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    Jefferson Adams
    Jefferson Adams

    What Makes a Successful Gluten-free Product Launch?

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Celiac.com 03/13/2014 - Two recent articles in Bloomberg Businessweek offer some excellent lessons for companies seeking to introducing gluten-free products at the retail level. Both articles are by associate Bloomberg Businessweek editor Venessa Wong.

    Photo: Wikimedia Commons--Dunkin_337The first article is titled Open Original Shared Link The article describes the gluten-free missteps of a few companies that got their gluten-free efforts wrong, at least at first.

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    Companies mentioned in the article include California Pizza Kitchen, which rolled out pizzas made with a gluten-free crust late in 2010.

    Many customers became angry when they realized gluten was present in other parts of the pizza, and that the pizzas, as eaten, were not gluten-free. After about six months of the uproar, California Pizza Kitchen quickly pulled the pizzas off the menu, and then spent more than a year working to revamp its kitchen operations and train employees.

    Domino's pizza recently took a similar approach by rolling out a highly touted, much marketed gluten-free pizza crust, when their final product was not gluten-free. In fact,

    When many people within the gluten-free community expressed outrage over what they claimed was misleading at least, and possibly a classic bait-and-switch, Domino's tried to quell the the uproar by claiming that they never intended their pizzas to be for people with celiac disease or serious gluten-sensitivity. Those disclaimers did not go over well.

    It is important to remember that the latest ruling by the FDA requires restaurants to use the term "gluten-free" in the same way as commercial food producers. That is, they can only use the term gluten-free if the product contains no gluten ingredients and tests below 20 parts per million.

    The second article is titled Open Original Shared Link Ostensibly an article about why Dunkin' Donuts has taken its time in bringing gluten-free donuts to its customers, works as a loose guide for companies looking to get it right. In the end, Dunin' Donuts decided not to go to market with a gluten-free product at this time.

    Companies that successfully introduce gluten-free products at the retail level strictly control and monitor every step of the gluten-free process, from supply to production to preparation and final delivery to the customer. These companies also invest in training their workers at all level of the process to achieve uniform results.

    Companies that approach gluten-free food as a medical issue, and which set their sights on offering celiac-friendly gluten-free food, seem to do best in the long run.

    Companies that have difficulty in introducing gluten-free products at the retail level either fail to strictly control and monitor every step of the gluten-free process, or they do not design such a comprehensive process in the first place. Many failed efforts involve companies offering products that incorporate gluten-free ingredients, such as Domino's gluten-free pizza crust, but which are not part of a truly gluten-free final product.

    Companies that approach gluten-free food as a trendy issue, and tout food with gluten-free ingredients, but which can harm people with celiac disease seem to run into troubles.

    So what do you think? Can you name some other bad rollouts of "gluten-free" products?



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    Guest Matt

    I eat the Domino's pizza all the time and never have a reaction. Some random lab testing had the PPM levels come back at less than 7PPM (www.celiact.com/blog/2012/05/31/108-dominos-gluten-free-pizza-gluten-free-lab-test), way below the 20PPM.

     

    I have, however, been mislead at local restaurants. OH BOY. This one time I had some nachos, BOOM, reaction hit me so hard I think I got a concussion.

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    Guest Olinda Paul

    Posted

    I work for Domino's and it's true...I told them this when they first tried to roll out the gluten-free pizza. I told people before they ordered it that it was not completely gluten free. Some took my advice and others didn't but it's amazing how many people think they can cheat on this diet if they really do have celiac. Even if you're just sensitive...and your body doesn't like it...why would you destroy it in this manner? People just want what they want when they want it. I think Dunkin' is smart to step back and re-evaluate what they are doing. I hope they continue to bring forth tasty doughnuts that are so good, that the mainstream people will clamor for them too. Kudo's to you DD.

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    Guest Wendy Hanson

    Posted

    I remember when starbucks tried a gluten-free Valencia orange cake. Whenever I tried to order it, from either of my local Starbucks, they always told me that they didn't have any thawed. I was only able to get it once, even though I probably asked for it about 20 times. I'm not sure how they planned to sell a product that was never taken from the freezer. Also, I thought an orange-flavored cake was strange. Why not go with a brownie or chocolate chip cookie - something everyone likes. I recently visited TCBY at the Denver airport and got a very tasty pre-packaged set of gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. No worries about cross contamination. What's so hard about that Starbucks?

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  • About Me

    Jefferson Adams

    Jefferson Adams is Celiac.com's senior writer and Digital Content Director. He earned his B.A. and M.F.A. at Arizona State University. His articles, essays, poems, stories and book reviews have appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and websites, including North American Project, Antioch Review, Caliban, Mississippi Review, Slate, and more. He is the author of more than 2,500 articles on celiac disease. His university coursework includes studies in science, scientific methodology, biology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, logic, and advanced research. He previously devised health and medical content for Colgate, Dove, Pfizer, Sharecare, Walgreens, and more. Jefferson has spoken about celiac disease to the media, including an appearance on the KQED radio show Forum, and is the editor of numerous books, including "Cereal Killers" by Scott Adams and Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

    >VIEW ALL ARTICLES BY JEFFERSON ADAMS

     


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