British Imports

93POSTS

16 years ago

Does anybody know of any stores in Oslo or anywhere in Norway that I can buy imported British stuff?

I've looked into shipping it myself but there is so much paperwork involved in shipping food.

See also

Relocating to Norway - Guide
British mum of a 3 year old boy in Oslo - anyone want a coffee? - 12 Replies
British girl in Norway - new member! - 21 Replies
British & Norwegian marriage - 8 Replies
Importing a car to norway--help with taxes? - 7 Replies
British Girl seeking friends from Norway, and even better, Oslo. - 6 Replies
Living and working in Norway as a British citizen - 8 Replies

sctld ViP

128POSTS

16 years ago

Try Ler酶y Mat. There's one of these in Bergen, and while it doesn't have everything you'd expect from a British supermarket, the selection is a that bit more familiar.

godsavetheking Active member

93POSTS

16 years ago

Thanks for the reply. I'll give that place a look!

Just to clarify, I'm not looking to find a Tesco Metro (it's like Kiwi or Joker) full of English stuff, I just want to get the occasional item from home.

Cadbury's chocolate for example!

1 member reacted to this post

sctld ViP

128POSTS

16 years ago

I don't know about Cadbury's, but Campbell's soup is my little luxury from Ler酶y Mat. Whoever thought you could miss tinned soup?

By the way, if you've just moved to Norway (which is what I've gathered from your questions about permits and the like) then I recommend you try to get familiar with Norwegian foods. It sounds trivial, but it goes a long way in helping you integrate with Norwegian society (kvikklunsj is an institution), and expats who integrate tend to do better than those who don't (those who don't integrate tend to have a terrible experience and go home around the six month mark).

You don't have to like every Norwegian food, and you don't have to abandon those things you like from the UK, but it makes sense to dive in to the new tastes of a new country!

godsavetheking Active member

93POSTS

16 years ago

I found a little store in R酶a that sells PG Tips - my favorite English tipple (tea).

Whoo!

1 member reacted to this post

godsavetheking Active member

93POSTS

16 years ago

sctld wrote:
I don't know about Cadbury's, but Campbell's soup is my little luxury from Ler酶y Mat. Whoever thought you could miss tinned soup?

By the way, if you've just moved to Norway (which is what I've gathered from your questions about permits and the like) then I recommend you try to get familiar with Norwegian foods. It sounds trivial, but it goes a long way in helping you integrate with Norwegian society (kvikklunsj is an institution), and expats who integrate tend to do better than those who don't (those who don't integrate tend to have a terrible experience and go home around the six month mark).

You don't have to like every Norwegian food, and you don't have to abandon those things you like from the UK, but it makes sense to dive in to the new tastes of a new country!

Yeah, I've been trying stuff slowly. I haven't had the guts to try Sild yet.. lungemose is right out.

I work at a small company and we all eat lunch together (on the company - flott!) so I'm getting used to eating how they do.

I also tried eating a Swedish crackerbread thing. Never again. It was like chewing broken glass!

sctld ViP

128POSTS

16 years ago

godsavetheking wrote:
Yeah, I've been trying stuff slowly. I haven't had the guts to try Sild yet.. lungemose is right out.

I work at a small company and we all eat lunch together (on the company - flott!) so I'm getting used to eating how they do.

I also tried eating a Swedish crackerbread thing. Never again. It was like chewing broken glass!

Will you be taking part in your company's julebord? That's a great opportunity to try a wide number of Norwegian Christmas delicacies. Pinnekj酶tt...mmm....deilig!

Kn盲ckebr枚d is pretty good, imho. I don't like the Norwegian idea of eating the same exact thing for both breakfast and lunch, but a bit of knekkebr酶d med sennepssild is pretty close to heaven, if you ask me!

Have you really had such a trouble getting PG tips? Whenever I go round to friends/grilfriend's family, they always ask if I want PG Tips. It's as if it's the only brand they know of. I'm a Tetleys man myself. Pretty overjoyed when I visited my girlfriend's brother in Paris and found that that was they had bought (although they apologised for it not being PG, I declined the apology).

godsavetheking Active member

93POSTS

16 years ago

sctld wrote:
Will you be taking part in your company's julebord?聽 That's a great opportunity to try a wide number of Norwegian Christmas delicacies.

Yeah we did that back in November. Wasn't terribly Norwegian except we did eat Moose for the main. Was pretty darn tasty!

sctld wrote:
Have you really had such a trouble getting PG tips?

I've been checking the stores (Meny, Kiwi, ICA, Joker) for it and they never have it. I am glad I can get McVities Digestives though

I used to commute past the bakery where they're made every day for years and it brings back some good memories.

godsavetheking Active member

93POSTS

16 years ago

sctld wrote:
Campbell's soup is my little luxury from Ler酶y Mat.

Sure you can't get that in a supermarket? Meny (a supermarket) stock that in Oslo.

sctld ViP

128POSTS

16 years ago

#10

godsavetheking wrote:
sctld wrote:
Campbell's soup is my little luxury from Ler酶y Mat.

Sure you can't get that in a supermarket? Meny (a supermarket) stock that in Oslo.

Meny here in Bergen doesn't stock it. The choice is generally a lot more limited, i find, especially Rimi/Rema/ICA.

I'm getting used to dry packets of soup, though.
Pakke suppe, matfl酶yte, mj酶lk, kvitlauksbr酶d. That's the way you spell delicious lunch.

godsavetheking Active member

93POSTS

16 years ago

#11

sctld wrote:
I'm getting used to dry packets of soup, though.
Pakke suppe, matfl酶yte, mj酶lk, kvitlauksbr酶d. That's the way you spell delicious lunch.

Hot food.

*whimper*

There's something to be said for eating a good warm meal for lunch when it's -7. Hottest lunch I get is a boiled egg :s

sctld ViP

128POSTS

16 years ago

#12

godsavetheking wrote:
Hot food.

*whimper*

There's something to be said for eating a good warm meal for lunch when it's -7. Hottest lunch I get is a boiled egg :s

No microwave or hotplate at work?聽 Sounds like an appropriate use of any missing Christmas bonus.

dmcart13 Serial expat

554POSTS

16 years ago

#13

I heard Meny have Irn Bru, but I haven't seen it in any of there stores. Not that I suppose that's something you're after.

sctld ViP

128POSTS

16 years ago

#14

dmcart13 wrote:
I heard Meny have Irn Bru, but I haven't seen it in any of there stores. Not that I suppose that's something you're after.

Irn Bru was all over the place when I moved first, but it's been harder to get it more recently.聽 Perhaps the Norwegian palette isn't quite sophisticated enough yet.

godsavetheking Active member

93POSTS

16 years ago

#15

Get the brown jul brus. It tastes exactly the same as Irn Bru to me.

sctld ViP

128POSTS

16 years ago

#16

godsavetheking wrote:
Get the brown jul brus. It tastes exactly the same as Irn Bru to me.

Which brand is the brown one?

Eventyrbrus (which of course becomes Julebrus this time of year) tastes distinctly like Tizer.

Medusa09 Member

3POSTS

16 years ago

#17

Hamar and Lillehammer Bryggeri

dmcart13 Serial expat

554POSTS

16 years ago

#18

Thanks for the tip. The stupid thing is, I don't even drink Irn Bru when I'm in Scotland but when I know I can't have it I decide I want it. I'll keep an eye out for Julebrus.

Ladee76 Active member

28POSTS

16 years ago

#19

I found Ulta had loads of American and British foods.

flipper78 Guest

0POSTS

16 years ago

#20

sctld wrote:
I'm getting used to dry packets of soup, though.
Pakke suppe, matfl酶yte, mj酶lk, kvitlauksbr酶d. That's the way you spell delicious lunch.

DO they speak Nynorsk over there?

Just curious

sctld ViP

128POSTS

16 years ago

#21

flipper78 wrote:
sctld wrote:
I'm getting used to dry packets of soup, though.
Pakke suppe, matfl酶yte, mj酶lk, kvitlauksbr酶d. That's the way you spell delicious lunch.

DO they speak Nynorsk over there?

Just curious

No-one speaks nynorsk, but a lot of people p氓 vestlandet have nynorsk as their main written form of Norwegian. Bergen is mostly bokm氓l, but at my work I would say around half the employees write in nynorsk.

flipper78 Guest

0POSTS

16 years ago

#22

Ah yes, my bad.

What I meant to write was "DO they use Nynorsk over there"
..and you've given me the answer already

I get headache whenever I read something in nynorsk. Luckily I live in 脴stlandet where everything is in Bokm氓l. Piece a cake!

samkroon Member

2POSTS

16 years ago

#23

We found that the Centra in Majorstuen have a lot of imported foods, including Vegemite from Australia, which was a saviour for us :-)

We often find ingredients there that have been imported, including quite of lot of british foods.

flipper78 Guest

0POSTS

16 years ago

#24

I was just about to post to see if anyone could tell where I could find Marmite. I'm all out! ((panic))

Samkroon - You might just have saved me there. I've always been lead to believe that Vegemite was basically the same thing as Marmite? I shall head straight to Majorstuen after work in search it.

If that fails, I'll try to smuggle some in my hand luggage after the next UK trip. It's worth the risk.

mattysas Member

3POSTS

16 years ago

#25

Hi All,

Just found this web site last night.
I have been in Norway for the last 9 years.
I see some of you are looking for A few home favourites from the UK.
I found the following site a few months ago but have yet to travel up to make a purchase, abritofhome co.uk

In my experience it is possible to buy english tea in local Asian stores and I have found a few home favs in Meny & Ultra.
Ica Maxi sell some English Cheese's ( If like me you like a strong tasting cheese)
Of coarse its important to try out the local foods but after nine years being here it is hard to forget some of our home favs:)
If Possible take a shopping trip to Stromstad in Sweden, Have found a few more items there too, British Style Bacon for starters:)))

godsavetheking Active member

93POSTS

16 years ago

#26

heh. Look like somebody beat me to setting up a shop just like that.

Oh well - a little competition can't hurt

Knut Contributor

161POSTS

15 years ago

#27

18 kroner for a pot noodle, you know you're in Norway now! That's one thing I surely don't miss from home.

I was thinking of setting up a business here importing Norwegian food to England. Not alot of Norwegians in Manchester, as far as I can tell. But maybe it's not such a great idea after all, having read your views on Norwegian cuisine. You should listen to a song called 'traditional food' by Black Debbath, it explains it all. Or just read the lyrics.

godsavetheking Active member

93POSTS

15 years ago

#28

There are quite a few in Manchester - the Christmas party organised by the consulate was pretty busy as I recall.

I was thinking of setting up a similar thing - bought a domain name etc but the government red tape bought things to a halt very quickly.

Knut Contributor

161POSTS

15 years ago

#29

It's not a consulate in Manchester, it's a mere 'trade commission' these days. Anyway, I went to vote a couple of years ago for the local elections in Norway, and they had to go through all the electoral stuff there and then as I was the only person who had dropped by to vote. The only other Norwegians I have spotted are middle aged men who come to see Manchester United and drink 'great beer' (see:Foster/Carling) in 'traditional pubs' like Wetherspoons. >lol<

Guess for it to be worth it, you need to import quite large quantities really.

GaryO Active member

32POSTS

15 years ago

#30

I'm planning on moving to Norway soon (within the next couple of months), I've spent a few summers and christmas' in Norway, from my experience there was very little British foods (But I was mainly looking in Rema1000).聽 Good to see it's possible to get a few home grown foods

Mewsue Member

1POSTS

15 years ago

#31

britishcornershop.co.uk/shop.asp
bit expensive but if you really need english food they will find stuff for you too if its not on there list
hope this helps
Sue

1 member reacted to this post

Knut Contributor

161POSTS

15 years ago

#32

Just out of interest..I went to the royal mails website (parcel force worldwide) and had a little play. Sending a parcel from the UK to Norway, weight 10kg gave a price of approx. 拢60 for a 6 day delivery schedule. So get your friends back home to ship it to you..Though not sure about the greedy Norwegian customs taxation on that, because the Norwegian gov't as you all know, has not got enough cash in the bank..

Though I am quite certain they would feel too guilty charging any tax on Marmite, as it obviously can't be considered fit for consumption anyway.

mailman13 Active member

27POSTS

15 years ago

#33

Hi All,

Just jumped on this page to check out what the craic is in Norway. I've got some friends over there (all natives) and I'm thinking of coming over next summer for a few months. Been a regular on the Saudi boards over the last few months. That's where I am at the minute.

How do most Brits find living and working in Norway? I'm a language teacher and football coach and was wondering how hard it is to find work. I'll be coming over with plenty of money to support myself for a month or two.

Any advice?

Sheetul ViP

1843POSTS

15 years ago

#34

Welcome to Expat-blog, mailman13

To have a realistic portray of living and working conditions for Brits in Oslo, you could simply be in touch with your country fellow men and ask them about their perceptions. You could view the British expatriates network in Oslo.

Regards,
Sheetul

Alanderek Member

3POSTS

15 years ago

#35

I live By REMA 1000 in Sk忙rer in L酶renskog, There you can buy PG Tips and other things-

GaryO Active member

32POSTS

15 years ago

#36

I can't survive without my cereal in the morning, but I found that Norwegian cereal tastes much different than the ones found in the UK (Even if they are the same type/brand).聽 The only ones I found were the same were co-co pops, not my favourite in the world but it's nice to have a taste you recognise.聽 My local Rema 1000 doesn't sell them but the Co-Op does!

jordy lee grant Member

1POSTS

15 years ago

#37

this is halarius,icant moov for pg tips and earlgray tea, the plase is jamed with it. and evryone gives pg to me for chrismas and my berthday, but my most reasent find was at stapls in hougesund, thay han cup-a-soup by the box.

ive been in norway for five years and love it.

flipper78 Guest

0POSTS

14 years ago

#38

I just get people from home to send me stuff over but will definitely checking out that place that has vegemite not quite the same as marmite but will definitely do if its not too overpriced, Its funny tho I hardly ever ate salt and vinegar crisps at home but when I saw them over here I went through packets of them!!!

andoo Member

1POSTS

14 years ago

#39

hi folks, well i read this thread about 9 months ago or so when i first moved to Norway, and found myself back here today after the third day of my new job, when i decided enough is enough, i need cheddar cheese and marmite sandwiches for lunch to help me get through hard days on site,,
wasnt so bothered about too much english food as i past the last fifteen yrs or so in south of France, was quite concerned about the price of wine though.....
anyways i thought i would join and let u all know that via marmite international, which i first googled, i got an official marmite distributer in oslo,
Norway - Oluf Lorentzen
Jerikovn 10 1067 Oslo,
Postboks 24,
Lindeberg Gard.
1007 Oslo
Telephone: +47 23 14 25 00
Fax: +47 23 14 25 10

havent checked it out yet, but the website shows lots of nice cheese and cured ham,, etc..
welll just phoned and it closes at 4, will try again tomorrow..

enjoy

Yorkshireexpat New member

6POSTS

14 years ago

#40

It is amazing how obsessed we become over food things we recognise and suddenly miss because we're away from home! I'm completely the same and get som excited when I see familiar things on the shelves over here!

So far I have found Cathedral cheddar cheese in Menu and recently Bunnpris, you can also buy Pilgrims choice in Ica.

On occasion they have Frosties cereal in Rema 1000, Iron Bru in Menu.

I buy PJ tips in the Asian stores, and found Vimto in one of them once too.

For a time they had salt and vinegar crisps in Menu but I haven't seen any for a while.

As far as I am aware Marmite isn't allowed over here due to the fortified vitamins (same in Denmark) but WHsmiths have started selling small jars in their duty free shops at airports which is great as I just get people to pick up a jar for me when they come over to visit.

I am still looking out for proper english sausages (although we do make our own from time to time!), pork pies, wensleydale cheese, sarsons vinegar and cadburys chocolate. I have used British corner shop a couple of times to get supplies in.

My husband has a dream of opening up a proper English pub and fish and chip shop over here!