Over the past 15 years, GF Oats has achieved significant milestones and made a substantial impact in the health-conscious food market. Providing nutritious food for those with food intolerances and dietary lifestyle choices.
It seems like a lifetime ago when that first pallet arrived from the USA in 2009. It was then we realised that oats can't be called gluten free oats here in Australia. :( today it is still the same and it looks like the authorities won't consider them being called gluten free oats in line with the rest of the world, which is confusing and disappointing.
If you are gluten intolerant you can definately have these oats, however if you are coeliac, follow the guidelines from the Coeliac society as updated Sep 2023.
We do however have lots to celebrate over the last 15 years and some worthy achievements.
Here are some of the key achievements:
- Introduction of Gloriously Free Oats:
- GF Oats introduced uncontaminated oats to Australia in 2009. Despite labelling challenges, the brand has successfully marketed these oats as "Gloriously Free Oats," free from contamination by wheat, rye, and barley. We originally imported pure oats from the USA until we lost supply in 2022 but we had already begun the transition to our Australian GF Oats. This has been a mammoth task as we had to rebrand at the same time, a project that would have taken 2 years, we achieved in 6 months.
- Growth in Customer Base:
- GF Oats has built a strong customer base with over 15,000 online customers and more than 2,500 stockists both nationally and internationally. We are so proud to service customers in every state of Australia, NZ and Singapore as we speak. We predominately supply our products through Independent grocery, health food, bulk food, wholefood stores, Countdown NZ, Health Food NZ.
- Local Sourcing and Production:
- Since 2021, GF Oats has sourced oats solely from Australian farmers, ensuring local production and adherence to strict standards laid out by the Global Oats Protocol. This transition was fully realized in 2022, making GF Oats an entirely Australian-grown and processed brand. Our farmers are based in the beautiful province of Wandering in Western Australia where they have exclusion zones around their fields. They only process oats and other gluten free crops in their area.
- Commitment to Quality and Safety:
- GF Oats follows the Global Oats Purity Protocol, ensuring that every batch of oats is independently tested to be free from gluten contamination. This rigorous testing process supports our claim of "The Oats You Can Trust". Our oats are not just Wheatfree, which does not mean rye or barley free, they are free from soy, corn and chemical contamination. Sundried steamed rolled oats.
- Addressing Labelling Challenges:
- The company has navigated the complexities of Australian labelling laws, which prevent oats from being labelled as "gluten-free." Despite these restrictions, GF Oats has successfully communicated the uncontaminated nature of their product to consumers.
- Product Variety and Innovation:
- GF Oats has expanded its product range to include various oat-based products such as traditional oats, certified organic, quick oats, muesli, and chocolate oats. They have also introduced unique items like ANZAC biscuits, which have been well-received by customers and for every biscuit they sell a % is donated to Legacy. To date they have donated in excess of $22,000 since 2020.
- Customer Satisfaction:
- Testimonials from satisfied customers highlight the positive impact of GF Oats on their diets, especially for those with gluten intolerance or Coeliac disease. Many customers appreciate the taste, quality, and health benefits of GF Oats products.
- Sustainable and Ethical Practices:
- GF Oats has committed to sustainable practices by working towards recyclable packaging and using minimal impact growing techniques. Their oats are sun-dried and free from chemicals, supporting both health and environmental goals.
9. Awards
- Kylie and her team have been recognised for numerous award from Food & Beverage, Telstra business award, Agrifutures Qld finalist and more.
Through these achievements, GF Oats has established itself as a trusted brand in the gluten-free market, committed to providing high-quality, uncontaminated oats to consumers in Australia and beyond.