Halal Processing Solutions, Inc. To Open New Plant in Muncie
MUNCIE – Halal Processing Solutions, Inc, a new food processing business startup, headed by a group of Texas business partners is in the process of remodeling the former Monogram Comfort foods building located at 2100 East Willard Street in Muncie and will be opening a new food processing and manufacturing plant that will produce products for Islamic and Jewish customers.
The company is investing $800,000 in state-of-the-art production equipment and is projecting to add 35 new jobs above the existing 15 over the next year. Paul Whitehead, General Manager of the new Muncie facility, told city council members that number could grow to closer to 90 as the business grows.
Halal food, after which the company has been named, are products allowed under Islamic dietary practices. Halal food never includes pork or pork products and focuses on the most humane way to process food. Halal foods comprise one of the fastest developing consumer markets in the United States. Halal consumers spent $15 billion on food items and related services in 2011 with an annual growth rate of 10-15%. Whitehead noted that the market for the products that will be produced in Muncie will be national and international.
“The Muslim population is growing in this country,” said Tom Keim, President of the company. In particular, Halal Processing Solutions wants to provide products for Halal hot dog carts in New York and other cities. “We have a shot at putting this product in every hot dog cart in New York City,” he said.
Halal Processing Solutions plans to manufacture a complete line of 100% Halal beef and poultry products. Items would include Halal-certified hot dogs, smoked sausage, breakfast meats, dinner links, beef and turkey jerky, deli meats, beef and turkey bacon and breaded chicken.
When all of the equipment is installed and building improvements are completed, this plant will be the only SQF level three Halal certified pork-free processing plant in the United States. The SQF certification is a food industry certification for quality and safety.
The City Council approved five-year tax abatement on new equipment at its July meeting. The Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance assisted the company with tax abatement, job training, and neighborhood enhancement.
About the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance
The Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance (EDA) represents a consortium of economic development entities dedicated to the growth and prosperity of Muncie-Delaware County, Indiana through the implementation of the Vision 2016 Economic Development Plan. Our purpose is to allocate and leverage economic development resources to sustain and enhance the economic growth, vitality and global competitiveness of Muncie-Delaware County as a superior business location. The EDA’s administrative entities are Delaware Advancement Corporation and the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. For more information visit muncie.com.