Buffet organiser who wants to serve neatly
You want guests to help themselves to a dry topping without loose flakes ending up all over the buffet. Consider not just the pack size, but also how the pack opens and what serving utensils you put out.
Who is this for?
Brunch or dessert buffet organiser
You want to choose a flavour that goes well with your bread rolls or desserts. Jumbo’s range includes milk, dark, white and mixed flakes.
Buffet planner mindful of allergens
You want to be able to show guests the ingredients of the variety you’ve chosen. Product information from PLUS and Jumbo shows why you need to check each pack: ingredients and milk or soya warnings vary from product to product.
What should you look for?
For your Boxing Day buffet, first decide how guests will serve themselves, then choose the flavour and pack size. Keep the ingredients information from the pack you buy to hand.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Neat self-service | Check the type of pack and its dispensing opening; set out clean, dry serving utensils if needed. | If guests are helping themselves to flakes, I want to stop loose topping ending up next to their plates. Neat self-service is the top priority for around 45% of consumers. |
| Flavour and pack size | Compare milk, dark, white or mixed varieties, and choose a pack size to suit the number of dishes you’ll be serving flakes with. | If I’m serving both bread rolls and desserts, I want to put out enough topping without opening more flavours than necessary. Flavour and quantity are the first priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens and storage | Read the label on the variety you choose and keep the flakes dry; store highly perishable buffet dishes separately. | If guests ask about ingredients, I want to be able to show them the pack and keep an eye on chilled dishes separately. Around 22% of consumers prioritise allergens and storage above all else. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a resealable box is a squeeze bottle
For De Ruijter White Flakes, PLUS advises gently pressing the pack closed after use. This describes how to close the pack, not how to dispense the flakes.
Check whether the product description actually says it’s a squeeze bottle. If not, choose serving utensils that work well with loose, dry flakes.
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Judging allergens by the flavour name
‘Dark’ doesn’t automatically mean a product is dairy-free. For De Ruijter Dark Chocolate Flakes, Jumbo lists soya as an ingredient and says the product may contain milk.
Read the label on every variety you buy and keep the information visible or available for guests.
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Using the same storage advice for flakes and chilled dishes
Advice to store flakes in a cool, dry place is different from guidance for storing highly perishable buffet dishes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says these dishes shouldn’t be left out of the fridge for more than two hours and recommends keeping your fridge at 4 °C.
Close the flakes after use and keep them dry. Keep track separately of how long chilled dishes have been out of the fridge.
Brands compared
These brands are a good starting point for comparing different flakes. Check the current pack size, ingredients and serving method for each product you’re considering.
De Ruijter
Jumbo lists milk, dark, white and Royaal varieties in packs of around 200–240 g, as well as 140 g Kleintjes Strooibaar.
- Useful for comparing different flavours from one brand.
- ‘Sprinkleable’ or ‘press closed’ doesn’t in itself mean it’s a squeeze bottle; check the pack for the variety you choose.
Venz
Jumbo’s range of flakes includes Venz Rimboe Kroko and Tijger, both in 200 g packs.
- An option if you’re looking for a different flavour or shape from ordinary milk or dark flakes.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and pack for the variety you choose.
Choca
Jumbo lists Choca Flakes and Choca Flakes Mix, both in 200 g packs.
- The mix is worth considering if you want to serve one mixed-flake variety.
- Check the product details for allergens and the dispensing opening; the flavour name won’t tell you this.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own range includes milk and dark chocolate flakes, as well as a 300 g Duo Flakes Mix.
- The pack size listed is worth considering if you want to serve the same topping with several buffet dishes.
- A larger pack won’t automatically make self-service less messy; check how guests can scoop out the flakes.
Flakes and toppings at Joybuy
This selection includes chocolate flakes and chocolate vermicelli for a topping station. Vermicelli and flakes are different types of product, so choose carefully what you want to serve. If dispensing matters, check the type of pack.
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Venz chocolate vermicelli and vanilla-flavoured vermicelli 400 g
For anyone who wants to offer two flavours of vermicelli at their topping station. The pack contains 400 g; check the pack for its dispensing opening and the label for allergen information.
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De Ruijter Flake Feast 200 g
A variety of flakes for anyone who wants to put a 200 g pack out on the buffet. Check how the pack opens before buying, and read the current label for allergen information.
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Venz Tiger Flakes 200 g
For anyone looking for a different variety from ordinary milk or dark flakes. The pack contains 200 g; check the label and see how best to serve the topping from the pack.
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De Ruijter Intense Pure Chocolate Sprinkles 200 g
Dark chocolate vermicelli for anyone who wants to offer vermicelli as well as flakes. The pack contains 200 g; don’t assume ‘Pure’ means it’s free from allergens, and check the label.
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g'woon milk chocolate flakes 300 g
A milk chocolate variety to serve with several buffet dishes. The pack contains 300 g; check the type of pack before serving and read the label for allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put chocolate flakes in a squeeze bottle on the buffet?
Don’t assume you can based on a product name or a resealable closure. Before buying, check that the product description and photo clearly show a squeeze bottle. If they don’t, serve your chosen flakes with clean, dry utensils.
Which flakes can I serve with bread rolls and desserts?
Choose a flavour that suits your buffet and check the ingredients for each product. De Ruijter’s product information says its flakes can be used on bread and as a topping for yoghurt, quark and desserts, among other things.
How should I store opened flakes after the buffet?
Follow the instructions on the pack you’ve bought. For De Ruijter White Flakes, PLUS advises storing them in a cool, dry place and gently pressing the pack closed after use. Also check the best-before date on your own product.
Do dry flakes need to be kept in the fridge during the buffet?
For the De Ruijter White Flakes checked, PLUS advises storing them in a cool, dry place and doesn’t say to keep them in the fridge. Treat highly perishable dishes on the same buffet separately: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a fridge temperature of 4 °C and no more than two hours out of the fridge.