Hosts planning a coffee or tea break
They want enough biscuits for their group without choosing a pack that will mostly be left over. The stated number of biscuits, as well as the weight, can help.
Who is a sharing pack suitable for?
Groups with different dietary requirements
They want to know what ingredients and allergens a pack contains before sharing it. For a biscuit selection, the information needs to cover every variety in the pack.
Anyone comparing pack sizes and portions
They want to compare large and small packs on the same basis: net weight and, where stated, the number of biscuits or portions. Nutritional values per 100 g are useful for comparison.
What should you look for when choosing?
Decide how many biscuits you want to be able to share, and whether your guests would prefer one variety or a selection. Before buying, also check that the ingredients meet their dietary requirements.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Check both the net weight and the stated number of biscuits; don’t estimate the number from the weight alone. | If I’m putting biscuits out for a group, I want to know whether one pack will be enough without leaving lots over. Around 33% of consumers prioritise getting the right quantity. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients list and allergen information, including for products labelled vegan or for a selection of biscuits. | If guests have allergies or other dietary requirements, I need to be able to check which biscuits are suitable for them. For around 25% of consumers, suitability is their main concern. |
| Comparable information | Compare the net weight and nutritional values per 100 g; don’t use portions as your only measure. | When choosing between different pack sizes, I want to compare the contents and nutritional information on the same basis. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this comparison. |
| Serving and storage | Check whether the biscuits are individually wrapped, and follow the storage advice for an opened pack. | If I want to portion the biscuits out in advance or serve them over several snack breaks, the packaging needs to suit. This is the main requirement for around 17% of consumers. |
A pack containing one type of biscuit makes it easier to work out how many each guest can have, if the pack states the number of biscuits. A selection is mainly about offering a variety of flavours, so check the ingredients for the whole pack. Individually wrapped biscuits can be handy for portioning out in advance, but still check how many portions the pack actually contains.
Common mistakes
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Judging the pack by its size alone
Weight and number of biscuits don’t tell you the same thing. Jumbo lists around 32 biscuits in a 250 g pack of Lotus Biscoff; ALDI lists around 20 biscuits in a 380 g pack of jode or coffee biscuits.
Use the weight to compare the contents and the stated number of biscuits to plan how you’ll share them.
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Sharing a selection without checking the label
A selection may contain ingredients that aren’t suitable for every guest. For AH Koekjes variatie, Albert Heijn lists ingredients including egg, milk, peanuts, cereals containing gluten and soya, as well as possible traces of nuts.
Read the latest packaging information for the product you choose before sharing it. If guests have different dietary requirements, provide a clearly separate alternative where needed.
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Assuming vegan means allergen-free
The 250 g Lotus Biscoff pack described by Jumbo is labelled suitable for vegans, but contains wheat and soya. A vegan label therefore doesn’t tell you which allergens are present.
As well as checking the label, read the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack.
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Relying on packaging you checked earlier
A product you chose for a planned afternoon may no longer be available to order later. For example, product pages from Albert Heijn and Jumbo said that certain biscuit selections were no longer in their online ranges.
Check the latest product page shortly before buying. If you need to check for allergens, review the label again if you choose an alternative.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Speculoos for anyone who wants to serve a familiar biscuit with coffee or tea. Jumbo lists around 32 biscuits in the 250 g pack; Albert Heijn also describes a format containing 300 individually wrapped biscuits.
- The 250 g variety described by Jumbo is labelled suitable for vegans.
- That variety contains wheat and soya. Check the pack to see which variety and ingredients you’re buying.
Albert Heijn
Own-brand selections for anyone who wants to serve different varieties from one pack. AH Koekjes variatie is one example, in a 300 g pack.
- The product information lists the different types of biscuit and their ingredients.
- AH Koekjes variatie was listed as discontinued. If you choose another selection, check the allergen information again.
Jumbo
An own-brand biscuit selection that offers a range of flavours to share. The Jumbo Koekjes Mix described here contains 300 g.
- The product information lists around 33 portions and provides ingredient information.
- The selection was no longer available in the online range; the stated portions don’t confirm that it’s in stock.
Biscotto
ALDI’s own brand, with biscuits in a range of pack sizes. The range includes 500 g sandwich biscuits and 600 g bakers’ speculaas, among other products.
- The stated weights give you a starting point for working out how much you need.
- For a specific large pack, check the ingredients and allergens on the latest packaging.
Sondey
Lidl describes a range of Sondey biscuits and cookies, including vegan options.
- You can look through the range for a type of biscuit that suits your snack break.
- The brand description doesn’t mean that every Sondey product is vegan. Check the pack you choose and its current availability.
Biscuits for sharing at an afternoon snack
These Joybuy products are biscuits in a range of pack sizes for sharing at a snack break. Choose according to the type you want, the quantity stated on the pack and the information you need to check for your guests.
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Lotus Biscoff speculoos biscuits, 250 g
A pack of one type of biscuit for a coffee or tea break. Jumbo lists around 32 biscuits in this 250 g variety.
Jumbo describes this variety as suitable for vegans and lists wheat and soya. Check the latest packaging if your guests have allergies.
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Hellema Smoeltjes speculaas biscuits, 8 biscuits, 200 g
A set number of biscuits can be handy if you want to decide in advance how many to serve.
The product name lists 8 biscuits and 200 g. Check the latest ingredients and allergen information before sharing.
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LU Scholiertje biscuits with milk chocolate, 150 g
For a group who’d like to share biscuits with milk chocolate; check the pack to see whether the quantity suits your group.
The product name lists 150 g. If guests have dietary requirements, read the latest ingredients and allergen information.
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FESTIVAL vanilla-flavoured biscuits, 403 g
A larger pack to consider if you’re putting biscuits out for several people. Check the packaging to see how many biscuits you can actually serve.
The product name lists 403 g. Check the latest ingredients and allergens before sharing the pack with guests.
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Ulker Halley Mini Biscuit, 3 × 77 g
Three smaller packs may be a good fit if you want to serve biscuits over several snack breaks. Check how many biscuits each pack contains.
The product name lists 3 packs of 77 g. Check the latest label for ingredients and allergens.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare biscuit packs of different sizes?
Compare the net weight and, for nutritional values, the information per 100 g. Also check the stated number of biscuits if you want to estimate how many you can serve. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing per 100 g, as manufacturers may define portions differently.
Are vegan biscuits suitable for guests with allergies too?
Not without checking the allergens. The 250 g Lotus Biscoff variety described by Jumbo as vegan contains wheat and soya, so read the latest packaging for the biscuits you want to serve.
Where can I find allergen information for pre-packed biscuits?
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the latest packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes the requirement to list 14 allergens on food labels. If you’re serving a selection, check the information for the whole product before sharing it.
How should I store biscuits after opening a sharing pack?
Follow the storage advice on the pack you’ve chosen. For the biscuit selection described, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a cool, dark, dry place and transferring it to a sealed tin after opening. Don’t apply this product-specific advice to other biscuits without checking first.