Growth rate and success of leading manufacturer of allergy-friendly and gluten-free foods drives Mandell’s recognition as one of Chicago most promising business leaders

SCHILLER PARK, Ill. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) November 3, 2008 -- Scott Mandell, CEO, President, and Co-Founder of Enjoy Life Foods, was named to the prestigious “40 Under 40” list today by Crain’s Chicago Business. Mandell, 37, started what has fast-become the nation’s leading manufacturer of delicious allergy-friendly and gluten-free foods in 2001 based on a business plan he developed at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in the Entrepreneurship & New Venture Formulation class.

Recognition like this, especially in a business environment like Chicago's where there are so many outstanding business leaders, is truly humbling and a great honor

I share it with all of Enjoy Life Foods' employees who are truly dedicated to our customers, especially those who have food allergies, Celiac Disease and other dietary restrictions

the market for foods free of gluten and other common allergens is rising fast. U.S. sales of gluten-free products are expected to jump to $1.7 billion in 2010 from about $700 million in 2006, according to New York research firm Packaged Facts.

Enjoy Life is way ahead of its time and has tapped into a growing trend with allergy-friendly foods. Scott is one of the bright young stars in the food industry.

According to Mandell, more than 12 million Americans have food allergies, and diagnoses are on rise. Eight foods, including wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish, account for 90 percent of all food-allergic reactions in the U.S. Approximately 3.3 million Americans are allergic to peanuts or tree nuts and another 30 to 50 million are lactose intolerant. Another 3 million people have Celiac Disease, an auto-immune disease that requires a strict gluten-free diet for life.

According to Crain’s story in which Mandell is named to its “40 Under 40” list, “the market for foods free of gluten and other common allergens is rising fast. U.S. sales of gluten-free products are expected to jump to $1.7 billion in 2010 from about $700 million in 2006, according to New York research firm Packaged Facts.”

The article also quotes Ken Harris, a food consultant with Cannondale Associates in Evanston, as saying "Enjoy Life is way ahead of its time and has tapped into a growing trend with allergy-friendly foods. Scott is one of the bright young stars in the food industry."

In September 2008, Enjoy Life Foods was named to the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing privately held businesses in the U.S. for the second consecutive year.

Enjoy Life Foods offers 24 delicious products under its Enjoy Life brand including allergy-friendly AND gluten-free soft-baked cookies, snack bars, granolas, trail mixes, bagels, semi-sweet chocolate chips and chocolatey bars, all of which are free of the eight most common allergens¹ and made in a dedicated nut- and gluten-free facility. They are also certified gluten-free (by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization), and are all-natural, trans fat-free and Kosher. More than 80 percent of Enjoy Life’s products are vegan and all are vegetarian. The company also markets five gluten- and nut-free cereals under the Perky’s brand.

About Enjoy Life Foods

Enjoy Life Natural Brands, LLC (d/b/a Enjoy Life Foods, LLC (ELF)) was founded in 2001 with the mission of making great-tasting allergy-friendly foods that most everyone can eat freely. The company launched the Enjoy Life brand in 2002 with a broad product line that is free of the eight most common allergens and gluten-free. To meet the needs of a rapidly growing consumer base, in 2004 the company acquired Perky’s™, a line of gluten- and nut-free cereals. Today, ELF offers 29 different Enjoy Life and Perky’s products that are sold in natural food and select grocery stores throughout the United States and Canada. Visit www.enjoylifefoods.com and www.perkysnaturalfoods.com for store locations and more. In September 2008, Enjoy Life Foods was named to Inc. 500 list of the fastest growing privately held businesses in the U.S. for a second consecutive year. For more information, visit www.enjoylifenb.com.

¹ The eight most common allergens are wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish, which account for 90 percent of all food-allergic reactions in the United States.

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