Who is this choice relevant to?

Office manager looking to reduce mess

Looking for a way to serve dry, loose chocolate flakes in the shared kitchen or alongside the biscuit tin, without using packaging designed for liquid sauce as a starting point.

Stock manager keeping an eye on allergens

Wants colleagues to be able to check the ingredients and allergens for the exact variety, even when the flakes are transferred to another container.

Office buyer comparing packaging

Weighs up the amount of flakes in each pack against the space and upkeep needed for a separate shaker.

What should you look for when choosing?

Shaker with a wide opening

Choose this option: if colleagues need to be able to sprinkle dry chocolate flakes from a separate container. Van Beekum Specerijen describes its shaker as having a wider opening for flakes.

Bear in mind: you’ll need to refill and clean it, then let it dry completely. According to Van Beekum Specerijen, the shaker reviewed is not dishwasher-safe.

Original packaging

Choose this option: if you want to keep the product information with the flakes and don’t need a separate dispenser.

Bear in mind: the opening varies from pack to pack. Check whether colleagues can sprinkle the flakes from your chosen pack without making too much mess.

Squeezy bottle

Choose this option: only if you want to serve a smooth, liquid topping designed for a squeezy bottle instead of loose flakes.

Bear in mind: the squeezy bottle described by HANOS contains sauce; that doesn’t mean it’s suitable for dispensing dry chocolate flakes.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Dispensing dry flakes Check that the dispensing opening is suitable for flakes. An opening designed for smooth sauce tells you nothing about this. If I want colleagues to help themselves to flakes without reaching into the stock each time, I look for an opening that dry flakes can pass through. Around 50% of consumers prioritise this type of dispenser.
Keeping the flakes clean and dry If you decant the flakes, use a container intended for food contact; follow the cleaning instructions and let both the container and lid dry completely. When a container is refilled regularly, I want to be able to clean it without any moisture getting into the next batch. For around 30% of consumers, this is their main concern.
Variety and product information Check the packaging for the exact variety for ingredients, allergens, contents and storage advice. Keep the label available if you decant the flakes. When colleagues are choosing from the same stock, I want to know which flakes are inside and which allergens are listed on the packaging. This is the priority for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing a squeezy bottle based on looks

    A smart-looking bottle isn’t necessarily a suitable dispenser for dry chocolate flakes. The squeezy bottle described by HANOS contains a smooth speculoos topping, while the shaker from Van Beekum Specerijen has an opening designed for flakes.

    For loose flakes, check what the container is designed to hold and the size of its dispensing opening. Keep a squeezy bottle for a liquid topping intended for that type of packaging.

  • Assuming grams are the same as millilitres

    The net weight of a pack of chocolate flakes doesn’t tell you how much space the contents will take up in a container. So a capacity in ml doesn’t guarantee that a pack of a particular weight will fit.

    Try filling your chosen container with one pack first, and leave enough room to sprinkle the flakes without compressing them.

  • Throwing away the label after decanting

    Allergens vary by product and variety. For example, PLUS lists milk, lactose and soya in De Ruijter Milk Chocolate Flakes, 200 g.

    Keep the original packaging with your stock so colleagues can check the product name, ingredients, allergens and best-before date.

  • Refilling a container that’s still damp

    Dry flakes need to be stored somewhere dry. The Van Beekum Specerijen shaker reviewed must be completely dry after cleaning before it’s refilled.

    Clean the container outside serving times, and only refill it when both the container and lid are dry.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

The milk and dark chocolate flakes reviewed are available in different pack sizes.

  • PLUS lists milk, lactose and soya in De Ruijter Milk Chocolate Flakes, 200 g.
  • Check the information for each variety; details for the milk flakes don’t automatically apply to the dark flakes.

Jumbo huismerk

Jumbo lists its own-brand dark and milk chocolate flakes in 300 g packs.

  • The stated net weight helps you plan your office supplies.
  • A 300 g pack won’t necessarily fit in a container with a particular capacity in ml.

PLUS huismerk

PLUS describes its 300 g dark chocolate flakes as Fairtrade.

  • The packaging states that the cocoa is Fairtrade and, according to PLUS, carries a vegan label.
  • As with this variety, always check the latest allergen information on the packaging.

Kiekeboe (ALDI)

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

  • ALDI lists Rainforest Alliance certification for the product reviewed.
  • Choose the exact variety from the packaging and check its ingredients and allergens.

Choca

PLUS describes the 200 g Choca Flakes reviewed as cocoa-based fantasy flakes.

  • The product description makes clear what type of flakes they are.
  • Cocoa-based fantasy flakes aren’t necessarily interchangeable with chocolate flakes. Check the product description and label if the distinction matters.

Chocolate flakes at Joybuy

This selection features chocolate flakes that you can serve in their original packaging. Check the opening of the pack before using it for self-service alongside the office biscuit tin.

g'woon milk chocolate flakes, 300 g pack

g'woon Milk Chocolate Flakes 300 g

A good choice if you want to serve milk chocolate flakes in their original packaging, without a separate shaker. The pack contains 300 g. Before serving, check the dispensing opening and the allergen information on the packaging.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can I put chocolate flakes in a plastic squeezy bottle?

Don’t use just any squeezy bottle for loose chocolate flakes: the HANOS bottle reviewed contains a smooth sauce and doesn’t show that dry flakes can be dispensed from it. If you decant the flakes, choose packaging intended for food contact; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority classifies this type of packaging as food contact material.

What size shaker will fit a pack of flakes?

You can’t work this out from the number of millilitres and the pack weight alone: volume and net weight are different measurements. Try one pack in your chosen container first, and check that both the filling and dispensing openings are wide enough for flakes.

How do I keep a refillable container suitable for everyday use?

Follow the cleaning instructions for your chosen container and only refill it once the container and lid are completely dry. For the shaker reviewed, Van Beekum Specerijen recommends washing it by hand; keep the product label with your stock too.

Can I use the same allergen information for milk and dark chocolate flakes?

No. Check the packaging for the exact variety. PLUS lists milk, lactose and soya in De Ruijter Milk Chocolate Flakes, 200 g; don’t apply that information to dark flakes or another brand without checking the label.