Best Imported European Grocery Brands Worth Stocking in Your Pantry

European food regulations are among the strictest in the world. The EU limits artificial colors, restricts certain preservatives, and enforces minimum cocoa content standards for chocolate. The result is a category of products that tend to use fewer additives, cleaner labels, and more authentic ingredients — which is exactly why imported European grocery brands have built such loyal followings globally. Here’s a guide to every European brand we carry.

German & Austrian Chocolate

Milka — Germany’s Most Beloved Chocolate

Milka has been crafting Alpine milk chocolate since 1901. What sets it apart is the use of Alpine milk, which gives the chocolate a distinctly creamy, mellow sweetness unlike any standard milk chocolate. The classic Alpine Milk bar remains the gold standard, but the filled and layered varieties have their own devoted followings.

• Milka Alpine Milk — 3.52 oz — The original. Pure Alpine milk chocolate, unchanged recipe.
• Milka White Chocolate — Creamy white chocolate with the signature Milka smoothness.
• Milka with Oreo — 3.52 oz — Alpine milk chocolate with real Oreo cookie pieces.
• Milka Strawberry Yoghurt — 3.2 oz — Milka with real strawberry yoghurt filling.
• Milka & LU Biscuits — 3.06 oz — Alpine milk chocolate with crispy LU biscuit pieces.
• Milka Hazelnut — 3.52 oz — Alpine milk chocolate with chopped hazelnuts.
• Milka Strawberry & Yogurt Filled — 100g — Filled bar with strawberry and yogurt cream.
• Milka Assorted Bundle of 5 — A mix of Milka’s most popular flavors.
• Milka Variety Pack — 10 bars — 10-bar assortment for exploring the full range.
• Milka Alpine Milk — 10 Bars — Best value for the classic Alpine Milk fan.

Ritter Sport — The Square That Delivers

Founded in Stuttgart in 1912, Ritter Sport built its reputation on one idea: a chocolate bar that fits in a shirt pocket. The iconic square format hasn’t changed, but the flavor lineup has expanded to over 100 varieties. Each bar is made with sustainably sourced cocoa and real inclusions — no artificial flavors.

• Ritter Sport Alpine Milk — 3.52 oz (100g) — The classic. Pure Alpine milk chocolate in the iconic square.
• Ritter Sport Marzipan — 100g — Dark chocolate with real marzipan filling. A German classic.
• Ritter Sport Coconut — 3.5 oz — Milk chocolate with a coconut filling.
• Ritter Sport Strawberry Yogurt — 3.5 oz — Milk chocolate with strawberry yogurt filling.
• Ritter Sport Whole Almonds — 3.52 oz — Milk chocolate with whole roasted almonds.
• Ritter Sport White Chocolate with Hazelnuts — 3.5 oz — White chocolate with whole hazelnuts.
• Ritter Sport Raisins & Hazelnuts — 3.5 oz — Milk chocolate with raisins and hazelnuts.
• Ritter Sport Funky White Lemon — 100g — White chocolate with lemon. Bright and citrusy.
• Ritter Sport Assorted Variety Pack — A curated mix of Ritter Sport flavors.

Austrian Confectionery

Manner — Vienna’s Iconic Hazelnut Wafers

Manner has been producing its famous hazelnut cream wafers in Vienna since 1890. The pink-packaged Neapolitaner wafer — five layers of crisp wafer with four layers of hazelnut cream — has been made with the same recipe for over 130 years. It is one of the most recognizable and beloved snacks in Austria, and a genuine taste of Viennese confectionery tradition.

• Manner Coconut Wafers — 2.54 oz — Crisp wafers with coconut cream filling. A twist on the classic.
• Manner Lemon Cream Wafers — 2.5 oz (72g) — Light, crisp wafers with bright lemon cream filling.

German Gummy Candy

Haribo — The Original Gummy Bear

Haribo invented the gummy bear in 1922 and remains the definitive standard for gummy candy. Over a century later, the formula — firm enough to chew, fruity enough to crave — remains unchanged. Beyond the classic Gold-Bears, Haribo produces dozens of shapes and flavors. We carry the European import versions, which use natural coloring in many varieties.

• Haribo Color-Rado Assorted Mix — 6.2 oz (175g) — A classic German variety mix of Haribo shapes and flavors.
• Haribo Super Gurken — 6.2 oz (175g) — Sour pickle-shaped gummies with fruit flavor. A Haribo cult favorite.
• Haribo Tropi-Frutti — 175g — Tropical fruit-flavored gummies.
• Haribo Weinland Wine Gummies — 6.17 oz (175g) — The classic German Weinland assortment — grapes, bottles, and berries.
• Haribo Almdudler Gummies — 175g — Inspired by the Austrian Almdudler herbal soda. A unique collaboration flavor.
• Haribo Phantasia — 175g (Pack of 6) — A fantasy assortment of Haribo shapes and flavors.

Kalfany — German Hard Candy Since 1880

Kalfany is a traditional German confectionery brand producing hard candy in Kulmbach, Bavaria since 1880. Their products use natural flavors and time-tested recipes — a genuine taste of old-school German candy culture.

• Kalfany Cola Hard Candy — 150g (5.25 oz) — Classic cola-flavored hard candy from Bavaria. Natural flavors, no artificial colors.

German & Austrian Beverages

Almdudler — Austria’s National Herbal Soda

Almdudler is the unofficial national drink of Austria, made with a blend of 32 Alpine herbs since 1957. It has a gently herbal, lightly sweet, subtly citrusy flavor completely unlike any mainstream soda. See our European Sparkling Beverages Guide for a full breakdown.

Paulaner Spezi — Germany’s Orange-Cola

Paulaner Spezi is a classic Bavarian orange-cola blend produced since 1974 by the Paulaner brewery. Virtually unknown outside German-speaking countries, it’s a must-try regional drink for curious palates.

Mühlhäuser Waldmeister Syrup — German Woodruff Syrup

Waldmeister (sweet woodruff) is a distinctly German flavor — floral, herbal, and slightly vanilla-like. Mühlhäuser’s Waldmeister Syrup is used to make Berliner Weisse (the iconic green Berlin wheat beer), sparkling water drinks, and cocktails. An authentic piece of German beverage culture rarely found outside Germany.

• Mühlhäuser Waldmeister Syrup — 500ml — German woodruff syrup. Mix with sparkling water, beer, or cocktails.

How to Build a European Pantry Staple Kit

A well-stocked European pantry doesn’t require overhauling everything at once. Start with one product from each category and build from there:

• Everyday chocolate: Milka Alpine Milk or Ritter Sport Alpine Milk
• Flavor exploration chocolate: Ritter Sport Marzipan or Ritter Sport Funky White Lemon
• Gummy candy: Haribo Weinland Wine Gummies or Haribo Color-Rado
• Wafer snack: Manner Lemon Cream or Manner Coconut
• Hard candy: Kalfany Cola
• European soda: Almdudler or Paulaner Spezi
• Pantry specialty: Mühlhäuser Waldmeister Syrup

Shop European Imports — Shipped from New Jersey

All products in this guide are stocked in our New Jersey warehouse and ship fast across the US. No import delays, no customs surprises — just authentic European grocery brands delivered to your door.

• Shop Milka Chocolate
• Shop Ritter Sport
• Shop Haribo Gummies
• Shop All Candy & Chocolate
• Shop All Grocery & Gourmet Food

Frequently Asked Questions About European Grocery Brands

What are the best imported European grocery brands available in the US?

Top imported European brands we carry include Milka (German Alpine milk chocolate), Ritter Sport (German square chocolate bars), Haribo (German gummy candies), Manner (Austrian hazelnut wafers), Kalfany (German hard candy), Almdudler (Austrian herbal soda), Paulaner Spezi (Bavarian orange-cola), and Mühlhäuser Waldmeister Syrup.

Why does European chocolate taste different from American chocolate?

European chocolate typically contains a higher percentage of cocoa butter and real milk solids, with less sugar. EU regulations require a minimum cocoa content, contributing to a richer, creamier flavor. Brands like Milka also use Alpine milk, which adds a distinctly creamy quality not found in standard American milk chocolate.

Is Haribo made in Germany?

Haribo was founded in Bonn, Germany in 1920 and remains one of the world’s most recognized confectionery brands. Many Haribo products sold in the US are produced in European facilities using the original German recipes.

What is Manner wafer?

Manner is an Austrian brand founded in Vienna in 1890, best known for its pink-packaged hazelnut cream Neapolitaner wafers — five crispy wafer layers with four layers of hazelnut cream, made with the same recipe for over 130 years. We also carry Manner Lemon and Coconut cream wafer varieties.

What is Almdudler?

Almdudler is Austria’s most beloved herbal soda, made since 1957 with a blend of 32 Alpine herbs. It has a gently herbal, lightly sweet, subtly citrusy flavor — the unofficial national drink of Austria. Available in bottle and can formats.