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Original poster

Help!!! Waitrose withdrawn my favourite gluten free pizza base

28 replies

missdeelite · 04/04/2012 20:54

I'm so Angry. Since my ds diagnosed we have fully embraced gf cooking with vigour and enthusiasm, he loves to eat and I'm determined that he should not feel he has to miss out. I feel strongly that people on gf diet should be able to eat fresh, wholesome and delicious food. Why should they have to eat processed, long life cardboard-like products?

Isabel's pizza mix was really seriously a great product that Waitrose have withdrawn to replace with their own brand pizza bases which are predictably unpalatable. I have been in touch with Isabel trying to find where I can get her product from and she has told me she is really struggling to get it on the shelves next to supermarket's 'own brand' products. Her pizza base mix is cassava based -and there is nothing else similar available. Anyone else love this product? Anyone else want to somehow help champion small brand delicious 'free from' products? I've no idea how...

I know its bizarre to be so upset about a pizza base, but having a LO so ill with coeliac disease I get rather emotional about his diet.

OP posts:
tribpot · 04/04/2012 20:59

Can she not sell through t'internet? A lot of specialty products are sold this way because there's not enough demand for them at the individual supermarket level.

I don't think I've tried this brand, although I do have one in the cupboard we haven't looked at yet. Is it a mix, or a pre-made base?

I sympathise - it's so difficult to find decent gf alternatives that for many things it's easier simply to swap them out for rice or potatoes. But clearly you can't do that for pizza!

Original poster
missdeelite · 04/04/2012 21:05

Its a mix and its really simple, no yeast or anything. You mix with egg, oil and water, bake in oven and then add the topping and return to oven. Its delicious! Puffs up like a chapatti whilst its cooking.

I agree that gf alternatives often yuck, I don't really go in for many of them prefer to make my own biscuits etc if I have time, but this is really different to other bread products because of flour she uses.

OP posts:
Original poster
missdeelite · 04/04/2012 21:07

Oh and yes I can get it through a free from website and she says ocado will hopefully stock it. I just thought what a shame as it is a really nice product and don't want her to go out of business!

OP posts:
tribpot · 04/04/2012 21:12

Ah, then it does sound like the one in my cupboard - I could have sworn I got this from Ocado but, no great surprise, they don't seem to have it any more. In fact, I've googled and yes, it definitely is - I didn't realise it'd been developed with Salvo's.

So it looks like you can buy it online, if you were looking for a local shop to stock it, how about the local healthfood shop or something? You can only ask them and let them know there's demand out there. Equally I would be tempted to kick off with Waitrose about it (I might do as well) - supermarket own-brand GF stuff is almost all dreadful (in fact I can't think of any that isn't) because it's not something a non-specialist can do well. If they were buying in and re-packaging the brand names, as does happen with own-brand stuff, fine. But they aren't.

Original poster
missdeelite · 04/04/2012 21:18

Oooh lucky you I urge you to try it!!! We have run out and this online stockist sold out!!!! Best to precook the base and when it's all puffed up flatten the air out and add your topping, not too much as its a thin base. Emailed waitrose they just sent frustrating reply to say been withdrawn (WHICH I KNEW!!!)

OP posts:
stripeyZ · 04/04/2012 22:15

Haven't heard of this but plan to try it now. I'm also a coeliac & find most GF stuff vile but you've sold me!

Dont feel bad about getting emotional over a pizza base, I still get emotional about food all the time Smile

cosysocks · 04/04/2012 22:18

Ooh someone was on earlier with a link to a cauliflower pizza base if that helps?? Can't do link as on phone but search today and it will come up.

tribpot · 04/04/2012 22:23

Cauliflower pizza!

dairyfreebabyandme · 04/04/2012 23:47

Waitrose have been doing something weird with free from supply recently. They've been rebranding their own stuff and obviously trying to dip their toe in the water by expanding their own ranges = bigger profits!! Perhaps if enough people write and complain, they might be forced to rethink their strategy, particularly if the expected sales on their own stuff doesn't take off as they'd hoped.

CointreauVersial · 04/04/2012 23:49

I was about to say, try the famous cauliflower pizza. It is big with the low-carbers!

freefrommum · 05/04/2012 10:34

What about contacting Coeliac UK and getting them on board to complain to Waitrose? There's also a really great coeliac campaigner on Twitter called Alex Gazzola @HealthJourno who might well be interested in taking on this issue. He's recently been having a go at Walkers about removing 'suitable for coeliacs' from lots of their crisps.

garliclover · 05/04/2012 12:50

I recently found Hale & Hearty do a GF pizza base. Have bought it but haven't tried it yet! Will report if it's any good.

Original poster
missdeelite · 05/04/2012 18:16

OOOh thanks for the enthusiasm about a pizza was worried I was becoming peculiar!!! Been on coeliac uk website to try and find someone to lobby and but couldn't see any emails. Maybe I'll try the phone number. Yes think waitrose have put few noses out of joint freefrommum, also apparently withdrawing Hale and Hearty products left right and centre grrrrrr

There is a blog about the Isabel pizza sorry no good at technical stuff here :

thehappycoeliac.wordpress.com/2012/03/17/waitrose-stop-stocking-isabels-pizza-mix-the-happy-coeliac-revolts/

thehappycoeliac.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/not-cool-waitrose/

OP posts:
MistyB · 05/04/2012 18:55

When Sainsbury's delisted a dairy free spread that we liked I contacted the producer and Sainsbury's where I spoke to the buyer and the noted the feedback and the product appeared back on the shelves shortly afterwards. I don't know how much feedback they had but trying to speak to the buyer and explaining exactly what it is about this product that is unique is definitely worth a try. You could also speak to the free from buyers in other chains. Also, if you have spoken to the supplier it might be worth advising her to speak to Suma or other health food wholesalers as they may be interested in listing her products.

tibetantiger · 05/04/2012 20:15

Is anyone else missing the gf organic Village Bakery ginger cake which used to be available from Waitrose? I bought some Village Bakery Vanilla cake, but where's the ginger cake gone?

Thanks for the recommendations on this thread. Smile

talkingnonsense · 05/04/2012 20:18

Yes, waitrose seem to have gone all own brand! Their scones were surprisingly ok, but I miss mrs crimbles bakewell slices and the village bakery brownies. Anyone know how to send them a link to this?

Original poster
missdeelite · 05/04/2012 21:49

No talkingnonsense I had never really thought about what is involved in getting products on shelves before! I did email customer services but think you're right, I need to be more direct in contact with buyer. Its important that buyers for supermarkets understand that the consumer criteria for 'free from' food is different from other shopping - we're very particular!!! I wonder if the buyers are 'free from' themselves, and consider how good the products taste?

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Original poster
missdeelite · 05/04/2012 21:51

Also I tried to buy a nice gf choc brownie in Sainsburies and Waitrose and were none to be found!!!

OP posts:
Happypiglet · 05/04/2012 22:00

It's really infuriating. Sainsburys used to stock Mrs Crimbles GF mixes such as stuffing (which we all love) and have replaced it with Hale and Hearty which tastes like cardboard. I did e mail and got what I assume to be a standard reply saying they change brands in line with customer feedback... I am a big GF customer and no one asked me! Anyway I now get it on line in bulk!
Think I will try that pizza base as it sounds lovely.

talkingnonsense · 05/04/2012 22:03

Hale and hearty chic cake and chic brownie mixes are nice though- and holland and barrett have stopped stocking them! Asda do a nice oat cookie.

stripeyZ · 05/04/2012 22:54

Happy - I'm with you in the stuffing front. I have managed to find Mrs Crimbles in some sainsburys but it was all Hales for a while which doesn't come close.

There was also some bread rolls I wanted to try in waitrose but they've disappeared too Sad

Original poster
missdeelite · 07/04/2012 19:20

I know its annoying traipsing around different shops but if you have M&S food near you they do some lovely stuffings and other gf Roast dinner accompaniments!

OP posts:
stripeyZ · 07/04/2012 21:38

Love M&S for GF goodies. Funny as most proceeded/package stuff is out usually but M&S make the effort.

potatochip · 24/04/2012 16:21

If you need to be df as well then you can try meatza; www.foodrenegade.com/meatza-recipe-for-grainfree-pizza/

CMOTDibbler · 24/04/2012 16:28

The brazilian cheesebread pizza base is the best thing ever - except I have to fight dh and ds for my pizza.