Skip to content

Costco in England, an American confession

2009 May 31
tags: , , , , , , , , ,
by peacefulyorkshire

yahooavatar15Don’t think I am not embarrassed about this lil’ post. I am. I take pride in my anti-consumerism, bulk buying stance. “No need to hoard” has always been a motto of mine. Well, if your fridge was the size of a shoe box you would need that motto too. But I know secretly I am as materialistic as anyone other average joe, which is why I need to tell you something:

I love going to Costco in Leeds. I look forward to pushing my oversize cart (wait, I mean trolley) through the  wide aisles stacked to the ceiling with American products. And bulk-sized American products, in the UK at that!! Get your Krusteaz pancake mix, your family size 560 count Oreos, your 4 gallons of Grade A maple syrup. It is all there waiting for you! Craving some donuts? Well you better be off Weight Watchers because darlin’, you’ll have to buy 24! My imported Oprah magazine is 20% off, I can buy a ready-made pizza the size of my coffee table, and you can sample Gatorade to your mouth’s desire. But guess what? The ironic thing is when I am there I don’t feel the need to buy any of it  (except the donuts -ha!). Somehow, when I know where I can get a taste of America my desire for Root beer disappears. Ironic.

Now, there are all kinds of ways to beat homesickness, but may I suggest a trip to your local Costco? You would be surprised about how comforting it feels…

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

from → Uncategorized

  • I Love This Blog!

    Haha! Do they also have the little food sampling tables?

  • http://www.krisgal.blogspot.com Kristy

    I go to the Costco in Reading and enjoy the big buckets of red vines and the massive bags of mini hershey chocolate bars.

    My husband says going to Costco is just like crossing the Atlantic!

  • yankeebean

    We are SO there when we come and visit in June!!!

  • http://michelloui.blogspot.com Michelloui

    OMG! I can so relate to this! The first time I trailed behind a friend at the Costco at Lakeside I was amazed, thrilled, deliriously excited! AMerican products! Here! For ME! So what shall I load in the trolley… hmm… um. No. Actually I don’t want any of it. Maybe some dill pickles. But not that many (giant barrel-o-pickles?). Ugh. It was a useful exercise which helped wean me off some cravings.

  • Cinda

    Too funny, my english beau took me to Cosco and pointed out all the American stuff and we didn’t buy a thing…

  • http://www.baroquebabies.com Laura

    Wow, they have Costco in England. I -always- go when I visit my parents in California, but there is no Costco in Germany yet… I actually don’t think I would have room to store the mass quantities (both fridge and other storage very minimal).

    nice blog! I’m at baroquebabies.com, come over and say hello when you have a chance!

  • http://meguk365.blogspot.com Meg

    Wait! Do they have DILL pickles?! More specifically…Vlassic??

    I think I may be in desperate need! :-P

  • Teri

    And ranch dressing?

    Oh, please tell me there are vats upon vats of Hidden Valley. Every time I find myself alone among a sea of salad cream and balsamic vinagrette at Tesco, the chorus to You Don’t Know What You’ve Got (Til It’s Gone) plays on repeat in my head…

  • Stephanie

    Really curious to know if they sell Mac and cheese there? Kraft or Velveeta?

  • pacificyorkshirebird

    I can’t believe I never made it to a Costco in Britain. I really wish we had a similar blog when the three of us first moved there!

  • http://www.shesnotfromyorkshire.com peacefulyorkshire

    I went and had a look at Costco again for your questions ladies (oh the research work I have to do! ;) .

    Teri- Sadly, there was no “Hidden Valley Ranch” There was however “Johnny’s Ranch dressing”. It looked a little dodgy. There was also Wishbone “Italian” by the vat loads. I never understood what was so Italian about it!?

    to ‘I love this blog’-Oh yes, lots of samples, when i was last there they were sampling ready made lasagna and red wine. Score.

    Stephanie–No there was no Mac and Cheese by Kraft… but guess what they did have?? Fruit by the Foot? No surprise didn’t look like one had been sold!

  • Michelle

    I just returned from a long visit to the US and ate truck loads of dill pickles – because you can’t get them them here. So I’d also be interested in know if Coscto is selling them!! (I live 2 hours from the nearest store) Thanks!!!

  • susie

    HI
    I’m totally considering costco- i spend way too much at stateside candy co!
    Do you know if they do ziploc zipper bags?
    You should work for them in customer services with all these questions!

  • peacefulyorkshire

    Hi there Susie!! I know I know i should get a commission for promoting Costco…
    oh yeah they sure do have ziplocks here in the UK… in bulk boxes of like 48 or something though…;)

  • http://www.shesnotfromyorkshire.com/2009/08/03/13-little-reasons-to-love-britain/ 13 Little Reasons to love Britain | She's Not From Yorkshire

    [...] Strolling Costco in Leeds, a PMS haven when needed to supply Oprah magazine and 24-count donut packs [...]

  • peacefulyorkshire

    Hi Meg and Michelle
    Just to let you know that I finally remembered to look at the dill pickle situation at Costco this weekend. Well— I am sorry to say that there were no dills there I am afraid ;(
    On the bright side of things, how bout some of them pickled eggs!! ?? Kidding. just kidding.

  • Masha

    Hey! Did anyone have problems getting membership at Costco in the UK? I was so pleased to see this post saying that they had them here (moved here about 4 months ago, had no idea!!)…my mom had a membership back home and we would use that, but I looked at the Costco web site and they seem to want you to be a business owner or something…..any tips???

  • Brighty
  • http://www.shesnotfromyorkshire.com/2010/09/05/a-british-man-looking-for-american-lady-in-yorkshire/ A British man looking for American lady in Yorkshire… | She's Not From Yorkshire

    [...] receive on a weekly basis about this topic on this blog. I then thought of other places for Gary,  like he could go to Costco in Leeds. Or Starbucks. Seriously!  Starbucks is where I randomly met Mr. Chill, my now fiancée. Create a [...]

  • peacefulyorkshire

    Hi masha
    No you don’t have to be a business to be a member as far as I know. The queues on the weekend are really long to get a membership, I would suggest going in the week if you would like to join! Just a lil’ tip.

Get Adobe Flash playerPlugin by wpburn.com wordpress themes