Discussion
Always wondered why the range of sweets / snacks in the UK is so boring. Looking at the varieties / flavours of crisps, sweets and other snacks in countries across the globe, we are limited to such a small variety! Some recent examples of stuff I've bought which you can't find in the UK:
Some of it's been good (most of the sweets, the wasabi Pretz and the coffee drink) and some has been really bad - the blue cheese nik nak crisps tasted like vomit! Despite the fact that it's not all good, it's always nice to have a variety. Even our cereals are limited to healthier options than American ones, which I always find a lot tastier. So what other foreign foods have people tried that aren't available in the UK, and where do you normally buy from? Noticed there's a thread on the American food shops that have been popping up recently, been to the one in Islington a few times and found it to be stupidly expensive, anything from £2 for a chocolate bar to £8 for a box of cereal!
Some of it's been good (most of the sweets, the wasabi Pretz and the coffee drink) and some has been really bad - the blue cheese nik nak crisps tasted like vomit! Despite the fact that it's not all good, it's always nice to have a variety. Even our cereals are limited to healthier options than American ones, which I always find a lot tastier. So what other foreign foods have people tried that aren't available in the UK, and where do you normally buy from? Noticed there's a thread on the American food shops that have been popping up recently, been to the one in Islington a few times and found it to be stupidly expensive, anything from £2 for a chocolate bar to £8 for a box of cereal!
I think most of those things you can buy at a Japanese supermarket here actually 
. I know I was looking at Pepero nude in a Korean shop today and a few of other bits like those wasabi peas I know you can get, that iisu koohi I think you could get.
For these snacks in UK try Rice Wine Shop or Arigato Supermarket on Brewer St. For wider range and more expensive go to Japan Centre on Regent St.
The first time I tried a reece's cup I discovered you can't eat the cup
. I know I was looking at Pepero nude in a Korean shop today and a few of other bits like those wasabi peas I know you can get, that iisu koohi I think you could get.For these snacks in UK try Rice Wine Shop or Arigato Supermarket on Brewer St. For wider range and more expensive go to Japan Centre on Regent St.
The first time I tried a reece's cup I discovered you can't eat the cup
You can buy british equivalents of most of the stuff shown, failing that there's folks importing it.
Chocolate pretzels were available here for a long time from a few different brands, pulled because demand was non existent but there's still some smaller brands (Costco have them on occasion). Pretzel Flipz are still imported and sell well, and there's mikado and a few similar still available. Wasabi peas are available in most supermarkets, ethnic food stores, chinese supermarkets and a bunch of other places.
RTD coffee and tea is available here, not en masse because it doesn't sell well, but there's at least half a dozen brands I can think of off the top of my head doing it.
Oreo cakesters will be arriving in the UK later next year and most of the decent american food stores already sell them, same goes for white peanut butter cups, though you do occasionally get them in supermarkets too. Lotte products (inc. Pepero) can be found in most asian supermarkets or online too.
So basically, if they're not widely available or don't have an alternative it's because demand isn't there, and if you can't find them you're probably not looking in the right places or they're rubbish
Tesco et al don't dedicate valuable square footage to obscure stuff because their customer base doesn't want or need it, and they're not prepared to gamble on an uncertainty when it's a space they can occupy with a sure thing backed by a known brand. Also, a lot of products don't comply with EU laws on certain additives, colourings, preservatives etc, which means reproducing them here under licence - that can alter the end result (see the UK market mountain dew for example). Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, most cases it's not worth bothering.
Throw on some VAT and duty and a lot of stuff simply isn't economical to import, but there's a ton of speciality retailers out there desperate for your business with no shortage of stuff you've probably never seen or heard of.
In terms of why british stuff isn't that broad ranging - you'd be surprised once you look further than the bigger brands. I can tell you it's seriously popular internationally, and not just with expats.
Chocolate pretzels were available here for a long time from a few different brands, pulled because demand was non existent but there's still some smaller brands (Costco have them on occasion). Pretzel Flipz are still imported and sell well, and there's mikado and a few similar still available. Wasabi peas are available in most supermarkets, ethnic food stores, chinese supermarkets and a bunch of other places.
RTD coffee and tea is available here, not en masse because it doesn't sell well, but there's at least half a dozen brands I can think of off the top of my head doing it.
Oreo cakesters will be arriving in the UK later next year and most of the decent american food stores already sell them, same goes for white peanut butter cups, though you do occasionally get them in supermarkets too. Lotte products (inc. Pepero) can be found in most asian supermarkets or online too.
So basically, if they're not widely available or don't have an alternative it's because demand isn't there, and if you can't find them you're probably not looking in the right places or they're rubbish
Tesco et al don't dedicate valuable square footage to obscure stuff because their customer base doesn't want or need it, and they're not prepared to gamble on an uncertainty when it's a space they can occupy with a sure thing backed by a known brand. Also, a lot of products don't comply with EU laws on certain additives, colourings, preservatives etc, which means reproducing them here under licence - that can alter the end result (see the UK market mountain dew for example). Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, most cases it's not worth bothering.
Throw on some VAT and duty and a lot of stuff simply isn't economical to import, but there's a ton of speciality retailers out there desperate for your business with no shortage of stuff you've probably never seen or heard of.
In terms of why british stuff isn't that broad ranging - you'd be surprised once you look further than the bigger brands. I can tell you it's seriously popular internationally, and not just with expats.
Mobile Chicane said:
UK crisps are the best in the world. Try getting decent chicken or smokey bacon flavours anywhere else.
The best Johnny Foreigner can offer is 'BBQ', which not only tastes nothing like anything barbecued, it isn't a patch on Walker's BBQ rib.
Sorry but I disagree with your comment about UK crisps being the best in the world.The best Johnny Foreigner can offer is 'BBQ', which not only tastes nothing like anything barbecued, it isn't a patch on Walker's BBQ rib.
http://www.nowthatsnifty.com/2011/03/101-pringle-f...
Says it all.
In the UK we are limited to around 5 flavours, if that!
Pringles aren't crisps. 
Pringle-like snacks called 'Discos' were briefly available in the 1970s, in ready-salted, salt-and-vinegar and cheese-and-onion flavours. They didn't sell despite massive marketing support, and were consequently dropped.
They didn't sell because they were horrible, and as the UK crisp-buying public rightly surmised, not a patch on proper crisps.
Pringle-like snacks called 'Discos' were briefly available in the 1970s, in ready-salted, salt-and-vinegar and cheese-and-onion flavours. They didn't sell despite massive marketing support, and were consequently dropped.
They didn't sell because they were horrible, and as the UK crisp-buying public rightly surmised, not a patch on proper crisps.
Mobile Chicane said:
Pringles aren't crisps.
Pringle-like snacks called 'Discos' were briefly available in the 1970s, in ready-salted, salt-and-vinegar and cheese-and-onion flavours. They didn't sell despite massive marketing support, and were consequently dropped.
They didn't sell because they were horrible, and as the UK crisp-buying public rightly surmised, not a patch on proper crisps.
You can buy disco's today, had a pack the other day. The salt and vinegar are really strong, just how I like them!Pringle-like snacks called 'Discos' were briefly available in the 1970s, in ready-salted, salt-and-vinegar and cheese-and-onion flavours. They didn't sell despite massive marketing support, and were consequently dropped.
They didn't sell because they were horrible, and as the UK crisp-buying public rightly surmised, not a patch on proper crisps.
Mobile Chicane said:
Pringles aren't crisps.
Pringle-like snacks called 'Discos' were briefly available in the 1970s, in ready-salted, salt-and-vinegar and cheese-and-onion flavours. They didn't sell despite massive marketing support, and were consequently dropped.
They didn't sell because they were horrible, and as the UK crisp-buying public rightly surmised, not a patch on proper crisps.
It's not just about being better than UK crisps but it's also about the variety available to the consumer.Pringle-like snacks called 'Discos' were briefly available in the 1970s, in ready-salted, salt-and-vinegar and cheese-and-onion flavours. They didn't sell despite massive marketing support, and were consequently dropped.
They didn't sell because they were horrible, and as the UK crisp-buying public rightly surmised, not a patch on proper crisps.
Take Kit Kats for example, here we get excited over a peanut butter limited edition one.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/lydiah/35-kit-kat-varietie...
Some of them sound revolting (potato, soy sauce etc) but some sound amazing, and given the choice, I would certainly be experimenting with the different varieties. It's a shame that we are so limited in this country.
Stu R said:
You can buy british equivalents of most of the stuff shown, failing that there's folks importing it.
Chocolate pretzels were available here for a long time from a few different brands, pulled because demand was non existent but there's still some smaller brands (Costco have them on occasion). Pretzel Flipz are still imported and sell well, and there's mikado and a few similar still available. Wasabi peas are available in most supermarkets, ethnic food stores, chinese supermarkets and a bunch of other places.
RTD coffee and tea is available here, not en masse because it doesn't sell well, but there's at least half a dozen brands I can think of off the top of my head doing it.
Oreo cakesters will be arriving in the UK later next year and most of the decent american food stores already sell them, same goes for white peanut butter cups, though you do occasionally get them in supermarkets too. Lotte products (inc. Pepero) can be found in most asian supermarkets or online too.
So basically, if they're not widely available or don't have an alternative it's because demand isn't there, and if you can't find them you're probably not looking in the right places or they're rubbish
Tesco et al don't dedicate valuable square footage to obscure stuff because their customer base doesn't want or need it, and they're not prepared to gamble on an uncertainty when it's a space they can occupy with a sure thing backed by a known brand. Also, a lot of products don't comply with EU laws on certain additives, colourings, preservatives etc, which means reproducing them here under licence - that can alter the end result (see the UK market mountain dew for example). Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, most cases it's not worth bothering.
Throw on some VAT and duty and a lot of stuff simply isn't economical to import, but there's a ton of speciality retailers out there desperate for your business with no shortage of stuff you've probably never seen or heard of.
In terms of why british stuff isn't that broad ranging - you'd be surprised once you look further than the bigger brands. I can tell you it's seriously popular internationally, and not just with expats.
Interesting post, a lot of valid points, especially regarding the supermarkets not wanting to use their space to stock foods which aren't guaranteed to sell. It's good to see Tesco stocking up on American imports recently, can find loads of stuff in there which you can't find anywhere else except for the specialist American food retailers which have such a massive mark up (can understand why, after the cost of shipping + taxes etc). Chocolate pretzels were available here for a long time from a few different brands, pulled because demand was non existent but there's still some smaller brands (Costco have them on occasion). Pretzel Flipz are still imported and sell well, and there's mikado and a few similar still available. Wasabi peas are available in most supermarkets, ethnic food stores, chinese supermarkets and a bunch of other places.
RTD coffee and tea is available here, not en masse because it doesn't sell well, but there's at least half a dozen brands I can think of off the top of my head doing it.
Oreo cakesters will be arriving in the UK later next year and most of the decent american food stores already sell them, same goes for white peanut butter cups, though you do occasionally get them in supermarkets too. Lotte products (inc. Pepero) can be found in most asian supermarkets or online too.
So basically, if they're not widely available or don't have an alternative it's because demand isn't there, and if you can't find them you're probably not looking in the right places or they're rubbish
Tesco et al don't dedicate valuable square footage to obscure stuff because their customer base doesn't want or need it, and they're not prepared to gamble on an uncertainty when it's a space they can occupy with a sure thing backed by a known brand. Also, a lot of products don't comply with EU laws on certain additives, colourings, preservatives etc, which means reproducing them here under licence - that can alter the end result (see the UK market mountain dew for example). Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, most cases it's not worth bothering.
Throw on some VAT and duty and a lot of stuff simply isn't economical to import, but there's a ton of speciality retailers out there desperate for your business with no shortage of stuff you've probably never seen or heard of.
In terms of why british stuff isn't that broad ranging - you'd be surprised once you look further than the bigger brands. I can tell you it's seriously popular internationally, and not just with expats.
Any examples of of the British stuff you mentioned?
Mobile Chicane said:
UK crisps are the best in the world. Try getting decent chicken or smokey bacon flavours anywhere else.
The best Johnny Foreigner can offer is 'BBQ', which not only tastes nothing like anything barbecued, it isn't a patch on Walker's BBQ rib.
Too right Walkers are the best! Try living in Belgium if you think there is a lack of choice of snacks in the UK. Paprika flavoured Lays crisps are the snack of choice and are revolting. And no, the Belgian chocolate, does not make up for the lack of Cadburys.The best Johnny Foreigner can offer is 'BBQ', which not only tastes nothing like anything barbecued, it isn't a patch on Walker's BBQ rib.
There are South African goodies you can buy here in the UK online and some of the sweets that are fruit flavoured actually taste like fruit and chocolate and not just sugar.
The selection of breakfast cereals and porridges and sauces etc etc is great, try it you wont regret it
If you like BBQ sauce then get some Monkey Gland sauce (and no its not made from Monkeys Glands lol).
The selection of breakfast cereals and porridges and sauces etc etc is great, try it you wont regret it
If you like BBQ sauce then get some Monkey Gland sauce (and no its not made from Monkeys Glands lol).
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