--- title: "Revolutionising gluten-free fast food with Sonny’s" id: "415401" type: "post" slug: "sonnys-gluten-free-fast-food" published_at: "2025-01-27T16:32:16+00:00" modified_at: "2025-01-27T16:32:16+00:00" url: "https://seedlegals.com/resources/sonnys-gluten-free-fast-food/" markdown_url: "https://seedlegals.com/resources/sonnys-gluten-free-fast-food.md" excerpt: "Sonny’s is building the future of gluten-free fast food. We caught up with founder Sonny Wells himself to learn more about how he's solving the coeliac struggle with sandwiches. " taxonomy_category: - "Founder Interviews" - "Video Zone" --- 2 min read Expert reviewed This article has been fact-checked by a SeedLegals subject matter expert. [Meet our experts](https://seedlegals.com/authors-and-experts/) and learn more about our review process and quality assurance in our [editorial policy](https://seedlegals.com/editorial-policy/) . # Revolutionising gluten-free fast food with Sonny's Published: Jan 27, 2025 Contents [Key takeaways](#key-takeaways) [Anthony Rose](https://seedlegals.com/resources/author/anthony/) [Sonny’s](https://www.sonnysfood.com/) is building the future of gluten-free fast food. With a powerful solution to a growing problem, an exciting menu, and plans for nationwide expansion, this brand is setting the stage for a safer, tastier future for everyone who needs gluten-free options. We caught up with founder [Sonny Wells](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonny-wells/) himself to learn more about how he’s solving the coeliac struggle with sandwiches. - Read transcript **Anthony**: Hello, welcome to SeedLegals founder interviews where every day we talk to an amazing founder and today we’re talking to Sonny from Sonny’s. Sonny, tell us more. **Sonny**: Perfect, so basically it’s a gluten-free fast food chain that I’m building. It’s born out of frustration. I’ve had celiac disease for the last 10 years and I just can’t eat on the go. So I decided to change that. **Anthony**: And how does Sonny’s differ from all other fast food chains? **Sonny**: So there’s a huge risk of cross-contamination everywhere else. A lot of places have tried to do gluten-free options, but unfortunately, they just haven’t quite got it right. Especially for people with celiac disease, even the size of a crumb is enough to make someone severely ill and damage their body for years, if not for life. You shouldn’t have to risk your health every time you leave the house and want something to eat. **Anthony**: Okay, so tell me about the business. Are you setting up physical stores or supplying to other stores? **Sonny**: So it’s going to be physical stores. The idea is that as soon as you see a Sonny’s and you’re gluten-free, you know you can eat there safely and have peace of mind. You’ll be able to eat everything on the menu, which is a big rarity in the gluten-free world. **Anthony**: That is amazing. What’s your traction so far? How many stores so far? **Sonny**: So I’m pre-seed at the moment. We’re currently going through the fundraising process as we speak. In terms of progress, the biggest thing is market validation. We put the idea out to the world and said, “This is what we’re doing,” and the gluten-free community absolutely loved it. It’s gone semi-viral—well, whatever that means these days. The gluten-free community is really excited, which shows there’s a gap, a need, and an audience for this. We’ve already raised 25% of the funds, and we’ve only just opened the funding round. It’s a very exciting time. **Anthony**: That’s fantastic. And what is the size of the market? **Sonny**: In the UK, 13% of the population are now gluten-free, which is huge. In the U.S., it’s 25%. As for the fast food industry, it’s enormous—£22 billion in the UK and £220 billion globally. The gluten-free market alone is now worth £91 billion and growing every year. The gluten-free space is actually growing 8% annually, so it’s a great time for investors to get involved. **Anthony**: Those are super impressive numbers and market size. Tell me about the menu. **Sonny**: It’s going to feature thick toasted sandwiches, fries, and milkshakes. The sandwiches will have unique concepts, so it’s not a pick-and-choose deli counter. Wherever you go, it’ll be recognizable and consistent. There will also be seasonal promotions. I’ve started speaking with a few other gluten-free companies about partnerships, so they can come on board as well. **Anthony**: Sounds amazing. How do people get in touch with you? **Sonny**: There are a couple of ways. The website is[www.sonnysfood.com](http://www.sonnysfood.com) . On social media, most handles are sonnys_foods, and my personal Instagram for building the gluten-free community is @sonnytheceliac. That’s where I’ll be sharing progress as we go along, in addition to the business pages. **Anthony**: That sounds amazing. And that’s Sonny with an “O,” not a “U.” S-O-N-N-Y. **Sonny**: That’s the one, Anthony. **Anthony**: Amazing. Thank you so much. **Sonny**: Thank you. ## Key takeaways ### **Problem: The gluten-free struggle is real** - People with coeliac disease and gluten sensitivities face serious challenges when eating on the go. Cross-contamination in most fast food options makes dining out risky and stressful. - Even a crumb of gluten can cause severe health issues, leaving a significant portion of the population without safe and convenient options. - Despite attempts by other chains to offer gluten-free options, none have been able to fully eliminate the risk or meet the needs of this growing market. ### **Sonny’s solution and the billion-dollar opportunity** - **The Solution**: Sonny’s is a fully gluten-free fast food chain designed to eliminate the stress and risk of dining out. Every menu item is safe for those with gluten sensitivities or coeliac disease. - **Market Demand**: - 13% of the UK population and 25% of the US population now identify as gluten-free. - The global free-from market is valued at £91 billion and growing at 8% annually. - The fast food industry is massive, worth £22 billion in the UK and £220 billion globally – Sonny’s is combining the two for a high-impact opportunity. - **Traction**: - Despite being in the pre-seed stage, Sonny’s has already raised 25% of its funding. - The concept has gone semi-viral in the gluten-free community, validating the demand for a dedicated chain like Sonny’s. ### **Redefining fast food: Sonny’s vision for the future** - **Nationwide presence**: Sonny’s aims to open physical stores across the UK. The goal is simple: anytime you see a Sonny’s, you know it’s a safe, gluten-free haven. - **Delicious, consistent menu**: - Thick toasted sandwiches, fries, and milkshakes will be the core menu offerings. - Unique sandwich concepts ensure consistency and recognisability, no matter the location. - Seasonal promotions and potential partnerships with gluten-free brands will keep the menu exciting. - **Building a community**: - Sonny is not just building a business – he’s fostering a supportive, gluten-free community through social media ([@sonnytheceliac](https://www.instagram.com/sonnythecoeliac/) ) and brand pages. - By connecting directly with the gluten-free audience, Sonny’s keeps its mission transparent and customer-focused. ##### SeedLegals events ### Learn from fellow founders Sign up to our newsletter and be the first to hear about our next webinar or in-person event [Sign up](https://seedlegals.com/events/) From our experts to your inbox Sign up for upcoming events, new ebooks, templates and more. ## Related posts [2 min read What’s hot? The planet with or without Habla’s eco-friendly kilns? Peter Habla, founder of Habla Kilns, replaces traditional kilns with a fresh, sustainable alternative – the Zig Zag Kiln... Erin Deasy](https://seedlegals.com/resources/habla-kilns-interview/) [2 min read Hindered by hundreds of applications: ReechOut addresses the hassle of the hiring process Hassan Ahmed, founder of ReechOut, reverse engineers the AI problem that’s been afflicting the hiring process… and it’s ... Anthony Rose](https://seedlegals.com/resources/founder-interview-reechout/) [2 min read Hiring for growth stage companies Join SeedLegals CEO Anthony Rose and Beacon Talent founder, David Berk, to learn how to stop burning cash on the wrong r... Anthony Rose](https://seedlegals.com/resources/beacon-talent-founder-interview/)