Anyone serving coffee or welcoming guests
If guests or colleagues help themselves to something with their coffee or tea, look for a pack with enough individual portions for the occasions you have planned.
Who are separate portions useful for?
Anyone taking a snack with them
For your bag, desk drawer or lunchbox, you’ll want to know how many biscuits or slices are in each wrapped portion, not just how many are in the outer pack.
Anyone who needs to check ingredients
Individual wrappers don’t change the ingredients. If you have an allergy or follow a specific diet, read the information on the current packaging before choosing or handing out a product.
What should you look for when choosing?
Decide what you’ll use the portions for, then check what’s actually inside each individual pack.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving with coffee or tea | Look for a clear statement that the biscuits are individually wrapped, and count the separate portions rather than just the biscuits in the box. | If several people are helping themselves, I want enough individual portions without having to open a shared pack each time. For around 36% of consumers, handing out biscuits would be the main priority. |
| Taking a portion with you | Compare the number of biscuits or slices in each wrapper and, if stated, the weight per portion. | For my bag or lunchbox, I want to take one clearly defined snack, not a large pack that’s already been opened. Convenience on the go would be the priority for around 28% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning on the current packaging. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, an individual wrapper doesn’t replace checking the label. Around 36% of consumers would make this their first consideration. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming a multipack contains individually wrapped biscuits
Several inner packs don’t automatically mean that each biscuit has its own wrapper. This matters when you want to hand out one biscuit per person.
Check the description for each pack: does it say that the biscuits or portions are individually wrapped, or simply that there are several packs?
-
Skipping the label check for small portions
Individually wrapped biscuits can still contain ingredients that someone needs to avoid. The packaging format doesn’t tell you whether they’re suitable for someone with an allergy.
Before buying or handing them out, check both the ‘contains’ and any ‘may contain’ information on the current packaging.
-
Switching straight to a larger pack
An alternative that looks similar may contain a different number of portions or have a different packaging format.
Check with your chosen retailer that the pack is available to order. If you choose an alternative, compare the portions and allergen information again.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
For biscuits with coffee or tea, Albert Heijn lists a pack of 300 individually wrapped Lotus Speculoos biscuits.
- The stated quantity makes it easy to count out portions for multiple occasions in advance.
- The product information lists wheat and soya. Check the label and the availability of this specific pack.
Peijnenburg
Albert Heijn describes the Ontbijtkoek naturel 10-pack as ten individually wrapped slices weighing 28 g each. Ontbijtkoek is a different type of snack from a crisp biscuit.
- The number of slices and the weight per slice make the portion sizes clear.
- The product information lists rye and gluten, and says it may contain milk and nuts; check the current allergen information.
Kinder
According to Albert Heijn’s product listing, Kinderini comes in four packs, each containing two biscuits.
- A pack of two biscuits could work well if you want to take them together or hand them out as a pair.
- The listed ingredients and allergens include egg, milk, hazelnut, soya and wheat.
Elite
Jumbo describes Elite Coffee Time as a box of 120 individually wrapped biscuits in four varieties, intended for coffee and tea breaks.
- A mix of individual portions and different varieties is useful if you’re serving a group.
- Check the allergen information for each variety and see whether this specific box is available from your chosen retailer.
Biscuits and snack portions on Joybuy
This selection includes biscuits for a quick snack, packs to take with you and packs to share. For each product, check the difference between an individually wrapped biscuit and a separate pack containing several biscuits.
No image available
Lu Scholiertje milk chocolate biscuits, 150 g
If you’re looking for a biscuit to have with coffee or tea, you could consider this 150 g pack. Check how many biscuits are in each individual pack and, if you have allergies, read the label.
No image available
Ulker Halley Mini Biscuit, 3 × 77 g
For several snack breaks, compare the three 77 g packs with the portion size you’re looking for. Before buying, check how many biscuits are individually wrapped and read the allergen information on the packaging.
No image available
Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas, 8 biscuits, 200 g
If you want to take speculaas biscuits with you or share them, compare the stated eight biscuits in this 200 g pack with the portions you have planned. Check whether each biscuit has its own wrapper or whether several biscuits are together in one bag.
No image available
Smoeltjes Ghost biscuits, 7 biscuits
If you’re looking for a quick snack, you could take a look at this pack of seven biscuits. If you need exactly one individually wrapped biscuit at a time, check how the wrappers are arranged, and read the ingredients on the label.
No image available
Oreo Raspberry & Blueberry Flavor sandwich biscuits, 97 g, two separate packs
If you’re planning two snack breaks, you could compare the two separate packs in this 97 g pack. This doesn’t mean that each biscuit has its own wrapper, so check how many biscuits are in each pack if that matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘individually wrapped’ mean that each biscuit has its own wrapper?
Not always: an individual portion may contain two biscuits. Check whether the packaging states the number of individual biscuits, portions or inner packs, then choose the format that suits you for serving or taking them with you.
Where can I check the ingredients and allergens?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, even if you’ve already looked at the product information online. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that 14 allergens must be declared on the label; also look out for any ‘may contain’ information.
Are individually wrapped biscuits automatically vegan or allergen-free?
No. The wrapper says nothing about the ingredients: for example, Albert Heijn’s product listings mention wheat and soya in Lotus Speculoos, and milk and egg, among other ingredients, in Kinder Kinderini. Always assess the specific product using the current packaging.
How should I store the biscuits between snack breaks?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you choose. For Lotus Biscoff, Joybuy recommends storing them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, heat and moisture; check the packaging for other products.