Wal-mart Dedicated gluten-free Section

[Jonbo]

So I'm in town staying with a family member while recovering from my Incisional Hernia repair surgery, which suffice to say the first few days of recovery were NOT fun but I'm slowly recovering with the help of Percocet. Back to the topic...The Wal-Mart here in Council Bluffs (Iowa) is being renovated. I don't visit Wal-Mart much (obvious reasons) but needed to for a few things so I went with a friend.

While going down one aisle, I notice a sign that says Gluten Free. Obviously my interest was piqued so I checked it out since I don't remember any wal-mart I've visited having a dedicated gluten-free section. Not a very big section but it was something nonetheless. Some stuff from Mrs Leepers, baked goods (brownie mix, muffin mix, etc...), gluten-free Pasta. Grabbed one item I hadn't tried yet.

Does anyone else's Wal-Mart have a dedicated gluten-free section?

[lizard00]

Well, now you've piqued my interest, too. I'll have to find a reason to go to Wal-Mart now... hmmm

[Jonbo]

If I get there at least once more (can't drive on my own while taking Percocet...legally at least), I'll snap a picture or 2.

[Farmgirl]

My Walmart just remodeled and added a gluten-free section as well. it is about 6 feet of shelving which is a big step for my small town. I was most excited to see the Schar past as it is my favorite! I'll still have to order most things online, but at least I have somewhere local to get a few things! Progress!

[slimchance]

So I'm in town staying with a family member while recovering from my Incisional Hernia repair surgery, which suffice to say the first few days of recovery were NOT fun but I'm slowly recovering with the help of Percocet. Back to the topic...The Wal-Mart here in Council Bluffs (Iowa) is being renovated. I don't visit Wal-Mart much (obvious reasons) but needed to for a few things so I went with a friend.

While going down one aisle, I notice a sign that says Gluten Free. Obviously my interest was piqued so I checked it out since I don't remember any wal-mart I've visited having a dedicated gluten-free section. Not a very big section but it was something nonetheless. Some stuff from Mrs Leepers, baked goods (brownie mix, muffin mix, etc...), gluten-free Pasta. Grabbed one item I hadn't tried yet.

Does anyone else's Wal-Mart have a dedicated gluten-free section?

For obvious reasons? What are these obvious reasons? Are you one of those people that think walmart is hurting our economy?

And on topic, I haven't seen a gluten free section in the few walmarts we have around here. I know what I can and cannot eat by now and I just shop accordingly, but Ill definitely look for it.

[missy'smom]

My sister lives in Iowa and reported gluten-free sections in grocery stores long before we had them here. It seems that perhaps due to a lack of healthfood stores, Whole Foods and such, that the groceries(and now Wal-Mart it seems) tried to accommodate those who are gluten-free. It is my understanding that chapter meetings/support groups are sometimes held at the store.

[hermitgirl]

The one closest to me doesn't. In fact they have yet to even get the Betty Crocker mixes. The irony is they finished remodeling about two weeks ago....

[Jonbo]

For obvious reasons? What are these obvious reasons? Are you one of those people that think walmart is hurting our economy?

And on topic, I haven't seen a gluten free section in the few walmarts we have around here. I know what I can and cannot eat by now and I just shop accordingly, but Ill definitely look for it.

I don't think it's hurting the economy. I just don't prefer to shop there. Living in Iowa (not sure where you live), I love shopping at Hy-Vee for groceries. The atmosphere is better so the slightly higher prices is worth it for me. I don't boycott Walmart obviously but its not my first place to go to.

[runningcrazy]

I dont know about our closest walmart but we were surprised to see a very small gluten free section in one of our local grocery stores. Its about 1/4 of the length of the whole big shelf and it has pretzels, baking mixes, pasta, crackers, cookies, its really helpful(not any less expensve though!) and theres also in the same store under the frozen entrees it has a little section with lots of amy's and other frozen gluten free meals.

We have seen the betty crocker gluten-free mixes in the regular baking aisle right next to the betty crocker regular mixes.

Things are coming along!!

[nauseatingnancy]

Well I am currently working at Wal-Mart (much to my displeasure, but hey it's a job) and I am a cashier, so I see a lot of the products that everyone buys. It is relatively new as far as I know, but for some reason Wal-mart is carrying more gluten free products and promoting them. I think it is kind of ironic, but probably just more of a coincidence, that after my mom was diagnosed that this happened. The Wal-mart brand of Great Value, has a lot of gluten free items and is pretty good about stating that the products are gluten free. I'm on a leave of absence right now to take care of my mom and when I was dealing with Human Resources about the paper work, a woman who works there told me that on the Wal-Mart website they have tons more gluten free products as well as books and cookbooks.

Before I worked there, I never shopped there as well. I get a discount there, but it's not on food, so I mainly just shop there for convenience. Some of their products are cheaper, like the rice milk and gluten free cookies, but I am a bit biased because I work there. Hopefully, I will have another job soon, and when I do, gluten free products or not, I will never step foot in there again.

[Jonbo]

I've definitely noticed Walmart usually has cheaper gluten-free foods. Walmart has the corn/rice spaghetti for almost a $1 cheaper then Hy-Vee here and the Mrs Leepers "Hamburger Helper" I call it was I believe $3.39 which on the gluten-free Mall is $4.82 (plus shipping, etc...) right now. So it can definitely add up over time depending, but If Walmart keeps taking a more widespread initiative adding gluten-free foods/sections, then it will have to be a secondary stop on occasion with that kind of savings.

Granted Amazon works out about the same price if you buy in bulk but with me being still relatively new to the "diet", buying one box of each to find what I like/dislike without throwing too much money out the window is ideal.

[Juliebove]

The Walmarts around me don't have a grocery section but the one in Marysville does and they do have a gluten-free section.

[sixtytwo]

When they renovated my favorite Walmart in Rhinelander, Wisconsin they installed a small gluten-free section which handles Bob's Red Mill foods and also Pamela's stuff. I am thrilled. They have Glutino pretzles which are so expensive at my local store (like almost $9 for a big bag and the same bag at Walmart is $6). They also have Tinkyada pasta which is the best one ever. I LOVE Walmart. The others are right about the Great Valu products, really lots of them are marked as being gluten-free.

Barbara

[*lee-lee*]

i've been taking advantage of the gluten-free section at my Walmart for at least 3 or 4 months now (upstate NY). i was shocked to come across it while shopping one day, and like others have said, it was right before they started significant renovations to the store.

they have Pamela's and Bob's Red Mill mixes, Tinkyada pasta, Mi-Del & Glutino products and probably a few other things as well. i don't usually buy much more than some pasta and flours/mixes but it's great to have the option. ironically though i have yet to see the Betty Crocker mixes but i've requested them a few times (via email, with no reply whosoever). i have to go to Hannaford if i want a BC mix.

[hannahp57]

i avoid shopping at wal-mart at all costs. haha but around here they dont have the gluten-free section either so there isnt much pulling me in there

back in my hometown in OK the local grocery store (not a chain, locally owned and managed) would buy everything i asked for. i miss those little businesses like that

it is good to hear that bigger businesses are also hearing our voices though!