Swiss pastry group a hit with Muslims

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Workers at a Nestle plant in the Swiss town of Wangen bei Olten say a slight recipe change has resulted in sales growth among Islamic customers.

Plant director Walter Leisi said by simply substituting potassium sorbate for alcohol in the company's Leisi-Quick puff pastry, the company has been able to market to a growing number of particular Islamic customers, Der Spiegel said Friday.

While the Swiss factory creates more than 41,000 tons of fresh dough annually, it wasn't until it removed the alcohol from its famed pastry that it appealed to conservative Muslims.

Der Spiegel said an increasing amount of Muslims have begun embracing a strict culinary lifestyle detailed in the Koran that forbids consuming products like alcohol, pork and blood.

So to meet this growing demand, Leisi said his Nestle plant made a slight alteration to its main product and now can appeal to that discerning demographic.

"It's really quite simple," he told Der Spiegel.