Charlotte, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/15/2014 -- The Annual Gluten-Free Awards (GFA) hosted by The Gluten-Free Buyers Guide has released this year’s ballot for the best gluten-free products, organizations and services. The online ballot is available to the general public at http://www.GlutenFreeBuyersGuide.com “It’s amazing how fast the awards program has grown in our first five years. We seem to triple the voter base each year and exceed expectations. Last year we had 2,995 gluten-free consumers vote within the two month period; this year, in the first two weeks of voting, 1,100 people have casted their votes.”, Josh Schieffer, Founder of the Annual Gluten-Free Awards. This year’s award program has expanded with two new gluten-free categories bringing the total to over forty award categories. “We started a few years ago with the gluten-free staples like bread, pasta, baking mixes and now have expanded into unique categories like munchies, accommodating colleges and the ever popular new product category.”

Founded in 2010, The Annual Gluten-Free Awards have become the premier award honoring outstanding gluten free products, organizations, and services. Winners represent the best work of the most respected gluten free non-profits, food producers, bloggers, and authors in the world. Every GFA Winner has been selected by thousands of people in the gluten-free community similar to the popular People’s Choice Awards.

This year’s GFA Award results will be published in the 2015 Gluten-Free Buyers Guide late November 2014. “The November publishing schedule is important to us. We know people start looking for gluten-free support toward the end of the year to help them sustain gluten-free New Year resolutions. When we connect those people with the best products and services early enough, their chances of sustaining a gluten-free lifestyle increases dramatically.” Josh Schieffer

The Gluten-Free Buyers Guide also serves the grocery trade by providing Category Managers insightful consumer detail. The guide gives them the confidence to purchase the correct gluten-free products for the growing market segment. According to MarketsandMarkets the gluten-free industry will grow to $6.2 billion by 2018. This is great news for gluten-free food producers; however, the problem will be establishing product differentiation as competition grows. Those brands with solid award performance will have the ability to market their early successes and establish their products as “Best in Class” and gain early customer loyalty.

To find out more about The Annual Gluten Free Awards or cast your vote, visit The Gluten-Free Buyers Guide at http://www.GlutenFreeBuyersGuide.com

Please contact Josh Schieffer at Josh@GlutenFreeBuyersGuide.com for public relations inquiries: (828)-455-9734