Review: Gluten-Free Trading Company in Milwaukee

Some of my favorite places to browse are food stores, so when I discovered the Gluten-Free Trading Company they were no exception. I first discovered this treasure soon after being diagnosed and was in a huge slump. The owner was happy to answer my questions and point me in the right direction of products that might satisfy me.  It was so nice to know I was not alone, especially in the beginning.

Gluten-Free Trading Company first opened in 2000 and is located in the historic Bay View area of Milwaukee. They also ship their products worldwide. They are only minutes from the Milwaukee airport, so whenever I find myself dropping off or picking up, I make a stop at this treat of a store.

I have to admit, it is nice to walk into a food store where everything is 100% OK for me to eat, and nothing is off limits. Of course, this may not be the case if you have other food intolerances or allergies, but you can be assured that gluten will not be an issue here. I could also easily spend an hour in the store just looking at every product. Thankfully, they have a small area set up for children to play or draw, and with my young daughter, that works perfectly. She can play, and I can browse without hearing, “are you done yet?”

One thing that really impresses me about the Gluten-Free Trading Company is their selection. Not only do they have brands I have never heard of, and products from local companies, but they also have a wide array of international products, from Hungarian corn pasta to English tea cakes to Spanish crackers. They have flours and baking mixes by several different companies from Pamela’s to smaller companies, such as Breads from Anna to Cause You’re Special. They also have beverages from juice to beer; frozen goods, such as rosemary baguettes by Against the Grain, Udi’s bread and baked goods from Life Beyond Wheat; an international selection of cereals, pastas, cookies and crackers; and baby food, vitamins and communion wafers, and much more.  They carry some mainstream products such as Chex and Annie’s, but for the most part they carry foods from smaller manufactures and many organic products.  For a complete list of their products by category and brand, go here.

Some of their international brands with large selections include Barkat (UK), Harisín (Spain), Orgran (Australia), Schär (Italy), Sunstart (Northern Ireland), PatsyPie and Glutino (both Canada), among many others.

It can be overwhelming, at first, so give yourself some time to be able to look at everything and take it all in carefully, and to ask questions.  I love to ask what the current popular items are.

The negative about the Gluten-Free Trading Company is namely the price.  And for me, price is a big decision-maker. I found many of the prices were significantly higher than not only my local grocery stores, but even from Whole Foods.  And while I am all for supporting local businesses, especially one with a cause so close to my heart, the prices of some of the items were extremely prohibitive.  When I saw that the Pamela’s Baking & Pancake mix was $2 more than it was at Whole Foods, and several other items marked up, I decided I would only buy food items I could not find anywhere else that were reasonably priced.  Though something I don’t find reasonable may be reasonable for someone else.

This most recent trip, I came away with a bag full of some international items, as well as my favorite pasta by Le Veneziane, which I have not been able to find elsewhere, except online.  I was about to buy a box of tea cookies, since I miss having those English treats with my tea, but when I discovered it was $10.59 for a 5.9 oz box, of probably 6-8 small cookies, I decided to put them back.  At the register were some amazing looking cookies, including black and white cookies, so I thought I would grab one to eat on the car ride home, but when I discovered one black and white cookie was $3.59, I thought I misheard it, but it was correct, and there was no way I was going to spend that much on one cookie that I can most likely bake better at home.

After doing some research, I found the same tea cakes by Barkat online in England for £4.45, which is equal to $7.22, so the $10.59 is quite a mark-up even with the shipping costs.  I just could not justify that purchase.

Overall, I really do love this place, and I think it is a great service to the gluten-free community.  So far, everyone I have spoken to in the store seems extremely helpful and knowledgeable and they carry such a wide, impressive selection.  Unfortunately, the prices can be prohibitive and many of the more well-known items can be found at other stores less expensively.  However, I will continue to shop here for select items, and take note of items to look for elsewhere.  The Gluten-Free Trading Company is definitely worth a trip, just be sure you are prepared to spend.