.
Doireann Barrett.
A TRALEE company has won the Corporate Livewire Prestige Awards 2020/2021 Gluten Free Food Business of the Year.
The UK and Ireland-based awards recognise small and medium-sized businesses that have proven to be the best in their market over the past 12 months.
Doireann Barrett from Tralee set up The Gluten Free Kitchen Company food and wellness brand in 2011, after being formally diagnosed with two life changing health conditions within 12 months of each other.
Continued below…
.
Back in 2004 and 2005 at the age of 25/26, Doireann was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease and Endometriosis.
After a lifetime of difficult symptoms which requires management through diet and nutrition, she saw a huge gap in the “free from” sector and after a 10 year career in the property sector took off on an adventure to establish a career in the food and wellness sector.
The Gluten Free Kitchen Company established itself in 2011 as a market stall, selling fresh baked goods “free from” the gluten protein and grains.
Soon after establishing — and due to popular demand of the products — she set up a temporary “Pop Up” Café, Deli and bakery retail establishment located in Ivy Terrace between 2012 and 2014, as Ireland’s first gluten free café/deli.
This is where the brand got formally established and went on to grow into the multi award winning brand it is today.
Unfortunately, in 2015 Doireann’s health deteriorated and she discovered she had to face a serious health-scare which required her full-time attention and led to putting a lot of business plans on hold while she focussed on her health.
She moved the business online back in 2015, trading from its website www.thegfkitchenco.ie and popping up at food-stall events.
Doireann introduced a ‘Wellness Hub’ to the business model where she has been trained in the benefits of quality vitamins, supplements, holistic wellbeing and the essentials of sport & exercise nutrition where she can advise and supply a wide range of quality products for purchase.
The brand celebrates its 10th year in business this year and over the past number of years on the project, Doireann has won many awards and nominations including this recent award from UK based awards Corporate Livewire Prestige Awards 2020/ 2021 for Gluten Free Food Business of the Year in the Republic of Ireland.
