Canadian Gluten-Free Foods Market at $450 Million

NEW YORK - Sept. 5, 2013 - PRLog -- The surge in celebrity endorsements of a gluten-free lifestyle, combined with growing awareness of celiac disease and gluten intolerance, has driven the Canadian gluten-free (GF) market to over $450 million in 2012, according to Gluten-Free Foods in Canada, a new report from market research firm Packaged Facts.

The market has managed an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.6% between 2008 and 2012, with snacks, breads/cereals/grains, and frozen/refrigerated prepared foods as the top three product categories.  Notably, a higher percentage of gluten-free product users in Canada, compared to their counterparts in the United States, report purchasing gluten-free foods because someone in their household has celiac disease or a gluten or wheat allergy or intolerance.

A major factor fueling this market growth is the increased availability of gluten-free products in retail and discount grocery chains such as Sobeys and Atlantic Superstore. Another significant factor is better product quality: almost half of the respondents in a Packaged Facts August 2012 survey of Canadian consumers felt the quality of gluten-free items had increased significantly in recent years.

According to David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts, “A number of key trends continue to benefit the Canadian gluten-free market: growing awareness of celiac disease, food allergies and related disorders; increased availability of gluten-free (GF) products in mainstream outlets; and a growing number of people buying GF products incidentally.”

Please visit www.MarketResearch.com or http://www.packagedfacts.com/Gluten-Free-Foods-7330686/ for more information.

About Packaged Facts – Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer market topics, including consumer demographics and shopper insights, consumer financial products and services, consumer goods and retailing, consumer packaged goods (including foods and beverages, health and beauty care, and household products), and pet products and services.  Packaged Facts also offers a full range of custom research services. To learn more, visit: www.packagedfacts.com.  Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, and on our blog: http://packagedfacts.blogspot.com/.