Anyone bringing a little something along
If you want the packaging to work as a gift straight away, an assorted box is a better choice than an everyday pack of biscuits. Also consider whether the flavours will suit the recipient.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone sharing an evening snack
Small chocolates or a selection of biscuits are handy for putting out when you’re with a group. Think about whether you want to offer a choice of flavours or simply have something easy to share.
Anyone checking ingredients carefully
Ingredients and allergens can vary between products in a chocolate mix. The Voedingscentrum stresses the importance of food labelling for anyone with a food allergy, so check the packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the evening is about giving a gift, sharing something or having a snack yourself. Then compare what’s inside and the information on the packaging.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who will this matter most to? |
|---|---|---|
| Gift appeal and flavours | Check whether it’s a gift box and which types of chocolate it contains. | I want to bring something that’s instantly recognisable as a thoughtful gift, while giving the recipient a choice of flavours they’ll enjoy. Around 40% of consumers put this kind of gift gesture first. |
| Easy sharing | Compare the number of pieces, if stated, and check whether they’re individually wrapped. | If several people want to help themselves, I’m looking for packaging that’s easy to put out and share. For around 30% of consumers, ease of sharing matters most. |
| Ingredients and portions | For the exact product variant, read the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information per 100 g or per portion, and use-by date. | Before choosing something for myself or someone else, I want to know what’s in it and how much counts as a portion. Around 30% of consumers put these checks first. |
Common mistakes
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Relying on the brand name to check allergens
An ingredients list applies to a specific product variant. For example, Jumbo lists milk, hazelnuts, almonds and soya among the ingredients in a 250 g merci assorted box. For a CELEBRATIONS sharing pack, Jumbo also lists peanuts, wheat, gluten and egg.
Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the exact size and variant you’re buying.
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Choosing a sharing mix for a personal thank-you
A mix of small chocolates is made for sharing, while the presentation of the box also matters when you’re giving a thank-you gift. Biscuits may be enough if you simply want something to put out on the table.
Decide what the evening is for first, then choose the product format to match.
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Assuming a range you saw before will still be available
A product that was shown online earlier may not be available when you’re ready to buy it.
Just before you set off or place an order, check the current product page or store availability, and check the use-by date on the pack you choose.
Brands to consider
merci
An assortment of chocolates for anyone looking for a variety of flavours in a gift box.
- August Storck describes merci Finest Selection as a selection of several types of chocolate.
- Ingredients vary from box to box, so if you have an allergy, always check the variant you’ve chosen.
CELEBRATIONS
A mix of small chocolates for when several people will be helping themselves.
- Mars Nederland describes CELEBRATIONS as miniature versions of well-known chocolate brands.
- A mix may contain a range of allergens, so check the current packaging before sharing.
Lotus Biscoff
A biscuit option if you’re mainly after an evening snack and don’t want to give a box of chocolates.
- Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy, caramelised biscuit.
- Check the ingredients and packaging information for each variant. Information for one pack doesn’t necessarily apply to every Biscoff product.
Products for gifting and snacking
These products include chocolate boxes for a thoughtful gift, biscuits for an everyday snack and chocolates to share. Choose according to the reason for your visit, and check the current packaging before you buy.
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merci Finest Selection, 400 g
An assorted box to take along as a chocolate gift. Check this pack to see which flavours and allergens it contains.
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Tony’s Chocolonely Chocolate Gift Pack, 288 g
A chocolate gift for anyone who wants to bring a pack along and perhaps try what’s inside together. Check the packaging for the flavours, ingredients and allergens in this variant.
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Lindt Lindor Cornet Assorted, 200 g
An assortment of chocolate truffles to give as a gift or put out on the table. Check the pack you choose for its flavours and allergens.
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Lotus Biscoff speculoos biscuits, 250 g
Biscuits for anyone looking for something to put out for a late-night snack, rather than a chocolate box to give as a gift. Check the ingredients on the pack you choose.
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M&M’s Minis Milk Chocolate More To Share, 176 g
A pack of small chocolate sweets for sharing. Don’t mistake it for an assorted box with different flavours; check the packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose biscuits instead of a chocolate box?
Choose biscuits if you’re mainly after an everyday evening snack and the pack doesn’t need to be a gift. If the gesture matters, a gift box is a better fit; a sharing mix may be more practical for a group.
How do I check allergens in a chocolate mix?
Read the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the exact variant you’re buying. The Voedingscentrum stresses how important food labelling is for anyone with a food allergy, so don’t rely on the brand name alone or information from a different pack size.
Can online nutritional information differ from the packaging?
Yes, product information can change. Albert Heijn therefore recommends checking the packaging when you want to check ingredients, nutritional values or allergens.
What should I look at when comparing portions?
Compare the net weight and, where stated, the number of pieces or the information per portion. Use the nutritional information per 100 g to compare products on the same basis, without judging the whole product on the strength of a single nutritional value.