Stallholders looking for a different flavour
You want to offer a biscuit alongside oliebollen that clearly lists dark chocolate or dark chocolate pieces in its product description. A dark-sounding flavour name alone is no guarantee.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Stallholders serving customers throughout the day
You want to work out how many biscuits or portions a pack contains and which format suits the way you serve them.
Stallholders who need to provide allergen information
You need product information for loose sales that stays up to date if you change the biscuit or recipe. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, consumers must be able to obtain allergen information for non-prepacked foods.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by distinguishing dark chocolate from a dark chocolate flavour. Then decide which portion size suits the way you serve your products and how you’ll keep allergen information available.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dark chocolate and cocoa | Check whether the ingredients list dark chocolate, a dark chocolate coating or dark chocolate pieces. If you have a minimum cocoa content in mind, check the cocoa content of the whole biscuit separately. | If you want to offer a clear dark chocolate accent alongside an oliebol, a flavour name alone isn’t enough. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this flavour profile. |
| Portion size and packaging | Compare the pack weight with the stated number of biscuits or portions, and read the storage instructions for after opening. | If I’m serving customers throughout the day, I want to know in advance what size portion I can include with each order. For around 28% of consumers, predictable portion sizes are the main priority. |
| Allergen information | Check the current ingredients list, and distinguish between allergens present and any warnings about possible traces. | If I sell biscuits loose, I need to be able to tell customers about allergens before they buy. This is a priority for around 36% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means a high cocoa content
A stated proportion of dark chocolate or chocolate pieces isn’t the same as the cocoa content of the entire biscuit. The products described by Jumbo and Albert Heijn show which part of the biscuit their percentage refers to.
If a specific cocoa content is essential, only rely on a product specification that confirms it. Otherwise, ‘made with dark chocolate’ is more accurate than a claim about high cocoa content.
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Keeping allergen information only on the outer box
For loose sales, consumers must be able to obtain allergen information before buying, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. If the packaging isn’t available where you serve customers, it can be difficult to answer their questions.
Keep the current packaging or an up-to-date allergen card at your stall, and update the information whenever you change product or recipe.
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Confusing pack weight with serving size
A larger pack may contain smaller portions than a pack of individually wrapped cookies. So the pack weight alone won’t tell you how many biscuits you can include with each order.
As well as checking the weight, look at the number of biscuits or the stated portion size, and choose a format that suits the way you serve them.
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Relying on a product you’ve seen before as a regular stock choice
Albert Heijn lists Verkade Chocodromen krokantjes puur as discontinued. So it isn’t a reliable choice for a regular offering.
Check the current product information before an event and, if needed, choose an alternative with the features that are essential to your offering.
Brands to consider
Verkade
Verkade is a brand to look at for chocolate biscuits, but the product name alone doesn’t confirm a high cocoa content.
- Albert Heijn describes Verkade Chocodromen krokantjes puur as biscuits with dark chocolate.
- Albert Heijn lists this specific product as discontinued; check current alternatives individually.
AH
The supermarket’s own brand offers a sugared biscuit with a dark chocolate coating for anyone looking for a portioned serving format.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH Gesuikerde biscuits pure chocolade has a 27% dark chocolate coating.
- The product also lists decorative sugar. A dark chocolate coating doesn’t tell you how much cocoa the whole biscuit contains.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes both cookies with dark chocolate pieces and Chocolettes Puur; these are different types of biscuit.
- Jumbo Chocolate Cookies met Stukjes Pure Chocolade lists 40% dark chocolate pieces, while Chocolettes Puur lists 27% dark chocolate.
- These percentages describe the chocolate in the products, not the cocoa content of the whole biscuit. Check the allergen information for each variety too.
Biscotto
Biscotto is a biscuit brand featured by ALDI Netherlands.
- ALDI Netherlands describes a pack of 20 chocolate biscuits, individually wrapped in pairs.
- This pack combines dark, white and milk chocolate, so it isn’t suitable if you require all the biscuits to contain dark chocolate only.
Sondey
According to Lidl Netherlands, Sondey is a brand offering various types of biscuits and snacks.
- The wide range makes Sondey a brand worth considering if you find a product with the right specification.
- Check the packaging of the specific biscuit: the general brand description doesn’t confirm a dark chocolate variety or its cocoa content.
Biscuits on Joybuy
These biscuits, labelled as having a dark chocolate flavour, are options to consider alongside oliebollen. Check the ingredients separately if dark chocolate or a specific cocoa content is essential.
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quduoduo Chunky Cookies with dark chocolate flavour, 72 g
An option to consider if you’re looking for a biscuit with a dark chocolate flavour to offer as an extra at your stall.
Pack size: 72 g. Check the current packaging for the chocolate content, ingredients and allergens before serving these biscuits loose.
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Franzzi Premium biscuits with dark chocolate flavour, 70 g
An option to consider if you’re looking for a small pack of biscuits with a dark chocolate flavour to serve to customers.
Pack size: 70 g. Before serving, check the current ingredients, allergens and any information about the chocolate or cocoa content.
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Franzzi Mellow biscuits with dark chocolate flavour, 115 g
An option to consider if you want to add a pack of biscuits with a dark chocolate flavour to your existing stall offering.
Pack size: 115 g. Check the current packaging for the number of biscuits, allergens and ingredients if these affect your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell chocolate biscuits loose at a Dutch doughnut stall?
Yes, provided customers can obtain the required information about allergens present before buying. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information for non-prepacked foods can be provided in writing, or verbally if it’s clearly stated that customers can ask for it.
Does ‘dark’ on a biscuit mean the whole biscuit contains a lot of cocoa?
No. A percentage of dark chocolate or dark chocolate pieces describes that part of the biscuit; it doesn’t automatically tell you the cocoa content of the finished product. Check the current specification if you want to set a minimum.
Which allergens should I check for in these biscuits?
Check the current information for allergens present and any warnings about possible traces for each biscuit you choose. The examples described by Jumbo and Albert Heijn include wheat or other cereals containing gluten, milk and soya; the information varies by product.
How should I store an opened pack during service?
Follow the storage instructions for the specific product and reseal the pack after opening as directed. Before serving, also check that the instructions suit the way you hand out biscuits at your stall.