Tesco launches new Free From food range
Tesco has launched a new chilled food range which is free from dairy. According to the supermarket giant, the market for special foods for people who have allergies to certain ingredients is one of the fastest growing in the UK.
Quoting statistics from the charity Allergy UK, Tesco said that as many as 25 million people, almost half the UK population, could suffer from food intolerance. The main intolerances are gluten, wheat and dairy products. As a result the Free From food market, as it is known, has grown by 15% in the last year to be worth £238 million, according to retail analysts Kantar Worldpanel.
Tesco said the greatest demand was for dairy-free foods and this week will launch a comprehensive chilled range including soya milks, spreads, yogurt and desserts. Tesco dairy customer manager Paul Duszynski explained: “Just 10 years ago if you suffered from a food allergy you would have to go out of your way to specialist health shops in order to find dairy, wheat or gluten free foods. There weren’t many from which to choose, and they often tasted quite bland.
“Tesco was the first UK retailer to launch a Free From brand back in 2003 and we’re proud that we’re still leading the way by introducing new products for our customers. People who used to suffer the symptoms of intolerance or allergy in silence can now easily find high quality wheat, gluten and dairy free products when they do their weekly shop.”
Included in the new chilled range will be six yogurts; seven desserts; seven milk alternatives; six dairy cheese alternatives and two dairy free spreads.
