British Corner Shop in Administration

As the title says, but where can I now find essentials like Bisto, Marmite (when not in stock locally) horseradish sauce etc.

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Oh, that’s a shame. I only used them a couple of times because the shipping was so expensive but it was nice to be able to get stuff that’s otherwise impossible to find.

We have got on well ordering from this company:

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Assuming you’re being serious, I’ll respond seriously:-

1 Bisto Surely you can make better gravy without Bisto,
2 Marmite: Within my experience Brits will readily bring back large amounts of the black stuff for friends, if only to be able to complain about how expensive it is in France.
3 Horseradish sauce: Make your own with homegrown, freshly grated horseradish (like ginger, it freezes well) and mix with heavy cream or creme fraiche (thanks again to @JaneJones)

Simples!

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Never used the BCShop, but now I’m wondering if their stock has been sold to Intermarche… as our local one had an amazing amount of British foodstuffs on offer… when we dropped by the other day…
Quite a large section, several shelves … full of an interesting assortment which was fun to see , brought back memories of another life… but didn’t tickle our tastebuds any more…

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All the large supermarkets around us have an “international” section and I have never had trouble getting marmite in France.
I agree with @DrMarkH about Bisto - really?
Horseradish sauce -available anywhere - it’s called “raifort”

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When I visit a new supermarket (rare event, but still curious) I always check out the British bit of the foreign food section, just to see what is in demand or illustrates local immigrants’ popular preferences. A lot of them seem to go back to another era way - eg. Bird’s Custard Powder. One wonders if their consumers are still around.

One of the first meals I had after moving to S Africa was being invited to lunch (sorry mid-day meal) at the bungalow of an elderly culture vulture couple. It was excruciating - temperature in the 40s wtihout any a/c discussing Bergman’s Seventh Seal over overcooked roast beef, undercooked roast potatoes and public school style boiled cabbage, all prepared and served by an elderly local cook cum maid who’d been well-trained in British culinary preferences circa. 1950

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Is it growing?

It flourished (like Topsy as promised) and we eventually had six plants until our builders (long and boring tale)parked their cement mixer on top of it. That patch now appears to be accidentally concreted over, but hopefully when the builders have gone and I’ve cleaned up it will re-emerge

I find it remarkable that when at this point 75% (not an accurate statistic lol) of the world’s retailers have been in administration at some point in the last 15 years I still immediately see comments on social media saying “sad to see you go” and the like, suggesting people have no idea STILL what an administration is. It’s a pretty niche business I guess, but then I’ve just read Waitrose saying they’re investing millions into increasing sales of their own brand products internationally via other retailers as there’s such a demand for them, so there’s obviously a market for British food globally outside of immigrants buying marmite, Angel Delight or Pukka Pies as a reminder of home, so perhaps BCS won’t be dead completely.

Aside from that general point, I use https://www.thetradingpost.fr/ who are based here so have no issues with customs etc and do a van service to pickup points round much of France. I don’t get much but they are distributors of Doves Farm who do gluten free flour mixes far superior to anything I’ve ever found here, or made myself.

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If I can remember, when we’re over next I’ll bring you some marmite. :slight_smile:

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I believe BCS opened up a warehouse in the Netherlands to avoid customs issues post-Brexit.

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We also use The Trading Post - a bit expensive, but quality is very good.

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Our local Leclerc stocks horseradish in the foreign section (also there is a grated version in vinegar in another isle)

Ooh, I’ve just seen that they stock Rodda’s clotted cream… :heart_eyes:

Thanks for the suggestion, both… I shall start preparing my shopping list!

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Raifort is the french version of Horseradish sauce, usually smooth but very good. I used to buy it in GĂ©ant/Casino years ago but you may find it in Carrefour as they do quite a bit of UK and other international bits and bobs now but some of the names I have nevr heard of.

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Yes. It’s in our Carrefour, next to the mustards.

Yes, very serious, especially where Marmite is concerned, Bisto it’s more of a question of time & ease a couple of tsp of granules & I have gravy & I like Colman’s horseradish.

Have you tried French raifort? This is the one we buy

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I have bought Marmite from Amazon.fr at a reasonable price. I have never found creamed raifort round here; we do have a Polish community so can get the normal stuff plus beetroot raifort. What is good is that we are suddenly getting a lot more decent cheddar (mostly Dorset cheddar). I know some areas of France have always had it, but it has always been very inferior quality here. Would love to see a good Red Leicester or Double Gloucester.