For dry chocolate sprinkles at a Christmas market, a shaker pack, individual portions or a dispenser designed for dry toppings is a better choice than an ordinary sauce squeeze bottle. The squeeze bottles described by APS Glass & Bar Supply are intended for liquids. If you’re serving sprinkles loose, you’ll also need to consider clean equipment, protection from contamination and allergen information, as advised by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. Individual portions mean less handling of a shared open supply, while a large pack calls for a separate, suitable serving set-up.
If you’re serving a steady stream of customers, you’ll need a way to dispense dry chocolate sprinkles quickly without relying on a sauce nozzle. If you’re using a large pack, you’ll also need a food-contact-safe shaker that’s suitable for dry toppings and can be kept clean.
For small rolls, cupcakes or samples, you can portion out the topping in advance or hand out individual portions. Albert Heijn lists De Ruijter Kleintjes as containing eight portions of chocolate sprinkles and flakes.
If customers are served from an open supply of chocolate sprinkles, you need to protect it from contamination and make information about any allergens available before purchase. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights both points for market stalls and the sale of unpackaged food.
Best for: small treats or a serving set-up where customers can choose a portion.
Trade-off: you handle less of one shared open supply, but each pack contains less chocolate sprinkles for a busy service.
Best for: a stall expecting higher demand, where staff serve the portions themselves.
Trade-off: you’ll need a suitable serving set-up that can be kept clean, as well as the pack itself.
| Consideration | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Dispensing dry toppings | Check that the dispenser opening and instructions specifically state that it’s suitable for dry toppings. Don’t rely on the description ‘squeeze bottle’ alone. | If I want to serve customers quickly, I need to be able to sprinkle on the topping without relying on a sauce nozzle. Suitable dispensing for dry toppings is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Hygiene and allergens | If you’re serving loose product, choose a protected set-up that’s easy to keep clean, and make information about any allergens available before purchase. | When offering an open topping, I want to be able to tell customers which allergens it contains and protect the supply from dirt. This is the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Stock and refills | Choose a pack size to suit expected demand and decide how you’ll refill it hygienically. Jumbo lists a 600 g pack of its own-brand chocolate sprinkles, among other options. | At a busy stall, I want enough chocolate sprinkles close to hand without constantly opening small packs. This stock requirement matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Variety and portions | Check the portion size, ingredients and allergen information for each variety you choose. Albert Heijn lists eight portions of chocolate sprinkles and flakes in De Ruijter Kleintjes. | For small treats, I want to be able to offer different flavours or varieties separately. Portion size and variety are the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
APS Glass & Bar Supply describes its squeeze bottles as suitable for products such as sauces, syrups and oils. That doesn’t mean they can dispense dry chocolate sprinkles.
Choose a shaker pack, or check that a separate dispenser is explicitly suitable for dry toppings and food contact. Before the event, test your chosen set-up with the chocolate sprinkles you’ll be using.
Customers must be able to get information about any allergens in unpackaged food before they buy it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this information can be provided in writing or, under certain conditions, verbally, with a visible notice at the point of sale.
Keep the information up to date for each variety you use and make sure staff can provide it straight away.
A larger pack doesn’t tell you how to protect opened chocolate sprinkles from dirt or dispense them hygienically.
Before buying, decide how you’ll cover and refill the supply, and how you’ll serve it using a dry-topping shaker designed for food contact.
The permission you need depends on the location and how the market is organised. Ondernemersplein distinguishes between a street trading permit and a market permit.
Ask the organiser which permissions have been arranged for the stall, and check the relevant requirements with the local council.
For small treats, Kleintjes offers a portion-sized option: Albert Heijn lists eight portions of chocolate sprinkles and flakes.
Jumbo lists 400 g of Venz milk chocolate sprinkles in its range of chocolate sprinkles and flakes.
Jumbo lists chocolate sprinkles in a 600 g pack among its own-brand products.
ALDI Nederland lists 600 g of Kiekeboe dark chocolate sprinkles and also describes other varieties of chocolate sprinkles and flakes.
Lidl Nederland lists Mister Choc Hagelslag Puur as an option for dark chocolate sprinkles.
Don’t assume a sauce squeeze bottle will do the job: the squeeze bottles described by APS Glass & Bar Supply are intended for liquids. It’s better to use a shaker pack or individual portions, or check that a separate dispenser is explicitly suitable for dry toppings and food contact.
If chocolate sprinkles are offered unpackaged, information about any allergens must be available before purchase. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this can be provided in writing or, under certain conditions, verbally. If you provide it verbally, you’ll need a visible notice at the point of sale.
Protect opened chocolate sprinkles from dirt and keep anything that comes into contact with the food clean, as advised by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority for markets and events. Choose a set-up that you can cover, keep clean and refill while serving.
The permission you need depends on the location and how the Christmas market is organised. Ondernemersplein distinguishes between selling from a stall on or beside a public road and selling at a market. Ask the organiser what has been arranged and check the requirements with the relevant local council.
Check both that the dispenser is designed for food contact and that the manufacturer says it’s suitable for dry toppings. Food-contact suitability alone doesn’t tell you whether chocolate sprinkles will dispense properly through the opening.
