“Cheese, please?” The answer is “Yes!” with halal-certified Cabot Creamery cheeses!

Vermont-based Cabot Creamery Cooperative’s cheeses have been halal-certified for more than a decade. In 2003, Cabot recognized the need for and benefit of carrying halal certification on their products. According to Bob Schiers, Public Relations Manager at Cabot Creamery, “Brands that make a commitment to halal certification have an inherent advantage over those that don’t because halal certification opens up the door to a vast and growing consumer base in the United States.” Cabot turned to IFANCA for their halal certification needs because, as Schiers explains, “Cabot believes that IFANCA is the leading authority on halal certification.”

By the end of 2003, many Cabot products beared IFANCA’s Crescent-M logo signifying halal compliance. The certification process required a few minor modifications to their product handling, but no major changes were necessary. The results, however, have been significant.

“Since first receiving our halal certification, Cabot has seen a double-digit increase in the sales of our core, branded cheeses,” says Roberta MacDonald, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Cabot Creamery. “Of course, we can’t attribute all of that increase to our IFANCA certification, but we do know that consumers are noticing that all our cheddar products made and packaged in Vermont are halal-certified.” MacDonald continues, “In fact, we’ve received numerous thank-you notes and calls from consumers who are thrilled to know that the ‘World’s Best Cheddar’ is halal-certified.”

The future of halal certification at Cabot looks bright. Among the variety of cheddar cheeses, Cabot’s pepper jack, Muenster, and havarti are also halal-certified. Schiers asserts, “We’re constantly monitoring consumer demand for halal-certified products and committed to continuing our halal certification program as we roll out new products in the future.”

Of Cabot, Schiers affirms, “It’s all about being attuned and sensitive to the needs of our consumers.” So remember that, as a halal consumer, your opinion matters.

All of Cabot’s halal-certified products carry the Crescent-M logo on the packaging and are available in most major supermarkets, as well as Walmart and Costco stores, in the United States.

Cabot Creamery Cooperative is owned by 1,200 dairy farm families located throughout New England and upstate New York. To learn more and for a coupon, visit www.cabotcheese.coop.

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