Where to buy allergen free food in NH?

[subtlycrunchy]

Passing this on for a friend who just moved to NH.... Her children (3 and 7) both have some pretty significant food allergies/sensitivities and she's wondering what stores around the state have the best selection (she's near Manchester and willing to travel wherever) for peanut/gluten free foods. I suggested Hannafords, but she was looking for more locally owned places.

Thanks for any suggestions!

[aidansmama]

My son has a ton of food allergies and we go to the Portsmouth Health Food store a lot. Its a little far for your friend though. I bet Manchester has a health food store somewhere. I do Hannaford sometimes but they are very limited to what they have. Also, Philbricks Fresh Market in Portsmouth has a good selection.

[Googy]

My youngest daughter has dairy and nut allergies--she is sensitive to these foods in my milk, so I have to be very careful about what I eat.

A Market in Manchester (South Willow Street) has a good selection of allergy-friendly foods. I get a lot of stuff there. They have by far the best selection of all the stores in the Manchester area. Tons of gluten free, nut-free, dairy-free, etc. Plus the people who work there are very knowledgable and helpful--they can show you very quickly which products are OK and which aren't.

I just got some allergen-free chocolate chips out of them and made nut-free dairy-free chocolate chip cookies and they were delish!

[lucyem]

Shaws is getting better and better with their gluten free/peanut free selections within their special "health food area" in the middle of the store. I only know the Concord ones and she would be better off at the one up in the heights by the mall and not the one just off 93. The section is bigger there.

There is a Food Co-op in downtown Concord which I rarely go to but seems good. I need to go more. The bakery even makes some allergen free foods as well.
http://www.concordfoodcoop.coop/products.html

The best in the state IMO is the Co-op in Lebanon. Though quite a drive for her. Just across the way from Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital. Lots of local foods, organic foods, bulk foods, special diet foods, natural local meats, unbelievable amount of local baked goods, etc all mixed in with the regular Sure Fine foods. Its so worth the drive. Its the only place I have found that has rice yogurt for example. http://www.coopfoodstore.com/

You do not have to be a member to shop at either co-op.

[subtlycrunchy]

Thanks for all the many wonderful suggestions! I am sure she is going to be so relieved to see so many places in the area.