I’m sad to report that the British Corner Shop has ceased operations. When you visit their website, you’re presented with the message in the image above. They have entered administration.
‘Administration’ is the British equivalent of bankruptcy. They’ve gone bust, and administrators have been appointed to liquidate the assets of the company and pay off creditors.
Oddly, this is the second time in the last twelve months that they have fallen into administration. How do I know? I received a letter last year as a debtholder. We used to be affiliates for BCS – where we earned a commission if anyone purchased there following our links. We stopped promoting them as soon as we received that letter, despite the letter saying they would continue operations.
So, it appears they have closed for good. This is a real shame. They were an amazing online British grocery store that allowed expats and Anglophiles worldwide to order real British groceries. They had reasonable delivery fees and were usually very fast.
I don’t have much inside knowledge on what happened, but I do know that Brexit played a factor, as new customs requirements as a result of leaving the EU completely upended their business model. They tried to mitigate this by opening a warehouse in Europe, but this appears to have failed. The pandemic didn’t help matters either.
Oh well.
They will be missed. Our thoughts are with the employees who have lost their jobs. This is a terrible time of year for this to happen (though there’s never a good time of year to lose your job). If you had an outstanding order with BCS, I recommend filing a chargeback claim with your bank or credit card. Otherwise, you’re never going to get a refund, as you’re essentially another creditor whom the defunct company owes money to.
We’re going to investigate other options for ordering British groceries online; expect a post in the coming weeks. In the meantime, if you know of somewhere selling British food online, please leave a comment below, and we’ll investigate.
British Corner Shop Alternatives for British Groceries in the USA
We’ve begun building a list of places to buy quality British groceries here in the United States. We’ll start listing them here; this is a living list.
Spencer’s Jolly Posh
I highly recommend our friends at Jolly Posh Foods. The owner, Nick, and I have known each other for over a decade, and I was delighted when they started shipping nationwide from their base in Chicago. Yorkshireman Nick has made it his mission to provide customers with a “true taste” of his British homeland. Jolly Posh produces its own range of delicious back bacon, eleven different varieties of pork sausages (bangers!), pies, authentic sausage rolls, and even British-style breads, as well as Pantry Essentials like Bisto gravy, HP Sauce, and tea. 15% off your first order if you sign up for their emails and free shipping for all orders over $100.
You could try: https://blightys.com/. They’re in Canada so may not work for you. I’ve never ordered online but I’ve been in the store in Orangeville, ON
I am so upset about it, every other store charges so much for shipping, now I can’t get my yummy food anymore
Please share next best, I’m so sorry this happened, I used them monthly. There must be a good alternative out there!
britsuperstore.com
Try http://www.expatspantry.com. I’ve ordered off them.
They don’t have the same range of stuff, but I’ve just requested things that they don’t have and they’ve added them to their website and sent them.
We have a really good selection at The Bee’s Knees 🙂 And ship from Massachusetts. Sadly no M&S products.
I am a British national living in Athens, Greece.
I own, and run the only dedicated British food store in mainland Greece. BR Foods.
12th year and still going strong.
http://www.brfoods.gr
russells.es deliver to Spain and Portugal, I’ve used them a couple of times, they are really quick and well stocked.
SIMPLY BRITISH FOODS LTD in Whutby, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦 has been in the online game since 2007.
Abigails in Denmark deliver in Denmark inc frozen goods but their range has become very limited since Brexit
I live in France and get my British goods from…… thetradingpost.fr
They have sausage and bacon and other frozen goods as well as ambient. You can mix your order with frozen/ambient foods at no extra charge. If you’re on their delivery route they deliver free or you can go to a pick up point
They’re cheaper the British corner Shop were. Check out their website to see what’s available
British Market Stall has been supplying the expat community in the Limousin region of France since 2017 with British food products. Customers can either visit the shop in Guéret (23000), meet the delivery van in meet up points farther afield, or order store cupboard products online for delivery by Mondial Relay.
They were my go to supplier! I just went to place another order and saw the administration notice 😩
Sad indeed but not surprised after brexit too expensive. We use baconbythebox in ireland. Being in the EU no issues and they expanded there range of goods.
https://www.britishhypermarket.com/
I am in the states and have been a happy customer for many years. My main purchase was usually Cadbury products as the Cadbury here in the states just doesn’t taste as good as the British version. I will truly miss my daily Cadbury treats.
Can anyone suggest a possible company who is heavy on Cadbury products and any/all biscuits? I won’t order from the states or anyone who uses a different chocolate recipe from the original British. Thanks. Liz
Dear Jonathan, I completely understand your “borderline psychosis” about Britain, I’m in the same category 🙂 Very sad about the closing of BCS. I ordered with them twice for Christmas and the experience was simply amazing! I’m a French woman who lives in Austria but spent 7 years in Ireland and absolutely loooooove Britain. Dying to go to Rye this year with another head/over-heels/Britain/lover friend of mine…fingers crossed. Anyway, love your website, it’s totally my kind of universe!! Thank you lots. Olivia
Thank you so much for your kind words!
Unfortunately I placed an order for Christmas 2023 and despite the fact that my credit card was charged and having been informed that my order had been despatched I never received the goods. Perhaps it would have been more honest to warn customers of their financial situation earlier . It is a shame for those of us who looked forward to receiving our Christmas goodies and other delights but I am cross that I lost money, too.
Bullocks to Brexit!
OH NO!! I’ve just discovered Lion candy bars and Snickers with real tasting peanuts. I vowed off American versions. What’s a woman to do?!
British Food Depot