Hotel buyer with a Fairtrade requirement
Wants to be able to check the claim for the chosen chocolate sprinkles on the current packaging. A Rainforest Alliance cocoa statement on a different product is not interchangeable.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Manager of guest rooms and meeting rooms
Needs individual portions for guests to take alongside coffee or breakfast. Van Oordt lists Fairtrade Original boxes in packs of 80, each weighing 15 g.
Breakfast buffet manager
Needs to choose packaging that suits how the chocolate sprinkles will be served, while making allergen information available, especially when guests can no longer read it on the original packaging.
What should you consider when buying?
First, decide which certification claim you require. Then choose packaging that works for serving in guest rooms or at the buffet, and check the allergens for the exact product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Check the claim on the packaging of the exact product. The De Ruijter and Venz products reviewed state that they contain Rainforest Alliance cocoa, which follows a different certification route. | If Fairtrade is a purchasing requirement, I want to avoid treating another cocoa certification as equivalent. This check is the top priority for around 46% of consumers. |
| Portion size | Compare the individual 15 g Fairtrade Original boxes with the 380 g pack, and decide how guests will be served the chocolate sprinkles. | In a guest room or for self-service, I want to offer a single portion without putting out a shared pack. Individual portions are the main consideration for around 36% of consumers. |
| Allergen information | Read the current label for the product you’ve chosen, and decide how to keep that information available when serving chocolate sprinkles at a buffet. | When putting together a breakfast buffet, I want to be able to give guests information about the chocolate sprinkles actually being served. This is the highest priority for around 18% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Treating Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade as the same
The De Ruijter and Venz products reviewed state that they contain Rainforest Alliance cocoa. This does not confirm that a product meets a specific Fairtrade purchasing requirement.
Be clear about which claim you need, and check the packaging of the product you order.
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Assuming dark chocolate sprinkles are milk-free
Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur states that the product may contain milk. The De Ruijter product reviewed lists milk and soya.
Always check the current label for the exact product for allergen information; don’t assume it’s suitable just because it says ‘dark’.
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Choosing a large pack without a serving plan
A 380 g pack needs to be handled differently from an individual 15 g box when serving guests in their rooms. At a buffet, it should also be clear which allergen information applies to the chocolate sprinkles on offer.
Choose individual portions when guests are taking one portion each. Use a larger pack where serving and sharing allergen information are properly organised.
Brands compared
Fairtrade Original
A relevant choice when you’re looking for chocolate sprinkles with a Fairtrade focus. Fairtrade Original lists a 380 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles; Van Oordt also lists 15 g boxes, packed in cases of 80.
- According to Fairtrade Original, the 380 g product contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
- The 380 g product may contain milk. For the individual boxes, check the claim and allergen information on the packaging supplied.
De Ruijter
An alternative for breakfast when Fairtrade is not a specific purchasing requirement. The Specials Intens Puur product reviewed states that it contains Rainforest Alliance cocoa.
- The product reviewed offers a different option from Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur.
- Rainforest Alliance does not confirm a Fairtrade claim. Albert Heijn lists milk and soya as allergens for this product.
Venz
A relevant option if you’re considering milk chocolate sprinkles and don’t require a specific Fairtrade claim. According to Albert Heijn, the milk chocolate product reviewed contains Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa.
- The milk chocolate product gives buyers another type of chocolate sprinkles to compare by label and serving format.
- Don’t infer a Fairtrade claim from the Rainforest Alliance statement, and check the allergens on the packaging you choose.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Should you put chocolate sprinkles in the coffee in a hotel room?
No. Offer chocolate sprinkles as a separate edible extra alongside coffee or breakfast, not as an ingredient for the coffee machine. Decide whether guests will receive an individual portion or take some with their breakfast.
Is Rainforest Alliance cocoa the same as a Fairtrade claim?
No. Don’t treat the claims as interchangeable when Fairtrade is a purchasing requirement. The De Ruijter and Venz products reviewed state that they contain Rainforest Alliance cocoa. For a Fairtrade-focused choice, check the claim on the packaging of the specific product.
Which chocolate sprinkles pack is suitable for serving individually in hotel rooms?
The Fairtrade Original 15 g boxes are suitable for offering one portion per guest; Van Oordt lists a pack of 80 boxes. When they’re delivered, check the label and claim on this specific product. The 380 g pack is better suited to serving where portioning is managed.
Are dark chocolate sprinkles automatically suitable for guests with a milk allergy?
No. The word ‘dark’ doesn’t guarantee that. Fairtrade Original states that its 380 g Hagelslag Puur may contain milk; check the current label for every product you serve.
Where can I find allergen information when serving chocolate sprinkles in a hotel?
For pre-packed products, allergen information is shown on the label, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. If you remove chocolate sprinkles from their original packaging to serve them at a buffet, make sure guests can still check the information for the product actually being served.