Choose a mixed snack box if you’re expecting Boxing Day guests with different tastes, but check how many bags of each variety it contains first. If your group has a clear favourite, a multipack with just one flavour makes it easier to know what you’re getting. Whichever you choose, check the weight per portion and the allergens on the packaging you buy.
If you’re expecting guests with different tastes, a mixed box lets you put out individual bags without opening everything in advance. Check the number of bags per flavour, though: the mix may not be evenly divided.
If you mainly want to serve ready salted or paprika crisps, a multipack with the same flavour in every bag is more straightforward than a mixed snack box. Jumbo, for example, lists a Lay's Ready Salted pack with 20 bags of 40 g.
At a shared buffet, bags in the same box may contain different ingredients and allergens. Check the information on each item’s current packaging so guests can see which bag is suitable for them.
Decide what matters most for your buffet: a choice of flavours, a predictable number of individual portions or being able to check the ingredients. Then compare the contents of the packs that meet your needs.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Choice of flavours | Check the types of snacks and how many bags there are of each flavour, not just the total number of bags. | If my guests have different tastes, I want to know whether the mix includes flavours they’ll eat. Around 42% of consumers put variety first. |
| Quantity and portions | Compare the total weight and the weight per bag with the number of portions you want to put out. | For a buffet, I want to be able to offer enough individual portions without judging the quantity by the number of bags alone. For around 33% of consumers, knowing how much they’ll get is their main concern. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. For a mixed pack, check each variety separately too. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to see which bags they can check for themselves. Around 25% of consumers put this clarity first. |
Multipacks can contain bags of different weights, so more bags don’t necessarily mean more crisps for your buffet.
Compare the total weight and the weight per portion before deciding how many packs you need.
A snack box might combine potato crisps, corn snacks and other treats. The ingredients and allergens can vary from bag to bag.
Read the contents list and check the allergen information for each variety before putting the box out on the buffet.
The range and packaging may change before you do your Boxing Day shopping.
Just before buying, check the current packaging, availability and best-before date of the product you want to pick up.
For your buffet, Lay's offers options ranging from mixed snack boxes to bags of a single flavour.
Pringles Original is a good option if you’re looking for individual portions in one flavour, including some to take home after the buffet.
Smiths Sticks could be a good addition if you’d like to serve a different type of savoury snack alongside crisps.
Snack Day is Lidl’s snack range, with options for anyone looking to combine individual flavours.
These products are designed for serving crisps or mixed snacks in individual portions at your buffet. The mixed boxes offer a choice of flavours, while Pringles Original has just one. Before buying, always check the current packaging if the flavour mix or allergens are important for your guests.
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For a buffet where you want to offer different types of snacks in individual portions. The box contains 20 pieces; check the current packaging for the number of each variety and allergen information.
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For anyone looking to put out several flavours in small, individual bags. Check how many bags of each flavour are in this 15-pack, and check the allergens for each variety.
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For a smaller group who want to enjoy a variety of flavours. Compare the total weight of 180 g with the amount you want to serve, and check the flavour mix and ingredients on the packaging.
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For a buffet where guests prefer one familiar flavour, or for sending portions home with them. This multipack contains 12 portions of 40 g; check the current allergen information, including details about wheat.
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For anyone looking to offer several flavours in individual bags at the buffet. The box contains 12 pieces; check the packaging to see how many bags there are of each flavour, and check the ingredients, allergens and portion weight.
A mixed box is a good choice if you want to offer your guests different flavours; a multipack with one flavour works well if they have a clear favourite. For a mixed pack, check how many bags there are of each variety so the choice is genuinely varied, not just in name.
Yes. Check the information for each variety if guests need to avoid certain ingredients. Bags in the same box may contain different ingredients, so ask guests to check the packaging of their chosen bag too, if needed.
The Lay's mixed boxes mentioned may list ingredients such as milk and soya for certain items; wheat is listed for Pringles Original. This may not apply to every bag or another variety, so check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you buy.
For unopened portions, follow the storage advice and best-before date on the packaging. Keep any bags you want to use later sealed, and check the storage advice for opened packs too.
