For a garden party, choose a box of individually wrapped chocolates if you want guests to help themselves; a box of pralines is a better fit if you want to arrange the chocolates on a platter. If you’re buying a gift, consider the variety of flavours and the packaging too. Check the current label on every box you choose for allergen information, and keep the chocolate away from sunlight and heat during the party.
Would you like guests to help themselves without putting out a platter of unwrapped chocolates? Albert Heijn describes the 400 g Merci Gift Box included in the research as containing 32 individually wrapped chocolate bars.
If your main priority is having plenty of chocolate on the table, compare the pack weights and how the chocolates are served. ALDI Nederland describes both a 300 g box of Choceur Pralines and a 250 g box of Choceur Chocolate Seashells; don’t assume these boxes contain individually wrapped chocolates without checking.
If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, check the specific variety before choosing. The Merci and Ferrero Rocher boxes included in the research list different combinations of allergens; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the allergen information in the ingredients list.
First, check that the ingredients are suitable for your guests. Then decide whether the box is mainly for guests to help themselves, for serving on a platter or as a gift.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Easy to share | Check whether each piece is individually wrapped and how many pieces the box contains. | If guests are helping themselves, I don’t want to keep refilling an open platter or have people handling the chocolates. Around 31% of consumers prioritise ease of sharing. |
| Quantity | Compare the pack weights and think about how you’ll serve the chocolate. | For a larger group, I want to know whether the pack I’ve chosen will be enough for my table. Around 25% of consumers prioritise having enough to go round. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variety you’ve chosen, including any warnings about possible traces. | If a guest needs to avoid something, I need to know what I can safely offer them. For around 25% of consumers, checking this is their main concern. |
| Gift and variety of flavours | Check whether the packaging is suitable as a thank-you gift and which flavours the box actually contains. | If I’m giving the box as a gift, I want the presentation and choice of flavours to suit the recipient. Around 19% of consumers give this priority. |
Ingredients can vary from one box or variety to another. For example, the Merci Gift Box and Ferrero Rocher pack included in the research do not list the same combination of allergens.
Ask which allergens are relevant to your guests, then read the current label on the box you plan to buy.
The product information reviewed for Merci and Ferrero Rocher advises protecting the chocolates from heat; for Ferrero Rocher, it also recommends storing them in a dry place.
Keep your supplies indoors and put out a smaller amount in a dry, shaded spot shortly before serving.
A product you saw online earlier may not be available when you want to buy it for your party. For example, a Jumbo product page included in the research stated that the item was no longer part of its online range.
Check what’s currently available just before you buy, and have an alternative in mind if you need a specific box.
Assorted chocolates for anyone looking for a gift box with a variety of flavours.
ALDI chocolate, including boxes of pralines and seashells designed to be served on a platter.
Hazelnut wafer chocolates for anyone looking to serve this particular type of treat.
A supermarket where you can browse a range of chocolate gifts, chocolates and pralines.
These products offer different ways to share chocolate or give it as a gift: assorted boxes, a sharing bag and smaller chocolate collections. If you want guests to help themselves, check whether the chocolates in each pack are individually wrapped.
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A chocolate mix to put on the table and share. The pack contains 385 g. Check the current allergen information and whether the chocolates are individually wrapped if you want guests to help themselves; store them in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and heat.
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An assortment to share at a party. The pack contains 143 g. Check the pack to see how many individual portions it contains and whether they’re wrapped; also check the allergen information and store it in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and heat.
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A chocolate gift box for giving or sharing. The pack contains 288 g. If you want guests to be able to help themselves to a bar, check whether the bars are individually wrapped; also read the current allergen information and store the box in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and heat.
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A sharing bag for an informal bowl of chocolates, rather than a gift box or an assortment of different flavours. The bag contains 176 g. Check the allergen information and choose a suitable way to serve them if guests shouldn’t take chocolates straight from the bag; store it in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and heat.
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A small chocolate collection for a thank-you gift. The pack contains 125 g. Check how many pieces it contains and whether they’re individually wrapped if you’d also like to use it for guests to help themselves; read the allergen information and store the chocolate in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and heat.
Yes, keep chocolate away from sunlight and heat. The Merci Gift Box included in the research says to protect it from heat, while the Ferrero Rocher pack included in the research recommends storing it in a dry place, away from heat. So put out a smaller amount in a dry, shaded spot shortly before serving.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the label for the specific box and variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that information on 14 allergens must be provided; don’t rely on the brand name or the front of the pack alone when choosing.
Not necessarily. According to the Voedingscentrum, a white coating on chocolate can be fat coming to the surface, which is not harmful in itself. Also follow the use-by or best-before date and storage advice on the specific pack, and check the product before serving.
