London, 16 November 2013 - Halal chocolate manufacturer Ummah Foods is relaunching in the UK during Global Entrepreneurship Week with a very British branding. Since being established in 2003 with the "CHOCHALAL" tag coined by Ruki Sayid of the Daily Mirror newspaper the company has gone through many changes. The chocolates are coming back into the UK stores again but with a new identity.

Eva-May Spencer, marketing manager for Ummah Foods said "We've begun rebranding across the whole company. The original logo created by British Muslim artist Mukhtar Saunders is now merged into the Union Jack. The "CHOCHALAL" strap line now "Quintessentially British Halal Chocolate". We've begun a soft launch on our Facebook page and the response has been very encouraging with an example being of a young British Muslim woman saying that the brand "now speaks to her".

John Noble, Director of the British Brands Group which provides the voice for brands in the UK said, "The brands that thrive are those that are authentic, distinct, consistent and above all relevant to individuals. That is as true in the UK as it is in every other market in the world. Here is a company that is seeking to stand out from the crowd, offering something different but in a meaningful way. The potential market for that should be significant and extends well beyond the UK."

Following on from the success of the recent World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) where Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the UK will become the first non-Muslim country to issue an Islamic bond, and London Mayor Boris Johnson announced a £100m technology fund to encourage Middle East entrepreneurs to London it is clear that Brand Britain is changing and growing with new shariah compliant or halal areas of business. Triumphant images of Olympic champion Mo Farah draped in the Union Jack have strengthened the feeling that Muslims are very much proud of their British identity and are now creating Islamic products and services to grow the British economy and create jobs.

Dr Jonathan A.J. Wilson, Editor of the Journal of Islamic Marketing, and an academic from the Business School at University of Greenwich, says: "I think one of the reactions to 9/11 and 7/7 was the realisation by Muslims that the 'brown pound' wasn't just about passive consumerism, or 'by us for us' - it's about finding a way to lead hearts and minds, and celebrating ethnic diversity in the Muslim community. What better way to sweeten relations than with a worldwide common love of chocolate - and Cool Britannia has always waved this flag."

The Muslim Pound report by the Muslim Council of Britain shows there are 13,400 Muslim-owned businesses in London alone creating 70,000 jobs. It also show how over a £1 billion is being spent on the halal food in the UK and $661 billion globally. If the British brands aimed at Muslims were to thrive globally it would add significant value to the UK's economic prosperity. It would also encourage entrepreneurial Muslims to supply products and services for this fast growing and lucrative market.

Khalid Sharif, founder of Ummah Foods "Britain has changed and so have all communities within it - We have to reflect this. British Muslims are proud of their British and Muslim heritage and like all Brits are reclaiming the flag from the extremism of the BNP and like. Prime Minister David Cameron at the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) held in London last month said he wants London to stand alongside Dubai as one of the great capitals of Islamic finance anywhere in the world. London will also be the home of many great British Halal brands like other British brands before and what better time to begin this than during Global Entrepreneurship Week!".

For more information contact: Khalid Sharif / ksharif@ummahfoods.com / 07967 171073

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ummahfoods

Muslim Pound report: http://www.mcb.org.uk/

Journal of Islamic Marketing: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=JIMA

© Press Release 2013