British products in Warsaw

I am British and travel back and forth often. I thought perhaps I'd offer a service of bringing some much loved British products back for anyone who may miss them or simply want them. Would anyone be interested?

Matthew

Good idea Matthew. At the moment the British Shop on Emilii Plater offer a similar service but at a fairly stiff mark-up (usually more than double the price in Waitrose); they are the only people currently bringing refrigerated British products to Warsaw. The other physical shop with British stuff is Kuchnia Swiata, again it's at a serious mark-up. There's also britishcornershop, they deliver to Poland for about £12 (for up to 30kg, £6 if you spend more than £100) but their prices are more cornershop level than supermarket level. M&S have an expanding range and will be expanding it further in the near future. Amazon are also offering an ever growing range of grocery products and have free delivery to Poland if you spend more than £25 (I buy toilet paper and some cat food from them). And there are also more than a few specialist sellers on Allegro.

So while your idea is good, there's a fair bit of competition and it would be quite a bit of hassle for not a vast amount of cash. I suppose that if you really want to go for it, the best way to do it would be to visit Legends during a big football match with business cards or go to a Professionals in Warsaw mixer with business cards. Good luck to you.

I assume you mean on a private level, not commercial, but paying you a little for your time and trouble? I've often thought the same thing as there's lots I miss here in Wroc, notably digestive biscuits (M&S's are not to my taste, too sweet and crunchy). If you pass through Wroc, let me know! :O)

Thank you for all the information and advice Harry, I appreciate it! If Amazon and M&S both expand their range of British grocery products soon, then the value of this idea is surely questionable. However, I think the significant mark-up in the British shops is dissuasive, I believe it would be possible for me to offer the same level of service (minus the refrigerated goods) for a much more persuasive price. Also, although the British shop's "BringForMe" service is comparable, I believe I would offer a much more personal and to some extent limitless service.

I will have to see whether there is much interest despite this competition.

Thank you once again for your advice!


I'll make sure to let you know if I pass through! :)

I hope all goes well, I have no idea what the demand is like in 'saw, but I seem to recall in Wroc there was a kiosk type place doing it years ago and they closed up. I don't know of anywhere here now, so I assume demand is low. Magnolia Park shopping centre has an international foods shop with some Brit stuff and it's rather eyewatering in price and they seem to carry little stock suggesting low demand. What does sell well here is oriental foods.

McVities are about to launch a range here through Delicpol, Digestives, Hob Nobs, Creams.

That is exciting news (seriously!)
I shall look out for them, presumably in the major supermarkets rather than just EPI or Alma? Nothing on the English part of their website about it, but shall happily take your word for it! Nice one!

Apparently they are coming "soon" magazynhandel.pl/2014/03/10/herbatniki-mcvitie-s-digestive-pojawia-sie-na-polskim-rynku

Not a great loss for the OP I think though, biscuits wouldn't have been too good to bring anyway (low value, high volume and easy to break).

Thanks H. And hopefully to the same recipe, with few or no additives and no animal fats, palm oil nor hydrogenated fats. Too many Polish products have hydrogenated fats and animal fats. In the UK, we've cut them out of the majority of products.

The only thing I can't get from amazon is good ole back bacon and decent priced lamb

I am at a complete loss why to buy toilet paper on Amazon??? We buy it in our local Lidl. Also, our cats eat pet food bought in Poland since we have them - more as 10 years - and untill now they have not grown two heads. The only thing I miss is corned beef for a decent price. Paying 26 PLN for a tin (as Marks & Sparks) charges is indecent for me.

He probably meant the very cheap 1 penny books. Works out a lot cheaper that Andrex.

Because the quality of the stuff sold there is better than the best stuff on the Polish market (i.e. Lambi, which is a pain to find) and it's cheaper to buy from Amazon than from the local MarcPol.


Neither have mine. The point is that a can of cat food at the local MarcPol is 2.49zl while the same can from Amazon is 1.66zl and I don't need to carry it home.


Does ten zeds for a large tin work for you? amazon.co.uk/Princes-Salt-Corned-Beef-Pack/dp/B008AIC8KO


No, I mean Andrex quilted, why settle for less?

I use Seven Shades of Grey, personally. Or Izal.

For sure it does Harry. Thanks for the tip. Just that I never associated Amazon with corned beef :)

Happy to help. Just make sure you either buy the stuff which is actually sold by Amazon itself and spend £25 so the shipping is free or buy from a seller whose orders are fulfilled by Amazon and spend at least £25 with that one seller so the shipping is free

I guess that the OP needs to think to himself what he can provide that Amazon do not. Personally I'd be thinking things the need to be refirgerated, things such as bacon and cheese.

No known whereabouts of McV digestives here, and it's many months later.

Marks and Spencer own brand ones are OK - probably made by McVities too...

Thank you Jon but I think someone bought me a pack earlier in the year and they were too sweet or something. I mean I'm not that fussy, I sometimes even go for Sainsburys Basics digestives or Asda's Smart Price, but I didn't like M&S's here. The Polish brand (Luc I think it was) ceased making them. They were OK.

The one thing that would make my life complete is a good cracker for cheese. Obviously, I don't expect to find Scottish oatcakes (the perfect accompaniment) in Poland, but at the moment I have to settle for Lajkonik krakersy super, which are ok but a bit salty. I find digestives a bit too sweet for cheddar, and I'm reluctant to import crackers from the UK. Any suggestions?

I sometimes buy the small ones, called talerki. If I've got guests and can be arsed, I make crackers and put loads of parmesan in the mix.

You checked M&S? If they don't have any, there's always britishcornershop.co.uk.

Didn't know BSC did oaties. I'll check it out. Same with talerki. Ta.

From memory they even have the highland ones.

@OP Very smart idea.

If anybody wants any thing sending food wise from the UK, pay the cost of the food and postage and I will send it to you.

Obviously no frozen food, shoe box full kinda, pay through PayPal, the offer is there should anyone from Blighty want it.

You will find oatcakes available at M&S in Warsaw they are priced between 7-9 zlotys per packet.

Thanks. I'll get a friend to post me some.

Ladies and gentlemen and Fido the dog, I am pleased to announce that McVities Digestives are available in selected branches of Tesco Polska stores, mainly the Extra outlets.

They are in small cardboard packs.
Prices:
200g digestive (traditional) 4.59
200g milk 4.99
200g dark 4.99
(in zł)

While stocks last, phone store before going if making a special journey!

Tudor the dog says thanks to InWroclaw, as his master will be a very happy chappie to hear such news. Hubba hubba.