Magician wrote:
Another factor comes in, the rise of the huge retailers and especially
the 'hard discounters' like Aldi, Lidl, Netto. These people have major
market shares in Europe, but struggle in the UK because of our high
brand awareness (read snobbery).

I don't think it's just snobbery - more like xenophobia. British
consumers don't like foreign packaging with funny words on. They won't
buy Hazelnusscremewaffeln-mit-Schokolade in Lidl if they can buy My
Cartoon Hero Greasy Donuts in Tesco. The European budget conscious
consumer is probably rather more broadminded than the British one - a
lot of British people won't eat foreign food even when they're on holiday.

Owain