Who is this relevant to?

Consumers who prioritise Fairtrade cocoa

You want to see on the specific pack that the cocoa was sourced on Fairtrade terms. A general sustainability claim from a retailer isn’t enough.

Consumers who want to share biscuits

You’re looking for a pack that’s easy to take to the cinema, and want to know in advance how many biscuits or individual portions it contains.

Consumers who check for allergens

Before sharing, you want to check the ingredients and allergens in your chosen variant, and see whether it carries a warning about possible cross-contamination.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by checking the Fairtrade claim on the biscuit itself. Then compare the packaging for taking the biscuits with you or sharing them, and read the allergen information for the variant you’re buying.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade cocoa Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark or an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim. If the mark has an arrow, read the explanation on the back too. I want the cocoa in my cinema biscuits to have been sourced on Fairtrade terms, not just for the retailer to have a general sustainability policy. This would be the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
Taking them with you and sharing Compare the number of biscuits and check whether they’re individually wrapped. If I’m taking biscuits to share at the cinema, I want to know in advance how they’re packaged. For roughly 30% of consumers, this would be the main consideration.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list, the highlighted allergens and any warnings about possible cross-contamination on the packaging. I don’t want to share biscuits until I know whether the chosen variant is suitable for everyone. This would be the first thing around 20% of consumers check before buying.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a retailer’s policy for a Fairtrade claim on the biscuit

    Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl and ALDI each describe different approaches to certified cocoa in their own information. Their general policies don’t automatically mean that an individual biscuit contains Fairtrade cocoa.

    Check the mark or explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim on the packaging of the biscuits you want to buy.

  • Assuming Fairtrade cocoa is always kept physically separate

    Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa. So a Fairtrade claim doesn’t necessarily mean that the cocoa in every pack has been kept physically separate from other cocoa.

    If traceability is important to your choice, read the additional information on the back when a FAIRTRADE Mark has an arrow.

  • Choosing a sharing pack without checking the allergens

    The Verkade variants described contain, among other things, milk, wheat and soya; Lange Nekken also carries a warning about the possible presence of nuts and egg. Other variants may contain different ingredients or have different warnings.

    Check the current packaging of your chosen variant before buying or sharing the biscuits.

Brands to consider

Verkade

Worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate biscuits with a product-specific Fairtrade cocoa claim and a format that works for the cinema.

  • Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade cocoa for the Verkade Crunchy oat biscuits with milk chocolate and Lange Nekken milk chocolate described here. Lange Nekken comes in packs of two, while the Crunchy oat biscuits are listed as containing 14 biscuits.
  • Ingredients and allergens vary by variant, so check the pack you’re actually buying.

Albert Heijn

A retailer to consider when looking for own-brand products made with certified cocoa—not, in itself, a Fairtrade claim for every biscuit.

  • Albert Heijn says that cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified.
  • Check the specific packaging if Fairtrade cocoa is a condition of your purchase.

Jumbo

Worth considering when comparing chocolate biscuits across a supermarket range.

  • Jumbo lists Rainforest Alliance (UTZ), Fairtrade and Open Chain as certification routes for its cocoa.
  • These different routes don’t tell you which Fairtrade claim appears on an individual pack of biscuits.

Lidl

A point of reference if you’re looking at own-brand products made with certified cocoa.

  • Lidl says its own-brand cocoa comes from Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance or organically certified farming.
  • This statement doesn’t confirm that every biscuit containing chocolate carries a Fairtrade cocoa claim.

ALDI

A retailer to consider when comparing products made with different types of certified cocoa.

  • ALDI lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and the EU organic logo for cocoa in its products.
  • For a regular chocolate biscuit, you’ll need to check the Fairtrade claim on the product itself.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I recognise a chocolate biscuit made with Fairtrade cocoa?

Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark or an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim on the specific pack. For a composite product such as a biscuit, the back of the pack may give more information about which ingredients the mark applies to.

Is Fairtrade cocoa in a biscuit always fully traceable as a physical product?

No. Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa. If you want to know which traceability method is being used, read the explanation on the back when the mark has an arrow.

Does a supermarket’s cocoa-sourcing policy make every biscuit Fairtrade?

No. Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl and ALDI also mention certification routes other than Fairtrade in their own information. So check the claim or mark on the individual biscuit pack.

What should I check before sharing biscuits at the cinema?

Read the ingredients list, the highlighted allergens and any warnings about possible cross-contamination on the current packaging. Also check the number of biscuits and the portion packaging, so you know what you’re taking with you.