ANAFRIC took part on March 24 in the IV International Halal Congress, held Alimentaria 2026 at Fira de Barcelona, where the sustained growth of the halal system and its consolidation as a strategic opportunity for the meat sector were highlighted.
In this context, José Friguls, president of ANAFRIC, participated in the roundtable “The Halal meat sector: sustained growth of a quality-driven demand”, alongside Yazmin Vázquez, International Sales Director at Sierra Mágina, and Gustavo Alonso, Country Manager at Isla Délice. The session was moderated by Javier Albarracín, partner at Barcelona Halal Services.
During his speech, Friguls emphasized that ANAFRIC member companies see halal as a clear pathway for development and growth, both in domestic and international markets. He also stressed that companies are strongly committed to the Spanish and Catalan markets, where halal production is carried out with full integrity, rigor, and the highest guarantees.
Friguls also highlighted the expansion potential in international markets, particularly in Europe —with countries such as France and Italy— as well as in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, where demand continues to grow. He also underlined the key role of halal certification bodies, stating that “thanks to them, our meat industry can offer guarantees and build trust in the markets.”
Meanwhile, Pol Viñas, from Grup Viñals, provided a clear business perspective on the evolution of halal within the sector. He explained that his company committed to halal years ago and that it now accounts for 40% of its turnover, reflecting the strong growth of this business line.
Viñas pointed out that demand growth is largely driven by demographic and social factors:
“Second and third generations of Muslim origin demand halal products. This is a population that is already here and will continue to grow,” he stated.
He also noted that more and more foodservice channels and collective catering are incorporating halal products:
“More and more institutions are asking us for halal”.
In this context, he delivered a clear message to the sector:
“Those who are not convinced that this will continue to grow are falling behind.”
The congress also reinforced the need to move towards the normalization of the halal factor within the food industry, integrating it as a standard element in meat production.
According to ANAFRIC, the trend in halal consumption is very positive in the short term across all markets, highlighting the importance for companies to adapt to this growing and strategic demand.
