The market for gluten-free products grew by almost 15% in the past year, new data shows.

Gluten-free sales reached £120m.2m in the year to 26 December 2010, up 14.8% year on year [Kantar Worldpanel]. Branded sales were up 17%, with own-label sales up by more than 9% over the period.

“It’s great to see the market continuing to grow at such a rapid pace,” said Emma Herring of free-from supplier DS Gluten Free, which commissioned the research. “Relatively new entries into the market, such as the M&S free-from range, have helped grow the market.”

She added: “This is going to be another exciting year for the gluten-free sector. With one in 100 people in the UK now thought to have coeliac disease, and many others deciding to follow a gluten-free diet for lifestyle reasons, there’s real potential for continued and significant sector growth.”

Read more
Focus On Cereals: Gluten-free brands wake up to free-from demand (15 January 2011)
A gluten-free cereal kids can Munch (8 January 2011)
Genius push buoys Finsbury performance (30 November 2010)
Warburtons shows off new free-from range (27 November 2010)

Related event
FoodNavigator: Allergen-Free Foods 2011 (31 March 2011 - Royal Garden Hotel, London)