Streaky Lamb Macon is made in the UK, using thin strips of cured meat that are smoked using British beechwood and available in 100g packs at a recommended retail price of £1.99. Frankie's Farm told Food Manufacture it was aimed at mainstream consumers and those of Muslim or Jewish faith. It said it hoped to roll the product out to other top supermarkets from August.
A spokesman for the brand said the product was made by a third party, was halal certified and it hoped to follow it up with further new product development within two to three months. "The next range will be a selection of five different Jerky products: two dry and three with sauces. The intention is that they will also be sold via supermarkets and other retailers."
The company suggested its Streaky Lamb Macon could be eaten cold, straight from the pack, or used as a sandwich filling. It could also be heated in a pan in just three to four minutes, or added to pasta dishes, stir-fries, soups, omelettes, salads and quiches.
The product contains no pork or dairy products, is being sold in chilled/halal aisles and is produced under a quality assurance system that is accredited by the British Retail Consortium.
Kosher and halal diets
“The inspiration for Streaky Lamb Macon came from cultural traditions that avoid the use of pork,” said Frankie’s Farm brand manager, Mohsin Sheth. “The concept of macon is very well established and has been used for many years by people adhering to kosher and halal diets.
"The word is a composite of ‘mutton’ and ‘bacon.’ It describes a cured meat that can be used in exactly the same sorts of ways as bacon. In our case, the product has a smoky, slightly salty taste and it comes ready-cut into traditionally-sized rashers.
“It’s been the result of a lot of testing and customer trials, but we’re very happy with the result. It’s ideal for snacking and for use in family meals, and the feedback has been really positive.”
Halal food manufacturer KQF was the first supplier to launch halal beef macon rashers officially certified by the Halal Monitoring Committee in the UK in 2015.