Stallholder giving out small thank-you gifts
Wants to give chocolate to individual customers quickly, so looks for clearly portioned products with packaging information that can be checked.
Which packaging is right for whom?
Seller catering for sharing
Looks for an assortment that a household or group can share alongside an order of oliebollen, with a choice of different types of chocolate.
Seller offering a gift
Looks for an attractive box of chocolates or truffles for a single thank-you occasion. Handing them out to several customers is less important.
What should you consider when choosing?
Individually wrapped chocolates
Best for: small thank-you gifts for different customers.
Bear in mind: individual wrappers don’t remove the need to check allergen information.
Sharing assortment
Best for: a household or group who want to choose chocolates together.
Bear in mind: a sharing pack isn’t necessarily practical if each customer is to receive a single thank-you treat.
Chocolates or pralines
Best for: a single gift where presentation matters more than handing it out quickly.
Bear in mind: check that the contents and packaging suit the recipient and the way you plan to present the gift.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and how you sell it | Read the allergen information on the current packaging and decide how you’ll provide it to customers when selling individual portions. | If I sell chocolate loose, I want to be able to tell customers which allergens it contains before they buy. For around 42% of consumers, this information is their top priority when choosing. |
| Handing out or sharing | Check whether individual pieces are wrapped and whether the format suits one recipient or a group. | I want to know whether I can hand out a small thank-you treat straight away or offer an assortment for a group. Around 33% of consumers give ease of handing out or sharing the highest priority. |
| Gifting and availability | Check the size and presentation, and confirm availability before choosing a pack as a regular option for your stall. | For a thank-you gift, I want a box that’s suitable to give as a present and that I can get for the stall. This matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming an assortment will suit every customer
A varied box of chocolates may contain ingredients that matter to customers with food allergies. Individual wrappers don’t remove this concern.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re actually selling, and don’t make general claims about its suitability.
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Relying only on an online product description
Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change when a product is updated.
When your stock arrives, check the product name, contents, best-before date, allergens and storage instructions on the packaging.
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Buying a sharing assortment for individual thank-you gifts
Albert Heijn describes its 400 g Merci Gift Box as containing 32 individually wrapped bars. Don’t assume another assortment is packaged in the same way without checking.
Before buying, decide whether you want to give one piece to each customer or sell the whole pack to a group.
Dividing the chocolate yourself may mean extra packaging work.
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Leaving chocolate out of your food-selling procedures
The Chamber of Commerce says that preparing or selling food requires an HACCP plan or an approved hygiene code.
Include chocolate storage, any repackaging and allergen information in your stall’s procedures too.
Brands and retailers to consider
merci
An option to consider for small thank-you gifts: according to Albert Heijn, the 400 g Merci Gift Box contains 32 individually wrapped bars.
- Individual bars are practical when you’re giving several customers a thank-you gift.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each box you buy; the different varieties won’t necessarily suit every customer.
Celebrations
A chocolate assortment to consider when a group will share the contents.
- Assortment and gift packs are available in different sizes.
- Check the contents, allergens and format of the exact size you choose.
Verkade
A smaller chocolate gift may suit a single thank-you occasion; Jumbo lists, among other options, a 135 g Verkade Heart pack.
- The heart-shaped pack offers a different presentation from a box of bars to hand out.
- Don’t assume the portions are individually wrapped without checking the packaging you choose.
Albert Heijn
A retailer offering chocolate gifts, chocolates, truffles and pralines in a range of packaging.
- Its range lets you compare sharing packs with boxes intended as a single gift.
- Albert Heijn notes that product information can change, so check the packaging of the product you buy.
Chocolate products on Joybuy
These products include different types of gift chocolate, sharing packs and small chocolate portions for your stall. Choose based on the recipient, and check the packaging before selling.
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Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Gift Pack, 288 g
A gift pack to consider for sharing alongside an order. Check how it’s packaged if you want to hand out the chocolates individually.
Contents: 288 g. Check the current allergen information and best-before date before selling.
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Merci Petits Chocolate Collection, 125 g
A compact chocolate treat for a thank-you occasion. If you plan to hand out individual pieces, check how many there are and how they’re packaged.
Contents: 125 g. Check the current allergen information and best-before date before selling.
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Milka Thank You Pralines Milk Cream, 110 g
Pralines for a thank-you occasion when you want to present the pack as a whole. Check how they’re packaged if handing out individual pieces matters.
Contents: 110 g. Check the current allergen information and best-before date before selling.
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Milka Chocolate Assortment Party Pack, 143 g
A chocolate assortment to consider for sharing. Check the packaging before offering it as individual portions.
Contents: 143 g. Check the current allergen information and best-before date before selling.
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Nestle Kitkat Itoen Matcha & Chocolate, 9 pieces, 104,4 g
A small box for anyone looking to offer small chocolate portions. It isn’t an assortment of different flavours, so check the best-before date on the delivered packaging before buying.
Contents: 9 pieces, 104,4 g in total. Check the current allergen information before selling.
Frequently asked questions
Does an oliebollen stall need to include chocolate in its food safety procedures?
Yes. This applies to chocolate you sell at your stall too. The Chamber of Commerce says that when preparing or selling food, you need an HACCP plan or an approved hygiene code. Include chocolate storage and any repackaging in your procedures.
What allergen information should I provide for unpackaged chocolate?
Customers must be able to find out which allergens are present before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that you can provide this information in writing for unpackaged food, or verbally if you clearly tell customers they can ask for it.
Is online ingredient information enough for the stock at my stall?
No. Check the packaging of the chocolate you’re actually selling. Albert Heijn notes that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change when products are updated.
Have warnings about possible cross-contamination changed since 2026?
Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that new rules for these warnings on labels apply from 1 January 2026. If you resell a product, don’t cover up the information on its existing packaging. If you repackage or label products yourself, check which rules apply to your procedures.