Who is this choice relevant to?

Everyday budget shopper

You regularly buy bread for breakfast and lunch. You want to compare different sizes fairly and throw away as little bread as possible.

Lunchbox user

You’re looking for pre-sliced bread that works well with your fillings and is easy to take with you. The word ‘sliced’ is a useful starting point, but it doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are.

Price comparer who also reads the label

You want to compare wholemeal bread within your budget by looking at ingredients and nutritional value, including fibre and salt per 100 g, rather than judging it by colour or the name alone.

What should you look for when choosing?

Decide which type of bread and slice suits the way you’ll use it. Then compare the price per kilogram with the amount you’ll actually get through.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Cost and waste Compare similar loaves by price per kilogram. Consider whether a whole or half loaf suits what you use or can freeze. If you won’t get through a whole loaf, what matters most is how much of it you actually eat. Affordability and minimising waste are the top priorities for around 42% of consumers.
Type of bread and nutritional value Look for ‘wholemeal’ and compare the ingredients, fibre and salt per 100 g of similar loaves. If you want to choose wholemeal bread every day while keeping an eye on your budget, the label is a useful guide. This nutritional choice comes first for around 33% of consumers.
A practical slice Check whether the bread is sliced and look at the thickness of the slices to see if they suit your fillings and lunchbox. If you take sandwiches with you, you’ll want slices that are easy to use. A practical slice comes first for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal

    The colour and the word ‘multigrain’ don’t confirm that a loaf is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread has a different nutritional value from white bread.

    Check for the word ‘wholemeal’, then compare the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g.

  • Comparing only the price per loaf

    A whole and a half loaf weigh different amounts. And a low price per kilogram won’t save you much if some of the bread goes uneaten.

    Compare similar loaves by price per kilogram and choose a size you can finish or freeze in portions.

  • Assuming there’s one standard ‘medium-sliced’ thickness

    Shops use different descriptions, such as ‘fine wholemeal’, ‘Knip wholemeal’ and ‘sliced’. That doesn’t mean the slices are the same thickness.

    Look at the slices in store or check the product specifications before buying several loaves.

  • Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether it’s present just from the type of bread.

    For packaged bread, check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt. For unpackaged bread, ask the staff.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn

A useful benchmark for comparing types of bread across a wide supermarket range.

  • Albert Heijn includes freshly baked loaves in its bread range.
  • Check the weight, slice thickness and current in-store information for each loaf before comparing.

Jumbo

A useful benchmark if you want to compare fine wholemeal bread by weight and nutritional information.

  • Jumbo lists 7.6 g of fibre per 100 g for its Fine Wholemeal bread.
  • That nutritional value applies to this product. Check the label and slice thickness again for a different variety.

Lidl

A useful benchmark if you want to see a loaf explicitly described as sliced in store.

  • Lidl describes its Knip wholemeal as sliced bread weighing 800 g.
  • The word ‘sliced’ doesn’t specify how thick the slices are, so check them on the product itself.

ALDI

A useful benchmark if you’re looking for sliced fine wholemeal bread.

  • ALDI describes its Fine Wholemeal as sliced bread.
  • Check the actual slice thickness and your store’s range before choosing between loaves.

PLUS

A useful benchmark if you want to compare fine wholemeal bread using its nutritional information.

  • PLUS lists 6.7 g of fibre and 1.03 g of salt per 100 g for its round, whole Fine Wholemeal loaf.
  • These values apply to that specific loaf. Check the label on any other variety.

Dirk

A useful benchmark when comparing half-size wholemeal loaves with other loaf sizes.

  • Dirk includes products such as its half-size Farmhouse Wholemeal loaf in its range overview.
  • A range overview doesn’t tell you whether different loaves have the same slice thickness, so check each product individually.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How do I compare the cost of two sliced loaves?

Compare similar loaves by price per kilogram, then consider which size you’ll actually use. A half loaf may be a better fit if you’d otherwise leave some of a whole loaf uneaten. Also check the slice thickness and nutritional information per 100 g.

Can I freeze bread if I won’t get through a whole loaf quickly?

Yes, you can freeze bread in portions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing bread in the freezer for 1 to 3 months, depending on the type. Throw away any bread with visible mould.

Does all Dutch bread contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that iodine compounds may only be present in bread through baker’s salt. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list; for unpackaged bread, ask which salt has been used.

Where can I find information about allergens in bread?

For packaged bread, check the ingredients list and allergen information on the label. For unpackaged bread, ask for the allergen information. If it’s relevant to your choice, check for any warnings about cross-contamination too.