Who are multipack bags useful for?

Anyone who wants to take a portioned bag with them

A sealed bag can go straight into a lunchbox, so there’s no need to weigh out crisps at home or take an opened large pack with you. Check the weight per bag: the total weight of the box alone won’t tell you how much you’re taking for each snack break.

Households with different flavour preferences

A mixed box gives you different bags for several lunchboxes or snack breaks. Check which varieties it contains, though: the box may include other snacks as well as potato crisps, with ingredients and allergens that vary from one variety to another.

Anyone who mainly wants to stock up on a regular flavour

If you always go for the same flavour, a box with one or two familiar options may be more practical than a large assortment. Check how many bags you’re likely to use and whether each bag is the right size for your snack break.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide how many crisps you want to take at a time. Then compare the flavour selection, the label and how many bags you’ll use.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Portion per bag Check the number of bags and the weight per bag. Jumbo lists its Paprika & Original multipack as 15 × 25 g; Lay's also has multipacks with larger 40 g bags. I want to put one sealed bag in my lunchbox without weighing out the portion myself. Around 36% of consumers say a suitable individual portion is their priority.
Flavours and ingredients Check all the varieties in the box and read the ingredients and allergen information for each one on the current packaging. A snack mix doesn’t necessarily contain only potato crisps. If different lunchboxes call for different flavours, I want to know what’s in each bag; this check is especially important if you have an allergy. For around 29% of consumers, flavour choice and ingredients come first.
Stock you’ll actually use Compare the number of bags with the flavour selection and size you really want. A bigger box isn’t automatically more convenient if bags are left uneaten. I want to stock up without being left with unwanted flavours or portions that are too large. For around 21% of consumers, using the contents is the most important consideration.
Nutritional information Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and the weight per portion, especially if you often take a snack at the same time of day. If I regularly take a savoury snack with me, I want to be able to judge how much one bag contributes to what I eat. Around 14% of consumers say this is their main consideration.

A multipack helps you choose a portion size, but the packaging alone doesn’t tell you about the nutritional value. The Voedingscentrum points out that many snacks are high in calories or salt, so compare the nutritional information for the specific crisps you’re considering.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing a large box without checking what’s inside

    A box may contain flavours or sizes you don’t want to take with you. So the number of items doesn’t tell you how many suitable lunchbox portions you’ll actually have.

    Before buying, check the flavour selection, the weight per bag and how many bags you expect to use.

  • Assuming every bag in a mix contains the same thing

    Potato crisps and corn snacks can be packed together in one box. The Lay's Family Box, for example, lists milk and soya among the ingredients of some items.

    If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information for every variety on the current packaging, not just the front of the box.

  • Assuming every multipack contains small bags

    Jumbo lists 25 g multipack bags, while other packs contain 40 g bags or individual tubes. These formats aren’t interchangeable if you want to take a specific portion with you.

    Check whether the contents are listed as number of bags × weight per bag, and whether the pack contains bags or tubes.

  • Confusing pack size with nutritional value

    A small bag limits how much you take with you, but it doesn’t tell you anything about the nutritional value of the crisps themselves. According to the Voedingscentrum, many snacks are high in calories or salt.

    Read the nutritional information per 100 g and use the weight per bag to work out how much you’re actually taking.

Brands and own-label options compared

Lay's

Worth considering if you’re looking at multipack bags or a box with different types of snacks. The Family Box described by Albert Heijn contains 15 bags.

  • A mixed box lets you choose from different individually packed varieties.
  • The Family Box doesn’t contain only potato crisps; check the ingredients and allergens for each variety.

Jumbo

This own-label product is a good example for anyone looking for a predictable mix of two flavours in small bags.

  • According to Jumbo, its Paprika & Original Crisps Multipack contains 15 bags of 25 g: eight original and seven paprika.
  • Jumbo lists milk in this product. Check the current label if allergens are important to your choice.

Albert Heijn

This own-label range includes product information that shows what to look for on a current multipack.

  • The AH Mixpack described contained 15 bags of 25 g, divided between original and paprika, with nutritional information for each product.
  • Albert Heijn lists this particular Mixpack as discontinued; check the label and size of any alternative product.

Pringles

A tube may suit anyone looking for a familiar flavour in a different type of packaging, rather than small multipack bags.

  • Jumbo lists 165 g Pringles tubes as a familiar alternative to bags.
  • If you only want to take some with you, you’ll need to portion out the contents of a large tube yourself.

Snack Day

This Lidl label is another option to include when comparing crisps multipacks.

  • Lidl lists a product described as ‘Multipack crisps’.
  • Before comparing it with another box, check the packaging for the number of bags, weight, ingredients and nutritional information.

Crisps and snack mixes on Joybuy

These products show different ways to pack snacks for taking on the go: mixed boxes with individual items, a smaller crisps mix and a box of tubes. Choose based on the size you want to take at a time, and check the contents of each type of bag in a mixed pack.

Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, multipack containing 20 items

Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 items

For anyone who wants to take individual snacks from different brands with them. Check the weight and ingredients of each variety on the packaging before choosing a bag for your lunchbox.

View on Joybuy
Pringles Red Pepper Flavoured Potato Crisps, 12 tubes of 40 g

Pringles Red Pepper, 12 × 40 g

For anyone who wants to take a familiar flavour in individual tubes. According to the product name, each tube contains 40 g; compare this size with a smaller multipack bag if portion size is the deciding factor for a mid-morning snack.

View on Joybuy
Croky Sharing Mix, 180 g pack

Croky Sharing Mix, 180 g

For anyone who wants to share a crisps mix across several snack breaks. The stated weight of 180 g is for the pack as a whole; check the weight of each individual bag before deciding whether the portion is right for a lunchbox.

View on Joybuy
Lay's Family Box containing 15 items

Lay's Family Box, 15 items

For anyone who wants to share a box of individual snacks between several lunchboxes. Check the weight and ingredients of each variety on the current packaging; a Family Box may contain different types of snacks.

View on Joybuy
Lay's Doritos Chill Box, multipack containing 12 items

Lay's Doritos Chill Box, 12 items

For anyone looking for a variety of individual snacks. Check the weight per item and read the ingredients and allergens for each variety before deciding which bags are suitable to take with you.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a small bag of crisps automatically right for every morning?

No. A small bag mainly tells you how much you’re taking with you. The Voedingscentrum points out that many snacks are high in calories or salt, so read the nutritional information per 100 g and compare it with the weight of the bag.

Should I check the allergens for every variety in a mixed box?

Yes. For a snack mix, check every variety individually against the current packaging. The Lay's Family Box lists milk and soya among the ingredients of some items, so checking the label for a favourite flavour alone isn’t enough to assess the whole box.

How should I store multipack bags of crisps?

According to the product information, store Jumbo Paprika & Original Crisps Multipack in a cool, dry place, and follow the best-before information on the packaging. For another multipack, check its storage instructions.

Which nutritional and allergen information should I use when buying?

Use the information on the current packaging for the variety you’re buying. For a mixed pack, check the ingredients and allergens for each variety, and compare the nutritional information per 100 g with the weight per bag to work out how much you’re taking with you.