Last Updated on: 5th November 2024, 03:35 pm
The European Union’s (EU) latest marketing campaign, ‘More Than Only Food & Drink,’ is aimed at providing retailers and wholesalers with inspiration for their festive product lines this Christmas season.
Once again, UK supermarkets are looking to European influences for their Christmas food and drink selections, adding creative twists to traditional favourites. Seasonal offerings feature EU-sourced ingredients, with highlights including Seafood and Chorizo Shells, Sweet Spiced Gammon with Citrus Glaze, and Golden Limoncello Stollen Bites.
From fine wines and meats to cheeses and sweet treats, the EU offers an array of authentic flavours, textures, and culinary delights. With the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) schemes, the quality and authenticity of EU products are guaranteed.
European Toasts for Every Celebration
No celebration is complete without a toast, and the EU provides plenty of choices for raising a glass. From Spanish Cava PDO to French Cognac PDO and Irish Whiskey PGI, there’s something for every taste. EU spirits are also produced exclusively from natural ingredients.
European liqueurs are also taking centre stage in festive desserts this year, such as Jewelled Cointreau & Cranberry Christmas Pudding and Limoncello Fizz Panettone from a family-run bakery in Piedmont.
In 2022, the UK imported 0.7 billion litres of wine from the EU, making it the top destination for European wines outside the Member States.
Neil McAndrew, a wine expert and advisor to the EU’s ‘More Than Only Food & Drink’ campaign, expects French, Italian, and Spanish wines to perform well this Christmas. He also highlights the growing trend of natural wines, with Petillant Naturel, a naturally sparkling wine made with traditional methods, set to be popular this season.
McAndrew advises retailers to stock wines in the £15-£20 price range, which are ideal for Christmas treats. Providing customers with information about the wine’s origin, grape variety, and food pairings can help demystify labels and make gift selections easier. Wines from Bordeaux, Rioja, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape are always popular choices for gifts, thanks to their reputation for quality.
With full traceability from vineyard to bottle, EU wines are known for their high standards and authenticity. Most wines are produced with PDO or PGI geographical indications, ensuring their quality.
Perfect for Festive Sharing Boards
The EU produces 14.5 million tonnes of cured meats annually, offering an abundance of choices for festive sharing platters. While Spanish Ibérico Dehesa de Extremadura PDO and Italian Prosciutto di Parma PDO are popular choices, more unique options like Bulgarian Gornooryahovski sudzhuk PGI and Finnish Aito saunapalvikinkku PGI are available for those seeking something different.
The EU dairy sector is another significant contributor to festive offerings, producing thousands of cheese varieties, from soft and hard cheeses to blue varieties made from cow, sheep, goat, and buffalo milk.
For a more adventurous cheese board, Kalathaki Limnou PDO from Greece and Croatia’s Paški sir PDO are excellent options, while Lithuanian Lietuviškas varškės sūris PGI pairs perfectly with jam or honey. For blue cheese lovers, Danish Danablu PGI and Sweden’s Sörmlands Ädel PGI provide tangy, salty flavours to rival Italy’s Gorgonzola PDO.
Beyond Christmas Pudding and Mince Pies
In recent years, retailers have shifted away from traditional Christmas puddings in favour of modern alternatives like Italy’s Panettone, which has become a festive favourite. Germany’s Dresdner Christstollen PGI is also gaining popularity in the UK, with its recipe perfected over 500 years.
Other festive treats include Vánoční Cukroví, iced shortbreads from Czechia, and Hungary’s Beigli, sweet rolls filled with walnuts and poppy seeds.
Chocolate remains a staple of the Christmas season, and the EU produces millions of tonnes annually. Italy’s Cioccolato di Modica PGI was the first chocolate to receive PGI accreditation, and France’s pralines and Bûche de Noël (Yule log) are festive must-haves.
With its exceptional quality and rich heritage, the EU continues to offer plenty of inspiration for festive retailers.
