Holiday Retail Spotlight: European Cheese, Chocolate & Candied Fruits for the Canadian Season
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Latvian cheeses, chocolate and candied fruits bring new flavours and easy inspiration to Canadian holiday entertaining, baking and gifting
TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2026 /CNW/ -- As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, Canadian kitchens and dining tables shift toward comforting flavours, festive baking and gatherings with family and friends. For retailers, the season also creates an opportunity to introduce shoppers to specialty European products that complement familiar traditions.
Through the "Premium European Products: Better Knowledge, Better Choices" initiative, a diverse selection of Greek PDO products and Latvian specialties highlights the quality and rich culinary heritage of Europe. Among these products, Latvian cheeses, chocolate, salty snacks, dried and candied fruits offer versatile ways to bring a European touch to the Canadian holiday table. The full selection is presented on the program's website, connecting these products with the producers and regions behind them.
A European Touch for the Holiday Table
Latvian cheeses are versatile options for a variety of occasions, from casual gatherings with friends and family to festive celebrations. The range includes cream cheese, cottage cheese, processed cheese and semi-hard cheeses, with applications spanning appetizers, cheese boards, cooking and desserts. Made with milk sourced from local farms, Latvian dairy combines established production practices with European food-safety and quality standards.
For a Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering, semi-hard cheese can be served with crackers, nuts and dried fruit, while cream cheese can provide a base for both savoury bites and desserts.
That versatility also makes it easy to combine European products with familiar Canadian flavours.
Canadian Apple, Cranberry & Cream Cheese Tart
A simple seasonal tart brings together Latvian cream cheese, dried cranberries, Canadian apples and maple syrup.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry or pie pastry
- 225 g Latvian cream cheese, softened
- 2–3 apples, thinly sliced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 2 tbsp Canadian maple syrup
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- Optional: chopped pecans
Method: Beat the cream cheese with maple syrup, vanilla and egg. Spread over the pastry, leaving a small border. Arrange the apples on top and scatter with cranberries, cinnamon and pecans. Bake according to the pastry instructions until golden and the apples are tender. Finish with a drizzle of maple syrup.
By combining ingredients familiar to Canadian consumers with a European specialty, the recipe offers an inviting way to explore new flavours while maintaining a connection to the traditional tastes of the holiday season.
Chocolate, Fruit and the Art of Gifting
Chocolate naturally finds its place during the festive season, from after-dinner treats to hostess gifts and holiday assortments.
Latvian chocolate and confectionery combine premium products with skilled craftsmanship and modern production techniques. The dried fruit selection includes dried and candied fruits and berries, as well as dried fruits covered in chocolate
Candied fruits can add colour and texture to Christmas cakes, cookies and breads, while chocolate-covered dried fruit offers an elegant addition to dessert platters or gift boxes.
Together, chocolate and dried fruit also create an easy merchandising opportunity for retailers, a selection can be presented as a ready-made gift, while individual products can inspire consumers to create their own holiday combinations at home.
From Thanksgiving to Christmas
The appeal of these Latvian specialties is their ability to work across different seasonal occasions.
At Thanksgiving, cheese, dried fruit, apples, cranberries, nuts and maple naturally come together in appetizers and desserts. As Christmas approaches, the same ingredients can shift toward festive cheese boards, holiday baking, chocolate treats and gifting.
This flexibility gives retailers opportunities to build seasonal displays around entertaining, baking and gifting, rather than limiting the foods to a single aisle or occasion.
Join the Movement: Connect with Premium European Products
We invite Canadian food professionals, chefs, retailers, and distributors to explore collaboration opportunities with the "Premium European Products" campaign. For more information on where to find these premium products or to learn how to partner with the campaign, please visit https://premiumeuropeanproducts.eu/, email us to [email protected] or follow us on social media:
ETHEAS and LDC invite Canadian importers, distributors, and foodservice leaders to explore these exceptional European products and form collaborations that support shared goals of quality, transparency, and sustainability.
About "PREMIUM EUROPEAN PRODUCTS" PROGRAM
The campaign: "Premium European Products: Better Knowledge, Better Choices" is co-funded by the European Union and managed by the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Greece (ETHEAS) and the Latvian Dairy Committee (LDC). It aims to promote exquisite added-value products in Canada, South Korea, and Malaysia, including PDO olive oils, table olives, dried grapes, saffron, hard cheese, mastic gum, and mastic oil from Greece, as well as dairy products, candied fruits, chocolates, confectionery, and salty snacks from Latvia. Spanning from 2024 to 2026, the program seeks to significantly elevate the profile of European products in these markets through a four-pronged approach: raising awareness, enhancing recognition among consumers, increasing consumption, and boosting exports to Canada, Malaysia, and South Korea.
The beneficiaries: The National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Greece (ETHEAS), established by the Greek State Law, coordinates over 300 agricultural cooperatives across Greece, representing about 80% of the total turnover of such cooperatives. It focuses on rural and cooperative development, supports member activities domestically and internationally, issues opinions on agricultural matters, supervises cooperative promotion, and conducts educational activities. The Latvian Dairy Committee (LDC), established in 1995, represents Latvian milk producers and aims to protect their interests. It consists of 17 members producing approximately 80% of industrially produced milk in Latvia.
SOURCE Premium European Products Program
Gemma Bosch, [email protected]
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