A little warning before the video (because we know our own reaction and the sensitivity about this topic) – Josh describes celiac disease as a “disease but it’s like an allergy” and continues to say that “people who are allergic to gluten, which is mainly in wheat”, need to follow a gluten-free diet. Don’t forget that the protein gluten is also in rye and barley! In addition, most oats a cross-contaminated during harvesting and processing so you have to avoid them as well.

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1

We are sure that Canyon Bakehouse’s products will also be carried in the new gluten-free heaven – with 6,000 square feet of floor space, the nation’s largest entirely gluten-free store is set to open in Burbank, CA. As Debora Ceizler, marketing director for the Celiac Disease Foundation, rightly points out and we at Custom Choice Cereal have tackled (2.5 billion combinations of gluten-free cereal, anyone?): “Variety is difficult to find and variety is key”.

Have you tried the Canyon Bakehouse products?  Which one is your favorite?

Author Keith Upchurch actually has celiac disease, which I thought was a very interesting coincidence. He had not previously heard of us and really liked our concept. This being said, the reason why he wrote his article was because of our recent partnership with gourmet retailer Dean & DeLuca in New York City.

But I don’t want to repeat everything from the article about Custom Choice Cereal. Instead, I encourage you to check it out! I’m just thrilled to have a newspaper write about my little gluten-free company and help at least one more person on a gluten-free diet enjoy a variety of tasty breakfast again!

The expansion into the retail channel represents a logical step to give you better access to a great-tasting gluten-free cereal right when you crave it. You know that it is our goal to making living gluten-free a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone, so bringing Custom Choice Cereal even closer to you is what we regard a part of our customer service. Having been able to partner with gourmet retailer Dean & DeLuca is at the same time another great confirmation of the exceptional quality of our products.

If you live in The City, you now have another option to surprise your Valentine with a unique gluten-free gift! As of today, our cereal is now available for you on the shelf at the following Dean & DeLuca stores:

• 1150 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028
• 104 Crosby St (560 Broadway), New York, NY 10012

Founded in 1977 by Joel Dean, Giorgio DeLuca and Jack Ceglic with the opening of its flagship store in SoHo New York, Dean & DeLuca quickly grew into a multi-channel retailer of gourmet and specialty foods, premium wines and high-end kitchenware with operations throughout the United States and abroad. Dean & Deluca specialty products are sold through its 14 retail stores and cafes in select U.S. markets (New York, Washington, D.C., Napa Valley, Charlotte, and Kansas City metropolitan area). Today, Dean & DeLuca stores serve as “purveyors of fine food, wine & kitchenware”.

“Global Entrepreneurship Week engaged millions of aspiring and inspiring entrepreneurs, helping them embrace imagination and ingenuity,” said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation. Participants in the competition were judged by experts from the Kauffman Foundation and Dymo Labeling on their concept, growth projections and knowledge of the markets.

With so many entrepreneurs around the nation working to realize their great ideas, we are truly grateful and honored to be selected as one of the nation’s most promising startups.

I felt it was important to share truly outstanding interview about celiac disease that chef Michael Ruhlman conducted with celiac sufferer Carol Blymire (who writes about her avant-garde home cooking at Aliena at Home). Because Carol – the lovely lady to the left – has a highly entertaining way to call the things a celiac goes through by their name I recommend that everyone reads this interview. At the same time, it gives an actually very comprehensive overview of celiac disease and the daily challenges of a gluten-free diet.

Some ‘highlights’ of Carol’s description of life as a celiac include

• a maybe a little bit too detailed description of what happens to Carol within 30 mins after being ‘glutened’ – you know, explosive stuff…
• explanation of what a celiac goes through over the next very unpleasant 48-72 hours (stomach cramps, migraines, skin rashes, …)
• why a celiac can’t “just tell them to cook gluten-free for you” and the issue of cross-contamination when dining out
• the pledge to chefs (& restaurant staff) to take people asking for gluten-free food seriously and NOT assuming their guests are trying the latest fad diet
• and finally, asking chefs to be patient with celiacs.  They are not trying to be a pain in the butt – quite to the contrary, that’s exactly what they want to avoid!

Thanks to Michael Ruhlman and Carol Blymire for talking about celiac disease and helping more people understand it! You should also check out the many comments to their interview – there is no better indicator how many people care about this topic than the number of comments!

It is absolutely crazy how time has flown by since launching our custom gluten-free cereal business on October 5, 2009. Obviously none of this could have been possible without you! I’d like to thank you as the most amazing customers, readers of our blog & ambassadors of all things gluten-free for a great year.

As a sign of Custom Choice Cereal’s (and my personal) appreciation and to celebrate this special day, you can enjoy free shipping on all orders of 2 or more bags today with the code “1stbday”!

As always, if you have suggestions how we can improve what we are doing, want to ask a question, or even just wish us Happy Birthday, please feel free to leave us a comments below!

Unlike some meetings I’ve attended during my life in the corporate world, the meeting rooms are filled with enthusiasm, passion, and an uplifting spirit that is truly energizing whenever entrepreneurs come together! I am therefore excited to meet several other local entrepreneurs at the Launch Day in Durham tomorrow.

In early June I reflected upon life as an entrepreneur and the active entrepreneurial spirit in the Triangle. This event, organized by the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), is just another proof that North Carolina has every reason to be proud of its vibrant start-up scene.

But what’s a great event without healthy food that tastes good and provides further energy?? That’s where we come in, feeding the attending crew with our custom gluten-free cereal mixes! Check out the Launch Day website if you would like to know more about the event!

About a month ago I talked to Carole Sharwarko from the Southtown Star in Tinley Park, IL, because she was interested in Custom Choice Cereal’s create-your-own gluten-free cereal concept. The result of this conversation has been published today in an article on custom food websites letting you have it your way. Carole writes that

“Though Custom Choice Cereal owner Hajo Engelke said anyone would enjoy a custom cereal, people with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease make up his primary customer base. It’s what gave him the idea in the first place.”

I am pretty thrilled that Carole accurately described who needs a gluten-free diet though many others can benefit from it. Even a CNN health expert described celiac disease as a gluten allergy yesterday and provoked an outcry in the comment section. Being German I am particular when it comes to getting the facts right

Here is a shout-out to some other great make-your-own food websites that Carole mentions in her article besides our custom gluten-free cereal: Chocri (custom chocolate bars), Slant Shank Jerky (custom beef jerky), eCreamery (custom ice cream), and RedMoonPetFood (no explanation needed). Check them out!

And a simple word of appreciation can make a “high”. That’s why I am excited that Diane reviewed the gluten-free cereal that she created on her blog Turning the Clock Back through our “amazingly simple” ordering process.  She knows first hand how challenging a gluten-free diet can be because her mother-in-law has celiac disease and Diane hast to stock up on gluten-free food whenever she visits. Her feedback on Custom Choice Cereal couldn’t be any better:

“I chose a tasty combination of raisins, pears, pineapple, flaked coconut, and almonds in a granola base. I really enjoyed the flavors and there was a wonderful hint of Cinnamon and a light sweetness to it as well. Overall, a great combination but if you have other ingredients you would rather put in, go ahead! The great thing about this cereal is that you design it the way YOU want it!”

It’s all about the experience! Tastes are different, and because nobody knows what your like as much as you do, we put YOU in control! Enter the giveaway that we offer in cooperation with Diane for your chance to win your personal gluten-free cereal. If you can’t wait (which I can sympathize with) you can also go ahead and cerealize your gluten-free breakfast now!

This passion for entrepreneurship was the main reason for me to launch Custom Choice Cereal in the Triangle instead of one of the bigger cities. At the same time, there are many great ideas coming to life here, and the entrepreneurial community is really well interconnected. Once you’re fellow entrepreneurs even the rivalries between Duke, UNC, and NC State fade to the background

Here is proof: Jon Reifschneider, founder of 31Projects, went to Duke, while I graduated from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. His idea is to let companies and students get to know each other risk-free through short-term projects and competitions. Students get real-life experience while the companies can crowdsource the best talent – a classic “win-win” situation.

Jon’s venture was covered on ere.net with Custom Choice Cereal mentioned as an example of how it will work. I am pretty excited to have Custom Choice Cereal be a part of the launch next week with a competition for a viral marketing plan.