First 'free-from' meals to hit supermarket chillers in the spring

The first chilled ready meals and desserts for people on restricted diets should hit stores this spring following a deal between gourmet food manufacturer Castle Kitchens and Waitrose to test the market.

Castle Kitchens, which has just secured planning permission to build what it claims is Europe's first dedicated allergen-free plant at Washington, West Sussex, will supply the chilled products from a temporary facility at its existing site in Washington until its new £6m factory opens late next year.

The range will be under the Castle Farm Estate brand and trialled in selected Waitrose stores from late March, said Castle Kitchens md Jan Sheward. She said: “This is a first for the industry. Currently, free-from or restricted diet products in supermarkets are restricted to the ambient aisles. But there is clearly a big opportunity for retailers to branch out into other areas, given the number of people in this country with some kind of food intolerance. Why should we just restrict the offer to packaged groceries?”

The range is likely to include meals such as chicken and asparagus lasagne suitable for gluten-free, egg-free and wheat-free diets; cottage pie suitable for gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free and wheat-free diets and chocolate sponge suitable for gluten-free, wheat-free and dairy-free diets, she added.

The company, which currently supplies airline including Quantas, Air Canada and Virgin Atlantic with meals for passengers with special dietary requirements, is predicting a sharp rise in demand in this niche market following the introduction of new allergen-labelling rules, she said. “Airline caterers are simply not equipped to deal with restricted diets. We can offer a full tray set up ensuring a nutritionally balanced meal that is free from the relevant allergens.”

Castle Kitchens is on course to turn over £4.5m in 2006, and is aiming to be in the £10-£12m range by the end of 2007, said Sheward.