Dubai-based provider of quality halal products with a rich heritage dating back to 1981. Al Islami is known for its frozen chicken, sausages, burgers, sea food, vegetable and fruit products branded under Al Islami, as well as the Aladdin brand if frozen chicken nuggets targeted at children. On January 20221, Al Islami launched plant-based burger to be sold in super markets and hypermarkets in UAE, later expanded to GCC countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait.
3. BRF
BRF S.A. was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Itajaí, Brazil. The company primarily sells its products under the Sadia, Perdigão, Qualy, Chester, Kidelli, Perdix, Biofresh, Gran Plus, and Banvit brands. BRF S.A. operates primarily in Brazil, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and internationally. Recently in July 2022 BRF inaugurated its new plant ‘Al Joody’ in Dammam, Saudi Arabia to manufacture its products locally, which will play an integral role in the growth and development of the poultry industry locally, in the interest of the Saudi consumer.