IGM and NPD Services have been working for over two years on the European Halal Food Park, the park is in its final stages of construction and ready to open its EU Licensed Factory for SME’s to come on board, the venture can expect to have a turnover of 15 million plus in the first year and has a number of committed partners and can be expected to be in full operation within the next six months.

The site in Banham was strategically sort out due to its ideal location situated less than 90 minutes from central London and has access to two of the largest European Muslim communities in Europe. The French market which has population of over 7million, and the UK market of approx. 4 million Muslims.

With the present climate of recession and unsuraties, this pilot project will allow the European Halal Food Park to open further halal food hubs in the other regions of the UK and the Norfolk plant will act as the central distribution hub. The jobs created will benefit all sections of the community; the European Halal Food Park will be strategically placed for other halal food companies to come on board.

Mr Ghulam Ghafoor Managing Director of Pak Supermarkets, Pak supermarkets Britain’s first main stream chain of halal supermarkets here in UK said: “we have been waiting for such a project, where we can purchase all our UK assured halal products manufactured in the UK, I for one am in favour of halal product which are with complete Shariah compliance ”

The first stage of the project has already been completed and is already operational, boasting a fully approved Halal Abattoir & Cutting Plant operated by Simply Halal which is 100% dedicated to supplying Non-Stun Halal Beef, Lamb & Mutton. NPD Services are working together with EEDA (East Anglia Development Agency) which will include, a central retail packing unit and a further processing unit focussed on manufacturing added value halal food products. The site already has a 300 pallet cold store and blast freezers which makes it ideal for Frozen food operations.

Mohammed Saleem, Policy Director for ANSA Said:  ‘He supports any scheme that benefits the Muslim community and the halal slaughter houses here in the UK by providing the Muslim community with assured 100% Non-Stun halal meat’.

For more information on the European Halal Food Park, please contact William Innes on 07786 993766 or email info@halalfoodpark.co.uk.

Related posts:

1. Hundreds of jobs at UK’s ‘Simply Halal’ food park
2. Bosnia aiming to become the center of European halal business
3. EU: A European Standard on halal food?
4. Belgium: Plans for European halal-hub at Liege airport
5. EU: European Council agrees on new labeling rules for food

The controversial broadcaster has been taken off the air after Ofcom ruled it was in breach of licencing rules.

George Galloway is one of the UK’s most prominent contributors to Press TV. Photograph: Getty Images

Press TV, the Iranian state-funded news channel, is to be taken off the air in Britain after Ofcom ruled that it was breaching broadcasting rules.

The channel has responded with outrage, calling the decision “scandalous” and a “clear example of censorship”. Its chief executive, Mohammad Sarafraz, said that it was “an act of aggression by the British monarchy” which “will prevent the British from learning the truth”.

Yet it is not entirely out of the blue: the controversial broadcaster was threatened with a ban last year, after it emerged that it had aired an interview with Maziar Bahari, a Newsweek journalist, while he was imprisoned in Iran in 2009.

Rather than banning the channel outright, after hearing submissions Ofcom finally settled on a £100,000 fine in December 2011. However, Press TV failed to meet the early January deadline for paying the fine. Ofcom said that the broadcaster has been “unwilling and unable” to pay it.

This is not the only reason that Ofcom has given: it also ruled that Press TV is in breach of broadcasting licence rules in the UK because it runs its editorial insight from Iran’s capital, Tehran. The regulator wrote to Press TV about this in November, offering a choice of either switching editorial control for programming to the UK, or to transfer the broadcasting licence to Iran. According to Ofcom, Press TV has not responded.

These technical explanations are all very well, but it is difficult not to view this in the context of escalating tension between Iran and Britain (my colleague Mehdi Hasan has blogged extensively on this). The country’s nuclear programme has drawn ire from the west, and in November, Britain closed Iran’s embassy in London and expelled all diplomats, after the British embassy in Tehran was attacked by a crowd angry at sanctions.

Certainly, the channel’s fans will (rightly or wrongly) view it in this light. In October last year, Press TV ran a poll in which 52 per cent of respondents said that Ofcom’s attempts to get the channel taken off air was “an instance of intellectual terrorism”. The instant reaction on Twitter shows many concerned about free speech (although others are cheering the decision). Salma Yaqoob, the leader of the Respect Party, tweeted: “Reality is we r seeing increased hostility and preparation for attack on #Iran”.

While this has been rumbling on for months, things are now moving fast. Ofcom has contacted BSkyB, which broadcasts Press TV, to tell them to take the channel off the air before the end of the day. It appears the plug has already been pulled, although it can still be viewed online.

Regardless of the technicality — and certainly, Press TV played a significant part and displayed belligerence by failing to take action — this move will be seen as highly symbolic. It is yet another area where tension with Iran is escalating.

Related posts:

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2. UK: EU-funded DialRel Report on Religious Slaughter now available
3. Halal makes it into top ten good news stories of 2009
4. HDC opens Halal food channel to France
5. Cooperation between Iran, Malaysia Benefits Muslim World

Krispy Kreme, though there is no change to their product, has recently had 16 doughnut varieties certified by the Halal Food Authority.

UK product development manager Lucy Allard commented,

“Although our doughnuts have always been suitable for a Halal diet, we know the certification means a lot to many of our ­customers.”

A campaign to advertise their new gimmick will be launched with on-counter displays of the HFA logo.

Why are Krispy Kreme doughnuts acceptable to Muslims?

There was some controversy a while back as to whether or not their doughnut glaze contained alcohol.  Krispy Kreme responded:

“Krispy Kreme doughnuts do not contain alcohol products manufactured to be consumed as a beverage, such as liquors, wine and beer. The glaze on Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnuts contains a specially produced flavouring that is made and approved for use according to strict FDA guidelines. This flavouring contains a small amount of ethyl alcohol, a common ingredient that, incidentally, is also naturally present in just about all fresh fruits and vegetables. The flavouring for Krispy Kreme’s glaze contains less than 2 percent ethyl alcohol, an essential ingredient for many flavourings commonly used in commercial food production. By contrast, vanilla flavouring, an ingredient widely used in many foods, such as ice cream, cakes, cookies, even animal crackers for children, contains 35 percent ethyl alcohol. It is important to note, however, that when the flavouring is mixed into the glaze recipe, it becomes less than 1 percent of the total composition, and, therefore, the ethyl alcohol content drops to less than 0.02 percent. During the cooking of the glaze, virtually all, if not all, of the ethyl alcohol is lost through evaporation.” (Source)

United States

Brian K. Little, Director of Corporate Communications at Krispy Kreme, makes it clear that their shops in the U.S. do not carry products that are Halal certified.

Krispy Kreme also claims that all of their doughnuts are Kosher as well.

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4. Grey Areas of Halal, Transformation And Assimilation
5. Sabinsa ingredients certified Halal

The company is now undergoing a considerable expansion that will result in a wider range of products, reaching new and previously untapped markets.

Having recognized the huge potential of the pure skincare brand, a group of experience entrepreneurial investors has now committed the funds required to take Saaf to the next level.

A small but experienced team has thus been crafted comprised of individuals with expertise in specialist sectors such as sales & marketing, intellectual property, finance, and global channels distribution. This team will now work alongside Dr Mah to complement her in-depth homeopathic and pharmacological knowledge and ability to formulate natural botanicals.

This astute combination of skills will aim to fully exploit consumer interest in Saaf as a premium, niche skincare brand. The Saaf investment programme and subsequent expansion is being led by Peter Whitehurst and Colin Wright. Peter is drawing upon his experience and contact network developed through his role as Director of Innovation and Technology at British healthcare manufacturer, SSL International. As a serial entrepreneur, Colin is already Chair and Investor in a number of small companies.

Joining Peter and Colin is Carla Smith as Head of Sales & Marketing. Carla is experienced in leading brand development within the healthcare sector, having previously handled SSL International’s product range within its export markets.

Dr Mah remains at the forefront of the company’s future product development in her capacity as Technical Director.

For enquiries please contact Carla Smith – carla@saafinternational.com

www.saafskincare.com

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4. UK: Pure Halal Beauty
5. Forest’Secret: Premier Range Of Halal Herbal Body-care Products

It’s the beginning of 2012 and you’ve come into work determined to flex your marketing muscles and really make a splash for your brand by growing a new segment. Where should you look? The Muslim consumer.

Here’s why: a global population of 1.8bn people who say their faith shapes their consumption choices. It’s a market estimated at $2.1tr. And its movers and shakers are the ‘Futurists’: predominantly young, tech-savvy Muslims who take pride in their faith but embrace modernity, marketing and – most of all – brands.

So here are three tips on engaging with this lucrative, untapped and potentially very loyal consumer base: focus on finance, fashion and food.

1. Money, money, money

The Islamic finance industry is set to grow in size and stature. Its assets are already estimated at about $1tr. That may be a tiny amount compared to conventional finance but Deutsche Bank estimates it will almost double to $1.8 trillion by 2016 as a reduction in conventional lending pushes companies towards alternative financing methods. Ernst & Young points out that Islamic finance has already expanded at a compound annual growth rate of 20 per cent in the last three years, compared to 9 per cent for conventional finance.

Add to this companies like Emirates Airline which says it is looking to the Islamic finance market to fund aircraft deliveries as European banks back out of deals due to the eurozone crisis. Or that some big Western banks are turning to sukuk, Islamic bonds. HSBC, Credit Agricole even South Africa to name but three have all issued or are considering issuing sukuk.

And unless you’ve been locked in a dark room for the last 12 months you will know that the Arab Spring has spawned governments that are likely to look favourably towards Islamic finance, partly for possible ideological reasons but more likely because it can help them attract Islamic investment funds in the Gulf.

In retail banking, Islamic banks are popping up in places from Oman to Nigeria to Malaysia to the Gulf. This comes alongside Islamic finance windows opening in conventional banks, and staff being trained in delivering Islamic finance products to consumers. And no wonder. As the world’s financial markets lurch from one crisis to the next, consumers are wondering if there are better, safer and more ethical alternatives.

The challenge for this industry is to spend time thinking about how it engages with consumers. It really needs to show that it listens to their concerns and is not just ordinary finance dressed up in different clothes. What really makes Islamic finance both a better deal and Islamic too? The key is to communicate the benefits simply, clearly and on their own merits. The word ‘Islamic’ won’t be enough to engage with consumers. Communicating values and consumer benefits by connecting to core Islamic and ethical principles will reap success.

2. Have you thought about going ‘halal’?

According to Malik Musharaf, vice president of Malaysia’s Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC), the global halal ecosystem is worth “more than $2.3tr annually and is fast gaining attention worldwide”.  He says the halal eco-system cuts across many industries, ranging from halal food and non-food products to halal-related services, including Islamic banking and finance, halal logistics, tourism and healthcare.

Halal means products follow Islamic prescription as well as being ethically delivered. Meat should be slaughtered in line with Islamic prescriptions which are very similar (but not identical) to kosher guidelines. And any products with meat or meat derivative ingredients must also comply. Products with alcohol or pork derivatives are not permitted.

To get your meat into some markets like Oman, halal certification is becoming a mandatory requirement. Halal is also on the upswing in countries like Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Halal compliance can create preference for your product and attract business, as suggested by this encouragement in Malaysia for Chinese restaurateurs to attract local and visiting Muslim restaurant goers. And one of the fastest growing segments of US beef exports are halal products, according to the US Meat Export Federation, underlining the idea that halal certification improves brand preference.

It’s possible that your product is already considered ‘halal’ and all it needs is an appropriate body to certify it as such. Or it may take a simple and small adjustment of an ingredient which affects neither quality nor cost to achieve this. For little effort, huge gains can be made.

First, demonstrate that you are aware of the needs of Muslim consumers. Second, invest what could be just a small amount to verify your products are halal. Next, ensure that the halal status is clearly communicated. What worries some brands is whether to shout about this or not. You don’t need to. Simple, clear and well-documented verification of halal status is the key step.

Muslim communities will help to spread the news and ensure that their peers purchase your products because they are halal. Good examples are Tom’s of Maine, Cabot Cheese and Tangerine Confectionery.

Getting your products halal certified might have more benefits than you expect, helping you reach a wider consumer base. Food producers say that consumers see kosher and halal products as safer, healthier and better for them.

Halal beauty products are increasingly catering to a consumer base that seeks purer, more natural, ethical as well as traditional ingredients, and finds that halal certified products meet the bill.

The Dutch company Innova Market Insights identified ten key trends to impact the food and beverage market through 2012 and beyond. The top trends relate to purity, authenticity and sustainability. Halal has a specific technical meaning but it also has wider connotations of purity, wholesomeness and environmental sensitivity, which Muslim consumers are adopting with increasing enthusiasm. More and more halal companies and consumers are investigating the entire ‘farm to fork’ lifecycle, which means that the halal, organic and ethical markets are likely to intersect in a big way.

3. Hijab-chic

In 2012 Muslim fashion will hit the global scene in a big way. The Islamic Fashion Festival will be going to Milan Fashion week, which means Muslim fashion will go international in size, reach and influence. In Turkey, a women’s magazine exploring the crossover between fashion and faith became so popular that it is outselling Vogue and Elle.

So ask yourself, will your brand be the one of the pioneers that grabs first mover advantage, talking and engaging with Muslim consumers? According to Bloomberg it’s a market worth around $96 billion dollars. You’d like a slice – even a sliver – wouldn’t you?

They key to targeting this consumer is to understand that Muslim women – and of course it is women in particular – increasingly see no conflict between faith and fashion. In fact, today’s Futurist Muslim consumers see fashion precisely as an expression of their faith and are proud to wear their faith, literally, on their sleeves. So please, no frumpy out-dated styles, this segment wants cutting edge, fashion forward lines with brands that are proud to demonstrate their modest credentials.

The great thing for brands is that these modest parameters are consistent across the globe; the variation is in local colour and heritage. Currently this landscape is populated by start-up brands and online retail is the medium of choice. The first mainstream brand to bring a line to market and make it available in store – and note that it is not only Muslim women who are interested in modest dress, so the potential market is much larger than estimated here – is likely to elicit strong brand preference in this affluent, brand loyal and underserved segment.

In fact, this final principle will hold you in good stead whichever of our top tips you embrace. If 2011 has shown us anything, it is that the Muslim market is a rising force, both politically and economically. With six of the Next 11 being majority Muslim markets, the Gulf Cooperation Council being a rising economic force and India and China’s huge Muslim minorities, the Muslim consumer segment is an opportunity you need to put on your to-do list right now.

Shelina Janmohamed is a senior strategist at Ogilvy Noor, a specialist consultancy for building brands with Muslim consumers. Ogilvy Noor is part of Ogilvy & Mather.

Related posts:

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2. Opinion: Meet the Futurists: the new Muslim consumer
3. USA: Brand Courage and the American Muslim Consumer
4. American Muslim Market 2011: Business Landscape & Consumer Needs Study
5. USA: 3rd Annual Muslim Consumer Conference (AMCC)

Kingsmill has announced it has officially been certified by the Halal Food Authority as halal-compliant.

The majority of the brand’s products are suitable for vegetarians – with the exception of Kingsmill 50/50 with Omega 3, which contains fish-derived Omega 3 – and while they have always been suitable for a halal diet, the firm said it sought recognition to tie in with its packaging relaunch, announced last month.

This accreditation certifies that those Kingsmill bread and bakery goods with the Halal Food Authority logo are allowed under Islamic dietary guidelines, said the firm.

Guy Shepherd, category director at Allied Bakeries, said: “This demonstrates our dedication to catering to differing consumer needs. The accreditation means that it’s easy and simple for retailers and consumers to be confident that these products are suitable for a halal diet.”

There are a number of ingredients that may be found in bakery that are not halal. According to the Islamic Services of America, L-Cysteine is an amino acid used as a dough conditioner and is often sourced from duck feathers or human hair, although there are synthetic versions available. Shortenings, such as lard, may also be made from animal sources.

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Some parliamentarians have eaten meat at Westminster having been assured it was halal

(Mail Online) – The Palace of Westminster has rejected demands to serve halal meat in its restaurants.

Muslim MPs and peers have been told they cannot have meat slaughtered in line with Islamic tradition because the method – slitting an animal’s throat without first stunning it – is offensive to many of their non-Muslim colleagues.

The stance has infuriated some parliamentarians who have eaten meat in the Palace’s 23 restaurants and cafes, having been assured that it was halal.

Lord Ahmed of Rotherham said: ‘I did feel misled. I think a halal option should be made available.’

In 2010, The Mail on Sunday revealed schools, hospitals and restaurants were serving halal meat to unwitting customers.

Alison Ruoff, a member of the Church of England, said: ‘It’s a bit hypocritical that the Houses of Parliament, which have allowed other people to provide halal food, have ruled it out on their own premises.’

Spokesmen for the House of Lords and the House of Commons confirmed that halal meat was not served in their restaurants.

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2. Award for UK Halal Meat Company
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4. UK: Daily Mail halal reports fail to hit sales
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An agreement could be made with Jewish and Muslim slaughterhouses regarding the length of time that an animal is conscious before dying and the number of animals to be ritually slaughtered. Labor senator Nico Schrijver reportedly said his party now has “many questions” about the bill, including asking why it “so specifically aims its arrows at the rather small number of ritual slaughterers and why not large-scale industrial slaughter, which involves 500 million animals per year?”

ANSA spokesperson Mohammed Saleem said, “This is a positive, sensible and welcome step. We are glad they have finally seen sense. The initial movement to ban religious slaughter was based on misconceptions and some political motives. The welfare of animals is a primary concern for Muslims and Jews, and Kosher and Halal methods are both designed to be most compassionate to the animal. It is entirely incorrect to equate religious slaughter with cruelty to animals. The fact is there are countless other real acts of cruelty being carried out on animals daily in industrial slughterhouses, including under the guise of so-called ‘merciful’ methods of stunning, which merit proper scrutiny and attention. We would advise proponents of animal welfare to  turn their focus to where the evidence actually leads them.”

The few countries that still ban religious slaughter in Europe are mostly traceable to pre-World War II anti-Semitism.

ANSA had, together with Shechita UK, spearheaded a campaign since the summer to have the proposed ban withdrawn. ANSA lobbied many MPs and used its avenues of influence to persuade the Dutch government and parliamentarians to seek a resolution. Mohammed Saleem said “This a tremendous success for our joint efforts. We said before and we re-iterate again, we stand united with the Jewish and Muslim communities of the UK, the Netherlands and other countries. The reversal of the Dutch decision should send a clear message to everyone that we will be united and defend any unjust attack on all fronts.”

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A scientific report entitled ‘The Bleeding of Slaughtered Lambs for the Purposes of Halal Slaughter’ has been released. The document reviews the effect of different slaughter practices on the bleeding of lambs at slaughter.  It makes up part of a postgraduate dissertation submitted by Mr Rizvan Khalid for his MSc in Meat Science and Technology from the University of Bristol.

Mr Khalid has encountered many Islamic scholars raising a plethora of questions in relation to the halal slaughter of animals.  He feels this is an area in which research by Muslims in the field is crucial, as reliable research addressing such questions provides scholars with the knowledge on which to base sound opinions. One such question raised has been in relation to bleeding after slaughter of animals, and whether or not it is compromised by any form of stunning. He decided to make this the focus of his research by studying the impact of electrical head-only stunning of lambs on bleeding.

The research includes a study of relevant Qur’anic ayats and Ahadith from those that Mr Khalid had previously drawn together.  This was conducted alongside continuous discussion with and ongoing review by Islamic scholars.  It is important to note that all Qur’anic verses and Ahadith have been referenced in the report so that they may be critiqued by Islamic scholars.  It is also acknowledged that differences of opinion will nonetheless remain but these must be valid and linked to Islamic scripture.

Mr Khalid believes that scientific knowledge is required alongside religious context before informed discussions can begin. The report is divided into sections including what happens on exsanguination of lamb (the process by which blood is released from the animal), what factors affect this, what Islamic scripture says in relation to blood and what the common conceptions are about blood in meat.

The report can be downloaded here. Any queries in relation to the report can be emailed to rizvan@euroqualitylambs.co.uk.

Biography

Mr Rizvan Khalid is director of Euro Quality Lambs Ltd – a family owned business and the largest Muslim-owned lamb slaughterhouse in Europe.  A Chartered Accountant by profession, he received the Maurice Ingram Memorial Prize – awarded to the student with the highest marks – upon completing his  MSc in Meat Science & Technology from the University of Bristol.  He now actively encourages other Muslims to pursue studies in this field, particularly Islamic scholars, to acquire technical knowledge on the issues that affect Halal meat production.

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