When Deanna Smith learned that her cousin's four-year-old daughter, Karlie, wouldn't eat the gluten-free bread that was prescribed for her as a Celiac Disease (CD) sufferer, she wanted to do something to help. Even though Deanna had never baked a loaf of bread in her life — she has marketing background — she started experimenting with gluten-free bread recipes.

Deanna never expected her baking efforts to become a business; she just wanted Karlie to be able to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches like all the other kids could. Karlie did love Deanna's original gluten-free bread, and it was so good that her playmates started eating it, too. Word-of-mouth started to spread about this great-tasting gluten-free bread.

Deanna responded to early calls asking about buying the bread by baking an extra loaf or two and giving it away. It didn't take too long for her to realize that there was a tremendous demand for gluten-free bread that tasted good so the GNI Bakery was born.

It turned out that Karlie does not have CD, but she still eats Deanna's bread. Her refusal to eat gluten-free bread that tasted like cardboard has been a boon to others who are unable to eat regular bread products.

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Got Gluten? Is gluten making you sick?

UNION TRIBUNE:
Gluten Not Included. Healthy eats in Escondido

This story is all about caring. Deanna Smith, upon learning that her cousin Karlie was diagnosed with Celiac disease, was inspired to do some research on her condition in the hopes of making live a bit easier for her. She learned that Celiac is one of the most common genetic conditions in the world, a multi-symptom disorder activated by eating gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.

So moving forward, Deanna started to do some baking using only brown rice, tapioca flour and eggs. Karlie loved it and soon word spread and other folks wanted to buy some of her products for loved ones with the same disorder. One thing led to another and Deanna took the next step and opened her Gluten Not Included (GNI) Bakery & Cafe earlier this year. Folks com from all over the county to enjoy (either to-go or on the premises) a variety of sandwiches, pizzas and baked treats - very tasty and glutenfree.

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THE ESCONDIDO MAGAZINE:
All Because of Karlie

When Deanna Smith"s little cousin Karlie developed a severe rash a couple of years ago, the pediatrician put the 3-year-old on a gluten free diet. Watching Karlie's friends eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on "regular" bread while Karlie was stuck
with the gluten-free version convinced Deanna that there had to be a better solution. "The poor kid just would not eat the PB&J sandwiches made with the gluten free stuff," Deanna reported."
She said the bread tasted awful."

The more-or-less personal experience prompted Deanna, a marketing executive with her own Escondido-based firm, Hardline Media Solutions, to conduct her own market research on just what was available out there on gluten and gluten-free products.

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In the community

GNI Bakery is a big believer in giving back to the community. We support the following organizations by serving as sponsors and/or providing free samples of our delicious gluten-free products at their community events:

• Celiac Disease Foundation
• UCSD Celiac Research Center
• R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Celiac Kids)
• Team Gluten-Free