Organisers handing out treats
You’re looking for individual portions for several visitors. Albert Heijn lists 22 individually wrapped chocolates in the Tony's Chocolonely Tiny's gift box; check whether that’s enough for your group.
Who is this choice relevant to?
When choosing a box of chocolates for a street festival, it matters whether you want to hand out treats, thank someone or buy for people with food allergies.
Buying a thank-you gift
You want to give a box to one person, such as a volunteer or organiser. In that case, the presentation matters more than the number of portions available to hand out.
Buying for a group with food allergies
You need the ingredients and allergen information for the exact packaging you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses the importance of checking food labels when dealing with food allergies, so don’t rely on the brand name or the look of the box.
What should you consider when choosing?
First decide whether you’re looking for a treat to share with several people or a gift for one person. Then compare currant buns and boxes of chocolates by checking the actual portions and the information on each product’s own packaging. Don’t assume their contents are interchangeable.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing and portions | Compare the number of portions in the currant buns you’ve chosen with the number of individually wrapped chocolates in a box. | If I want to give something to several visitors, the number of portions needs to suit my group. For around 44% of consumers, ease of sharing is the top priority. |
| Allergens | For both types of product, read the label on the exact variety, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. | If someone in the group has a food allergy, I don’t want to assume a product is suitable based on its type. Around 33% of consumers give checking the label top priority. |
| Gift or treat | Check whether the packaging and number of items are right for one recipient or for handing out to a group. | For a personal thank-you, I value the presentation more than how many people can share it. Around 23% of consumers prioritise how gift-worthy it looks. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a mixed box of chocolates is suitable for everyone
Jumbo’s Celebrations sharing pack lists milk, peanuts, gluten, egg and soya, among other ingredients. A mix of flavours doesn’t mean it’s suitable for someone with a food allergy.
Check the current packaging of the exact box. If you’re choosing currant buns, check their ingredients and allergens separately too.
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Confusing the weight of a box with the number of treats
Albert Heijn lists 22 individually wrapped chocolates in the Tony's Chocolonely Tiny's gift box, while PLUS sells the Hamlet Praline Collection in a 100 g box. The weight doesn’t tell you how many individual portions are in a pack.
Work out how many people you need to cater for, and count the items or portions in the product you actually want to buy wherever possible.
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Treating a personal gift and selling food at an event as the same thing
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out requirements for preparing, selling and storing food and drink safely and hygienically at markets and events. Bringing a gift is different from selling food.
Think about what you’ll be doing at the festival and ask the organiser or local council which requirements apply to your activity.
Brands and shops to explore
These shops offer useful options for comparing boxes of chocolates. Their inclusion here says nothing about the choice or availability of currant buns.
Albert Heijn
Offers products including the Tony's Chocolonely Tiny's gift box.
- According to Albert Heijn, this box contains 22 individually wrapped chocolates in ten flavours.
- Check the allergens on the current packaging before offering it to a group.
Jumbo
Offers chocolate gifts, including assorted boxes and individually wrapped bars.
- Jumbo describes Merci’s individually wrapped bars as including both filled and unfilled varieties.
- Check the contents, ingredients and current availability of each box you’re considering.
PLUS
Offers products including a Hamlet praline box and a gift box of chocolates.
- PLUS lists the Hamlet Praline Collection as a 100 g box, which can help you judge the size of a personal gift.
- Check the allergens and storage instructions on the packaging of the pralines you buy.
ALDI
Offers Merci Finest Selection as an assortment of chocolates in a box.
- The pack described by ALDI contains 250 g; if you plan to hand them out, check the number of chocolates too.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
Lidl
Has a range of chocolates where you can look for a suitable pack.
- You can compare what’s available locally by looking at the packaging and contents.
- Check the number of portions and the label information for any product you choose.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check for food allergies when handing out currant buns or chocolate?
Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the exact product you’re buying. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses the importance of food label information for food allergies. Don’t assume that all currant buns or boxes of chocolates have the same ingredients.
What should I bear in mind if I’m selling food at a street festival?
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, anyone selling food or drink at markets and events must handle it safely and hygienically when preparing, selling and storing it. Ask the organiser or local council which other requirements apply to your activity.
How should I store a box of pralines until the festival?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the box you’ve chosen. PLUS recommends storing the Hamlet Praline Collection in a cool, dry place between +5 °C and +20 °C. Don’t automatically apply these product-specific limits to other chocolate or currant buns.