In today’s fast-paced life, frozen foods have become an essential element of every household. Consumers are now looking for easy and quick solutions to their meal planning, which is exactly what frozen foods provide.
However, for the 2 billion Muslim consumers, not all frozen foods cannot be consumed, since most of them contain meat, which needs to be halal-certified for Muslims to consume. This has subsequently given rise to the halal frozen foods industry.
The growth of frozen foods itself, alongside the opportunity of venturing into the halal frozen foods market, is certainly worth looking into for food manufacturers.
Let’s explore why.
Growth of Frozen Food
Frozen food has always been an essential in many households, thanks to its convenience and longevity. But recently, there’s been a significant uptick in demand.
The frozen food market was worth more than $400 billion in 2023 and is expected to surpass $600 billion in value in 2032.
The increasing demand for frozen foods, coupled with the growing Muslim population, highlights a significant growth potential in the market of halal-certified frozen food options, too.
The growing population of modern Muslim consumers are looking for quick, easy, and, most importantly, halal-certified food options in their busy lives. The growth of frozen foods is not just limited to frozen vegetables, in fact there is now a whole range of products, from ready-to-eat meals to savoury desserts.
Benefits of Selling Halal Frozen Foods
You must be wondering the benefits of catering to the halal frozen food market. Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy by offering halal frozen food items:
1. Access to a growing and loyal customer base
As mentioned earlier, Muslim consumers are a huge and growing segment of the global population, with an estimated 2 billion people in 2020. By selling halal frozen food items, you can tap into this lucrative market and build long-term relationships with your customers.
2. Gain a competitive edge
In the competitive frozen food market, selling halal frozen food items can also boost your brand image and reputation. Halal certification can be a key differentiator, setting your products apart from the rest.
3. Enjoy Increased Margins
Frozen food often offers higher profit margins than fresh options, giving your bottom line a healthy boost. Moreover, halal frozen foods can also sell at a premium, especially in non-Muslim majority regions.
Halal Certification Process for Halal Frozen Foods
If you want to sell halal frozen food items, you will need to obtain halal certification from a reputable and recognized halal authority The American Halal Foundation (AHF) specializes in offering halal certification across a variety of industries, including frozen foods.
The halal certification process for frozen foods with AHF involves the following steps:
Step 1- Application
The first step involves submitting an application form to AHF, along with the required documents. The documents may include your company profile, product list, ingredient list, production process, packaging details, etc.
Step 2- Audit
The second step will involve an audit of your facility and products to ensure that they meet the halal requirements by AHF’s team. The audit may cover aspects such as raw materials sourcing, storage, handling, processing, and sanitation.
Step 3- Approval
If the audit is successful, AHF will issue a halal certificate for your products. The certificate is valid for a certain period of time and may be subject to renewal or re-audit.
Step 4- Labeling
You will then need to label your products with the halal logo to highlight to consumers that your frozen food items are halal-certified. The logo or seal should be clear, visible, and tamper-proof.
Read how the halal logo can help businesses stand out in a crowded market.
Future of Halal Frozen Foods
The future of halal frozen foods looks bright and promising. As the demand for halal foods continues to rise globally, so does the demand for halal frozen foods.
Here’s what we can look forward to:
👉 Innovation: Frozen food manufacturers are constantly innovating their products to cater to the changing needs and preferences of consumers. Therefore, halal food manufacturers can also create new flavors and cuisines to meet the comprehensive needs of their consumers.
👉 Technology: Halal frozen food manufacturers are also leveraging technology to improve their products and processes. One such example is of smart packaging, which involves the use of QR codes or NFC to enhance the traceability, authenticity, and information of their products.
👉 Global Demand: With the rise in awareness and acceptance of halal products, the demand for halal frozen foods is expected to surge not just in Muslim-majority countries but globally.
Can Non-Muslims Consume Halal Frozen Foods?
Yes, they can. Halal frozen food items are not only for Muslims. Many non-Muslim consumers are also drawn to halal foods for various reasons, such as health, safety, quality, ethics, or curiosity.
Halal foods are often perceived as cleaner, fresher, more natural, and more humane than conventional foods. By selling halal frozen food items, you can appeal to a wider and more diverse audience and increase your sales potential.
Learn more on how halal and ethical consumerism go hand-in-hand.
Contact Us
If you are interested in catering to the growing halal frozen food market, we are here to help you. The American Halal Foundation (AHF) is a leading halal certification provider globally, and is also recognized by major Islamic councils.
We have a team of experts who can assist you with every aspect of your halal frozen food certification. We pride ourselves on having a reputation for quality, transparency, and excellence in the halal certification.
Contact us today to find out more about our halal certification procedure. We look forward to hearing from you.
Azmi is a seasoned content and client development associate with a passion for art, history, travel, and halal lifestyle. With a sharp eye for detail and an in-depth understanding of evolving market trends, he brings his expertise and enthusiasm to the American Halal Foundation to create impactful content that resonates with a diverse audience.