Canada

Tuesday

Interview With Nikhil From Gluten Free Cart

If you have not heard of Gluten Free Cart, it is a unique website that provides gluten-free products to customers across Canada. Founded as a result of seeing a loved one struggling with food allergies and finding suitable, quality food.


The site has become one of the best sources of both purchasing and locating gluten-free products in Canada. with a wide selection of gluten-free food and products. With its extensive selection of products, it has become a go-to destination for those who are looking for special dietary options.


I caught up with Nikhil from GFC to get the inside scoop on his company and learn more about what makes it work.


Q: Tell me a little bit about GFC.

A: is Canada's First online marketplace of ready-to-eat food items. The food items cater to consumers who prefer allergen-free, alternative diet & lifestyle food choices (gluten/ dairy/ soy free, vegan, etc.).


Q: What inspired you to launch The Gluten Free Cart?

A: This idea took shape when I experienced a loved one struggling with food allergies in finding quality food.


Q: Who can benefit from shopping on Gluten Free Cart?

A: The website caters to people with celiac disease, as well as those who simply want to avoid gluten in their diet. It offers a variety of products ranging from baking ingredients to snacks and ready-made meals. Customers can also find recipes, tips, and resources related to living a gluten-free lifestyle on the website.


Q: What Makes GFC Unique?

A: GFC aka GlutenFreeCart is Canada's first☝ marketplace that offers: Allergen-free & Ready to eat/ mix food for its customers.


Q: Does GFC have a mission and if so, what is it?

A:  To bring affordability and choices to our customers


Q: Does GFC have any long-term goals in the marketplace?

A: Yes. To become the largest online marketplace of gluten-free food.

  • 1. Build the largest community of consumers who have special food preferences. This will bring economy of scale and hence AFFORDABILITY.
  • 2. Build the largest community of sellers to provide several CHOICES to consumers. This will help in attracting more consumers and make the marketplace more popular & integral part of sellers, and consumers' life.

  • Q: What does GFC specialize in?

    A: gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan, plant-based, tree nut-free, peanut-free, gluten-free food, allergen-free, local, bake mixes, cooking mixes, mixes, ready-to-eat, platform

Q: Why should people choose GFC for their dietary needs?

A:  Shopping through a dedicated gluten-free website can offer peace of mind. In addition, Gluten Free Cart offers a more extensive selection of specialty items that are not available at traditional grocery stores, including alternative flours, gluten-free baking mixes ready-to-cook meals, along with unique snacks and treats.



Thursday

Gluten Free Cart - Canada's First Allergen Free Online Marketplace

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Gluten Free Cart Logo

Gluten Free Cart is a hyper-local Canada-wide online marketplace that connects customers with local bakeries, cafes, and shops which specialize in offering gluten-free products.

Think of Gluten Free Cart as Canada's First Online Marketplace for allergen-free ready-to-eat, cook, or bake food items.

Product options range from ready-to-eat items to baked goods and mixes. Whether you fancy baking with a premade mix, enjoying a pint of delicious ice cream OR just leaving the dinner-making to someone else, Gluten Free Cart has your needs covered.

Currently, there are 156 products offered on the website through 19 vendors in 19 cities. 
With a goal to ensure that the product selections are both affordable and easily available, Gluten Free Cart is truly a one-stop shop for Canadians looking for allergen-free food. Make that allergen-free AND fuss-free - they do all the leg work so you don't have to.

"Allergen living does not need mean restrictions. It CAN and SHOULD offer choices at affordable prices."


Let's talk about how GFC keeps costs down for both shop vendors and customers.

Each shop creates its own presence on the website and is responsible for providing its own shipping, pickup, and delivery options. Shoppers also have the option to purchase from multiple vendors in one transaction. 

The ability to customize shipping options with each vendor in one simple transaction not only saves time, but it allows YOU to ensure your needs are met.
Future plans are to expand its offerings in the future to include more snack options and easily shippable items.

By allowing these businesses to create their own presence on the website and manage their own shipping/pickup/delivery options, overall business costs are minimized, resulting in a more affordable experience for customers.

Gluten Free Cart aims to serve people who travel, live away from big cities, or simply don't have the time or energy to cook. It offers the comfort of ordering in advance and having gluten-free food available at your destination or ready for you to pick up. It works with your schedule and food needs.

Who doesn't love the convenience of ordering in advance and having food ready when you arrive at a new destination?! 

Gluten Free Cart Target Demographic



Gluten Free Cart provides convenience and comfort by eliminating the need to search for gluten-free restaurants and food options in general. We all know this can be a daunting task at the best of times, especially when traveling to an unfamiliar city. Depending on the vendor you choose, you can arrange to have your food delivered to you or be ready for pick-up when you arrive at your location. 
Gluten Free Cart also gives peace of mind by ensuring that your dietary needs are taken care of. Peace of mind means you can focus on enjoying your trip. Having food ready and waiting for you can also save time, which means that you can start enjoying your destination right away. It's a simple and efficient way to be prepared for both your food prep choices and needs.

Gluten-free isn't always simple and sometimes people need products that are gluten-free while meeting other dietary needs or wants. Everything on the Gluten Free Cart website is gluten-free, and some products are also vegan keto or peanut-free. 

Gluten Free Cart provides a customized experience that is tailored to your needs.
The website is very easy to navigate, and orders can be set for pick up, shipping, or delivery. 

So how does it work?

Let's talk about the three categories to choose from on the website - Shop Food, Shop Stores, and Shop Collections.

Here you can filter products by Store Pick Up, Delivery, or Shipping. You will need to enter an address before sorting to allow the website to see what options are available for you.

This section allows you to browse the various shop vendors participating on the GFC website. Click on a shop to learn more about them and check out their available items. Interested in a vendor but unsure still? Hit "Review" and see what others have to say! This is also a great way to shout out your favorite vendors by giving them a happy review.

Collections is a really cool feature on the site! It allows you to shop an already sorted collection of ready-to-cook mixes, baked goods, various ethnic cuisine types, and desserts. This really helps narrow things down when you have a craving of sorts but don't quite know what you want just yet.

The process of ordering is as simple as 
1. Browse & Filter Shop by food, store, or collections & apply filters
2. Checkout
Add items to the cart, apply coupons, and checkout
3. Get Product
Head to the store for pick or get delivery/ shipping
How To Order Through Gluten Free Cart


It's really encouraging to see a Canadian company stepping up and ensuring that people who eat gluten-free due to Celiac or just by choice are not forgotten about. I can't wait to see what Gluten Free Cart does next!

You can keep up to date with Gluten Free Cart by following reading their blog here and by visiting their Instagram page here

Saturday

Ottawa Senators To Host Celiac Disease Awareness Night


The Canadian Celiac  Association has teamed up with the Ottawa Senators to host a Celiac Awareness night


 When I received an email from the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) advising of this event, I was thrilled! As a Celiac and a hockey fan, this is a double win. I have emailed an inquiry as to whether or not there will be any Celiac safe food at the event and will post an update once a response is received.


     When:
     Saturday, March 4th 2017

     Where:
     The Canadian Tire Centre
     1000 Palladium Drive Ottawa, 
       Ontario K2V 1A5



       How to purchase tickets:

Please visit this page to ensure that part of your ticket price will be donated to the CCA. 

You NEED to use the promo code CELIAC when you complete checkout.
Not a hockey fan, but know someone who is? Senators tickets make a great Christmas or birthday gift! Plus you will also be helping fellow Celiac's - A portion of ticket proceeds will support important awareness, research, and restaurant training programs. All brought to you by the CCA.                  
 

For more information, kindly email cca.communications@celiac.ca with your inquiry.


Monday

Celebrating Gluten Free Life In Canada



What it's like to be Gluten Free in Canada


 The Canadian Celiac Association provides advice and support nation wide.

We enjoy the hard work provided by the Gluten Free Certification Program. When  the below symbol is on a package, we can be sure it has met high standards and is safe for consumption.



Some Canadian Celiac Facts

1 in 133 people in Canada are estimated to have Celiac Disease.



Thunder Bay MPP Bill Mauro  has our backs as c
urrently Ontario is the only Province in which the Celiac blood test is not covered.



Researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario are working on a therapy to treat Celiac Disease.



Our Laws

It is illegal to label oats gluten free in Canada. They may only carry wheat free on the label.

The Canadian Government offers support information online.
 
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA )is responsible for enforcing Canada's strict food labelling laws. If something is mislabelled Gluten Free or is leading people to believe it's safe, when in fact it is not, we can report the offending product here.

They are  also responsible for our Food Recall Warnings program. This program provides alerts via email sign up, Twitter, Facebook, RSS Feeds and mobile application.


Notable Canadian Celiac's


Max Domi is a Minnesota Wild 2014 draft prospect , and son of retired Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Tie Domi.


Christine Nesbitt  is an 
Olympic gold medal speed skater 



Tom Kostopoulos  ia a f
ormer Calgary Flames Right Wing  and current member of the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins farm team)







Disclosure

This policy is valid from 23 February 2013

This is a personal blog written and edited by me. All opinions are that of my own. I am not a healthcare professional or an expert. All information presented in this blog is purely that of my own experience and or opinion. Please consult a medical professional before making any changes to your diet.

I write this blog as a hobby that I am passionate about. From time to time, I may receive monetary compensation for a sponsored post. I only work with brands that I trust and would use in my own home.

This blog accepts complimentary products for review. The opinions I have of a product will never be swayed by a company sending me an item(s) for free. I take into consideration the opinion of family members who are gluten-free due to Celiac Disease and I also value the opinions of non-gluten free family members. Taste is a matter of personal opinion so please use your own discretion and don't take my opinion as a gold standard.

Any ingredient or gluten-free claims should be verified with the restaurant/manufacturer as things can and do change.

For questions about this blog, please contact: sandra@glutenfreedoll.com

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