Who is a bulk pack suitable for?

Budget-conscious snacking households

You regularly buy dried fruit for home and want to choose a pack size that suits how much you use, without stocking up on more than you need.

Mindful portion choosers

You want to know what a product contains and what its nutritional values are. You also consider the amount you eat and any allergens when choosing an afternoon snack.

Snackers who like variety

You’d rather not eat raisins every time, so you compare a fruit mix or mango based on its ingredients, convenience and the types of fruit you enjoy.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, choose between one larger bag, several individual bags or a selection of fruit. Then check the quantities, ingredients and storage advice.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Pack format Check the net weight and whether a multipack consists of individual bags. I eat the same type of fruit regularly and want to know how much I’ll be bringing home. Around 25% of consumers mainly prioritise a pack format that suits how they use it.
Ingredients and portion size Read both the ingredients list and the nutritional information; added sugar and total sugars are different things. I want to assess the ingredients and amount for myself when choosing an afternoon snack. Around 25% of consumers prioritise ingredients and portion size.
Stock and storage Check how many bags you get, how much you normally use and the storage advice on the pack. I want to avoid having more open stock than I can store conveniently. For around 25% of consumers, choosing a suitable quantity to keep in stock matters most.
Variety Check which types of fruit are in a mix and follow any preparation instructions. I’d rather choose a different type of fruit from time to time than eat raisins every time. Around 25% of consumers mainly prioritise variety.

Common mistakes when choosing

  • Assuming a multipack is automatically the right choice

    A pack with several bags contains more overall than a single bag. The packaging alone doesn’t tell you whether that quantity suits how much you use.

    Check the total weight and the number of individual bags before choosing.

  • Confusing no added sugar with low total sugars

    Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugar and 59 g of total sugars per 100 g for the 500 g pack of raisins examined. These are different nutritional values. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises having no more than a handful of dried fruit without added sugar.

    Read the nutritional information for the exact variant and decide how much to snack on separately from the size of the bulk pack.

  • Assuming every fruit mix has the same ingredients and instructions

    PLUS Tutti frutti contains sulphites, and the product instructions say to rinse it with lukewarm water. This doesn’t automatically apply to other dried fruit or mixes.

    Read the ingredients and preparation instructions on the pack you buy, especially if sulphites are a concern for you.

  • Buying more than you can store conveniently

    A multipack may contain several bags. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing opened raisins in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container; it gives a storage time of 6–9 months in a kitchen cupboard for raisins.

    Choose a number of bags that suits your usual consumption and follow the storage advice on the pack. The storage time given doesn’t automatically apply to every fruit mix.

Brands to consider

The product features listed apply to the specific variants below; they aren’t an assessment of a retailer’s full range.

Albert Heijn

Worth considering for raisins in different bag sizes and multipacks containing individual bags.

  • The product information distinguishes single bags from multipacks; the multipacks contain 500 g bags.
  • The raisin variant examined lists no added sugar, but does contain naturally occurring sugars. That makes the overall nutritional information and your portion size relevant too.

Jumbo

Worth considering for sun-dried sultanas, including 500 g and 750 g bags.

  • The ingredients list for the 750 g variant examined includes sultanas and cottonseed oil.
  • Check the ingredients of the exact bag you choose; product specifications don’t tell you about other variants.

Lidl

Worth considering for Alesto dried fruit, including mango pieces as an alternative to raisins.

  • For the specific Alesto mango pieces, Lidl states that no sugar has been added and that the product contains naturally occurring sugars.
  • This statement applies to the mango pieces mentioned and not automatically to other Alesto products.

Aldi

The Dutch product listing examined is for Trader Joe’s raisins in a 500 g bag.

  • The product listing clearly identifies the product type and pack size.
  • Check the ingredients and nutritional information on the current pack if they affect your choice.

PLUS

Worth considering for Tutti frutti, a mix of several types of dried fruit.

  • The product information examined describes a mix of plums, apricots, peach, pear and apple.
  • This particular mix contains sulphites and, according to the product instructions, should be rinsed with lukewarm water.

Dirk

Worth considering for the product listing for raisins in a 750 g bag.

  • The pack mentioned is a larger bag for anyone who uses raisins regularly.
  • Check the product information and label on the variant you actually buy.

Dried fruit on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How should you store an opened bag of raisins?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing opened raisins in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container. It gives a storage time of 6–9 months in a kitchen cupboard; also follow the storage advice on the pack. This timeframe doesn’t automatically apply to every dried fruit mix.

Should you rinse dried fruit before eating it?

Follow the instructions for the specific product. The product information for PLUS Tutti frutti says to rinse it with lukewarm water; don’t assume the same applies to raisins, mango or other dried fruit.

What should you look for when checking allergens in dried fruit?

Check the allergen information on the pack of the exact variant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) states that mandatory allergen information must appear on the labels of prepacked foods; sulphites are among the allergens that must be declared. Since 1 January 2026, new rules have also applied in the Netherlands to warnings about the unintended presence of allergens due to cross-contamination.

Is dried fruit with no added sugar the same as fruit with low total sugars?

No. No added sugar doesn’t tell you how much total sugar the product contains. Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugar and 59 g of total sugars per 100 g for the 500 g pack of raisins examined; check the nutritional information for the specific variant you choose.

How do you choose between a large bag and a multipack?

Choose a large bag if you use the same type of fruit regularly; a multipack of individual bags is a good fit if you’d rather keep spare packs sealed. Check the net weight, the number of bags and how much you normally use before deciding.