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Halal Food Sales Growing in U.S.

A street cart sells halal food to customers in New York

In Manhattan, halal street carts have become ubiquitous. Chicago just opened its third eat-in "Halal Guys" franchise. Nationally, Whole Foods says halal foods are one of its fastest growing categories.

Rising popularity has turned halal foods into a $1.9 billion per year business at grocery stores in the U.S., according to Nielsen figures.

That's a 15 percent increase since 2012.

According to an organization that certifies halal food, the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America, the figure is more like $20 billion per year if you include restaurants.

The council says that marks a 30 percent increase since 2010.

Bloomberg reports that a growing Muslim population and a hunger for ethnic food among millennials could be driving the trend.

Frozen halal meal maker Saffron Road told Bloomberg that 80 percent of their consumers are buying for quality, not trying to follow Islamic law.

Like with kosher foods, halal rules require humane treatment of animals during slaughter as well as oversight from religious officials.

Read More:



  • How Halal Food Became A $20 Billion Hit In America (Bloomberg)
  • A Hugely Popular But Largely Ignored Global Cuisine Is Now Worth $20 Billion In America (Business Insider)


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