Stocking up and weighing up quantities
If you often eat chocolate flakes, a 300 g box could suit your needs. If you only have them now and then, consider smaller packs too, and check the best-before date on the box.
Who are these options for?
Households with a firm flavour preference
If you mainly serve milk, dark, white or mixed flakes, choosing the right variety matters more than pack size alone. The range and pack sizes available vary by variety and retailer.
Shoppers who read labels carefully
If you have an allergy, the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging should guide your choice. You may also want to check whether your chosen product carries a Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance statement.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the quantity and flavour you use at home. Then check the packaging for the best-before date and any label information that matters to your household.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Right-sized pack | Compare the weight in grams with how much you use, and check the best-before date on the packaging. | If I eat flakes regularly, I want to have enough at home without keeping a box for longer than I intended. For around 45% of consumers, getting the quantity right is the top priority. |
| Flavour and how you’ll use them | Check whether you’re choosing milk, dark, white or mixed flakes, and whether the variety suits how you plan to use them. | If I want to use flakes in a dessert too, I choose a flavour I’ll enjoy both in the dessert and on bread. Flavour is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Label and cocoa claims | Read the current ingredients, allergen and nutritional information. Check the chosen product for any certification statement you’re looking for. | If I have an allergy, I want to be able to check the packaging itself. A particular cocoa statement may also be a deciding factor for me. Around 22% of consumers prioritise this label information. |
Common mistakes
-
Making room in the freezer for chocolate flakes
Retailers including Jumbo and ALDI sell chocolate flakes as a bread topping. So, storage assumptions based on a different product category won’t help you plan how much to stock up on.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the flakes you buy.
-
Assuming online ingredient information is definitive
A product’s composition can change. Albert Heijn notes in its product information that nutritional and allergy information may also change.
If you have an allergy, read the current packaging before using the product, even if you’ve bought that variety before.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo lists its own-brand chocolate flakes in milk and dark varieties, in 300 g packs, alongside its sweet bread toppings.
- The two varieties let you choose a flavour while keeping to the same pack size.
- Check which variety and pack are available at your store.
PLUS
PLUS lists its own-brand milk and dark chocolate flakes in 300 g boxes, with a Fairtrade statement.
- If you’re looking for an explicit Fairtrade statement, you can check for it on the relevant PLUS products.
- The statement alone doesn’t tell you about the ingredients or whether a product is suitable if you have allergies, so read the label.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers its own milk chocolate flakes, among other products, and suggests using them on bread, crispbread, desserts and cakes.
- These suggested uses may be helpful if you want to use the flakes for more than just topping bread.
- Albert Heijn warns that ingredient, nutritional and allergy information can change, so read the current packaging.
Kiekeboe
ALDI lists Kiekeboe chocolate flakes in milk and dark varieties, in 300 g packs.
- ALDI displays a Rainforest Alliance statement for these chocolate flakes.
- Check the statement and other label information on the pack you choose.
De Ruijter
De Ruijter is a brand to consider if you’re looking for a particular milk, dark or other variety alongside own-brand flakes.
- Jumbo lists several De Ruijter varieties alongside its own-brand flakes.
- Check the product name and pack size: a different type or shape of chocolate isn’t necessarily the same as classic flakes.
Products for your pantry
These Joybuy products include chocolate flakes in a range of pack sizes, as well as a product described as Chocolate Chunks. Choose based on flavour, pack size and how you plan to use them. For the latter product, check the shape if you specifically want classic flakes.
Image unavailable
g'woon milk chocolate flakes, 300 g
A milk chocolate option for anyone who regularly has chocolate flakes on bread. The pack contains 300 g. Check the best-before date and, if you have allergies, the current label.
Image unavailable
Sprinkles Choca Flakes, 200 g
A 200 g pack to consider if you’d rather keep a smaller quantity of flakes at home. The product description suggests using them on bread and yoghurt. If you have allergies, read the current label.
Image unavailable
De Ruijter Hail Chocolate Pure, 390 g
A dark chocolate option for anyone looking for a 390 g box. The product description suggests using it on bread, toast and yoghurt. Check the packaging for the shape, best-before date and current allergen information.
Image unavailable
De Ruijter Chocolate Chunks, 390 g
A 390 g box to consider if you’re also looking for chocolate toppings for bread or desserts. The name says chunks, while the description also mentions sprinkles, so check the packaging if you’re after thin, classic flakes. Check the best-before date and allergen information there too.
Frequently asked questions
Should I check the chocolate flakes label again if I have an allergy?
Yes. Check the current packaging of the variety you plan to use. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on labels. Albert Heijn also notes that product information can change when products are updated.
How can I tell how long chocolate flakes will keep in the pantry?
Check the best-before date and storage instructions on the product packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes ‘best before’ as a minimum durability date. Storage advice can vary by product.
Are dark chocolate flakes automatically a different nutritional choice from milk chocolate flakes?
The terms dark and milk don’t, on their own, tell you how the nutritional value of two specific products compares. To find out, compare their nutritional information per 100 g and, if you want to assess how much you eat, the portion you actually use.
What does a Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance statement mean for my choice?
It tells you which statement is shown for that particular product: PLUS displays Fairtrade on its milk and dark flakes, while ALDI displays Rainforest Alliance on Kiekeboe flakes. Also check the ingredients, allergens and pack size separately, according to what matters for your choice.