Planning a buffet for a large number of guests
You want to use the same chocolate flakes across several parts of the buffet. Pack size and the choice between flakes for bread and dessert toppings will help you decide which packs suit your menu.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Organising allergen information
You’re serving the flakes unwrapped with rolls, breakfast bowls or desserts. You’ll need the ingredients and allergen information for the specific products you choose so you can give guests clear information.
Planning flavours and presentation
You’re choosing between milk, dark and mixed flakes for croissants, yoghurt, cereal or cakes, for example. It’s not just about flavour: you’ll also want the flakes to complement the rest of the buffet.
What should you consider when choosing?
First, decide which dishes you’ll serve with chocolate flakes. Then choose the flavour and check the weight, ingredients and allergen information on each pack.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Compare the weight of each pack with the dishes you plan to use the same flakes on. | If I want to use the same topping on lots of rolls or desserts, I want to know in advance how many packs will suit my menu. Around 40% of consumers put this kind of purchase planning first. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for each product you choose; keep the details for each topping to hand. | When serving an unwrapped buffet, I want to be able to tell guests what each topping contains. For around 30% of consumers, clear information is the top priority. |
| Flavour and use | Choose milk, dark or a mix, depending on whether you’ll use the flakes on bread or as a topping. | If the flakes will also go on yoghurt or cakes, I want to choose a flavour that works with those dishes. Around 20% of consumers put this first. |
| Product labels | Check the pack you choose for any certification or dietary label you’re looking for, separately from the allergen information. | If a particular product label is part of my buffet plan, I want to see it on the product I choose. Around 10% of consumers say this is their main requirement. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming the number of guests tells you exactly how many packs to buy
How many flakes you’ll use also depends on the menu and whether they’ll be served on bread, as a dessert topping or both.
Decide how you’ll use them first, then match the pack sizes to your buffet plan.
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Assuming a vegan label means a product is suitable for people with a milk allergy
PLUS dark chocolate flakes carry a vegan label, but the product information also says they may contain milk and lactose. The De Ruijter dark flakes included in our research may also contain milk.
If someone has an allergy, always check the full declaration on the pack you’ll actually be using.
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Serving a mix without allergen information
De Ruijter Vlokkenfeest product information lists ingredients including wheat, soya and milk. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, businesses must provide customers with information about 14 allergens in non-prepacked food.
Make a note of which product you’re using for each topping and keep the relevant allergen information available if you’re providing the buffet professionally.
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Leaving packs open well in advance
For the chocolate flakes included in our research, the storage advice is to keep them in a cool, dry place and seal the pack well after opening.
Only open the packs you need and follow the storage instructions on the label.
Brands to consider
Jumbo huismerk
Jumbo offers milk and dark chocolate flakes in 300 g packs.
- Both flavours come in the same pack size in the range we looked at.
- Check the ingredients and allergens separately for the flavour you choose.
PLUS huismerk
The PLUS dark chocolate flakes we looked at come in a 300 g pack and carry a Fairtrade cocoa statement and a vegan label.
- These labels are listed for this specific dark chocolate product.
- According to the product information, this product may contain milk and lactose. Check the allergen information separately from the vegan label.
De Ruijter
The products we looked at include milk and dark chocolate flakes, as well as a mix of chocolate and vanilla flakes for bread and toppings.
- The individual flavours and the mix offer different options for your buffet.
- Allergens vary by product: the milk flakes we looked at contain milk and soya, while the dark variety may contain milk.
Kiekeboe (ALDI)
ALDI lists Kiekeboe chocolate flakes in milk and dark varieties, both in 300 g packs.
- The product information states that these flakes are Rainforest Alliance certified.
- Check the label of your chosen flavour for ingredients and allergens.
Albert Heijn huismerk
The chocolate flakes category includes own-brand products alongside products from De Ruijter.
- You can compare an own-brand product with a branded one in the same category.
- Compare the ingredients, allergens and pack size of each product you’re considering.
Chocolate toppings on Joybuy
These products are intended as toppings for bread or buffet dishes. The list includes both chocolate flakes and chocolate sprinkles: bear the difference in mind if you specifically want to serve flakes, then choose your preferred flavour and pack size.
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Venz chocolate and vanilla sprinkles, 400 g
A mixed topping for anyone who wants to combine chocolate and vanilla.
Before serving at your buffet, check the current label for milk, soya and wheat.
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Venz milk chocolate sprinkles, 400 g
A milk chocolate option for bread or as a topping for breakfast dishes and desserts.
The product information lists milk, lactose and soya; check the pack before preparing allergen information for guests.
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g'woon milk chocolate flakes, 300 g
Milk-flavoured chocolate flakes for rolls or desserts at your buffet.
According to the product information, this variety contains milk and may contain traces of wheat; check the current pack.
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De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles, 390 g
Dark chocolate sprinkles for anyone who wants to offer an alternative to milk chocolate toppings.
The product information lists milk and soya as allergens for this variety; don’t assume it’s suitable for people with allergies just because it says ‘dark’.
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g'woon milk chocolate sprinkles with smiley shapes, 600 g
Sprinkles in smiley shapes for bread or decorating cakes at your buffet.
Check the current label for milk and wheat before serving this product unwrapped.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose milk, dark or mixed chocolate flakes for the buffet?
Choose a flavour to suit the dishes you’ll serve the flakes with, then check the allergens for each product. The De Ruijter milk flakes we looked at contain milk and soya, the dark variety may contain milk, and the Vlokkenfeest mix lists ingredients including wheat, soya and milk.
What should I consider if I need lots of packs?
First decide whether you’ll serve the flakes on bread, with desserts or both, then compare the pack sizes of suitable products. The number of guests alone won’t tell you how much you need; your menu and how you plan to use the flakes also matter.
Do I need to provide allergen information at a buffet?
If you’re a business serving non-prepacked food, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says you must provide customers with information about 14 allergens. So keep the information from the packaging to hand for every dish and topping you serve.
How should I store opened chocolate flakes before the buffet?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack. For the flakes we looked at, the advice is to store them in a cool, dry place and seal the pack well after opening. When preparing, only open the packs you need at the time.