Growing Community Celebrates Expanded Dining Options and Business Opportunities

Winnipeg held its inaugural halal food festival and business expo at the St. Norbert Community Centre and Arena, marking a significant milestone for the city’s growing Muslim community. The event, organized by Sadna Isik, brought together over 50 halal businesses to showcase the expanding food scene.

From Scarcity to Abundance: A Decade of Growth

The festival highlighted how dramatically the halal food landscape has changed in Winnipeg. When Isik arrived as a graduate student in 2014, finding halal food was challenging. Similarly, other attendees noted the scarcity of options when they first moved to the city – whether from Pakistan, Bangladesh, or as international students.

Local Entrepreneurs Fill Market Gaps

Local entrepreneurs are now filling market gaps with diverse offerings. Ameen Ul Haque operates The Kolachi Kitchen, specializing in halal barbecue and Pakistani dishes like chicken biryani. Adbur Rahim runs Bubble Wave tea, the city’s only halal-friendly bubble tea shop, using gelatin alternatives since traditional gelatin often contains pork products.

Challenges Remain for Small Business Growth

The event also revealed ongoing challenges. Twelve vendors couldn’t participate due to limited access to halal-certified commercial kitchens, representing communities from Turkey, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Algeria. This points to the need for better provincial support for small halal businesses.

Mainstream Acceptance Drives Continued Expansion

Attendees celebrated the progress, noting that major chains like Boston Pizza, Mary Brown’s Chicken, and KFC now offer halal options. The festival served as both a showcase of current businesses and a platform for discussing how to further support this growing sector of Winnipeg’s food scene.

The event represents the broader evolution of Canada’s multicultural dining landscape, with halal options becoming increasingly mainstream and accessible to diverse communities.

Original Article:

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. (2025, August 6). Winnipeg Halal Food Fest celebrates culture, business and community. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-halal-food-festival-1.7594951