Gluten-Free America to Run on Dunkin'

Dunkin' Donuts' new gluten-free baked goods
(Photo: Gluten Free South Florida Facebook page)

Ever since Starbucks pulled the plug on its short-lived gluten-free baked goods venture back in 2009, no national coffee-shop chain has filled that void. That's about to change, as Dunkin' Donuts is test-marketing a gluten-free blueberry muffin (priced at $2.39) and cinnamon sugar donut ($1.89) and plans to roll out the sweets nationwide by Summer 2013, according to an operator of several stores in south Florida. The packaged items, which are certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization, are being piloted at several Dunkin' Donuts locations in Miami and Boston. The company has more than 7,000 restaurants in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

Florida franchisee Fred Guttenberg wrote on the Gluten Free South Florida Facebook page that "I am extremely proud to be able to offer this test. I have worked with Dunkin' Donuts on this ever since my son was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. This is an operations test only and limited to my two stores in Florida and a few locations in Boston. This will be moving to a larger test in February and full market roll-out closer to summer." According to Guttenberg, the baked goods have been in development for two years.

The participating Miami stores are located at 12930 S.W. 120th St. and 10754 S.W. 24th St.; in the Boston area, locations at 1316 Beacon St. and 1008 Beacon St. in Brookline and 209 N. Harvard St. in Alston are carrying the products.