Photo copyright Tiffany Janes
Atlanta is definitely a hub for gluten free products in the South. There are very few things sold nationally that you can't find on the shelves here. Most of us still shop at multiple stores in order to find everything we need, but that is slowly changing.
Obvious stores to visit are Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, both of which offer a good selection of gluten free products. You can download each store's gluten free shopping guide yourself or ask for one at your store. Keep in mind the lists are not always up to date so they will likely include things that are not sold in your area.
Trader Joe's offers exceptional value regarding prices, but their gluten free offerings are somewhat limited at times. Whole Foods has a larger selection, though prices there are on the high side, as is the case for most of their goods.
Local Publix, Kroger and Ingles stores are expanding their gluten free lines rapidly. Each maintains gluten free product lists on their website. Ingles recently began running a TV commercial showcasing gluten free offerings, though they don't include a gluten free product in the weekly specials mentioned in the spot. Still, Ingles is the only store in our area to do TV commercials targeting our market.
For the most value in the Atlanta area, Return to Eden and Natural Foods Warehouse are worth exploring, no matter where you live. Those stores seem to be competing to offer the largest and most diverse selections of gluten free foods in the Southeast. Return to Eden even employs a Gluten Free Product Specialist, which no other store in GA has. Jennifer Harris gives free gluten free product tours, complete with test tasting and truthful reviews about the products. Return to Eden just reduced the price on Everybody Eats rolls and baguettes and they also carry gluten free ice cream cones. Tour details can be found on the Return to Eden website. Both stores do a very good job marking their gluten free products store with color coded tags.
Other notable stores here are Life Grocery in Marietta and Atlantis Natural Foods in Dunwoody. Atlantis stocks buns from The Grainless Baker and a gluten free Danish pastry by a company I'm not familiar with.
When I hear people complain about having to go to different stores to stock up on their favorite gluten free food, I think of the people who drive her monthly from South Carolina and Alabama to load their coolers with food not available in their area. Then I remember the words of Dr. Cynthia Rudert who said 'it's a great time to have Celiac' when speaking to the local support group here in 2006. To that I'd add 'it's even better if you live in Atlanta'!
Comments
That's a great suggestion to feature a GF product or products in our ads...I'll pass it on!
Return to Eden's monthly sale flyer always features a gluten free product and a statement about the availability of gluten free products in the store. Their website has a section listing each new GF product, as they bring in new products every week.
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