Buyers looking for a larger pack
You take breakfast cake with you for several night shifts and can slice it at home or store an opened pack.
Who is this relevant to?
Night-shift workers comparing labels
You want to compare varieties by sugar, fibre, salt, ingredients and allergens, rather than relying only on the description on the front of the pack.
Workers who want a portion they can grab quickly
You have little time or no opportunity to cut breakfast cake during your shift, so you’re looking for a portion to have on your break.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you can prepare portions at home or need one you can take with you straight away during your shift. Then compare the labels of the varieties that suit your needs.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and pack size | Check the pack weight and storage instructions after opening. | If I take breakfast cake with me for several shifts, I want to prepare portions at home and store the rest according to the label. Around 36% of consumers put this need to stock up first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion; also read the ingredients and allergen information. | When choosing between varieties, I want to know what’s in a slice and which ingredients matter to me. For around 29% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
| Portion convenience | Check whether the cake is pre-sliced or individually wrapped. | During a short work break, I want to be able to grab a portion without slicing a whole cake. This convenience comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Flavour and variety | Check the variety, and compare the label if you choose a different flavour. | If I often take breakfast cake with me, I want a choice of flavours without assuming that a different variety has the same ingredients. Around 14% of consumers give variety the highest priority. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a large pack without thinking about storage
A larger pack is only useful for several shifts if you can store the opened cake according to the instructions.
Check the label and, before you buy, think about how you’ll take portions with you and seal the rest.
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Taking a variety name as the full nutritional picture
A description such as wholemeal or Zero doesn’t tell you how much sugar and fibre your portion contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that nutritional values can vary between breakfast cakes.
Read the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and check the ingredients too.
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Skipping the allergen information
Ingredients and information about the possible presence of allergens can vary between breakfast cake varieties. For example, PLUS lists rye in its plain variety and the possible presence of nuts in the Korenlanders variety.
Check the current packaging of the specific product if the ingredients or allergens are important to you.
Brands to consider
These brands give you an idea of the pack formats and varieties available; check the details of the product you choose.
Albert Heijn
The AH range includes a 600 g standard breakfast cake for anyone looking for a larger pack.
- A large pack that you can divide into portions at home.
- Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so check the packaging.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI lists, among other products under this brand, pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a pre-sliced Zero variety.
- Both of these varieties are pre-sliced.
- Compare the full nutritional information; the variety name alone doesn’t describe what a portion contains.
PLUS
PLUS lists a pre-sliced plain own-brand variety and a Korenlanders Bakkers variety.
- For its pre-sliced plain variety, PLUS recommends storing it in a cool, dry place away from light.
- Check the allergens for each variety; the product information for the Korenlanders variety also mentions the possible presence of nuts.
Peijnenburg
The Jumbo listing shows Peijnenburg breakfast cake in various formats, including pre-sliced packs and individual portions.
- There are different pack formats to suit how you use it during your shift.
- Check the portion size and nutritional information for each variety separately.
Tastino
Lidl lists Tastino breakfast cake in a range of sizes and varieties.
- The range offers a choice of formats and varieties.
- Check which variety you have and read the information on its packaging.
Breakfast cake for different breaks
These Joybuy products suit two ways of taking breakfast cake with you: pre-sliced cake for anyone who can choose portions in advance, and a bar for a break with no slicing required.
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g'woon wholemeal breakfast cake, pre-sliced, 485 g
For anyone who wants to choose slices at home to take along for a night shift. Check the sugar and fibre content on the packaging for this variety, and read the current allergen information before choosing it.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g
A bar for anyone who doesn’t want to slice breakfast cake at work. Don’t judge the sugar claim on its own; check the ingredients and nutritional information on the current packaging too.
Frequently asked questions
Can breakfast cake replace my usual meal during a night shift?
No, don’t assume breakfast cake is a suitable replacement for a meal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that breakfast cake is often high in sugar and low in fibre. So compare the nutritional information and decide what other foods to take with you during your shift.
How should I store breakfast cake that I’m dividing between several shifts?
Follow the instructions on the packaging of your breakfast cake. For its pre-sliced plain variety, PLUS recommends storing it in a cool, dry place away from light. For the Korenlanders variety, PLUS recommends storing it in a cool, dry place and sealing it well after opening.
Does Zero mean that a breakfast cake is low in sugar?
No, don’t draw that conclusion from the variety name alone. Check the packaging for total sugars per 100 g and per portion, and read the ingredients for the specific product.
Does every breakfast cake contain iodine-enriched baker’s salt?
No, this isn’t required by Dutch regulations for bakery products. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says iodine compounds may be used in bakery products; check the ingredients to find out whether a specific breakfast cake contains iodine-enriched baker’s salt.