Buffet managers planning portions
With self-service, you want guests to be able to pick up a single portion easily. Individually wrapped slices and pre-sliced cake offer different ways to serve it.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Hotels that need to provide allergen information
If the breakfast cake is served unwrapped at the buffet, guests must be able to access information about any allergens it contains. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also sets out conditions for providing this information verbally.
Hotels offering several varieties side by side
If you want to offer a wholemeal or zero-sugar variety alongside a regular breakfast cake, compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the exact products. The name alone won’t tell you how much sugar or fibre a slice contains.
What should you look for?
First, decide how guests will take the breakfast cake. Then compare the labels of the varieties you’ve chosen and check that the same packaging format will be available for future orders.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving format and portions | Check the number of slices, the weight per portion and whether the slices are individually wrapped. | For self-service, I want guests to be able to pick up a clearly defined portion quickly, without having to cut the cake for each person. Around 42% of buyers give this serving format top priority. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion; check the allergens and any sweetener warnings. | If I offer several varieties, I want to give guests accurate information about the ingredients in each cake. For around 33% of buyers, this label information matters most. |
| Range and delivery | Compare pack sizes and the number of portions; confirm current availability and delivery terms before ordering. | I want to be able to offer the same chosen varieties and portion formats again with my next order. Around 25% of buyers put this consistency first. |
Common mistakes when choosing
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Using ‘premium’ as a substitute for product information
Attractive packaging won’t tell you how large a portion is or what the breakfast cake contains, according to the label.
Decide in advance what portion format you want, then compare the ingredients, allergens, sugars and fibre for each product.
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Assuming ‘wholemeal’ means ‘low in sugar’
According to Albert Heijn, AH Ontbijtkoek volkoren gesneden contains 34 g of sugars per 100 g, while AH Zero gesneden lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g. These are different varieties.
Read the nutrition table for the exact breakfast cake and check the portion size before comparing varieties.
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Removing the packaging without arranging allergen information
Information about any allergens must be available for breakfast cake served unwrapped. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also sets conditions for providing this information verbally.
Record the information for the variety you’ve chosen before putting the cake on the buffet, and update it if the product or recipe changes.
Keeping this information up to date also requires attention from buffet staff.
Brands to compare
Peijnenburg
Worth considering if you’re choosing between a large pre-sliced cake and individually wrapped portions.
- Peijnenburg lists 18 slices per 550 g for its sliced plain cake, and ten individually wrapped 28 g slices for its plain 10-pack.
- For the wholemeal variety with no added sugars, also check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging; the product information mentions rye and the possible presence of nuts and milk.
AH
Worth considering if you’re comparing sliced wholemeal breakfast cake with a sliced zero-sugar variety.
- According to Albert Heijn, its wholemeal variety contains 41% wholemeal rye flour; AH lists both its wholemeal and zero-sugar varieties in 485 g packs.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH Zero contains xylitol and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the current label.
Tastino (Lidl)
A supermarket own-brand option to compare by packaging format and current product ingredients.
- Lidl lists Tastino breakfast cake as a product in its stores.
- For ingredients, allergens and nutritional information, check the label of the variety you’ve chosen or ask Lidl for product-specific information.
Dutch breakfast cake on Joybuy for hotel buffets
This breakfast cake is worth considering if you’re looking for a variety that offers set portions for self-service. Check the current packaging and allergen information before serving it at the buffet.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g
An option to consider if set portions are important for self-service. The product name lists 250 g; check the current packaging for the portion format, nutritional values per 100 g and per portion, and allergen information about rye and possible traces of nuts and milk. Don’t assume from the variety name that the cake is sugar-free.
Frequently asked questions
What allergen information is needed if breakfast cake is served loose at the buffet?
Guests must be able to get information about any allergens in unwrapped breakfast cake. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, for cereals containing gluten and nuts, the specific type must also be made clear. Make sure the information is available before consumption.
Can the hotel direct guests to staff for allergen information?
This is permitted under certain conditions when the information is provided verbally; simply directing guests to staff in general is not enough. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, staff must be able to provide the information directly before consumption, the information must be available to staff and inspectors in writing or electronically, and a clear notice must be displayed at the point of sale.
Does breakfast cake always contain iodine because baker’s salt is used?
No. Don’t assume this is the case for a particular breakfast cake without checking the label or product specification. The agreement on baker’s salt, published by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in 2008, describes efforts to encourage the use of iodised salt in bakery products, but it doesn’t specify the ingredients of every breakfast cake currently on sale.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?
No. Peijnenburg lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for its wholemeal breakfast cake with no added sugars; Albert Heijn lists the same amount for AH Zero. Also check the ingredients and allergens for each variety. According to Albert Heijn, AH Zero contains xylitol and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.