The European Union (EU) has launched the ‘More Than Only Food & Drink’ campaign to inspire retailers and wholesalers as they prepare their festive product lines this year.
UK supermarkets have once again turned to European influences for their Christmas ranges, offering exciting new twists on traditional products. Festive items featuring EU ingredients include Seafood and Chorizo Shells, Sweet Spiced Gammon with Citrus Glaze, and Golden Limoncello Stollen Bites.
From fine wines and meats to charcuterie, cheeses, and sweet treats, the EU offers a rich variety of authentic flavours. The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) schemes guarantee the authenticity of these premium products.
Celebratory Toasts with European Spirits
No festive celebration is complete without a toast, and the EU offers a wide selection of spirits to suit any occasion. From Spanish Cava PDO to French Cognac PDO and Irish Whiskey PGI, EU spirits are made exclusively from natural ingredients.
This year, European liqueurs are also appearing in festive desserts, such as Jewelled Cointreau & Cranberry Christmas Pudding and Limoncello Fizz Panettone from Piedmont.
The UK remains the top destination for European wines outside the EU, importing 0.7 billion litres of wine in 2022.
Neil McAndrew, a wine expert and advisor to the EU’s ‘More Than Only Food & Drink’ campaign, expects strong sales of French, Italian, and Spanish wines this Christmas. He also predicts that natural wines, such as Petillant Naturel, a naturally sparkling wine made with ancient methods, will be a hit this festive season.
McAndrew advises retailers to stock wines in the £15-£20 price range, which are perfect for festive indulgence. Providing customers with details about the wines’ grape varieties, terroir, and suggested food pairings can help them make informed decisions. Wines from regions like Bordeaux, Rioja, and Burgundy are always popular gift options due to their high quality.
With full traceability, EU wines offer retailers assurance of quality and authenticity. Most vineyards produce wines under the PDO and PGI schemes, ensuring their geographical origin and standards.
Festive Sharing Platters
The EU produces 14.5 million tonnes of cured meats annually, offering an array of options for festive sharing boards. Spanish Ibérico Dehesa de Extremadura PDO and Italian Prosciutto di Parma PDO are widely available, but more unique choices like Bulgarian Gornooryahovski sudzhuk PGI or Finnish Aito saunapalvikinkku PGI are also worth exploring.
The EU’s dairy sector is another festive highlight, producing thousands of cheeses, from soft and hard to blue varieties made from cow, sheep, goat, and buffalo milk.
For cheese lovers seeking something new, Kalathaki Limnou PDO from Greece and Croatia’s Paški sir PDO are excellent choices. Blue cheese fans will enjoy Danish Danablu PGI or Sweden’s Sörmlands Ädel PGI, both offering tangy, rich flavours.
Beyond Christmas Pudding
Retailers are increasingly offering alternatives to traditional Christmas puddings, with Italy’s Panettone becoming a festive staple. Germany’s Dresdner Christstollen PGI, perfected over 500 years, is another favourite.
Other festive treats include Vánoční Cukroví, iced shortbreads from Czechia, and Hungary’s Beigli, sweet rolls filled with walnuts and poppy seeds.
Chocolate is another essential part of Christmas celebrations, with millions of tonnes produced across the EU. Italy’s Cioccolato di Modica PGI, French pralines, and the Bûche de Noël are festive must-haves.
The EU remains a source of premium products for retailers looking to inspire their customers this festive season.
