Anyone sharing snacks during a film night
Individual bags make it easy to give everyone a portion without passing around one open bag. A mixed box also offers a choice of different flavours and sometimes different types of snacks.
Who are multipacks handy for?
Anyone packing several lunchboxes
With separate bags, you can prepare portions in advance. Check the weight of each bag: for example, Jumbo’s product listings include 25 g and 27.5 g sharing bags in different multipacks.
Anyone who wants to take snacks to the cinema
Check the rules of the cinema you’re visiting before you buy. Kinepolis Netherlands says that your own food and drink cannot be taken into the auditorium; the packaging doesn’t change this house rule.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether individual portions, a choice of flavours or taking snacks to the cinema matters most to you. Then check the contents and label of the exact pack.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Check the number of bags and the weight of each one. | If I’m sharing snacks between a group or several lunchboxes, I want to know in advance how many individual portions I’ll have. Portioning is the main priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Variety of flavours | Check which types of snacks and flavours are in the box, and how many bags of each variety you get. | For a film night with different preferences, I want to give people a choice, but not assume the box contains only potato crisps if it includes other snacks too. Choice of flavour is the main reason around 30% of consumers choose a multipack. |
| Taking snacks to the cinema | Check the house rules of the specific cinema before you buy; Kinepolis Netherlands does not allow your own food and drink in the auditorium. | If I want to eat the bags of crisps during a screening, I need to know first whether my cinema allows it. This is the deciding factor for around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | For a mixed box, read the allergen information for each variety and compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g. | If ingredients or nutritional values determine my choice, I don’t want to assume that every bag in a box is the same. Checking the label is the first priority for around 10% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Buying a multipack specifically for the cinema without checking the rules
Individual bags are easy to share, but you can’t assume they’ll be allowed in the auditorium. Kinepolis Netherlands does not allow your own food and drink there.
Check the house rules at your cinema before buying a multipack for a screening. Those cinema rules don’t apply to a film night at home.
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Assuming all the bags in a mixed box have the same ingredients
A box may contain a mix of potato crisps, corn snacks and other snacks. For Lay's Party Mix, Jumbo lists milk as an allergen and notes the possible presence of gluten-containing cereals, soya and wheat, among other things.
If you have allergies, read the information for the exact box and each individual variety rather than treating one flavour as representative of the whole mix.
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Comparing only the number of bags
Fifteen 25 g bags contain a different total amount from fifteen 27.5 g bags. The number of bags also tells you nothing about how the flavours are divided.
Compare the total weight, the weight of each bag and the contents of the mix before deciding which size will work for your group.
Brands to consider
Lay's
Lay's offers multipacks with individual bags and mixed boxes for groups.
- Albert Heijn and Jumbo list products including Party Mix, Mega Box and Celebration Box, with different numbers of bags and types of snacks.
- A mixed box doesn’t necessarily contain only potato crisps. Check the contents and allergen information for the variety you choose.
Pringles
A tube multipack is different from an assortment of individual bags: you’re sharing tubes of your chosen flavour.
- Albert Heijn lists a Pringles Original 12-pack.
- Check the weight of each tube and the label on the exact pack if you want to compare portions or ingredients.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn sells its own-brand crisps and also lists multipacks from other brands.
- Alongside Lay's boxes, Albert Heijn lists AH Plain Crisps in a 250 g bag.
- A standard large bag doesn’t give you individually wrapped portions. So don’t compare it with a multipack based only on the number of packs.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells its own-brand sharing bag and also lists Lay's multipacks.
- The listed Jumbo sharing bag contains 15 bags of 25 g, split between plain and paprika flavours.
- Jumbo lists milk as an allergen for this sharing bag. If you have dietary requirements, check the exact pack.
Snack Day (Lidl)
Lidl presents Snack Day as a range for occasions including film nights and also lists crisps multipacks.
- The range is worth considering if you’re looking at different types of snacks for a film night.
- For a specific multipack, check the number of bags, their weights and the ingredients before comparing it with another box.
Multipacks on Joybuy
These products include mixed boxes with individual bags and a multipack of tubes in one flavour. Choose according to how you want to divide up the portions, and check each variety in a mixed box. If you’re taking snacks to the cinema, its house rules still apply.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box, 15 bags
A good choice if you want to hand out individual bags and offer a variety of snacks.
The box contains 15 bags. Milk is listed as an allergen; gluten, soya and wheat may also be present. If you have allergies, check the labels on the exact varieties.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 pieces
For a group that wants individual snacks and a choice of several varieties.
This multipack contains 20 pieces. Milk and soya are listed as allergens; if you have allergies, read the labels on the individual snacks.
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Pringles Original, 12 × 40 g
An option if you want to share several individual tubes of the same flavour rather than a box of assorted snacks.
The pack contains 12 tubes of 40 g. Wheat and gluten are listed; traces of milk and soya may be present. Check the label if you have allergies.
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Lay's Family Box, 15 pieces
For anyone who wants to give a group individual bags and offer more than one type of snack.
The box contains 15 pieces. If it matters to your choice, check the mix of varieties and the allergen information on the exact pack.
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Lay's Doritos Chill Box, 12 pieces
Handy for preparing individual bags for a film night or lunchboxes when you’d also like to offer a choice of flavours.
The multipack contains 12 pieces. Check the exact pack to see how many bags of each variety it contains and which allergens are listed for each one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a crisps multipack into the cinema?
It depends on the cinema’s house rules. Kinepolis Netherlands does not allow your own food and drink in the auditorium. If you’re going somewhere else, check its rules before buying crisps to eat during the screening.
How do I check allergens in a mixed snack box?
Read the information on the exact box and for each individual variety. For Lay's Party Mix, Jumbo lists milk as an allergen and gluten-containing cereals, soya and wheat, among other things, as possible allergens. So don’t assume all the bags in a mix have the same ingredients.
How do I compare a multipack with a large bag of crisps?
Compare the total weight, then consider whether you need individual portions. A large bag doesn’t contain individually wrapped portions; with a multipack, the number and weight of each bag determine how many portions you can prepare. Compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g.
How should I store individual bags and an opened bag of crisps?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the product you choose. Jumbo advises storing its sharing bag in a cool, dry place; for AH Plain Crisps, Albert Heijn advises storing them in a dark, dry place and closing the packaging securely after use.