Retail halal control points – which control process can be applied digitally?

Abstract

This study investigates the importance and need to apply the concept of retail halal control points (RHCP) in the food industry, specifically the supermarket which operates a complex supply chain system. The examination of the application of the RHCP on the supermarket is also to facilitate the business entity in obtaining halal or Shariah-compliant status. The RHCP method can assist the supermarket management to control for prohibited or illegal elements from infesting the supermarket supply chain process. In this way, the process of food safety and food products in supermarkets would comply with the Islamic teaching on halal principles. Unfortunately, it appears that up to now, there is no study in that direction. There are few studies though, that study halal control points but not in the field of retailing. For this reason, this study was conducted to fill the gap by examining the use of RHCP in the supermarket. By using the purposive sampling technique, four supermarkets located in the Klang Valley were cross-examined. Quality assurance managers and halal executives from each supermarket were interviewed extensively by using open ended questions. The interview transcripts were then analyzed by using thematic analysis. The results showed that the management team of all the selected supermarkets agrees to use a standard operating guideline for ensuring halal or shariah-compliance status in the supermarkets. Additionally, to achieve an optimum level of effectiveness with the RHCP method, the use of digitalisation is recommended. Difficulties in getting information and support from the supermarket management were among the main drawbacks of this study. Nonetheless, this study is significant for both the retail industry and academicia at least in terms of discussing the issues of the RHCP concept. This would certainly help the supermarket management in planning their supermarket business effectively and thus able to sustain competitiveness.

Keywords

• retail halal control points
• shariah-compliant
• supermarket