Office buyers with a Fairtrade requirement
You want to be able to verify that the breakfast cake you buy is Fairtrade. Check the certification mark and accompanying wording for the exact variety, not just the shop’s range.
Who is this choice relevant for?
Teams taking snacks with them
You’re looking for portions that staff can easily pick up or take with them. Peijnenburg lists individually wrapped slices, while ALDI lists individually wrapped cake bites.
Office managers handling dietary requests
You want to be able to offer a suitable alternative alongside regular breakfast cake when someone needs to eat gluten-free or asks for other nutritional information. Always check the ingredients and allergens for the variety you choose.
What should you look for in breakfast cake for the office?
If Fairtrade is a purchasing requirement, check this before comparing packaging formats. Then choose based on the portions, nutritional information and dietary requirements that matter at your office.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade certification mark | Check the certification mark or relevant claim on the exact packaging. If an arrow next to the Fairtrade logo points to the back, read that explanation too. | If Fairtrade is a firm purchasing requirement, I want to be able to substantiate the claim for this exact cake. This check is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Portioning | Compare the number of portions, the weight per portion and whether the slices are individually wrapped. | When staff take a snack with them, I want to be able to hand out portions without slicing a large cake. This convenience matters most to around 27% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare sugars and fibre, among other things, per 100 g and per actual portion on the packaging you choose. | When putting together the selection, I want to know what a slice actually contains, not just what the front of the pack highlights. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this nutritional information. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any gluten-free claim for the exact variety. | If someone needs to eat gluten-free, I don’t want to offer regular rye cake as an alternative. Dietary suitability is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes when choosing
-
Assuming that a shop selling Fairtrade products means its breakfast cake is Fairtrade
A certification mark on coffee, chocolate or other products from the same shop does not automatically apply to its breakfast cake.
Before ordering, check the current packaging or official product page for the exact variety. If there’s an arrow next to the Fairtrade logo, also read the text on the back, as Fairtrade International advises.
-
Assuming a nutritional claim covers all your purchasing requirements
A claim about no added sugars, for example, says nothing by itself about overall nutritional value, allergens or Fairtrade status. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 11.2 g of sugars in one 30 g slice of breakfast cake; the amount may differ for the variety you choose.
Compare the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g, and check the certification mark and allergens separately.
-
Offering regular breakfast cake as a gluten-free option
Peijnenburg Plain Sliced Breakfast Cake lists rye and cereals containing gluten. Individual wrapping does not make a product gluten-free.
For a gluten-free request, check the claim and allergens on the exact packaging. Keep the packaging available so staff can read the information for themselves.
Brands and shops to explore
Peijnenburg
Worth considering if you want to compare a large cake with pre-portioned slices.
- Peijnenburg says its Plain 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped 28 g slices.
- Don’t assume a product is Fairtrade just because it comes in portion-sized packaging; check the exact variety.
Albert Heijn
The breakfast cake and spiced cake range is useful for exploring different formats and varieties.
- The range includes own-brand products and Peijnenburg breakfast cake.
- Check the current product information for the cake you choose to confirm its certification mark, ingredients and allergens.
Jumbo
Worth considering if you also want to look at a separate gluten-free breakfast cake.
- Jumbo lists a 300 g Lekker Vrij from Gluten Unsliced Breakfast Cake.
- Fairtrade products in other categories do not substantiate a Fairtrade claim for this breakfast cake.
PLUS
Worth considering when comparing sliced and unsliced own-brand breakfast cakes and bars.
- PLUS lists, among other things, Sliced Plain Breakfast Cake and Sliced Zero Breakfast Cake, both weighing 485 g.
- Check for a Fairtrade mark on each variety rather than assuming it applies based on the category listing.
ALDI
Worth considering if you want to compare individually wrapped cake bites with pre-sliced breakfast cake.
- ALDI lists a pack of six individually wrapped cake bites.
- A general Fairtrade page does not confirm that a specific breakfast cake is certified.
Lidl
Worth considering if you want to look at a Zero variety in store.
- Lidl lists a 485 g Zero Breakfast Cake as an in-store product.
- Fairtrade programmes for other product ranges say nothing about whether this cake is certified.
Breakfast cake at Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does a supermarket’s Fairtrade page prove that its breakfast cake is Fairtrade?
No. Check the certification mark or relevant claim on the packaging or official product page for the exact breakfast cake. Fairtrade International says that an arrow next to the logo points to additional information on the back of the packaging.
Does a sustainability claim about cocoa mean that breakfast cake is Fairtrade?
No. A claim about cocoa or another product range does not confirm that a specific breakfast cake is Fairtrade certified. Check which claim actually applies to the cake you’ve chosen and its ingredients.
How can I keep allergen information available for breakfast cake at the office?
Keep the current packaging with the cake so staff can check the ingredients and allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly listed on the label; where cereals containing gluten are present, the type of cereal must be listed in the ingredients.
How can I tell whether breakfast cake contains iodised baker’s salt?
Check the ingredients list for the exact variety for iodised baker’s salt. Don’t assume it contains iodine just because it belongs to this product category.