Kosher, Halal Foods Meet Demands of Today’s Consumers — But Most Don’t Know It Yet

Kosher, Halal Foods Meet Demands of Today’s Consumers — But Most Don’t Know It Yet

 

NEW YORK, NY — (Marketwire) — 04/15/09 — Kosher and halal foods — as defined by the
sacred dietary laws of Jews and Muslims, respectively — must be produced
and processed according to standards that far exceed those imposed by the
U.S. government.

In kosher and halal food production, sanitation
requirements are more exacting, supervision is more rigorous, inspection is
more frequent, prohibitions against certain ingredients and contaminants
are stricter, and label information is more forthcoming than required by
federal law. And unlike federal law, these ancient standards are not
subject to negotiation.

There is every reason, then, to expect the increasingly discerning U.S.
food shopper to choose these products over their conventional counterparts.

Indeed, according to Packaged Facts’ new report, “MarketTrend: Kosher- and
Halal-Certified Foods in the U.S.,” sales of certified kosher foods through
grocery stores swelled from nearly $150 billion in 2003 to more than $200
billion in 2008, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate twice that of
the overall food market.

“U.S. consumers who are not followers of Judaism or Islam are largely
unaware of the specific qualities that distinguish kosher and halal from
conventional foods,” says Packaged Facts Publisher Tatjana Meerman.

“However, factors related to safety, quality, and ‘truth in labeling’
should prompt these mainstream consumers to seek out kosher/halal more
often, although marketers and third-party certifiers must make a greater
effort to educate consumers before that can happen. Shoppers already read
food labels,” she continues. “So, a kosher/halal certification seal should
be one of the things they are looking for.”

The potential customer base is vast, and includes the large segment of the
American population anxious about the safety of the food supply as well as
the growing number of people on gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, or
other special diets who demand clarity in food labeling.

In addition,
because the sacred teachings of both Judaism and Islam emphasize respect
for the land and living things, kosher and halal foods also address the
concerns of the ethical consumerism movement. In an unexpected finding, the
segment of consumers Packaged Facts has identified as “foodies” is shown to
be an exceptionally promising prospect for kosher/halal marketers.

“MarketTrend: Kosher- and Halal-Certified Foods in the U.S.” is an all-new
report that delivers unique insights into the market for kosher and halal
foods in the United States, with an emphasis on opportunities in the
mainstream market.

In this report, Packaged Facts synthesizes hard data
from syndicated research providers and U.S. government sources with unique
perspectives provided by industry insiders and the insightful analyses
contained in related Packaged Facts reports to fashion a portrait of the
U.S. market for kosher and halal foods and the products’ current and
prospective consumers, with an emphasis on emerging market trends and
prospects.

The report also discusses the use of third-party certification
and consumer education to promote products to the faithful as well as to
the mainstream and to capitalize on the extraordinary export opportunities.

For further information visit:
http://www.packagedfacts.com/MarketTrend-Kosher-Halal-1282406/

About Packaged Facts – Packaged Facts, a division of Market Research Group,
publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer industries,
including consumer goods and retailing, foods and beverages, demographics,
pet, and financial products.

Packaged Facts also offers a full range of
custom research services. For more information contact Don Montuori at
(240) 747-3028 or dmontuori@marketresearch.com.