# Brands that are common around the world, but not the United States **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 11, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455 "2009-10-11T23:30:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/41 "2009-10-14T03:44:24Z")
My mom used to buy Parmalat in the early 90s. Haven’t seen it in stores lately. I’ve seen Bimbo bread in Mexican markets, also Milo and Gansito pastries (like Twinkies, except chocolate-covered and with jelly filling). Those same markets also carry Chupa Chups lollipops. One product I rarely see in U.S. drugstores: Panadol pain reliever. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/42 "2009-10-14T04:21:17Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Bimbo brand bread. Not that the bread itself is anything other than WonderBread with a different label, but my inner 12-year old is endlessly amused by the name. (It’s common in Mexico, anyway; you can see all kinds of vans driving around with BIMBO! in giant letters on the side. ( You can get that delivered now? Why, yes, I’d like one. Blonde, please). I don’t know about its presence in the rest of the world. Bimbo is popular in Spain, to the point that people say _pan Bimbo_ when referring to sliced bread in the same way that Americans say Kleenex when referring to facial tissue. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/43 "2009-10-14T10:55:49Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Kinder stuff! I love Kinder Eggs and have eaten them in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. But never in the US. Foo. Kinder Eggs! With a plastic egg that holds a toy inside. Sugar coated chokeables!!!1111!!! Awesome beyond measure and very hard to find here in the US. Usually at speciality stores of a furren persuasion. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/44 "2009-10-14T12:39:31Z")
Do you guys have Tesco (British supermarket) - the world’s 3rd largest retailer after Walmart and Carrefour (french supermarket)? For that matter, do you have Carrefour? Interesting to see up thread Adidas described as ‘second tier’ - in the UK it’s top tier alongside Nike. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/45 "2009-10-14T12:47:39Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Do you guys have Tesco (British supermarket) - the world’s 3rd largest retailer after Walmart and Carrefour (french supermarket)? For that matter, do you have Carrefour? > > Interesting to see up thread Adidas described as ‘second tier’ - in the UK it’s top tier alongside Nike. I’ve traveled all over the US and have never seen a Tesco or Carrefour. IMHO, calling Adidas ‘second tier’ is inaccurate given that they own Reebok. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/46 "2009-10-14T12:54:36Z")
> [@tetranz](#): > > [CRC](http://www.crcindustries.com) doesn’t seem to be available here, at least not readily in the retail world even though it’s a US company. It comes in lots of different types for different purposes but I know it as something in spray cans similar to WD40. In New Zealand and I suspect other places anyone doing electrical service work would have a can of CRC contact cleaner in their tool box. Maybe I’ve just missed it but I haven’t seen it in any hardware stores. CRC was an associate sponsor on my race car the year I drove in a NASCAR touring series. I was supplied with as much of their product as I could use and give away to family and friends. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/47 "2009-10-14T13:13:17Z")
Nimesulide (different brand names in different countries) is something that I wish were available in the USA (and would want over-the-counter). Sure, like many medicines it has its potential problems. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/48 "2009-10-14T14:04:01Z")
> [@Neptunian\_Slug](#): > > I’ve never seen Chupa Chups in the States, but they are everywhere in Europe. Doesn’t mean they aren’t here, I just have never seen them I’ve seen them, but yeah, they are much more common in Europe and Latin America. I understand they’re common in other markets too; some 20 years ago it was Spain’s biggest export to China (which doesn’t mean they’d be everywhere in China, but for some reason I remember that bit of trivia). Someone brought one of those store boxes (the ones whose lid has holes to stick lollies on) to a meeting in Italy. Best thing in the meeting! > [@Pyper](#): > > Bimbo is popular in Spain, to the point that people say _pan Bimbo_ when referring to sliced bread in the same way that Americans say Kleenex when referring to facial tissue. This came up in a recent Translation class; for some reason the teacher wouldn’t believe us when we said that in Spain people are more likely to say “Maizena” than “corn flour,” “Bimbo” than “sliced bread” or “Royal” than “jelly” (and it comes in sachets, not sheets like in the UK). It’s not like we’re the only country in the world where people do that! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/49 "2009-10-14T14:47:22Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > CRC was an associate sponsor on my race car the year I drove in a NASCAR touring series. I was supplied with as much of their product as I could use and give away to family and friends. :: looks at web site :: Is that related to the CRC Press, publisher of the legendary [Rubber Bible](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRC_Handbook_of_Chemistry_and_Physics)? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/50 "2009-10-14T15:02:17Z")
> [@Neptunian\_Slug](#): > > Dr. Oetker Common brand in co-ops and health food stores in the U.S. And in Minnesota, often carried by some mainstream markets as well. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/51 "2009-10-14T15:45:40Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > This came up in a recent Translation class; for some reason the teacher wouldn’t believe us when we said that in Spain people are more likely to say “Maizena” than “corn flour,” “Bimbo” than “sliced bread” or “Royal” than “jelly” (and it comes in sachets, not sheets like in the UK). It’s not like we’re the only country in the world where people do that! “Royal” could cause some interesting confusions if I were to travel to Spain. Here in Mexico, “Royal” is likely to be used to mean baking powder. I’m not even sure how to ask for baking powder in Spanish in any other way (maybe, “polvo para hornear” or something like that). ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/52 "2009-10-14T15:54:00Z")
Klim is a powdered milk brand made by Nestle. They were very big in Asia when I was there in the 70s. I don’t believe I have seen them in the US. In Australia, the big ice cream brand is Peters Ice Cream (again, referencing memory banks from the 70s). One of their ice cream bars was about 8 inches long, round, about 1 inch in diameter. Their slogan? “Join the Peters eaters!” ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/53 "2009-10-14T19:05:35Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > This came up in a recent Translation class; for some reason the teacher wouldn’t believe us when we said that in Spain people are more likely to say “Maizena” than “corn flour,” It’s Maizena in South Africa as well. No Milo in the US? Well, they’ve lost my tourism dollars - can’t get to sleep without my Milo. Unless they have Horlicks. And no, Ovaltine won’t cut it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/54 "2009-10-14T19:14:53Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Do you guys have Tesco (British supermarket) - the world’s 3rd largest retailer after Walmart and Carrefour (french supermarket)? For that matter, do you have Carrefour? Tesco is trying to develop a chain of small grocery stores called “Fresh & Easy” in the western US. And no Carrefour, although Wikipedia says they had two locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey about twenty years ago. ---
**Author:** ![rostfrei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@rostfrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rostfrei)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/55 "2009-10-14T19:23:28Z")
> [@Waffle\_Decider](#): > > I’ve heard that it’s supposedly against the law in the US to embed inedible stuff inside food. Which is unfortunate… Although Kinder Eggs are not widely available in the USA, they can be found in many international food shops. I’ve seen them at several of these types of shops recently. There is a Russian supermarket nearby that sells them. (and they also sell a Russian version of them that is just plain nasty. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455/56 "2009-10-14T19:40:37Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > “Royal” could cause some interesting confusions if I were to travel to Spain. Here in Mexico, “Royal” is likely to be used to mean baking powder. I’m not even sure how to ask for baking powder in Spanish in any other way (maybe, “polvo para hornear” or something like that). That’s Royal too. But it’s levadura Royal 🙂 There’s flan Royal as well… basically, once you’ve established which variety of “powdered stuff made by Royal” you need to use (which can be defined by what is it you’re making, evidently a cake requires neither jelly not flan), it just becomes “Royal.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-are-common-around-the-world-but-not-the-united-states/513455.md?page=2)