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.