Trends: Gluten-free Market Still Strong in 2011

An increased awareness feeds the gluten-free trend.

Back in 2008, Dr. Alessio Fasano, from the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland, predicted in a speech he gave in our area that the gluten-free market would continue to grow for about five years and then level off. He even mentioned that if we didn't have gluten-free buns at McDonald's (in the U.S.) in five years that we likely never would. The doctor added that he was not suggesting that anyone eat at McDonald's (or not). He just wanted to give a reference about possible growth in the gluten-free market.

According to pretty much every "what's in for 2011" list, gluten-free is again in for this year. This of course, is not surprising to most of us, but these lists are showing up all over the mainstream media. In the recent MSN article "10 Things Your Skin Says About Your Health", dermatitis herpetiformis made the list. It's really wonderful that celiac disease was mentioned in the description as it should have been. As odd as it sounds, I've read mainstream stories about DH that never mentioned celiac disease.

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Industry News: Cupcake Craze Gets Crazier

Cupcake Bakery to Go Public in Merger

Crumbs Bake Shop, the country's largest cupcake chain, will go public through a $66 million merger with an investment company, the 57th Street General Acquisition Corporation.

The deal, announced back in January, gives Crumbs the money to execute its ambitious expansion plans.

The growth plans for Crumbs come as so-called gourmet cupcake shops are proliferating across the country. Sprinkles, based in Los Angeles, began with one location in Beverly Hills and now has seven with plans for three more. Washington is filled with cupcake stores, led by Georgetown Cupcake, whose owners had their own reality show on cable TV. There is also Magnolia Bakery in New York, with three locations and a permanent place in the cupcake canon in part because of a cameo on "Sex and the City."

Continue Reading Here »

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