When choosing cereals for a hotel breakfast buffet, don’t rely on the name cornflakes alone. Compare the fibre and sugar content per 100 g, and check the allergen information. Jumbo’s product information lists 26 g of fibre per 100 g for Kellogg's All-Bran Fibre Plus, but also lists wheat, barley and 15 g of sugars per 100 g. A separate gluten-free option can broaden your selection, provided the information about other allergens and the way the products are presented at the buffet are both clear.
You want to offer a cereal with a clearly higher fibre content alongside ordinary cornflakes. To compare them, check the nutritional information per 100 g: according to Jumbo’s product information, Kellogg's All-Bran Fibre Plus contains 26 g of fibre per 100 g, while Albert Heijn lists 3 g per 100 g for Kellogg's Cornflakes.
You serve unpackaged cereals in bowls or dispensers. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, guests must be able to obtain information about allergens present in unpackaged products. The information needs to be accessible at the buffet.
You want to offer a separate option alongside cereals containing wheat or barley. Even for a product labelled gluten-free, check for other allergens: Albert Heijn states that AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijke bran flakes may contain milk, lactose and nuts.
Start with the nutritional information per 100 g, then decide what allergen information and separate serving arrangements your buffet needs. You may have several requirements when choosing cereals for your hotel buffet; the table shows the main consideration for each group.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre | Compare the fibre content per 100 g of the exact products; don’t treat ordinary cornflakes and bran flakes as the same type of product. | If I want to offer more fibre than ordinary cornflakes provide, the difference needs to be clear on the label. Around 36% of consumers choosing for this buffet put fibre content first. |
| Sugars and salt | As well as fibre, check the sugars and salt per 100 g, and look for sweeteners in the ingredients list. | Higher fibre content isn’t the only consideration for my buffet; I also want to know what sugars and sweeteners the flakes contain. This composition matters most to around 29% of these consumers. |
| Allergens and gluten | Check the current allergen information for each product and decide how regular and separate gluten-free products will be presented. | When guests choose from unpackaged bowls, I want to be able to clearly indicate which allergens are present in each product. This information and the availability of a separate gluten-free option come first for around 21% of these consumers. |
| Buffet serving | Check the pack size, how long the product stays fresh once opened, and whether the flakes or granola are suitable for the bowl or dispenser you use. | A product needs to be easy to serve consistently, without the packaging or product format becoming impractical. For around 14% of these consumers, serving practicality is the first thing they consider. |
Albert Heijn’s product information lists 3 g of fibre per 100 g for Kellogg's Cornflakes; Jumbo lists 3.8 g per 100 g for Jumbo Cornflakes and 26 g per 100 g for Kellogg's All-Bran Fibre Plus. So the name cornflakes doesn’t tell you how much fibre a product contains.
Compare the packs per 100 g and clearly identify the specific product you’re offering for its fibre content.
According to Jumbo’s product information, Special Flakes contain 1.3 g of sugars per 100 g, All-Bran Fibre Plus contains 15 g and All-Bran Fruit'n Fibre contains 23 g. Jumbo also lists maltitols in Special Flakes. So the products differ in more ways than just their fibre content.
When comparing products, put the fibre, sugars and salt values per 100 g side by side, and read the ingredients list too.
A gluten-free product may contain other allergens or carry a warning about them. For example, Albert Heijn states that AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijke bran flakes may contain milk, lactose and nuts. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, guests must be informed about allergens present in unpackaged buffet products.
Use the current information for each individual product, keep scoops and bowls separate, and make sure guests can access allergen information before eating.
Compare product ranges and variants individually: a brand name alone tells you nothing about the fibre content or allergens in a specific pack.
Regular Corn Flakes and All-Bran products are different types of cereal from the same brand.
The own-brand range includes a bran flake variant labelled gluten-free.
The own-brand range includes ordinary cornflakes and Special Flakes, with different nutritional values.
ALDI Netherlands stocks Golden Bridge Cornflakes.
These two packs of Holie's Peanut Chocolate granola offer a separate granola option for your breakfast buffet, not cornflakes or bran flakes. If you’re choosing with fibre in mind, check the nutritional information on the current pack. Also check the allergens and make sure the granola is suitable for the way you serve food at the buffet.
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The six-pack may be suitable if you regularly serve a separate granola option. The product name includes Glutenfree; check the current pack and allergen information for your guests, and make sure the granola is suitable for the dispenser or bowl you use.
Pack size: 6 × 330 g. This is granola, not cornflakes.
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The single pack gives you a smaller quantity to assess for your buffet. The product name includes Glutenfree; check the current pack for ingredients and allergen information, and make sure the granola can be served from your chosen bowl or dispenser.
Pack size: 330 g. This is granola, not cornflakes.
No, the name cornflakes doesn’t tell you how much fibre they contain. Albert Heijn lists 3 g of fibre per 100 g for Kellogg's Cornflakes and Jumbo lists 3.8 g per 100 g for Jumbo Cornflakes; compare the specific product per 100 g with the other cereals you’re considering.
Use the nutritional information per 100 g as a common basis. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing cereals this way to check, among other things, their fibre and sugar content; also check the ingredients and allergens for each variant.
Guests at a hotel buffet in the Netherlands must be able to obtain information about allergens present in unpackaged cereals. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information can be provided in writing or verbally. If it’s provided verbally, guests must be clearly told that they can ask for it. Keep the information for each product up to date.
No, check for other allergens separately. Albert Heijn states that AH Glutenvrij Vezelrijke bran flakes may contain milk, lactose and nuts. Before serving them at the buffet, read the current pack and take care to avoid mix-ups when serving.
Link the description to the specific product and check the fibre content on the current pack. Present ordinary cornflakes and a separate bran or other flake variant under their own names, so guests don’t confuse their nutritional information or allergens.
