Spain: Murcian breeders innovate with “halal” ham

Nestled in the arid region of Murcia in Spain, a family sheep farming operation is reinventing itself by offering a unique range of halal charcuterie products. José Juan Sánchez Martínez and his partner José Miguel Piñero Guillén, both in their forties, transformed their traditional breeding of 1,200 sheep into an innovative business: La Dehesa de Gaia.

Their innovation? Halal charcuterie products made from lamb, including ham, chorizo ​​and sausage, marketed between 50 and 60 euros per kilo. A first in a market traditionally dominated by pork and beef.

This reconversion was not without challenges. “It was a real entrepreneurial journey,” says José Miguel. “We had to train ourselves in charcuterie techniques, multiply trials to obtain the ideal texture, and invest a lot of time and money before achieving the desired quality.”

“We wanted to create our own niche rather than competing with traditional charcutiers,” explains Piñero Guillén. Their production scrupulously respects halal standards: natural breeding without hormones and certified ritual slaughter. The company, launched in 2022, exports mainly to France and supplies Spanish halal shops. With a potential market of 50 million consumers in Europe, including 4 million in Spain, these entrepreneurs are already planning to expand their range with new products such as butifarra (fresh sausage made from ground meat) and sobrasada (raw cold cuts and spicy with paprika and black pepper).