Over the past two years, plant-based food consumption has grown by 49% across the EU, reaching a total sales volume of €3.6 billion.
UK: Why is there an oversupply of halal meat?
2025-05-15
Halal meat comes from animals that have been slaughtered according to Halal principles. They must be alive and healthy when they are slaughtered, slaughtered manually, and all blood must be drained from the carcass.80%Animals killed for halal meat are stunned before slaughter, even though this is not legally required in the UK. The RSPCA, the British Veterinary Association, the Farm Animal Welfare Council, and animal rights groups say that without stunning, slaughter can cause unnecessary suffering to the animals.
LewisPies has been working hard to obtain certification from halal authorities and source halal ingredients, while also winning the confidence of Muslim consumers by inviting them to its factory to tour separate halal production lines.
The halal journey began with a proposal from a prison services contractor asking if the company could create a halal product for Muslim prisoners. At that stage, halal products accounted for less than5%But within a few years it had removed all pork products from its product line. "It was a difficult decision. In a way it limits your market - no more pork pies or pork sausage rolls."LewisSays, “We have suppliers asking for chicken, ham and leek pies and we have to say no – but we can make a very good chicken and leek pie.”
The company has also had to deal with a backlash from Islamophobic people and animal activists. "I once spent two hours drafting a very careful response to someone explaining the issues and the context."LewisAdding, "I sent it and got a completely inappropriate response. So, we don't have friendly relationships with people who don't want to have a rational discussion."
Halal is now a major growth area for the company, accounting for more than35%The above business sells to wholesalers, retailers and the market for own-label products. The biggest demand is for traditional British staples. "There is a prejudice about halal products, you need to'currify' Everything, but what people really want is beef sausages and meat pies.'LewisTwo football clubs, interested in serving halal pies on the terraces, have contacted the company.
Muslims' desire for traditional British food leads to30Year-old entrepreneurShazia SaleemIn heryou“I’ve wanted shepherd’s pie since I was seven, but no one was making it halal, so I made it myself,” she said at a recent Muslim lifestyle discussion.
"since2013"Since 2016, the number of Muslims seeking halal products in the frozen food aisle has increased sixfold," she said. Her products are stocked in several major supermarket chains.
The demand for halal food has also led restaurants to evaluate and try out new programs such as the Halal Dining Club and the Small Town Halal Girls Soccer Blog.