Hotel buyer with a set breakfast schedule
Compares the number of croissants per pack and their size, so daily orders match the expected number of guests.
Who needs to make this choice?
Buffet team with limited morning capacity
During busy breakfast hours, needs to choose between fresh croissants that are ready to serve and products that require oven space and baking time.
Hotel staff member responsible for guest information
When serving unpackaged croissants, needs the allergen information for the exact variety to inform guests before they eat. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out this information requirement for unpackaged food.
What should you consider when choosing?
First decide whether the buffet team needs to be able to put croissants out straight away or has time for baking sessions. Then match the size, stock and guest information to your breakfast service.
Bake-off croissants
A good fit when: The team can schedule a baking session shortly before or during the buffet.
Consider: Oven space and preparation time must be available even during the busy morning period.
Fresh croissants
A good fit when: You need to replenish the buffet without a baking session.
Consider: Match deliveries to expected demand, as the oven won’t determine when you can serve more.
Frozen croissants
A good fit when: The team wants to keep stock and can schedule baking sessions in advance.
Consider: Freezer space and the preparation instructions will determine how flexible that stock is in practice.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and product size | Compare the number of croissants, their weight and their size. | When I order for the buffet every day, I want the pack size and portions to match the expected number of guests. Around 25% of consumers put this first. |
| Ready to serve | Check the equipment required and the preparation time for your chosen variety. | During a busy breakfast service, I need to replenish the croissants without holding up service. For around 25% of consumers, being able to serve quickly is their main concern. |
| Stock and baking sessions | Check the storage instructions and plan how many croissants you’ll need for each baking session. | When guest numbers vary, I want to plan stock and baking sessions without making more than we need. Around 25% of consumers give this their highest priority. |
| Allergen information | Check the latest information for the exact variety and how guests can access it before eating. | When I put unpackaged croissants on the buffet, guests need to be able to check which allergens they contain. Around 25% of consumers put this information first. |
Common mistakes
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Comparing packs without checking the size
Four standard croissants and a pack of mini croissants call for different portion plans. The product format also determines what the team needs to do before serving.
Before finalising your buffet order, check the number of croissants, their weight and whether they are fresh, bake-off or frozen.
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Leaving baking sessions out of the morning schedule
Instructions vary by product. PLUS says its bake-off croissants take 4–6 minutes in an oven at 200 °C; according to the product information, PLUS’s Délifrance frozen croissants take 18 minutes at 185 °C.
Check the instructions on the pack you buy and schedule baking sessions around the expected number of guests.
Each small baking session also takes up time for the buffet team and uses equipment that needs to be available.
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Using the same allergen information for every croissant
Ingredients vary between varieties. For unpackaged croissants on the buffet, information about the allergens they contain must be available before guests eat them, as explained by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
Keep the latest information for every variety you buy and make sure guests and staff can access it at the buffet. Check separately whether iodised salt is listed; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt.
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Treating frozen stock as infinitely flexible
PLUS states that its Délifrance frozen croissants must not be refrozen once thawed.
Follow the storage instructions for your chosen variety and work out how many croissants the buffet needs for each baking session.
If you bake too large a batch, you may not be able to keep the remaining croissants for another baking session.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
A range that lets you compare different sizes and product formats for the breakfast buffet.
- Albert Heijn offers mini, standard and frozen croissants, among other options.
- Check the number of croissants and preparation method for each variety; the different sizes are not directly interchangeable.
Jumbo
An option for hotels looking for a pack of several bake-off croissants.
- Jumbo offers a pack of four butter croissants, weighing 180 g in total.
- Other varieties in the range may come in a different size or require a different preparation method.
Lidl
A supermarket option to consider if a local shop suits your supply needs.
- Check the product format, packaging and allergen information for the croissants you want to buy in store.
ALDI
An option for topping up your buffet with fresh butter croissants sold individually.
- ALDI describes a fresh butter croissant sold individually.
- Before serving it on a buffet, ask for the latest ingredients and allergen information for your chosen variety.
PLUS
A range with different preparation formats for hotels that want to fit their baking schedule around breakfast service.
- PLUS offers bake-off croissants, an individual small croissant and Délifrance frozen croissants, each with product-specific preparation instructions.
- Always use the information for the exact variety you have bought when checking preparation and allergens.
Dirk
An option for comparing fresh individual croissants with bake-off croissants in a pack.
- Dirk offers a fresh 65 g butter croissant and a pack of four 1 de Beste butter croissants weighing 180 g in total.
- Each product format needs its own checks for preparation and allergens.
Croissants for your buffet plan
These Joybuy products come in packs of standard and mini croissants for you to compare for your hotel buffet. Before adding a product to your morning schedule, check its preparation method, pack size and latest allergen information.
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SCHOOF Croissants, pack of 4
A pack of four croissants for a planned buffet top-up.
Check the pack for preparation instructions and make sure there’s time for the baking session in your morning schedule. If serving them unpackaged, also check the latest allergen information.
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g'woon Butter Croissants, pack of 4, 180 g
A pack of four butter croissants with a stated total weight of 180 g, making it easier to plan buffet portions.
Check the preparation method on the pack and use the latest allergen information for this variety when serving the croissants unpackaged.
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G'woon Mini Butter Croissants
The mini size is an option if smaller croissants suit your buffet display.
Check the weight and number of croissants on the pack before planning portions. Also check the preparation method and latest allergen information for this variety.
Frequently asked questions
Does a hotel need to provide allergen information for individual croissants on the breakfast buffet?
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about allergens in unpackaged food must be available to customers before they eat it. For cereals containing gluten, you must name the specific cereal. Make sure guests can access the information for the variety you’re serving.
Which allergens should I check for in croissants?
Check the allergen information for each specific variety, as it can differ. For its small butter croissant, PLUS lists wheat, milk and egg, and possible traces of soya. For its Délifrance frozen croissants, it lists wheat, egg and milk, and possible traces of soya and nuts. Use the latest packaging information for the buffet.
Does every croissant contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, you can’t assume that every croissant does. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. If the presence of iodised salt is relevant to your product information, check the ingredients list for the specific croissant.
Can I refreeze thawed frozen croissants?
Not for the Délifrance frozen croissants that PLUS says must not be refrozen once thawed. For other varieties, follow their own storage instructions and match the amount you bake each time to buffet demand.