New York, NY – US Drives Global Kosher Ingredient Need.

New York, NY – The growing kosher market is prompting manufacturers in countries without much local demand to gain certification so they can export to the high-potential US, and some are exporing continuous kosher production to keep down costs.

Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, VP of communications and marekting at Kosher certification service The Orthodox Union (OU) says that there is an increase in ingredients firms seeking certification. As more and more kosher consumer products become available, suppliers do not want to be excluded from the market.

While the US is the largest Kosher market the companies that cater to it are geographically wide-spread. The fact that the OU has plants on its books in
Turkey and China, for instance, and over 300 (mainly ingredients) plants in China does not mean that there is a big consumer demand for Kosher products in these local markets.

Rather, the companies seeking certification are wishing to export to the US.

The OU, which has its headquarters in the US, certifies 6,000 plants in 83 countries (both ingredients and finished product manufacturers). [foodnavigator]