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Spectator
25-06-2025
- Business
- Spectator
Is your restaurant halal?
Dos Mas Tacos opened recently next to Spitalfields Market, one of London's trendiest and busiest areas. Two beef birria tacos cost £11.50; two mushroom vegano are £10.50; a 'can-o-water' is £2.50. But look a little closer at their menu, and something jumps out: no pork and no alcohol. You'd expect a carnitas option at a taqueria, and you'd want a Corona with it. You can't get either at Dos Mas Tacos. Huh? Or maybe hmm. I came across the place on TikTok, via a video of the two founders, Rupert and Charlie Avery, outside their shop. They're well-heeled lads, twins with posh accents. They used to work in the superyacht industry. 'Hey everyone!' one brother says. 'Just to let you guys all know' – in the classic TikTok singsong tone – 'we definitely don't have any pork in our kitchen, as well as no alcohol in the kitchen as well.' They gesture towards the 'comments we've been having'. The other brother then proudly shows the camera their halal butchers' certificate, which is approved by Muslim clerics. 'This is where we buy all of our meat from, so again, just to clarify that as well!' I read the comments. 'Everyone tag this place and go. Support these guys. W [Win] Birria Tacos,' reads one, which has 6,421 likes. Not everyone is positive. 'No thanks mate – definitely will not be coming back'; 'Defo won't eat here then'; 'Look forward to reading Dos Mas Tacos is in receivership'; 'Another reason to avoid' (2,420 likes). On the face of it, Dos Mas Tacos's decision is curious. Here are two British chaps serving a typically non-halal cuisine in a country and city where most people do not follow halal. Yet there is clearly a demand for it, driven by social media reviews. I've been noticing similar stories around London. In 2023, the most popular opening in Soho was Supernova, a French-run joint that served smashburgers. After about a year, it went 'finally halal' and gained even more TikTok traffic. The longest queue I've seen outside a London restaurant was for Swiss Butter in Holborn. The menu didn't seem special. It was just steak frites, but halal. Last year, the Noodle Inn arrived in Soho, serving northern Chinese cuisine. There were long queues for this too, and it's still immensely popular, but there seems to have been resistance to it not serving halal. An Instagram story from its account last week read: 'FYI Please note: We are not currently halal, but it is something we are actively working towards. Thank you for understanding.' Had Noodle Inn been getting 'comments', too? Let's try to understand why so many restaurants are going halal. Well, from a commercial point of view, why wouldn't you? Even in 2016, it accounted for 8 per cent of the UK's total food and drink spend. Clearly that has risen since then. Fifteen per cent of London's population is Muslim, a figure which is also growing. And halal customers eat more meat per capita than other people. While Muslims make up 6.5 per cent of Britain's population, they account for 30 per cent of lamb eaten in England alone. Running a restaurant isn't easy these days, so why would you deliberately lose customers by serving food they won't eat? Especially as many customers who aren't Muslim won't even notice if a restaurant is halal. James Chiavarini, who owns Il Portico and La Palombe in Kensington, tells me: 'If your business model is lowest common denominator, and it's high volume, high turnover, then it makes sense to go halal. Whereas the food that I do, I try to be a little more curated and elevated. I can't do lowest common denominator, I'm crap at it.' More places than you'd think serve halal meat. Most of London's fried chicken shops – including the popular chains Wingstop and Slim Chickens – are entirely halal. So are a fifth of Nando's branches. As the company's website says: 'Non-halal meat never enters a halal restaurant: even the chicken livers and prego steak rolls are halal!' Other non-chain examples include Bake Street, a brilliant brunch restaurant in Clapton. It attracts all demographics (including me) with its smashburgers and crème brûlée cookies. Gymkhana in Mayfair, one of only four Indian restaurants in the world with at least two Michelin stars, says on its website that its 'chicken, lamb and goat are halal certified'. Does all this make you queasy? It certainly has that effect on Rupert Lowe, who said in parliament recently: 'We are all eating halal meat without knowing it. I find that morally repugnant. We should ban non-stun slaughter, we should ban halal slaughter and we should ban kosher slaughter.' Kosher, incidentally, does not permit pre-stunning, while 88 per cent of halal meat is from pre-stunned animals. However, of the 30 million non-stunned slaughtered animals last year, 27 million were halal and three million were kosher. Lowe wants a full ban, the favourite national solution to things we don't like. Others prefer labelling, which seems fair. If Boris Johnson imposed calorie counts on restaurant menus, then customers are at least entitled to know if their food is halal. Let's remember, though, that we don't think rationally or consistently about this sort of stuff: consider the poor piggies gassed for bacon, the non-dairy calves snuffed out in days for their uselessness, the quail necks we snap, the chickens stunned agonisingly slowly in electric water baths. Halal is an easy target, but so much about the way animals live and die in this country, particularly ones bred for our chain restaurants, is grim. Eating less but better meat from restaurants or butchers is an obvious way forward, but then an awful hangover occasionally prescribes a sub-tenner fry-up for all of us. We are flawed etc. As I read the TikTok comments, I also think this: pressuring a restaurant to conform to your culinary wishes is strange. If it is not halal, you can go elsewhere – particularly in London, where there are 40,000 places to eat out, many of which are exclusively halal. And if a restaurant goes that way for commercial reasons, that also betrays a strange, slightly fearful attitude to hospitality. So here's my advice to restaurants: ignore the comments and do what you want. The customer isn't always right.
DW
20-06-2025
- Business
- DW
Niger to nationalize French share in uranium company Somair – DW – 06/20/2025
Niger's militia junta has stated a list of grievances with the French company Orano, which owns a controlling stake in one of its largest uranium mines. Niger's ruling junta militia announced plans to nationalize Somair — a unit of the French uranium company Orano, on Thursday, escalating tensions between the two nations. "Faced with the irresponsible, illegal and disloyal behavior of Orano, a company owned by the French state, a state openly hostile to Niger, Niger has decided, in all sovereignty, to nationalize Somair," the junta said in a statement read on Niger's national television. The decision comes amid a deepening rift between Paris and Niamey after a deterioration in 2023 when the military junta staged a coup to take over Niger. As a result, France had pulled back its troops from the Sahel nation. France grapples with waning influence in West Africa To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Why is Niger nationalizing a French-run venture? Orano — which is itself 90% owned by the French state — holds a 63% stake in Somair. The rest of the uranium venture is controlled by Niger's state-run Sopamin. Orano has operated uranium mines in Niger for decades but was shut out of its operations in three key mines in 2024 following a coup that saw a sharp rise in anti-French sentiment in the former French colony. Niger possesses some of the world's largest uranium deposits. The French company has been pursuing legal means to regain operational control of Somair, claiming the state's actions have been damaging the mine's finances. In May, The Financial Times reported that the company was also exploring options to sell off its stake in the venture. Edited by: Alex Berry
Business Insider
06-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Canadian mining firm shifts investment focus to Guinea after Burkina Faso exit
Canadian miner Fortuna Mining is shifting its focus to Guinea, marking a strategic realignment in West Africa following its exit from Burkina Faso. Fortuna Mining is shifting its focus to Guinea after exiting Burkina Faso due to security risks and regulatory changes. The company is exploring opportunities in Guinea's gold sector through site visits and engagement with local authorities. West Africa's mining dynamics are changing, with countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger revising mining codes to increase state control. Canadian miner Fortuna Mining is shifting its focus to Guinea, marking a strategic realignment in West Africa following its exit from Burkina Faso amid rising security risks and regulatory uncertainty. CEO Jorge Ganoza disclosed the development to Reuters, noting that while Fortuna currently has no operations in Guinea, it is actively exploring opportunities in the country's gold sector through site visits and engagement with local authorities. West Africa's shifting mining landscape The move reflects how international miners are adapting to the shifting dynamics in West Africa. Since 2020, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have experienced military coups and are now revising their mining codes to increase state control over foreign-owned industrial mines. In Mali, authorities have detained foreign executives and seized gold inventories amid tense negotiations with mining companies. In one notable case, Canadian miner Barrick Gold halted operations after the government confiscated three metric tons of gold worth approximately $245 million in January. In Niger, the military government took control of a French-run uranium facility in December 2024, while Burkina Faso announced plans last month to tighten its grip on foreign-owned industrial mines in a bid to boost state revenues from natural resources. Fortuna exited Burkina Faso last month by selling its Yaramoko gold mine to a private local firm for $130 million. While the sale reduces its gold output by about 70,000 ounces annually, Ganoza said the offer was compelling, given the mine's declining reserves and rising operational risks. Security costs in Burkina Faso had ballooned to $7 million per year due to the jihadist threat, he added, and reached just $200,000 to $300,000 in other countries. Fortuna's exit follows similar moves by other miners, including Endeavour Mining, which also pulled out of Burkina Faso last year. Despite the risks in the region, Fortuna is increasing its global exploration and project development budget to $51 million in 2025, up from $41 million in 2024.
Straits Times
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Buy American? No thanks, Europe says, as tariff backlash grows
On a French-run 'Boycott USA!' Facebook channel with 31,000 members, people boast about buying Adidas, a German brand, over Nike. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG Buy American? No thanks, Europe says, as tariff backlash grows PARIS – For motorcycle lovers in Sweden, Harley-Davidson is the hottest brand on the road. Jack Daniel's whiskey beckons from the bar at British pubs. In France, Levi's jeans are all about chic. But in the tumult of US President Donald Trump's trade war with Europe, many European consumers are starting to avoid US products and services in what appears to be a decisive and potentially long-term shift away from buying American, according to a new assessment by the European Central Bank. In April, Mr Trump imposed a 10 per cent blanket tariff on America's trading partners and threatened 'reciprocal tariffs' on many of those, including the European Union. Companies like Tesla and McDonald's are seeing customers in Europe put off by 'Made in America.' 'The newly imposed US trade tariffs on European products are causing European consumers to think twice about what's in their shopping cart,' the ECB wrote in a blog post about its research on consumer behaviour. 'Consumers are very willing to actively move away from US products and services.' Europeans had already begun testing grassroots boycotts on American products, including Heinz ketchup and Lay's potato chips, shortly after Mr Trump took office. His threats to take over Greenland, part of Denmark, energised Danes to organise no-buy campaigns on Facebook. Tesla owners in Sweden slapped 'shame' bumper stickers on their cars to distance themselves from Mr Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO who is one of Mr Trump's top advisers. But Europeans' anguish over Mr Trump's treatment of America's longtime allies has hardened as he has moved to rewire world trade with steep global tariffs, the central bank found. MrTrump took particular aim at the European Union, which he called 'very, very bad to us' for not buying more from the United States, and threatened the bloc with a 20 per cent 'reciprocal' tariff in April. Such talk bewildered many Europeans and rattled EU leaders, who retaliated with a 25 per cent duty on many US goods. Both sides called a temporary truce after Mr Trump abruptly reversed course and delayed tariffs until the summer. But the 10 per cent baseline tariff is still in place, and a trans-Atlantic trade war could easily flare again. And even if a trade deal is reached, Europe's newfound wariness of its longtime ally will not easily be unwound. The ECB study found that even if a mere 5 per cent tax was placed on American products sold in Europe, Europeans would be inclined to shun them. What is new, the central bank said, is a 'preference' among European consumers 'to move away from US products and brands altogether,' no matter what the cost. That was the case even for households that could bear the brunt of higher prices. 'Even though they could afford more expensive US products and services, they consciously choose alternatives,' the bank said. 'This suggests that consumers' reactions may not just be a temporary response to tariff increases, but instead signal a possible long-term structural shift in consumer preferences away from US products and brands.' In Germany and Italy, developers have created apps that scan grocery and clothing items for people who want to make sure they are not buying American. The top app, BrandSnap, even suggests European alternatives. On a French-run 'Boycott USA!' Facebook channel with 31,000 members, people boast about buying Adidas, a German brand, over Nike and New Balance, and post stories about avoiding travel to the United States. In a Danish Facebook group with 95,000 members, people try to help each other figure out if products like Gillette Mach 3 razor blades or Schweppes soda are from the United States. One run from Sweden promotes alternatives to Airbnb and is calling for a European boycott on Meta platforms for a week in May. Europeans have also posted online to say they have begun cancelling subscriptions to US streaming giants, including Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. Some consumers who have boycotted Amazon have gone online to lament that delivery from alternate e-commerce platforms in their countries is slower or less reliable but say that they are staying the course. Millions of people still buy American goods and services worldwide, but US companies and investors are keeping a close eye on international markets for signs of anti-American sentiment related to Mr Trump's policies. In Europe, Tesla sales continued a sharp decline in April, data showed, including an 81 per cent plunge in Sweden from a year earlier, as protests against Mr Musk's political views held steady. And McDonald's said it was observing growing negative attitudes abroad toward US brands, especially in Northern Europe and Canada. International consumers are 'going to be cutting back their purchase of American brands, and we've seen an uptick in anti-American sentiment,' the burger chain's CEO, Mr Chris Kempczinski, said in a call with analysts last week. The McDonald's brand does not seem to have been damaged yet – same-store sales in Canada and Europe were down only 1 per cent in the first quarter from a year earlier. But there is an '8- to a 10-point increase in anti-American sentiment,' he said. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Canada: Fortuna eyes Guinea investments after Burkina Faso exit, CEO says
DAKAR: Canada's Fortuna Mining is eyeing expansion into Guinea after exiting Burkina Faso, where it faced regulatory instability and high security costs because of jihadist threats, its CEO told Reuters. Fortuna, which is not currently established in Guinea, is looking for gold mining opportunities there, conducting site visits and meeting with authorities, Ganoza said. "We find Guinea to be a place we would invest today," Jorge Ganoza said by video call. A portion of the mining company's growing exploration budget will go to Guinea where "there is a lot of room for discovery", he said. The comments highlight how mining companies are responding to the changing landscape in West Africa, where military-run governments are revising mining codes while struggling to mitigate the threat posed by jihadists. Burkina Faso and its neighbours Mali and Niger have all seen military officers seize power in coups since 2020. The new leaders have introduced new mining codes to increase local control over the sector while sometimes deploying hardball tactics. Malian authorities have arrested foreign executives and seized gold stocks amid negotiations with mining companies in recent months. Niger in December seized a French-run uranium site, while Burkina Faso's junta last month vowed to take control of more foreign-owned industrial mines. Guinea, which borders Mali to the southwest, is also led by a military government - coup leader Mamady Doumbouya seized power in 2021 - but does not face the same jihadist threats. Its government has not revised its mining code, but has put pressure on foreign firms including by threatening their licences if they fail to meet a tight construction deadline for the giant Simandou iron ore deposit. "We don't see the same situations as we see today in Mali or Burkina Faso or Niger," Ganoza said. BURKINA EXIT Fortuna announced last month it was exiting Burkina Faso with the sale of the Yaramoko gold mine to a private local company for $130 million. Though Fortuna expects to lose approximately 70,000 ounces of gold from the sale, according to Ganoza, he said the deal was "a very compelling offer" given the mine's low reserves. Insecurity from jihadist attacks had driven the company's annual security costs to as much as $7 million, Ganoza said. In other jurisdictions he said such costs are between $200,000 and $300,000. Fortuna had been forced to operate on "a complete fly-in, fly-out basis for all personnel", with ground transportation too dangerous, Ganoza said. He added that Burkina Faso's government was "pricing themselves out of the market" by demanding state participation in mining firms as high as 30% in the revised mining code adopted in July 2024. Fortuna's retreat from Burkina Faso follows competitor Endeavour's exit last year. Globally, Fortuna is investing $51 million in exploration and project development this year, up from $41 million in 2024, Ganoza said. In addition to Guinea, he said there will be a heavy focus on Senegal's Diamba Sud gold project and expanding operations in Ivory Coast, where Fortuna's flagship Seguela gold mine is located. (Reporting by Maxwell Akalaare Adombila; Editing by Portia Crowe, Robbie Corey-Boulet and Jan Harvey)
