Though smaller than a regular supermarket, Londonstore in Zug is bursting with British basics as well as novelty items. It also carries some American, Australian, Indian and even South African products. According to managing director Eric Braun, some of the best-sellers include English-style sausages and bacon, crumpets, salt and vinegar crisps, award-winning marmalades, single malt whisky and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

Braun previously worked as the Swiss Managing Director for the British Export Board, through which he made contacts within the British food industry. He opened Londonstore in 2000, and he operates an online shop as well. British families form the base of Londonstore’s clientele, and they shop by the case. The store is also popular with teenagers from the nearby international schools. There are Swiss customers too, many of whom need ideas for gifts and special events.

Zug resident Simon Quick finds Londonstore expensive, but he occasionally pops in for Branston pickle and Marmite. "These are love-them-or-hate-them-type foods and I love them!" says Quick, who is originally from Exeter, England.

Indeed, Braun says that brand-name products like Branston pickle, HP brown sauce, Cadbury’s chocolate bars and PG black tea are especially well-loved by shoppers. Meanwhile, Braun plans to increase the selection.

“We now have our own company in London to purchase more specialities and award-winning products which are not exported,” says Braun.

In the French-speaking part of Switzerland, American Market helps satisfy the exotic cravings of residents and visitors allike. along with brick-and-mortar stores in Geneva and Nyon, American Market has an online shop too. As the name implies, the focus is on US products but there is also a large selection of Latin American items.

Originally from Peru, American Market’s Latin food manager, Patricia Zipiti, can name the following best-sellers from her department: Inca Kola from Peru, condensed milk and fresh vegetables like peppers and white corn. The Mexican and Tex-Mex fare are also “hot” commodities. Along the American aisles, sticky-sweet treats like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Butterfinger bars and peanut butter M&Ms dominate the most-wanted list, as does Skippy peanut butter. For breakfast, Cheerios, pancake syrup and Pop-Tarts top the list. American Market even sells Swiss Miss hot cocoa. 

“People miss these products,” says Zipiti. Two other items that fly off the shelves are Kraft “Macaroni and Cheese” dinner kits and Velveeta, a form of processed cheese.

Foreign cheese in Switzerland? You bet. In fact, Englishman Michael Jones and his Swiss girlfriend have built a whole business around imported cheese. Based in Thalwil (ZH), The Cheese Club specializes in artisan and farmhouse cheese from Britain. It also deals in unusual Swiss and European cheese. Jones, who hails from Yorkshire, says that cheddar and Stilton are the most popular varieties. While most of his customers are from English-speaking countries, he says that the Swiss account for about 30 percent of sales.

“We have been thanked many times by Swiss customers for introducing them to British cheese, and that is very satisfying,” says Jones. In addition to selling cheese both in its shop and online, The Cheese Club offers chutneys, fruit bread and crackers. Jones also organizes tasting events.

Despite the popularity of international food retailers, not all expats are desperate to stock up on munchies from the old country. Originally from California, Janene Liston has been living in Switzerland for the past eight years. Now based in Zug, she says that she has pretty much weaned herself off of American snack food. Yet there are a few key ingredients she buys regularly: brown sugar, baking soda and baking powder.

“You can get the latter two at Migros or Coop, but only in small packets like yeast. Since I love to bake, those little packets are a pain. Also, to freshen up the fridge, the container of baking soda is better,” says Liston. She can get these products at speciality shops like Londonstore or American Market, but there’s one item she imports herself.

“The only thing I buy in the States and bring over food-wise is chocolate chips. For all the chocolate they have in this country, I've never once seen semi-sweet chocolate chips,” says Liston.