Factors influencing intention to adopt halal certificate among small and medium enterprises (food and beverage) in Perlis

The rising demand for Halal-certified products, driven by religious and lifestyle preferences, has placed increasing pressure on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the food and beverage industry to comply with Halal standards. Despite this, many SMEs in Malaysia remain hesitant to adopt Halal certification, particularly in less urbanised regions such as Perlis. This study aims to investigate the determinants influencing SMEs’ intention to adopt Halal certification among SME owners in Perlis by employing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). This study employed a quantitative method, where a questionnaire was utilised as a method in data collection to examine the relationship between the attitude of SME owners, consumers’ lifestyle, and perceived behavioral control with intention to adopt Halal certification. The sample size consists of 80 active SMEs owners of food and beverage in Perlis. All data collection was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 29. The findings of this study indicate that the attitude of SME owners, consumers’ lifestyle, and perceived behavioral control have a significant relationship with the intention to adopt Halal certification among SMEs (food and beverage) in Perlis. Thus, all of the hypotheses were supported in the adoption of Halal certification. Finally, the limitations and future research direction are briefly outlined. It is hoped that the results from this study will provide some guidelines for marketers, food producers, and relevant Malaysian statutory bodies. This is particularly true in improving policy and mechanisms to encourage SMEs owners in Malaysia to adopt Halal certification and embrace a better Halal concept in the near future.