The event, at the British Motor Museum on 14 June, is open to food service, retail and manufacturing industries and will provide information on how to cater for people with coeliac disease, plus share insight from those businesses already providing gluten-free.
Speakers include the Food Standards Agency, Mintel, Horizons, RSSL, British Motor Museum, PizzaExpress, Hard Rock Café, Marks & Spencer, Unilever, Bells of Lazonby and Nestlé.
Experts from Coeliac UK will also provide updates for the industry and details on the gluten-free consultation services and accreditation schemes provided by the charity, which has already given Gluten Free accreditation to a number of restaurants, including PizzaExpress, Carluccio's, ASK, Pho and Cote.
Sarah Sleet, chief executive of Coeliac UK, said: “The aim of the event is to allow manufacturers, retailers and the catering sector to gain essential insight from those companies that have already embraced a gluten-free offering and also facilitate opportunities for them to work together to help improve consumer experiences.”
“With half a million people in the UK still to be diagnosed with coeliac disease and many people choosing a gluten-free lifestyle, the demand for new products across the retail sector and catering establishments where people can enjoy a wide range of gluten-free menu options will only increase and we hope that this event will encourage debate and valuable information for all sectors.”
The catering sector is estimated to be missing out on £100m a year from people with coeliac disease because they can't find enough gluten-free options when dining out.
According to Mintel, the UK Free From market is currently valued at £365m and forecast to grow by 50 per cent by 2019 and the gluten-free market is worth an estimated £210m.