Gluten-free shop near Bremen: Ilka Mohr’s Glutenfrei Brinkum

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Ilka Mohr opened her own shop in Stuhr, near Bremen: Glutenfrei Brinkum, where, according to the shop’s website, every product is gluten-free. She also organises the Glutenfrei-Markt, a gluten-free market, and the next one is on 18 and 19 September 2027 at Gut Varrel in Stuhr-Varrel. She brought the idea for the shop back from Milan in 2024, and she tells the rest herself.

These answers are Ilka’s own experiences and words, written in German. Translated from German by How to Gluten Free. Last updated: 23 October 2026

Who are you, and how did gluten-free living come into your life?

I’m Ilka. I’ve known since 2023 that I can’t tolerate gluten (after 46 years, finally no more stomach aches), and in 2024, in Milan, I got to experience what it’s like to shop in a shop that is completely gluten-free.

How did Glutenfrei Brinkum come about?

Milan was my inspiration. That feeling of simply choosing, without reading labels, without uncertainty, just going by what you fancy, your mood and what you need, is indescribable. That’s how my passion project began. I’ve never had a job that made me so content and fulfilled me so much.

How did the Glutenfrei-Markt come about, and what was the best part of the first one?

The Glutenfrei-Markt is a second passion project. In Bremen there’s the Freimarkt (a funfair), and finding something you can eat there is so hard and exhausting. At the same time, I want to show how many great products there are on the market now, and give restaurant owners the courage to get to grips with the topic.

The best part was all the happy faces! So many people thanked me and wanted to hug me. So much gratitude for something that really should be a given, but sadly isn’t. That moved me a lot and spurred me on to plan an even nicer, better market next year.

What do your customers ask you most often?

“Is EVERYTHING in here really gluten-free???”

What do you wish restaurants, shops or event organisers would do?

More courage, and more options for customers to decide for themselves. A shared kitchen? Of course contamination is possible, but the more restaurant owners get familiar with the topic and train their staff, the less often contamination will happen. It works in other countries too. From shops: more clearly organised shelves. “Gluten-free” on the sign above? Then what’s underneath has to be gluten-free too. Mixed “free from” shelves are confusing and lead to mistakes and a loss of trust.

What would you tell someone who has just been diagnosed with coeliac disease?

Living with the diagnosis is tiring and a lot of work, but hey, finally no more symptoms, and from now on your health is on the up! There are so many great products these days. It’s only the start that’s hard. Talk to Zöllies [German slang for people with coeliac disease], online (Facebook is very good for this) or look for them near you (in restaurants, in shops at the gluten-free shelf). There are more of them than you’d think.

Visiting the area? Where to eat gluten-free in Bremen is on our page about the Bremen Christmas market. And which German supermarket chains carry gluten-free products is in our guide to gluten-free supermarkets in Germany.

Sources: Ilka’s written answers to How to Gluten Free (22 October 2026, in German; the answer about the first market in her email the same evening); address and opening hours from her email of 22 October 2026, matched against the shop’s website (read on 22 October 2026); market dates from the “Glutenfrei-Markt” page on glutenfreibrinkum.de (read on 22 October 2026). Last updated: 23 October 2026.