Organisers serving large numbers
They want to work out in advance how many packs and portions they’ll need. An unsliced cake is a good fit when there’s time and a suitable place to cut it yourself.
Who is this choice important for?
Volunteers at a busy stall
They want to be able to serve portions without having to keep cutting during the event. Sliced cake or individually wrapped portions can make serving at the stall easier.
Sellers who need to provide food information
As well as choosing suitable packaging, sellers need to follow safe practices and provide accurate allergen information, as explained by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority for markets and events.
What should you look for?
First, decide whether you can cut the cake yourself or need portions that are ready to serve. Then check the net weight, packaging and current label for each option you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Contents per pack | Check the net weight and decide how many portions you want to cut from one pack. | When serving large numbers, I want to know in advance how many packs I’ll need. For around 39% of consumers, the amount per pack would be the main consideration. |
| Ease of serving | Check whether the cake is sliced or made up of individually wrapped portions. | When there’s a queue at the stall, I want to be able to serve portions without cutting them on the spot. For around 23% of consumers, quick service would be the priority. |
| Safe selling | Decide whether you’ll sell it pre-packed or unpackaged, and keep the allergen information for your chosen product to hand. | When I sell breakfast cake, I want to give visitors accurate allergen information and handle the product safely. For around 23% of consumers, selling food safely would be the main concern. |
| Product profile | Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen declaration for the exact variant. | Anyone looking for a wholemeal option or a particular recipe will want to know what’s actually in the pack. For around 15% of consumers, the product profile would be the deciding factor. |
Common purchasing mistakes
-
Assuming how many portions you’ll get from a pack
A 550 g pack and a 485 g pack don’t contain the same amount. With an unsliced cake, the number of portions also depends on how you cut it.
Decide on a portion size before you buy, then use it to work out how many packs you’ll need for the planned serving.
-
Assuming pre-packed means food safety is taken care of
Even when breakfast cake is sliced or individually wrapped, sellers still need to handle it safely and hygienically. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also says that sellers must inform customers about allergens in the food they sell.
Keep the current packaging and allergen information at the stall, and store and serve the product in line with the relevant guidance from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
-
Treating a product name as a dietary guarantee
Wholemeal doesn’t mean that a breakfast cake is gluten-free. Ingredients and allergens vary between products; for example, the sliced plain breakfast cake described by PLUS lists rye flour and may contain wheat, barley and oats.
When answering visitors’ questions, use only the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re actually serving.
-
Relying on online information instead of the pack
Product information can change over time, so a description you viewed earlier is no substitute for the packaging of the product you ultimately serve.
When your order arrives, check the best-before date, ingredients and allergens for your chosen variant.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
Offers sliced plain breakfast cake, among other products, as well as options for anyone looking for a particular product profile.
- Jumbo describes its 550 g sliced plain variant as a pack containing 18 slices.
- The same plain variant lists rye. Check the ingredients and allergens again on the pack you choose.
Goud Gebakken
ALDI describes both a large unsliced plain breakfast cake and Koekhappers for serving individually.
- The plain breakfast cake is unsliced and weighs 550 g; according to ALDI, Koekhappers come as six individually wrapped portions.
- You’ll need to portion an unsliced cake yourself. Check the information on the exact pack of Koekhappers.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI describes a sliced wholemeal breakfast cake for anyone who doesn’t want to cut it themselves at the stall.
- The variant described weighs 485 g and is pre-sliced.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for your chosen wholemeal variant; wholemeal doesn’t mean gluten-free.
PLUS
Its own-label range includes a sliced plain breakfast cake, and the product information can help you plan your serving.
- PLUS describes a 485 g sliced pack and says to store it in a cool, dry place away from light.
- The variant described contains rye flour and may contain wheat, barley and oats. Check the current pack when you buy it.
Breakfast cake for easy serving
These Joybuy products suit two ways of serving: individually wrapped bars or sliced breakfast cake. Choose based on what works best at your stall, and always check the packaging of your chosen variant before selling it.
Image unavailable
Snelle Jelle breakfast cake, 250 g
An option when you want to serve portions without cutting them at the stall. Even with individually wrapped bars, check the current pack before giving visitors allergen information.
Image unavailable
g'woon wholemeal breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g
An option if you want to serve slices without cutting the cake yourself. Before selling it, check the ingredients and allergens on the current pack carefully.
Frequently asked questions
Is a large pack always more convenient for a street festival?
No. A large unsliced pack takes time and a suitable place to cut into portions. If volunteers need to serve people quickly, sliced cake or individually wrapped portions may be more practical.
Do I need to provide allergen information when selling breakfast cake?
Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that sellers must inform customers about allergens in the food they sell. For pre-packed breakfast cake, check the label on the actual pack. If you’re serving it unpackaged, decide how customers can get the correct information.
What should I bear in mind when selling from a stall or tent?
Prepare, store and sell the breakfast cake safely and hygienically. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this is also necessary when selling at markets and events; tailor your approach to how you handle the product at the stall.
Is wholemeal breakfast cake automatically gluten-free?
No. Wholemeal describes the grain used; it doesn’t mean the product is gluten-free. Check the ingredients and allergens for each variant. The Peijnenburg wholemeal variant described lists rye and cereals containing gluten.