For a mixed festival crowd, you can pair a familiar flavour such as paprika with one more distinctive option, without stocking lots of different varieties. Choose individual portions if you want to hand out a pack to each person, or a larger bag if you can portion the crisps yourself. Check the current ingredients and allergen information for every flavour you choose.
If you want to offer some variety without bringing lots of flavours, consider paprika as your main option and add one other flavour. Jumbo and Albert Heijn stock classic flavours as well as options such as cheese and onion and sweet chilli.
If you’d rather not use a communal bowl, look for individual portions. Lay’s describes its multipack bags as handy for sharing. Just check that the pack you choose is available when you do your shopping.
If anyone in your group avoids certain ingredients, check each flavour individually. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly identified in the ingredients list; a flavour name won’t tell you which allergens a product contains.
Decide which flavours and serving options suit your group, then read the label on the exact pack you plan to bring.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour | Choose a familiar main flavour and decide whether one more distinctive option will be enough. | If I’m buying for a mixed crowd, I want to offer a choice without having lots of different flavours left over; around 29% of consumers give the greatest priority to choosing a flavour people will enjoy. |
| Sharing | Compare individual portions with a bag you can share out yourself, and check the number of portions too. | At a busy festival, I want to hand out crisps without putting out a communal bowl. For around 29% of consumers, ease of sharing comes first. |
| Quantity | Compare the net weight and the number of packs or stated portions. | When I’m buying for a group, I want to know in advance how many crisps I can hand out; around 24% of consumers focus first on quantity. |
| Label | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and nutrition information for every flavour you choose. | If people in the group avoid certain ingredients or want to compare nutritional values, I want to be able to check the exact label; this is the first thing around 18% of consumers look at. |
According to Jumbo’s product information, Jumbo Paprika Chips contain milk. Smiths Sticks Paprika also list sulphur dioxide or sulphites. So the flavour name alone isn’t a reliable way to check for allergens.
Before handing out the crisps, read the current ingredients list and allergen information on every pack you choose.
A bag and a multipack aren’t equally easy to share, even if they’re both intended for a group.
Check the net weight and the number of individual portions, and decide whether you’ll need serving equipment.
Jumbo still shows product information for a Lay’s Duo Mix, but also states that the pack is no longer part of its online range.
Check that your chosen multipack is available before planning the rest of your festival shopping around it.
Lay’s says its Oven Baked range contains 50% less fat than regular potato crisps. This brand claim doesn’t tell you about the nutritional values of every oven-baked crisp or flavour.
Compare the nutrition information per 100 g for the exact packs you’re considering, and check the ingredients and portion size too.
Worth considering if you’re looking at flavours or pack formats beyond paprika.
An option if you’d like to bring stackable crisps in a tube.
Worth considering if you’d like to offer a stick-shaped snack as well as flat crisps.
Albert Heijn’s own-brand 250 g bag of paprika crisps is a useful reference point.
The own-brand range includes a 250 g bag of paprika crisps if you want to portion them out yourself.
Lidl’s brand is worth considering if you want to choose your crisps in store.
These Joybuy products include smaller portion packs and bags you can share out yourself. Choose the serving option that suits your festival plans and check the ingredients for the exact flavour.
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Consider this flavour alongside a familiar favourite. The pack states 10 × 40 g; check the current label before handing out the portions.
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Consider this mix if you don’t want to choose just one flavour. The pack states 180 g; check the current label for the flavours and allergens it contains.
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The Red Pepper flavour could be another option alongside paprika. The product name states 12 × 40 g; check the pack and ingredients before handing out portions.
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Consider this bag of paprika crisps if you want to portion them out yourself. The product name states 200 g; arrange a suitable way to share them and check the label.
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An oven-baked paprika option to compare with other paprika crisps. The product name states 150 g; compare the nutrition information and ingredients on the exact packs, and bear in mind that you’ll need to portion them out yourself.
Start with a familiar flavour such as paprika or ready salted, and consider adding one more distinctive option. Jumbo and Albert Heijn also stock flavours such as sweet chilli and cheese and onion, but their ranges can’t tell you which flavours your visitors will choose.
Small packs are a good fit if you want to give each person crisps without portioning them yourself. A large bag may also work at a serving point. Decide in advance how you’ll hand out the crisps and check how many individual portions the pack contains.
Read the ingredients list for the exact flavour and pack before handing out the crisps. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens must be clearly identified on the label. For example, Jumbo Paprika Chips lists milk, while Smiths Sticks Paprika lists milk and sulphites.
Use the values per 100 g to compare products, and the values per portion to see how they relate to the amount you’ve chosen. Check the portion size stated on the label too; an average for crisps is no substitute for the nutrition information on the exact pack.
Close an opened bag securely after serving and keep the crisps dry. If you’re serving from a large bag, plan how you’ll hand out portions without leaving it open all the time.
