Chaucer Foods expands into gluten-free bakery

The ingredient producer Chaucer Foods has spoken of its plans to expand into gluten-free bakery items by 2016.

Chaucer Foods told Food Manufacture that it planned to expand its premises in Hull, to launch a gluten-free business towards the end of this year.

Andy Ducker, chief executive of the firm, said he expected the gluten free category to continue to rise in popularity, and would look into launching bread crumbs for sausage mixes and bread sprinkles for salad toppings- both gluten-free.

He estimated the development would cost between GBP 300,000- GBP 500,000.

On the other hand, the company announced, at the end of January, the opening of its brand new, purpose built US Freeze Dry factory in Oregon. That was the third manufacturing platform for the company. The facility’s operations will focus on the freeze drying of fruit and vegetables, from whole fruits and vegetables through to slices, dice and powdered formats. The products will subsequently be packaged into wide variety of carton size configurations. In addition the facility will also be equipped to provide customers with retail and foodservice pack formats for supply to Chaucer’s customers, which include a variety of small and large food manufacturers covering the cereal, confectionary, bakery, beverage and snacking industries.