Groups of campers on a tight food budget
If you’re taking breakfast cake for several people, comparing the cost per kilogram can help you weigh up packs of different sizes. Also think about whether you can keep an opened cake dry and seal it again.
Which pack is best for you?
Festival-goers who want a quick snack
Pre-sliced breakfast cake means you won’t need a knife; an individually wrapped portion is easy to take with you without opening a large pack each time. Weigh up that convenience against the pack size and cost per kilogram.
Shoppers who read labels carefully
If you’re watching your sugar, fibre or sweetener intake, or checking for allergens, you’ll need information about the exact variety. A wholemeal or zero label is no substitute for checking the ingredients and nutritional information.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether cost, convenient portions or the ingredients matter most to you. Then check that the pack suits the way you’ll eat and store it at the campsite.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is it most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per kilogram | Compare the net weight and current price per kilogram for the exact pack. | If I’m taking breakfast cake for a group, I want to know how much I’ll spend for the same quantity. For around 36% of consumers, cost per kilogram comes first. |
| Portions and storage | Choose between unsliced, sliced and individually wrapped; read the storage advice and instructions for after opening. | Without a knife, I want to be able to grab a slice when I fancy one and put the rest away properly. Convenient portions and storage are the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Sugars, fibre and sweeteners | Read the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, along with the ingredients and any warnings. | When I’m considering a wholemeal or zero variety, I want to know what’s actually in the pack. For around 21% of consumers, the ingredients come first. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Check the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the current label. | If someone in my group needs to avoid gluten, I can’t rely on the product category alone. For around 14% of consumers, checking allergens is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Judging by the pack alone
A smaller cake might look like good value, but the cost per kilogram could tell a different story. And a temporary offer may no longer be available when you do your shopping.
Compare the net weight and current price per kilogram of the varieties you’re considering.
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Assuming ordinary breakfast cake is gluten-free
The plain variety described by Jumbo contains rye and wheat. So the name ‘breakfast cake’ doesn’t tell you whether a pack is suitable if you need to avoid gluten.
Read the label on the pack you’re buying and, if you need a gluten-free option, look for an explicit gluten-free statement.
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Assuming a zero label means sugar-free
A zero variety may still contain sugars. Jumbo also warns that a variety with sweeteners may have a laxative effect if consumed in excess.
Compare sugars and fibre per portion and per 100 g, and check the ingredients and warnings for the exact variety.
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Putting an opened cake away while it’s damp
The advice for the Jumbo varieties described here is to store them in a cool, dry place. At a campsite, it’s particularly important after opening to make sure you can follow the instructions on the pack.
Reseal the pack after use and store it somewhere dry. Also check the best-before date and storage advice on the pack.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-brand range includes a large pack of plain breakfast cake, as well as varieties with different pack sizes and ingredients.
- A large plain cake could be a good choice for sharing with a group.
- The ordinary plain variety described contains rye and wheat; check the allergen information for each product.
Albert Heijn
The AH own-brand range includes sliced plain and wholemeal breakfast cake.
- Pre-sliced pieces are a handy option if you don’t want to take a knife.
- Compare the net weight and label of your chosen variety; plain and wholemeal cakes have different ingredients.
ALDI / Koek & Bakker
Koek & Bakker offers sliced wholemeal and zero varieties in its physical stores.
- The wholemeal variety described comes pre-sliced.
- For the zero variety, check the nutritional information rather than basing your choice on the name alone.
PLUS / Korenlanders
Korenlanders is a plain option if you’re buying breakfast cake at PLUS.
- The plain cake described has a net weight of 500 g.
- PLUS lists wheat and rye for this variety and also notes that it may contain nuts.
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers several breakfast cake varieties, including wholemeal and individually wrapped options.
- The manufacturer describes a sliced wholemeal variety for shoppers looking for this type of cake.
- A branded variety and an own-brand pack aren’t interchangeable without comparing weight, cost and label information.
Lidl / Tastino
Tastino is a breakfast cake range to include in your comparison when shopping at Lidl.
- A store offer could be worth considering if it’s still valid when you shop.
- Check the offer dates and the pack in store before comparing it with other options.
Breakfast cake at Joybuy
These two packs suit different ways of taking breakfast cake with you: sliced pieces from one pack, or a cake for portions on the go. If you’re shopping on a budget, compare the current cost per kilogram for yourself; the products below aren’t ranked by cost.
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g'woon wholemeal sliced breakfast cake 485 g
A handy option if you want to grab a slice at the campsite without taking a knife. The pack contains 485 g. Before buying, check the current cost per kilogram and, if you need to avoid gluten or rye, read the label on the pack.
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Snelle Jelle Less Sugar-Free breakfast cake 250 g
A handy option if you want to take breakfast cake in portions without opening a larger pack each time. The pack contains 250 g. Don’t assume from the variety name that the cake is sugar-free: check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the label, and compare the current cost per kilogram.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take breakfast cake to a festival campsite without a fridge?
The storage advice for the Jumbo varieties described here is to keep them in a cool, dry place; according to that advice, they don’t need to be refrigerated. Follow the storage instructions for your pack and reseal it carefully after opening.
What should I do if the best-before date on my breakfast cake has passed?
A best-before date relates to quality. According to the Voedingscentrum, you can look at, smell and taste the product after this date, provided it has been stored as instructed. After opening, also check the storage instructions on the pack.
Does zero mean breakfast cake contains no sugars?
No, the name alone doesn’t prove that the cake is sugar-free. Check the sugar content in the nutritional information for the exact variety and look at the ingredients to see whether it contains sweeteners.
Is ordinary breakfast cake suitable if I need to avoid gluten?
Don’t assume it is: the Jumbo plain variety described contains rye and wheat. Check the label of the product you’re buying and look for an explicit gluten-free statement if you need a gluten-free variety.