A JERSEY couple have opened the Island’s first and only store dedicated to gluten-free food.
After years of frustratingly hopping between shops to find the items they needed, engaged couple Jess Rodrigues and Tom Hubert have decided to open their own.
TJ’s Bake and Browse at Georgetown last week. It stocks a variety of items including baking ingredients, sauces, snacks and cereals.
Pictured: Owners Jess Rodrigues and Tom Hubert ROBBIE DARK
Around 1 in 100 people have celiac disease in the UK, but that doesn’t account for intolerances, anaphylaxis and autoimmune conditions that can also require people to consume a gluten-free diet.
Therefore in Jersey, it is like that at least 1,000 Islanders will have to eat a gluten-free diet.
Jess and Tom, who have celiac disease, and a gluten and dairy allergy between them – explained that TJ’s was born out of “frustration” with supermarket shopping.
Tom said: “Some shops don’t even have a [gluten-free] section and items are spread around the shelves, so you have to look through everything which takes so much longer. We were just a bit frustrated with it all.”
Pictured: The shop is located on Georgetown Road. (Robbie Dark)
Jess said: “We just wanted to get a good mixture of everything [in our shop].”
Tom added that they wanted to hear feedback from customers about what they would like to see on the shelves in future.
Also available at TJ’s is a gluten-free baked goods section courtesy of their home kitchen where Jess will be sharing her tried and tested gluten-free recipes.
Customers can also purchase groceries through the store’s ‘click and collect’ service that can be found on the shop’s website or Instagram page.
Related