2024-03-17 23:04:29
Holy month for Muslims, Ramadan takes place this year in a gloomy context for many believers, due to the war in Gaza. It nevertheless remains a period of sharing and moments spent with family around the meal to break the fast, at sunset. In France, Ramadan thus coincides with a peak in consumption for halal products, that is to say conform to the Muslim rite. A business that has seen strong growth in recent years for manufacturers and an economic activity that is doing rather well despite inflation.
Metal carts filled with chickens and turkeys soon to be marinated, ground, cooked and sliced. We are near Bourg-en-Bresse, in one of the factories of the Isla Délice company: “ There, we are in the manufacturing workshop, this is the workshop where we receive the raw materials and this is where we make the ham recipe. », We are told during the visit to the factory.
Turkey ham, or even beef sausage. Because here, no pork, explains Victoire Loiseau, production manager at the factory: “ All our ingredients are halal certified. »
Isla délice, 300 employees, is the leader in halal charcuterie in France. The meat processed here was slaughtered according to Muslim rites, under the control of the great mosque of Lyon, which is paid to certify the production of this industrialist.
During the production of halal charcuterie at the Isla Délice factory in Saint-André-sur-Vieux-Jonc, near Bourg-en-Bresse. © Justine Fontaine / RFI
A fifth of the year’s turnover during Ramadan
In recent weeks, factory employees have worked more than usual to respond to Ramadan orders, explains Éric Fauchon, the boss of Isla Délice: “ We have an increase in production of around 60% to 70% for two to three weeks. This is the peak of activity. Afterwards, we return to normal rhythms, so the year does not depend on Ramadan. »
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This peak of activity still represents a fifth of the company’s turnover for the year. Like the rest of the agri-food sector, this industrialist is not immune to the effects of inflation linked to the war in Ukraine. Its growth will be weaker than usual:
« We hope to grow by around 6% this year », underlines Éric Fauchon. “ Whether it is poultry or beef, prices have skyrocketed, increased by around 50 to 60%, so that has an impact on prices. The market, in recent months, has tended to slow down for the first time in a very long time. In the short term, inflation affects us a lot, because we are [dans le secteur] meat and because our consumers have slightly lower incomes than average French households. »
Halal charcuterie put in trays, in the Isla Délice factory near Bourg-en-Bresse. © Justine Fontaine / RFI
Return to double-digit growth?
Prices have been increasing more slowly in recent months, so the sector hopes to quickly return to double-digit growth.
« Over the past year, sales volumes of halal products have fallen in the same proportions as food consumption in general. The market is doing very well when we look at it on a somewhat long trend ”, analyzes Emily Mayer, from the consulting firm Circana. “ Over the last five years, turnover has increased by almost 60%, so it is a market which is much more dynamic than consumption in general in mass distribution in France. »
More dynamic and also more developed than in other European countries. But halal remains a niche market, with less than 1% of French supermarket sales.
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