Hoteliers keen to make sourdough a feature
Looking for a bread option for the breakfast buffet and able to fit baking, serving and replenishing into the workflow. It’s important not to treat sourdough bread and packaged toast as interchangeable.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Buffet managers looking to serve small portions
Want to put out and replenish toast without having to slice or bake bread. Smaller portion packs can be practical; Albert Heijn lists AH Melba Toast Plain in packs of twelve, with six pieces of toast in each pack.
Hoteliers responsible for allergen information
Need to make the correct allergen information available to guests for unpackaged bread and toast. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets requirements for providing information about unpackaged foods.
What should you look for?
First decide whether your buffet needs fresh bread or toast that’s ready to serve. Then choose the exact product and check what information needs to be available when it’s served.
Sourdough rolls
Best for: a buffet where fresh bread matters more than toast that’s ready to serve.
Bear in mind: baking, serving times and replenishing the buffet.
Packaged sourdough toast
Best for: a small, crisp buffet item when sourdough is specifically part of what you’re looking for.
Bear in mind: the product name alone doesn’t tell you how it was made; check the exact packaging.
Melba toast
Best for: small pieces of toast to serve with toppings when sourdough isn’t essential.
Bear in mind: Melba toast isn’t necessarily sourdough toast, and needs to be stored appropriately once opened.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough and serving method | Check the ingredients for the exact product and decide whether baking during breakfast service is practical. | If fresh bread is to define the look of my buffet, I want to know how much work it involves during breakfast. This bread option is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Portions and storage | Check the portion packaging and storage instructions once opened. | If I want to replenish toast quickly, I prefer manageable portions to bread that still needs slicing or baking. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this practical approach to running a buffet. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Compare the latest product specifications with the information provided to guests; also check the ingredients if iodised salt is relevant. | I need to be able to provide accurate allergen information for unpackaged buffet items, even when the selection changes. This is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check whether the product is available through the sales channel you need and whether an alternative would serve the same purpose on the buffet. | If I want to be able to replenish breakfast with the same type of product each time, the way I buy it matters. Availability comes first for around 15% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming Melba toast is sourdough toast
Melba refers to a type of toast, not to the use of sourdough. AH Melba Toast Plain, for example, isn’t described as sourdough toast.
Check the product name and the ingredients or product specifications before presenting a piece of toast as sourdough.
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Relying on a product page as the complete source of allergen information
When the buffet selection changes, the information provided to guests must match the products actually being served. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires allergen information to be provided for unpackaged foods.
Keep the latest packaging or supplier specifications for each product, and update the information whenever the product changes.
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Assuming sourdough means the bread contains iodised salt
The type of bread doesn’t tell you what salt was used in the exact product. Jumbo lists iodised salt in its White Sourdough Rolls, but that doesn’t tell you anything about other toast or sourdough rolls.
Read the ingredients list for the product you’ve chosen rather than applying one product’s information to the whole buffet selection.
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Planning to order in-store bakery bread online
Jumbo says that its sourdough loaves baked in store aren’t available to order online. That makes the purchasing route important if you want to feature this bread regularly on your breakfast menu.
Before adding it to the menu, confirm how the bread can be ordered or collected. Check any alternative separately for its ingredients and serving method.
Brands and suppliers to consider
These examples show different product types and ways to buy them. A supplier that offers Melba toast or sourdough bread doesn’t necessarily also offer sourdough toast that’s right for your buffet.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes its in-store baked sourdough loaves as having been proved for over 24 hours with fresh sourdough starter. It also lists White Sourdough Rolls with sourdough in the ingredients.
- Offers specific sourdough bread options alongside a range of toast products.
- Jumbo says its in-store baked sourdough loaves aren’t available to order online; check how you can buy the product you’ve chosen.
Jos Poell
Albert Heijn lists Jos Poell Sourdough Toast as a separate product.
- The product name specifies both sourdough and toast.
- Don’t rely on the name instead of checking the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
Albert Heijn
AH Melba Toast Plain is an own-brand product; Albert Heijn lists a pack of twelve, with six pieces of toast in each pack.
- The small packs are a practical option for replenishing the buffet in portions.
- This Melba toast isn’t described as sourdough toast; check the allergen information on the packaging you’re serving.
Van der Meulen
Jumbo lists Van der Meulen Melba Toast Plain 120 g in its range of toast products.
- A familiar Melba toast option if you’re looking for a small, crisp product.
- Being described as Melba toast doesn’t confirm that it contains sourdough; check the exact product on the packaging.
ALDI
ALDI lists products including SUN SNACKS Toast and SUN SNACKS Melba Toast in its range of crispbreads, toast and crackers.
- Offers different crisp product types to consider for a standard buffet.
- The range listing doesn’t confirm that a specific sourdough toast product is available; check the product and availability separately.
Melba toast for the buffet
These Joybuy products are Melba toast for anyone looking to serve small, crisp pieces of toast at breakfast. They aren’t suitable for a buffet where sourdough is an essential product requirement; check the latest packaging for ingredients and allergen information before serving.
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Delverde Classic Melba Toast 100 g
A Melba toast option for small buffet portions when sourdough isn’t essential.
Pack size: 100 g. Check the latest ingredients and allergen information before serving the toast at the buffet.
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Conimex Delverde Melba Toast Round 100 g
Round Melba toast for small buffet portions with toppings when sourdough isn’t essential.
Pack size: 100 g. Check the latest ingredients and allergen information before serving it at the buffet.
Frequently asked questions
Do I always need sourdough toast for a buffet featuring sourdough bread?
No. If fresh rolls are the main feature and baking them during breakfast service is practical, you could consider sourdough rolls. Sourdough toast is a good fit if you need a smaller, crisp product that’s ready to serve; check the ingredients for the exact product.
How should I store toast once the pack has been opened?
Follow the instructions on the packaging for the exact product. Albert Heijn advises storing AH Melba Toast Plain in a sealed tin once opened. Replenish the buffet with portions suited to your service rather than opening all the packs at once.
What allergen information is needed for unpackaged bread and toast on the buffet?
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires guests to be able to access information about the 14 allergens in unpackaged foods. Make this information available where the product is served. For cereals containing gluten or nuts, specify which cereal or nut is present. Use the latest information for the products you’re serving.
Does sourdough mean the bread contains iodised salt?
No, the term sourdough doesn’t tell you what salt has been used in the product. Check the ingredients list for the exact product. For example, Jumbo lists iodised salt in its White Sourdough Rolls, but that doesn’t automatically apply to other sourdough breads or toast.