I have just returned from exhibiting at the Natural Trade Show in Brighton, the first time we have had a stand there. Well what an eye-opener into the 'Health' Trade!  Just as we get fed up of hearing 'are your products available in the supermarkets?' at consumer shows, today it was 'can we get your products from the wholesalers?'.  Just as a very large percentage of the retail outlet is controlled by a few supermarkets, so is the health trade by about 5 wholesalers. I would like to point out we are a wholesaler but we are independent. Interestingly, many independent health shop owners say that their coeliac customers are fed up of Trufree - and incidentally many of their products are full of hydrogenated fat and not at all nice to boot! This is due to a lack of specialist knowledge on the part of the 'health food' wholesalers. It would appear that their attitude is 'as long as it's gluten-free, we'll stock it' with no consideration about the quality of the products and whether we would actually want to eat it. In the catalogue of one of the health food wholesalers (who shall remain nameless) it even had rye flour listed as 'gluten free'. Not very helpful for small retailers who are trying to expand their gluten-free range.

Thank goodness help is at hand now! Helen Pengelly, who is a coeliac herself, at Johnson's Dietary Provisions, has personally selected all their products for their quality and taste and in response to customers' requests. And unlike other wholesalers there is no minimum order. We understand that it can be difficult with gluten-free products as they are necessarily more expensive so customers will be reluctant to try new products. We will let you try a few products in a mixed case so you can see which products sell before you order a full case.

Next month, if you are an independent retailer, you will be able to register for online ordering via our website. Please contact us if you would like us to keep you informed.

With the growing demand for free-from foods such as gluten free bread, wheat free flour, dairy free cakes and the such like, it is no wonder that (some) of the bigger supermarkets are slowly catching on.

But it is not enough to simply jump on a 'bandwagon' in this knee-jerk reaction. Consumers are now aware of the growing number of quality food manufacturers catering for people with food allergies and intolerances. In fact, some of these products are so good that even people without food intolerances are buying them!

I attended on open day at Johnsons Dietary Provisions over the weekend, and made the most of the free tasters on offer. Being a big lover of mediterranean cuisine, I headed straight for the Humous, followed by the delightful Falafel Balls and Cous Cous on offer from Leeora's Gourmet Kitchen. Not only would I have not known that these were 'free-from' foods had I not been told so, but the flavour and texture were second to none. I'm definitely a convert.

My biggest surprise though was the flavour and quality of the many different styles of bread available. I have always preferred continental breads such as brioch, ciabatta, and the omni-present french stick, but gluten free? Surely they can't taste as good? Well think again! Proceli are an artisan bakery originating in Terrassa, near Barcelona, and the quality of their bakery is certainly reflected in the taste of their products. They even produce their own gluten free flour so I can bake it at home too - though I doubt my efforts will be to their exacting standards ;-)

My advice? Go ahead and give them a go, even if you do not suffer from Coeliac's disease or other food intolerances. The more of these quality products that we can see on the shelves, the better.

Come along to our next open day. Eddie from Leeora's will be sampling his delicious Middle-Eastern dishes, they are all gluten and dairy free and suitable for vegans. The Sussex Larder will also be there sampling their wonderful sausages and pastry products - all gluten free! So if you are veggie, vegan or confirmed carnivore there is something for you!

See the Gluten Free News & Events page for further information.

Which one of these frozen ready-made lasagnes would you rather eat?

1. Bolognese sauce (38%) [tomato, minced beef (15%), water, onion, tomato puree, carrot, celery, modified maize starch, nutmeg, salt, vinegar, pepper, oregano], bechamel sauce (38%) [milk, butter, maize flour, modified maize starch, salt, pepper, nutmeg], non-wheat pasta (21%) [water, maize starch, rice flour, egg white, whole egg, potato starch, stabiliser (modified cellulose), salt], cheddar cheese (3%). (Minimum meat content 15%)

2. British beef mince, gluten & wheat free lasagne sheets, onion, tomatoes, peppers, garlic, mushrooms, gluten & wheat free flour, cheese, butter, milk, seasoning, herbs.

The first is the list of ingredients in a mass-produced gluten-free lasagne meal that is available from supermarkets and inferior online stores. The second is the list of ingredients from Coeliac's Foodstore's home-made gluten-free lasagne. I'm sorry we cannot tell you the exact percentage of beef in it but Karen Brewer makes all her meals by hand and does not have portion control! Karen's husband and children are all coeliacs so due to her frustration at not being able to find good quality meals she started making fresh meals to order for her local group in Surrey earlier this year. She now supplies home-made cakes to several National Trust properties in the Surrey and Sussex area too.
Karen's meals are also available in the Frozen Section of our online store.

Due to high demand, Johnsons Dietary Provisions have extended their delivery area to include many European countries - from Austria to Slovenia, Latvia to Poland, and many more.

This expansion was initiated due to the frequent requests from ex-Pats and Brits living abroad. It can be difficult enough finding free-from foods as it is, but imagine trying to do it in another country where the first language may as well be double-dutch to you. Just what is the Hungarian for 'Gluten Free' ?

Although Johnsons have always been happy to deliver to other countries by request, this is now a standard part of their delivery service which makes it much easier for customers to use. Deliveries to other countries are still available upon request.

I doubt they will be selling coals to Newcastle, but it certainly could be a case of selling gluten-free pasta to Italy or wheat-free baguettes to France!

Tesco now controls 30% of the UK grocery market - scary stuff! If you have a club card they have details of all your shopping habits and for what, a few points! One of my suppliers recently pulled out of Tesco because they wanted him to halve his prices. Continue to shop at supermarkets and you will eventually reduce choice for everyone!

You can read here the damage that supermarkets are causing to the environment, the economy and not least our local communities and small businesses. E-mail the competition commission who are currently investigating the grocery market.

http://www.tescopoly.org.uk/

And here's one that's right on our doorstep, protestors are campaigning against the destruction of ancient woodlands in Titnore Lane to extend the housing estate and convert the local Tesco into a hypermarket.

http://www.protectourwoodland.co.uk/

Johnson's Dietary Provisions have done it again. They were the first UK suppliers to introduce the premium GlutaBye range of wheat and gluten free products from France.

Now they have introduced the Farmo range of quality gluten free products from Italy for the first time in the UK. Even better still, you can get 20% off all Farmo and Eskal products by visiting the New Product Launch at their Sussex-based shop on 18th August!

Although coeliac disease can be diagnosed at a very early age, it is often diagnosed in babies after weaning, but symptoms are all too often so subtle that the conditions can go undiagnosed for many years. Coeliac disease can affect a person at any age.

Coeliac disease is a condition affecting the bowel (small intestine), and is a lifelong affliction. Gluten, which is contained in wheat, barley, and rye, causes the immune system to produce antibodies that attack the lining of the bowl. This in turn affect a coeliac’s ability to absorb the vitamins and nutrients of the food they eat.

Coeliac disease is a very often mis-understood and under-diagnosed condition. With the correct diet the symptoms can be totally reversed. A gluten free diet can still be full of flavour!

I was just looking at the blog and website of a well-known 'health' store - yet they stock gluten free diet products from Trufree that contain hydrogenated fat. Trufree have merged with other gluten-free food manufacturers such as Dietary Specials recently, this can only reduce choice of gluten free diet products in the long run. Therefore we will not stock products from such companies, preferring family-run businesses and smaller or more ethical producers. We also have lots of locally made food too, e.g. The Sussex Larder in Hailsham, The Intolerable Food Co in Sheffield Park, The Raw Chocolate Co in Henfield, Bookham Cheese and Pasta from Henfield, Robin Getz from Partridge Green and Iced Gem Cakes from Brighton.

We are also talking to several others including a company in Hove that makes delicious gluten-free desserts and, unlike some frozen desserts that come from Italy, these are only made from natural ingredients with no additives and preservatives. We are also hoping to start stocking Gold Award winning organic gluten-free sausages too. Go Sussex!

Once again, Gary Rhodes is championing 'Local Hero' on behalf of UKTV Food. He is scouring the country looking for food specialists up and down the UK.

Now is your chance to help put allergy-free foods well and truly on the map. Johnson's Dietary Provisions are proud of their range of food and drinks specially selected for coeliacs and people with a range of food intolerances. Whether you are looking for gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, lactose free, egg free, nut free, soy free, yeast free, vegetarian or organic products, we are confident that we have something for you.

Come and see us in our Sussex-based shop, or order from the comfort of your own home in our user-friendly Online Store. Better still, once you have visited us, take a moment to vote for Johnsons Dietary Provisions on the UKTV Food site to help put allergy-free foods in the spotlight. It will only take a moment and it will make you feel all warm and gooey inside. What's more, if you vote, you have the chance to win a luxury food hamper care of UKTV Food!