Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Dr. TanDY

Aron to bring in halal meat from China

Date: June 26 2006

PRIVATELY-HELD Aron Sdn Bhd plans to introduce China-imported halal meat to local supermarkets and hypermarkets by July this year, which will be sold under the Aron brand.

Chief operating officer Afizul Aezhar Sharifuddin said premium meat from China is between 15 per cent and 20 per cent cheaper than meat from New Zealand and Australia.

Currently, there are less than five suppliers who import halal-meat from China for local consumption. About 90 per cent of meat that Malaysia imports to support the local demand comes from India.

"We want to provide alternatives for consumers. Furthermore, the beef standard is as good as the ones imported from these countries," he told Business Times in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Its cattle and sheep are fed on high quality diet like wheat, stalk and grains, without the use of animal origin products, which is an outstanding issue in halal-based meat. Its cattle, goats and sheep are also manually slaughtered.

Through its subsidiaries, Dynamic Sphere Resources Sdn Bhd and Esprit Holdings Sdn Bhd, Aron has secured permits to import 48,000 tonnes of beef and mutton respectively this year.

The Bumiputra-owned company will import about 160 containers of both beef and mutton per month or about a total of 25 tonnes respectively. Aron is projecting about RM16 million revenue a month.

"In future, we are looking at producing a whole range of halal-based goods from China like gelatin and other products," Afizul said.

The company does not rule out the possibilities of breeding and processing its own cattle and meat in China in two years.

"The demand for halal meat is getting bigger worldwide and China offers land and cheap labour to carry out integrated farming activities in the country," he said, adding that Aron has received enquiries from South-East Asia and West Asian countries to supply halal meat produce.