Who is this choice for?

If Fairtrade comes first

You want to be able to check whether Fairtrade cocoa is stated on the exact snack you’re considering. A claim about another product from the same brand isn’t enough; for a kano, check its own packaging or product page.

If you want something sweet in your gym bag

You’re looking for a biscuit or chocolate snack you can take with you. The packaging and storage instructions for your chosen option will affect how practical it is, especially if your bag gets warm.

If you’re weighing up when to eat around exercise

You distinguish between a treat to have on the go and food you plan to eat around a training session. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre considers meal planning around exercise separately; a sweet biscuit won’t automatically replace that plan.

What should you look for when choosing?

Kano with butter and almond paste

Choose this if: you specifically want to take this sweet biscuit with you and Fairtrade cocoa isn’t a requirement.

Bear in mind: Jumbo’s product description calls it a butter biscuit with almond paste, but doesn’t confirm Fairtrade status for the kano.

Chocolate snack with a Fairtrade label

Choose this if: an explicit Fairtrade cocoa statement on the exact product matters more to you than having a kano.

Bear in mind: a chocolate bar or chocolate wafer is a different product from a kano with almond paste; the certification alone says nothing about when to eat it around exercise.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Fairtrade status of the exact snack Look for an explicit Fairtrade or Fairtrade cocoa statement on the packaging or product page for the version you’ve chosen. A brand claim about other products isn’t enough. If Fairtrade is my main reason for buying a snack, I want to be able to check the statement on that particular product. For around 36% of consumers, this product-specific confirmation comes first.
Taking it with you and storing it Check the packaging and storage instructions. Jumbo says Kano's with Roomboter 275 g should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. I want a sweet snack to fit in my gym bag without losing sight of the storage instructions. For around 29% of consumers, portability is the main concern.
When to eat around exercise Decide whether you want a treat or are planning what to eat around your training; compare the nutritional information per serving for the exact snack. When I plan my food around a training session, I don’t want to automatically treat a snack as a meal replacement. Around 21% of consumers put this planning first.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients, allergen information and nutritional values on the packaging. Albert Heijn notes that online product information can change. If certain ingredients or allergens matter to me, I need to be able to check the current packaging. For around 14% of consumers, this is the main priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a brand claim applies to every kano

    Verkade states that certain chocolate products contain Fairtrade cocoa, including, according to its own product page, the Chocowafel Karamel 3-pack. That doesn’t confirm that a kano from another brand carries the same statement.

    Check the Fairtrade statement on the exact snack you want to buy rather than relying on a general brand claim or search term.

  • Treating a sweet biscuit as a replacement for a meal before exercise

    Choosing a kano for its taste or convenience is different from planning what to eat and drink around a training session. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between snacks and meal timing when it comes to exercise.

    Before choosing, decide whether the snack is a treat or part of your eating plan; consider your meal and drinks separately.

  • Relying on out-of-date ingredient information online

    Albert Heijn warns that product ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. This is particularly important if you need to avoid an ingredient.

    Before eating it, read the packaging of the version you actually have, even if you’ve already checked the product page.

Brands to consider

Jumbo

Jumbo describes its Kano's with Roomboter 275 g as butter biscuits containing 38% almond paste.

  • The product information names the type of biscuit and says to store it in a cool, dry, dark place.
  • If you’re buying it because it contains Fairtrade cocoa, check the exact packaging for that statement; the type of biscuit alone doesn’t confirm it.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH butter kano biscuits as individual products.

  • You can assess the specific kano you’ve chosen as an individual product instead of relying on a general brand claim.
  • Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change; check the current packaging for any Fairtrade statement too.

Verkade

Verkade is worth considering if you’re looking for a chocolate product with an explicit Fairtrade cocoa statement rather than a specific type of kano.

  • Verkade says that the cocoa in its chocolate bars and chocolate letters is Fairtrade. The brand also states that its Chocowafel Karamel 3-pack contains Fairtrade cocoa.
  • These statements apply to the products and product ranges mentioned, not automatically to other types of biscuits.

Chocolate for your gym bag on Joybuy

This chocolate bar suits anyone looking for a sweet snack with a Fairtrade statement in the product description. It isn’t a kano; if that statement is important to your purchase, check the packaging of this exact version.

Tony's Chocolonely Milk Pecan Caramel chocolate bar, 180 g

Tony's Chocolonely Milk Pecan Caramel chocolate bar, 180 g

If you’d rather take a chocolate bar than a kano, the product description states that it’s made with Fairtrade milk chocolate. Check this statement on the current packaging.

The description lists milk, soya, pecan and cereals containing gluten, and notes that it may contain egg and peanuts. If you have allergies, read the current packaging before eating it.

Store the bar in a cool, dry place, away from heat and direct sunlight. Check the packaging format if you’re looking for individual portions to take in your gym bag.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are Jumbo or AH kano biscuits Fairtrade?

Jumbo and Albert Heijn’s product descriptions don’t confirm Fairtrade status for their kano biscuits. If you’re choosing on that basis, check the current packaging for the exact version for a Fairtrade or Fairtrade cocoa statement.

How do I choose Fairtrade chocolate instead of a kano?

Choose an exact product that explicitly states it contains Fairtrade cocoa. Verkade says this applies to the cocoa in its chocolate bars and chocolate letters; the product page for the Verkade Chocowafel Karamel 3-pack also states that it contains Fairtrade cocoa. Check the packaging of the version you buy too.

Can a kano replace a meal before exercise?

Don’t assume that a kano can replace a planned meal. When planning around exercise, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a meal around 2 to 3 hours beforehand; treat this separately from a sweet snack you take along for the taste.

How should I store kano biscuits in my gym bag?

Follow the instructions on the exact packaging. Jumbo says Kano's with Roomboter 275 g should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place; bear this in mind if your gym bag is somewhere warm.