British supermarkets deliver overseas

Expatriates are behind a recent boom in cross-Channel food deliveries brought on by the weakness of the pound.

Hundreds of British expats living abroad are increasingly turning to the internet to order their grocery shopping, including continental specialities such as wine and croissants, from UK-based supermarkets, the Guardian reports.

Speaking to the newspaper, Simon Goodenough, director of delivery firm Sterling Shopping, says his company serves 2,500 British customers in Europe and sends five delivery vans over the Channel each week.

"We sit in our depot sometimes looking at the things people have bought and just laugh at the craziness of it all. We have seen croissants and baguettes in people's shopping bags" he explained, adding that French customers are beginning to engage with the trend.

The reason behind the craze could be attributed to the fact that many retired expatriates hold their pensions or savings in sterling, not euro, meaning their spending power has dropped over the last 18 months.