Party host keeping an eye on quantity
You want to fill several bowls, so you’re comparing the net weight of big bags with the combined contents of smaller packs.
Which option works best for you?
Party host looking for an easy way to serve
At an informal Christmas party, you want guests to help themselves without having to keep refilling bowls. A multipack of individual bags is a good fit.
Party host catering for guests with dietary requirements
You want to check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging for each flavour, rather than assuming that every product from a brand is the same.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’ll serve crisps in bowls or put out individual packs. Then choose how many flavours to offer, and check the exact product label for anyone with dietary requirements.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Compare the net weight of big bags with the combined contents of multipacks. | If I’m filling several bowls, I want to put out enough crisps without judging by the number of packs alone. For around 33% of consumers, quantity would be the first consideration. |
| Self-service | Check how many bags there are and how much each one contains. | When guests are snacking throughout the evening, I want to put out portions they can help themselves to. For around 25% of consumers, ease of serving would come first. |
| Flavour variety | Check which flavours are included in a multipack, or combine different packs. | For a group with different tastes, I don’t want to rely on just one flavour. A range of flavours would be the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current label for each product you choose. | If a guest has an allergy or a specific dietary requirement, I want to know exactly what’s in those crisps. Around 17% of consumers would see this check as their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Putting out just one flavour
A big bag gives you plenty of one flavour, but guests with different tastes won’t have much choice. For example, Jumbo lists a Lay's Party Mix with three flavours.
For a mixed group, combine different flavours or check in advance which ones are actually included in a multipack.
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Assuming a dietary claim applies to every product in the range
Ingredients can vary between flavours and packs. Albert Heijn also warns that online product information can change.
Read the label on the pack you’ve bought before serving. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority identifies allergen information in the ingredients list as something to check. Don’t rely on the brand name alone or an old product page.
Brands to consider
Lay's
Worth considering if you want to compare big bags with a multipack of individual portions.
- Jumbo lists Ready Salted and Paprika crisps in 300 g bags, as well as a Party Mix with 15 bags and three flavours.
- A multipack serves a different purpose from one big bag, so check the size of the product you choose.
Pringles
An option if you want to put tubes in different flavours on the table.
- Jumbo lists several flavours in 165 g tubes.
- A 165 g tube contains less than the big bags listed at 250 to 335 g, so choose the number of tubes to suit your serving plan.
Smiths
Sticks offer a different kind of snack alongside regular potato crisps.
- Jumbo lists Smiths Sticks in Paprika and Barbecue flavours, in 100 g packs.
- A 100 g pack is more of an extra than a replacement for a big bag when you want to fill several bowls.
Albert Heijn
Own-brand packs offer a useful point of comparison when checking the quantity and product information for each option.
- Albert Heijn listed a 20-pack of Ready Salted crisps containing 20 × 40 g.
- That particular 20-pack is listed as discontinued, so base your choice on a current product and its label.
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes examples of both big bags and individual packs.
- Jumbo lists 250 g Ready Salted crisps, 335 g ridged crisps and a sharing pack of 15 × 25 g bags.
- Compare the total contents and how you’ll serve them: a sharing pack isn’t the same as a big bag for filling bowls.
Lidl Snack Day
Lidl presents Snack Day as a snack brand with options for occasions such as parties.
- The range includes different types and flavours, so you can choose products to suit your group.
- Before choosing a particular pack for your Christmas party, check its contents and ingredients.
Products for different ways of serving
These Joybuy products include both individually packed snacks and a big bag for serving in bowls. Note the difference between the potato crisps and the corn snack in the list, and choose according to how you want to serve them and which flavours you’d like.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box crisps, 2 × 15 packs
For anyone who wants to put out individual packs so guests can help themselves.
If anyone has allergies, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packs you receive.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, multipack of 20
A multipack for self-service when you want to offer a variety of snacks.
The title states that there are 20 packs. Check how the different snacks are divided up, and if anyone has allergies, read the labels on the relevant packs.
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Pringles Red Pepper potato crisps, 12 × 40 g
For anyone who wants to hand out individual packs in one flavour, rather than put a tube on the table.
According to the product title, the pack contains 12 portions of 40 g. Check the current label if anyone has allergies.
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Lay's Paprika crisps, 300 g
A big bag for anyone who wants to serve Paprika crisps in a bowl.
This pack contains one flavour and doesn’t offer individual portions. Check the current label if anyone has allergies.
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TAKIS Corn Snack Chili & Lime Fuego, 18 × 100 g
An individually packed corn snack for anyone who wants to offer a spicy chilli and lime flavour alongside potato crisps.
The product title states that there are 18 bags of 100 g. As the flavour is quite strong, it’s a good idea to offer a milder option too if you don’t know your guests’ preferences. Check the label if anyone has allergies.
Frequently asked questions
Does a sharing pack contain fewer crisps than a big bag?
Not necessarily: compare the total contents, not just the size of an individual bag. Jumbo lists big bags of 250 to 335 g, as well as a sharing pack with 15 bags of 25 g, totalling 375 g. How you want to serve them also affects your choice.
When should I check the allergen information on crisp packets?
Check the label for every flavour you choose if guests have allergies or you need to share ingredient information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed in the ingredients. Don’t assume that every product from the same brand has the same ingredients.
Can I rely on the ingredients listed on an online product page?
Use a product page to check in advance, but also read the label on the pack you receive before serving. Albert Heijn notes that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.
Is the brand the deciding factor when choosing crisps for a Christmas party?
No, a brand name won’t tell you whether the pack suits your serving plans. For the product you choose, compare the quantity, the number of individual portions, the flavours and, if needed, the ingredients on the current label.