It can be difficult to enjoy the festive season when you are coeliac or gluten intolerant. With over 500,000 individuals falling into that category, Dunnes Stores have teamed up with the Coeliac Society of Ireland to lead the way in demonstrating how you can have a tasty enjoyable festive season with friends and family without the fear of being ill as a result.
In 2022, Dunnes Stores were the first Irish retailer to take The Crossed Grain Trademark licence and they continue to lead the way with their own gluten-free range with many new products planned for next year. The range is certified to be safe and suitable for people with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance. The Crossed Grain Trademark represents safety and integrity, providing certainty that what is purchased at Dunnes Stores is manufactured to the highest standards. It also provides a quick reference point for customers when out shopping, removing uncertainty about the gluten-free status of a product. Providing the highest quality and safest food products, giving reassurance to Gluten Free shoppers.
“In 2022 we were first retailer in Ireland to receive the Crossed Grain Trademark, and we continue to honour this status in 2023. All our customers are important to us and being able to reassure those who suffer particularly from coeliac disease and gluten intolerances of the highest quality and safest food products is a priority. We want to ensure that everyone gets to enjoy Christmas, for those who are hosting and may have someone who needs gluten-free solutions to those who suffer from coeliac disease and gluten customers but want to enjoy the festive season to the maximum” - James Wilson, Food Director at Dunnes Stores.
The Christmas Hub 2023 is available online to all those who are gluten intolerant. The hub is packed with information and practical advice from health and nutrition experts as well as tips, recipes, and videos. It also provides helpful hints about staying healthy over the festive season. Most importantly, there is clear information on how to prepare food safely to avoid cross-contamination with foods that contain gluten.
“We are excited to partner with Ireland’s leading grocer, Dunnes Stores, for a second year running. Christmas is a time of celebration and indulgence, and it should be no different for those who cannot eat anything containing gluten, for medical reasons. Even a small amount of gluten can make someone living with coeliac disease very ill. Our goal is to demonstrate that it is easy to thrive during Christmas, despite the many difficulties avoiding gluten poses. We are delighted that Dunnes Stores are leading the way and demonstrating how achievable this is. We are here to support our community.” - Louise Ryan, Marketing lead for the Coeliac Society of Ireland.
As part of the campaign, we will be running a charity Christmas raffle to raise vital funds for our work here at the Society with the top prize of a voucher sponsored by Dunnes Stores. The Christmas hub can be located at www.coeliac.ie/christmas-hub/
