Outgoings are different - cheap/dodgy imports, and modern slavery (nail salons are infamous for this) mean that their outgoings can be much lower than other shops. There’s also the tax avoidance many of these businesses partake in, both in the traditional cash-in-hand-business fashion, and the more modern(?) “American Candy store” way (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-61777445)

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linksnapzz a day ago | parent [-]

Hold On Right There.

There are people go out of their way to buy...American candy in the UK?

Utterly perverted.

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harvey9 a day ago | parent | next [-]

Numerous reports over many years that they don't have many real customers and exist mainly to enable a tax scam / money laundering.

	▲	hdgvhicv a day ago \| parent [-]
		Links for the disbelieving 2022 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-61777445 2025 https://www.cityam.com/how-money-laundering-took-over-our-hi...

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Symbiote a day ago | parent | prev | next [-]

(Yes, at the M&Ms shop in Leicester Square. Probably never visited by anyone from London, just tourists.)

But the "American Candy Shop" places were/are doing money laundering and/or tax fraud. They can say they sold individual candies for £0.50 (cost: 5p each), the profit goes to a shell company in the Virgin Islands etc, and before the business taxes are due the company "goes bust" and disappears. Then a new one takes its place.

4 years ago: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/04/us-swe...

This year: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/18/dodgy-shops-ha...

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shermantanktop a day ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I have seen more distinct candy brands/types in those shops than I ever have in the US. Plus jars of marshmallow goo called “Fluf” for some reason?

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cucumber3732842 a day ago | parent [-]

> Plus jars of marshmallow goo called “Fluf” for some reason?

The fudge recipe on the back is actually really good FYI

Also the containers are a nice pliable rubbery plastic so they're good to repurpose for garage use.

	▲	linksnapzz 21 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Marshmallow Fluff is used, amongst other things, to make the traditional questionably-nutritious New England delicacy, the Fluff & Peanut-Butter Sandwich, or fluffernutter. Around the Boston area, it was used more or less like euros use nutella.

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williamdclt a day ago | parent | prev | next [-]

No, which is why it's so transparent that these are money laundering operations

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sodastar a day ago | parent | prev | next [-]

i mean just talking for me: american pop culture is just so omnipresent, that even from europe i know what pop tarts, gushers, mountain dew and a wendys is.

All these stores dont exist in my country, you can buy watered down mountain dew, pop tarts for 10€ per box and the local fast food chains are mcdonalds, burger king and subway with an occasional kfc and a metropol city may have a pizza hut.

Sure its all marketing, but if im paying 10€ for a delivery pizza i at least want the box to look like a domino piece.

Most of US sweets ive tried were okayish, my favorite being reeses small cups. Was disappointed by how bad cheeze-its are, they were given away in stores as the sales were so poor and started with a money back promotion and still didnt get sold. Takis seem to have found their way, also taco bell (i know its tex-mex, but still a variety from burgers) opened stores in germany and the netherlands hoping it reaches a broader audience and can get more people attracted as i actually like the food given the price point and being somewhat more healthy than a quarter pounder with cheese.

Softdrinks on the other hand really do taste better. European Gatorade is cat piss compared to US Gatorade. Mountain Dew like i said is only the base version and even this tastes watered down. Hoping for a baja blast rollout in EU with taco bell making a push here. Dr Pepper is really awful in europe compared to american dr pepper but at the end its all about personal preference. Ive seen a lot of americans loving Moser Roth Chocolate from the european Aldi which is their expensive version of good chocolate but still at a discounter price. People that love this would probably die for godiva or leonidas chocolate.

	▲	linksnapzz 21 hours ago \| parent [-]
		>that even from europe i know what pop tarts, gushers, mountain dew and a wendys is. I mean, I know they exist too, but that's orthogonal to wanting to eat any of it... >Was disappointed by how bad cheeze-its are, My experience is that Cheez-Its are more often than other chips or crackers, likely to go stale on the shelf-might have something to do with the recipe. >also taco bell (i know its tex-mex, but still a variety from burgers) opened stores in germany and the netherlands hoping it reaches a broader audience and can get more people attracted as i actually like the food given the price point and being somewhat more healthy than a quarter pounder with cheese. For many years in RI, Taco Bell was the only mexican place we had. Finding authentic Tex-Mex was worth a trip (as far as North Carolina) when I was in 7th grade. As for it being healthier than a QP...ymmv depending on the menu.... As for drinks...how do you screw up Gatorade & Dr Pepper? The syrup/powder just needs to be reconstituted...is it something in the water? Also, yes, Moser Roth chocolate at Aldi is a steal, quality-wise.

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nprateem a day ago | parent | prev [-]

They're some kind of tax/ business rates scam judging by how many there are.