Kosher Certificates

1. The demand for food with kosher certificates is growing

The demand for kosher food has seen explosive growth in recent years for two reasons: an increasing number of non-Jewish customers are purchasing kosher food products because they consider them to be healthier and safer than non-kosher products, and many non-observant Jews are going kosher to reconnect with their heritage. Kosher products are also popular among the lactose intolerant, vegetarians, food allergy sufferers, and people from other religious groups, including Muslims and Seventh Day Adventists. Because kosher products undergo rigorous inspection and labeling practices, they have become synonymous with quality and purity.

2. Generates additional revenue

The kosher symbol has become an important marketing device in America and Canada. Studies have proven that kosher certificates help to generate additional revenue by expanding the size of a product’s market.

3. Supermarkets favor products with kosher certificates

Manufacturers fiercely compete to have their products shelved at supermarkets, and supermarkets favor products with kosher certificates because they know that kosher foods sell faster and have a competitive advantage. In fact, several studies have shown that a kosher product positioned next to a similar, non-kosher product on a supermarket shelf will sell faster.

4. Increases private label business

The private label trade is big business, and manufacturers battle to sell their products to private label companies. Whether or not manufacturers have kosher certificates plays an important role in the decision making process of private label companies, and many private label companies insist on kosher certification.

5. Boosts company morale

Kosher certificates can be a morale booster for company employees. Plant personnel are often proud of having their work kosher supervised because they believe it means that their work has met a standard of excellence.

6. Kosher food is considered safer

With the growing concern about animal diseases like SARS and mad cow disease being transmitted through food products, many consumers are turning to food with kosher certificates. Certified kosher food is considered safer because it is free of many questionable, animal-based ingredients and adheres to strict standards of cleanliness.

7. Strong returns for minimal investment

In an internal study, Dannon found that placing a kosher label on several of its products contributed to an additional $2 million in annual sales. Dannon also found that getting kosher certificates helped them generate free publicity in the Jewish media. These results are far from uncommon. Like Dannon, most companies find that kosher certificates generate strong returns for minimal investment. Moreover, the cost of kosher supervision is relatively modest, especially when you compare it to the cost of advertising to increase sales.