Lunchbox and portion planners
If you want to take a sealed bag for several breaks, you won’t have to open a large bag each time. Check the amount in each bag: the same number of bags doesn’t necessarily mean the same amount of crisps.
Who are crisps multipacks useful for?
Sharing with people who have different flavour preferences
If you’re sharing crisps with colleagues, housemates or guests, a variety box gives everyone a choice without having to open several large bags. Check how many bags of each flavour it contains.
Shoppers comparing labels
If you want to take ingredients, allergens or nutritional values into account, check every variety in a mixed box. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) recommends comparing the nutritional values of similar products per 100 g.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the packaging that suits your coffee break: single-flavour bags to portion out in advance, a mix to choose from together, or tubes if resealability is a priority. Then check the amount in each pack and read the label. A higher number of packs doesn’t, by itself, tell you much about the total contents.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Check the number of bags, the amount in each bag and whether they’re all the same flavour. | I want to set aside a sealed bag for my lunchbox or next coffee break. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Flavour variety | Check how many bags you get of each flavour and read the ingredients for every variety. | When we take a break together, I want to be able to choose without opening several large bags. Having a choice of flavours is the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Contents and label | Compare the total contents and, for similar crisps, the price per kilogram. Compare nutritional values per 100 g. | I want to know how many crisps I’m getting and what’s in the variety I choose, not just how many bags are in the box. Around 25% of consumers put this comparison first. |
| Resealability | Check whether the specific pack can be resealed and how much each tube contains. | If I don’t eat a portion in one go, I want to be able to reseal the pack. This is the most important factor for around 17% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Counting bags and nothing else
A multipack with more bags doesn’t necessarily contain more crisps. For example, Jumbo lists a sharing pack with 15 × 25 g, while Albert Heijn lists a Lay’s pack with 20 × 40 g.
Compare the total contents, then decide which amount per bag is right for your break.
-
Checking only your favourite flavour in a variety pack
Recipes can vary between the products in a mixed box, so the label for one flavour won’t tell you everything about the other bags.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for every variety, especially if anyone in your group needs to avoid certain ingredients.
-
Assuming smaller bags have a different nutritional profile
A smaller bag doesn’t change the nutritional value per 100 g of the crisps. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) notes that snacks can contain a lot of salt or saturated fat, among other things.
Use the bag size to make portioning practical, and compare nutritional information per 100 g to assess what’s in the crisps.
-
Relying on a label you read previously
Ingredient information can change when a product is updated. A previous purchase is no substitute for checking the label on the box you’re using now.
Check the packaging again before handing out or eating the bags.
Brands and shops to consider
Lay’s
The supermarket listings mentioned here include Lay’s multipacks in a single flavour as well as mixed sharing boxes.
- Albert Heijn lists a 20-pack of Original crisps at 20 × 40 g, as well as mixed boxes with different numbers of bags.
- Contents and ingredients vary from box to box. If you’re choosing a mix, check which varieties it contains.
Pringles
Pringles is worth considering if you’re looking for crisps in tubes. Albert Heijn lists an Original 12-pack at 12 × 40 g in resealable packaging.
- A tube is an alternative to individual flat crisps bags if you want to be able to reseal the packaging.
- Check the ingredients for your chosen flavour. The Original variety contains wheat and gluten.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists a sharing pack under its own brand, with 15 individual bags of 25 g.
- According to Jumbo, this pack contains eight bags of ready salted crisps and seven bags of paprika crisps.
- Check the details for the specific sharing pack. Regular large bags from the same shop range don’t offer the same mix.
Lidl
Lidl Netherlands lists a multipack of 15 mixed bags that is available in store only.
- This format could suit a coffee break when you want to take several individual bags with you.
- Check the flavour mix, the amount in each bag and the ingredients on the packaging in store.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists products including Lay’s boxes and a Pringles Original 12-pack.
- These listings make it easy to compare pack sizes and product labels.
- Check the label on the pack you receive, even if you’ve read the information online beforehand.
Crisps multipacks on Joybuy
These packs suit three different coffee-break needs: individual portions, a box to share or a tube format. Compare the stated quantities and amounts for each product. For mixed boxes, also check the flavour mix and labels.
No image available
Pringles Red Pepper, 12 × 40 g
A tube format to consider if you want to take individual portions with you. The product name lists 12 packs of 40 g. Check whether the pack you choose is resealable and read the label for this flavour.
No image available
Lay’s Fun Mix Box, 15 bags
A box to consider if you want to offer a choice during a shared break. The product name lists 15 bags. Check the amount in each bag, the flavour mix and the labels for all the varieties.
No image available
Lay’s Sensations Thai Sweet Chili, 10 × 40 g
For breaks when you want to share the same flavour each time. The product name lists ten bags of 40 g. Check the pack label if ingredients matter to you or anyone else.
No image available
Lay’s Doritos Chill Box, 12 packs
A box to consider for a shared coffee break. The product name lists 12 packs. Before buying, check which varieties are included and how much each bag contains. When sharing, read the ingredients for each variety.
No image available
Croky Sharing Mix, 180 g
A mix to consider if you’re taking a snack to share. The product name lists 180 g. Check the pack for the number of bags, the mix of flavours and the amount in each bag.
Frequently asked questions
Which crisps multipack is right for a lunchbox or a short coffee break?
Choose individually wrapped bags if you want to set aside one sealed portion for each break. Pay particular attention to the grams per bag: a pack of 20 × 40 g and a sharing pack of 15 × 25 g give you different amounts each time.
How do I compare the nutritional value of crisps multipacks?
Compare the nutritional values of similar products per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) says manufacturers decide for themselves how large a stated portion is. Comparing per 100 g lets you assess salt, fat and saturated fat on the same basis, for example.
Should I check every bag in a mixed box for allergens?
Yes. If anyone needs to avoid certain ingredients, check the ingredients and allergen information for every variety in the box. Different flavours can have different recipes, so don’t rely on the flavour name or the label on just one bag.
How should I store a crisps multipack?
Follow the storage and best-before information on the pack you buy. Jumbo’s product listings for its sharing pack and Lay’s Party Mix advise storing them in a cool, dry place. Individual sealed bags only need to be opened when you’re ready to use them.