Organisers counting out portions
If each bite needs to count as an individual portion, start with the number of pieces stated on the pack. Depending on the product, Auchan and Carrefour offer packs containing 6, 8 or 10 pieces.
Who are these formats for?
Stalls serving a sweet snack
A sweet mini brioche or mini sweet brioche loaf can be served as it is, with no fillings to prepare. Still, check the format and the details on the packaging you buy.
Stalls preparing mini brioche sandwiches
A mini brioche burger bun is a good fit for a menu with fillings, as long as you can organise the assembly and storage of the added ingredients.
What should you check?
To plan your service, first decide whether you’ll hand out the pieces as they are or add fillings, then work out the number of portions based on the pack size.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Number of portions | Number of pieces and net weight per pack; compare the weight per piece if portion size matters. | If I need to allow one piece per person, the number of bites matters more to me than the weight of the pack alone. Around 40% of consumers put portion counts at the top of their list. |
| How it will be served | Sweet brioche ready to serve or brioche burger bun to fill; preparation needed for the menu you’ve chosen. | To offer a savoury snack, I need to be able to prepare the fillings; otherwise, I’d rather hand out the pieces as they are. How the food will be served is the main priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Transport and serving | Storage instructions and the date shown on the pack, followed by any guidance for after opening. | If the stall is open throughout the jumble sale, I want to be able to transport and serve the product according to the instructions on its pack. Ease of serving comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Ingredients list, highlighted allergens and information about the product you’ll actually be serving. | When I’m serving several people, I want to be able to tell them about the ingredients and allergens in each product. For around 10% of consumers, this is their top priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Working out portions from the pack weight alone
Pack sizes vary by product: Auchan, for example, offers packs of 6 pieces weighing 210 g and 10 pieces weighing 200 g, while Carrefour offers 8 mini sweet brioche loaves weighing 360 g.
Count the pieces first, then use the net weight to judge the size of each portion.
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Mixing up brioche to serve as it is with buns to fill
A mini brioche burger bun isn’t suited to the same kind of serving as a sweet mini brioche handed out as it is.
Choose buns to fill only if fillings and assembly are part of your stall’s plans.
Remember to allow for the ingredients, equipment and preparation time you’ll need.
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Guessing allergens from how the product looks
Recipes and allergen warnings vary from one product to another. A brioche’s small size tells you nothing about its ingredients.
Check the label on the pack you buy and keep the information accessible while you’re serving. The DGCCRF reminds retailers that allergenic ingredients in prepacked foods sold in France must be highlighted.
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Treating use-by and best-before dates as the same
The DGCCRF distinguishes between a use-by date (DLC), which must not be exceeded, and a minimum durability date (DDM). After the latter, a product with intact packaging may have lost some of its quality.
Check the exact wording on the pack before the jumble sale and follow the storage instructions provided.
Brands and retailers to consider
Brioche Pasquier
Brioche Pasquier also offers burger buns and P'tits Pains for meals or as an appetiser.
- An option to consider if you’re looking for a brioche base to fill.
- Check the number of pieces and the size of your chosen format before planning portions.
Harrys
Auchan offers Harrys mini braided brioche with chocolate chips in a pack of 6 pieces weighing 210 g.
- A sweet option with pieces you can count before serving.
- The chocolate flavour won’t suit a savoury mini sandwich menu; check the ingredients on the pack you buy.
Carrefour Original
Carrefour offers its mini sweet brioche loaves in packs of 8 pieces weighing 360 g.
- The piece count and net weight make it easier to plan your servings.
- The listed recipe includes ingredients such as wheat flour, concentrated butter, eggs and crème fraîche. Check the label if these ingredients may be an issue for your guests.
E.Leclerc / Epi d'Or
E.Leclerc offers Epi d'Or mini brioche burgers in packs of 10 pieces weighing 200 g.
- A pack size to consider when counting buns for a menu with fillings.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions on the pack before serving.
Auchan
Auchan offers, among other products, Harrys mini brioche in packs of 6 pieces weighing 210 g and La Fournée Dorée Mini Brioch'Burgers in packs of 10 pieces weighing 200 g.
- These two products let you compare a sweet snack with buns to fill.
- Choose based on the specific product and its label rather than assuming both have the same characteristics.
An option for savoury servings
This Joybuy selection features savoury brioche bites that are already filled. For a jumble sale, you’ll need to be able to store them in the freezer and cook them before serving.
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ERHARD ham and Emmental brioche bites x9, 115 g
For a stall offering a savoury bite, the pack of 9 makes it easy to count portions. This frozen product must be kept in the freezer and cooked before serving. Check the instructions and allergen information on the packaging of the pack you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How do you work out portions for a jumble sale?
Multiply the number of pieces stated on the pack by the number of packs you’re planning to buy. Don’t work it out from the net weight alone: the products offered by Auchan and Carrefour include formats of 6 pieces weighing 210 g, 10 pieces weighing 200 g and 8 pieces weighing 360 g.
Can a mini brioche burger bun replace a sweet mini brioche?
It’s better suited to a savoury option with fillings than to handing out sweet brioches as they are. If you choose the La Fournée Dorée Mini Brioch'Burgers offered by Auchan in packs of 10 pieces weighing 200 g, remember to plan the fillings and their preparation too.
How should you tell people about allergens?
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the pack you’ll actually be serving, then keep those details accessible at your stall. For prepacked foods sold in France, the DGCCRF reminds retailers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the label. You’ll also need to account for any fillings you add.
Can you serve mini brioches after the date on the pack?
Not if the use-by date (DLC) has passed. According to the DGCCRF, a past minimum durability date (DDM) is different: if the packaging is intact, the product may have lost some of its quality. In all cases, follow the storage instructions on the pack.