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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
The gluten-free industry in the United States is thriving right now. Last year it amounted to more than $6 billion. This could be because the incidence of Celiac disease has increased dramatically. It now affects 3 million Americans, or 1 in 133 people.
As someone with Celiac disease, Chaton (shuh-tohn) Fife has appreciated the increase of gluten-free products. The problem she discovered is that it usually costs more than regular food, and there's no guarantee that what you buy will taste good. So, she and her husband, Rodney, decided to do something about this and created The Gluten Free Consumer.
The Gluten Free Consumer is designed to be the Consumer Report for gluten-free products. It's a monthly publication that includes reviews of gluten-free products, recipes and articles all dedicated to this lifestyle. Just a few months ago, the November issue included an entire Thanksgiving spread made without gluten.
Launched last year, Rodney and Chaton say The Gluten Free Consumer is really taking off. They've been bombarded with manufacturers sending their products for review, and consumers love having a resource to help them live gluten-free, which can be overwhelming. They have their fingers on the pulse of what customers want and have already implemented changes to the magazine based upon feedback. They're also creating a forum on their website for people to ask questions, share recipes or offer advice on living with any type of gluten allergy.
One of the major success factors for this business is their approach to business. Instead of operating from a business plan, they're using a business model instead. This has been crucial in growing The Gluten Free Consumer, especially since it's evolving so rapidly. They recently won the Opportunity Quest competition at LDS Business College, which automatically enters them into the statewide Utah Entrepreneur Challenge next spring.
Right now you can order The Gluten Free Consumer through their website, gfconsumer.com, but they're in talks to get it on the shelves of major grocery store chains statewide.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
The Gluten-Free Consumer 1-801-903-8113 www.gfcconsumer.com
