Who is this choice relevant to?

Calendar makers filling lots of similar compartments

You’re filling advent calendars for a large family, a class or a small event. You’ll want to work out in advance how many flakes you need and whether you can buy enough packs of the same variety.

Gift makers choosing by flavour

You want to fill the compartments with milk, dark or mixed chocolate flakes, for example. In that case, choosing your preferred variety matters more than using exactly the same flakes in every compartment.

Organisers handing out portions to others

You’re sharing flakes between several people or offering individual portions at an event. You’ll need to know which ingredients and allergens apply to each variety, and make sure that information isn’t lost when you portion them out.

What should you look for when choosing?

If you’re making your own advent calendar, work out how much you’ll need first. Then choose the flavour and check the information on the exact pack before portioning out the flakes.

What to consider What to look for Who it matters to
Amount per compartment Count the compartments and choose a weight for each one. Then divide the total amount you need by the pack size. If I’m filling lots of similar compartments, I don’t want to have to switch to a different variety halfway through. Around 42% of consumers prioritise having enough to go round.
Flavour and ingredients Choose milk, dark or a mix, and compare the ingredients for the exact variety. If you’re alternating flavours, check the pack size too. For my calendar, I want a particular flavour or a mix of flavours across the compartments. Around 33% of consumers prioritise their choice of flavour.
Allergens when handing out portions Read the label for each variety you use and make sure the information stays clearly linked to the individual portions. If other people will be receiving the compartments, I want to be able to tell them which allergens their portion contains. Around 25% of consumers prioritise allergen information.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a 300 g pack is a catering-size pack

    A 300 g pack can be useful when you’re filling compartments repeatedly, but the sizes shown by Jumbo, Albert Heijn, PLUS and ALDI are standard retail packs. One pack won’t necessarily be enough for several calendars.

    Decide how much you’ll use per compartment, work out the total amount and calculate how many packs of the same variety you’ll need.

  • Treating different flavours as the same product

    Ingredients and allergens can vary between varieties. Jumbo’s product information for De Ruijter Puur lists soya and possible traces of milk; PLUS lists milk and lactose for its milk chocolate flakes.

    Read the physical label on each pack you choose before sharing out the flakes. Don’t rely on allergen information from a different flavour.

  • Planning around an out-of-date product listing

    A product page doesn’t confirm that you’ll be able to get enough packs when it’s time to fill the calendar. For example, Jumbo’s page for De Ruijter Puur 300 g says that this variety is no longer part of its online range.

    Check current availability before planning every compartment around one variety. If it’s unavailable, you may need to make an extra trip to the shops or change what goes in the compartments.

  • Losing track of allergen information for individual catering portions

    According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, consumers must also be given information about allergens present in non-prepacked foods. This is relevant if you’re a business offering flakes in individual portions.

    Keep the labels for the varieties you use and make sure the allergen information remains available with the right portions.

Brands to consider

The ranges mentioned here can help you compare pack sizes and varieties. For your own calendar, always check the pack you’ve chosen.

De Ruijter

Albert Heijn and Jumbo stock De Ruijter flakes in different flavours and pack sizes, including 200 g and 240 g varieties.

  • A particular flavour could work well if you don’t want to fill every advent calendar compartment with the same flakes.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety. Jumbo’s listing for De Ruijter Puur 300 g doesn’t confirm current availability.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s range includes 300 g own-brand packs of flakes in milk and dark chocolate, as well as branded varieties.

  • A standard 300 g pack size makes it easy to work out how many packs you’ll need.
  • The varieties shown don’t necessarily have the same ingredients or allergens, so check the pack you buy.

AH

Albert Heijn’s range includes 300 g AH flakes in milk, dark and mixed varieties.

  • You can consider different flavours while sticking to the same stated pack size.
  • Use the information on the exact variety you’ve chosen for ingredients and allergens, not the information for a different AH pack.

PLUS

PLUS lists milk chocolate flakes in a 300 g pack.

  • The product information lists the ingredients and allergens, and advises storing the flakes somewhere cool, dry and dark.
  • This milk variety lists milk and lactose; check the pack information when you buy it.

Kiekeboe

ALDI lists Kiekeboe chocolate flakes in milk or dark chocolate, both in 300 g packs.

  • The stated pack size gives you a starting point for planning how much you’ll need for several calendars.
  • Check which flavour is available in your shop and read the label for that variety.

Chocolate flakes at Joybuy

These two packs suit different plans for filling your own advent calendar compartments: 300 g of milk chocolate flakes for lots of similar portions, or a smaller, more festive variety if you want to mix things up. For either option, work out in advance how many packs you’ll need.

300 g pack of g'woon milk chocolate flakes

g'woon milk chocolate flakes 300 g

An option if you want to fill several compartments with milk chocolate flakes. The pack contains 300 g; before handing out portions, check the label for ingredients and allergens.

View at Joybuy
200 g pack of De Ruijter Vlokkenfeest

De Ruijter Vlokkenfeest 200 g

A festive variety for mixing things up between advent calendar compartments. The pack contains 200 g; if you’re filling lots of compartments, work out whether you’ll need more than one pack and check the label before handing out portions.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is one 300 g pack of chocolate flakes enough for a large advent calendar?

It depends on how many compartments there are and how many flakes you put in each one. Multiply those two figures and compare the result with the weight on the pack. For several calendars, you could plan to use multiple packs of the same variety. A 300 g pack isn’t automatically a catering-size pack.

Which allergens should I check for individual portions?

Check the label for allergens on each exact variety you use. Jumbo’s product information for De Ruijter Puur lists soya and possible traces of milk; PLUS lists milk and lactose for its milk chocolate flakes. If you’re a business offering non-prepacked portions, consumers must be given information about allergens present, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.

How should I store the flakes after filling the compartments?

Follow the storage advice on the pack of flakes you’ve chosen and keep the information with the filled calendar. PLUS advises storing its milk chocolate flakes somewhere cool, dry and dark; for another variety, check its own label.

Can I plan the whole calendar around one variety shown online?

First, check whether you can get enough packs of that variety. An old product listing isn’t enough to confirm availability: Jumbo’s page for De Ruijter Puur 300 g says that the product is no longer part of its online range. Only decide which flakes to put in every compartment once you’ve checked.