If you want to serve Fairtrade cocoa
You’ll want to see a clear Fairtrade label on the product itself. A kano biscuit without cocoa won’t meet that aim, even if you like serving it with coffee.
Who is this choice relevant to?
If you’re looking for a sweet treat for a group
You might want to put biscuits on a plate or break chocolate into pieces. As well as checking the Fairtrade label, compare how the product is served and how much is in the pack.
If you need to take allergies into account
You’ll want to check which ingredients and potential traces may matter to your guests before serving. Keep the current packaging or ingredient information to hand.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with what you’re looking for: do you want to serve a traditional filled biscuit, or does your chosen product need to contain verifiably Fairtrade cocoa? If it’s the latter, compare how the product is served and always check the allergens too.
Kano biscuits with almond paste
When: Choose these if you specifically want a filled biscuit to enjoy with coffee.
Consider: The ingredient lists for AH BASIC Kano's and AH Roomboter kano's don’t mention cocoa, so these varieties aren’t a Fairtrade cocoa option.
Biscuits with Fairtrade cocoa
When: An assortment or biscuit selection is a good fit if you want to put out biscuits for several guests and the product is labelled as containing Fairtrade cocoa.
Consider: PLUS lists Fairtrade cocoa in its biscuit assortments and biscuit duos. Check the allergen information for each product individually.
Fairtrade chocolate
When: Choose a bar if you want chocolate to be the star of your coffee break.
Consider: You’ll need to break a bar into pieces for a group. Flavour, weight and allergens vary by product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for an explicit Fairtrade statement or certification mark on the specific product; a general claim about a shop’s range isn’t enough. | If I want to serve Fairtrade cocoa, I need to be able to identify it on the product I choose. Around 45% of consumers would consider this their main purchasing concern. |
| Sharing | Check the net weight and whether you’re buying an assortment, biscuits or a bar that you’ll need to break into pieces. | If I’m putting out a plate for several guests to help themselves, how the product is served matters to me. For around 33% of consumers, how easy it is to share would be their main purchasing concern. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredient and allergen information, including warnings about potential traces. | If a guest has an allergy, I want to know whether the product is suitable before serving it. For around 22% of consumers, this check would be their main purchasing concern. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming kano biscuits are a chocolate option
Albert Heijn describes AH BASIC Kano's and AH Roomboter kano's as biscuits filled with almond paste. Their ingredient lists don’t mention cocoa, so they won’t meet your aim of serving Fairtrade cocoa.
Choose them only if you specifically want a filled biscuit. To meet your Fairtrade cocoa goal, look for a product with an explicit label for that specific item.
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Applying a general cocoa claim to every product
Lidl says that its own-brand cocoa comes from a range of certified sources, including Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic farming. That doesn’t mean every individual product is automatically Fairtrade-certified.
Check for a Fairtrade label on the packaging of the product you’re actually choosing.
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Leaving the allergen check until serving time
A Fairtrade label tells you nothing about ingredients or potential traces. For example, the biscuit options described may contain wheat, milk, soya, egg or peanuts, or possible traces of nuts, depending on the product.
Ask guests in advance about any relevant allergies, read the current packaging and keep it available when serving.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Verkade
A brand to consider if you want to serve chocolate with coffee.
- Verkade says the cocoa in its chocolate bars and chocolate letters is Fairtrade.
- Check the certification mark, ingredients and allergens on the specific bar or other Verkade product you choose.
Albert Heijn / Delicata
The Delicata chocolate range is worth considering for a Fairtrade chocolate option; AH kano biscuits are a different type of product.
- Fairtrade Nederland reports that the entire Delicata chocolate range has carried the Fairtrade certification mark since 4 May 2026.
- The ingredient lists for AH BASIC Kano's and AH Roomboter kano's don’t mention cocoa. The information about Delicata doesn’t apply to those biscuits.
PLUS huismerk
A good option to compare if you’re looking for biscuits explicitly labelled as containing Fairtrade cocoa.
- PLUS lists Fairtrade cocoa in its Fairtrade assorted biscuits and Fairtrade cocoa biscuit duos.
- Ingredients and allergens vary between these products. Read the current packaging before serving them to guests.
Moser Roth / Choceur bij ALDI
Two chocolate ranges to consider if you want to serve a bar with coffee.
- ALDI lists Moser Roth Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa and Choceur Dark Chocolate as Fairtrade chocolate.
- Choose your preferred flavour and size for each product, and check the allergen information on the packaging too.
Way To Go! / Favorina bij Lidl
Product ranges to check individually when you’re looking for chocolate with a Fairtrade label.
- Lidl says its own-brand cocoa is sourced from certified farms.
- Lidl lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic certification. So check which mark appears on the product you choose.
Chocolate bars to enjoy with coffee on Joybuy
These bars are an option if you’d rather serve chocolate than kano biscuits. To choose a product with Fairtrade cocoa, check the label on the packaging of the exact variety. Check the allergens too before sharing the chocolate.
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Tony's Chocolonely Milk Caramel Seasalt, 180 g
A milk chocolate bar with caramel and sea salt, ready to break into pieces and enjoy with coffee.
Check the current packaging for the Fairtrade label and allergen information for this variety.
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Tony's Chocolonely Milk Pecan Caramel, 180 g
A bar with pecans and caramel for anyone who wants to serve this flavour combination with coffee.
If anyone has allergies, first check what your guests need and read the current packaging, including the Fairtrade label for this variety.
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Tony's Chocolonely Milk Chocolate Bar Caramel Sea Salt
A milk chocolate bar with caramel and sea salt, ideal if you’d like to serve chocolate alongside coffee.
Check the packaging for this variety for its Fairtrade label, quantity and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Are AH kano biscuits Fairtrade chocolate?
No, the AH kano biscuits mentioned aren’t a chocolate option. Albert Heijn describes AH BASIC Kano's and AH Roomboter kano's as biscuits filled with almond paste; cocoa isn’t listed in their ingredients. So they won’t meet your aim of serving Fairtrade cocoa.
How can I identify a Fairtrade cocoa option to enjoy with coffee?
Look for an explicit Fairtrade label or certification mark on the product you choose. PLUS lists Fairtrade cocoa in its Fairtrade assorted biscuits and Fairtrade cocoa biscuit duos; ALDI describes Moser Roth Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa as Fairtrade-certified. Then compare how the product is served and read the packaging.
What should I do about allergen information when guests are coming?
Check the current allergen information before serving and keep the packaging to hand in case anyone has questions. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed products. Ask guests in advance which ingredients they need to know about.
Is Fairtrade chocolate or a vegan biscuit automatically suitable for someone with an allergy?
No. A Fairtrade label tells you nothing about the allergens in the finished product, and a vegan label is no substitute for checking allergens. PLUS describes its Fairtrade cocoa biscuit duos as vegan, but the product information lists wheat and possible traces of rye and milk. Always read the current packaging for the specific product.