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- May 1, 2009: - Breaking News: 13% of Americans Buy Kosher Food, Latest Mintel Report
- April 15 2009 - Kosher, Halal Foods Meet Demands of Today's Consumers -- But Most Don't Know It Yet- NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire)
- February 3rd, 2009 - Mintel Report a Confirmation of Strength of Kosher- http://www.koshertoday.com/
- February 2009 - 3 in 5 kosher food buyers purchase for food quality, not religion
- January 2009 - “Natural” claims ranked first on new food and drink launches in 2008, finds Mintel
- September 19 2008- Growing number of Australian manufacturers embracing Halal and Kosher certification- Australian food News
May 1, 2009:
Breaking News: 13% of Americans Buy Kosher Food, Latest Mintel Report
Americans of all backgrounds are buying kosher foods, according to the latest survey of kosher by the Mintel’s research group, a leading researcher of consumer goods. Thirteen percent of respondents in a national survey by Mintel indicated that they purchase kosher food, either for themselves or for someone else in their households. The major reason for purchasing kosher food, the survey shows, is for reasons of food quality (62%) or for general healthfulness (51%). All told, 30% of those who buy kosher food do so for religious purposes; 14% follow kosher rules; 10% follow some other religious rules with eating restrictions similar to kosher; and 6% follow halal religious rules. The survey is the third on kosher foods by Mintel since 2005. The survey revealed that the conventional supermarket or superstore is the primary source for kosher food, and 40% of those who buy kosher food do so at Wal-Mart. According to researcher Marcia Mogolansky, the top reason for purchasing kosher products is food quality, not religious affiliations. In fact, 62% of respondents to Mintel’s survey who buy kosher products do so for food quality reasons, while 17% say that they buy kosher for food safety reasons. Consumers tend to associate kosher products with above-average quality and safety because of the inspection process to which kosher products are subjected.
(taken from http://www.koshertoday.com/ - check there or a more detail write up.)
April 15 2009
Kosher, Halal Foods Meet Demands of Today's Consumers -- But Most Don't Know It Yet - NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire)
Kosher and halal foods -- as defined by the sacred dietary laws of Jews and Muslims, respectively -- must be produced and processed according to standards that far exceed those imposed by the U.S. government.
In kosher and halal food production, sanitation requirements are more exacting, supervision is more rigorous, inspection is more frequent, prohibitions against certain ingredients and contaminants are stricter, and label information is more forthcoming than required by federal law. And unlike federal law, these ancient standards are not subject to negotiation.
There is every reason, then, to expect the increasingly discerning U.S. food shopper to choose these products over their conventional counterparts.
Indeed, according to Packaged Facts' new report, "MarketTrend: Kosher- and Halal-Certified Foods in the U.S.," sales of certified kosher foods through grocery stores swelled from nearly $150 billion in 2003 to more than $200 billion in 2008, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate twice that of the overall food market.
"U.S. consumers who are not followers of Judaism or Islam are largely unaware of the specific qualities that distinguish kosher and halal from conventional foods," says Packaged Facts Publisher Tatjana Meerman.
"However, factors related to safety, quality, and 'truth in labelling' should prompt these mainstream consumers to seek out kosher/halal more often, although marketers and third-party certifiers must make a greater effort to educate consumers before that can happen. Shoppers already read food labels," she continues. "So, a kosher/halal certification seal should be one of the things they are looking for."
The potential customer base is vast, and includes the large segment of the American population anxious about the safety of the food supply as well as the growing number of people on gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, or other special diets who demand clarity in food labelling.
In addition, because the sacred teachings of both Judaism and Islam emphasize respect for the land and living things, kosher and halal foods also address the concerns of the ethical consumerism movement. In an unexpected finding, the segment of consumers Packaged Facts has identified as "foodies" is shown to be an exceptionally promising prospect for kosher/halal marketers.
For further information visit:
February 3rd, 2009
Mintel Report a Confirmation of Strength of Kosher-
The latest 2009 Mintel report on the state of the kosher food market confirms that Americans of all backgrounds continue to covet kosher products. Most encouraging for the kosher food industry is that Americans continue to value kosher because of its additional supervision and perceived quality. The Mintel survey seems to reaffirm that the significant negative publicity surrounding a major kosher meat packing plant had little or no effect on the perception of Americans that kosher is better and healthier for you. There were, however, some findings that do pose a challenge for the industry. One significant finding was that kosher has a perception of being more expensive. In reality, many dairy and meat products are more expensive but the majority of products on supermarket shelves are not.
While the news is encouraging that Americans are buying kosher food products, it is important to keep an eye on the core consumer group, Jews who eat kosher, who are essentially the engine that drives this market. The study would seem to confirm that the numbers for this group have not appreciably grown, but it is also clear that they remain a steady “brand loyal” group of consumers that add value to any retail establishment. The study also confirms the growing prominence of Wal-Mart as a kosher destination and highlights the prominence of younger consumers as a driving force in the kosher market.
The report was issued at a time when the full supply of kosher meat is still tenuous. Some markets have never resumed supplying kosher meats while sporadic shortages continue in many large markets. There were some that had predicted that the 2008 events in Postville would result in irreversible damage to kosher. These prophets of doom, at least according to Mintel, were proven wrong.
(from http://www.koshertoday.com)
February 2009 - 3 in 5 kosher food buyers purchase for food quality, not religion
Christians, Muslims, Jews and Atheists alike are helping fuel the robust market for kosher foods, according to a new report by market research firm Mintel. In a consumer survey of adults who purchase kosher food, Mintel found that the number one reason people buy kosher is for food quality (62%).
The second most common reason people say they purchase kosher food is “general healthfulness” (51%) and the third is food safety (34%). This contrasts sharply to the just 14% of respondents who say they purchase kosher food because they follow kosher religious rules. Another 10% buy kosher because they follow some other religious rules with eating restrictions similar to kosher.
Mintel Press Release- Source: Mintel Oxygen Reports- Kosher Foods - US - January 2009
January 2009
“Natural” claims ranked first on new food and drink launches in 2008, finds Mintel
The latest review from the Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD) shows the simplest things in life can have the biggest impact. In 2008, food and drink claims classified as “Natural”—including all natural, no additives/preservatives, organic and wholegrain—were the most frequently featured on new products globally. “Natural” claims appeared on nearly one in four (23%) food and drink launches in 2008, a 9% increase from 2007.
Meanwhile, widely discussed food and drink claims, such as “Convenience” or “Ethical and Environmental,” did not challenge the number one position of “Natural” on new products. In 2008, Mintel GNPD saw only 12% of new food and drink products highlighting “Convenience” benefits, while a mere 5% claimed to take an “Ethical and Environmental” stance.
Source: Mintel GNP
September 19 2008- Growing number of Australian manufacturers embracing Halal and Kosher certification-
Australian food News : by Daniel Palmer
The Old Colonial Cookie Company has announced that Butterfingers Shortbread and its gourmet variety, Lander’s Australian Bites, have both now received Halal and Kosher certification, as a range of Australian food manufacturers and retailers begin to update their products to ensure they can appeal to a wider market.
The Old Colonial Cookie Company is now also producing gluten free shortbread in response to growing demand for wheat-free products, with the Butterfingers Pure Butter Gluten Free Shortbread product offering.
Halal and Kosher foods require strict preparation methods in line with religious customs, but manufacturers in Australia have begun to realise that - despite the cost of getting Halal and Kosher certification - market opportunities can quickly outweigh such costs.
With an estimated global Muslim population of around 1.8 billion, the market for Halal food is rumoured to be around US$500 billion (although it could be up to $2 trillion). In Australia, where the Muslim population is 340,390 (according to ABS Census figures in 2006), the market is currently at around $1 billion. Exporters have also had some luck in the marketplace with Australian exports to Muslim countries at $3.7 billion in the five years from 2001-02, according to Halal Australia. In fact, it is suggested that just over ten per cent of global trade in agri-food products is Halal certified. The general focus has been on meat and dairy products, but Halal certification extends to a wide range of food products.
In recent years, Australian companies have been co-operating with the country of Brunei (and Austrade) to improve their ability to tap into the Halal market, with Australia’s reputation for high quality food a key factor behind success.
Australia was the first non-Muslim country to place Halal certification under legislation and, according to the Australian Halal Food Directory, there are currently four recognized certifying bodies in Australia for Halal food.
The Kosher food market, while smaller than the Halal market, is also being considered for its potential as a niche industry for food producers. The 2006 Census discovered the Australian Jewish population was 88,826.
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