Ep 31 Purest Gluten Free

Let’s start the blog with the Show Notes for this episode:
I spoke with Val from Purest Gluten Free located in Perth, Ontario which is mid-way between Ottawa and Kingston. Purest supplies single ingredients flours and baking products along with mixes. All of their products are free of the top allergens. They are currently available in many health food stores and recently have begun to be carried by Walmart.
You can also find many products on Amazon Canada for delivery anywhere in Canada.
Their website is: https://purest.ca/

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast – acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – acanadianceliacblog.com
Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast
Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Baking Website – suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
(search Sues Gluten Free Baking)
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

My Thoughts –

I was fortunate to operate a gluten free business when most of the businesses making similar products in Eastern Canada were relatively small. I knew most of the players and respected their efforts. We were like a small club. I operated my bakery for over 10 years, and it has been 3 years since the bakery closed. In those 13 years, the gluten free industry in Canada and the world has changed drastically.

Some of my competitors were bought out by larger companies, some, like my bakery closed for a variety of reasons, and others are still going. Of the ones still going, like Purest, adjustments or pivots have been made.

Thirteen years ago, no one could have predicted that gluten free would be so widely known and recognized. Gluten Free has penetrated every type of food, whether baked or convenience. I think the biggest change is the willingness of large companies to incorporate at the very least a gluten free option in their list of products. Some companies have gone all in, making a whole range of products that meet our gluten free standards.

I appreciate that companies are not participating because they want to please us, but rather as a sound business decision. They recognize that we are a force, not large, but consistent in the market.

The explosion of social media is being closely watched as a market indicator. I’ve been surprised just how many people want to identify as celiac and gluten free on Instagram and in Facebook groups.

The takeaway for food companies, both the ones that were around 13 years ago and the new kids on the block is that we have a variety of needs. Those eating gluten free are from a wide range of ethic groups and varied tastes. The common desire for both the food producers and the consumers is gluten free first – meet or exceed government regulations for gluten content, and make food that tastes good. This may not sound like a tall order, but compared to the grocery shelves 13 years ago, it’s really something to celebrate. I am happy to support the strong gluten free food industry in Canada.