For coffee with friends, choose a multipack of individually wrapped portions if you want every guest to be able to take their own sealed portion. If you’d rather share one flavour, a larger chocolate biscuit bar is a better fit. Either way, check the number of portions and the allergen information on the packaging.
If you don’t want to break or divide anything at the table, look for a multipack that clearly states that the portions are individually wrapped and gives the number of pieces. Albert Heijn describes its AH caramel biscuit chocolate bars as individually wrapped portions.
If sealed portions aren’t essential, you could choose a larger bar with a flavour to suit your guests. Verkade presents its XXL Choco Biscuit with caramel-flavoured filling as a sharing bar; Jumbo also describes the Lotus Biscoff bar with speculoos cream as suitable for sharing.
Ask in advance which ingredients your guests need to avoid, then check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging. The products mentioned include milk, soya or wheat; some also carry a warning that they may contain nuts.
First decide whether you want to hand out sealed portions or share a bar, then check that the packaging suits any allergen requirements you need to consider.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Check whether the portions are individually wrapped and how many pieces the pack contains. | I want guests to be able to take a sealed portion themselves, without having to break up a bar. Around 45% of consumers prioritise individual portions. |
| One bar to share | Check the bar’s weight and the stated filling or type of biscuit; the weight doesn’t tell you how many sealed portions you’ll get. | If we want to try one flavour together, I think a bar we can break up is a better fit than individually wrapped portions. This is the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients list and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens. | When I’m putting something out for other people, I want to know first which ingredients they need to avoid. For around 22% of consumers, checking this is their top buying priority. |
You can break up a large bar, but that doesn’t give each guest their own sealed portion.
If this matters for your coffee get-together, look for an explicit statement that the pieces are individually wrapped.
The name doesn’t tell you which allergens a chocolate biscuit bar contains or may contain. The products mentioned list different ingredients and warnings.
Before serving guests, check the current ingredients list and allergen warnings on the packaging, even if you’ve bought the product before.
The AH caramel biscuit chocolate bars are an example of a multipack for anyone who wants to hand out individual portions.
Verkade describes its XXL Choco Biscuit with caramel-flavoured filling as a sharing bar made with biscuit, caramel-flavoured cream and milk chocolate.
The 180 g milk chocolate bar described by Jumbo combines speculoos cream with crunchy speculoos pieces.
This selection includes chocolate biscuits, wafers and bars with biscuit pieces. For each product, check whether you’re looking for individual sealed portions or a pack whose contents you can portion out yourself.
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A chocolate biscuit to serve with coffee. Check the packaging for the number of pieces and whether they’re individually wrapped if every guest needs their own sealed portion.
If you have allergies, also check the current information about milk, wheat, soya and the possible presence of nuts.
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An option if you want to offer several small pistachio portions. The pack states 10 × 12,5 g; check whether the portions are individually wrapped if guests need to be able to take a sealed one.
If you have allergies, check whether the ingredients, including pistachio and milk, are suitable for your guests.
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A box of bars with biscuit pieces for anyone who wants to offer several bars rather than share one chocolate biscuit. The pack size shown is 24 × 90 g; check whether each bar is individually wrapped if needed.
Check the current allergen information on the packaging before serving guests.
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A strawberry-flavoured wafer for anyone who wants to put several pieces on the table. The pack states 10 pieces and 113 g in total; check whether the pieces are individually wrapped if you’re looking for sealed portions.
If you have allergies, check the current ingredients and warnings on the packaging.
Look for an explicit statement that the pieces are individually wrapped. The total weight or number of pieces alone won’t tell you whether each guest gets their own sealed portion; Albert Heijn does state this for its AH caramel biscuit chocolate bars.
Read the ingredients list and warnings on the current packaging before serving a product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens required by law must be clearly shown on the label; also look out for warnings about possible traces.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the bar you’ve chosen. For its AH caramel biscuit chocolate bars, Albert Heijn recommends a cool, dark and dry place; don’t assume the same advice applies to another product.
