FHA2006

FHA2006 has first halal food pavilion

The production of halal food, its export, and consultancy in halal products and services, take greater prominence at the Food&HotelAsia2006 (FHA2006) exhibition in Singapore this month.

For the first time, a halal food pavilion will be set up at FHA2006. There will be 138 halal exhibitors at FHA2006, compared with 56 at the last show in 2004, representing a 146 per cent increase.

The growing emergence of the halal market - with the Middle East being a keen importer - has led to several developments in this sector.

The halal pavilion

Of the halal food and services exhibitors, 25 will be grouped in the 225 sq. m. halal pavilion, with the rest taking up booths elsewhere in the show. Of the exhibitors, 36 are from Singapore. The pavilion comprises two aspects: one for halal food and beverages, while the other focuses on business aspects of the halal business, such as consultancy and financial services.

Halal products on display at FHA2006 will include:

• Sauces such as tomato, chilli, soya, oyster, salsa, black pepper, unique local paste
• Beverages such as cordial fruit syrup, flavour carbonated drinks, flavoured energy drinks like honey, ginseng & tongkat ali, mineral water, tea & coffee
• Meat-based processed food
• Confectionery including an assortment of cookies
• Instant food; noodles, porridge
• Fruit jam and egg kaya
• Packed spices for Satay, Kurma, Kapitan Curry, Chilli Prawn Powder, Chicken Curry, Vegetable Curry, Fruit Curry, Rendang, and Assam Fish Curry
• Health supplements.

Said Ting Siew Mui, project director (Lifestyle Events) Singapore Exhibition Services, “The significant increase in the number of halal food and services exhibitors reflects a recognition of the growing halal market, not only locally, but internationally. Realising this, Singapore halal businesses are looking outside our shores to take advantage of the opportunities available and market themselves.”

The seminar

The Halal Trade Exchange Seminar to be held on April 27 during FHA2006, addresses various aspects of the halal industry and markets.

The following topics will be covered during the seminar:

• Global halal market: market size, opportunities and issues
• Developing a blueprint for competitive advantage in halal industry
• ASEAN: Regional halal trade hub
• Assessing the halal market: The Malaysian experience
• Assessing the Middle East market
• Assessing the Indian market.

KG Food’s global foray

KG Food, a home-grown company that produces halal paus and dim sum, is poised to venture into the international market. It has set its sights on the Middle East, Central Asia, the United States and Britain. At present, it exports its halal products to Indonesia.

The halal products include chicken paus, honey chicken paus, chicken rendang paus, red bean paste paus, vegetable paus, seafood siew mai, chicken siew mai and Shanghai dumplings. KG Food has more than 40 flavours of fresh and frozen paus and dim sum. It conducts product development with strategic alliance partners to customise products that suit the local taste buds.

Said KG Food's spokesperson, Mona Sim: "The demand for halal paus and dim sum has been growing rapidly. We plan to bring our products to the Middle East where we believe there will be a big demand for them. There are also many potential customers interested in halal products in the US, Britain and Malaysia. We are keen to take part in Singapore trade missions overseas organised by organisations such as IE Singapore, Association of Small and Medium Enterprises and the Singapore Food Manufacturers' Association."

Sales of its halal paus and dim sum have seen rapid growth since the company started operating in 2002, more than tripling from the time of its inception till now.

Locally, its products are sold to various supermarkets and minimarkets, convenience stores, food courts, coffee shops, petrol kiosks, educational institutions.

Did you know?

• There are about 1.8 billion halal consumers spread over 112 countries.
• The halal food market is now estimated to be worth US $245 billion a year.
• Singapore's total food exports to the Middle East hit $211 million last year.
• Applications for halal certification in Singapore almost tripled in the past five years, from 600 in 2000 to more than 1,600 in 2005.