Time-pressed breakfast eaters at home
You want to finish off bread, yoghurt or porridge quickly. Chocolate flakes work well as a topping, but if you need to head straight out, you’ll still need to prepare the rest of your breakfast.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Regular users
You use flakes often and want to choose a pack size that suits how much you get through at home. A standard pack and a box of individual portions suit different routines.
Shoppers with ingredient or allergen requirements
You want to know what’s in your chosen variety before using it. Jumbo lists milk, soya and lactose among the ingredients in De Ruijter Milk Flakes; always check the label on the pack you buy.
What should you look for in a quick breakfast?
First, decide whether you’re looking for a topping for a breakfast you’ve prepared in advance, or something you can take with you without any preparation. Then, when choosing flakes, consider the pack size, flavour and label information that matter most to you.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who will find this most important? |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Think about whether you can prepare your bread, yoghurt or porridge in advance. | If I need to leave straight away, I don’t want to be putting breakfast together as I head out. Keeping preparation to a minimum is the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Compare the pack sizes and decide whether you want a standard pack or individual portions. | If you regularly use flakes at home, you’ll want a pack that suits the way you use them. For roughly 27% of consumers, pack size is the deciding factor. |
| Flavour | Decide whether you want milk, dark or a mix; don’t choose based on the brand name alone. | If I’m after a particular chocolate flavour, I’d rather choose that variety than pick any box of flakes. Around 20% of consumers put flavour first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients, allergen and nutritional information on the pack. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, the variety I choose needs to meet my requirements. Checking this is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Thinking chocolates can replace flakes
Chocolates and chocolate flakes serve different purposes: flakes are a topping for a breakfast food, while a box of chocolates is better suited to a gift or a sweet treat.
First decide whether you’re looking for a breakfast topping, something ready to eat on the go or a gift. Then compare products that suit that purpose.
-
Assuming online label information is definitive
Ingredients and allergens can vary between varieties. Jumbo lists milk, soya and lactose for De Ruijter Milk Flakes; that information doesn’t automatically apply to another variety.
Check the current label on your pack before use, especially if you need to avoid an ingredient.
-
Treating flakes as a complete breakfast to take with you
A pack of flakes won’t make you a topped slice of bread or a prepared pot of yoghurt or porridge.
Prepare the rest of your breakfast in advance if you want to eat it on the go.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
A brand with milk, dark, white and Royaal varieties available at retailers including Jumbo and Albert Heijn.
- Worth considering if you’re looking for a specific variety or a smaller pack.
- Jumbo lists milk, soya and lactose for Milk Flakes; check the label on the variety you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers its own chocolate flakes in milk, dark and duo varieties, among others.
- The milk and dark varieties shown come in 300 g packs.
- Check the current ingredients for each variety and make sure the pack size suits how you’ll use it.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers its own-brand milk and dark chocolate flakes alongside branded varieties.
- The own-brand milk and dark varieties shown come in 300 g packs.
- Check the product information on the pack, as it may change.
PLUS
PLUS offers its own-brand 300 g milk and dark chocolate flakes, both bearing a Fairtrade mark.
- Worth considering if you want to factor this mark into your choice of the two flavours shown.
- Check the variety and current label information on the pack you choose.
KIEKEBOE
ALDI Netherlands offers KIEKEBOE milk or dark chocolate flakes in a 300 g pack.
- An own-brand option if you’re looking for standard milk or dark flakes.
- Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack for your chosen variety.
Breakfast topping products
These Joybuy products are flakes and chocolate sprinkles for finishing off bread or another breakfast food. Chocolate sprinkles are not the same product as chocolate flakes, and none of these products is a ready-to-eat breakfast to take with you.
No image available
De Ruijter Flake Feast 200 g
If you’re looking for a 200 g pack to finish off a breakfast you’ve prepared in advance. Check the label if ingredients or allergens are important to your choice.
No image available
g'woon milk chocolate flakes 300 g
A 300 g pack for anyone looking for milk chocolate flakes as a bread topping. Prepare your sandwich in advance if you want to take it with you.
No image available
Sprinkles Choca Flakes 200 g
If you’re looking for a 200 g pack of flakes to top a prepared breakfast. Check the current label if you need to take allergens into account.
No image available
De Ruijter Pure Chocolate Sprinkles 390 g
If you’re looking for dark chocolate sprinkles in a 390 g pack. Sprinkles are a different type of chocolate topping from flakes, so prepare the rest of your breakfast separately.
No image available
Venz milk chocolate sprinkles 400 g
A 400 g pack for anyone looking for milk chocolate sprinkles rather than flakes. If individual portions are important to you, check the type of packaging before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Are chocolate flakes a breakfast to take with you on their own?
No. Chocolate flakes are a bread topping or garnish, not a prepared breakfast. Top your bread or prepare a pot of yoghurt or porridge in advance if you want to take it with you.
When should I choose chocolates instead of chocolate flakes?
Choose a box of chocolates if you’re looking for a gift or a sweet treat, not as a direct substitute for a breakfast topping. Flakes are designed to be sprinkled over bread, yoghurt or porridge.
Where can I check the allergens in my flakes?
Check the current label on the specific pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly listed on the labels of prepacked foods; ingredients can vary between varieties.