Choose individually wrapped chocolates if you want to hand one out to each guest at the wedding buffet; a selection box is a better fit when presentation and a choice of flavours are your priorities. Biscuits are mainly for serving with coffee or tea, and don’t have to replace a chocolate favour. Check the ingredients and allergen information on every pack you choose, especially if you’re offering several flavours.
Do you want to serve a treat to each guest, place one at every table or add one to each favour bag? Then the number of pieces and the packaging matter more than the box’s weight alone. Individually wrapped mini chocolates are one option to consider.
If the treat will be displayed on the table or given as a small favour, it makes a difference whether you choose a gift box, a selection box or a sharing tub. Consider whether guests will help themselves or take a packaged treat away.
If guests have questions about ingredients, you’ll need to be able to check the information on the exact pack. For a buffet offering unpackaged food run by a business or caterer, the information available at the point of serving is also important, as the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains.
First decide what role the treat will play: one piece per guest, a sharing chocolate box or something to serve with coffee. Then check the contents and allergen information on the pack you actually plan to use.
A good fit for: self-service or a favour you want to put together for each guest.
Keep in mind: you’ll still need to check the ingredients on the pack you choose if it contains a mix of flavours.
A good fit for: a chocolate treat where the box itself is part of the presentation.
Keep in mind: the weight of the box doesn’t tell you how many individual pieces you can hand out.
A good fit for: a coffee break during the buffet, as an addition to or alternative to chocolate.
Keep in mind: a biscuit won’t automatically serve the same purpose as a chocolate favour.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and serving | Check the number of pieces and whether they’re individually wrapped. Compare the quantity with the expected number of guests. | If I want to give every guest something, I need to know in advance how many pieces I can hand out. Portion planning is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens and information | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, even if it’s a mix of flavours. Decide how guests will be able to access this information at the buffet. | If guests may ask about allergens, I want to be able to give them clear information about each product I’ve chosen. This information is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Presentation and flavours | Look at the packaging and the number of varieties. Decide whether the product will stay on the table or be given to guests to take away. | If the treat is also a favour, I want the packaging to suit the occasion. Around 20% of consumers put presentation and choice of flavour first. |
| Biscuits or chocolate | Choose the type of product to suit the occasion: with coffee or tea, as a centrepiece treat or as a favour. | I’m looking for something different for a coffee break than I am for a chocolate favour to hand out. Choosing the type of product comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
A selection may contain ingredients that matter to some guests. For its 250 g merci Chocolate Assortment Box, Jumbo lists milk ingredients, hazelnuts, almonds and soya, among others. That doesn’t tell you which allergens are in a different box.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. If a business or caterer is serving unpackaged food, make sure information about any allergens present is also available where guests are served.
If you’re handing out treats to each guest, you need to know how many pieces there are. For example, Albert Heijn describes a Tiny Tony’s gift box containing 22 individually wrapped chocolates; the weight alone doesn’t tell you how they’re portioned.
Decide how many pieces you want to hand out, then check the quantity and type of packaging in the box you choose.
A biscuit with coffee meets a different need from a chocolate box displayed on the table as a favour. Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a biscuit to enjoy with coffee.
Start by deciding when you’ll serve it. Add biscuits for coffee or tea, or choose chocolate if handing out treats or giving favours is the main priority.
Tiny Tony’s is worth considering if you’re looking for small chocolates for guests to help themselves to or to give as favours.
An option when a chocolate box with a range of flavours will form part of the table display.
A good option for a chocolate mix in packaging you can place in the middle of the buffet.
A biscuit option for serving with coffee or tea, alongside or instead of a chocolate treat.
These Joybuy products include chocolate to share, a chocolate collection for a moment of thanks, and biscuits to serve with coffee or tea. Above all, compare the packaging with the way you plan to serve them.
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A gift-wrapped chocolate treat to share or give as a thank-you. If you want to give a piece to each guest, check the number of pieces and whether they’re individually wrapped before buying.
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Mini bars in a sharing bag are an option if you want to hand out chocolate to guests. Work out how many packs you’ll need based on your guest numbers, and check the product’s allergen information.
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A bag of milk chocolate sweets to serve as a sharing treat at the buffet. If you want each guest to take something away, don’t assume that a portion indication means the product comes in individual packs.
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Coffee biscuits for serving with coffee or tea at the buffet, instead of a chocolate favour. If you want to plan portions in advance, check how many biscuits are in the pack you choose.
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A small chocolate collection to consider as a treat or thank-you. Before handing them out to guests, check how many chocolates are in the box you’ve chosen and read the allergen information for this product.
Choose them when you want to hand out a treat to each guest or put together favours: individual pieces are easier to count. Check the actual quantity on the pack. For example, Albert Heijn describes a Tiny Tony’s gift box containing 22 individually wrapped chocolates.
No. Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact mix you’re serving. For its 250 g merci Chocolate Assortment Box, Jumbo lists milk ingredients, hazelnuts, almonds and soya, among others. You’ll need to check the ingredients in a different box separately.
It depends on the role of the treat: Lotus Bakeries recommends Biscoff with coffee, while a chocolate box can also be displayed as a favour. Choose biscuits for the coffee break, and consider separately whether you also want to hand out something to each guest.
If a business or caterer serves unpackaged food to guests, information about any allergens present must be available where the products are served, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. That condition doesn’t establish whether the requirement applies to a buffet organised entirely in private. In any case, keep the ingredient information for your chosen products handy in case guests have questions.
