Arnott’s Biscuits Goes Bigger on Gluten Free: Here’s What’s Coming
Hey Gluten Free Fam,
Here’s some bite-sized news for you!
Arnott’s New Gluten Free Investment
Australia’s own biscuit giant Arnott’s announcing latest gluten free investment
For those of us coeliacs and gluten free folk who enjoy the current gluten free ranges from Arnott’s, you’ll want to give this a read. Giuseppe Tauriello has reported in The Australian that Arnott’s is investing millions in a manufacturing upgrade for their Adelaide facility.
With profits increasing consistently in the gluten free market, Arnott’s has stated a huge ambition: to boost their revenue from 3% to 10% of total gluten free biscuit sales. This follows on from the release of the Coeliac Australia endorsed Gluten Free Tim Tam range, Shapes and Jatz ranges.
We chatted to Alison Baldwin, Arnott’s former Group Nutritionist in 2022 on A Gluten Free Podcast to discuss their second launch of gluten free ranges including: Mint Slice, Shortbread Cream and Teevee Snacks Original.
The current products in Arnott’s gluten free ranges have been received very well. Arnott’s tend to use gorilla marketing in their approach. They are simply placed on the shelves of the big supermarkets with minimal advertising.
The gluten free community create a buzz and spread the word for them, particularly on gluten free Facebook groups. When any company, particularly one as large as Arnott’s, looks out for us coeliac and gluten free folk - we want to tell our gluten free friends where and how to find them!
Positives from the Gluten Free Biscuit News
While options at the moment are still fairly limited compared to the gluten-containing ranges, there’s good news. Arnott’s Group chief marketing officer Jenni Dill explained to The Australian the company is aiming to release a brand new gluten free product to the public every 6 months.
Personally, I’d say this is a win and a great sign for us in the coeliac and gluten free community. Why? Arnott’s are one of the biggest biscuit manufacturers and brands in the country.
If they not only recognise the rapid growth of coeliac and gluten free customers, but act on it, then we enjoy more quality coeliac-safe options. Other businesses are more likely to follow Arnott’s lead when they see successful results of a huge Australian brand investing in the gluten free market.
Factoring the Costs of Gluten Free Treats
However, it comes as no shock to anyone who is part of our gluten free family: cost is a key factor. Depending on which item you buy, food that has a gluten free label is often listed at a much higher price than the cost of their gluten-containing equivalent.
There are many reasons for this and we’ll be chatting more about it in the future. In short, it comes down to the high cost of gluten free ingredients, a smaller niche market and the cost to deliver safe products which involves extra machinery, staffing, extensive safety protocols, etc.
This doesn’t change the fact it’s a big cost for us in the coeliac and gluten free community.
Arnott’s new Adelaide facility upgrade signals clear gluten free market expansion
A quick scan of gluten free options online is pretty mind-blowing. Take Woolworths for example. They are selling Arnott’s Jatz Original Cracker Biscuits 225g for $3.00 each while Arnott’s Gluten Free Jatz Cracker Biscuits 130g are sold for $4.90 each. That is a difference of $1.33 per 100g for the original product, and $3.77 per 100g for the gluten free option.
In other words, we pay way more money for less of the actual product.
This is commonplace across the board, no matter which supermarket or store you shop at. With cost of living pressures impacting families everywhere, it’s extremely frustrating to have the extra burden of higher prices just to eat safely for those of us following a gluten free diet.
My Takeaways from Arnott’s News
My opinion? I do enjoy the current Arnott’s gluten free ranges. Gluten Free Tim Tams are definitely my go-to. What I don’t love is the higher price point, but I do understand why it’s there.
Does it make the pricing any less frustrating? No. Will I still buy them from time to time? Of course. I never deny myself a gluten free treat!
This recent expansion and investment news is a net positive. We have evidence of further commercial momentum for gluten free foods. With this being said, we have to remain vocal and vigilant about the cost.
Thankfully, we’ve got some discounts on our Extended Family page. Check them out if you’d like to treat yourself and save some gluten free bucks in the process!
It’ll be interesting to see what gluten free products will be released next from Arnott’s. Keep an eye on our website for updates.
I have my fingers crossed for a packet of gluten free Monte Carlos - yum! What’s yours?
