Who is this choice relevant to?

Canteen manager during the lunch rush

Needs to serve individual portions quickly and make sure preparation fits the available oven and storage space.

Buyer looking for a base for lunch toppings

Needs to choose between a croissant to fill individually and croissant bread to serve in slices. A large size does not automatically meet the requirement for thick slices.

Canteen manager responsible for allergen procedures

When serving food unwrapped, needs to make information about allergens present available before purchase, even when the croissants are offered with a changing selection of toppings.

What should you look for when buying?

First decide whether lunch will consist of filled rolls or topped slices. Then choose a preparation method that works during lunch service. If you are assessing croissant products for your canteen, one of the following needs may be the deciding factor.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this most important to?
Preparation and serving Check the preparation time per batch, oven capacity and storage conditions. Albert Heijn gives a cooking time of 4–6 minutes at 200 °C for its pre-baked butter croissants; these instructions apply to that product. When there is little time to bake during the lunch rush, I want to be able to serve portions on time. Around 37% of consumers put reliable service first.
Filling or slicing Decide how you want to serve the croissants. If you need thick slices, ask for a product specification or sample, then try it with the topping you plan to use. For topped slices, I want to know whether they meet my requirements when served, not just whether the product is large. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this serving style.
Allergen and nutritional information Check the current ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per portion. When serving food unwrapped, make information about allergens present available before purchase, as advised by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority for unwrapped foods. When I offer croissants with different recipes or toppings, I need to be able to give guests accurate allergen information. For around 27% of consumers, this information is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a large croissant is the same as croissant bread you can slice

    Danerolles describes its Large Croissants as large croissants for filling. This tells you nothing about the thickness or firmness of slices.

    Decide whether you want to serve filled rolls or slices. If you need slices, try a sample of the product you have in mind with the planned topping.

  • Choosing frozen croissants without a defrosting plan

    According to Jumbo’s product instructions, its frozen croissants must not be refrozen after defrosting and need to be prepared and eaten within 24 hours.

    Plan the quantity for each baking round and assign responsibility for storage and defrosting before choosing this option for lunch service.

  • Relying on the packaging alone for allergen information

    When croissants are served unwrapped, information about allergens present must be available to consumers before purchase. The toppings must also be included in the information for the lunch being offered.

    Keep the information for each product and topping up to date, and make it available when serving. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the information requirements for unwrapped foods.

  • Comparing all croissants as if they were the same portion size

    Nutritional values per item are not directly comparable when portion sizes differ. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives average values of 9.5 g of fat, including 5 g of saturated fat, for a 45 g croissant; these figures are not product specifications for every variety.

    Use the current nutritional information for the specific product when making your final choice, and compare like with like, for example per 100 g or per serving.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Albert Heijn

The range includes pre-baked croissants and croissant bread, giving you two different serving styles to consider.

  • AH Excellent Butter Croissant Bread is an option to consider if you want to serve slices.
  • Check the required slice thickness with a sample; the product information does not specify a set thickness.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers various types of croissant, including larger, plant-based and frozen varieties.

  • The varieties give you a choice of serving style and preparation method.
  • Frozen croissants need to be managed carefully in terms of storage and defrosting; check the allergens for each variety too.

Lidl

Lidl’s butter croissant is a store-bought product for individual portions.

  • Lidl provides an ingredients and allergen overview for its fresh-from-the-oven range.
  • The product page states that the butter croissant is only available in store; check availability at the relevant branch when planning your order.

Danerolles

Danerolles’ dough products include croissants in various sizes that you can bake yourself.

  • Danerolles says its Large Croissants are intended for filling, for example with cheese and ham.
  • Baking them yourself requires oven space; the Large label does not confirm that they are suitable for thick slices.

Délifrance

Délifrance describes croissants for professional baking applications.

  • The supplier lists butter croissants in sizes including 60 g and 80 g, so you can assess portion size and preparation instructions for each product.
  • Allow for the baking time required by the product you choose; these croissants will not necessarily meet the requirement for sliced portions.

Croissant products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does a workplace canteen need to provide allergen information for unwrapped croissants?

Yes. For unwrapped croissants, information about allergens present must be available before purchase. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains this requirement for unwrapped foods; keep the information for the croissants and toppings you offer up to date.

Can I serve standard croissants in thick slices as lunch snacks?

Do not assume that a standard or large croissant will meet the requirement for thick slices. Danerolles describes its Large Croissants as products for filling, while Albert Heijn’s croissant bread is designed to be sliced. If you are considering the bread, use a sample to check that the required thickness works with your chosen topping.

Are butter croissants free from milk and other allergens?

No, do not assume they are. The butter croissants described contain milk and wheat; Jumbo also lists egg as an allergen for its frozen variety. Check the current allergen information for the variety you buy, and include any toppings separately if needed.