May 27, 2015

Toronto to host North America’s halal food festival

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service - if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at http://ift.tt/jcXqJW.



Wednesday 27 May 2015 - 10:14 Makkah mean time-9-8-1436

(File image)

Toronto, (IINA) - Reflecting the growth of the demand for halal food in the West, the largest halal food festival in North America will be held at the International Centre in the Greater Toronto Area next Saturday and Sunday, news agencies reported.
The event set to bring dozens of food exhibitors, in-house chefs, and guest chefs, including Master Chef Canada runner-up Marida Muhammad, together for two days of sampling and programming focused on halal food. Exhibitors include The Holy Grill, a halal food truck launched by Toronto chef Aleem Syed, Halal Food Fest Toronto website reported.
“We’re extremely excited to be bringing Halal Food Fest back for a third year,” Salima Jivraj, founder of Halal Food Fest, told OnIslam.net.
“Almost a fifth of last year’s visitors were tourists from all across North America, which reflects the increase in demand for halal products, and shows that the event has really become a destination for people looking to sample and learn about halal food options.”
Over 27,000 visitors attended the Halal Food Fest in 2014 and organizers are expecting a larger turnout this year from across the US and Canada.
Canada’s halal food market is currently estimated to be a $1 billion industry, and the demand for halal options has increased along with Canada’s Muslim population, which grew 82 percent over the last decade, and is expected to triple by 2031.
An outdoor area will feature a halal Rib Fest and a Grill Master competition, which pits amateur barbecue home chefs against each other.
Held in Toronto for the third consecutive year, the halal food festival reflects the diversity of the Canadian Muslim community.
“Halal Food Fest is a celebration of Toronto’s diverse and delicious food trends, and we are thrilled to be sharing in this experience with the community,” Shilo Balgobin, marketing manager, Mina foods, told OnIslam.net.
“Mina is proud to support the growing needs of Muslim Canadians by ensuring that authentic Zabeeha by hand halal products are conveniently and readily available at our local grocery stores nationally.”
The Greater Toronto Area has the largest concentration of Muslims in Canada.
A report from the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life said that Muslims are expected to make up 6.6% of Canada’s total population in 2030.
SM/IINA

No comments:

Post a Comment