Who is this choice relevant to?

Organisers catering for a range of dietary requirements

Looking for a biscuit to suit particular guests, without overlooking information about wheat, milk or possible traces of other allergens.

Festival planners who want to share biscuits

Want enough to go round and packaging that can stay dry and well sealed during transport and serving.

Fans of classic spritz biscuits

Choose them for their buttery, crumbly texture, while checking that the ingredients in the chosen variety are suitable for their guests.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, consider any dietary requirements you need to cater for. Then match the pack size and storage arrangements to how you’ll serve the biscuits. Only then decide between the flavour of spritz biscuits and digestives.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Dietary requirements and allergens Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the exact pack. A vegan or lactose-free label does not mean a biscuit is gluten-free. If guests have different dietary requirements, I want to be able to check which biscuits I can offer them. For around 31% of consumers, this check would be the main reason for their choice.
Storage and serving Choose packaging that you can leave unopened until just before serving, or seal securely afterwards, and make sure you have a cool, dry, dark place to store it. When serving at a stall, I want to stop opened biscuits from going soggy. Suitable storage would be a priority for around 25% of consumers.
Quantity for the group Compare the pack size with the number of guests and consider whether you can keep an opened pack dry. At Albert Heijn, McVitie's Digestives Original is available in a pack of 2 × 400 g. When buying for a group, I want to bring enough biscuits without opening more than necessary. The quantity needed would be the most important factor for around 25% of consumers.
Flavour and texture Check whether you’re choosing a butter spritz biscuit or a digestive. The varieties reviewed have different ingredients and offer different taste experiences. If the biscuit itself is the treat, I’m more likely to look for the buttery, crumbly flavour of a spritz biscuit. This flavour preference would be the main consideration for around 19% of consumers.

Pitfalls when buying

  • Assuming any digestive is suitable for every diet

    Albert Heijn describes AH Digestive as vegan and lactose-free, but the product contains wheat. PLUS Digestive also contains wheat and, according to PLUS, may contain rye, barley and oats.

    Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you’ll actually be serving rather than relying on the word ‘digestive’.

  • Treating all spritz biscuits as the same

    According to Albert Heijn, Verkade Nobo Plain Spritz Biscuits contain milk and wheat and may contain nuts and sesame. AH Round Butter Spritz Biscuits also contain egg, so the allergens vary by product.

    Keep the allergen information for each chosen pack available when serving, and provide a suitable separate alternative if needed.

  • Opening a large pack too early

    A larger pack is only helpful when serving a group if you can protect the opened biscuits from moisture.

    Open packs as close to serving time as possible, put out smaller quantities and reseal the rest securely. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container.

Brands to consider

Verkade

The Nobo Plain Spritz Biscuits and milk chocolate variety show why it’s important to check the exact type of spritz biscuit.

  • Albert Heijn describes Nobo Plain Spritz Biscuits as crumbly, and lists them in a 150 g pack.
  • The plain variety contains milk and wheat and may contain nuts and sesame. According to Albert Heijn, the milk chocolate variety also contains soya.

Albert Heijn

The own-brand range includes both AH Digestive and spritz biscuit varieties, including round butter spritz biscuits.

  • Albert Heijn describes its 400 g AH Digestive as vegan and lactose-free.
  • AH Digestive contains wheat. According to Albert Heijn, its round butter spritz biscuits contain 27% butter concentrate, egg and wheat, so they’re not suitable for guests avoiding egg or milk.

McVitie's

Digestives Original is worth considering if you’re looking for a larger pack for a group.

  • Albert Heijn lists the value pack as two packs of 400 g each.
  • This variety contains wheat and cereals containing gluten, and may contain milk. Even with a larger pack, check the allergens and make sure you have a dry place to store it.

PLUS

PLUS Digestive biscuits are an own-brand option to compare if a vegan label is important to you.

  • PLUS describes its 400 g digestives as vegan and lists sunflower oil as an ingredient.
  • The biscuits contain wheat and, according to PLUS, may contain rye, barley and oats. Check whether they meet dietary requirements on a pack-by-pack basis.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are digestives automatically gluten-free?

No. According to their product information, AH Digestive and PLUS Digestive contain wheat. If your guests need to avoid gluten, check the ingredients, allergen information and any gluten-free label on the exact pack.

How can I keep spritz biscuits and digestives crisp at a festival?

Store the biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Once opened, put out smaller quantities and reseal the rest.

Do I need to provide allergen information for unpackaged biscuits?

Yes. If you’re a business offering unpackaged biscuits to consumers, information about any allergens present must be available. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that for unpackaged products, this information must be provided in a way other than on a package label. Make sure visitors can check it when choosing.

Is the best-before date enough when planning for a large pack of biscuits?

No. Also follow the storage advice on the pack and consider how you’ll reseal it after opening. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container.