People buying for a shared coffee break
You want to put one bag on the table and check whether it contains enough for everyone. Ready salted and ridged crisps offer different textures.
Who is this choice for?
Snackers who prefer individual portions
You want to be able to grab one small bag for a short break or hand out individual snacks, rather than leaving a large bag open.
Label checkers
For the crisps you choose, you check the portion size and the stated amounts of energy, salt, fat and saturated fat, without treating any one figure as a verdict on the whole product.
What matters when choosing?
First decide whether the crisps will be shared or handed out individually. Then compare the pack contents and, if it matters to you, the nutritional information for the variety you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | Check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing from a bowl | Check the net weight and choose the flavour and texture the group would like. | If several people are sharing, I want to be able to serve enough crisps from one bag; around 50% of consumers prioritise having enough for a shared bowl. |
| Individual portions | Check the number of bags, the weight of each bag and which snacks are included in the pack. | For a short break, I want to be able to take or hand out one bag. Individual portions are a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare energy, salt, fat and saturated fat per 100 g and per portion on the pack. | If I’m paying attention to what’s in the product, I want to know what my chosen portion contains; around 20% of consumers prioritise comparing labels. |
Common mistakes
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Treating a large bag as an individual portion
The weight of a bag doesn’t tell you how much you’ll actually put in a bowl. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 215 kcal and 0.53 g of salt for an average 40 g bowl of crisps.
Serve the amount you want in advance, or choose individual bags if that works better for your break.
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Going by the product name instead of the label
A description such as Oven Baked doesn’t tell you, by itself, how much salt, energy or saturated fat your portion contains.
Read the nutritional information for the exact flavour and pack you’re choosing, both per 100 g and per portion.
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Overlooking what’s in a snack mix
A mixed box doesn’t necessarily contain only potato crisps. For the Lay's Fun Mix Box, Joybuy lists milk and the possible presence of cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat.
Check which snacks are in the box and read the allergen information on the individual bags before handing them out.
Brands to compare
Jumbo
Jumbo sells own-brand crisps for anyone wanting to put a bag of ready salted or ridged crisps on the table.
- Jumbo lists Chips Naturel at 250 g and Ribbelchips Naturel at 335 g.
- Choose between smooth and ridged crisps based on the texture you prefer; the bags also contain different amounts.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists both AH Chips naturel and AH Stapel op chips naturel.
- The two options let you choose between standard ready salted crisps and stackable crisps.
- Compare the packaging and nutritional information for the specific variety you want to take along.
Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl’s own snack brand, with options including ready salted and ridged crisps.
- Lidl lists Snack Day Ribbelchips naturel in a 250 g bag.
- Lidl describes these ridged crisps as available in store only.
Lay's
Lay's offers classic crisps, multipacks of small bags and an Oven Baked range if you’re looking for a particular flavour or type.
- Lay's Netherlands describes the small bags in its multipacks as suitable for sharing.
- Check which flavours and types of snack are actually included in a multipack.
Pringles
Pringles is an option if you want to serve stackable crisps in a tube or are looking for a smaller pack.
- Pringles lists Original packs in 40 g, 70 g and 165 g sizes.
- Check the contents and nutritional information for the flavour you choose; figures for Original don’t automatically apply to other varieties.
Crisps and snack mixes on Joybuy
These products include mixed packs for sharing, individual portions and a bag of Lay's Oven Baked Paprika. If you choose a mix, check that all the included snacks are suitable for what you want to serve during your coffee break.
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Croky Sharing Mix 180 g
A mixed pack for sharing snacks during your coffee break. The stated weight is 180 g; check the pack to see which varieties it contains and which allergens are listed.
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Pringles Red Pepper, 12 × 40 g
For anyone wanting to hand out or take along individual tubes. According to the product name, the pack contains 12 tubes of 40 g; check the label on this Red Pepper variety for ingredients and allergens.
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Lay's Oven Baked Paprika 150 g
For anyone wanting to serve the Oven Baked Paprika variety from a bag. The bag contains 150 g; check the nutritional information on this specific pack for its energy, salt and fat content.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box, 15 bags
For a break when you want to hand out individual snacks. Joybuy lists milk and the possible presence of cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat for this mix; check the packaging of the individual bags.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose a large bag rather than small bags of crisps?
A large bag works well when you’re serving crisps in one bowl for several people; small bags are better for individual portions to take along or hand out. Check the weight of the bag or the number of bags in the multipack, and see which snacks are included if it’s a mix.
Are standard ready salted crisps and stackable crisps the same?
No, they’re different types of product, even when both are sold as ready salted. For example, Albert Heijn lists AH Chips naturel and AH Stapel op chips naturel separately; check the product name and ingredients if the type of crisp matters to you.
How do I compare the nutritional information for crisps?
Compare the figures for the varieties you’re considering per 100 g, then check how much your portion contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 215 kcal and 0.53 g of salt for an average 40 g bowl of crisps; you’ll find figures for a specific product on its own packaging.
Should I check for allergens in a mixed snack box?
Yes, check the allergen information on the box and on the individual snacks. For the Lay's Fun Mix Box, Joybuy lists milk and the possible presence of cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat; don’t assume every snack in the mix has the same ingredients.