Shipping Canadian-Specific Snacks to the U.S. and Abroad During the Holidays
From ketchup chips and authentic maple candies to Nanaimo bars and many other beloved treats, there are many Canadian snacks not easily accessible to those living out of the country, making them highly coveted items for friends and family living abroad. If you’re planning on sending some Canadian-specific snacks this holiday season, or you want to ensure you have reminders of home waiting for you when travelling across the border, we’ve outlined shipping tips below to help ensure they arrive intact and ready to enjoy.
Shipping Chocolate
Canada boasts some tasty chocolates—we’re looking at you, Coffee Crisp, Caramilk, and Smarties! Shipping them, should be undertaken with caution as they can easily melt due to their inability to withstand heat and extreme temperatures. To avoid a melted puddle of chocolate by the time it reaches your recipient, we recommend choosing air or next day delivery. You may also wish to freeze and package these items in plastic wrap to help keep them cool along their journey.
Butter Tarts, Nanaimo Bars, and Other Baked Goods
Sending Canadian baked classics will surely bring a smile to your recipient’s face—just be sure to seal them in an airtight container and add parchment or wax paper at the bottom and/or in between layers. This not only helps maintain freshness during travel but also helps limit any breakage or crumbling. Adding the container to a plastic bag can also help with this. If your container has air pockets, it can lead to items vibrating and breaking during shipment.
Before shipping your baked goods, add padding in the box around the container to fill in any air gaps. Wrapping the container in bubble wrap and placing in between air pillows can provide extra cushioning when the item is enroute.
Speak with one of our experts at The UPS Store to find out the quickest shipping options for both domestic and international shipping to maintain freshness.
Ketchup, All Dressed, and Hickory Sticks Potato Chips
Potato chips can be a great addition to your shipment, especially because Canada has flavours and brands you can’t find anywhere else. However, chips are not the sturdiest of foods, and if not properly packaged when shipping, may not arrive unbroken. When preparing to ship, do not place any other items on top of the chips and ensure you’re using the proper packaging materials around them to fill in the surrounding space. Cushioning is key, so opt for air pillows and bubble wrap, like when shipping baked goods.
Maple Leaf Biscuits and Other Cookies
Cookies, including the classic maple-flavoured maple leaf biscuits, are a tasty option during the holidays, and there are ways to ensure they remain intact. If you purchase store-bought cookies, keeping them in their original packaging can help maintain their freshness. Since they were shipped to the store in that packaging, leaving them in it can help ensure proper storage.
If you are making your own cookies, storing them in a circular potato chip container, like a Pringles can, is a popular option so that they remain stacked on top of each other, and there’s less room for movement. You can even use that container as a cookie cutter when baking to ensure they will fit snugly.
Choose a Suitable Box and Fillers
Once you have all the Canadian-specific snacks ready, you’ll want to find a new, sturdy shipping container to get your items to their destination. There are several types of corrugated cardboard boxes with varying protection levels; double-wall and triple-wall corrugated boxes are great for heavier items because of the multiple groups of flutes and liners, while a single-wall corrugated box is more frequently used for lighter items.
If you are sending several Canadian snacks, a double-wall corrugated box is a great option, as the more layers of flutes, the stronger it becomes. Finding suitable packaging fillers (which will fill up the empty space of the shipping container) will also add to the package’s strength while selecting packaging material to wrap the items around will add layers of protection.
Correctly Label the Package
Shipping food across the border requires proper labelling. When filling out a customs form, ensure you mark the package as a gift and that the food inside is for personal consumption. There can also be instances where you must include an ingredient list, so be sure to have that ready.
Please note: All food and beverages shipped to America must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Shipping Food with The UPS Store
Stop by The UPS Store near you to find out how our packing experts can help you become holiday-ready when shipping tasty Canadian snacks for your loved ones.