RFM puts up halal plant in Laguna

RFM Corp., the food and beverage conglomerate of the Concepcion-Araneta family, is looking to penetrate Muslim markets with its first halal certified meat processing plant in Cabuyao, Laguna, in a bid to boost sales.

RFM said its meat plant has secured halal certification from the Da’Wah Council of the Philippines, the only halal certifying body in the country recognized by the World Halal Council.

RFM president and chief executive officer Jose A. Concepcion III said the accreditation will allow RFM to tap the 1.9 billion Muslim consumer market around the globe.

Halal is an Arabic term designating any object or action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law and custom. In food, it refers to those products that do not contain any prohibited substance and have been prepared and processed in accordance with strict standards for nutrition and quality.

“It is estimated that over 70 percent of Muslims worldwide strictly follow halal food standards, and the global halal food market is currently a $560-billion industry. Even non-Muslims look for the halal seal and consider halal certification as a higher level of quality assurance,” Concepcion said.

Among its meat products under the Swift brand are Mighty Meaty hotdogs, Sweet and Juicy hotdogs, Chicken frankfurters, SAM brown hotdogs, Delicious bacons, and a variety of Christmas hams, as well as canned meat products such as Swift Juicy corned beef, Meaty corned beef, Vienna sausage, luncheon meat and meat loaf.

In the nine months ending September this year, RFM reported a net income of P161 million or 6.6 percent higher than the previous level. Net sales rose 8.3 percent to P5.6 billion on the back of continued strong growth of its flour division which posted a 32 percent growth.

To ensure long-term growth, RFM has drawn up a five-year strategic plan aimed at doubling the size of its business to P14 billion by 2012 while it exits from the real estate development business.