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.
4. Agthia
Agthia Group founded in 1978, is headquatered in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Agthia Group PJSC, one of the Middle East's leading food and beverage companies, on September 2022 launched its first-of-a-kind e-commerce marketplace eZad, This B2B platform is the result of cooperation between Agthia subsidiary Al Foah and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA).
5. Rhodes Food Group Holdings Ltd
RFG Holdings Limited manufactures and markets convenience meal solutions in South Africa and the Kingdom of Eswatini. The company operates through Regional and International segments. RFG Holdings Limited was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa. On July 2021, South Africa’s RFG acquires frozen foods business of PepsiCo-owned local peer Pioneer.
6. Global Food Industries
Global Food Industries (GFI), established in 1992, is a world-class value-added frozen food manufacturing company based in Sharjah, UAE. GFI processes the finest Halal raw materials from across the world at its state-of-the-art production facility in the UAE. On March 2021, the company has ploughed AED30m (US$8.1m) into its factory in the city of Sharjah to accommodate additional production needs for its new line of cooked foods. The investment covers new equipment around multi-stage coating, frying and cooking technologies ahead of the launch of ready-to-eat chicken fillets, strips and nuggets, a spokesperson for Global Food Industries (GFI), which exports to Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
7. Alpha Fine Foods.
Alpha Foods is a radically inviting plant-based brand creating comfort and connection in a divided world. Founded in 2015, Alpha makes delicious plant-based versions of familiar favorites even opposites can agree on. Alpha Foods announced on October 26 2022, launch of breakfast sandwich line-up with the Chik’n & Maple Waffle Breakfast Sandwich, a deliciously plant-based twist on the classic weekend brunch favorite. Alpha Fine Foods corporate headquartered in Rd an Enterprise Rd, Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya.
Definition- Halal is an Arabic word that means lawful or permitted. Halal meals are produced in accordance with strict halal laws, which prohibit the mixing of haram (illegal or improper) components with the primary product.
