After a period of absence, the United Kingdom made a welcomed return to Nassau’s International Culture, Wine & Food Festival this year, anchored by its engaging activation: The GREAT British Pantry. Hosted across October 17 and 18 by the British High Commission Nassau, the event booth did more than just showcase iconic British food and beverage exports – it also shone a spotlight on the local Bahamian distributors and retail partners that make these beloved UK products a regular staple in households across the archipelago.
Attendees at the festival had the opportunity to sample a curated selection of long-adored British consumer favorites, ranging from creamy Cadbury Dairy Milk and assorted Quality Street chocolates to buttery Scottish shortbread, chewy M&S Percy Pigs, crumbly Fox’s cookies, and the iconic layered cakes from Mr. Kipling. Four core branded displays formed the centerpiece of the booth, each brought to life in partnership with local Bahamian businesses: Waitrose’s signature product range, distributed locally by AML Foods; Twinings’ world-famous teas, handled by Horizon Distributors; Soleau, a premium Welsh spring water; and a curated British beverages exhibit sponsored by 700 Wines & Spirits.
A senior representative from the British High Commission shared the vision behind the activation, noting: “It was a pleasure to bring the UK back to Food Fest. The GREAT British Pantry was our way of showing that Britain and The Bahamas have more in common than people might think. From Twinings tea to Cadbury’s chocolate and Percy Pigs, you’ll find many of the same favourites in kitchen cupboards here as in the UK. My thanks go to AML Foods, Horizon Distributors, 700 Wines & Spirits and Soleau for helping us share a little bit of Great Britain with The Bahamas.”
For generations of Bahamian families, access to British groceries has become a normalized part of local shopping routines. AML Foods, one of The Bahamas’ most prominent retail groups, used the festival platform to highlight the full range of Waitrose products already stocked in its stores, many of which are already familiar to regular local shoppers. Just steps away, Horizon Distributors highlighted Twinings, one of Britain’s most recognizable and historic tea brands, giving visitors the chance to experience a staple that has defined British daily life for centuries.
The beverage showcase, supported by 700 Wines & Spirits, featured a lineup of leading UK alcoholic brands that are already widely available across Bahamian retail and hospitality outlets, including Johnnie Walker Black Label blended scotch, creamy Baileys Irish cream liqueur, and bold Tanqueray gin. This year’s standout featured partner was Soleau, a premium natural spring water hailing from Wales. Produced by Tumptonics, a female-founded, family-owned enterprise, Soleau sources its water from a natural spring on a fifth-generation family farm, and packages the product in fully recyclable aluminum cans. The brand’s sharp focus on sustainable production and eliminating single-use plastic gave attendees a look at the modern innovation driving forward Britain’s consumer goods sector today.
A key charitable component was woven into the activation: all products sold at the GREAT British Pantry booth were donated by event partners, meaning 100% of proceeds from sales will be contributed to The Bahamas Crisis Centre, which supports vulnerable individuals and families across the country. This donation aligns with the UK government’s broader global commitment to ending violence against women and girls, and backing grassroots organizations that provide critical support to survivors. The British High Commission extended gratitude to all attendees who visited the booth over the two-day festival and supported this meaningful cause.
The GREAT British Pantry is an official component of the UK government’s global GREAT campaign, an initiative designed to promote British creativity, premium quality, and entrepreneurial spirit to international markets. Beyond product sampling and consumer engagement, the festival created valuable space for connection between UK producers and Bahamian retailers, distributors, and hospitality operators. These growing trade ties are formally supported by the CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), a trade deal that establishes preferential trading terms between the UK and CARIFORUM member states, including The Bahamas. By expanding two-way trade between the two nations, the EPA works to expand consumer choice for Bahamian shoppers when purchasing food and beverage products.
Any Bahamian businesses interested in sourcing British products, exploring new commercial partnerships with UK firms, or learning more about trade opportunities under the CARIFORUM-UK EPA are invited to reach out to the British High Commission Nassau for more information.