Dunkin' Donuts To Sell Gluten-Free Doughnuts

Dunkin’ Donuts is poised to beat McDonald’s Corp. (MCD) and Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) in introducing the fast-food industry’s first gluten-free pastries nationwide.

The coffee and breakfast chain owned by Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc (DNKN). will sell gluten-free cinnamon-sugar doughnuts and blueberry muffins across its U.S. stores this year, Stan Frankenthaler, the company’s executive chef, said in an e-mail.

“We recognize the importance of providing our guests with many options, including alternative choices for people with food and dietary restrictions,” he said. The pastries, to be sold at participating shops, are packaged separately to avoid contamination from other foods that contain wheat flour.

Gluten-free foods may be the next trend for restaurant chains and coffee shops as they try to entice customers and increase sales with healthier items — even though wheat-free doesn’t necessarily mean fewer calories. Domino’s Pizza Inc. (DPZ) has gluten-free crusts, while Starbucks (SBUX), the world’s largest coffee-shop operator, is considering creating some gluten-free items after it bought a bakery that sells organic breads last year, said Linda Mills, a spokeswoman for the Seattle-based company.

To read the rest of the story, please go to: Bloomberg