British tea, cookies, chocolate bars and candy have topped a shopping list of food and drinks that Americans customers can’t live without during the pandemic, with millions of dollars of orders flooding a UK website.

Ever since many US States locked down in March, the BritishCornerShop.com website, that ships UK treats to customers all over the world, has been inundated with orders from the USA where demand for UK drinks and confectionary has risen dramatically.

The company is reporting record sales over the past six months as American nationals and British expats who have made their home in the States stock up on tea and biscuits to see them through lockdown. Sales of tea, biscuits and confectionery are filling care packages the UK-based website as favorite British brands such as Yorkshire Tea, McVities, Cadbury, Crawfords and PG Tips have all seen sales sky-rocket.

Almost 700,000 Brits currently live in the USA and bosses at the online business, which launched in 1999, estimates it sells its goods to a customer base comprising 75% expats and 25% US nationals who love British foods. The website offers over 12,000 British food and drink products from much-loved UK brands and products ranging from Ambrosia custard and Warburtons crumpets to Branston pickle and Heinz baked beans.

Sales of the most popular item – the ‘Brit Kit’ favorite British ‘biscuits’ collection are up a staggering 1,840%.  The heart-warming collection of cookies (known in the UK as biscuits) weighs in at almost 4 pounds, and contains brands such as McVitie’s Ginger Nuts, Rich Tea, Chocolate Digestives and Hobnobs, and Crawford’s Custard Creams and Bourbon Creams.

The Top 5 tea sales to the USA are:

1. Yorkshire Tea Bags – 926% increase
2. Yorkshire Gold Tea Bags -598% increase
3. PG Tips Tea Bags – 367% increase
4. Yorkshire Tea Biscuit Brew 40 Pack – 350% increase
5. Tetley Tea Bags – 311% increase

Top 5 British biscuits in the USA:

1. McVities Milk Chocolate Digestives – 332% increase
2. McVities Digestives – up 324%
3. McVities Ginger Nuts – 214% increase
4. Crawford’s Bourbon Creams – up 165%
5. Crawford’s Custard Creams – 120% increase

Peter Howarth, marketing director at British Corner Shop commented: “The demand we’ve experienced from America this year has been unprecedented meaning we’ve had to work around the clock to fulfil the influx of orders. Lockdown has prompted a huge surge in sales as many Americans haven’t been able to travel to the UK and stock up on their favorites or have visitors bring them over in person as would usually be the case.

“Demand shows no sign of easing as we are increasingly selling more produce to American citizens who have developed a real sweet spot for traditional British goodies. There’s no doubt that this year Americans and British expats have been craving their favorite British treats with tea, biscuits and chocolate bars the most sought-after items,” he added.

The Bristol, UK-based business specializes in hamper style ‘Brit kits’ – bumper packs of British brands which offer shoppers a comforting and familiar taste of home.  Total Brit Kit sales have leapt by a total of 800% indicating that a growing number of Americans are developing a taste for British brands together with many expats who are missing home more than ever in 2020.

Demand from those with a real sweet tooth have led to a 1,685% jump in sales of the Haribo sweets, many not available in the US Sales of so-called ‘retro sweets’ are also up 1,664% with a nostalgic variety of Swizzels Matlow, Barratt Candyland, Maynards and Chewits confectionery that were staples in the 1970s and 1980s in the UK. Visit www.BritishCornerShop.com to see the full range of items available.