Halal supply chain management readiness and halal cosmetics in Bangladesh

Purpose The halal industry requires dedicated halal supply chain management (HSCM) to ensure a smooth flow of halal products. This study aims to examine preparedness and identify ways to facilitate HSCM, focusing on halal cosmetics in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach The qualitative approach was the method, with ten interviewees representing government, local and international halal stakeholders from March 2022 to November 2023 followed by semi-structured interviews. Shariah principles, the resource-based view (RBV) and institutional theory (IT) served as the underpinning premises, using ATLAS.ti 2024 qualitative data analysis software, to perform content, concept, correlation and thematic analysis on HSCM. Findings The current preparedness of HSCM in Bangladesh includes capitalizing on the Muslim majority, formulating halal certification (HC), achieving international accreditation and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) standards for halal cosmetics, maintaining a positive mindset for the supervision of halal integrity and facilitating imports. However, challenges consist of boosting stakeholders’ trust, capability, commitment, technological advancement, fostering more international collaboration, providing halal training, ensuring adherence to international standards, resolving dual certification roles and maintaining an expert workforce in the government and private sectors. Research limitations/implications The lack of literature on HSCM from a Bangladeshi perspective is the main limitation. Practical implications Any emerging country aiming to initiate HSCM may learn from Bangladesh. Policymakers can gain insights into introducing and overcoming primary HSCM barriers. At the same time, halal marketers can strategize how to diversify halal cosmetics and leverage government initiatives to benefit from the global halal market. Importantly, implications of RBV, IT and Islamic principles linked with HSCM can give insights to academics in developing the current body of knowledge about halal marketing and halal supply chain. Originality/value This study is the first in Bangladesh to include various stakeholders, Shariah principles, RBV and IT to address the scarcity of HSCM literature and contribute to the current knowledge on halal cosmetics-oriented studies.