Meeting the Needs of the Gluten-Free Customer

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1 Meeting the Needs of the Gluten-Free Customer Certified GF Gluten-Free

2 The Next Big Thing If you have been to a restaurant in the past year, chances are you will see what is becoming more than just a growing trend. In establishments all across North America, menu selections marked gluten-free or gluten friendly are becoming more prominent. It is terminology such as the ambiguous "glutenfriendly" that raises red flags for celiac or gluten-intolerant individuals. Consumers living gluten-free often fear dining out because they have no control over the preparation of their food. The Gluten-Free Food Services (GFFS) Certification Program, is a Food Safety program of the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. GFFS is designed to work with all food service establishments who wish to provide safe options for gluten-free consumers. GFFS works with experts in food preparation to help develop, educate, and train service establishments to meet and adhere to the highest gluten-free standards. Because no two food service establishments are the same, GFFS Certifications are customized to the specific needs of each facility. Size, number of locations, and type of food establishment are taken into consideration when establishing unique standard operating procedures for each of our clients. To start the certification process, GFFS reviews the food service s current policies and procedures, and compares them to our Core Standards of Practice. Based on our evaluation, our quality control practices are adapted and incorporated into the establishment s current practices and are routinely monitored with audits being performed annually. A ground-breaking indicator showing that restaurants are looking at the gluten-free consumer as a key customer base came about in Pizza Hut, the world's largest pizza company, became the largest chain restaurant (based on location number) to work with GFFS and become gluten-free certified. GFFS's work with Pizza Hut shows that gluten-free food service certification is not just for smaller establishments Our certification is designed to establish trust with gluten-free consumers in the ability of a restaurant or facility to provide safe gluten-free food. Once any restaurant, big or small, meets our certification requirements a Gluten-Free Food Service Certification is issued. Our GFFS logo is then displayed at your facility on windows/ doors, menus, website and anywhere else deemed appropriate. GFFS features the newly certified establishment on our website and all our social media platforms. With more participants and interest in the program, GFFS is the next big thing in food certification that you will see more of in the months and years to come. Additional information regarding the Gluten-Free Food Service Certification is available at

3 Gluten-free certification through the Gluten Intolerance Group s GFFS program is the gold standard for a clean kitchen and demonstrates to our customers the depth of our attention to the care and quality of the food we serve." - Corey Rennell, CEO CORE Kitchen

4 The People Have Spoken How often is an individual with a restricted and/or specialty diet in your group/family the driving factor with your decision on which restaurant to go to? 58% 100% of the time 32% Most of the time 10% Other Citing the Restaurant Choices for the Gluten-Free Consumer survey distributed on June 9th, 2017 Restaurants and Food Service Education was one of the top 2 priorities for the gluten-free community in a recent survey. What Specific Resources would you find helpful for living gluten-free? #1 response More restaurant choices and increased restaurant awareness Citing the "Survey for the Gluten-Free Community" distributed on May 5th, 2017 Comments from our surveyors: "Recognize that we need accommodation in airports, restaurants, theme parks, and anywhere that you can not bring food." "Training of wait staff in restaurants is essential..." "We need a certifying body to train chefs and restaurants so we know that we'll be safe." "I wish I could eat out more. I'm tired of cooking but also tired of cross-contamination."

5 The Return on Your Investment Here Come the Customers 80% 95% 74% of gluten-free consumers feel safer eating in an establishment that is gluten-free certified of gluten-free consumers are somewhat to very likely to try a new restaurant because they have completed the gluten-free certification process. of gluten-free consumers are more likely to return to a restaurant that has achieved gluten-free certification than a restaurant that has not. Become Known to the Community GFFS is a program of the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG). GIG is the voice of the gluten-free community, with our outreach extending to hundreds of local support groups, more than 20,000 members, over 35,000 social media contacts and 150,000 unique website visitors. Numerous Resources & Education Opportunities GIG can provide you with the comprehensive knowledge to better train your staff and understand the needs of your gluten-free customer. Resources that we can provide include, but are not limited to: Educational worksheets about celiac disease, glutensensitivities, and wheat allergies Updates on food research studies that are being conducted to benefit you and the consumer Information about and access to our community support groups to help spread the word locally about your commitment to the gluten-free consumer More Benefits Include Experience A long established and dedicated organization, GFFS is a program of the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), an organization which has been understanding the needs of the gluten-free community for over four decades. Credibility Our partner program, GFCO, is a worldwide leader in glutenfree certification of products & manufacturers and a source of confidence for consumers. The Symbol of Trust The circle GF certification label is the symbol of trust in the gluten-free community. It is what customers look for and associate with safe products. It is what will allow you to stand apart from your competition in the eyes of the gluten-free consumer.

6 Some of Our Clients

7 Testimonials "Dempsey Bakery has been certified three years now. GFFS was very patient with us when we were joining the certification and helped walk us through the initial startup. This has helped our bakery grow and has given our customers, including commercial accounts, the confidence to purchase our products. GFFS continues to guide us and is always there to answer our new questions as they arise." Paula Dempsey, Owner Dempsey Bakery No matter the cause or reason a person is following a gluten-free diet, the recommendation is a strict, total avoidance of gluten. This includes avoiding gluten in foods that may have been cross contaminated from foods containing gluten. So caution in food preparation to avoid cross-contamination is very important to us here at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. Our partnership with the Gluten Intolerance Group has guaranteed our processes are working and in compliance with national standards. Anthony Verona CEC, CCA Culinary Director University Hospital Health System. UH Cleveland Medical Center NJY Camps added a gluten-free kitchen in summer 2011 because we knew every child should be able to attend overnight camp with their friends and siblings. We also knew having a dedicated kitchen was good but having the GIG certification was even better. Knowing that GIG would visit and review all of our procedures each and every summer gave us peace of mind knowing that we did everything to ensure the safety of our program. Our program has continued to grow and flourish and we truly believe that being able to say we have a dedicated kosher, GFFS Certified gluten-free kitchen tells potential camp families that we understand and will do everything we can to ensure a safe and happy summer for their child. Anne Tursky Assistant Executive Director NJY Camps, Milford, PA The entire experience that Auburn University has had with GFFS for the past two years has been very rewarding. From the initial creation of the GF venue on Campus, to the standards and annual audits they have been extremely helpful in guiding us through the process and maintaining the standards. We are proud to have the first retail GF certified venue on a college campus, our partnership with GFFS and look forward to the continued relationship. Emil Topel Senior Executive Chef Auburn University Auburn AL Recently we had a GIG (Gluten Intolerance Group) audit. The thing that I liked about it was, I was informed about some different ways we can have best practices on serving gluten free food safely. Also with the certificate in the window guests know when they walk through our doors they are going to have a safe meal with us, which is a really nice reassuring thing. Adam Baker General Manager The Melting Pot of Louisville, CO We reached out to the GIG at the beginning of summer to find out how (or if) we could establish a gluten-free food service outlet for the start of school from where our students, staff, and faculty could confidently purchase gluten-free food a challenge given that the GF outlet was a renovated space in an existing food court. Lindsey and her team were quick to respond to us with information and to our follow-up questions, and the path to certification ran smoothly. Within 2 months of exchanging menus and procedures, we had our initial audit. Lindsey provided us with some last minute requirements, and, sure enough, our GFFS certification was in place by the first day of school. Customer response to having a GFFS-certified outlet that provides good and healthy food in a food court has been very positive, and we hope to use our experience with fusion5 as a launching point for more certified operations on campus. Andrea De Vito Assistant Director, Retail Services & Administration fusion5 at University of Toronto Mississauga

8 Easy Steps to Certification Submit your Policies & Procedures We will review your Policies & Procedures to ensure all details are handled We will audit your facility to confirm that Policies & Procedures are being followed The certified process is now complete Continuous on-site inspections which provide opportunities to make changes to your paperwork if necessary, based on your previous year of learning and serving the gluten-free community