Announcing Our Newest Gluten Free Products

Posted on Monday, March 12, 2012 by Wendy Hofstetter

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This past weekend, we attended the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California. With over 58,000 professionals in the natural, organic, and healthy products industry who showcased their best products and introduced new ones, this was a great event for Udi’s to show what we’ve been cooking.

We introduced three new gluten free products that we know you will be excited about. Without further ado, here they are:

1. Vanilla Cupcakes
These moist, delicious vanilla cupcakes are so good, you won’t want to save them just for special occasions. Add a little frosting or eat them right out of the package, either way they are a tasty treat that helps you stick to your gluten-free lifestyle. {Note: Frosting is not included}

2. Classic French Dinner Rolls
Finally, dinner is complete. Our delicious Gluten Free Classic French Dinner Rolls are perfect for sharing at dinner with family or friends. These delicious rolls rival any gluten containing roll. They are so good, no one will know they are gluten free!

3. Whole Grain Seeded Dinner Rolls
Our Gluten Free Whole Grain Seeded Dinner Rolls are just as delicious as our Classic French Dinner Rolls, they just happen to be more nutritious. These rolls are loaded with healthy chia, sunflower, and flax seeds.

4. Classic French Baguette
Family style dining just got better with our new Classic French Baguette. Break off a crusty slice, dip it in your favorite sauce, and savor the joy of this gluten free life.

Are you ready to try our new products? Start looking for them this Summer at your local conventional or natural grocery store. In the meantime, tell us…

Which of these products are you most excited to try? Comment below.

Donate To Charity And Send Free Gluten Free Gifts This Month

Posted on Thursday, December 1, 2011 by admin

Happy December to all of our gluten free readers! First, we want to thank you for making our Joy Mission so successful in November. We gave away 180 gluten free holiday prize packs during the month and had fun doing it! Second, we are announcing the next phase of our Joy Mission program for the remainder of 2011. Below are two ways you can help us spread the gluten free joy now through December 31st.

Like Us For Charity
For every new like we get on our Facebook page now through December 31st, we will donate one meal to a food bank near you (up to 40,000 meals). Participating food banks include: Food Bank of the Rockies, Los Angeles Regional Foodbank, and Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

Send FREE Udi’s Gifts To Your Friends
Already like us on Facebook? We’re giving you a chance to spread some gluten free joy of your own. Send any three Facebook friends a FREE Udi’s Gift bundle now through December 31^st. (Friends must reside in the U.S.)

These gift bundles are perfect for anyone on your list — a gluten free family member, a health-minded friend interested in trying gluten free foods, or someone you know who doesn’t think gluten free can taste THIS good!

Hurry, because we are only giving away 10,000 gifts! Click here to get started.

What else will you be doing this month to help spread joy?

Udi’s Ambassadors Fall Update!

Posted on Sunday, November 20, 2011 by admin

The past few months, Udi’s Community Ambassadors have been busy spreading the joy to gluten-free communities all over the country. Our hard-working ambassadors attended over one hundred events ranging from vendor fairs to Celiac support group meetings and in-store demos to restaurant gluten-free events. I can talk about their experiences, but I figured it would mean more coming directly from them. Here are a few highlights from our very own ambassadors:

On October 1st I attended the Holistic Mothers Conference with fellow Ambassador Amy D. Anytime there is an event near me I’m willing to attend and let others know my love for Udi’s and support the Udi’s family. When I found out it was the Holistic Mothers Conference, I was more than excited. I try my hardest to have our family eat healthy and be as green as possible. This was a great event to share my story with other women as it pertains to eating gluten free. Also, it was great to see other women who eat gluten free for the same reason. Some had never tried Udi’s and were very satisfied with the samples. I love an event where my personal experience can help spread the joy of Udi’s and this was one of those events! – Kat K. in California

I have enjoyed being an Udi’s Ambassador at our local Celiac Support meetings! The people who have tried Udi’s are just so appreciative and the ones who have not are happy to try it! Our last meeting in September was a potluck. How wonderful for us to be able enjoy a meal where everything is gluten free! We even had sandwiches (made with Udi’s, of course)! For the most recent meeting, we are having a cookie exchange where everybody brings 2 dozen of their favorite GF cookies and the recipe and we all get to try them. Udi’s cookies are a fantastic choice; great taste without the mess! This is a great time to be a Celiac… so many choices! – Bev C. in Kansas

Phew! In September, I had TWO events at the same store! The first event went well. People sampled and then bought the products they tasted. The manager was dismayed to find the store out of cookies! The real highlight for me was when the UPS gentleman came into the store and sampled Udi’s. He said his wife and children both had Celiac Disease. After one bite, he called his wife immediately and told her about them. Needless to say, I sent him on his way with a number of samples for him to take to his family. After the success of that event, the manager asked me to come back for the Customer Appreciation Day, which is their largest event of the year. With over 200 people attending, there were lots of samples given out and the bread disappeared from the shelves in no time. What great people and what a great store! Aaron, the store manager, really feels that the town needs to continue to discover Udi’s great gluten free products. Thank you to Nature’s Cupboard in Michigan City, Indiana. – Janene G. in Indiana

Did you see our ambassadors this Fall? Share your stories!

Announcing Our New Gluten Free Products

Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 by admin

Our customers are certainly not shy about requesting new gluten free foods from us. We get hundreds of suggestions each week between our Facebook page, Twitter account, and website. What you may not know is that our product development team actually watches these venues closely to determine what new, delicious products we can create to add even more variety for all of you eating a gluten free diet.

With that said, we are proud to announce a line of new gluten free products coming your way soon!

Frozen Pizzas
We have heard many great compliments on our gluten free pizza crust and decided to take it to the next level! Udi’s new frozen pizzas will be available in pepperoni, margherita, and 3-cheese flavors. You can expect to see them in Whole Foods this December and additional retailers beginning in February 2012. Talk about the perfect gluten free lunch!

Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites
Who doesn’t love a rich, chocolatey brownie every now and then? (Or if you’re like me, pretty much every day.) We’re making it easy to pick up this tasty treat, all while sticking to your gluten free diet. Eat them on their own, or add some ice cream for a decadent dessert. Look for these new brownie bites in January 2012.

Omega Flax & Fiber
You asked for it; you got it! This new bread has more fiber than our original white and whole grain varieties, but is just as tasty. Try it on sandwiches, as a companion to soups, or simply right out of the bag. We start shipping this bread to stores on October 31st.

Muffin Tops
These fortified muffin tops (name still TBD) are nutritionally minded to add a little something extra to your diet. Don’t worry…they still taste great! Starting in 2012, choose between blueberry or chocolate flavors to enhance your gluten free breakfast.

Cinnamon Rolls
Wait…don’t we already have cinnamon rolls? The answer is yes, BUT…we are reformulating them to make them even more delicious. This new recipe is softer and even more delicious. Thanks to all of our fans who gave us feedback on the original recipe. Look for these new cinnamon rolls later this year.

Have other new product ideas? Comment below and we’ll keep them in mind!

iPad 2 Winner Announced

Posted on Thursday, September 22, 2011 by admin

Everyone at Udi’s Gluten Free would like to say, "thank you."

Thanks to all our fans who participated in our most recent contest. We sincerely appreciate all who looked for the hidden items in our Scavenger Hunt. The total number of participants exceeded all of our expectations at Udi’s.

Secondly, thank you to everyone who stayed up all night glued to the Internet viewing our gluten free website. The hidden items on our website were not the easiest to find. We were thrilled to giveaway five, gluten free products twice a week.

That said, we are even more thrilled to giveaway our Grand Prize, an Apple iPad 2.

On behalf of the entire Udi’s Gluten Free team and our incredible community of fans, I’d like to congratulate our Grand Prize Winner (drum roll)….

Cyndi Jo M.

You’re now the proud owner of your very own iPad 2 with an engraved message from the Udi’s team, which reads:

"Congratulations Cindy Jo M!!! Food for thought from Udi’s Gluten Free."

Thanks again to all of our fans who participated. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for news, product updates, promotions, recipes, healthy tips and fun.

USA Today Article Discusses the Rise of Celiac Disease

Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 by admin

USA Today recently published an article discussing the recent increase of Celiac Disease diagnoses in the United States. Dr. Alessio Fasano, director of the Center for Celiac Research and the Mucosal Biology Research Center at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, explains that Celiac Disease is now “…quite widespread. We thought there were regional differences in the past, but now we know it’s everywhere.”

While nobody is positive what has caused the recent prevalence of the disease, the article delves into various hypotheses such as “hygiene hypothesis”, an increase in the amount of gluten found in grains and the exposure of gluten at earlier ages.

Regardless of the reason behind the rise of diagnoses, experts agree that early intervention is critical.

At Udi’s Gluten Free, we understand how difficult and intimidating the gluten-free diet can be in the beginning. We are committed to making delicious gluten-free products, connecting with the greater gluten-free community and providing an array of resources to assist both the newly diagnosed and the gluten-free veteran.

We recently launched our new website, which advances our interaction capabilities, so we can further communicate with our loyal fans. The ‘Our Community’ tab of our new site features Facebook and Twitter integration, updated gluten-free recipes for every level cook and a calendar of the nationwide events that Udi’s will be attending. Furthermore, our Gluten-Free Toolkit offers useful tips on topics ranging from restaurant gluten-free cooking to how to thriving on the gluten-free diet in college.

Whether we like it or not, the incident rates of Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance continue to increase, but Udi’s is here to help the gluten-free community navigate the sometimes choppy waters.

We strive to make your lives more delicious, nutritious and fun!

For more information, check out the full article in USA Today.

Udiâ€™s Gluten Free Foods Gives Back to the Community

Posted on Monday, August 8, 2011 by admin

Udi’s celebrates 300K Facebook fans by donating 300 pounds of granola to a charity chosen by fans.

Udi’s Gluten Free Foods is asking our Facebook fans to choose a charity to receive 300lbs of gluten free granola as a way to thank you for your enthusiastic support. We have experienced unparalleled growth on our Facebook page due to loyal and passionate fans. Facebook, therefore, has become an important medium for us to communicate with our customers and to showcase our commitment to the gluten-free community.

Deciding on a charity to donate 300lbs of granola is a daunting task, so we figured we would once again turn to our loyal fans. “Facebook has been crucial in building our brand. It has given us unprecedented access to our fans and customers, letting us listen, respond and unify a community around one simple mission – creating the best gluten free food possible,” said Warren Pattison, Director of Digital Marketing. “Today, we ask our fans to come together one more time to help us help those in need.”

On August 4th, 2011 we asked our fans to nominate a charity on our Facebook wall, and Udi’s staff selected five finalists:

1. The Road Home

2. The Food Bank of the Rockies

3. The Peninsula Communities of Faith’s Food Backpacks 4 Kids

4. Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties

5. Children’s Hunger Fund

About Each Organization:

(1) The Road Home is a private non-profit social service agency helping individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Salt Lake County. (2) The Food Bank of the Rockies provides food assistance to nearly 400,000 people who live in poverty and struggle to meet their basic food needs. (3) The Peninsula Communities of Faith’s Food Backpacks 4 Kids program is a community effort to ensure that students who need food on the weekends have access to nutritious and easy-to-prepare food. (4) Second Harvest Food Bank provides food assistance, conducts nutrition classes and works with lawmakers to advocate for policy changes that can help eliminate hunger and its root causes in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. (5) Children’s Hunger Fund fights hunger using the unique in-home food delivery method that in turn builds trusting relationships.

Voting begins on Tuesday, August 9 at 9 a.m. MST and closes on August 11 at 11:59pm MST. On Friday, August 12, we will announce the recipient of the giveaway on, where else but, Facebook.

http://facebook.com/udisglutenfree

Share this great news with your friends!

Jillian @ Udi’s Gluten Free Foods

Cali Rubyâ€™s Diners Now Offering Udiâ€™s Hamburger Buns!

Posted on Thursday, July 14, 2011 by admin

We are passionate about our customers here at Udi’s, so we love hearing how our products improve quality of life and bring happiness to those who enjoy them. I recently started my summer internship with Udi’s Gluten Free a couple of weeks ago. Although I am not gluten free, I have friends with celiac and see how a simple activity like dining out can prove to be complicated for someone living a gluten free lifestyle. Eating food prepared out of sight by a stranger can be a little nerve-wracking, especially if the food you’ve ordered hasn’t specifically been listed as a gluten free item. Although celiac and GF awareness is increasing, a world where one may dine out gluten free with ease is still a work in progress.

But for our friends in California, we just got one step closer!

Udi’s Gluten Free is ecstatic to officially announce our new partnership with Ruby’s Diner. Customers at all California locations can now enjoy a famous Ruby’s burger, on a bun Ruby's & Udi's partner to offer gluten-free hamburgers at their classic diner the way it was intended – with an Udi’s gluten-free hamburger bun!

Ruby’s is a phenomenal 1940’s-style diner offering classic American food and milkshakes. Bright red vinyl booths, white Formica tables, old school soda fountains, and colorful 1940’s poster art give Ruby’s Diners a distinctive atmosphere reminiscent of the swing era. Their dedication to creating such a positive dining experience has made Ruby’s a Southern California favorite.

Not only does Ruby’s offer a unique dining experience, they also have a large variety of lighter options such as “Lite Fries,” which have 40% less fat, and “Veggie Delights.” Restaurant founder Doug Cavanaugh is quoted on the Ruby’s official website saying, “The fun atmosphere inspires people to come to Ruby’s for the first time, but our high quality food, friendly service and reasonable prices keep them coming back.”

Ruby’s motto, “Only the best for our guests!” seems to really ring true. This family-friendly restaurant’s commitment to customer satisfaction matches our own here at Udi’s, which is why we are proud to join forces with Ruby’s in order to continue spreading the joy of Udi’s Gluten Free. Now that Ruby’s and Udi’s have partnered to make dining out easier for those living Gluten Free; head to a Ruby’s Diner for a great burger on a great bun and tell us what you think. We would love to hear your feedback!

To find a Ruby’s Diner near you click here, and give them a call to make sure that your location offers the new gluten-free buns!

–Kendall C.

A BeUDIful Spring!

Posted on Monday, June 13, 2011 by admin

It has been a busy spring for our Udi’s Community Ambassadors! The combination of warmer weather and Celiac Awareness Month in May yielded a plethora of fun, gluten-free events all over the country. As I announced earlier, Udi’s Gluten Free is a national sponsor for the Making Tracks for Celiac walks, and attended seven walks, all of which were huge successes for both the participants and University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research (they raised over $96,000 for the Center!).

Making Tracks for Celiac - Syracuse On May 1, Carolyn S. handed out samples of our granola to runners and walkers at the inaugural Arlington, Virgina Celiac Walk. Additionally, on May 22, she helped our Healthcare Outreach Director, Sarah Lapp, make toast with jam and bagels with cream cheese for participants at the 10th Annual Walk in Baltimore, Maryland. One day earlier, on May 21, Beth L. and Jan T. not only sampled our muffins and bagels, but also put together a beUDIful gift bag (containing our new buns and ancient grain breads!) for the silent auction in Tri-County, Michigan.

In addition to the Making Tracks for Celiac walks, our ambassadors have been busy sampling our new Hamburger and Hot dog buns at various gluten-free BBQs. On May 15, Ashley M. brought the new buns to the Annual Indiana Gluten Free Summer Potluck in West Lafayette, Indiana, where she said, “everyone raved over the hamburger and hot dog buns. They were excited to be able to eat a normal bun again.”
Ambassador, Katrina T. at Tampa BBQ
In Tampa, Florida, Katrina brought buns to the Tampa Gluten Free Friends Memorial Day BBQ potluck. People were able to enjoy their delicious gluten-free hamburgers, chicken burgers and hot dogs without any fear! This past weekend, Regan, our Ambassador Coordinator for the West, attended the CSA Summer BBQ here in Denver, Colorado and served up Canino’s Sausages (a local GF sausage company) in Udi’s buns. Meanwhile, in Warner Robbins, Georgia, Pam A. sampled Udi’s Hot Dog buns and cookies at the GIG of Middle Georgia Summer Picnic.

As the summer progresses, we plan to continue supporting gluten-free BBQs happening all over the nation. Look for Udi’s Q’s where we’ll be grilling GF delights in Florida, New York, California and many more places. Furthermore, if you’re planning on or want to throw an Udi-Q for your community, we want to help out. We know that there is nothing better than grilling with your friends and family on a hot summer night, and now, we can help you do so gluten and worry-free!

-Maeve

200,000 Fans & Growing – Thank You!

Posted on Monday, May 23, 2011 by admin

Thank you for making Udi’s the best!

200,000 fans and growing…

Unbelievable!!!! Udi’s has reached a very special milestone – 200,000 Facebook Fans.

Withinn eight short months Udi’s has grown from 2,500 Fans to the overwhelming community that exists today. By bringing people together with delicious gluten free bread and baked goods we have brought a little joy to the lives of those with celiac disease and gluten-free individuals. None of this is possible without you – our fans drive our vision, our products and our growth.

But we are only one percent there. With the help of 200 dedicated employees, Udi’s is excited to continue the journey and we hope you’ll stay along for the ride. We have more exciting products in the works so you can enjoy the foods you love. If you promise to keep it between us, I can tell you that I am very excited about some frozen pizzas that are coming out of our test kitchen. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear from you.

We are committed to the gluten-free community and we hope you’ll be part of the exciting things that are happening at Udi’s. Join us at facebook.com/udisglutenfree

Keep sharing the joy … Tell Your Friends

See you at 300,000!

- Devin Anderson

President & CEO of Udi’s Gluten Free Foods

Since gaining 200,000 fans on Facebook, Udi’s gluten-free foods is proud to announce we won the following awards. None of this is possible without our amazing fans!

Triumph Dining – 2011 Best of Gluten-Free Winners

“Best Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread” Udi's Gluten Free Breads
Udi’s White Sandwich Bread