Who is this choice relevant to?

Festival seller serving dry flakes

If you want to sprinkle chocolate flakes over waffles, desserts or hot drinks, you need an opening that suits the flakes you’re using and lets you dispense portions reliably.

Caterer serving customers at peak times

When you’re serving lots of portions in quick succession, refilling, closing and cleaning all matter. The dispenser also needs to be easy to handle during busy service.

Seller considering a liquid topping

If you mainly want to dispense toppings from a squeezy bottle, you can choose a suitable sauce or liquid dessert topping. This is a different kind of topping from loose chocolate flakes.

What should you look for when buying?

First decide whether you want to keep the topping as dry flakes or serve a liquid topping. Then assess the dispenser for portion control, speed of service and use when selling unpackaged food.

Shaker for dry toppings

Choose this if: you want to keep sprinkling loose chocolate flakes onto each portion.

Bear in mind: a shaker designed for fine powders won’t necessarily work with larger flakes, so try out the model you’ve chosen first.

Squeezy bottle for liquid toppings

Choose this if: you want to dispense a suitable liquid sauce or dessert topping instead of loose flakes.

Bear in mind: this changes the topping; the sauce bottles described haven’t been shown to be suitable for dry flakes.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Dispensing dry flakes Check the opening using the largest flakes in the variety you’ve chosen. Nisbets describes its shaker as having 1.5 mm holes for fine ingredients such as flour and cocoa powder, not specifically for chocolate flakes. When I sprinkle flakes over waffles, I want to control portions without the opening getting blocked. Portion control is the top priority for around 45% of consumers.
Size and refilling Choose a capacity that suits the number of portions between refills and is still comfortable to handle. A larger sauce bottle won’t make it suitable for dry flakes. During a busy service, I don’t want to keep stopping to refill. Around 33% of consumers prioritise speed of service and ease of refilling.
Hygiene and allergens Choose a dispenser designed for food contact that’s easy to keep clean. Keep up-to-date allergen information available for every variety of flakes served unpackaged. I want to protect the topping and be able to tell customers which variety I’m using. Hygiene and allergen management come first for around 22% of consumers.

Common dispensing mistakes

  • Choosing a sauce bottle because it has a wide filling opening

    A wide neck can make refilling easier, but it tells you nothing about whether dry flakes will pass through the nozzle. The squeezy bottles described by Nisbets and Makro are designed for sauces or liquids.

    Use one of these bottles for a suitable liquid topping. If you want to serve loose flakes, try a dispenser for dry ingredients with the flakes you’ll actually be using.

  • Using a powder shaker without testing it first

    Nisbets specifies 1.5 mm holes for its shaker and lists uses for fine ingredients. This doesn’t guarantee that chocolate flakes will pass through it properly.

    Test the filled shaker with your chosen flakes and the way you want to dispense portions before using it for service.

  • Leaving flakes uncovered on your stall

    At temporary food stalls, unpackaged toppings can be exposed to dirt or contact with passers-by. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses that food at events must be prepared, sold and stored safely and hygienically.

    Keep your stock sealed, protect the topping while serving and clean anything that comes into contact with food.

  • Keeping allergen information only on the stock packaging

    Customers must be able to get allergen information about unpackaged food. Jumbo states that De Ruijter Dark Chocolate Flakes contain soya and may contain milk; this doesn’t tell you anything about other varieties.

    Check the packaging for every variety you use and keep up-to-date information available at the serving point.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

A brand to consider if you want to serve chocolate flakes as a dry topping, rather than an example of a suitable dispenser brand.

  • Jumbo lists several varieties of De Ruijter flakes.
  • Jumbo advises storing its Dark Chocolate Flakes in a cool, dry place and carefully pressing the packaging closed after use. Check the latest allergen information for every variety you use.

Araven

Relevant if you want to dispense a liquid topping instead of dry flakes.

  • Nisbets describes the 1 l Araven squeezy bottle reviewed as suitable for hot and cold sauces.
  • This doesn’t show that loose chocolate flakes will pass through the nozzle.

Nisbets Essentials

An example of a sealable shaker for fine, dry ingredients.

  • Nisbets lists the reviewed stainless steel shaker as having a capacity of 236 ml and 1.5 mm holes.
  • The uses listed are for fine ingredients, including flour and cocoa powder. Test the openings separately with chocolate flakes.

METRO PROFESSIONAL

Relevant if you’re looking for a squeezy bottle for sauce or another liquid topping.

  • Makro describes a 260 ml bottle with a wide 5 cm neck, which may be useful when filling it.
  • A wide neck doesn’t show that the dispensing nozzle is suitable for dry chocolate flakes.

Products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I dispense dry chocolate flakes from an ordinary squeezy bottle?

Don’t assume an ordinary sauce bottle will dispense dry chocolate flakes properly. The bottles reviewed are described as suitable for sauces and liquids. For dry flakes, check the opening of a suitable shaker using the variety you’re going to use.

How can I keep flakes protected during an event?

Keep your stock sealed, protect unpackaged flakes while serving and keep food-contact materials clean. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires food at markets and events to be prepared, sold and stored safely and hygienically.

Which allergens should I list for De Ruijter Dark Chocolate Flakes?

Jumbo states that De Ruijter Dark Chocolate Flakes contain soya and may contain milk. Check the latest packaging for the variety you’re using. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says you must be able to give customers allergen information about unpackaged food.

Does a dispenser need to be suitable for food contact?

Yes. If it will come into direct contact with the topping, choose an item designed for that purpose. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that such items must comply with the Dutch Commodities Act Decree on Packaging and Consumer Articles.