Mondelez to produce halal items to KSA standards

Vishal Tikku, vice president and area director Middle East at Mondelēz International said 'halal' is a big initiative in the region, and the firm follows this mantra to the strictest.

At Gulfood 2014, Tikku was speaking about food waste at the World Food Security Summit and the importance of corporates in the regional market.

Speaking to Caterer Middle East about halal, Tikku said: "Every municipality checks the halal standards, and as a global multinational you design for the strictest rules in the region."

Tikku revealed the firm designs all its MENA products with Saudi Arabia in mind.

"We have very strong R&D resources and we are very confident we meet any halal expctations of the market, we would not ever violate that.

"We produce in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and if you produce in Saudi, there is very little means of being non-halal."

For Mondelēz International, Saudi Arabia is its biggest market.