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Russian Halal Market Booms as Producers Eye Muslim Consumers and Export Growth
Tuesday 23 July 2019, by
Conquer the world with halal. This is the goal of Russian producers of this religious food standard, despite the sluggish national economy. In this case, Arslan Guizatoulline’s sausages are not affected by the crisis. The factory of this entrepreneur from the suburbs of Moscow has big dreams. It can count on a booming halal market.
More and more producers and distributors are trying to meet the desires of Muslim communities in Russia, sometimes even aiming for export. They represent nearly 15% of the population. For the boss of Arslan Guizatoulline’s sausages, a company that has been located for seven years in the town of Shchyolkovo, not far from the Russian capital, his frequent visits to store shelves allow him to notice that competition is becoming increasingly fierce.
Yet his 35-person company was one of the first of its kind to invest in the market, twenty years ago, by reproducing the type of popular sausage that existed during the Soviet era but in accordance with Muslim rites. His factory produces 1.5 tons per day of sausages and other products.
The halal sector represents 1,800 billion euros worldwide and is not limited to meat production. In Russia, the "Halal" label is in demand, with companies in the cosmetics and hotel industries racing to obtain this precious seal of approval from the authorities.
More than 200 companies have already been certified in Russia, thanks to the Halal Standardization and Certification Center, under the authority of the Council of Muftis of Russia, since its creation in 2007. Even better, five to seven new companies receive this label each year.