#Non shifting hajj 2017

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Symptoms of Weak Faith

http://umrahexperts.co.uk/blog/2017/04/06/symptoms-weak-faith/

Symptoms of Weak Faith: Faith is the key things which a person have in to show his belief towards any religion. When it comes to the religion Islam, Muslims show their strong faith towards Allah Almighty and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and that faith is shown towards their words and acts. One cannot possibly claim himself to be a true Muslim unless he is not showing his admiration towards Allah by his deeds. Although there are many important components of a strong faith, but there are also some components of a weak faith as well which should not be ignored at any case.

[umrahexperts-blog]

It is a current issue of Islam that people keep asking the scholars about the facts of graves in Islam. These questions are often like “Is it okay to visit the graves of your loved ones?” And “Is it okay to pray on the graves of the holy saints and pious people?” And many more questions like these. In accordance with the Sunnah, it is okay to visit the graves of your loved ones and recite Surah Fatiha for their forgiveness. But praying on those graves is highly prohibited in Islam. Often it has been seen that people visit the graves of holy saints and starts bowing down on their shrines and start making Duas on their graves. As a Muslim, one must always know that all prayers must be for Allah alone and no matter how saint and pious someone is, we should never ask anything from him because only Allah is the best Provider of everything.

[goadeeliqbalme-blog]

Islam is a complete religion of love and peace. It has clearly defined all the rights of each single specie on earth whether it’s a human being or an animal. Allah has told the people that he might forgive His rights on a man, but will never forgive a person if he is doing injustice with the rights of another person. Same goes with animals as well. Animals are such an innocent specie of this earth who can even speak our language and can’t convey the pain they have been bearing due to us. Unlike other human beings, who can easily tell if they have any problem, but animals lack thisability of communication with human beings.

[6wrs-blog]

Saudi Arabia Catering Services market is expected to witness strong headwinds over the coming years due to slump in crude oil prices and slowdown of economy. Saudi Arabia’s government revenues are majorly dependent on the export of oil products and decline in oil prices has affected the government spending in various sectors. However, shift in government expenditure towards healthcare and education sectors is likely to have some positive effect on the catering services market. According to 6Wresearch, Saudi Arabia Catering Services market is projected to reach $6.9 billion by 2023. Catering to remote sites such as oil rigs and construction sites have remained a prominent markets in Saudi Arabia as it is the company’s responsibility to provide meal to its employees at such sites. Decline in new construction awards and taxes on expatriates living & working in Saudi Arabia has forced the company’s to increase the percentage of Saudi nationals in workforce. Download Sample Pages @ https://tinyurl.com/y8lxxllk According to Ravi Bhandari, Assistant Manager, 6Wresearch, “sectors including construction, oil & gas, petroleum and corporate end users are the key revenue generating sectors in contractual catering services. The length of contract can vary depending on the quality of food and services provided by the catering companies. However, growing business tourism, corporate events and weddings would increase the non-contractual catering market share in Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Airline Catering Company is a major player in flight catering services market as it provides catering services primarily to international airline companies. Eastern region and Riyadh accounted for more than 60% market revenue share”, Ravi further added. According to Akash Jain, Research Associate, Research and Consulting, 6Wresearch, “Hospitality, education and healthcare sectors are expected to drive the catering services market of Saudi Arabia. Under National Transformation Plan and Saudi Vision 2030, the government of Saudi Arabia has increased budget spending on non-oil sectors to reduce dependency on oil & gas sector revenues. The government allocated more than $80 billion to education and healthcare sector together.” “Growing religious tourism to Makkah and Madinah during Hajj and Umrah season along with rise in national and international passengers over the coming years would stabilize catering services market in the country”, Akash Concluded. Some of the major companies in Saudi Arabia Catering Services market include- Al Tamimi, Gulf Catering, Saudi Airlines, Nesma Trading, Saudi Catering and Contracting Company and Algosaibi Services. “Saudi Arabia Catering Services Market (2017–2023)” provides in-depth analysis with 32 figures and 7 tables covered in more than 95 pages. The report estimates and forecast the overall Saudi Arabia catering services market by revenues, types such as contractual and non-contractual services, end users and regions. The report also gives insights on competitive landscape, companies benchmarking, company profiles, market drivers and restraints. For more details visit :   https://www.6wresearch.com/market-reports/saudi-arabia-catering-services-market-2017-2023-ksa-forecast-by-type-contractual-non-contractual-services-end-user-regions-competitive-landscape.html ABOUT US : 6Wresearch is the premier, one-stop market intelligence and advisory center, known for its best in class business research and consulting activity. We provide industry research reports and consulting service across different industries and geographies which provide industry players an in-depth coverage and help them in decision making before investing or enter into particular geography. Contact Us : Visit our Website: www.6wresearch.com Email: sales@6wresearch.com Phone: +911143024305  

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CHEAPEST HAJJ PACKAGES NON-SHIFTING

CHEAPEST HAJJ PACKAGES NON-SHIFTING 

Hajj, and sometimes Hajj, is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, where there is expected to be a Muslim at least once in their lives. The word Hajj is an Arabic word meaning "planning a journey".

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. The others are martyrdom (declaration of faith); prayer (daily prayer); zakaah (giving zakaah);

Who goes to Hajj?

It is important that Muslims go at least once to pilgrims to the elderly. You should think well, physically and economically. Those who travel for Hajj include their names in Hajj.

When is Hajj?

Hajj must be celebrated during the Islamic month of Ramadan, Hajj and Hajj. The Hajj Festival takes place between 8 and 12 pilgrims.

Since Islam is declining in 2010, it changes each year every year and ranges from 10 to 11 days compared to last year. It is expected that in 2017, will wait 30 August or September.

How many people go to Hajj?

Every year, people gather from 2 to 3 million people in Mecca every month. This is a wonderful forum for people living in the area. You can also be part of this great and conscientious event, and it is possible through

  the CHEAPEST HAJJ PACKAGES NON-SHIFTING   without price changes.

How did Hajj begin?

Hajj (Prophet Muhammad) was founded by the Prophet (peace be upon him), but according to the Qur'an, Abraham can be, (alaihis peace)

Muslims believe that Ibrahim (peace alayhis) ordered God to leave his wife, Xajar and his son Ismail alone in early Mecca. In the torrent of water, Zajar was used to detonate seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwa, but he did not find them. Returning to Ismail, he saw the child scratching the ground and jumping to the ground.

This is the well of Zamzam at the Sacred Mosque in Mecca. Keep it for drinking water.

What is the right of Hajj?

The main Hajj of Hajj is:

Ihram: When they arrive in Mecca, pilgrims enter Hajj (pilgrimage). I have to wear jewelry, which consists of two non-woven white covers on the body and shoes. Also clean, this dress is a symbol of equality and unity because there is no visible reminder of class, property, status or culture. Women are more difficult than the invisible face and hands.

Although in the case of art, Actuaria must include, inter alia, not cutting nails or hair, or not participating in sexual activities, discussions or battles.

Tawaaf: Every person walks around the Kaaba seven times (the cube structure and direction of Muslims anywhere) Haram Mosque. The Kaaba was built by Ibrahim (peace be upon him), the most famous of them in Islam.

Safa and Marwah: Pilgrimage seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwah during the Hajj while searching for water.

Mount Arafat: the pilgrimage to Mount Arafat, where the Prophet (peace be upon him) the last sermon, to remain vigilant.

Satan bat: After Arafat, he moved to Muzdalfah and then to Muna to throw the symbolic ramparts creating a stone whose stones on three walls are known as ember, shed. It symbolizes how the devil Ibrahim (alayhis salaam) tried to deceive God to follow him, but he was fighting when the Prophet stoned three times against him.

Eid al-Adha: On the tenth day of the month, Dhu al-Hijjah, Dhu'l-Hijjah, is the beginning of Eid al-Fitr, the third day of Eid al-Adha (Eid al-Adha). The pilgrims perform the sacrificial ritual of sacrifice and continue with other races to complete their pilgrimage.

The sacrifice of Abraham (peace alaihis) is ready to make his son Ishmael (peace alaihis) to God, who saved his son by sending a ram instead that will take him

What is the difference between Hajj and Umrah?

Pilgrims can go to Mecca to perform the ritual at any other time of the year. This pilgrimage is known as Umrah, and unlike Hajj, which occurs on permanent Islamic dates, it is not mandatory.

Hajj is considered the basic worship of Muslims and the year of travel from all over the world to perform Hajj. Muslims, who are psychologically healthy, physically fit and financially strong, are committed to performing Hajj once in their lives. These rituals help to strengthen brotherly ties that prove that all are equal to God. It is a great opportunity to purify the soul and seek the forgiveness of God. So, if you are a lucky person, you can travel to Mecca to perform Hajj this year. Your job is to find the best Hajj packages for you and you should determine which Hajj packages will be ideal for you.

Every year, a large number of Muslim pilgrims from the United Kingdom set up their flights with outstanding pilgrimage services. They can show their consent and fulfill with God by performing their obligatory religious mission. In general, there are two types of Hajj packages offered by different travel agencies in the UK; change, or no change. Most people prefer to take advantage of the unchanging Hajj packages that make their trip very important. They also want to go with a reliable and consistent travel agency that usually charges very low fees for services. Therefore, you must know which packages do not change and that will help in the execution of sacred rites at low cost.

Difference between change packages or non-displacement

Your wait is more, and the most important is the fact that the pilgrimage is performed, and will stop in front of Kappa. However, you must understand the difference between packages that have been changed or unchanged, since you book your interested Hajj packages with the most excellent travel agency in the UK. By changing the Hajj packages, you will stay away from the Haram throughout the season and get away from the Haram. On the other hand, unchangeable packages, were the best religious group hotels near Mecca and will stay in hotels and prepare for Hajj services. They were sent to their hotels after Hajj services.

Why do people choose unchanging Hajj packages?

A package is usually planned that does not change for those people who wish to complete their holy duties in the best way. The package without changes will allow you to complete your spiritual mission without any problem. Pilgrims provide luxury facilities such as accommodation, transport, food and residents of the campus. Pilgrims can benefit from the best packages at cheap prices. Pilgrims can access hotel rooms even during Hajj and do not need to transport their belongings to Aziziyah.

Get the best package services without altering the hajj

So, if you live in the UK and want to get the best services from Hajj, we're here to help you. Make sure you have Hajj without problems and park. We will help you on your journey and we will provide you with reliable packages to meet all your needs. However, get the CHEAPEST HAJJ PACKAGES NON-SHIFTING Hajj package unchanged and get the required treatment and perform Hajj in an economical way.

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1.5 million Muslims are expected to perform Hajj

This Year about 1.5 million people from all over the world are expected to perform Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Millions of Muslims from all over the world have started to purchase Cheap Hajj Packages 2019 to go Saudi Arabia city of Mecca ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, a central pillar of the Islamic faith that represent the actions of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) from more than 1,400 years ago.

Worshipers from more than 140 countries will begin gathering in the holy city, one of the holiest sites in Islam, to prepare for the five-day pilgrimage.

Perform Hajj meant to cleanse the faithful of sin and bring them closer to God, 1.5 million pilgrims are expected to be attended Hajj this year.

For security Purposes, Saudi Government is going to install thousands of new surveillance cameras at Mecca's Grand Mosque, which will monitor crowd numbers, and the Jamarat stoning (a symbolic stoning of the devil based on historical tradition) will be more strictly controlled than in past years.

Also, the Saudi Government will provide electronic bracelets storing personal & medical information that will help authorities provide care and identify people.

These devices are water-resistant and connected to GPS, the devices will also inform worshipers on timings of prayers and a multilingual help desk will guide pilgrims around the various rituals.

A couple of years ago Hajj was marred by a stampede that killed more than 800 people. However, counts carried out by countries who repatriated bodies showed that more than 2,000 people may have died in the crash, according to news channels.

The incidents expand tensions between Riyadh and Tehran, as many of them were Iranian.

After all of these incidents, Muslims faith has been stronger and they have started to purchase Hajj Packages. But People who want to travel for Hajj should know some things like from where they purchased package are they approved agents from Hajj ministry also they are atoll protected.

Many of Travel agencies are offering Hajj Packages 2020 you can search in google as well to purchase hajj package. One of the most reliable companies who is offering Cheap Hajj Packages is Labbaik Hajj Umrah. You can visit their website and choose your desired package.

[kenresearchblog]

Saudi Arabia Canned Food Market Facing Trouble Putting the Lid on Thinning Customer Base : Ken Research

Product and Packaging Innovation in Canned Food Market

According to Chitwan Tayal, Market Research Associate at Ken Research, “Canned food market can be aided by introduction of new product categories and investment in packaging innovation. Organic food can be introduced in canned form to deliver health with convenience. Additionally, packaging innovation can be carried out in terms of non-BPA cans, recyclable cans and differentiated labeling based on target audience.”

Ken Research estimates that the canned food market in Saudi Arabia is expected to grow at CAGR of 1.9% for the next five years to reach around USD 509.9 million by 2022.”

Genesis of Canned Food Market

The canned food market in Saudi Arabia is about a 100 year old market. Most canned food companies in KSA were established in the late 1900s.  Growth was seen in this market in its initial years due to the convenience canned food provided in terms of storage as well as cooking. Over time, however, the reach of fresh products has expanded in KSA and consumers have started opting for these over canned food products as these are perceived to be healthier. Growth in the market has become stagnant and is likely to grow at a subdued rate in the future.

Matured Stage of Canned Food Sector in KSA

Canned food market in KSA is currently in its mature stage. There are very limited product innovations happening and companies are having trouble retaining customers. Product categories available in the canned food market include canned dairy, canned fish, canned meat, canned fruits and vegetables, canned legumes and beans and canned cooking sauces. Of these, canned dairy is the leading product category. Canned food market in Saudi Arabia has grown at a CAGR of 3.1% in the past 5 years.

Saudi Arabia canned food market is concentrated in nature. There are a limited number of large domestic players dominating the market. The major players in the canned food market in Saudi Arabia include Saudi Goody Products Marketing Company Ltd., Gulf Food Industries – California Garden, Almarai Co., Luna (NFIC), Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Company (SADAFCO), Del Monte Saudi Arabia Ltd., Al-Wedyan National Company for Food Products Ltd., Al-Alali and AKH Foods. Canned food companies compete on the basis of various factors including price of products, product differentiation and location of their distribution depots.

Revival in Demand from End User Segments

Growth in institutional end user segments such as hotels, restaurants and fast food outlets will be a major source of demand for canned food products in the future. Saudi Arabia has shifted its focus to investments in the tourism sector to reduce its dependence on revenues from oil. Canned food products are also in demand by catering companies supplying meals to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. The pilgrims were 2.4 million in number in 2017.

Demand for canned food is likely to be adversely affected by the NITAQAT scheme and Saudization. This is because this scheme is leading to exit of expatriates, which are major end users for canned food, in large numbers. Negative perception of healthiness of canned food is also affecting the market negatively. Consumers are increasingly opting for fresh and frozen products over canned substitutes.

For more information about the research report, refer to below link:

https://www.kenresearch.com/food-beverage-and-tobacco/general-food/saudi-arabia-canned-food-market/149549-11.html

Related Reports

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Contact Us: Ken Research Ankur Gupta, Head Marketing & Communications sales@kenresearch.com

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[bluebookweb]

According to a Recent Study/Survey … End-of-August 2017 Edition

Can you believe it’s nearly September? This edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine’s “According to a recent study/survey …” research feature includes the impact of a long weekend in the hospitality industry, debunking the retail apocalypse, catering in Saudi Arabia,  U.S. wine consumption and the return to authenticity.

Long-Weekend Flu?

Customers planning to spend the unofficial last day of summer enjoying drinks and snacks on the patio should prepare themselves for longer wait times and diminished service. This is due to a predicted outbreak Long-Weekend Flu, an ailment unique to the service industry.

According to research by Toronto-based tech firm Staffy, 22 percent of service workers are planning to call in “sick” over the long weekend, leading to one of the most far-reaching cases of Long-Weekend Flu this century.

“It’s well documented that a higher-than average number of service workers come down with some sort of debilitating illness during three-day weekends, but fortunately Staffy has a proven remedy for the phenomenon,” said Peter Faist, founder of Staffy. “We have thousands of healthy contractors eager to fill in for these shifts while the permanent workers get much-needed rest.”

The survey also found some surprising additional stats among service workers:

56 percent of restaurant workers prefer to work a standard 9 to 5, Monday to Friday shift, despite far heavier traffic and tips evenings and weekends

Nearly  half of respondents (44 percent) would prefer to see tipping eliminated in exchange for a higher, predictable wage

62 percent of hospitality workers are part-time workers pursuing other interests

Caused by regular staffers calling in “sick,” or otherwise dropping shifts on very short notice in order to enjoy the summer’s last long weekend, Long Weekend Flu often causes substantial lost business while also subjecting patrons to long waits for tables, drink, food, and their checks, as establishments scramble to find temporary staff on short notice.

Customer Visits Trending Downward

Customer visits to U.S. restaurants and foodservice outlets remained negative in the quarter ending June resulting in six consecutive quarters of weak traffic performance, reports The NPD Group, a leading global information company. The U.S. foodservice industry has not experienced six quarters in a row of no traffic growth since the recession of 2008-09. The average check at foodservice outlets rose by 2.6 percent — the largest increase in several years — reflecting higher menu prices. 

The vast majority of consumers give restaurants fairly low ratings on affordability compared to other customer satisfaction attributes.

“No doubt the rising cost of a restaurant meal is weighing heavily on industry traffic performance,” said Bonnie Riggs, NPD Group restaurant industry analyst. “The vast majority of consumers give restaurants fairly low ratings on affordability compared to other customer satisfaction attributes.” 

The slowdown in restaurant and foodservice visits is most prevalent at midscale/family dining and casual dining concepts. Midscale registered a 4 percent decline in traffic in the quarter compared to same quarter year ago. Casual dining visits dropped by 3 percent in the quarter, according to NPD’s CREST®, which daily tracks all aspects of how consumers use restaurants. 

Visits also softened for quick service restaurants (QSR), which represent the lion’s share (83 percent) of industry traffic and has been the only driver of industry traffic growth for several years. QSR customer visits were flat in the quarter compared to last year but a steeper decline was offset by traffic growth at QSR hamburger and fast casual restaurants. The QSR hamburger category realized nearly 13 million more visits in the quarter than last year, and fast casual grew traffic by 77 million incremental visits. 

In addition to QSR hamburger and fast casual restaurants, other industry bright spots in the quarter included the continued growth of morning meal visits, up 1 percent in the quarter over year ago, and foodservice delivery, up 2 percent. The quick service segment was primarily responsible for the uptick in morning meal visits. Delivery growth was entirely derived from four restaurant categories: QSR sandwich, QSR burger, midscale, and Asian. 

“Although there were a few performance bright spots this quarter, these visit occasions are not large enough to move the industry in a positive direction,” added Riggs. “Operators will need to be critical in increasing prices and make sure that when they do raise prices the quality of the food and experience is commensurate with their customer’s cost.”  

Debunking the Retail Apocalypse

U.S. retailers are opening 4,080 more stores in 2017 than they are closing and plan to open over 5,500 more in 2018, according to a new research report from IHL Group. The report, Debunking the Retail Apocalypse, was released today and is available here.

The research reviewed over 1,800 retail chains with more than 50 U.S. stores in 10 retail vertical segments. It found that for every chain with a net closing of stores, 2.7 companies showed a net increase in store locations for 2017. 

“The negative narrative that has been out there about the death of retail is patently false,” said Greg Buzek, president of IHL Group. “The so-called ‘retail apocalypse’ makes for a great headline, but it’s simply not true. Over 4,000 more stores are opening than closing among big chains, and when smaller retailers are included, the net gain is well over 10,000 new stores. As well, through the first seven months of the year, retail sales are up $121.6 billion, an amount roughly equivalent to the total annual retail sales of The Netherlands.”*

Highlights of the research include the following:

The total net increase of stores for 2017 is 4,080, including retail and restaurants. Core retail segments will see a net gain of 1,326 stores, while table-service and fast-food restaurants are adding a net of 2,754 locations. In total, chains are opening a net 14,239 stores and closing 10,123 stores.

42 percent of retailers have a net increase in stores, only 15 percent have a net decrease, and 43 percent report no change.

The three fastest growing core retail segments are mass merchandisers such as off-price retailers and dollar stores (+1,905 stores), convenience stores (+1,700 stores) and grocery retailers (+674 stores). 

Specialty apparel retailers are seeing the largest number of closings, with a net loss of 3,137 stores. Yet, for every chain closing stores, 1.3 chains are opening new stores.

When it comes to chains shuttering stores, only 16 chains account for 48.5 percent of total number of stores closing.  Five of these chains (Radio Shack, Payless Shoesource, Rue21, Ascena Retail and Sears Holdings) represent 28.1 percent of the total stores closing.

“Without question, retail is undergoing some fundamental changes. The days of ‘build it and they will come’ are over,” added Buzek. “However, retailers that are focusing on the customer experience, investing in better training of associates and integrating IT systems across channels will continue to succeed.”

Debunking the Retail Apocalypse was underwritten by AT&T, Cayan, Fujitsu, Aptos, Level 10, Adspace, and Veras Retail. The research report began with the review of 2,400 retail chains operating in the U.S. from the IHL Sophia Data Service, then was narrowed down to 1,804 chains with 50 or more stores. The growth in stores were counted at net gain or loss per chain, and each retailer was evaluated if their net number of stores increased or decreased. If positive, IHL counted the net increase. If negative, it was counted as net decrease. Data was not calculated within a retailer’s portfolio. Thus, a retailer that opened 10 stores and closed 2 was counted as +8. 

Catering in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has seen growing number of tourist majorly for religious purpose which has facilitated growth in the hospitality sector. Furthermore, the government has taken initiative to develop the infrastructure in the country. This has led to growing demand in construction sector and hospitality sector which majorly includes Hajj catering and hotels.

Use of digital platform in the Saudi Arabia Catering Services Market has helped in making the whole process simpler, transparent and more effective. Major companies are using technology to monitor the procurement process to control the quality standards, manage inventory and storage facilities and reduce wastage by using appropriate equipments and proper estimation of food to be produced for a certain event.  

Government authorities such as SFDA have laid down guidelines and regulations to monitor the quality of catering services provided in schools, hospitals and labour camps in order to avoid food poisoning and inculcate healthy eating habits.  

Saudi Arabia Catering Services Market has seen development in the last five years with the implementation of Saudi Arabia 2030 and National Transformation Program which focused on developing the infrastructure of the country. As construction activities increased it aided the growth of catering services in labor camps. The industrial and hospitality catering sector has accounted for the largest revenue share in 2016. Growing population, need for the development of a robust transport network, government emphasis on the development of renewable energy infrastructure and strong growth of the non-oil sector have augmented the demand for housing, industrial/commercial construction. The industrial and construction sector has been dominated by expatriates who mostly remain alone. Such employees demand catering services for 3 meals a day at competitive prices. Religious cities such as Makkah, Jeddah and Madina receive millions of religious tourists every year that rely on catering companies for three meals a day during their stay in Saudi Arabia. With the advent of internet, customers are now more knowledgeable about different cuisines and are demanding a fusion menu. This has been supported by increased smartphone penetration which has made the process simpler.

U.S. Wine Consumption Increases

The U.S. wine market, the largest in the world, continued to show strength in 2016 growing 2.4 percent to 341.1 million 9-liter cases led by a 6.6 percent upsurge in the consumption of total sparkling wines, according to the Beverage Information Group’s 2017 Wine Handbook.  A strong U.S. economy, employment and wage gains, and larger discretionary incomes all contributed to the category’s growth.

Total domestic wines accounted for 76.8 percent of the wine category, up slightly from last year.  The number of U.S wineries also continued to grow, topping almost 8,300, up 4 percent.  California, the largest wine producing state, continued to capitalize on the increasing popularity of its premium and super-premium wine segments in 2016.  Wines produced in Oregon and Washington also continued to show promise as consumers are demonstrating their willingness to explore wine beyond the California segment.  

The premiumization trend in the wine market has not slowed but rather continued to evolve in 2016.  Consumers continued to seek premium and high-end brands to enjoy at home and in on-premise venues. Sales of wines priced under $10 weakened again this year with wines in the $10 to $20 range thriving.  In fact, many major brands had trouble staying top of consumers’ mind as was also the case last year.  Smaller brands are becoming more attractive as word of mouth and social media platforms create unique awareness that is not found in traditional advertising mediums. 

Table wine grew to 309.4 million 9-liter cases, a 2.2 percent increase over 2015, as reported by the 2017 Wine Handbook.  The champagne and sparkling wine category grew for its 15th consecutive year to 22.1 million 9-liter cases, up an impressive 7.8 percent.  Domestic sparkling wine reached 11.9 million 9-liter cases resulting in a 5.2 percent increase in volume, continuing an eleven-year growth streak.

The Authenticity Trend

More consumers are seeking out food that is made with integrity and respect for culinary traditions…  No matter what cuisine is being offered, consumers increasingly expect that food to be true to its roots and culture.   So proclaims a new white paper from Coast Packing Company, the West’s leading supplier of animal fat shortenings lard and beef tallow.  The document – Return to Tradition: Renovate Your Menu with Authentic Ingredients — details how animal fat shortenings can improve profit margins and enhance flavor and quality, while meeting growing consumer demand for authenticity, health and sustainability.    “One simple, easy and economical way to increase the authenticity of many ethnic cuisines as well as American comfort foods is to switch from vegetable oils to natural animal fat shortenings, such as lard and beef tallow,” writes Coast Packing Corporate Chef Ernest Miller, author of the white paper.  “In addition to enhancing the bottom line, heritage fats are on trend for flavor, wellness and sustainability.”   Underlying the Coast white paper are three lessons for the restaurant sector, Miller said:

Consumers are demanding authenticity

Animal fat shortenings enhance quality naturally

Animal fat shortenings are more sustainable​

“Consumers do not want insipid, watered down, banal versions of a cuisine; they want to embrace and celebrate that cuisine,” he said.  “Rather than generic versions of a nation’s culinary arts, diners are seeking out more authentic, local variations – not just Mexican food, but Oaxacan dishes or other regional specialties.  Even when the menu being presented mixes and matches elements of cuisines for nouvelle or fusion effects, diners assume that the ingredients will reflect the essence of the dishes that were the inspiration for the synthesis.”   As the Coast white paper explains, customers would rather a restaurant incorporate authentic ingredients and provide a faithful experience of a culture’s food than dispense the mere simulation of a dish:  “And those who can provide patrons with an authentic experience earn their trust and build a relationship with their consumers for the long-term.”   According to Coast Packing CEO Eric R. Gustafson, this reverence for tradition isn’t simply a search for historical accuracy – it’s a quest for flavor.  “There is a reason certain ingredients are traditional — they provide better taste and quality than the non-traditional alternatives,” he said.  “That is how they became traditional in the first place.  And with 95 years in the business, we at Coast know a little bit about tradition.”   To download a copy of the Coast Packing Company white paper,  click here.  

Michigan Restaurants Report Optimism

The Michigan Restaurant Association (MRA) released its second quarter research report tracking economic and demographic trends within the restaurant industry on a statewide basis.  The survey, conducted by independent research firm Cleveland Research and distributed to MRA’s nearly 4,500 members, suggests improved sales in the second quarter and confidence that sales growth will continue the second half of the year.  

Highlights from the Q2-2017 Trends Report include the following:

Sales across Michigan restaurants increased by 3.2 percent in the second quarter of 2017, an improvement from the first quarter, but still behind 2016 growth rates.

Optimism abounds as a robust 71 percent of respondents expect same-store sales growth to be better in the second half of the year.

After 18 months of stable to deflationary food prices in the industry, costs appear to be increasing as survey respondents reported a .5 percent increase in food costs as a percentage of total sales.

Additional findings suggest a healthy Michigan economy, with unemployment rates plummeting below five percent, has made staffing a primary concern for restaurant owners.  The lack of supply combined with significant industry demand is driving wage increases as labor costs continue to outpace 2016 figures for the second straight quarter. 

“The restaurant industry in Michigan bounced back in the second quarter with year-over-year sales growth nearly doubling lackluster sales growth figures in the first quarter,” said MRA President & CEO Justin Winslow.  “While this is great news, the industry is still under significant pressure from rising labor costs and what appears to be the end of flat commodities prices.”

 Foodservice Disposables Market

Technavio’s latest market research report on the foodservice disposables market in the US provides an analysis on the most important trends expected to impact the market outlook from 2017-2021. Technavio defines an emerging trend as a factor that has the potential to significantly impact the market and contribute to its growth or decline.

 According to Manu Gupta, a lead analyst at Technavio for food serviceresearch, “The growth of the foodservice disposables market in the US will be driven by various factors, such as the growth of online channels for delivery of food and beverages. Increase in the number of international tourist arrivals will also drive the growth of the foodservice industry and the market for foodservice disposables.”

 The top three emerging market trends driving the foodservice disposables market in the US market according to Technavio research analysts are:

Use of UV-cured ink on disposables

Increase in use of recyclable plastic for foodservice disposables

Growing market for biodegradable foodservice disposables

Use of UV-cured ink on disposables

Most foodservice providers use foodservice disposables made from paper and plastic. These are cups, plates, trays, and containers have customized prints and designs, including the name and logo of the foodservice establishment. For instance, McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, and Dunkin’ Donuts provide beverages in paper and plastic cups with custom prints on them. Similarly, leading cafés such as Starbucks and Tim Hortons also have their prints on their disposable cups for beverages.

Due to versatility and wide applicability, solvent-based inks are generally used by most manufacturers of foodservice disposables. However, solvent-based inks have downsides like they emit VOC and are harmful to human health and atmosphere. UV-cured ink contains little or no VOC because it does not contain heavy metals that can be harmful to humans and the environment. Thus, some foodservices disposables vendors have started using UV-cured ink with the objective of either reducing VOC or eliminating the need to report them. During the forecast period, it is expected that use of UV-cured ink will rise significantly and may drive the growth of the market.

Increase in use of recyclable plastic for foodservice disposables

Plastic is known for its property of slow degradation, which takes approximately 100 years to 1,000 years. This raises concerns among environmentalists as the plastic-based foodservice disposables segment has the largest market share in the foodservice disposables market in the US.

“Increasing focus on the benefits of recyclable plastic and waste management may encourage many vendors to enter such activities during the forecast period. For instance, Anchor Packaging recycles almost 100 percent of its raw materials, and its plastic-based foodservice disposables are made from PETE, which is the most recycled packaging material in the US,” says Manu.

Packaging Resources also manufactures plastic containers from recycled bottles. Further, end-users are also using plastic-based foodservice disposables that are manufactured from recycled content. For instance, 30 percent of packaging material used by Dunkin’ Donuts is made from recycled content, and 100 percent of its packaging material is recyclable in nature such as cups, lids, wraps, and trays.

Growing market for biodegradable foodservice disposables

Environment pollution is a major issue for environmentalists and various government agencies. For instance, approximately 40 billion pieces of disposable cutlery, around 115 billion disposable cups, and around 30 billion disposable plates are sold in the US. Many laws and regulations, such as Pollution Prevention Law or P2 Law, have been framed with respect to this. To overcome this issue and reduce the carbon footprint, some manufacturers have started producing disposable products using plant fiber and pulp, which are 100 percent compostable in nature.

GreenGood USA, International Paper, Packnwood, and Sabert are some companies that manufacture disposable products using compostable materials. Similarly, foodservice providers are also focusing on reducing the carbon footprint. McDonald’s, by 2020, aims to operate with 100 percent fiber-based packaging from certified or recycled sources.

 Worldwide Cost of Meat

Online catering marketplace, Caterwings, conducted a study regarding the global price of basic food items, as preliminary research ahead of their expansion into foreign markets. The research highlighted in particular that the cost of meat around the world is remarkably varied. To share these insights, Caterwings have released the 2017 Meat Price Index, which details the cost of meat in over 50 countries worldwide. The study revealed that Switzerland has the highest meat prices, at 141.9 percent more expensive than the average cost worldwide, followed by Norway (63.7 percent more expensive) and Hong Kong (61 percent more expensive), while Ukraine has the least expensive meat prices, at 52.3 percent less expensive than the average cost, closely followed by Malaysia (50.3 percent less expensive).

To give some perspective to the data, the affordability of meat in each country was calculated to reveal the relative number of hours a person on minimum wage must work to buy each type of meat. The findings confirmed that not only does the price of meat vary massively from country to country, but there is also an enormous disparity in its accessibility for people all around the world.

To create the Index, Caterwings looked at the top meat producing and consuming countries around the world focusing on beef, chicken, seafood, pork and lamb. After reviewing hundreds of food retailers, the data was compiled by analysing meat prices in these countries’ top cities, which needed to account for at least 25 percent of the total population. The Index is then ranked by the deviation percentage—this shows how comparatively affordable or expensive each meat type is in each country, in comparison to the global average cost.

“What began as a simple catering cost price Index for market research has raised some important questions.” commented Caterwings Managing Director Susannah Belcher. “It is clear that international inequality exists, and as the world begins to rethink the implications of globalisation, this study clearly demonstrates that food prices ought to be on the agenda.”

High Demand for Seafood

Seafood is in higher demand than ever before, with 82 percent of Americans adding salmon, shrimp and tilapia to their lunch and dinner plates. However, they won’t settle for just any seafood. They want to know where it’s coming from and that it was sourced responsibly, according to a June 2017 Cargill Feed4Thought consumer survey.

The survey, which polled more than 1,000 U.S. residents, found that 72 percent of American consumers believe seafood is important to their health and nutrition. Eighty-eight percent of those same consumers are willing to pay more for seafood that is certified as sustainably and responsibly sourced. This especially appeals to the younger generation, with 93 percent of millennials agreeing they are willing to pay more.

“The majority of American consumers believe seafood is important to their health and nutrition, but they also want to have peace of mind as to where it came from – and that’s where we can play an integral role,” said Einar Wathne, president, Cargill Aqua Nutrition. “We are committed to delivering healthy seafood for future generations, and we know we must do this in a way that is responsible and meets consumer preferences.”

 “It is important that the seafood industry earns consumer trust,” said Avrim Lazar, convener of the Global Salmon Initiative (GSI). “That’s why we work very hard to meet third party, rigorous certification standards. Consumers deserve independent assurance that the seafood they eat is sustainable and responsibly sourced.”

The survey also found:

Out of the five seafood options given, 47 percent of Americans prefer shrimp (the majority).

Eighty-four percent of Americans trust that their seafood is sourced in a safe and responsible way.

Seventy percent of Americans say where and how their seafood is sourced impacts their purchase decision.

Tech-Savvy Millennials

orderTalk, Inc., released a research report on Millennials and their tech-savvy food ordering habits and views. The report reveals that 79 percent of Millennials (ages 18-34) have ordered takeout via a website or app, which is 29 percent more than the older U.S. adult population (ages 45+).

 “While we know that Millennials have grown up with technology and are naturally inclined to use it regularly, the survey results shed light on the level of frustration they feel for lagging restaurant online ordering technology,” said orderTalk CEO Partick Eldon. “This information is something restaurants shouldn’t ignore when evaluating their current online ordering systems.”

 To support this, the survey statistics revealed that Millennials are 26 percent more likely to wish it were easier to order takeout digitally than Americans ages 45 and older (70 percent versus 44 percent). The study also reported that 69 percent of Millennials who have ordered takeout digitally have abandoned a digital order, and the most common reason was because the website/app was not functioning properly (35 percent).

 “Online food ordering has become a way of life,” noted Eldon. “However, merely having an online ordering presence isn’t enough today. Restaurants must offer customers a brand-integrated, easy-to-use online ordering platform that works seamlessly to meet a discerning consumer demand.”

 The research report is the result of a 2017 online survey conducted on behalf of orderTalk by Harris Poll among 2,246 U.S adults.

 A wide-ranging analysis of the survey results can be found by downloading the full 2017 orderTalk Online Ordering Usage Report here.

 Ice Cream in China

Ice cream remains a popular summertime treat for many and new Mintel research reveals that consumption of the sweet indulgence is on the rise. Today, half (49 percent) of urban Chinese consumers* say they eat ice cream at home as a snack, compared to four in 10 (39 percent) who said the same in 2015. Meanwhile, 39 percent of urban Chinese consumers report eating ice cream as a dessert this year, compared to just over one in four (28 percent) who said the same two years ago.

 Overall, the ice cream market in China has seen a decline in retail volume, with a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of -1.6 percent between 2014 and 2016. However, the total retail market value is on the rise due to consumers trading up for new formats and flavours.

 Better-for-you options are among the more popular premium features; 59 percent of urban Chinese consumers are willing to buy ice cream products that feature a ‘100 percent natural/no additive’ claim, especially among soft-serve ice cream users (68 percent). What’s more, consumers aged 30-39 say they are willing to pay more for ‘100 percent natural/no additive’ products (65 percent compared to 59 percent of consumers overall).

 Cheryl Ni, Food and Drink analyst at Mintel said, “Urban Chinese consumers are paying more attention to their health, while still looking for opportunities for indulgence, which should not be compromised. Given the fact that more consumers today are eating ice cream as a snack or a dessert at home compared to previous years, family-size tubs or multipack offerings will have further opportunities. Also, there is scope for ice cream to be positioned as ‘mood food’, allowing consumers—especially the younger generations—the ability to soothe life’s stresses away as they indulge in a treat while paying a premium price for it.”

 Meanwhile, declining consumption appears in both retail and non-retail channels. Mintel research indicates that the percentage of ice cream non-users has risen from 4 percent in 2012 to 11 percent in 2017. In all, purchases at retail channels (net) (76 percent) is lower than non-retail channels (net) (93 percent), with the number of urban Chinese consumers who bought ice cream from supermarkets/hypermarkets declining from 85 percent in 2012 to 52 percent in 2017. Similar declines can be seen at grocery retailers, which dropped from 42 percent to 12 percent in the same time period.

 All that said, the market has experienced significant growth in online channels, including online brand stores (eg. official store in Tmall), increasing from 3 percent to 16 percent between 2012 and 2017. Mintel research indicates that this growth is driven by high earners** who are more likely to be fans of online channels (23 percent).

 “Shopping for ice cream products from online retailers is usually more expensive given the cost of cold chain delivery. However, we are seeing a growing number of imported ice cream brands available in online stores, providing more premium choices for consumers with a higher spending power,” she noted.

 More Chinese consumers in tier one cities claim to eat packaged ice cream as a snack during their leisure time, especially those located in Shanghai (57 percent vs 49 percent of consumers overall). On the different occasions for eating ice cream that is made on-the-spot, consumers in Shanghai show a higher interest in this format when they are hanging out (54 percent, compared to a total 47 percent) or when they are craving something sweet (41 percent, compared to a total 34 percent). When it comes to location, ice cream parlours, dessert shops and coffee shops seem to be their favourite spots for eating ice cream.

 Finally, it appears that young urban Chinese consumers aged 20-24 are particularly interested in value-added features, such as ‘edible containers that taste good’ (42 percent), ‘customised flavours/shapes’ (35 percent) and ‘innovative packaging’ (33 percent). Products with clean label claims and added nutrition will encourage trading up in this category. In the meantime, healthier versions should not compromise indulgence, especially for tier one Chinese consumers.

 “The shift in consumption occasions redefines the ice cream market which is no longer an alternative to a cooling drink, but an indulgent treat that can bring a sense of enjoyment and happiness. Consumers in tier one cities prefer healthy versions of ice cream, but they don’t want to compromise on enjoyment, and this is why manufacturers should optimise recipes to achieve a balance of both,” Ni concluded.

Avocados on the Brain

Tufts University released results of a study linking eating avocados to helping improve cognitive brain function in older adults, news especially relevant to Hispanics who have been found to have the longest life expectancy rate in the U.S.1  Published in the journal Nutrients and supported by the USDA and the Hass Avocado Board, the research tracked how 40 healthy adults ages 50 and over who ate one fresh avocado a day for six months experienced a 25 percent increase in lutein levels in their eyes and significantly improved working memory and problem-solving skills.

Lutein is a type of carotenoid antioxidant, or pigment, commonly found in fruits and vegetables already widely accepted to have a role in preserving eye health and now increasingly thought to have a positive impact on brain health as well. As study participants incorporated one medium avocado into their daily diet, researchers monitored gradual growth in the amount of lutein in their eyes and progressive improvement in cognition skills as measured by tests designed to evaluate memory, processing speed and attention levels. In contrast, the control group which did not eat avocados experienced fewer improvements in cognitive health during the study period.

“The results of this study suggest that the monounsaturated fats, fiber, lutein and other bioactives make avocados particularly effective at enriching neural lutein levels, which may provide benefits for not only eye health, but for brain health,” said Elizabeth Johnson, Ph.D., lead investigator of the study from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, at Tufts University. “Furthermore, the results of this new research reveal that macular pigment density more than doubled in subjects that consumed fresh avocados, compared to a supplement, as evidenced by my previous published research. Thus, a balanced diet that includes fresh avocados may be an effective strategy for cognitive health.”

“Tuft’s findings that eating avocados is linked to a positive impact on memory is one more reason to enjoy healthy avocados daily. It’s especially good news for Hispanic households where avocados are already so popular and older generations are culturally central to the core family unit,” said Emiliano Escobedo, Executive Director of the Hass Avocado Board. “More research is needed in different populations with different amounts of avocado to better understand the connection between avocados and brain health.” 

According to a Recent Study/Survey … End-of-August 2017 Edition posted first on happyhourspecialsyum.blogspot.com

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2017 hajj packages from USA

2017 hajj packages from USA

Book your hajj packages 2017 nowadays with us. We have exclusive 2017 hajj packages from USA available. Maximize every minute of your enjoy by leaving us to make certain that you have that memorable as soon as in a lifetime religious adventure. Our Express NON SHIFTING applications keep you at your step of the maramtravel at some stage in your tour allowing you to awareness completely at the…

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A Ray of Light

http://umrahexperts.co.uk/blog/2017/04/06/a-ray-of-light/

A Ray of Light: The incident that I am going to discuss today was a life changing incident for me as it completely changed my life. I used to be a very modern person who had all the habits that a person have these days such as wasting time in useless activities and not offering prayers five times a day, backbiting of others, lying to others if required just so that I could get all the benefits that I could get, and many more bad habits like these. To conclude, there was not a single bad habit that I didn’t have and the interesting thing is that I was not even embarrassed about these bad habit that I used to possess. Never had I felt any guilt in my heart after committing any sin and never did I apologize to my Lord who is the most Merciful and forgive his followers if the ask for mercy.

[umrahexperts-blog]

On the other hand, if the case is severe than there is no point of living in a filthy relation for example if a husband is extremely abusing his wife physically and mentally then she should not face that abuse at any cost. Also, if the wife has done an extreme mistake like cheating her husband with another man, then obviously the husband has all the rights to separate himself from such a relation by giving divorce. Apart from these severe cases, some little misunderstandings can always be sorted out. I remember one of my friend was having troubles in her married life. Her husband used to love her a lot but somehow he was unable to stop all the fights which were making their relation worse day by day. Finally they both decided to make their paths separate and file for divorce. Before giving divorce, husband said to my friend that it was his last wish to offer Umrah with her, for the very last time as a married couple.

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Jinns have been mentioned in the Quran several times. According to the Ayaat of Quran, man is made from clay and water but the Jinns are made from fire. All these Ayaat cannot be denied in any case, not because Muslims blindly follow it, but because they have been scientifically proven by facts as well. According to the famous translator of Quran Yousaf Ali, Quran says in note 929 that Jinn is simply a spirit or a secret force which can’t be seen. In the renowned book Arabian Nights, it has been mentioned that Jinns can take different forms and can come in front of us in these different forms in such a way that we might not be able to recognize them. Also, it has been mentioned in Quran that Jinns are created from smoke. These Jinns live in their own secret hidden world and don’t usually interact with humans unless their territory has been disturbed by these humans. Just like humans have good and bad individuals among them, same is the case with Jinns as well. There are both good and bad type of Jinns. Some Jinns are so pious that they help human beings in the best way possible. On the other hand, some Jinns irritate human beings and give them harm as well.

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Importance of Shahadah in Islam

http://adeelgrewal.skyrock.com/3292312596-Importance-of-Shahadah-in-Islam.html

The base of Islam lies on the whole concept of Shahadah. Shahadah means that the Muslims believes that Allah is the only Lord of the whole universe and that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last messenger of Allah Almighty. This concept of Shahadah has many further sub concepts. First of all if you accept that Allah is the only Lord of the whole universe than you never even think about worshiping for anyone else no matter what happens. Not only that you don't worship any one, but also you don't ask for anything from anyone. It means that all your desires and wishes should only be attached with Allah alone.

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How to Treat Others in Islam

http://umrahandhajjtravel.blogspot.com/2017/04/how-to-treat-others-in-islam.html

Islam has provided the best guidance to Muslims in each single matter of life. There is not a single issue whose solution is not in either Quran or in Hadith. Allah has clearly mentioned the ways of treating others righteously in Islam. It is the responsibility of Muslims that they should follow the golden rules of Islam if they want to please Allah Almighty. When it comes to treating others, then our behavior towards our parents and elderly people is considered highly significant in Islam. Parents holds such great importance that it has been often seen that people perform Haj-e-Badal from the side of their parents by availing the amazing packages like Luxury Non Shifting Hajj Packages For Muslims in London. This Haj-e-Badal is either done in the lifetime of their parents if they are sold and feeble, and not in a healthy and stable state toperform Hajj. It can also be performed when the parents have died and have given any will that the children should perform Hajj after their death. It has been mentioned in Quran that we should do good to parents and if anyone of them reach an old age don’t say bad thing to them as they helped you in growing up when you were a child.

[umrahexperts-blog]

There is a famous saying that you should be grateful to your enemies more than your friends because they are the ones who make you realize how strong you are and how much capability you have to deal with the tough situations. Sometimes, people are not aware of the fact that their so called friends are also their enemies who are nice to them on their face but are stabbing their back constantly. When it comes to the religion of Islam, it has also given the golden rules and principles through which we should lead our life in a good manner. Since Islam has given us the commands related to all the aspects of life, then how is it possible that it would not have said anything related to the behavior towards enemies?

[umrahexperts-blog]

Haj-e-Badal means that if a person is financially stable enough but not in a healthy state physically or mentally, then that person sends another person on his behalf to perform the obligation of Hajj through his money. Also, some people mention in their will that if they die, then one of their relative perform hajj on their behalf with their left money. Many questions has aroused on the issue of hajj-e-Badal and various scholars give different answer to the question. These days it has become a fashion to perform the hajj more than once even if the person on whose behalf you are about to perform hajj has not given any statement in his will. But still people continue to perform hajj each year in the name of their relatives because they have enough money to do so. Many scholars don’t allow Muslims to perform Haj-e-Badal because Hajj is obligatory only on those who are financially and physically stable enough. It has been mentioned in Quran that no one else will bear the problem for another person and there is nothing present for a person accept the thing for which he struggle for. In the light of this Ayat, if someone is unable to perform the Hajj then Allah has not made it compulsory for him to perform it and he should not tell the other person to perform on his behalf. Each year many people avail the packages like Luxury Hotels Non Shifting Hajj Package with tickets to perform the holy obligation of Hajj either for themselves or for someone else. It is recommended to such people that they should perform it for themselves and if they have done Hajj once, then instead of doing it twice they should help a needy person in performing Hajj.