Canteen manager providing takeaway lunches
Looking for individually wrapped portions that employees can take with them straight away, without anyone having to slice the breakfast cake.
Which format is right for you?
Buyer for a shared lunch counter
Looking for a larger, sliced loaf to serve at a lunch counter. The number of portions, storage and allergen information are all important.
Buyer with dietary criteria
Comparing wholegrain options, fibre and sugars in breakfast cake, for example. The ingredients list and nutritional values per portion are a more useful guide than the wording on the front of the pack alone.
What should you consider when choosing?
Individually wrapped multipack
Best for: self-service, lunchboxes and serving without slicing.
Consider: the portions are pre-set, but each one has its own wrapper.
Sliced loaf
Best for: a lunch counter where the canteen serves the slices.
Consider: once opened, serving, storage and allergen information need attention.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions to take away | Check the number of portions, the weight per portion and whether they’re individually wrapped. | When employees help themselves to lunch, I want to put out portions they can take away straight away. Around 40% of consumers put convenience for taking food away first. |
| Nutritional information | Compare sugars, fibre and salt per portion, and read the ingredients list too. | For a range that caters for different dietary preferences, I want to know what a slice or bar actually contains. Around 30% of consumers give this nutritional profile top priority. |
| Shared serving | Check the total weight, number of slices and storage instructions after opening. | At a staffed lunch counter, I want to serve several guests from one loaf without making serving awkward. For around 30% of consumers, shared serving matters most. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
These statements don’t mean the same thing. Peijnenburg states that its individually wrapped 5-pack with no added sugar still contains 1.3 g of sugars per 27 g bar.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per portion, and check the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging too.
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Looking only at the total pack weight
A large loaf and a multipack of individual portions suit different ways of serving. Weight alone doesn’t tell you how many portions are ready to serve.
Check the number of slices or bars, and decide whether employees will help themselves or the canteen will serve the cake.
A loaf for slicing may also mean extra work when serving and managing stock.
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Losing allergen information when unpacking
When serving food unwrapped, guests must be able to get information about any allergens present. The ingredients and warnings that apply depend on the variant supplied.
Keep the label or product specification available. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about unpackaged products can, for example, be provided on a card. If the information is given verbally, it must be clear that guests can ask for it.
Brands to compare
Peijnenburg
Offers both individually wrapped portions and sliced breakfast cake.
- Albert Heijn describes a plain 10-pack containing ten individually wrapped 28 g slices.
- For its 5-pack with no added sugar, Peijnenburg states 4.6 g of fibre and 1.3 g of sugars per 27 g bar; compare other variants separately.
Jumbo
Worth considering when comparing sliced loaves and packs containing several portions.
- Jumbo’s range includes sliced formats and packs of six, among other options.
- Check the number of portions and the current packaging for each product you choose.
PLUS
Offers a plain 6-pack of breakfast cake bars, each wrapped individually for serving in advance.
- PLUS states a pack weight of 330 g and recommends storing it in a cool, dry, dark place.
- The ingredients include rye flour; check the label on the pack supplied for allergens and possible cross-contamination.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI lists pre-sliced breakfast cake for serving at a lunch counter.
- The wholegrain variant and the zero variant with no added sugar are each listed with a pack weight of 485 g.
- Compare the ingredients and nutritional values of the two variants separately.
Tastino
Lidl lists Tastino breakfast cake in larger pack sizes.
- Lidl’s listing gives weights ranging from 465 to 550 g.
- When choosing, check which variant and weight are actually shown on the pack.
Sliced breakfast cake for serving at lunch
This sliced breakfast cake is suited to a lunch counter where the canteen serves the slices. Check how many slices are in the pack to make sure it meets your serving needs.
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g'woon sliced breakfast cake 485 g
For serving at a lunch counter, you can hand out slices from the pre-sliced loaf. Check the number of slices on the pack and keep allergen information available when serving it unwrapped.
Frequently asked questions
Can a staff canteen put out individual slices of breakfast cake without allergen information?
No. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about any allergens present must be available before unwrapped food is purchased or eaten. This can be provided in writing or verbally; if it’s given verbally, it must be clear that guests can ask for it.
Is breakfast cake with no added sugar sugar-free?
No. Peijnenburg states that its 5-pack with no added sugar still contains 1.3 g of sugars per 27 g bar. Check the nutrition table per portion for the variant you choose.
Which allergens should I check in breakfast cake?
Check the label on the variant actually supplied, as ingredients and warnings can vary. For example, PLUS lists rye flour in its plain breakfast cake bars and also notes the possible presence of other allergens.
Does all breakfast cake contain iodine because it’s made with baker’s salt?
No, that conclusion doesn’t follow from the Dutch rules on baker’s salt. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products as a result of adding baker’s salt containing no more than 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. If iodine is one of your selection criteria, check the label or ask the supplier for the product specification.