Sharing at home
If everyone wants the same flavour, you can choose one large bag to suit the group and serve the crisps together. The number of portions shown on the pack is a useful guide, not a set amount per person.
Which option is right for you?
Groups with different preferences
Small bags are easier to hand out individually when not everyone wants the same flavour or portion size. Check which varieties and how many bags are actually included in a multipack.
Cinema-goers
If you’re planning snacks during a screening, the venue’s house rules matter more than the type of packaging. Pathé’s house rules don’t allow food or drink from outside, so check the policy at the cinema you’re visiting.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the crisps are for home or a trip to the cinema. Then choose between sharing, handing out individual portions and having a pack you can reseal after opening.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount to share | Check the net weight and stated serving size, then decide how much you want to put out for the group. | If we’re sharing one flavour at home, I want to know whether one bag will suit our group. For around 29% of consumers, the amount in the pack comes first. |
| Portions and flavours | For a multipack, check how many bags it contains, the amount in each bag and which varieties are included. | If everyone wants something different, I’d rather hand round individual bags. Around 21% of consumers give this kind of portioning top priority. |
| Cinema house rules | Check the rules for the specific venue before buying; Pathé does not allow food or drink from outside. | If the crisps are for the cinema, I need to know first whether I’m allowed to take them in. For around 29% of consumers, this is the first thing to check. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the label for your chosen flavour to check its ingredients and allergens. Compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g. | If someone in the group needs to check ingredients or allergens, I want to be able to check the exact variety being handed out. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this information. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming you can take supermarket crisps into any cinema
There’s little point buying a bag for the screening if the venue doesn’t allow food from outside. Pathé’s house rules state that food and drink from outside cannot be brought in.
Check your cinema’s rules before buying crisps to eat during the screening.
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Assuming a familiar flavour always has the same ingredients
Ingredients and allergens can vary by product and flavour. Product information can also change, as Albert Heijn notes in its online information.
Check the current packaging for every variety before giving crisps to someone who needs to watch their ingredients or allergens.
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Choosing a multipack when you want one bowl to share
Individual bags make it easier to hand out portions, but they’re less suitable if everyone would rather help themselves to the same crisps from one bowl.
Choose the pack type to suit how you want to serve the crisps, then check the total amount.
Brands to consider
Lay's
Lay's offers large bags as well as packs of smaller bags to suit different ways of sharing.
- Lay's describes its small bags as handy for sharing out.
- Check the contents and flavours of the pack you choose; a large bag and a multipack serve different purposes.
Pringles
Pringles is worth considering if you’re thinking of a tube rather than one large bag.
- Albert Heijn describes the Pringles Original tube as resealable.
- Check the contents and packaging of the exact variety you’re buying; details for Original won’t necessarily apply to other flavours.
Smiths
Smiths Sticks offers a different shape for anyone looking to serve something other than standard potato crisps.
- Jumbo lists Sticks in 100 g paprika and barbecue packs.
- A 100 g pack calls for a different calculation from one large sharing bag; check the allergen label for each flavour separately.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn is a supermarket where you can compare information about different crisp packs side by side.
- Its online range includes a Lay's value pack, Pringles and AH ridged crisps.
- Albert Heijn says product information may change, so check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists both own-brand bags and branded crisps, making it easy to compare pack sizes.
- The range shown includes Jumbo Chips Naturel, 250 g, and Jumbo Ribbelchips Naturel, 335 g.
- As well as the weight, consider the flavour and crisp shape before treating one pack as an alternative to another.
Lidl / Snack Day
Lidl presents Snack Day as its own brand, with options including crisps for a movie night.
- The brand lists varieties such as ridged crisps and sea salt crisps.
- Check the contents and product information on the pack you choose rather than relying on the brand name.
Crisps and snack packs on Joybuy
These products include packs for sharing, handing out individually and a tube as an alternative. Choose the contents and variety to suit your group; if you’re taking them to the cinema, the venue’s house rules also apply.
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Lay's Paprika 300 g
A bag for sharing at home if your group wants paprika crisps from one pack.
Pack size: 300 g. Decide whether one bag is enough for your group.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 items
A multipack for handing out snacks individually instead of opening one large bag.
The product name lists 20 items. Check which varieties and how much product the pack contains.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box, 15 items
A box for a movie night when you’d rather hand out individual packs.
The product name lists 15 items. Check the contents and the label for each variety if these details matter to your choice.
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Pringles Hot Flamin' Cheese 160 g
A tube to consider if you don’t want to open a large sharing bag.
Pack size: 160 g. Check whether this variety’s pack can be resealed and read the current label for its ingredients.
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Croky Sharing Mix 180 g
A mix to consider if you don’t want to serve crisps from one large bag.
Total pack size: 180 g. Check the pack for the number of bags, varieties and ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take supermarket crisps into the cinema?
Pathé’s house rules don’t allow you to bring food or drink from outside. For another cinema, check the rules for that specific venue before buying crisps to eat in the auditorium.
When is a multipack a better choice than a large bag?
A multipack is a better choice if you want to hand out individual portions or offer a range of flavours. If everyone at home wants the same crisps from one bowl, check the size of a sharing bag.
How can I check for allergens when handing out crisps?
Before handing them out, read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging for every flavour you’ve chosen. Don’t rely on information for another variety or a pack you bought before.
What should I do with crisps I’m not serving straight away?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging, and check whether the tube for your chosen variety can be resealed after opening. A tube isn’t necessarily as large as a sharing bag, so check the pack size if you’re buying for a group.