①What made us start Muslim-friendly service
We found a Muslim customer using his smartphone and typing something while looking at the label of products at one of the supermarkets that we own, and when we asked what he was doing, he responded that he was translating the ingredients to see what was being used. This was what triggered us in starting our Muslim-friendly service. Also, we got a request from Nagoya University that they want to film a foreigner shopping in a local super market, and the model that came was a Muslim living in a residency provided by the company near the store. He mentioned that he needs to travel far in order to purchase Halal products, and so we wanted to help him in some way.
②The circumstances that led selling bento in SA
We started making bento for Muslims from a wish of wanting customers to eat Japanese food since they are visiting Japan. We asked opinions from Muslim shoppers, and succeeded in making a very simple Muslim-friendly bento by not using any prohibited food ingredients and cooking with HALAL-only cooking appliances. Thankfully, we have received many compliments from Muslim customers.
In such occasion, we received an offer of opening a branch of our shop in “Okazaki service area” in Shintouna highway. Our intention of wanting to function as one of the reasons for customers to stop by at Okazaki service area was concurrent to the urgency in corresponding to Muslims of Central Nippon Exis Company, which manages the service area, and this led to the idea of selling bento boxes at the SA.
③Message to Muslims
Our bento contains Japanese dishes made using local ingredients.
We hope that you find a small “Japan” in the bento box if you get a change to eat our bento. Please enjoy your stay in Japan without any worries about food.
※This bento is not HALAL-certified.
