A decades-long commitment to halal production for one company is serving as an unexpected shield against global supply chain shocks, providing stability amid ongoing international trade volatility.
Nestle Malaysia chief executive officer Juan Aranols said global disruptions had not compromised the company’s halal integrity.
“Absolutely not,” Aranols said when asked whether supply chain volatility had made compliance more difficult.
“We always prepare alternate sources of supply, so whenever there is some kind of disruption on one side, we have alternatives.”
He added that the company spent the past few years aggressively building up local supplier consistency.
“We are becoming less dependent on these kinds of volatile regions,” he said, adding that the journey began more than 50 years ago when Nestle pioneered halal certification in Malaysia.
Aranols was speaking at the Strengthening Your Network and Ecosystem for Resilient Growth (Synergy) event.
The Synergy event, held in collaboration with the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) at 1 Powerhouse in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, was themed “Memacu Halal, Memperkasa Komuniti” (Driving Halal, Empowering Communities).
It highlighted how the company’s role had evolved from manufacturer to educator.
“Today’s event reflects a close partnership that has been built over many decades, anchored by a shared commitment to developing Malaysia’s halal ecosystem.
“We have focused on contributing to a more inclusive and future-ready halal ecosystem that supports not only industry, but also communities.
“Through initiatives such as Halal@School, Halal@STEM and our university collaborations, we engage young Malaysians early, introducing them to halal principles, innovation and future career pathways,” Aranols said at the launch.
In attendance were Jakim Halal Management Division director Muhyidin Aziz @ Saari, Nestle Malaysia head of Halal Affairs Nasrul Hadi and Jakim Halal Management Division senior principal assistant director Iszam Padil.
Beyond Halal@STEM – a programme that teaches secondary school students the science behind halal compliance – the company is embedding halal integrity into the education system through several key pillars.
These include the Youngpreneurs Programme, which equips 200 university students with the business tools to run halal‑compliant start-ups, and a new logistics mentoring initiative with Jakim involving 27 companies to ensure the halal chain remains unbroken during transport.
In his speech, Muhyidin said the development of a strong and credible halal ecosystem required consistent collaboration between regulators, industry players and the community.
“Jakim places strong emphasis on upholding rigorous and trusted standards at every level.
“Initiatives such as those demonstrated by Nestle Malaysia reflect how industry can contribute meaningfully towards strengthening halal standards and building capabilities.”
The SME Mentoring Programme, established in 2010 in collaboration with the Halal Development Corporation and SME Corp, has supported more than 1,200 micro, small and medium enterprises in the halal certification journey.
