SPRINGFIELD– Gluten Thief Bakery is a home-based company out of Springfield. Launched in January of 2016, they deliver cakes, cookies, pastries, pies and breads to the Greater Springfield area and around the Pioneer Valley.

“We are a virtual bakery,” said Owner Karen Yousfi. "We are not a brick-and-mortar bakery, we are licensed under cottage laws and deliver all our orders. Orders placed have a turnaround time of one to three days depending on what the customer orders. We do not use any artificial ingredients, preservatives or GMO products. All ingredients are fresh, natural and certified gluten free. We’re small, but our stuff is delicious.”

Yousfi expressed how much of a passion she has for baking and shared that she loves to cook for family and friends, but noted how much of a challenge gluten-free baking is. She stated, “Before I starting baking gluten free, I would normally just whip things together, but that doesn’t work for gluten-free. I’'s a long process in order to get the texture, consistency and taste that you want.”

Yousfi started the bakery many years after having to follow a gluten free diet. She experimented with different flours and tried converting recipes. After a while she got to the point where she couldn’t tell the difference between a gluten free item and an item that contained gluten. At first, Yousfi was baking for herself. Soon other people started tasting her desserts and didn’t realize they were gluten free. She said it was her family that encouraged her and gave her the confidence to sell her desserts.

According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration, gluten is a mixture of proteins found in grains such as wheat, rye and barley. A gluten free diet removes all foods containing gluten. Yousfi shared with Reminder Publishing that there are people that have allergies to gluten that follow a gluten free diet, and others who have celiac disease that must follow a gluten free diet. For someone who has celiac disease, their body responds to gluten in such a way that it can damage their small intestine and flatten out the Celia in their stomach, leaving them unable to digest or absorb the vitamins and minerals from their food.

“When it comes to doing the bakery, it’s not about the baking, it’s really about the customer satisfaction. I love when somebody finds something they haven’t been able to eat for years,” responded Yousfi. “I remember feeling sorry for myself watching everybody eat desserts when I couldn’t eat anything with gluten in them; it felt like a punishment. When we started baking gluten-free, I could actually find something I can actually eat. It was so satisfying, so when I see that in customers that is my real joy.”

During the planning stages of their business, Gluten Thief Bakery started baking for Baystate Medical Center's North Cafe. The center was so impressed with their gluten free desserts that Gluten Thief went on to supply for Baystate’s two other locations, 280 Chestnut St. in Springfield and 361 Whitney Ave. in Holyoke. After one year, it ended.

Yousfi admitted, “We didn't really shift to all retail until the pandemic. While people were carrying our products, I hadn’t gone retail because I had to learn everything new. I didn’t know how to advertise and who to sell my products to. You wear a thousand different hats and it’s just me that's running it.”

She continued, “We started out the business with no investment of any type. We said we’ll just do it and see where it goes. Somehow it maintained itself. It just goes to show you that if you want to do something you can figure out a way to get something accomplished if your heart is in it.”

Though Yousfi said Gluten Thief is at their “growing pains” stage, she hopes to figure out how the bakery can continue to serve the community. When working from home, she mentioned there are many restrictions. The only employees she can have are family members, so during busy times, Yousfi said it's very difficult and they are limited with resources.

“It’s scary to start a business during this time period. I just want to have wisdom to know how to grow Gluten Thief to a point where we can service more people,” she said. “I would love for us to have an app with a food truck that can be in different areas at different times during the week. I’m not exactly sure, but I’m hoping to work with somebody to work that out. To find out more of our options for some business counseling in that area.”

To learn more information about Gluten Thief Bakery, go to glutenthiefbakery.com. To order any of their gluten free desserts call at 726-9077 or email to theglutenthief@gmail.com for additional questions