Buffet managers setting up self-service
For a coffee station or takeaway point, look for sealed portions that guests can pick up easily and that you can replenish by the bag or biscuit.
Who should consider their packaging choice?
Buyers of breakfast and takeaway portions
If a small biscuit with coffee isn’t the occasion you have in mind, consider an individually wrapped slice of Dutch breakfast cake or a pack of breakfast biscuits instead.
Buffet managers providing allergen information
You need to be able to check the ingredients and allergens for the exact product variant. If food is offered unpackaged, guests must be able to get information about allergens present, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
What should you look for when buying?
Biscuits to enjoy with coffee or tea
Choose these when: guests need to be able to pick up one sealed biscuit or a pack of two when serving themselves.
Bear in mind: a high biscuit count per box doesn’t tell you how many individual portions you can put out.
Dutch breakfast cake or breakfast biscuits in portion packs
Choose these when: you want to offer a set breakfast or takeaway portion rather than a small biscuit to go with coffee.
Bear in mind: a slice of Dutch breakfast cake and a pack of breakfast biscuits are different-sized portions, so compare their packaging and nutritional information separately.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is it most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Self-service portions | Count the sealed individual packs and check how many biscuits each portion contains. | For a coffee station, I want guests to be able to pick up a sealed portion that’s easy to replenish. Portion format is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergen information | Read the label for the exact product variant, including any precautionary statements about possible traces. Also decide how you’ll inform guests when food is offered unpackaged. | If I serve biscuits unpackaged, guests must be able to get information about allergens present before they choose. This is the main purchasing concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| Breakfast portions and nutritional information | Compare portion sizes and nutritional information per 100 g as well as per portion served. | For a takeaway breakfast, I want to know whether I’m offering a slice of Dutch breakfast cake or a pack of breakfast biscuits. Around 20% of consumers put this choice of portion first. |
| Variety and buying | Check the pack size, product details and current availability for each product you choose. | If I want to put several varieties on the buffet, I need to be able to buy a suitable pack size for each one. This choice of range is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes when buying for a buffet
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Assuming a multipack contains individual buffet portions
A large number of biscuits in one outer pack doesn’t mean each biscuit is individually wrapped. For self-service, what matters most is the number of sealed bags or packs you can offer.
Before buying, check both the number of individual packs and the number of biscuits in each one.
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Relying on the product description instead of checking allergens
A description such as ‘vegan’ or a mention of fibre doesn’t tell you which allergens a particular product variant contains. A precautionary statement about possible traces may also be relevant to guests.
Read the latest label. If food is offered unpackaged, make sure guests are informed about allergens present in line with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority’s requirements.
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Comparing nutritional values for different-sized portions
A slice of Dutch breakfast cake isn’t the same portion as an inner pack containing four breakfast biscuits. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using nutritional values per 100 g to compare products on a like-for-like basis.
Then check the nutritional information per portion for the amount you’ll actually serve.
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Assuming a product range guarantees availability
A brand or category page can help you find different types of biscuits, but it won’t necessarily tell you whether the multipack you want is available for your buffet plans.
Check the exact product and current availability before you plan around a particular pack size.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Bakeries offers small biscuits in consumer packs of two, as well as professional formats with 150 or 300 individually wrapped biscuits. The manufacturer highlights hotels as a potential use for its 150-piece dispenser.
- These pack sizes make it easy to plan sealed portions to serve with coffee or tea.
- Check the allergens for each product variant; the professional 150-piece pack lists gluten and soya.
Peijnenburg
According to Peijnenburg, the Naturel 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped 28 g slices of Dutch breakfast cake. It’s an alternative to a small biscuit with coffee.
- The individually wrapped slices make it clear what portion you’re serving.
- This variant contains rye; also check the current label for precautionary statements about the possible presence of other allergens.
Liga belVita
The Multigrain variant described by Albert Heijn contains six inner packs, each with four breakfast biscuits. This information applies to this variant, not every belVita pack.
- The inner packs provide a set portion of four biscuits.
- Albert Heijn lists cereals containing gluten, soya and milk among the ingredients for this variant; check the label on the pack you choose.
Sondey
Lidl presents Sondey as a range that includes biscuits, cookies, wafers and bars. For a breakfast buffet, choose a specific product rather than treating the range as if it had one standard pack size.
- The range gives you different types of biscuits to choose from.
- Check the portion size, individual packaging and allergens for the product you select.
Biscotto
ALDI describes a Biscotto variant containing twenty chocolate biscuits in a 250 g pack, wrapped in pairs.
- Packs of two could work well if you want to serve set portions.
- Check current in-store availability and the label before planning to use this specific variant.
Products for different buffet portions
These products range from a breakfast-style biscuit to biscuits to enjoy with coffee and an individually wrapped wafer. Choose according to the occasion and check how many sealed portions each pack contains.
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Belvita Milk & Cereals Biscuits 300 g
A breakfast-style biscuit if you want to offer guests something other than a small biscuit to go with their coffee.
The pack is labelled 300 g. Check the portion format and allergens on the label of the product you receive; don’t use information from a different belVita variant.
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Hellema Smoeltjes spiced biscuits, 8 pieces, 200 g
A spiced biscuit option for serving individual portions with coffee.
The product name specifies 8 pieces and 200 g. If you’re planning portions per guest, check how many biscuits are in each sealed inner pack. Also read the latest allergen label.
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NABATI Strawberry Wafer 12x27g
Consider these strawberry wafers only if a wafer alongside the biscuits suits the variety you want on your buffet; they aren’t biscuit cookies.
The product name specifies 12 packs of 27 g. Check the allergen label on the pack you receive.
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Lu Scholiertje milk chocolate biscuits 150 g
For a coffee or tea station where you want to offer a sealed portion of chocolate biscuits.
The product name specifies 150 g. Before planning your buffet, check how many inner portions the pack contains and consult the latest label for allergen information.
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Oreo Raspberry & Blueberry Flavor sandwich biscuits 97 g, 2 inner packs
A sandwich biscuit for offering two sealed packs as separate snack portions.
The product name specifies 97 g and 2 inner packs. Check how many biscuits each pack contains and read the latest allergen label.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose individually wrapped biscuits instead of a large pack?
Choose biscuits wrapped individually or in pairs when guests need to pick up a sealed portion themselves to enjoy with coffee or tea. Compare the number of inner packs: this tells you how many sealed portions you can put out, while the total number of biscuits may tell you something different.
What allergen information is needed at a hotel breakfast buffet?
If products are offered unpackaged, guests must be informed about allergens present before they choose, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. This information can be provided in writing, electronically or verbally. If you provide it verbally, make it clear that guests can ask for it. For prepacked products, check the label for the exact variant.
How do I compare breakfast biscuits with a small biscuit to go with coffee?
First compare what you’ll actually serve as one portion, then check the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. The Multigrain variant described by Albert Heijn contains inner packs of four belVita biscuits. That’s a different portion from one small biscuit or a slice of Dutch breakfast cake.
Is the allergen information on a product page enough for the buffet?
Use a product page to help you choose, but also check the label on the pack you receive before serving. Ingredients and allergens can vary between product variants; Albert Heijn also notes that product information may change when products are updated.