Free Your 2017 Menus Advises Almondy

With the latest free-from research revealing that more than a quarter of Brits now regularly buy free-from products^{^} Almondy is encouraging caterers to give their 2017 menus a free-from make-over.

The special diets market is showing no signs of slowing down and with a growing number of consumers buying free-from, the Swedish bakery is advising operators not to underestimate the profitability of what was a niche market, which has moved into the mainstream in the last decade.

Andrew Ely, Managing Director, Almondy explains: “The latest research is in line with Almondy’s own annual free-from report* which showed that three quarters of people have bought a gluten-free product in the last 12 months and over a third have bought lactose-free – the demand is substantial and it will continue into 2017.

“The fact is, in the eleven years Almondy has been supplying the UK foodservice market, free-from has gone from strength to strength. No longer driven by health reasons alone, consumers are buying free-from as a general lifestyle choice – especially millennials*, who are a key demographic when it comes to eating out. There is also a greater understanding and awareness around intolerances in general, not just by consumers but by operators following the changes to the allergen legislation as well. All this has led to a burgeoning market that shows no signs of slowing down as we look ahead to a new year.”

With 2017 just weeks away, savvy operators who introduce more free-from options – including gluten-free, as well as hotly tipped lactose-free – will stand to profit.

Andrew comments: “Not catering for a special dietary request can have a serious impact on an operation’s bottom line. In fact our own research shows that similar to vegetarians, someone with an intolerance such as coeliac disease will influence where a whole party eats out, so you won’t just be losing one person’s custom.

“While the gluten-free market continues to be buoyant, we’re predicting lactose-free to grow in demand in the year ahead, particularly as lactose is the most common cause of dairy intolerances and recent research revealed that 72% of people would like to see more lactose-free options on menus when eating out*. Operators who take free-from seriously in 2017 will be rewarded.”

One way of updating menus and appealing to both gluten-free and lactose-free cake fans is with Almondy’s range of confectionery inspired cakes. The dedicated foodservice range includes a gluten and lactose free Creamy Chocolate with Roasted Almonds, which comes frozen and precut for accurate portion control, with each slice taking just 20 minutes to defrost. Almondy’s high quality and great tasting gluten-free range includes the globally bestselling Daim Cake, Toblerone Cake, as well as a Peanut & Caramel version, and is the convenient way to expand free-from dessert offerings in the year ahead.

^ Harris Interactive November 2016 * Toluna/Almondy April 2016

To find out more about Almondy please call 01604 858 522 or visit www.almondy.com/en