Organisers of group study breaks
They regularly serve several students, colleagues or members of a large household and want drinks that are quick to prepare, without having to measure out the powder each time.
Who are these formats for?
People keeping an eye on sugar and allergens
They check the nutritional information and ingredients before buying a supply for several people. The recipe for Nesquik sticks featured by Nestlé Professional France contains soya and may contain milk.
People mindful of storage space
They consider how much room they have and how often they take breaks when choosing between a box of sticks and an amount of powder they can measure out themselves.
What should you look for?
Box of 240 sticks
Worth considering: if you regularly serve several people and don’t want to measure out each portion. Nestlé Professional France says to mix its 13.5 g Nesquik stick with 20 cl of milk.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space for the box, and each serving comes in its own wrapper.
Large pack of powder
Worth considering: if everyone can adjust how much powder they use in their drink.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to measure it out by hand rather than use pre-portioned servings.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving a group | Check the number of sticks, the amount per serving and how to prepare them. Make sure you have milk if the product you choose requires it. | When breaks are close together, I’d rather hand out a portion to everyone than measure powder for each drink. Around 42% of consumers put this ease of serving first. |
| Sugar and allergens | Compare the sugar per 100 g of powder and check the ingredients and allergen information for each product. | Before serving the same product to several people, I want to be able to check its ingredients and any listed allergens. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Storage and consumption | Check the space available, the best-before date and the pack size you’re actually ordering. | If breaks are less frequent than expected, I could end up keeping a large box for a long time. For almost 25% of consumers, matching the amount they stock to how much they’ll use is the main concern. |
Things to bear in mind
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Assuming a Nutri-Score label is compulsory
Don’t rule out a product just because it doesn’t display this logo. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, displaying it is voluntary in France. The DGCCRF says that nutritional information is compulsory for most pre-packed foods.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and the ingredients list. Use Nutri-Score as an extra guide when it appears on the packaging.
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Automatically applying the drinks tax to dry powder
Article 1613 ter of the General Tax Code, published on Légifrance, covers drinks and liquid preparations for drinks under certain conditions. This definition alone does not establish that hot chocolate powder is included.
If the tax classification matters for a business purchase, ask the supplier how the specific product is classified.
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Ordering a large box without checking what’s inside
When organising regular breaks, the number of servings and the pack actually delivered matter more than a general claim that it’s a large format.
Before placing a large order, ask the seller to confirm the number of sticks, the total net weight and the box’s best-before date.
Brands to consider for these formats
Nesquik
Nestlé Professional France offers an individual 13.5 g stick. A box of 240 sticks of this product is also listed by Coffee-Webstore.
- Pre-portioned sticks save you measuring out the powder when serving.
- The featured recipe contains soya and may contain milk, so check the label on the product you buy.
Poulain
Carrefour France lists Grand Arôme powder in 250 g and 800 g packs.
- These pack sizes let you measure out the amount you need for the number of drinks you’re making.
- These powder products aren’t the same as a format with 240 individual sticks.
Banania
Carrefour France lists Banania powders in 400 g and 1 kg packs.
- You can choose a pack size to suit how often you take breaks and how much storage space you have.
- These packs aren’t made up of pre-portioned individual servings.
Carrefour
Carrefour Classic' and Carrefour Bio cocoa powders are other products to consider if you prefer to measure out your servings by hand.
- You can compare the pack size and ingredients of each specific product.
- Check the nutritional information and ingredients of the product you choose rather than assuming they’re the same across the whole range.
Joybuy products for measuring out by hand
This granulated powder is for anyone who prefers to measure out their own hot chocolate for study breaks rather than hand out individual sticks.
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BENCO Less Sugar, granulated chocolate powder, 400 g
Worth considering if you want to measure out the powder yourself for each drink. This 400 g pack contains granules. Check the recommended serving size on the packaging to work out how many drinks you can make.
Frequently asked questions
Does the French tax on sugary drinks apply to a box of hot chocolate powder?
You can’t tell whether it applies simply because the product is a drink powder. Article 1613 ter of the General Tax Code, published on Légifrance, covers drinks and liquid preparations that meet its conditions. If the classification is important for your purchase, ask the supplier how the product is classified.
Is Nutri-Score compulsory on hot chocolate powder in France?
No. The French Ministry of the Economy says that Nutri-Score is voluntary in France. To compare two powders, check their nutritional information per 100 g and their ingredients lists. The DGCCRF says that nutritional information is compulsory for most pre-packed foods.
How do you prepare a 13.5 g Nesquik stick?
Nestlé Professional France says to pour the stick into a mug and add 20 cl of hot or cold semi-skimmed milk. Follow the instructions on the product you buy if they differ.
Which allergens should you check before serving Nesquik sticks to a group?
The 13.5 g stick recipe featured by Nestlé Professional France contains soya and may contain milk. Check the allergen information on the product you receive before serving it.