Many consumers today suffer from gluten allergies and companies are now modifying their products to provide gluten-free alternatives. Over the last few years, sales of gluten-free foods have surged over 68% and sales are approximately $9 billion annually with companies such as General Mills and Hormel catering to consumers who prefer gluten-free products. Some market analysts believe the interest in gluten-free products is just another diet fad with the exception of the 1% of the population who suffer from Celiac disease and need gluten-free products. Approximately 39% of all food manufacturers are capitalizing on consumers' interest in gluten-free products. According to the text, the interest in gluten-free products represents a:
a. market opportunity.
b. strategic window.
c. core competency.
d. competitive advantage.
Answer: a. market opportunity.