DEKALB – A slaughterhouse catering to regional Muslim markets has begun operating in the facility formerly operated by Cavel International.
For about two weeks, USA Zabiha Halal Enterprises Inc. has leased the slaughterhouse from Cavel International which is on Harvestore Drive, just east of South First Street, and has without fanfare begun operations, slaughtering livestock in accordance with Muslim dietary rules.
Shah Aktar, CEO of the Chicago-based USA Zabiha, said his company had operated a similar plant in Ohio but had been actively seeking a new location closer to their customers in Chicago and elsewhere in the Midwest.
The meat is sold to stores and supplied to restaurants in the Midwest that require meat that is halal, meaning it conforms to Islamic rules and is thus fit for consumption by Muslims.
"We liked this site (the former Cavel slaughterhouse) because it was vacant," said Aktar. "It's hard to find acceptable, vacant sites."
While Cavel had slaughtered horses and shipped most of the meat overseas, Aktar said the facility now slaughters only sheep and goats. But he said the business will likely include beef in the future.
However, he said, the operation will likely remain low-key, as animals will be slaughtered only as orders come in.
"It depends on how much is wanted by our customers," Aktar said.
The facility now employs eight to 10 people, depending on demand, he said. Most employees have been hired locally and are non-Muslims, Aktar said.
Cavel International ceased operations at the site in 2007 after an Illinois law banned Cavel's practice of slaughtering horses for human consumption. Cavel challenged the law in court, but was effectively put out of business after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal in June 2008.
The DeKalb slaughterhouse had been the last horse slaughterhouse in operation in the U.S. A phone message left with Cavel attorney J. Philip Calabrese for comment was not immediately returned Monday.
Mike Zima, manager of the DeKalb Sanitary District, said USA Zabiha applied in November for a discharge permit. The permit was granted in December.
"We issued the same permit as Cavel had," Zima said. "It is essentially the same use, just different species and on a smaller scale."
Paul Borek, executive director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corp., said he was pleased to see USA Zabiha begin operations at the former Cavel plant, as his office had attempted unsuccessfully for the last two years to help Cavel market the site.
"A vacant building doesn't do us any good in terms of job creation," Borek said. "So we're glad the building is being productively occupied."