If you want to serve individual portions quickly
When it gets busy, pre-sliced portions mean less cutting at the stall. Individually wrapped slices are another option if you want to give each customer a portion in its original packaging.
Which pack is right for you?
If you want to decide the size of each slice yourself
A large unsliced cake gives you the freedom to cut your own portions. Bear in mind that you’ll need to slice it, and decide in advance how many slices you want from each cake.
If you want to offer a specific variety
A wholemeal or Zero variety may suit a particular customer preference. Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen details for each product; the variety name alone doesn’t tell you everything.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how you want to serve the ontbijtkoek. Then choose the pack size and check what information customers need for that way of selling it.
Large unsliced cake
Choose this if: you want to decide the size of each slice yourself.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to slice it and manage portion sizes at the stall.
Large pre-sliced cake
Choose this if: you want to serve slices without having to cut each portion yourself.
Bear in mind: the slice size is set in advance, and you’ll need to provide allergen information if you sell the slices unpackaged.
Individually wrapped slices
Choose this if: you want to give each customer a set portion in its original packaging.
Bear in mind: the number of slices and net weight per pack; a portion pack isn’t the same as a large sharing cake.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving quickly | Check whether the cake is pre-sliced and whether the slices are individually wrapped. | If I want to serve portions without cutting during a busy spell, every extra task at the stall counts. Around 40% of consumers would say serving quickly is their top priority. |
| Portioning it yourself | Compare the net weight and decide how large you want the slices to be if you choose an unsliced cake. | If I want to choose the size of each slice for several customers, a cake I can portion on site is more useful. Around 40% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Variety and product information | Read the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen details for the exact variety. | If I want to offer a specific variety, I need to be able to check what’s in the cake and what information I can provide when selling it by the slice. Around 20% of consumers would base their choice on this need. |
Common mistakes
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Looking only at the size of the pack
A high total weight doesn’t tell you how many slices of your preferred size you can serve. A portion pack may contain more individual packs, but less cake overall.
Compare the net weight and, where stated, the number of slices and weight per slice. Then decide what size portion you want to offer at the stall.
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Serving unpackaged slices without allergen information
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about allergens present in unpackaged food must be available to customers before purchase.
Keep the current product information at the stall and make sure customers can get the allergen details for the specific cake. If you provide this information verbally, additional requirements apply.
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Assuming a variety name gives you the full nutritional picture
The name Zero or wording in a product title doesn’t tell you which ingredients, nutritional values or allergens are listed on the current packaging.
Use the variety name to find the right product, then read the ingredients list, nutrition table and allergen information.
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Assuming ‘sharing bag’ is a standard size for ontbijtkoek
That search term doesn’t tell you whether you need an unsliced cake, a pre-sliced cake or individually wrapped portions.
Work out how many customers you’ll be serving, what size slices you want and how you’ll hand the cake over. Then compare the different pack types.
Brands and own-label options compared
These examples show the pack types available in the product ranges mentioned. A brand name alone doesn’t tell you which variety will suit the way you serve it.
Peijnenburg
Koek & Bakker
ALDI Netherlands lists pre-sliced Zero and wholemeal varieties weighing 485 g under this brand, among other products.
- The pre-sliced format means less cutting when serving individual portions.
- Check the current information for the variety you choose; features of one Koek & Bakker product don’t automatically apply to another.
Goud Gebakken
ALDI Netherlands lists a 550 g plain ontbijtkoek that is unsliced.
- With this unsliced variety, you can choose the size of each slice yourself.
- For individual portions, you’ll need to slice the cake yourself and keep the product-specific allergen information available.
Jumbo (huismerk)
Jumbo lists a 550 g unsliced plain ontbijtkoek and a 475 g pre-sliced plain variety.
- These two formats let you choose between cutting it yourself and serving pre-sliced portions.
- When comparing them, bear in mind that the net weights differ.
PLUS (huismerk)
PLUS lists, among other products, a 550 g unsliced plain ontbijtkoek and a 485 g pre-sliced one under its own label.
- The plain varieties mentioned let you choose whether you want to slice the cake yourself.
- Check the packaging of the exact variety for its weight, ingredients and allergen information.
Ontbijtkoek on Joybuy
This portion pack is especially useful if you want to serve ontbijtkoek without cutting it. Compare its contents with a large cake if you want to cut slices yourself for several customers.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g
An option for serving portions without cutting; check whether the individual packaging suits the way you serve them.
The pack contains 250 g in total. The words Less Sugar-Free in the product name don’t prove that the cake is sugar-free: check the current ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
What allergen information do I need if I sell individual slices of ontbijtkoek?
When selling unpackaged food, information about allergens present must be available before purchase. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out the information requirements for 14 allergens. Keep details of the exact cake at the stall, and check the requirements if you provide information to customers verbally.
Are individually wrapped slices always more convenient for an oliebollen stall?
Not if you mainly want to choose the slice size yourself or portion out a large amount of cake. Individually wrapped slices work well as fixed portions for each customer; also compare the number of slices, the weight per slice and the total contents with a large cake.
Does bakers’ salt mean every ontbijtkoek contains iodine?
No. The term bakers’ salt doesn’t tell you whether it has been used in a particular ontbijtkoek. Check the ingredients on the current packaging before making any claims about the product.
What should I check when choosing a pre-sliced or unsliced cake?
Check the net weight and whether you can serve the portions you want without extra cutting. With an unsliced cake, you choose the size of each slice yourself. A pre-sliced cake is ready to serve, but the slice size needs to suit the way you plan to serve it.