British Expat Blog

THE OFFICIAL EXPAT TOP TEN FOODS

It’s official. Despite producing famous world- class chefs and more Michelin starred restaurants than most of our culinary refined cousins, when we move abroad, we want traditional British comfort food.

Sarah Daykin, MD, Distant Brits, www.distantbrits.co.uk the international on-line grocery and shopping service for ex-pats has been compiling the top 10 best sellers for the last three years commented:

“One of the biggest surprises is the amount of Haggis we sell at Christmas and New Year. Even our most urbane customers based in exotic or sophisticated locations hanker after child-hood favourites especially at this time of year. Christmas crackers and decorations are a must along with Advent calendars for their pets. English sausages and bacon are bought by the kilo by our European customers for their traditional breakfast.”

2007

1. HEINZ BAKED BEANS for the 3rd year running still the undisputed champion

2. WALKERS CHEESE AND ONION CRISPS replaced smoky bacon snacks

3. MARMITE moved up 3 places

4. CADBURY’S FLAKE fell one place

5. BISTO GRAVY moved up one place

6. MCVITIES DIGESTIVE BISCUITS, new entrant, completely ousting old favourites -Jaffa cakes

7. PATAKS CURRY SAUCES surprise new entrant with high demand in the East

8. TETLEY’S TEABAGS fell from 4th to 8th

9. BATTENBURG ousted Soreen Malt Loaf

10. BIRDS CUSTARD POWDER hanging in there.

Top 12 best sellers for Christmas

1. MR KIPLING’S MINCE PIES – undisputed champion

2. CHRISTMAS CRACKERS - family and luxury – are they a uniquely British institution?

3. DUCHY ORIGINALS CHRISTMAS CAKE – came from nowhere last year and ousted more traditional brands

4. TINS OF QUALITY STREET – down from 3rd place

5. FOXS FAVOURITES BISCUITS – moved up from 10th place

6. ADVENT CALENDARS – always popular and constantly in the top 10

7. CADBURYS CHRISTMAS STOCKING up from 9th place

8. BRITISH BACK BACON and WALLS PORK SAUSAGES for Christmas Breakfast – new entrant this year

9. BIRDS CUSTARD POWDER – always popular and moving up from 12th place

10. ROBERSTONS TRADITIONAL MINCMEAT
TANGERINE JELLYFOR TRIFLES – joint surprise entrants

11. DUCHY ORIGINALS CHRISTMAS PUDDING – down from 7th place

12. PAXO CELEBRATION STUFFING – a perennial favourite, but down from 10th position last year

LOCAL BUSINESS WOMAN MAKES ENTREPRENEURS SHORT-LIST

Bournemouth based Sarah Daykin founder of www.distantbrits.co.uk, the international on–line grocery and shopping service for ex-pats is through to the final of E-Den, being held on 20th September in Winchester. The winner will receive 1-year free membership of the BowShot e-traders’ group, worth £1150 plus £5000 worth of web development from Bluhalo.

E-Den, based on the popular Dragon’s Den TV show is the e-commerce division of BowShot, the independent community of high performance entrepreneurs based in Dorset and Hampshire.

Devised by Nicholas Stevens, MD of BowShot, E-Den is a unique forum for business people, living in the South, who want to know more about operating on the web in general and web commerce in particular. E-Den competitors all have successful Internet companies but are now seeking to expand their web presence.

The players were given just 5 minutes to present their website to a mentoring panel of acclaimed commercial gurus. Each of the panel has a different expertise, from marketing to founding e-commerce sites. This combined knowledge gives the participants a unique critique of their own site, focussing on their most pressing ecommerce challenges.

Sarah Daykin said; “I was amazed to win the heat and am extremely grateful for the invaluable feedback from the ‘dragons’ in suggesting novel ways to reach British ex pats living around the world and can’t wait to compete in the final.”

Sarah Daykin Distant Brits: www.distantbrits.co.uk

Nicholas Steven: http://bowshot.org/eden.aspx