Top 5 Halal Food Franchises in the UK

As the West becomes more and more culturally diverse year by year, the food market is changing with it. Halal and kosher meat is becoming increasingly in demand in the US and especially Europe. Today, we take a look at the top halal food franchises in the UK.

Across the last decade, the halal industry has grown to a size that no one could have predicted. To capitalise on the trend, big brands like Nestlé and Unilever have introduced halal product lines that correspond to laws outlined in the Qur’an. For Nestlé, halal sales are responsible for 35 percent of its sales, which is more than any other major food manufacturer. Compared to the past, Muslims in the West now have much less difficulty finding food that meets their dietary requirements.

Many major supermarkets now stock halal products in their stores. Some examples of these are Sainsbury’s, Tesco and ASDA, three British supermarkets that have started stocking halal because they have recognised the business potential that comes with increasing immigration to the UK from countries like Pakistan and Syria. At a time when cultures are intermingling more than ever before, it’s not just supermarkets that are incorporating halal food. It’s also important for restaurants to accommodate for the demand too. If you’ve always wondered about starting a halal food franchise, this is the article for you.

According to Abdalhamid Evans, a strategist at Imarat Consultants:

“Halal products, if well designed and marketed, can appeal to the general population. Halal is moving from niche to mainstream.”

Reasons why creating a halal food franchise is a great idea

1. World’s fastest growing religion

Having overtaken Christianity, Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe. Year on year, halal consumption is believed to be growing by 16 percent.

2. Large Muslim population

In 2017, there were 1.8 billion Muslims, making up 24 percent of the global population. By 2060, it’s thought that this will rise to 3 billion, increasing by a staggering 70 percent.

3. Popular with non-Muslims

There are more non-Muslims than ever eating halal food products. Approximately four million non-Muslims are eating halal meat, perhaps for ethical and health reasons.

4. Increased preference to eat out

More and more members of the Muslim community are finding employment that gives them a good disposable income. As a result, it’s likely this demographic will eat out more often in the future.

5. Lucrative industry

Halal is becoming more and more profitable. It was recently reported that halal sales in supermarkets and convenience stores reached $1.9 billion in the US.

The growing number of Muslim consumers combined with the increased offering of Halal products is predicted to drive the Halal market to reach $9.71 trillion by 2025.

If you’re considering opening a halal food franchise, here’s some more information on our top picks.

Top 5 halal food franchises in the UK

1. Loaded Burgers

This UK restaurant chain boasts high-quality, meaty, flavoursome burgers with a large selection of toppings to contrast the ‘sad’ processed patties of other establishments. Founded in 2014, Loaded Burgers offers its customers affordable burgers in a cool setting.

To ensure that all customers could enjoy their top-quality, flavoursome burgers, all the meat served is halal and approved by the Halal Food Certification.

• Becoming a Loaded Burgers franchisee: Those looking to join the brand must have good managerial skills and a passion for the industry. To learn more and sign up, click here.
  
  
• How much you need to invest: An investment of £150,000 will give franchisees access to the company’s franchise package.
   
• What you get for your investment: All franchisees are enrolled onto a training programme and support in marketing and sales.

2. Favorite

Favorite is the largest British-owned fried chicken franchise in the UK and, having traded successfully since 1986, is a well-established and popular brand. Not only is all the meat served by Favorite approved as halal, but in 1998 it was also the first UK food chain to declare a ‘GM Free Zone’.

The chicken shop business has been triumphing for over 30 years now, with over 90 locations in the UK and overseas. So much so that it now offers a fully structured franchise system with a product menu and operational system to equal the best in the sector, whilst still maintaining an affordable cost for franchisees.

• Becoming a Favorite franchisee: You should share a passion for offering convenient meals made from fresh chicken. The brand is determined not to compromise on quality in order to maintain low costs and quick production times. Sign up here.
  
  
• How much you need to invest: The start-up costs are generally between £120,000 and £180,000, which includes 12 months of exclusivity in an agreed territory.
   
• What you get for your investment: You and your staff will receive full training and ongoing support from a team of experts, as well as and assistance with complying fully with health and safety legislation.

3. Chicken Cottage

Chicken lovers all over the UK will be familiar with Chicken Cottage. It advertises its food as being fresh, affordable and Halal.

The business concept is built on offering fresh, convenient and inexpensive food to customers. In 1997, the brand adopted the franchising model and now has 80 stores operating in the UK, Belgium, Pakistan, Nigeria, Iraq and Italy.

• Becoming a Chicken Cottage franchisee: The brand is currently looking for franchisees in Scotland, Ireland, the North East, the North West, the South West and the South East. You can apply by heading to its website here.
   
• How much you need to invest: A Chicken Cottage franchise will cost between £200,000 and £250,000 to set up, with franchise fees of between £15,000 and £30,000 depending on the shop size. Head to the Chicken Cottage website to learn more.
   
• What you get for your investment: You’ll have access to a comprehensive training programme where you can learn about all areas of staff management, processes and procedures, health and food safety and customer satisfaction. The course topics are delivered through a combination of online and face-to-face training, for whatever suits you best.

4. Wok To Walk

You’ve probably seen Wok To Walk’s black and orange logo on the high street somewhere. The international franchise launched a branch in Deansgate, Manchester that is fully Halal. There are over 85 Wok To Walk stores giving customers their Asian food fix and taking the food service industry by storm.

• Becoming a Wok To Walk franchisee: The franchise opportunity is flexible. You can open a flagship store or a hole-in-the-wall spot - it’s up to you! It’s the versatile business model that attracts all types of customers. Wok To Walk is looking for entrepreneurs who share its ambitious expansion plans. Click here to learn more and sign up.
   
• How much you need to invest: Restaurant start-up costs can vary, but you’re looking at around £100,000 for the minimum investment cost.
   
• What you get for your investment: As well as a globally recognised brand name, you will benefit from a tried and tested training programme. The HQ team works with franchisees and provides bespoke consultancy services and support.

5. Thai Express

Thai Express is a quick-service restaurant model that offers a takeaway service but doesn’t deliver. The franchise caters to increased customer demand and now offers halal options.

• Becoming a Thai Express franchisee: If you’re passionate about business and have excellent customer service, sign up here.
  
  
• How much you need to invest: The start-up costs depend on the model you choose; you can find out more when you apply.
   
• What you get for your investment: You’ll take part in an advanced training programme that gets you to grips with everything from food preparation to bookkeeping.

Start a halal food franchise

You can keep an eye on any other halal restaurant franchises that get added to our network here. Or check out more of our articles dedicated to the top food franchises of different cuisines below.

• Greek
• Chicken
• Fish and chips
  

Becky Martin, Point Franchise ©

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