Fair organiser managing the handout
You want volunteers to be able to find allergen information for every product on offer, including when biscuits are handed out from a larger pack.
Which pack is right for you?
Volunteer who needs lots of portions
You’re looking for a pack that lets you plan the number of treats in advance, without turning every biscuit into an individual gift.
Shopper looking for a small speculaas gift
You’re looking for filled speculaas or another flavour as a little present, and will check the ingredients and allergens for that specific variety.
What should you consider when choosing?
First decide whether you want to hand out sealed biscuits, prepare portions yourself or sell a gift-style option. Then check the label of every product you plan to have at the stall.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Allergen information | Read the current label and decide how visitors can get allergen information before making their choice. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of information about allergens present. | If I’m offering speculaas at a school stall, I want to be able to say which allergens each product contains. This information is a priority for around 44% of consumers. |
| Portions and serving | Compare the net weight with any stated number of biscuits or portions, and check whether the biscuits are individually wrapped. | At a busy stall, I want to know how many portions I can offer and whether I need to portion them myself. Around 33% of consumers give this planning the highest priority. |
| Gift format and flavour | Choose between a standard sharing pack, filled speculaas and almond speculaas, and read the ingredients for each variety. | For a small present, I’m more likely to look for a distinctive flavour than a large quantity of biscuits to hand out. This gift choice matters most to around 23% of consumers. |
Common mistakes when handing out biscuits
-
Buying a sharing pack without a plan for handing out individual biscuits
If biscuits are taken out of their original pack, allergen information must still be available for the product being offered.
Keep the original pack at the stall or prepare an accurate allergen card, and make sure volunteers know where to find the information.
-
Assuming filled or almond speculaas is an obvious choice for everyone
The Aviateur and G'woon varieties mentioned have different ingredients and allergens. A different flavour doesn’t mean every visitor can choose that product.
Label each variety separately and check the current label before displaying allergen information at the stall.
-
Choosing based on the word ‘artisan’ alone
That description doesn’t tell you how many portions you’ll get from a pack or which allergens it contains.
Compare the pack contents, packaging format and ingredients of the products you’re considering.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Lotus Biscoff
An option to consider when individually wrapped biscuits suit the way you plan to hand them out.
- Albert Heijn describes a Lotus Speculoos pack containing 300 individually wrapped biscuits.
- This product lists wheat, soya and cereals containing gluten. Don’t confuse the 300-piece pack with a smaller pack from the same brand.
Jumbo
A sharing pack to consider if the stall can prepare portions itself.
- Jumbo lists its Bakkers Speculaas in a 600 g pack, with around 48 portions.
- The product contains wheat and gluten and may contain almonds and nuts. Keep the product information available when handing out individual biscuits.
Aviateur
A filled speculaas option for anyone looking for a small present.
- Jumbo describes Aviateur Gevulde Speculaas as a 240 g pack with almond paste filling.
- The product contains milk, lactose, soya and wheat, among other ingredients. Also check warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.
G'woon
A brand whose product information covers both bakers’ speculaas and an almond variety.
- The packs discussed are 600 g of bakers’ speculaas and 400 g of almond speculaas.
- For the almond variety, Joybuy lists almonds, wheat, milk and egg in the ingredients. Check the label on the pack you’re offering.
Pack examples for the school fair
The examples are organised by sealed handouts, portioning yourself and gift-style options; they aren’t a quality ranking of the products or retailers. Product details are from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Joybuy.
| Position | Product | Features | Why consider it? | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lotus Speculoos, 300 pieces | According to Albert Heijn, 300 individually wrapped biscuits. | For giving each visitor one sealed biscuit. Albert Heijn lists wheat, soya and cereals containing gluten for this product; before buying, also check that this specific pack is available. | Albert Heijn |
| 2 | Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas, 600 g | According to Jumbo, around 48 portions per pack. | For a stall that can prepare its own portions and keep allergen information available when handing out individual biscuits. The product contains wheat and gluten and may contain almonds and nuts. | Jumbo |
| 3 | Aviateur Gevulde Speculaas, 240 g | Filled speculaas with almond paste. | A smaller gift-size option rather than a pack for handing out lots of portions. Jumbo lists milk, lactose, soya and wheat among the allergens. | Jumbo |
| 4 | G'woon Amandel Speculaas, 400 g | According to Joybuy, the almond variety contains 7% almonds. | For anyone deliberately offering an almond variety as a gift. Joybuy also lists wheat, milk and egg in the ingredients; display the current product information when handing it out. | Joybuy |
Speculaas for the school fair on Joybuy
These packs suit different plans for the school fair: a pack of speculaas biscuits, an almond variety as a gift or bakers’ speculaas to portion yourself. Check how the biscuits are packaged and which allergens are listed on the label for each pack.
Image unavailable
Lotus Biscoff Speculoos, 250 g
A pack of speculaas biscuits to consider for the fair; this isn’t the pack of 300 individually wrapped biscuits.
If you want to hand out sealed portions, check whether the biscuits in this pack are individually wrapped. Read the pack you’re offering for allergen information.
Image unavailable
G'woon Amandel Speculaas, 400 g
An almond variety for a carefully chosen gift, not for handing out without clear ingredient information.
Joybuy lists 7% almonds and also includes wheat, milk and egg in the ingredients. Check the current label before offering the product.
Image unavailable
De Ruiter Bakers Speculaas, 450 g
A pack of bakers’ speculaas for a stall that wants to prepare its own portions.
Plan how you’ll hand out the biscuits and keep the pack at the stall. Check the label for wheat and possible traces of nuts.
Frequently asked questions
Which pack is handy if I want to give each visitor one biscuit?
Choose a pack in which the biscuits are genuinely individually wrapped. Albert Heijn describes a Lotus Speculoos product containing 300 individually wrapped biscuits; if you’re considering another Lotus pack, check separately whether it has the same packaging format.
Can I offer speculaas loose from a sharing pack?
You’ll need a safe way to handle and serve the food, as well as allergen information that visitors can access before making their choice. Keep the original label at the stall and agree with the school how volunteers will make the information available for every variety on offer.
Which allergens should I check in these speculaas products?
Read the label for each individual product. The varieties discussed list wheat, soya, almonds, milk and egg, among other ingredients, while warnings about possible traces may vary from pack to pack. Don’t rely on the product name alone or on the ingredients for another variety.
Is ‘artisan’ a useful way to choose a speculaas gift?
The name alone won’t tell you whether the pack is suitable as a gift or for handing out at the fair. Compare the pack contents, packaging format and ingredients of the products you want to offer.