Canteens that cut larger portions themselves
For buyers who want to serve buns halved or cut into thick slices. PLUS sells a variety with ‘Giant’ in the name; check the actual size before choosing it for slicing.
If your workplace canteen wants to cut larger portions of currant bun itself, a bun sold as ‘Giant’ is worth assessing for its size; the name doesn’t tell you how big it is or whether it’s pre-sliced. If fibre or flexible stock management is a priority, compare the nutritional information for wholemeal varieties or the storage instructions on the packaging, respectively. Whatever you choose, check the latest allergen information.
For buyers who want to serve buns halved or cut into thick slices. PLUS sells a variety with ‘Giant’ in the name; check the actual size before choosing it for slicing.
For teams looking to take wholemeal ingredients and fibre per 100 g into account. For the wholemeal wheat and rye variety reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 6.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
For sites where not every bun is served on the day it’s bought. PLUS’s ‘tasty for longer’ pack says to freeze the buns on the day of purchase and use them within one month.
First, decide whether portion size, fibre, stock management or allergen information is the canteen’s main priority. Then compare the label and, if you want to slice the buns yourself, check the size of the variety you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Size and slicing | Check the size of the bun and whether staff can portion it easily; ‘Giant’ doesn’t indicate slice thickness. | If I want to serve a substantial lunch portion, I want to be able to halve the bun or cut it into thick slices myself. For around 33% of consumers, this size could be the top priority. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Read the ingredients and compare fibre per 100 g using the latest nutritional information. | If fibre is a priority for my lunch menu, I want to compare varieties on the same per-100 g basis. Around 27% of consumers could consider fibre their main criterion. |
| Storage and freezing | Read the storage instructions and, if you want to freeze the buns, check the specified freezing date and recommended period for use. | If I’m not serving all the buns straight away, I want to be able to manage stock in line with the packaging instructions. For roughly 20% of consumers, this flexibility could matter most. |
| Allergen information | Check the latest allergen information and make sure it’s available when the buns are sold unpackaged. | When serving unpackaged buns, I want to be able to give consumers clear information about the allergens they contain. Around 20% of consumers could put this information first. |
PLUS uses ‘Giant’ as a product name, but it doesn’t tell you the bun’s size or whether it comes pre-sliced. If the canteen wants to serve thick slices, staff will need to portion the buns themselves.
If necessary, ask for the dimensions or try a pack to see whether the bun can be cut into the portions you want.
The product pages reviewed list, among other things, cereals containing gluten and milk; statements about possible cross-contamination vary by product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says consumers must be able to obtain information about allergens in unpackaged foods.
Keep the latest packaging or product specification to hand, and make it clear where consumers can find allergen information when the buns are served.
The name ‘currant bun’ or the term ‘baker’s salt’ alone won’t tell you what type of salt is listed on the packaging you’ve chosen.
Check the latest ingredients list if iodised salt is a consideration for your canteen.
These examples show different pack formats and things to consider when choosing; assess each variety on its own merits rather than judging a whole brand by one product.
PLUS sells a ‘Korenlanders Giant currant and raisin buns’ variety as well as a separate ‘tasty for longer’ pack.
The AH Extra tasty for longer currant and raisin buns reviewed are wholemeal wheat and rye buns.
The Jumbo currant and raisin buns reviewed are a standard variety sold in a pack of six.
Lidl offers a pack of six currant buns for in-store purchase.
No. The name ‘Giant’ on the PLUS variety reviewed doesn’t mean it comes pre-sliced or has a particular slice thickness. Check the size of the bun if the canteen wants to cut thick slices itself.
If wholemeal ingredients and fibre matter to your canteen, compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g. For the wholemeal wheat and rye variety reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 6.1 g of fibre per 100 g; for its white wheat variety reviewed, Jumbo lists 2.8 g per 100 g. Check the figures on the pack you buy.
Follow the instructions on the packaging you choose. For the ‘tasty for longer’ variety reviewed, PLUS says to freeze the buns on the day of purchase and use them within one month; Albert Heijn also advises freezing the wholemeal variety reviewed on the day of purchase.
Make sure consumers can find out about any allergens before buying unpackaged currant buns. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights this information requirement. Use the latest packaging or product specification to make the information available when serving the buns.
Read the ingredients list on the packaging you’ve chosen; don’t assume from the name ‘currant bun’. The AH variety reviewed lists iodised salt, while the Jumbo and PLUS product pages reviewed list ‘baker’s salt’.