Niamh Scally launches new Clonakilty Gluten Free Kitchen bakery range
New range was inspired by conversation retailers had with a mother of a Coeliac child who wanted a gluten-free novelty birthday cake
Print14 July 2021
Clonakilty Gluten Free Kitchen, a range of artisan bakery products suitable for coeliacs and those with a gluten intolerance, is now available throughout Cork, with plans underway to expand throughout Munster.
The brand is celebrating its rapid expansion over the last number of months from two to 20 stockists across County Cork and edging its way into Limerick and Kerry.
Clonakilty Gluten Free Kitchen originated in 2015 as a specialised in-store gluten free bakery (the first of its kind in Ireland) in Scally’s SuperValu in Clonakilty.
Following a conversation with the mother of a Coeliac child who wanted a novelty birthday cake just like all the other kids had, owners Eugene and Catriona Scally quickly identified a gap in the market for a wider gluten free offering and invested in a specialist gluten free bakery.
There is a large market for quality gluten free produce in Ireland with an estimated 50,000 people living with coeliac disease in Ireland and a further 400,000 who are gluten intolerant.
The initiative proved popular, with customers travelling far and wide for the range. In autumn 2020, daughter Niamh Scally took the reins to grow the brand from a gluten free unit to the rear of the store into a fully-fledged independent business. With Niamh at the helm, the brand moved into a new stand-alone production unit in Bandon last October, and now employs five staff.
The scratch bakery range now includes 17 lines including yeast breads like their rustic white loaf, multigrain and white rolls, specialty loaves, oat and yogurt loaf, corn bread and brioche, and confectionery lines including apple tart, tea brack and more.
Since its inception eight months ago, the brand has grown from two to 20 stockists, with a strategic focus on reaching communities across Cork City and County. Now that that’s nearly complete, it’s starting to edge its way into Kerry and Limerick as part of a planned rollout across Munster, and Niamh is looking forward to further enhancing production and store listings once space allows.
“The response from the consumer has been incredibly positive, they have a real appreciation for the freshness, taste and breadth of range and we recently launched our apple tart as a result of listening to our audience,” Niamh said.
Whilst safety is paramount with the brand only using suppliers that are certified gluten-free, the focus is on variety and taste. Clonakilty Gluten Free Kitchen has been developed by non coeliacs for coeliacs with expert bakers taking the time to perfect the recipes to achieve the brand’s signature great taste.
The allergy safe brand is included in the Coeliac Society of Ireland Food List for 2021 which is compiled in accordance with current EC legislation and, in addition to checking food labels, offers coeliacs and those with a gluten intolerance reassurance about what is safe to eat.
Clonakilty Gluten Free Kitchen is available to shop online through selected SuperValu stores as part of the SuperValu Food Academy programme and is also available in 13 SuperValu outlets and four Centra stores in Munster. It is also served in five-star hotel The Europe Killarney and The Great Southern Hotel Killarney.
“SuperValu’s Food Academy which is supported by the Local Enterprise Office and Bord Bia has been a fantastic support through offering expert advice and guidance on upscaling and growing the business,” Niamh said.
“As part of that, SuperValu retailers have given me my first chance which is critical for small producers when it comes to growth and I am really grateful for that support,” she added.
The Clonakilty Gluten Free Kitchen range is now stocked in the following stores:
SuperValu: Cork Clonakilty, Bandon, Skibbereen, Bantry, Dunmanway, Ballincollig, Tower, Togher, Grange, Glanmire, Blackrock, Carrigaline, and Kinsale.
Centra: New Road Bandon, Aherla, Crosshaven and Drimoleague.
It is also served at five-star hotels including The Europe Hotel Killarney and The Great Southern Hotel Killarney.
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