New shop offering extensive choice of gluten-free products opens in King's Lynn

Having two children with Coeliac disease made mum-of-four Karen Williamson realise how many challenges shoppers face who are looking for specialist foods.

So Karen, from Pott Row, decided to set up her own business providing more choices, an idea which came to fruition with the opening of her store, K's Market Ltd in Lynn, a few weeks ago.

The shop is located at 27 King Street, an impressive Grade II listed building and is stocked with an array of quality gluten-free products, sourced locally where possible.

Items on sale include fresh bakery goods, sandwiches, frozen products such as ice-cream, cakes, cooking flours, conserves and chutneys. There are also cosmetics suitable for vegans, cleaning products plus many other items.

Said Karen: "The idea stemmed from me walking along the shops' aisles and realising there is not much choice. There are a lot of people who have intolerances and allergies and I wanted to provide choices in a gluten-free market. Coeliac disease makes sufferers very poorly.

"My ambition is also to help people get back tastes that they miss as well as support people who want to eat more healthily.

"So the idea for this shop began as an acorn and is already growing into something much bigger. Since I opened three weeks ago, I have been getting new customers pop in all the time and have handed out more than 150 leaflets, so the footfall is looking very promising."

On her K's Market Facebook page she puts up regular updates on special offers and gluten-free events along with any changes to opening times.

Karen, who previously worked in the health and social welfare sector, believes that leading a gluten-free lifestyle shouldn't be stressful and, with the right support and information, people will become confident shoppers and expert at creating new and exciting recipes. She saves people the time of having to read all food labels by thoroughly researching products before they reach the shelves.

She said: "My cooking skills have been completely retested by using pea, maize and rice flours, but I've found a whole new world of food."

K's Market is open weekdays 9am-5pm, but 11am-7pm on Wednesdays, 9am-1pm on Saturdays, and is closed on Sundays. Karen can be contacted on 01553 770635.