A summary of the latest halal industry news from around the world.

Indonesia to position itself as the ‘World Halal Kitchen’

The Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Pahala Nugraha Mansury, said that the ministry wants Indonesia’s halal food sector to become the 'World Halal Kitchen', reported Antara. Jakarta wants to bounce Thailand off the top spot, which has positioned itself as a global culinary hub through its halal industrial area in Songkla and popular tourist destinations Phuket and Chiang Mai. "Indonesia must keep up with Thailand since we are known as a country with the largest Muslim population. It will become our challenge to declare a vision as the 'World Halal Kitchen',” Mansury is quoted as saying. A halal food hub could be created in Kauman, Solo, Central Java, he added.

UK fast-food chain Chicken Cottage to open 50 outlets in East Africa

British halal certified fast-food chain Chicken Cottage is to open at 50 outlets at Hass Petroleum service stations in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda this year, reported Business Daily. Chicken Cottage, reportedly the largest halal fast-food chain in the UK and with 75 outlets in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, is to open outlets through a partnership with Express Kitchen, a subsidiary of AAH Ltd, the majority shareholder in Hass Petroleum Group, which operates 150 petrol stations in East Africa, Business Daily reported.

Qatar hosts IOFS Strategic Commodities and Food Safety Forum

Starting today, Qatar is hosting the three-day Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) Strategic Commodities and Food Safety Forum, which is organised in coordination with the the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Qatar’s Municipality Ministry, reported The Peninsula. The forum is to discuss cooperation between OIC countries to bolster food security and develop the production of strategic foods such as grain. The Peninsula reported that the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signed an agreement with the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide $90 million for Yemen, which is threatened by famine, and is providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan through an air bridge from Doha to Kabul. Some 70 tonnes of food have been delivered.

Nigeria’s Rite Foods Ltd gets halal certification

A popular Nigerian snack brand, Rite Foods Ltd, which makes Big Rite sausage rolls, has received halal certification from the country’s Halal Certification Authority (HCA), reported This Day. “Going forward, all products of the brand will carry the Halal mark, assuring consumers globally that the products are hygienic, healthy and follows halal procedures,” said Abdulazeez Ajala, Director, Compliance and Regulation at the HCA.

20 Cafetto products halal certified

Cafetto, specialist manufacturer of sanitation products for coffee equipment, has had 20 products certified by the Supreme Islamic Council of Halal Meat in Australia Inc (SICHMA), reported Global Coffee Report. Products include espresso cleaners, milk cleaners, descalers and machine and equipment cleaners. “We want to adequately respond to the needs of the Muslim community and offer products that are complaint with halal standards in many countries. Now we can serve our customers better in the largely Muslim countries of the middle East and Asia,” said Christine Song, General Manager of Cafetto, in a press release.