The food allergy and special diet community at large mourned when Allergy Grocer, a long time online retailer, closed its “doors.” Though this also meant a permanent loss of their popular Miss Roben’s product line, there are several wonderful small businesses picking up where Allergy Grocer left off in specialty food online sales. While purchasing perishables may not be as feasible over the Internet, snack foods, mixes, and ingredients make great online purchases, especially during the busy back-to-school and holiday season, when seeking out specialty items in stores might be a bit too time-consuming or even impossible in rural areas.

Here is a quick list of some wonderful online specialty retailers who offer top quality foods with special product coding for various diets (such as vegan / vegetarian, sugar-free, low-fat, kosher, etc.) and food allergy / sensitivity needs (gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, etc.):

Dairy-Free Market

They offer Baking Ingredients, Baking Mixes, Bars, Candy and Chocolate, Cereals, Cheese Alternatives, Cookies and Cakes, and Pasta - but this is a brand new store, so their product line is expanding each day.

Items are catalogued by "lifesytle": Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Soy-Free, Potato-Free, Sugar-Free, Kid-Friendly, Kosher, Organic, and Vegan.

They ship throughout the U.S. (standard or experess) and have very good rates. They also offer free delivery for Bucks, PA and Mercer, NJ counties.

Special Offers:

• Purchase $100 or more and receive Free Ground Shipping
• Use coupon code GODAIRYFREE for 10% off your entire order 

Website: www.dairyfreemarket.com

Navan Foods

Their food categories include Baby Food, Baking, Beverages, Bread, Canned Foods, Cereals, Condiments / Sauces / Sweeteners, Dairy (Alternatives), Desserts, Grains/Pasta/Beans, Other, Packaged Foods, Snacks, Soup, and Health. Though they do offer perishables and a library of books to view in store.

They have a special diet search allowing you to check off No Casein, No Corn, No Dairy, No Egg, No Fish, No Gluten, No Peanut, No Sesame, No Shellfish, No Soy, No Sulfite, No Treenut, No Wheat, No Yeast, No Rice, and/or No Potato. They also have in-product icons for Kosher, Feingold, Vegan, Organic, Non-GMO, and All-Natural.

Navan offers a storefront location in Virginia Beach, Virginia, but they also ship throughout the U.S. They use a flat rate shipping fee: $10 shipping rate - Orders up to $50 , $15 shipping rate - Orders over $50 and less than $125, FREE shipping rate - Orders over $125.

Website: www.navanfoods.com

Allergies and Me

They offer Baking Ingredients, Bars, Beverages, Breads, Candy, Cereals, Condiments, Crackers and Pretzels, Desserts and Cookies, Pancakes and Waffles, Pastas, Personal Care Items, Pizzas, Quick Meals and Side Dishes, Snacks, Soups and Sauces.

Items are catalogued by Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Gluten Wheat-Free, Peanut-Free, Soy-Free, Tree Nut-Free, Multiple Allergies, Kosher, Organic, Salt-Free, Yeast-Free, Cholesterol-Free, Vegetarian, and Vegan.

Shipping is throughout the U.S. via UPS.

Website: www.allergiesandme.com

Allergy Free Shop

Their product range includes the food categories listed above in the other retailers, but they also sell non-food allergy products, including vitamins and supplements, bath products, clothing, hypoallergenic bedding, and environmental aids (such as air purifiers).

Items can be searched by Peanut Free, Tree Nut Free, Corn Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Wheat Free, Casein Free, Shellfish Free, Egg Free, Soy Free, Paraben Free, Sulfate Free, Vegan, Sugar Free, Sesame Free, Yeast Free, Fish Free, Sulfite Free, and Fragrance Free.

The Allergy Free Shop also has a storefront location, but in Fort Lauderdale, FL. They do ship throughout the U.S. and at the time of viewing, they had a special $9.88 flat fee shipping rate being offered.

Website: www.allergyfreeshop.com

Free From Market

This was a late addition to our list, but the Free From Market was launched in March 2009. Like the Allergy Free Shop, they sell both food and non-food items (from gluten-free pastas to sensitive / natural toothpastes).  

Items can be searched by Peanut Free, Tree Nut Free, Corn Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Wheat Free,  Shellfish Free, Egg Free, Soy Free, Rice Free and Kosher.

The Free From Market also has a storefront location, but in Orland Park, IL. They do ship throughout the U.S. and at the time of viewing, they were offering free shipping on orders of $100 or more.

Website: www.freefrommarket.com