Smaller households
If you’re unlikely to finish a large loaf once opened during the autumn half-term, you could consider a smaller loaf or individually wrapped portions. Compare the amount you actually want to use.
Who is a small pack useful for?
Families taking snacks on the go
For a day out or lunchbox, individually wrapped portions can save you having to slice and divide everything beforehand. Just check that the pieces are wrapped separately: pre-sliced pieces aren’t the same thing.
Shoppers comparing labels
If you’re checking ingredients, nutritional values or allergens, the label on the specific product you choose is more useful than the pack weight alone. Compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide how much breakfast cake you want to use during the autumn half-term and whether you need individual portions. Then compare the packaging and label of the products that suit your needs.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and storage | Compare the total pack weight and check whether, once opened, you’ll need to store one portion or the whole loaf. | If I only use a little breakfast cake, I don’t want to open more than I need at once. Around 42% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Taking it with you and sharing | Check whether the pieces are individually wrapped; pre-sliced doesn’t automatically mean individually wrapped. | For a day out, I want to take snacks with me without having to slice a loaf first. Convenience is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Label information | Compare nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and read the ingredients and allergen information. | When choosing between products, I want to know which ingredients and allergens are in the pack I’ve selected. For around 25% of consumers, this label information is the first thing they consider. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming pre-sliced means individually wrapped
A pre-sliced loaf saves you having to cut it, but the slices aren’t necessarily individually wrapped. With separate portions, you can open one pack for each snack break.
If this matters for your day out, look for the number of pieces on the pack and a clear statement that they’re individually wrapped.
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Judging a smaller pack by the product name alone
A small pack or a product with ‘zero’ in its name doesn’t, by itself, tell you the nutritional value per slice. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives average values for breakfast cake, but the ingredients can vary from product to product.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and check the ingredients and allergens for the exact product you’re choosing.
Brands and product ranges to help you choose
Peijnenburg
PLUS lists both a 280 g pack of ten plain individual portions and a 345 g plain, unsliced breakfast cake loaf.
- The portion pack contains individual pieces; the unsliced loaf is an option if you’d rather cut your own slices.
- For the portion pack, PLUS lists rye and cereals containing gluten; milk and nuts may be present. Check the label on the product you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists plain and wholemeal breakfast cake, both weighing 280 g.
- The stated pack weight makes both products worth considering if you’re looking for a compact loaf.
- Check the packaging to see how the product you choose is portioned, and read the label.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI Netherlands lists pre-sliced zero and wholemeal versions, both weighing 485 g.
- Pre-sliced pieces can save you having to cut the loaf.
- At 485 g, the total pack weight is greater than the 280 g and 345 g options mentioned here; pre-sliced doesn’t mean individually wrapped.
Goud Gebakken
ALDI Netherlands lists six individually wrapped snack cakes as an alternative if you’re looking for separate snack portions.
- The pieces are individually wrapped, so they’re easy to take with you or share.
- Snack cakes aren’t the same format as a compact breakfast cake loaf; compare the label on the pack you choose.
Breakfast cake-style snacks at Joybuy
This is a small pack of breakfast cake-style snacks. If you’re choosing between portions and a loaf, compare the pack weight and label with those of a compact breakfast cake loaf.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g
The 250 g pack is an option if you’re looking for a smaller overall quantity for a short period.
‘Less Sugar-Free’ is part of the product name; it doesn’t tell you what the nutritional values are. Compare the nutritional information on the pack, and check the ingredients and allergens if they matter to your choice.
Frequently asked questions
How should I store an opened, unsliced breakfast cake loaf?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. For Peijnenburg Ontbijtkoek Naturel Ongesneden 345 g, PLUS recommends keeping it in a cool, dark place, for example in a sealed tin or container.
Which allergens should I check on a small pack of breakfast cake?
Read the allergen information on the pack of the product you’re buying. For its 280 g Peijnenburg plain portion pack, PLUS lists rye and cereals containing gluten; milk and nuts, including almonds and hazelnuts, may be present.