Don’t automatically go for the biggest pack of biscuits for the office. First, work out how many people will be eating them and whether you’ll put them out in a bowl or hand them out individually. Individually wrapped portions are handy for meetings and visitors; a sharing pack can suit a regular team that will get through it quickly, as long as you check the storage instructions and label for the specific variety.
If you’re putting out biscuits for a mixed group, check the ingredients and allergens for the exact variety before choosing a flavour or pack size. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
If your team regularly has coffee together, you can compare the number of portions with how much you expect to use. If there are biscuits left in the pack after the break, check how they should be stored once opened.
If you’re giving each visitor a biscuit, an individually wrapped option may be more convenient than leaving an open pack on the table. Albert Heijn describes a Lotus pack containing 300 individually wrapped biscuits; match a pack of this size to the number of occasions you’ll be serving them.
Decide how you’ll serve the biscuits and how many people will be eating them. Then compare the portions, storage instructions and label of the pack you’re planning to buy.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings about possible cross-contamination on the pack for the exact variety. | If I’m buying for colleagues with different dietary requirements, I want to know who can eat the biscuits before choosing a pack. Around 31% of consumers put this check first. |
| Serving individually | Check whether the biscuits are genuinely wrapped individually or in portions, and how many portions the pack contains. | For a meeting, I want to hand out biscuits without leaving an open pack on the table. For around 23% of consumers, individually wrapped portions are the top priority. |
| Number of portions | Compare the number of biscuits or portions with the expected number of people eating them; check how to store any leftovers once opened. | For our regular coffee break, I want to put out enough biscuits without being left with a large open pack. Around 23% of consumers put this consideration first. |
| Flavour with coffee | Choose a type of biscuit that suits the occasion, and check the label again if you’re adding another variety. | If we’re putting something different on the table alongside a familiar biscuit, I want the flavours to suit our coffee break. Around 23% of consumers give flavour variety top priority. |
A large pack is less practical if it stays open for a long time after the break. Jumbo advises that its Chocolate Cookies with Dark Chocolate Chips should be sealed tightly after opening and eaten within a few days.
Count the people you expect to serve, then choose between a sharing pack, a smaller pack or individually wrapped portions.
Albert Heijn lists the 250 g Lotus Biscoff Speculoos as suitable for vegans, but also states that this variety contains wheat, soya and cereals containing gluten.
If anyone has a known allergy, check both the allergens present and any warnings about possible cross-contamination on the pack you buy.
The weight doesn’t tell you how many biscuits you can hand out. Jumbo lists twelve portions for its 468 g stroopwafels; ALDI’s María biscuits come in four 200 g rolls.
For your planned coffee break, also compare the number of biscuits or portions and how the pack is opened.
A pack you’ve seen before may not be available from the retailer you’ve chosen. The Lotus pack of 300 that was researched wasn’t listed in the range on the Albert Heijn page we consulted.
Check availability shortly before buying and read the label when the biscuits arrive, especially if allergens or dietary requirements are a consideration.
The packs mentioned show different ways to serve biscuits; a brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether every variety will be suitable.
Speculoos biscuits to enjoy with coffee, with the product information reviewed covering both a regular pack and a size for handing out individually.
An own-brand option with smaller packs, including the 210 g Soft Chocolate Cookies reviewed.
The products reviewed include stroopwafels for sharing over coffee and a smaller pack of chocolate biscuits.
Larger biscuit packs that help you plan quantities for regular coffee breaks.
A range of biscuits where limited-time in-store availability may be a factor.
These biscuits, stroopwafels and biscuit bars come in a range of pack sizes for a coffee break or for handing out snacks individually at the office. Always check the label of the variety you choose for the people you’ll be serving.
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For a coffee break where you want to match the number of biscuits to the group in advance. The pack lists 8 biscuits and weighs 200 g; check the allergens on the packaging.
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A 150 g pack of chocolate biscuits for a coffee break when you want to put out a smaller pack. Before sharing, check the allergen information for the variety you’ve bought.
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Biscuit bars for meetings where you’d rather offer bars than biscuits from an open bowl. The pack lists 140 g; check how many bars you can hand out before buying, and read the label.
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Stroopwafels for a coffee break where you can plan for eight biscuits in advance. If you’re sharing them, check the allergens on the packaging.
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Mini biscuits in three 77 g packs, ideal if you want to open one pack at a time for the office. Check the allergens and storage instructions on the packaging.
No. A large pack is best when it suits the number of people eating the biscuits and how much you expect them to eat. Also consider whether you’ll put the biscuits out unpackaged and what the packaging says about storing them after opening.
No. Albert Heijn lists the 250 g Lotus Biscoff Speculoos as suitable for vegans, but also states that this variety contains wheat, soya and cereals containing gluten. Check the label on the exact pack you buy.
Check the ingredients list on the packaging and note any allergens highlighted in it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the labelling requirements for fourteen allergens in prepacked foods; also read any warnings about possible cross-contamination.
This warns that nuts may be present due to cross-contamination; it doesn’t mean that nuts have been added as an ingredient. If someone has a known allergy, read all the information on the pack for the exact variety before sharing the biscuits.
No. Check the physical packaging when your order arrives, as product information can change. Albert Heijn recommends checking the packaging on its product pages; Lidl also refers customers to the packaging or its customer service team for ingredients and allergens in its food products.
