The Checkers supermarket in Kenilworth Centre has decided to stop trading as Halaal due to a “dramatic decline” in customer demand.
Muslim Judicial Council Halaal Trust director Sheikh Achmat Sedick confirmed to the Daily Voice that Checkers Kenilworth Centre branch will no longer be certified as halaal.
“Even if the meat has the Halaal sticker, it might be mixed with the non-Halaal and that will not be good for consumption,” he said.
“When I asked why they were doing it, they said it was a management decision.”
Sedick said it was their duty to inform Muslims of the supermarket’s decision as the store had many Muslim customers.
“There is a huge footprint of the Muslim community in the area and that is why people must be alert when they get to the store,” he said.
He says there is nothing the MJC can do about the change: “It is their prerogative to do what they are doing.”
In a statement to the Daily Voice, the Shoprite group said the decision came after they saw a decline in demand for Halaal certified products at the winkel.
“Over the last year, Checkers Kenilworth has seen a dramatic decline in consumer demand for Halaal certified meat and a decision was therefore taken to reconsider the Halaal certification of the store’s butchery.
“The store’s deli and bakery remain certified and was erroneously included in the statement released by the Muslim Judicial Council Halaal Trust,” it added.
mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za