Office lunch buyer
You want to stock up on sweet toppings for bread or crackers. Flakes work well for lunch, but they’re not intended to be handed out on their own.
Who is this choice relevant for?
Team thank-you organiser
You’re looking for chocolate to put out or give as a gift. A gift box with individually wrapped pieces can be handy when colleagues are helping themselves.
Buyer taking allergens into account
You’re buying for colleagues with different dietary needs. Whether you choose flakes or a chocolate assortment, check the ingredients and allergens for each variety before offering it to anyone.
What should you consider when choosing?
First decide whether the chocolate is for lunch or needs to be ready to share without any preparation. Then check the packaging and the information for colleagues with allergies.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to share | Check whether the chocolate is ready to eat and how many individual portions the pack contains. | For a thank-you, I want something I can put out for colleagues to help themselves to, without needing bread or preparation. Being able to share it straight away is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Lunch topping | Check that the product is flakes intended as a bread topping, and that bread or crackers are available. | When I’m adding to a shared lunch, I’m looking for a topping we can use at several lunch breaks. Around 33% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the exact variety. | When I’m buying for colleagues with allergies, I need to be able to check what I can safely offer. This check comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking flakes for a ready-to-eat snack
Albert Heijn and Jumbo list flakes as sweet bread toppings. Without bread, crackers or a lunch occasion, they’re not the same as chocolate colleagues can help themselves to straight away.
Choose flakes as a lunch topping. For a thank-you or a coffee break, look for chocolate you can offer straight away.
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Checking only the front of the box when allergies are a concern
Ingredients and allergens vary between varieties. With a mixed chocolate assortment, you also need to check what each type contains.
Before offering the chocolate, read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging you’ve bought.
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Confusing pack weight with the number of portions
A 300 g pack of flakes is a bread topping, not a set number of individual snacks. And with a chocolate box, the weight alone doesn’t tell you how many colleagues can take an individual piece.
If you’re sharing the chocolate, check how many pieces there are and whether they’re individually wrapped. For lunch toppings, focus instead on the contents and how you plan to serve the flakes.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
Worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate flakes to serve with bread at an office lunch.
- Jumbo describes De Ruijter Royaal Chocolate Flakes as a topping for bread.
- These flakes aren’t a ready-to-give gift pack. Check the allergens for your chosen variety; the Royaal variety described by Jumbo contains soya and may contain milk.
Choca
A brand to compare if you’re looking to buy flakes as a lunch topping.
- Jumbo lists Choca Flakes and Choca Mixed Flakes in its range of flakes.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the specific packaging; the contents may vary between varieties.
Jumbo
Own-brand flakes to consider if you’re looking for toppings for several office lunches.
- Jumbo lists, among other options, 300 g packs of milk and dark chocolate flakes.
- The pack contents don’t tell you how many individual snacks you can hand out. Check the product information for each variety.
Kiekeboe
ALDI own-brand chocolate flakes for topping bread.
- ALDI describes its 300 g packs of milk and dark chocolate flakes as toppings for bread.
- For a thank-you without a lunch, flakes are less practical than chocolate that’s ready to share.
PLUS
An own-brand option to consider for flakes at a shared lunch.
- PLUS lists its 300 g milk chocolate flakes reviewed here as containing Fairtrade cocoa and carrying a Nutri-Score E.
- The milk variety lists milk and lactose as allergens. PLUS advises checking the information on the pack you receive, as ingredients and allergens may change.
Joybuy products for sharing or lunch
This selection includes chocolate assortments for a thank-you or sharing, a portioned chocolate snack and flakes for topping bread at lunch. If you’re sharing a pack, check how many individual portions it actually contains.
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Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Gift Pack 288 g
A chocolate gift to consider for thanking your team. The pack contains 288 g; if each colleague needs their own portion, check whether the bars are individually wrapped. If allergies are a concern, read the packaging before sharing the chocolate.
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Merci Petits Chocolate Collection 125 g
A chocolate assortment for a small office treat. The pack contains 125 g; for a group occasion, check how many pieces it contains and whether they’re individually wrapped. If allergies are a concern, check the exact packaging.
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Kahve Dunyasi Gofrik Pistachio Paste Milk Chocolate 10 × 12,5 g
A chocolate snack to consider if you want to share portions without laying out lunch toppings. The pack states 10 × 12,5 g. As this is a pistachio variety, it’s important to check the ingredients and allergens before sharing it.
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Milka Chocolate Assortment Party Pack 143 g
A chocolate assortment for sharing at the office. The pack contains 143 g; if you want to give each colleague an individual portion, check how many pieces there are and whether they’re individually wrapped. Also read the allergen information on the packaging you’ve chosen.
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De Ruijter Flake Feast 200 g
Flakes for anyone looking to offer a sweet topping at an office lunch, rather than a chocolate snack to hand out straight away. The pack contains 200 g. Make sure they’re served at a suitable lunch occasion and check the allergens on the packaging before use.
Frequently asked questions
Can you hand out chocolate flakes as an office snack?
Flakes are best suited to an office breakfast or lunch with bread or crackers. Albert Heijn and Jumbo categorise them as sweet bread toppings; individually wrapped chocolate is more practical if you want colleagues to be able to help themselves straight away.
What should you choose for a team thank-you: flakes or a chocolate box?
Choose a chocolate box if you want to offer something straight away or give it as a gift. Albert Heijn has a separate category for chocolate gifts; for example, the Merci Gift Box described by Albert Heijn contains 32 individually wrapped chocolate bars. Flakes are a good choice for topping up the lunch supplies.
What should you check when buying chocolate for colleagues with allergies?
Check the ingredients list and allergens on the exact packaging before offering the chocolate. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods; also look for any ‘may contain’ warnings.
How should you store chocolate flakes at the office?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging for the flakes you’ve chosen. PLUS and Jumbo advise keeping the milk chocolate flakes they describe, along with De Ruijter Royaal flakes, in a cool, dry place. Once opened, seal the pack as directed on the label.