Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Anyone Ever Consider Opening A gluten-free Bakery?


mznia504

Recommended Posts

mznia504 Newbie

I'm strongly considering this. I have always loved to bake, and now with my son who has Celiac Disease, I love the challenge that comes with experimenting on gluten-free batches and seeing what I can do to make them better and tastier. I don't believe that there are any dedicated gluten-free bakeries in the Louisiana area, so I'm starting to do my research to see if this would be a good plan for me. I'm very excited about this, but I know it will take sometime to get things off the ground. Wish me luck!


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



AlysounRI Contributor

I'm strongly considering this. I have always loved to bake, and now with my son who has Celiac Disease, I love the challenge that comes with experimenting on gluten-free batches and seeing what I can do to make them better and tastier. I don't believe that there are any dedicated gluten-free bakeries in the Louisiana area, so I'm starting to do my research to see if this would be a good plan for me. I'm very excited about this, but I know it will take sometime to get things off the ground. Wish me luck!

I wish you luck if you do!!

Especially if you have a niche to fill!!

I'm sure a lot of people in your state would thank you, too.

~Allison

exsandohs163 Rookie

there are two where I live and they both stay busy! :)

jkmunchkin Rising Star

I think a lot depends on where you live.

I'm in NY and we have a few. Babycakes is in the city and seems to be doing very well. Tully's recently opened in the city also but I don't know much about it. My friend owns Three Dogs Gluten Free Bakery in the suburbs of Westchester (Briarcliff to be exact) and she too is doing very well.

mushroom Proficient

We have only one gluten free (dedicated) bakery that I know of in our city of 300,000 and they just keep expanding.... But still small enough for individualized attention - they bake special batches for me without potato starch :D Many people will not trust shared facilities; I know I won't. Go for it.

stef-the-kicking-cuty Enthusiast

I think there is a need for glutenfree bakeries anywhere. It just depends on how much of a need. What I mean by that is, that in a city with thousands of people you might be pretty busy with a full time bakery. However, if you live more in a country area, then you might still get business, but you might have to consider another part time job somewhere, because the bakery alone might not bring in enough. However I think, that glutenfree people anywhere (and they are everywhere) would by at a facility, that does glutenfree only.

I wish you all the luck in the world. I know, if I wouldn't have my Martial Arts Academy, my second choice of business would be a glutenfree bakery. Oh, well, maybe when I retire from sports, cause you can't do it forever pure physically speaking.

Stef

ali11 Newbie

I commend anyone who wants to help other people by opening a gluten-free bakery. Best of luck!

A new gluten-free cafe and bakery just opened in town nearby mine. I'm really excited! I'm going to go there in the next couple days to check it out. Here's their website if it helps: Open Original Shared Link


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Tigercat17 Enthusiast

That's awesome!

I live in Pittsburgh & we do have a gluten free bakery called The Gluuteny. I think they do pretty well & I being a celiac, I really appreciate their efforts. They do agreat job! When I first was diagnosed I was so happy that they made fresh gluten free bread - I could've cried! Oh and their chocolate chip cookies are the best - you can't even tell they are gluten free!

Here is their website if you'd like it for your research.

Open Original Shared Link

I think it's a great idea & I do wish you all the best!!!! :)

  • 2 weeks later...
Nor-TX Enthusiast

I live in a suburb outside of Dallas Texas and to my knowledge there is no gluten free bakery or restaurant. Has anyone heard of one around here?

Korwyn Explorer

We have one in our county (population ~80,000). They started out as a regular bakery, and ran a couple of 'gluten-free' special days using gluten-free things they purchased wholesale. They were stunned at the response, and after a series of test runs converted to a gluten-free bakery.

We also have an excellent catering company that is entirely gluten free. They don't explicitly advertise this fact, it is just part of their business. One of them has celiac and the other is severely gluten intolerant. They converted their entire business over to gluten free after diagnosis, and they have said that they frequently have people come up to them after catered lunches or dinners and tell them, "I love it when you doing the catering. It seems to be the only time I eat that I don't have an upset stomach afterwards," or similar comments.

stef-the-kicking-cuty Enthusiast

Haha, funny, they should charge for diagnosing people. Or at least putting them onto the right track.

luvs2eat Collaborator

I'd love it if you did... and if you lived in north-central Arkansas! I'd come and be your "go-fer" or assistant or clean-up person or garbage collector or anything you wanted!

I've not had really good luck w/ my baking efforts and have pretty much abandoned baking altogether. I use Pamela's bread mix and love it... but some of the bread I purchased from Wegman's (frozen) was so delicious... a french baguette that was light and airy... that I'm thinking it's not only the recipe/ingredients, but the machines they're using that I don't have access to.

I had a gluten free cupcake w/ mocha cream frosting and a layer of chocolate ganache on top of that in Philadelphia recently. The cupcake was so moist and tasted like cupcakes-of-old... I've never been able to reproduce that kind of moisture or taste in a gluten free cake/cupcakes.

I've come to accept/embrace almost all the things I can cook... you really can't tell it's gluten free... except for baking. I guess I still remember the tastes/textures of gluten baking and haven't been able to embrace the differences in gluten free baking.

  • 3 months later...
knomad Rookie

I am newly diagnosed with celiac and new to this forum. I have been learning a lot from reading all the posts. Thank you all!

For Nor-Tex: I just visited a gluten free bakery here in Dallas today. It just opened last Thursday. It's a mother and daughter who both have celiac. I came home with a whole bag of goodies - white bread, wheat bread, pumpkin bread, and brownies. The samples I tasted at the store were delicious. The name of the bakery is Wholesome Foods Bakery and it is at the corner of Buckner and Northcliff near White Rock Lake. I think they have a website. Hope this helps!

gf-soph Apprentice

In general the gluten free market seems to be doing very well, you just have to look at the explosion of products and gluten free menus over the last few years. Even in the 2 years I have been gluten free there has been some major increases in availability.

I live in Sydney and there are a few different gluten free bakeries that I know of, but one in particular has gone massive in the last couple of years. They started as one shop with a dedicated gluten-free facility, and now there are 4-5 stores. They have also expanded their range from the basics to incude ready meals and more snack foods. Part of their success is that they are very knowledgable about other special diets, and know their products very well. They also advertise with our celiac societies. I know that for me, what sets them apart is that I really trust them. As you well know, celiacs get so used to checking for contamination, that to walk into a place and be able to be confident that your food is safe is a big deal.

I wish you the best of luck, I think it's great that you have taken to cooking gluten free with such enthusiam - your son is very lucky!

MelindaLee Contributor

I'm strongly considering this. I have always loved to bake, and now with my son who has Celiac Disease, I love the challenge that comes with experimenting on gluten-free batches and seeing what I can do to make them better and tastier. I don't believe that there are any dedicated gluten-free bakeries in the Louisiana area, so I'm starting to do my research to see if this would be a good plan for me. I'm very excited about this, but I know it will take sometime to get things off the ground. Wish me luck!

I had the same thought the other day! My DS has been avoiding gluten for years by self diagnosis. I was recently diagnosed "by accident". We both love to bake, and decided this would be a great idea. I have no clue where to start though. I would love to share ideas. I am way up in Green Bay WI, so I know there wouldn't be any competition! :o

MindytheOrganist Enthusiast

Go for it! If I were better at baking, I'd try it. As far as I know, Cedar Rapids, Iowa does not have a gluten-free bakery (If I'm wrong, PLEASE! correct me!!!)!!!

Tigercat17, is that a dauchsund? What a cutie! I have a mini-longhair.

  • 5 weeks later...
Black Sheep Apprentice

A woman who owns a tiny restaurant in a very small town near here decided to offer anything on her menu made g.f. My first visit there, I asked her if she had seen any increase in business because of it--I was curious because I been told by a waitress in a restaurant down the street from her, the night before that they didn't offer any g.f. food because "There's not enough people out there who need it, and it just wouldn't be worth the trouble and expense." :o When I told the owner of the g.f. restaurant this, her jaw dropped and she said that she'd had so much business since offering g.f. food (and catering!), she could barely keep up. In fact she needed to move to a bigger place, and start offering dinner as well as breakfast and lunch.

Then she told us how a woman from the next town over had started baking g.f. for her celiac hubby, and when people heard of it they wanted her to bake for them, too. So she rented the restaurant owner's kitchen to do her baking and started selling like crazy. Pretty soon she realized she just needed to bite the bullet and open a bakery. She did, and once again the response was overwhelming.

So now this tiny tourist town has a g.f. bakery, g.f. restaurant, plus one other restaurant that offers g.f. pizza, and their businesses are booming. Even in small towns, provided they're not too isolated, there's a huge need, because although there may not be a big population, when the word gets out then people from the surrounding area will come in droves! Also I've noticed that a lot of people who aren't celiac eat g.f. anyway, because they are convinced it is a healthier way to eat.

So my vote is go for it! We need more people out there like you! B)

Wenmin Enthusiast

Where are you located in Louisiana?

I live near Thibodaux and would be willing to drive a ways to find some gluten free goodies...

Wenmin

  • 2 weeks later...
luvs2eat Collaborator

I just spent 2 weeks visiting kids in Portland, OR. I went to the New Cascadia bakery THREE times while there. I don't know about opening up my own bakery, but I'd love to simply work at the New Cascadia!!

Black Sheep Apprentice

New Cascadia---is that a franchise, or a privately-owned bakery?

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.