Important Announcement re Blighty's Tuck Store

A Personal Message from Blighty's founder, John Corby

It was eight years ago when I conceived the idea of opening a British store in the Town of Orangeville. It was a bold idea and worked out surprisingly well. I purchased a small commercial condominium unit at the end of a ginnel behind Broadway and, after a couple of months of frantic preparation, we opened the doors to a waiting crowd at 10:00am on the 4th July 2005. We have always appreciated the worldwide celebration of the event that takes place every year.

Within 18 months the premises I had bought proved too small and too secluded. We found a new location right in the heart of Orangeville's traditional main shopping district. Our neighbours are the big box stores like Staples, Leons, Canadian Tire and Future Shop.

After a couple of more years, with business running at a steady pace, Blighty's opened a second store in Elora. The end of the economic downturn was in sight and we hoped to parlay the success of our first store into a chain of stores around southern Ontario. Alas, it was not to be. The end of the economic downturn remains elusive and the Elora store closed 18 months later. Now we are looking into the future and making fresh plans for Blighty's Tuck Store that we hope will bring refreshing changes and a bright new outlook.

Blighty's Tuck Store will be closed on Good Friday. We will re-open for last minute Easter shoppers on Saturday 30th March. The store will then be closed on Sunday 31st March and Monday 1st April. Blighty's will re-open on Tuesday 2nd April under new ownership.

I have decided to move on to new challenges in life. I am going to take a break for a few weeks before deciding what to do next. My blogs will continue but with a new home and new names. If you are a Coronation Street fan you can continue to read what has become a very successful Corrie Fan newsletter at: www.roversreport.com.

If you share my enjoyment of poking innocent fun at politicians and other sinners back across the big wide wet patch called the Atlantic, please check out "The Fameless Scribe" at www.thefamelessscribe.com".

Here at Blighty's Tuck Store everything will continue as normal. You will recognize a familiar face behind the counter and I hope you will continue to support the store as you have in the past.

I have met a lot of very fine people during my eight years at Blighty's and I want to thank you for all the many happy memories. All my best wishes go to you and your families for a happy and prosperous  future.

John.

Come Gather Round People Wherever You Roam ...

It was eight years ago when I, John, conceived the idea of opening a British store in the Town of Orangeville. It was a bold idea and worked out surprisingly well. I purchased a small commercial condominium unit at the end of a ginnel behind Broadway and, after a couple of months of frantic preparation, we opened the doors to a waiting crowd at 10:00am on the 4th July 2005. We have always appreciated the worldwide celebration of the event that takes place every year.

Within 18 months the premises I had bought proved too small and too secluded. We found a new location right in the heart of Orangeville's traditional main shopping district. Our neighbours are the big box stores like Staples, Leons, Canadian Tire and Future Shop.

After a couple of more years, with business running at a steady pace, Blighty's opened a second store in Elora. The end of the economic downturn was in sight and we hoped to parlay the success of our first store into a chain of stores around southern Ontario. Alas, it was not to be. The end of the economic downturn remains elusive and the Elora store closed 18 months later.

Now we are looking into the future and making fresh plans for Blighty's Tuck Store that we hope will bring refreshing changes and a bright new outlook. No announcements this week, so this is a bit of a teaser but, watch out for "This Week At Blighty's" next week for a happy announcement that will launch Blighty's Tuck Store into a new era.

Easter Eggs Are Running Out - So Should You

Relax, Easter is still over a week away. Plenty of time to buy your Easter Eggs - NOT!!!

Sailing O'er the Briny
Ok, some folk still haven't read the friendly warnings. All our imported Great British Easter Eggs are shipped over by special order - once and once only.

We can't just pop down to the cash'n'carry to pick up some more when we run low. The cupboard is bare at the cash'n'carry; the ships have sailed back to old England and they aren't coming back until well after Easter is a sugary memory and we have all donned jogging shoes to shed a few choccy pounds.

Panic!!
Some choices are running out already and the last-minute panic shoppers are still at home watching telly. Oh boy, are they in for a rude awakening. Incredulous looks of amazement and bitter disappointment: "how come you have no Easter Eggs left; my kids are going to be so disappointed". We hear it every year. Don't be one of them; if you don't have your eggs yet it's not too late today - tomorrow may be a different story; next week? Fuhgeddaboutit.

Get the Lyons Share of the Jaffa Cakes

Guilty as Charged
Soft but firm spongey base, a mouth-watering layer of intense orange jelly, topped with a velvety-smooth covering of rich, dark chocolate. I don't know about you but I can't eat Jaffa Cakes without feeling very guilty that I just haven't earned this much pleasure. But, hey, maybe you don't need to harbour the same guilty feelings - or maybe you really have earned this much reward.

Take Two and Call Me in the Morning
Take two Jaffa Cakes out of the pack and lock the remainder in a safe with a timelock. You will definitely want a second one after the first but any more than that will put your immortal soul in jeopardy.

Very, Very Expensive ... Or ...
Sounds like this much ecstasy should be very expensive doesn't it? Don't worry, you can take home a pack of a dozen of these devilish little temptations for just $2.99 (NB: price doubles at checkout if you mis-pronounce the name as "java" cakes).

Crazy Craving Cadbury Flake Special

The Science is Settled
Everybody loves Cadbury flake bars. Luvverly flakey real Cadbury chocolate that kisses your taste buds in a way that other chocolate bars cannot.

No really, our science expert, John E. B. Goode, reports that the chocolatey ripples in a flake bar make contact with more taste sensors on your tongue than other types of chocolate, giving you a more intense flavour sensation.

Beat Brits Bumper Bag Bonanza
We received a shipment of special export flake bars from the UK this week. The special export flake bars are a little smaller than regular bars (only native Brits can handle the pleasure from a full-size bar, it seems). No problem, eat two of them! Find packs of four of these irresistible pleasure sticks in our "bumper bag" aisle along with lots of other sweet treats to drive you sugar crazy this Easter.

New Low Price on Red Cabbage Pickle

Surprise!!!
Every now and then we get a pleasant surprise during re-stocking visits to our importer's warehouse. "Pugwash" as we call him, is constantly striving to help us bring the best possible deals to our customers. Well, Pugwash has done it again; this time with Haywards Red Cabbage.

Price Drop
Red Cabbage is a delicious pickle that goes well with turkey, chicken, pork, cold cuts or even cheese. And the best news is ... the price just went down by 20%. Cowabanga.

A Taste of Jamaica ... From England

With apologies to Harry Belafonte:
"Down the way where the nights are gay and the sun shines daily on the mountain top.
I took a trip a trip on a sailing ship and when I reached Jamaica ... I ate a cake".

All You Have to Do is Dream
I guess you can dream of Jamaica while you munch on a slice of McVities Jamaica Ginger Cake but it comes from England where there are no mountains - well not real mountains anyway - and the sun rarely shines on anything.

Here Comes the Sun
But don't despair, spring is the air and the sunshine is on its way to Canada, so grab some McVities Jamaica Ginger Cake and a nice hot cuppa and enjoy.

New Bigger Curry Beanz Tinz

Love at First Bite?
We Brits love our baked beans. We also love our curries. British style curry (well, there are several British curries now, but this isn't one of the fancy ones) is sweet and contains sultanas.

Just For Us
So, the Brits at the Heinz Beanz factory made a tin of curried baked beans specially for us. It has all the flavour we like in our everyday, ordinary, British curry sauce plus the goodness of baked beans too. And now it's available in a big can. Try it with sausages, bacon or some fried square sliced sausage meat from Blighty's freezer.

Fresh Shipment of Walkers Crisps Has Arrived

Every 8 Weeks
We sold out of many flavours of the ever popular Walkers crisps recently. Crisps are shipped by custom order every 8 weeks so we had some explaining to do to the customers who couldn't get their favourite flavours for a few days.

They're Back!!!
But all that has changed now. A fresh shipment has arrived and crisp supplies are back to normal.

New British Isles Show a Huge Success

Huge Crowds
As the doors opened at the start of the revived British Isles Show, last Friday morning, a large crowd of visitors anxiously waiting outside, swarmed into Hall 6 at the International Centre in Mississauga.

Success
It may have been a record attendance because the visitors kept coming through all three days of the show. Blighty's had our largest booth ever at the show and our faith in the enthusiasm of the area's expat British population paid off - it was a rewarding event for us.

Guest Star
One of the main attractions at the British Isles Show is always the star guest from Coronation Street. This year, Charlie Condou (Marcus Dent) was the guest. We intercepted Charlie as he was leaving on Sunday and snapped this picture of him standing beside Blighty's booth. Charlie is such a pleasant man; it was a pleasure to meet him.

Low Price Great British Candy for Easter

It's Easter time once again. That means the candy craving is back. Still, no need for scrimping and saving. The big candy manufacturers are on your side - well sort of. You see, if they can cut the cost of all the fancy packaging that normally comes with their product they can sell their candy for less.

That's where bumper bags come into the picture. The candymen sell their wares in bulk; retailers spend the time to package them in simple cellophane packs for resale to candy lovers.

Spring is nearly here. Come and fill yer boots with cheap treats and laugh all the way to summer. Blighty's Bumper Bags cost significantly less than premium brand packaged candies. Lots to choose from - a whole aisle of the store in fact and more on the way!

Your choice, one price: $2.99.

Tasty Car Accessory?

There is a terrific Great British candy company based in Blackpool, England. Its name is Tangerine Confectionery and it produces candies under the brand name of "Taveners".

One of the best-selling lines here at Blighty's Tuck Store is a range of boiled candies in tins. You can usually choose between several flavours such as Fruit Drops, Sour Lemon Drops and Caramints.

They are very tasty little treats; nice flavour and just big enough to give your mouth a thoroughly good immersion in fruity flavour. They work well when you have a dry mouth - such as when you are out driving. By an amazing coincidence (or is it by design) the tin fits snugly in most vehicle cup holders. Maybe those clever folks up at Blackpool designed their "Proper Sweets" specifically for that purpose.

Easter Egg Bonanza - Come & Get 'Em!

All our imported Great British Easter Eggs are now in stock. You can choose from a selection including Cadbury Buttons, Caramel and Flake, Mars, Maltesers, Roses, Quality Street, Galaxy, Milkybar and Thorntons.

Do We Have Enough Easter Eggs?
Our Easter Egg orders had to be placed before Christmas last year. Did we order enough? There is no way to tell. In previous years we have sold out before Easter, so if you want to be sure of getting enough eggs for your family, shop early!

Save on Delicious Border Premium Cookies

For a limited time, save 20% on these fantastic Viennese Whirls (made with only the finest vanilla) or Spicy Ginger Crunches - the biscuits with a devilishly good, lingering aftertaste.

Border's classic biscuit range is made using traditionally authentic recipes and good, old-fashioned ingredients. Take your taste buds on a trip down memory lane and remind yourself that some things in life simply cannot be improved upon.

Border quality biscuits are baked in Lanark, Scotland. On special for just $3.99 (reg: $4.99).

British Isles Show - This Weekend!

Toronto's British Isles Show starts this friday. Following a 2-year break the resurrected show is back in a new location - The International Centre at Derry/Airport Road. Blighty's will be there, will you?