UK Dairy opens new Halal cheese range

Dairy launches halal range

A North West dairy has launched a complete range of halal cheese for the first time in its 50-year history.

Bosses at Dew-Lay Products Ltd of Garstang, Lancashire, established
in 1957, already supply a full range of cheese for major retailers
across the country.

But now, they are so convinced of the growing consumer appetite for
Halal produce, they have just been awarded a licence from the Halal
Food Authority (HFA) for formulating and processing Halal named
varieties of cheese for the retail and catering trade with permissible
ingredients and approved methods of manufacture.

The company, owned by the Kenyon family, are now allowed to use the
unique HFA logo on all packaging as a seal of approval for Muslim usage.

HFA inspectors will regularly monitor the complete manufacturing process and products.

Dew-Lay combine the most modern technology available with
traditional hand crafted methods of production, which gives their
cheese its particular flavour.

Dew-Lay marketing manager Ian Coggin said: “Its has taken a long
time to get this approval and we have now been visited by the HFA team.

“We are delighted to have been awarded the HFA approval and welcome
the opportunity for the Muslim community throughout Britain to now be
able to buy our superb full range of cheeses, which includes mild and
mature Cheddar, Lancashire Tasty, Creamy, and Crumbly Red Leicester.
Cheshire and Double Gloucester.

“The Muslim community is always looking for something new and want the very best quality products available.

“The Halal logo means they can trust the product implicitly .Its all
about trust and this will allow people to sample the very best of
regional foods with no limit on choices available to them.

“We use only the best local milk from the specific area in
Lancashire where our dairy is based and the whole process from farm to
table can easily be tracked.”

Dew- Lay recently launched the new Halal range at the World Food
Market at London’s Excel when over 250 exhibitors from over 20
countries descend on the capital to show off the very finest of
international cuisine and ethnic foods.

“Ian Coggin from Dew-Lay represenedt the company and organised special Halal cheese tasting sampling sessions.

HFA President Masood Khawaja said demand for Halal products was on
the increase among Britain’s 2 million Muslims and 15 million Muslims
across Europe.

But it was not just Muslims driving the demand he added.”Non-Muslims
are seeking out and enjoying a wide range of Halal products and there
is also a growing demand from abroad with consumers actively looking
for UK manufactured and processed goods.”

The UK Halal market had increased by 30 per cent in the last year
alone said Mr Khawaja while Muslims accounted for just two and half to
three per cent of the population.

“The market has really taken off “, added Mr Khawaja.

Latest research commissioned on behalf of World Food Market by
Ethnic Focus finds that 94 % of Muslims, would only consume Halal food
and Halal is an important part of their lives, while 76% would like to
see more Halal products on the market with 9 out of 10 saying they
would be more likely to show brand loyalty if the packaging explicitly
stated ” Halal”.