In the retail sector, sales of gluten-free foods reached an impressive compound annual growth rate of 57% over the five-year period ending in 2015, when market sales reached €237 million, according to Euromonitor International market research in the latest report about gluten free foods. Italian retailers have embraced the gluten-free trend by stocking more gluten-free items, featuring them in store, and launching their own private label brands. In addition, retail chains have been courting the gluten-free consumer with a variety of festivals and events.
According to the Euromonitor analysis, pasta accounts for around a third of gluten free sales in Italy and is the fastest-growing segment in the category. Local pasta giant Barilla is among those with gluten-free lines available in Italy: 30% of gluten-free food is sold through the modern retail channel: other outlets, including pharmacies, account for the majority of the market. However, the category is growing rapidly in grocery stores, with sales in supermarkets up 15% last year – and up 30% in discount stores.
The gluten-free market is here to stay and is more than a mere dietary fad and continues to make national headlines, including a recent announcement by popular columnist of the New York Times, Roger Cohen, who recently entitled his article “This column is gluten free”. Looking ahead, the gluten-free market’s momentum is not expected to wane anytime soon. The market researcher Packaged Facts projects sales will exceed 2 billion dollars by 2019.
