HALAL BRANDED FOODS IN MARKETING INDUSTRY AS IT RELATES TO MERANAW CONSUMERS

This study was conducted to find answers to the problems in halal foods in marketing industry as it relates to Meranaw consumers. The study was centered on the extent need of Muslims to reassure them that all they eat are permissible in Islam; and in accordance with ALLAH’s commandment to mankind. The study made use of Cross-Sectional Survey research design and utilized descriptive qualitative approach in the interpretation of data. The researcher made use of a survey questionnaire which was distributed through quota sampling categorizing the 100 respondents into grocery store owners, mothers, professionals and Ulama. Along with this survey questionnaire, an interview was also done from the Key Informants who were knowledgeable enough with the current study. The data were treated statistically using frequency, percentage and corresponding mean. The study has the following major results: based on the descriptive-qualitative analysis of the respondents, all of them agreed on the problems encountered in halal foods among Meranaw consumers in terms of processing and marketing, packaging, storing and slaughtering. There are also identified agencies involves with halal foods, and the respondents of the study acknowledged the importance of halal foods in the aspects of spiritual and health. Thus, it can be concluded that there are a lot of things to be fixed and implemented for Muslims or Meranaws in particular to have solutions to the problems mentioned in the study. A great emphasis must be put on the assurance that foods are indeed halal for Meranaw consumers, and everyone must help one another for these problems to be solved. Likewise, raising one’s voice is not enough; it needs an involvement and participation on the changes to be done for the Muslim community with regards to halal foods in marketing industry. Muslims must be personally involved by way of making their own halal companies in the future.