For quick self-service, choose portions that are already separated, and check whether each one has its own wrapper if needed. Bars and multipacks work well if you can prepare the squares before the meeting. In either case, compare the quantity, ingredients and nutritional information for the specific product.
If colleagues need to help themselves quickly, mini bars or individually separated bites mean no one has to break up a bar during the break. Check whether each piece is wrapped if no one should handle the other portions.
Net weight and, where stated, the number of pieces can help you plan how much to serve. For example, Lindt France lists 78 chocolates in its 1 kg assorted Lindor bag; this count applies to that specific product.
If you know that anyone has dietary restrictions, the exact recipe and its allergen information matter more than the brand or format. Nutritional information per 100 g can also help you compare the products in question.
First decide whether colleagues need a portion that’s ready to serve, then check how much you’ll need and the label for each recipe.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quick to serve | Check the number of pieces and whether they’re individually wrapped: separate bites aren’t necessarily wrapped one by one. | When the break is short, I want everyone to be able to take a portion without breaking up a bar. Around 36% of consumers prioritise ease of serving. |
| Quantity for the group | Compare the net weight and stated number of pieces with the number of attendees; weight alone doesn’t tell you how many portions there are. | For a large meeting, I want to make sure there’s enough chocolate for everyone attending. This is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutrition | Read the allergen information, ‘may contain’ warnings and nutritional values per 100 g for the product you choose. | If colleagues have dietary restrictions, I need to be able to identify the ingredients in the recipe being served. I also want to compare its nutritional values. Around 21% of consumers put these checks first. |
| How much you need | Choose between a bag and a multipack of bars based on how much you plan to serve and whether you can open the packs gradually. | For a small meeting, I’d rather choose a format that matches what will actually be served than open a large pack in full. Avoiding leftovers is the priority for around 14% of consumers. |
A large bar or multipack needs to be broken up and laid out, unlike pieces that are already separated. That can make a difference when setting up a short self-service break.
If every colleague needs to be able to take a portion straight away, check the exact format, the number of pieces and whether they’re wrapped.
According to the DGCCRF, Nutri-Score is voluntary. Its absence doesn’t mean you can skip reading the label, and its presence doesn’t replace checking the ingredients.
If it’s shown, use it as an additional guide, then check the allergens and nutritional information per 100 g.
Ingredients vary from one recipe to another. The products mentioned here include ingredients or warnings relating to milk, soya, cereals or nuts, depending on the product.
Check the packaging of the product you buy, and keep it accessible while serving in case attendees need to check the ingredients.
Carrefour lists a bag of 20 Milka Milk Chocolate Squares, with a stated weight of 200 g.
Lindt France lists a 1 kg assorted Lindor bag containing 78 chocolates, which is different from its bars.
Available formats include a large milk chocolate bar and a box of dark chocolate and orange mini bars listed by Carrefour Traiteur.
E.Leclerc lists a multipack of three 100 g milk chocolate and hazelnut bars in its Marque Repère range.
This selection includes small chocolate sweets or bars, as well as a multipack of bars to prepare for a coffee break at a meeting. Check the portion format before choosing an option for self-service.
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The nine mini bars are listed as individually wrapped, so they’re a good choice if everyone needs to take a piece without handling the others. The ingredients listed include milk, soya and wheat. Check the packaging for allergen and nutritional information for this product.
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The six bars give you a clear count for planning how to serve them without breaking up a large bar. If each person needs a separately wrapped bar, check this on the pack. The ingredients listed include wheat and milk, with warnings that it may contain traces of peanuts, nuts and soya.
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The bites can be served from the bag without breaking up a bar, but they aren’t listed as individually wrapped. Check the net weight on the pack before deciding how much to serve. The ingredients listed include milk, barley, wheat and soya, with a warning that the product may contain peanuts.
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This bag of small chocolate sweets works well for sharing when you don’t need an exact count to plan how they’ll be served. If you’re planning to offer one wrapped piece per person, check the count and packaging on the product. The ingredients listed include hazelnuts, milk and soya.
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You can open the three bars gradually if you’ve arranged to lay out the squares before the break; they aren’t portions that are ready to hand out. The ingredients listed include milk, hazelnuts and soya, with warnings that the product may contain traces of other nuts and wheat.
No. The DGCCRF describes Nutri-Score as a voluntary label, separate from the nutritional declaration required for the relevant prepacked foods. If it appears, check it alongside the ingredients list and nutritional values. Its absence doesn’t mean that this information isn’t available.
Compare the net weight, ingredients and allergen information, then the nutritional information per 100 g, particularly sugars and fats, including saturates. To plan how to serve them, also check the number of pieces if it’s stated and whether they’re individually wrapped.
No. The French Public Finances Directorate describes this levy in relation to non-alcoholic drinks containing added sugars, subject to the conditions that apply to those drinks. A chocolate bar isn’t in this category. When comparing bars, check the sugar content in their nutritional information per 100 g instead.
Check the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on each product you buy, rather than relying on the brand or how the chocolate looks. Keep the packaging accessible during the meeting so attendees can check the ingredients of the products being served.
Follow the instructions on the packaging you receive. Joybuy’s guidance for a Milka bar recommends storing it in a cool, dry place away from heat. Also check the best-before date on the pack you plan to serve.