Tag: Halal food

  • “Halal Whisky” Brand ArKay Launches

    “Halal Whisky” Brand ArKay Launches

    “Halal Whisky” Brand ArKay Launches

    Posted by Barry Silverstein on December 2, 2011 05:30 PM

    viskiIslamic law forbids the use of alcohol — and that means about a quarter of the world’s population cannot enjoy the taste of whisky. At least not until now.

    Enter ArKay — the world’s first alcohol-free whisky-flavored beverage that has been halal-certified (halal signifies the substance in permissible under Islamic law).

    The brand came about when a group of friends were drinking and sharing ideas, according to Zeshan Ahmed, VP of Sales for Arkay Beverages. “They felt there was a hole in the beverage market that needed to be filled with something like this,” Ahmed told brandchannel. “They were looking for a flavor that would be well known and universal. The flavor of whisky came to mind. It took five years to develop the rich flavor and smell that is the trademark of ArKay.”

    While ArKay mimics the taste of whisky, it is classified as a soft drink since it contains no alcohol. It conforms to halal guidelines and meets the ingredient requirements of both the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Economic Community. The beverage will be available in both one-liter glass bottles and 12-ounce aluminum cans. The packaging uses green and gold as the primary colors and carries a design that is vaguely Arabic in look and feel. The word “ArKay” appears to be almost handwritten in black letters. Ahmed calls it “a great fresh brand approach.”

    The name “Arkay” is as unconventional as the product itself, and it came about serendipitously. One of the original owners of the company spilled hot coffee at himself at a meeting and was asked, “Are you OK?” According to Ahmed, “the other owner had an epiphany and shouted ‘Arkay’ and that’s when the name came about.”

    While the company refers to the product as “halal whisky,” Ahmed says ArKay targets “people who can’t drink due to medical reasons and religious beliefs.” The brand, he says, “was designed for everyone to enjoy.” Since it tastes and looks “exactly like traditional whisky,” ArKay can be used for drinking straight up, on the rocks, or with soda and mixers.

    Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Arkay Beverages is currently looking for wholesalers and retailers both in the U.S. and worldwide.

    In recent years, brands have recognized the value of the Muslim market and have started to create halal-certified foods and products. In the U.S., for example, a $200 billion market of six to eight million American Muslims is still fertile ground for brand marketers and is just beginning to attract the attention of major marketers. While the halal market is roughly equivalent to the Kosher foods market, the number of products targeting the Kosher consumer is much greater.

    Clearly, Arkay Beverages hopes to fill a gap with its halal whisky, both in the U.S. and globally.

    More about: ArKay, Whiskey, Alcohol, Booze, Islam

    via “Halal Whisky” Brand ArKay Launches.

  • Turkey/Islam-food: First Int’l Halal Congress in Ankara

    Turkey/Islam-food: First Int’l Halal Congress in Ankara

    ANKARA, 18 Dhul Qadah/16 Oct (IINA)-First International Halal Congress opened here on Saturday with the participation of Some 16 countries including.

    Production and consumption of Halal food plays a vital role in the Muslims’ social relations. The issue of Halal products does not confine to foodstuff, rather it extends to other goods consumed by the Muslims.

    Muslims account for one fifth of the world’s population and Halal Scheme in fact involves daily lives of 1.4 billion Muslims across the globe, he said.

    The First International Halal Congress is organized by the Islamic Chamber’s Research and Information Center, in partnership with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Islamic Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Statistical Economic and Social Research and Training Center (SESRIC) and Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines from 14-15 October.

    The topics for discussion include Halal products including foodstuff, Halal medicines (medicines for human and animal), Halal hygienic products and Halal services (services in hotels, restaurants and tourism sector, banking and transportation).

    Halal means permitted in Islamic law and this applies, besides foodstuff, to the other goods and even services used by the Muslims.

    AH/IINA

    via Turkey/Islam-food: First Int’l Halal Congress in Ankara.