For a coffee break, start by choosing an amount to suit the number of guests: a small box and a larger pack serve different sharing needs. Then choose between sugared almonds and chocolate sweets to suit the recipe you’re looking for, and check the ingredients, allergens and availability of your chosen product.
If several guests will be having coffee, check the net weight before choosing between a small amount and a box to put on the table. Carrefour and Auchan list options including packs of 3 × 27 g, a 500 g box and a 1 kg box.
The ingredients help you tell the recipes apart: the sugared almonds listed by Carrefour and Auchan contain 40% and 30% almonds respectively, while a chocolate option listed by Carrefour contains 65% chocolate with 70% cocoa.
If you’re serving several people, keep the packaging to hand. The recipes listed by Carrefour and Auchan include almonds or milk, depending on the product; check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the product you choose.
Start with how much you’ll be serving, then choose the recipe and packaging with your guests in mind.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| How much to serve | Net weight and the amount you need for the number of guests. | I want to have enough for everyone without choosing an oversized box. Around 38% of consumers prioritise buying the amount they actually need. |
| A recipe to enjoy with coffee | Sugared almonds or chocolate sweets; check the ingredients and stated proportions for the product you choose. | If I’m looking for an almond or cocoa flavour to enjoy with my coffee, the recipe matters more than the presentation. This is the main consideration for around 23% of consumers. |
| How to serve them | A small pack to portion out or a box to share. | If I want to offer everyone a few sweets, I prefer packaging that’s easy to share out; around 23% of consumers favour this presentation. |
| Allergens | The ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the exact packaging. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to check the recipe before serving. Around 16% of consumers put the needs of their guests first. |
A 500 g box and a 1 kg box aren’t the same amount to serve.
Check the net weight and plan how much you need based on the number of guests.
Auchan’s product listing for a Choco’ Color dessert says that small milk chocolate sweets make up 12.5% of the product. It isn’t a box of sweets to serve on its own.
Check the product name and ingredients before choosing it to serve with coffee.
Depending on the products listed by Carrefour and Auchan, recipes may contain almonds or milk; other products may also carry ‘may contain’ warnings.
Check the packaging for the exact product before serving it to guests who need to avoid these ingredients.
Carrefour listed the Pécou chocolate product as unavailable for collection when it was checked.
Check availability with your chosen shop or collection service before planning to serve this product.
The sugared almonds listed by Carrefour come in a 500 g box and contain 40% Avola almonds.
The 1 kg box listed by Auchan contains 30% almonds.
Carrefour describes the product listed as sugared almonds containing 65% chocolate with 70% cocoa.
If you’re serving small portions with coffee, these chocolate balls in tubes offer another sugar-coated sweet option. They aren’t described as sugared almonds, so check that this shape is right for what you’d like to serve.
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Worth considering if you’d like to share out small portions of chocolate sweets with coffee rather than serve sugared almonds. The pack contains six 34 g tubes of milk chocolate balls with a sugar shell. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging before sharing.
Compare the net weight of each box with how much you want to serve and the number of guests. A small pack and a box designed for sharing suit different needs.
Yes. The products listed by Carrefour and Auchan include almonds or milk, depending on the recipe, and some carry ‘may contain’ warnings. Read the label on the exact product before serving it. In France, the DGCCRF reminds businesses that the ingredients list is among the information that must be provided for pre-packed food.
Follow the instructions on the packaging. The Confiserie Adam box of sugared almonds listed by Auchan says to store the product in a cool, dry place; also check the date shown on the box.
Check availability with your chosen shop or collection service before planning to buy it. Carrefour listed the Pécou chocolate product as unavailable for collection when it was checked.