Office supplies manager
Wants to put out biscuits for coffee breaks, reception or meetings without having to portion them first. Albert Heijn, for example, sells a Lotus Biscoff dispenser with individually wrapped biscuits.
Who are the different pack formats for?
Colleague with a lunchbox or bag
Wants a portion they can take with them without having to wrap up an opened pack. Jumbo, for example, sells cereal biscuits in nine individually wrapped twin packs.
Buyer stocking a communal biscuit tin
Wants to know how much stock a pack provides, so compares the net weight with the number of rolls, biscuits or portions. ALDI, for example, sells María biscuits in four 200 g rolls.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether the biscuits will be handed out individually, taken on the go or served from a shared supply. Then compare the contents of each pack and, when buying for a group, read the label for the exact variant.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Handing out biscuits individually | Count the individually wrapped biscuits; a large outer pack doesn’t tell you how the biscuits are packed inside. | For coffee breaks or meetings, I want to be able to put out one biscuit per person quickly. Around 36% of consumers say that easy serving is their top priority. |
| Portions to take with you | Check how many packs are in the multipack and how many biscuits each pack contains. | I want to take a portion in my lunchbox or bag without carrying an opened pack. For around 29% of consumers, a portion to take with them comes first. |
| Amount of stock per pack | Compare the net weight with the number of rolls, biscuits or portions you can actually use. | A communal biscuit tin needs to contain enough biscuits to keep it topped up. Around 21% of consumers prioritise the amount of usable stock. |
| Label information for the group | Read the ingredients, allergens and nutrition information per 100 g; also check the values per portion if they’re listed. | When several colleagues are choosing from the same supply, I want to know in advance which ingredients and allergens are listed on the pack. For around 14% of consumers, checking the label is their main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a large pack means lots of servings
The same net weight can be divided into rolls, twin packs or individually wrapped biscuits. So the pack size alone won’t tell you how many times you can serve them.
Compare the weight and the number of biscuits, rolls or portions before choosing a pack size.
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Judging by the front of the pack alone
A product name or a mention of grains doesn’t give you the full picture of the ingredients, sugars, fats or allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking beyond the front of the pack when choosing snacks.
Read the ingredients list and nutrition information per 100 g; use the information per portion if it’s shown on the label.
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Putting out a shared supply without checking allergens
Ingredients and allergens vary between biscuit variants. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on labels.
Before buying, check the latest allergen information for the exact variant and keep the pack available with any shared supply.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
A brand to consider if you want to hand out speculoos biscuits individually with coffee or at a meeting.
- Albert Heijn sells a dispenser containing 150 individually wrapped Lotus Biscoff biscuits.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutrition information on the pack for the variant you choose; the dispenser format isn’t representative of every Lotus Biscoff product.
Jumbo
A supermarket own-brand option if you’re looking for cereal biscuits in pre-portioned twin packs.
- Jumbo sells cereal biscuits with milk chocolate in packs of 9 × 2: nine portions per pack.
- Check whether the ingredients and allergens in this variant are suitable for the people you’re buying for.
Biscotto
An ALDI own brand to consider when comparing larger biscuit packs for a shared supply.
- ALDI’s product range includes 500 g packs of Biscotto sandwich biscuits.
- For the product you choose, check separately how many biscuits or portions the pack contains and how the biscuits are wrapped inside.
Sondey
The own brand Lidl Netherlands uses for various types of biscuits and snacks.
- Lidl Netherlands’ brand page lists biscuits and cookies in the Sondey range.
- For a specific variant, check the pack size, number of biscuits and allergens before choosing it for the office.
Products for the office and on the go
These Joybuy products come in different pack formats for a coffee break or a snack to take with you. Spitz wafers are a different product category from biscuits, so only include them in your comparison if wafers would also suit your office supply.
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LU Scholiertje biscuits with milk chocolate, 150 g
If you want to serve Scholiertje biscuits with coffee, the number of biscuits in each pack is important for planning your supplies.
Pack weight: 150 g. Check the label to see how many portions the pack contains and which allergens are listed for this variant.
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Oreo Raspberry & Blueberry Flavor sandwich biscuits, 97 g (2 packs)
The two separate packs make it easy to divide the contents between two snacks or occasions when you’re out and about.
The pack weighs 97 g. If you’re planning portions for several colleagues, check how many biscuits are in each pack and read the allergen information on the packaging you choose.
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Spitz hazelnut/milk wafers, 10-pack (10 pieces)
If wafers would work alongside biscuits in your office supply, this pack gives you ten pieces to share across snack breaks.
Before adding them to a shared supply, check the weight per piece and the latest ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose individually wrapped biscuits instead of a roll?
Choose individually wrapped biscuits if you want to put out one biscuit per person for coffee breaks or meetings. A roll works well when you’re serving biscuits together from a plate; in that case, compare how many you want to put out at a time. Albert Heijn, for example, sells a Lotus Biscoff dispenser with 150 individually wrapped biscuits.
How do I compare the contents of biscuit multipacks?
Compare both the net weight and the number of rolls, biscuits or portions. ALDI, for example, sells María biscuits in four 200 g rolls, while Jumbo sells cereal biscuits in nine twin packs. These formats suit different ways of serving biscuits.
What should I check for allergens in a shared office supply?
Read the allergen information for the exact biscuit variant before putting it out for a group. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are shown on food labels; keep the packaging so colleagues can check the product information.
Does a mention of grains tell me enough about the nutritional value?
No. You’ll need the information on the label to assess the nutritional value of a biscuit. Check sugars, fats and fibre per 100 g and, if listed, per portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises looking beyond the front of the pack when choosing snacks.