DENVER, Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Udi's Gluten
Free Foods is pleased to partner with the 2012 Food Network New
York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE to
educate attendees about a gluten-free lifestyle. Udi's Gluten Free
Foods - the gluten-free category leader in North America – will participate in the
Festival's Oct. 11 – 14 events as its
first gluten-free sponsor.
The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival
presented by FOOD & WINE is hosted by and benefits the Food
Bank for New York City and Share
Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign. One hundred percent of the
Festival's net proceeds go toward helping these community-based
organizations fight hunger.
At the Festival, Udi's is partnering with "Now Eat This!"
Celebrity Chef Rocco DiSpirito to
share healthy, tasty gluten-free meals at events such as the
Oct. 12 Thrillist's BBQ and The Blues
hosted by DiSpirito. Tickets to this event and more are available
at www.nycwff.org. The highly popular chef released his newest
cookbook "Now Eat This! Italian" last month, and it will
appear on the New York Times Best Sellers list at number seven on
Oct. 14, 2012.
"Udi's is extremely pleased to partner with the Food Network New
York City Wine & Food Festival as its first gluten-free sponsor
and to introduce and share our delicious, gluten-free foods with
event participants," said Denise
Sirovatka, Udi's vice president of marketing. "As gluten
free becomes mainstream with consumers looking for a healthier
lifestyle, Udi's is participating in events like the Festival to
provide recipes and tasty options to help bring joy to eating
gluten free."
Between 2004 and 2010, the gluten-free category in the U.S. grew
by 28 percent, and projections indicate an estimated 16 percent
increase from 2010-2015, making it a $5.5
billion-dollar industry.(1) Currently, 1 in 133
Americans have celiac disease, and another 20 percent of the U.S.
population may suffer from gluten intolerance. The size of the
gluten-free market has grown to 21 million households.
Udi's gluten-free recipes and products will be shared with
attendees at Festival events, including the Grand Tasting Oct.12 -
14, Fun & Fit in the City on Oct.
13 and the Sandwich Showdown on Oct.
14.
Udi's revolutionized the gluten-free category by introducing the
first gluten-free bread that tastes and looks like "real"
bread. Udi's success is built on strong communication with
the gluten-free community and a commitment to creating foods,
including breads, bagels, muffins and granola that have the taste
and texture of conventional gluten-filled products.
Udi's Gluten Free Foods are available at national grocery stores
and retailers and can be purchased online at
www.udisglutenfree.com. All of Udi's baked goods are made in
a 100 percent dedicated, certified gluten-free bakery located in
Denver to eliminate and prevent
the risk of cross-contamination.
About Udi's Healthy Foods, LLC
Udi's Healthy Foods LLC (Udi's) is a leader in the fast
growing market for gluten free foods in North America. Udi's
markets a diversified and growing range of gluten free products
under the well recognized Udi's Gluten Free Foods brand in the
retail market, and since mid-2011, food service channels.
Udi's Gluten Free Foods is a leading brand in gluten free bread and
bakery products. In addition, Udi's markets other gluten free
products in the frozen pizza and granola categories.
About Smart Balance, Inc.
Smart Balance, Inc. (NasdaqGM: SMBL) is committed to
providing superior tasting, solution-driven products in every
category it enters. The company's health and wellness
platform consists of brands that target specific consumer
needs: Glutino and Udi's for gluten free diets; Earth Balance
for plant-based diets; Smart Balance for heart healthier diets; and
Bestlife for weight management. For more information about
Smart Balance, Inc., please visit www.smartbalance.com.
(1) Packaged Facts Gluten Free Foods and Beverages in the US,
third Edition (February 2011)
SOURCE Udi's Gluten Free Foods