Ritz Launches Its First Gluten-Free Crackers, Only at 2 Retailers
Gluten-free Ritz crackers are officially here. Mondelēz International released Ritz Gluten Free Crackers in Original Flavor on October 19, 2026, the first gluten-free product in the brand’s more than 90-year history. The certified gluten-free crackers carry a suggested retail price of $4.49 for an eight-ounce box and are sold only at Walmart and Albertsons for now, with a nationwide retail rollout planned for February 2027.
The new crackers are built for shoppers with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, along with anyone hosting a gluten-free guest this holiday season. According to the official Ritz announcement, the gluten-free version delivers the same flaky, golden-baked, buttery-flavored cracker as the original and contains no artificial colors or flavors. “Our fans have been asking for a gluten free version for years,” said Olympia Portale, senior director of core crackers and head of savory portfolio strategy at Mondelēz.
The gluten-free recipe replaces wheat flour with a blend of cornstarch, yellow corn flour, faba bean protein, tapioca flour, and oat flour. It’s sweetened with invert sugar rather than the high fructose corn syrup used in classic Ritz. Shoppers who avoid oats for medical or dietary reasons should note that oat flour appears on the ingredient list and check the label before buying.
Food Network writer Adriana Chavez tested gluten-free Ritz side by side with the originals and found them slightly smaller, noticeably crunchier, and a little less buttery, without the wheaty flavor of the classic cracker. She also found them lighter, and said she kept reaching for the gluten-free box over the regular one during a weekend of snacking. Her main complaint was packaging: the gluten-free crackers don’t come in Ritz’s signature sleeves, so a box may not stay as fresh once opened.
Ritz is joining a growing lineup of gluten-free versions of familiar snack brands. Cheez-It and Goldfish both released gluten-free crackers earlier in 2026, and Mondelēz’s launch puts the company in direct competition for the same pantry space. For gluten-free shoppers, the result is more name-brand options in a cracker aisle long dominated by specialty labels.
The price works out to about 56 cents per ounce, and the eight-ounce box is noticeably smaller than the 13.7-ounce box classic Ritz typically comes in. Gluten-free products often cost more than their wheat-based counterparts, so a higher price per ounce isn’t surprising. Shoppers who want to stock up before holiday gatherings should look for the red box at Walmart or Albertsons now, and anyone who doesn’t live near either retailer can expect wider availability starting in February 2027.
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