Allergy-safe bakery produces from Ok Foods

The UK's 'free-from' bakery market is benefiting from continuing innovation with the launch of new snacking options from leading niche producer.

Ok Foods manufacturers snacks for consumers unable to eat gluten, wheat or
diary products.
With snackers growing ever more conscious of ingredients and rising numbers of
consumers becoming intolerant to certain foodstuffs, the 'free-from' market is
growing and manufacturers such as Ok Foods are becoming more innovative in
targeting the trend.
Coeliac disease is caused by an intolerance to gluten, the protein found in
wheat, rye and barley, and affects an average of one in 300 people in Europe
and the US. In Germany the figure is higher at one in 200, while the UK reports
a figure of one in 100.
Market research firm Mintel show the UK's free-from food market was worth
around £90 million (€131m) in 2005 with gluten/wheat free products forming the
largest sector at 54 per cent of value sales.

Now, Ok Foods has launched two new products to provide
wheat, gluten and dairy-free on-the-go snack options. The company's Mini bites
– available in Fruit, Nut and Chocolate or Flapjack style – are suitable for
vegetarians and those suffering from Coeliac disease. In addition to the Mini
bites range, Ok Foods has launched Cherry & Coconut and Cranberry &
Raisin fingers to appeal to the pre-summer weight management market.