People managing shared office snacks
If you top up the snack tin, individually sealed bags make it easy to see how many packs are left. Colleagues also won’t need to take snacks from the same open bag.
Who are multipacks useful for?
Teams with different snack preferences
A mixed box offers several flavours without needing to open a large bag of each one. Check the contents list, though: a mix may include corn chips or other savoury snacks as well as crisps.
Buyers who need to check labels
With shared snacks, it’s important to be able to check the ingredients and allergens for each variety. Keep the outer packaging or have the latest product information available alongside the snacks.
What should you look for?
First decide whether colleagues mainly want a sealed individual portion, a choice of different snacks or a resealable tube. Then check the contents of the specific pack: the number of items alone won’t tell you which flavours or portion sizes are included.
Mixed bags
Choose this if: several colleagues want to take a sealed bag each and a variety of flavours matters.
Bear in mind: a mixed box may contain different snack types and ingredients, so check the contents of each variety.
Individual Pringles tubes
Choose this if: an individual, resealable pack matters more than a mixed box of bags.
Bear in mind: a multipack of one variety won’t give you a choice of different flavours.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed portions | Check the number of individual packs and the weight of each one. | I’m topping up a shared snack tin and want colleagues to be able to take a sealed portion each. Around 42% of consumers would put providing individual portions first. |
| Flavour variety | Check which flavours and snack types are in the box, and how many of each variety it contains. | If colleagues have different preferences, I don’t want to open a large bag for every flavour. For around 33% of consumers, having a choice of varieties would be the main reason for buying. |
| Labels | Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety; compare the nutritional information per 100 g or per portion. | Before putting out a mix, I want to be able to check the information for each individual product. Label and nutritional information would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a chips multipack contains only potato crisps
A mixed box may also include corn chips and corn snacks. This matters if colleagues are expecting a particular type of snack.
Read the full contents list and check the snack types, flavours and quantities of each variety.
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Applying the label for one flavour to the whole mix
Ingredients and allergens may differ between the packs in the same box. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be clearly identified on the labels of prepacked foods.
Check each variety separately and keep the outer packaging or up-to-date ingredient information with the office snacks.
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Comparing only the number of bags
Bags in a multipack may vary in weight. The total number also won’t tell you how many packs of your preferred flavour are in the box.
Compare the total weight, the weight of each bag and the number of packs per flavour before deciding which box is right for your supplies.
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Relying on a fixed range of own-brand products
The sharing bags available can vary by shop and over time. A pack you looked at previously may not be suitable for a regular office order.
Check the current availability and contents of your chosen pack each time you place an order.
Brands to consider
Lay's
Lay's offers boxes of individual snack bags. Albert Heijn lists, among others, a Celebration Box with 30 items and a Mega Box with 20.
- The boxes mentioned combine different flavours and snack types in one pack.
- A Lay's box doesn’t necessarily contain only potato crisps; check the contents and labels for each variety.
Pringles
Pringles is an alternative if you prefer individual tubes to a mixed box of bags. Albert Heijn lists an Original 12-pack of 12 × 40 g.
- The tubes mentioned are individually packed and resealable.
- An Original 12-pack contains just one flavour; if you’re sharing, check the current allergen label before serving.
Jumbo huismerk
Jumbo lists its own-brand sharing bags in paprika and ready salted, including a pack of 15 bags weighing 25 g each.
- The number of bags and weight per bag are clearly stated for the pack mentioned.
- Check the current contents and availability if you want to restock the same snacks.
AH
AH sharing bags are an own-brand option to look for at Albert Heijn.
- A sharing pack may suit you if you prefer individual bags.
- Check which variety is currently available: the AH pack of eight mentioned was listed as discontinued.
Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl’s snack brand, with options including ready salted and paprika crisps.
- The classic flavours mentioned may suit you if you’re looking for a simple selection.
- Check that your preferred pack actually contains individual bags, and where it’s available.
Chips multipacks on Joybuy
These products offer either individual bags in a mix or individual tubes. For the office snack tin, compare the number of packs, the varieties you want and the information on the current label.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 items
A box of 20 items for a shared supply where colleagues can take their own pack. Check how the varieties are split if you need enough of particular snacks, and check the latest allergen information for each variety.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box, 2 × 15 items
This mix is a good fit for an office that needs plenty of individual snacks. The product name indicates two sets of 15 items; check how many of each snack type are included, along with the allergen information for each variety.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box, 15 items
A 15-item mix for anyone looking to put together a smaller shared supply. Check which varieties and quantities the box contains, along with the latest ingredients and allergen information for each.
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Pringles Red Pepper, 12 × 40 g
The twelve individual tubes are a good fit for a supply where resealable packaging is preferred. Each tube contains 40 g and they’re all the same flavour; check the latest allergen label if you’re sharing them.
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Lay's Doritos Chill Box, 2 × 12 items
This box is designed for a shared supply of individual packs in different varieties. The product name lists two sets of 12 items; check the weight of each bag, the flavour split and the ingredients before putting the box out.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep the individual bags in an office snack tin?
Use the tin as a dry place to store sealed packs, and follow the storage instructions on the box you’ve chosen. Jumbo says that Lay's Party Mix should be stored in a cool, dry place; only open an individual bag when someone is ready to eat it.
How can I keep allergen information available with shared crisps?
Keep the outer packaging or make sure the latest ingredient information for each variety is available. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods, so don’t assume that one ingredients list covers every snack in a mix.
Does every bag in a chips mix contain the same thing?
No, a mix may include different flavours, snack types and portion sizes. Albert Heijn lists Lay's Paprika and Bugles Nacho Cheese among the varieties in its Lay's Celebration Box; check the contents list if a particular type or an even split matters to you.
How do I compare the salt content of different multipacks?
Compare the nutritional information for each variety, preferably per 100 g and also per portion if the bags aren’t all the same size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 0.53 g of salt for an average 40 g bowl of crisps, but that average doesn’t tell you how much salt is in a specific product.