Your Name: Brenda vanDuinkerken
Business Name: Duinkerken Foods Inc., a maker of gluten-free baking products
Type of Business: Food & Beverage
Business Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada
Website www.duinkerkenfoods.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Duinkerken-Foods/196406380369632
Reason for starting
I realized there was a major void in the market for good tasting gluten free food after I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1994. I struggled to stay on a gluten free diet because the food didn’t taste like the familiar foods I was used to eating. I eventually went off the diet completely and ended up getting sick. I had no choice – I had to stay on a gluten-free diet for life. I decided for me to be successful on the GF diet I had to have food that I enjoyed eating. This is the reason I started my business – to make the gluten free diet better for myself and others. I believe no one should have to feel deprived of good tasting wholesome food.
How do you define success?
providing people with a product or service that can really make a difference in their lives.
Biggest Success
How happy people are when they taste Duinkerken Gluten Free products.
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
Our biggest challenge was on product formulation development. We overcame this challenge by carefully choosing our product development team. Finding the right people with the same vision and passion. We completely improved the taste, texture and consistency of gluten free products through many trials and pure determination.
Who is your most important role model?
Sam Walton.