Regardless of where your company enters the gluten-free buying cycle, Newhope360 and the Gluten Intolerance Group have developed resources to help you succeed in this booming market.

Jessica Rubino, Vice President, Content

April 30, 2013

3 Min Read
How to do better gluten-free business

Ten years ago, “gluten-free” was just becoming an important part of the consumer landscape. Five years ago, even dedicated natural stores struggled to find products that would meet the expectations of customers or provide satisfactory education. A GF bread that actually tasted good and didn’t crumble at the touch? Keep looking. The difference between celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity? Good question. 

Today, a strong spike in demand has redefined this industry. Nearly 1 in 133 Americans has celiac disease—and up to six to seven times more have non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Manufacturers are producing better products and retailers are more dedicated to not only stocking their stores with these products but also to becoming trusted educational resources for their customers.

As this market continues to grow, there’s more opportunity for education and improvements, which was the impetus behind our Gluten-Free Tool Kit—a better-business-focused partnership between Newhope360 and the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG). Though we’re launching it this May, which is Celiac Awareness Month, businesses can—and should—utilize these resources 365 days a year.

Gluten-free business downloads 

For our retail downloads, we pinpointed the key areas where additional resources and information would benefit various companies doing business in the gluten-free space.

Even seemingly simple gluten-free issues—such as defining celiac disease and gluten-sensitivity and understanding the range of potentially gluten-containing ingredients—can be challenging for retailers and their customers.

Our five downloadable PDFs focus on important issues related to category management and customer service to help retailers be that go-to resource for customers—maximizing sales of GF products. Email these to your staff or post them in your offices; use the information to better your stores and educate your customers. Manufacturers, too, will find valuable information about GF products, certification and trends.

Certified Gluten-Free White Paper

Because the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t currently define or regulate use of “gluten-free” on products, certification has become a critical element to assuring customers that a product is, in fact, free from gluten. If you’re a manufacturer considering gluten-free certification (of any product, including personal care and supplements, in addition to food and beverage), this information-packed white paper is the perfect place to learn more.

Live Events and Education 

Stay tuned: Over the course of the month, we’re continuing this conversation. As part of our #naturalchat series, join us for a Twitter chat on May 14, where we’ll cover the most relevant issues related to gluten-free—from product trends to health information. Then on May 30, we’re inviting anyone wanting to do better business in the gluten-free market to attend our live webinar that will help you better understand the GF customer.

About the Gluten Intolerance Group

The Gluten Intolerance Group of North America offers support and education for the gluten-free community through more than 80 local branches, educational bulletins, industry and social programs and more community outreach. Through its Gluten-Free Certification Organization, it also provides affordable certification services to manufacturers of gluten-free products.

Learn more about GIG. 

 

 

 

 

About the Author(s)

Jessica Rubino

Vice President, Content, New Hope Network

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