Hi Pete
I've often thought about this type of business but to be honest I'm too much of a coward... the italian beaurocracy frightens the life out of me

Talking to my english colleagues - most of them cite Teabags as number one on their wishlist - followed by cheddar, marmite, gravy, custard, jars mincemeat (at xmas) and of course paracetomol.
I did find Exeter corned beef in Turin recently and tinned custard powder, salad cream and heinz baked beans. It was a little asian shop.

However I'm in Piemonte so if you do set up something be sure to post it on here!

It might not be true for all foodstuffs, but someone in the supermarket must have one...
Sell cornetti in the bar, and you need one. And, technically, if you have a b&b and dont serve up prepacked single wrapped cornetti in the morning you should have one. Its just that its Italy and nobody bothers, until they close you down.

Yep - the people working the deli counter handling cheese and ham etc will have one.
I know you need one to serve food in a bar. I've heard it's not a difficult exam, just a pain in the neck.

Pete Insted of Opening a shop why not "UK food On Wheels" buy a chiller van and travel Italy selling to expats. You could do a trip once a month to start with to see how things go, Pre orders.

What a brilliant idea, see Italy and be paid for it at the same time.

As Margaret said, it is a good idea. I love driving so pick up in the uk and drive down through Italy doing drops. Stay at my lovely mum in law in Sicily and then return... Other than the cost of fuel there has to be a catch.

Ha ha like the meals on wheels for the OAPs in the UK. Defiantly need a catchy name.

A defiant name could be From Blighty With Love or Man in a Van from Chez UK

If you are going to drive around Italy you need a van that plays a tune like an ice cream van so we know you are coming, I like dundee cake too, and batenburg cake, almond slices from kipling , aniseed balls, proper sherbet,you could need a big van

I would like to order peas pudding and cough candy too, I am off to the coop now to see what available

Defo with a jingle - Man in a Van from Chez UK to the tune of "I'm just a girl who can't say no". Seriously though, I think you would do a good trade, every town has a weekly market, Sunday markets at some beaches, Patron Saint days.

Don't you think the theme from the Dam Busters would be more appropriate, or Rule Brittania....

What ever you called yourself you'd always be The Man With a Van or The Tea Bag Van. How about Home Brew. Rule Brittania is pushing it a bit, but Land of Hope and Glory....... Love Dam Busters.

I would like lucozade, wham bars, fizzy laces, quorn slices and loads of stuff from Boots/Superdrug. My husband is also obsessed with anything made by Tunnocks and Irn Bru.
How about the van thing, we'll just send a list of what we want and you deliver it to us, including your petrol and stuff in the price?

I used to eat loads of quorn burgers in England I think they taste better than the real thing, I never touched dairy products in England but soya milk is really expensive here and it don't taste the same, why cant they sell bertolli spread in Italy? I have not seen it, I am eating butter and milk now , alpro was in the coop today but its a fortune, going to check out lidl tomorrow but its 40 klm , come on get the van on the road!, I think a container may be needed, can you do puglia on Mondays?

Don't be greedy Bricwood, once a month should do.