For many entrepreneurs, the inspiration for a business comes from having a need for something and being unable to fulfill that need with products or services that are currently available on the market. Food allergy information and allergy-friendly food product businesses are often created under these circumstances. Adjusting to life with a food allergy, whether it is your own or that of a child or other family member, can make you keenly aware of what is missing from your local supermarket shelves and even from specialty or health food stores.
A number of people have started successful businesses that provide information and products to people with single and multiple food allergies. These businesses are thriving, in part, because food allergies are on the rise. I can not remember knowing anyone with a food allergy when I was growing up, but it seems that every other person I talk to either has a child with a food allergy or knows someone else who does. Despite the growing need for allergen-friendly foods, supermarkets (at least the ones near where I live) do not carry many allergen-friendly options except for basic things like fresh meat, produce, rice, and the like.
The businesses that have been created in response to food allergies are diverse. For example, one dedicated father of children with food allergies created Allergy Eats, an online guide to allergy-friendly restaurants. The three women that founded No Nut Nation started their nut-free dessert company because they wanted children with nut allergies to be able to enjoy sweet treats at birthday parties, holidays, and other celebrations. Small businesses like the Egg Free Epicurean and others that offer supplies like allergen-free baked goods, mixes, medical alert jewelry and epi-pen pouches have Etsy shops for selling their wares to a world wide audience.
Food allergies are just one example of how entrepreneurial people can take the challenges that they find in life and create products and services that can be used by others that are in similar situations. Whether the challenges that you have in your life are large or small, you are not alone in your situation. Perhaps in dealing with them, you have found a solution that could be used by others. Could it be the foundation for your own business?