SIMONE BAROKE
Euromonitor International

Abstract

Retail value sales of gluten-free food hit US$3.3 billion globally in 2015. A decade ago, in 2005, it was just under US$1 billion. Surely, such outstanding dynamism can’t possibly last. Or can it? Global business intelligence provider Euromonitor International makes the case that gluten-free eating is not hurtling towards stagnation, but still expanding its reach, particularly in the convenience, indulgence and breakfast categories.

Retail value sales of gluten-free food hit US$3.3 billion globally in 2015. A decade ago, in 2005, it was just under US$1 billion. Surely, such outstanding dynamism can’t possibly last. Or can it? Global business intelligence provider Euromonitor International makes the case that gluten-free eating is not hurtling towards stagnation, but still expanding its reach, particularly in the convenience, indulgence and breakfast categories. Also, since coeliac disease remains widely under-diagnosed and diagnostic methods are expected to become more patient-friendly in the future, continued demand for a gluten-free offering is assured in the medium to long term.

WESTERN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA GENERATE THE LION’S SHARE
The gluten-free products market has seen enormous change over the last two decades. While years ago, a small rage of basic (and often unappetising) staple items, such as bread and pasta, were available from pharmacies and specialist retailers, nowadays most supermarkets list a wide variety of gluten-free offerings, including their own private label line-up.

Besides strong retailer involvement, the gluten-free boom ha ...