Oranje fan looking for Fairtrade cocoa
You want something sweet to share during the match and are looking for a Fairtrade claim for the cocoa in the product you’re actually buying.
Who is this choice for?
Biscuit lover looking for an alternative to Kano biscuits
You’d rather stick with a biscuit than switch to a chocolate bar. You’re happy to try a spritz biscuit or a marshmallow biscuit, even though the filling and texture are different from a Kano.
Host checking for allergens
You’re sharing snacks with others and want to check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging first. That matters more than relying on the product name or the front of the pack alone.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to stick with the familiar Kano shape or be able to identify Fairtrade cocoa in the product you choose. Then consider the type of snack and who you’re sharing it with to find the right pack.
Butter Kano biscuits
When to choose them: Pick these if you specifically want a filled Kano biscuit.
The trade-off: Jumbo’s product information makes no mention of cocoa or a Fairtrade claim for these Kano biscuits, so don’t present them as a Fairtrade cocoa snack.
Biscuits with Fairtrade chocolate
When to choose them: Take this route if you want to share a biscuit and be able to check that the cocoa in that product is Fairtrade.
The trade-off: The Verkade Nobo Sprits and Choco S’mores described by Albert Heijn aren’t Kano biscuits filled with almond paste.
Fairtrade chocolate bars
When to choose them: Choose a bar specifically labelled as Fairtrade if chocolate matters more to you than having a biscuit.
The trade-off: A bar won’t replace a filled biscuit. Even when buying from a brand with Fairtrade products, check the claim on the specific variety you choose.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for a Fairtrade mark or a product-specific claim for the cocoa on the pack you’ve chosen. | I’ll only choose a match-day snack if the Fairtrade claim applies to that product. For around 31% of consumers, being able to verify the cocoa claim matters most. |
| Shape and quantity | Compare biscuits with bars and check the pack size: Albert Heijn lists 150 g for Verkade Nobo Sprits and 66 g for Choco S’mores. | When we watch together, I want to know whether I’m putting biscuits or a bar on the table, and how much is in the pack. Around 25% of consumers prioritise the type of snack. |
| Allergens | Check the current label for both the ingredients and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens. | If guests need to avoid certain allergens, I want to know whether they can eat the same snack. For around 19% of consumers, this suitability is the first consideration. |
| Choice by supermarket | Check the current product information from the shop you’re buying from; don’t assume a Fairtrade claim applies across its range. | I want to choose a suitable snack at the supermarket where I do my shopping, without assuming that every product on the shelf carries a certification mark. For around 25% of consumers, the choice of shop comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a Kano is a Fairtrade chocolate snack
The ingredients list for Jumbo’s butter Kano biscuits doesn’t mention cocoa, and the product page makes no Fairtrade claim. Its place in the biscuit aisle tells you nothing about whether its cocoa is Fairtrade.
If Fairtrade cocoa is a must-have, look for a claim on the specific biscuit or chocolate bar.
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Assuming a claim for a range applies to every product
Lidl lists several types of certification for its own-brand cocoa, including Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic. These claims aren’t interchangeable.
So check which claim appears on the pack of the variety you’ve chosen.
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Buying biscuits for a group without checking for allergens
Ingredients such as wheat, milk, soya, egg or nuts may be relevant in the Kano biscuits and chocolate biscuits described here. The product name doesn’t tell you everything about what’s inside.
Ask guests in advance which allergens they need to avoid, then read all the information on the current label.
Brands to consider
These brands give you some options when choosing between a Kano, a chocolate biscuit and a bar. Always check the Fairtrade claim and ingredients for each individual product.
Verkade
If you’re looking for a biscuit with chocolate, Albert Heijn describes Nobo Sprits made with Fairtrade milk chocolate and Choco S’mores made with chocolate containing Fairtrade cocoa.
- Albert Heijn gives a product-specific Fairtrade cocoa claim for both of these products.
- They aren’t Kano biscuits, so check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you choose too.
PLUS
PLUS says the cocoa in its own-brand products has been Fairtrade-certified since 2020 and lists a Fairtrade bar with 70% cocoa among its products.
- The bar mentioned is a specific option if you’d rather have chocolate than a biscuit.
- A chocolate bar doesn’t have the shape or filling of a Kano, so check the pack you choose separately.
ALDI
ALDI Netherlands says its Moser Roth chocolate is Fairtrade-certified and describes a Moser Roth bar with 85% cocoa.
- The bar mentioned carries a product-specific Fairtrade claim for anyone looking for a dark chocolate bar.
- In shape and ingredients, it’s no replacement for a filled Kano.
Lidl
Lidl describes the chocolate bars in its Way To Go range as products made in partnership with Fairtrade.
- The Way To Go range is a specific option if you’re looking for a Fairtrade chocolate bar.
- Lidl also lists other types of certification for its own-brand cocoa, so don’t assume every cocoa product carries a Fairtrade claim.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s butter Kano biscuits are a good reference point if you want to stick with the original biscuit shape.
- Jumbo’s product information provides an ingredients list to help you assess these Kano biscuits.
- The list doesn’t mention cocoa, and the product page makes no Fairtrade claim for these Kano biscuits.
Products for a biscuit or chocolate bar
These Joybuy products offer two different types of snack for watching Oranje: a chocolate biscuit and chocolate bars. If you specifically want Fairtrade cocoa, check the claim on the pack you choose. If you’re sharing, check for allergens too.
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Verkade Nobo Spritzed milk chocolate 150 g
A biscuit option if you’d rather not put a chocolate bar on the table.
The pack lists 150 g. Before sharing, check the current Fairtrade claim and allergens on the label. This isn’t a Kano filled with almond paste.
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Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate bar with pecan and caramel 180 g
A bar to share during the match if you’d prefer chocolate to a filled biscuit.
The product name lists pecan, caramel and 180 g. Before serving, check the current pack for a Fairtrade claim and allergen information.
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Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate bar with caramel and sea salt 90 g
A bar for when you fancy caramel and sea salt and don’t need the shape of a Kano.
The product name lists 90 g. Check the current pack to see whether its Fairtrade claim and allergen information meet your group’s needs.
Frequently asked questions
Can Jumbo’s butter Kano biscuits be verified as a Fairtrade cocoa choice?
No, Jumbo’s product information doesn’t substantiate that for these Kano biscuits. The ingredients list doesn’t mention cocoa, and the product page makes no Fairtrade claim. If Fairtrade cocoa is important to you, choose a product that carries a specific claim.
Does a supermarket’s general sustainability claim mean every chocolate product is Fairtrade?
No, check the claim on the individual product. For example, Lidl lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic as different types of certification for its own-brand cocoa. A general statement about cocoa doesn’t confirm which certification mark is on the snack you’ve chosen.
What should I check when buying biscuits for a group?
Ask which allergens your guests need to avoid, then read the ingredients and any warnings on the current label. The Jumbo Kano biscuits and Verkade biscuits described here have different ingredients, so don’t rely on the product category alone.
Should I compare the online product information with the packaging?
Yes. Use the label on the pack you’re buying to check the Fairtrade claim, ingredients and allergens. That way, you’re assessing the specific variety you’ve chosen, rather than relying on a general brand description or another product in the same range.