British retail giant Tesco is widening its offering of gluten-free foods to customers this Christmas.
The supermarket has included gluten-free stuffing with its finest stuffed turkey, duck and pork joints this year. Shoppers can buy gluten-free mince pies and cake as well as gluten-free stuffing, puddings, profiteroles and more. Other items added to its free-from ranges include Free From Profiteroles.
Speaking on the products, Tesco food developer Fiona Carter said, “Free From has become a major part of our day-to-day food offering, which is why we’ve worked on developing our range this year to make sure that there is plenty of choice for customers this Christmas.
She continued, “Gluten-free food is now so important to so many shoppers that for the first time ever we have dedicated the whole of one of our Christmas TV adverts to highlighting some of our range.”
Tesco recently won a number awards for its Free From foods, including its own-label Sweet Party dessert selection, Strawberry and Vanilla Cones, and Italian Coffee-Style Dessert.
Having launched its first Free From brand in 2003, the grocer has now grown its range to more than 350 Free From products and sells more than 200 million Free From foods a year.
Meanwhile, shoppers are set to spend 20 per cent more on free-from foods this Christmas compared with last year, according to Tesco research, which highlights how one-third of UK households now have at least one allergy or intolerance sufferer.
The research also shows that more than 60 per cent of households have bought free-from foods in the last year, with the number boosted by shoppers changing their diets as a lifestyle choice.
The UK’s Free From market is now worth £462 million, according to industry analysts Kantar Worldpanel.
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