Groups on the patio who want to serve crisps straight away
Individual bags are easy to pass around without opening a large bag or filling bowls. Before choosing a pack for your group, check both the number of bags and the amount in each one.
Who are multipacks useful for?
Hosts looking for a choice of flavours
A mixed box gives guests a choice of flavours or snack types. That variety also means checking the ingredients and allergens in each individual bag.
Shoppers comparing portions and labels
Smaller packs make it easy to see how much is in each bag. If you also want to compare nutritional information, check the values per 100 g for similar products and read the current packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you mainly want to hand out sealed portions or offer a choice of flavours. Then compare the amount in each bag and, if you choose a mix, check the information for every variety.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving and taking with you | Check whether the pack contains individual bags and how many grams are in each one. | I want to pass crisps around the table without filling bowls. For around 31% of consumers, being able to serve them easily would be the top priority. |
| Choice of flavours | Check which flavours and snack types are in the box; a mix does not necessarily contain only potato crisps. | If guests have different preferences, I don’t want to offer everyone the same flavour. A choice of flavours would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Quantity | Compare the number of bags, the amount in each bag and the total net weight. | For a group or several occasions on the patio, I want to know how many crisps the pack actually contains. Around 25% of consumers would give the most weight to the quantity. |
| Label information | Read the allergen information for each variety and compare nutritional values per 100 g for similar products. | If I need to take ingredients or nutritional values into account, I want to be able to check every bag. That would be the main concern for around 19% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Counting the bags and nothing else
A higher number of bags doesn’t necessarily mean you get more crisps: the amount in each bag can vary. For example, Jumbo lists the Lay's Mega Box as containing 20 bags and 533,5 g, and the Celebration Box as containing 30 bags and 752,5 g.
When comparing packs, look at the number of bags, the amount in each one and the total net weight.
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Treating a mix as one type of crisps
A box may combine potato crisps with other types of snacks. This means the ingredients and allergens can vary from bag to bag.
If you have an allergy, check the current allergen information for every variety, not just the front of the box.
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Assuming a smaller bag means different nutritional values
A different portion size doesn’t change the nutritional values per 100 g. Nor does a claim on the front of the pack replace the nutrition table.
Compare similar products per 100 g and use the weight per bag to assess the serving size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that manufacturers set their own portion sizes.
Brands and places to shop for inspiration
Lay's
Lay's is available in sharing packs and mixed snack boxes. Jumbo lists boxes with 20 and 30 bags, while Joybuy offers a Fun Mix Box with 15 bags.
- You can choose between bags of a single flavour and boxes containing different types of snacks.
- Don’t treat the contents of a mixed box as one uniform type of crisps: check the weight and allergens for each bag.
Pringles
Pringles Original comes in 40 g, 70 g and 165 g tubes. A tube is a different format for sharing from an individual bag of crisps.
- A small tube is easy to take with you, while the larger sizes can be enjoyed over several occasions.
- Joybuy’s product information for Pringles Original 12 x 40 g lists wheat and gluten, and warns that it may contain traces of milk and soya. Check the packaging for the variety you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists a 15-bag own-brand sharing pack, with 25 g in each bag, in paprika and original flavours, as well as larger bags of its own-brand crisps.
- The listed sharing pack makes the number of bags and the amount in each one clear.
- A larger bag is designed for a different way of sharing than sealed portion bags, so choose the size that suits how you want to serve them.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists a Lay's Mega Box with 20 bags and a Celebration Box with 30 bags, among other options. These are examples of products available from a retailer, not own-brand varieties.
- The packs mentioned offer different numbers of bags for groups.
- Ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information can change; Albert Heijn advises customers to read the current packaging.
Lidl / Snack Day
Lidl lists a multipack containing a mix of 15 bags of crisps.
- The number of bags listed can help you decide whether this size is right for your group.
- Before choosing, check the flavours, contents and allergens on the specific pack.
Multipacks for serving and sharing
These Joybuy products feature individual bags for enjoying on the patio: larger mixed boxes for groups and smaller mixes to share. Compare the number of portions with the amount in each bag. With mixed contents, you should also check the label for every variety.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 bags
A mixed box for anyone who wants to hand out sealed bags and offer a choice of snacks. Compare the contents of the individual varieties and check their current allergen information.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Crisps, 2 x 15 bags
Two boxes containing 30 bags in total are a good choice if you’re looking for individual portions for a larger group. See which varieties the mix contains and check their contents and allergens on the packaging.
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Croky Sharing Mix, 180 g
A smaller mix for sharing individual bags. The stated total weight is 180 g; check the packaging for the amount in each bag and the allergens in each variety.
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Lay's Doritos Chill Box, 2 x 12 bags
Two boxes, each containing 12 bags, are a good choice if you want to share portions across a group or several occasions. Check the weight per bag and read the ingredients for every variety in this mix.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Crisps, 15 bags
A mixed box for anyone who needs fewer individual bags than the larger boxes offer. Assess the portions by checking the weight per bag and, if you have allergies, read the current packaging for every variety.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags should I choose for an occasion on the patio?
Match the number of bags to the number of people you’re serving, but also check the weight per bag. Two packs with the same number of bags can contain different total amounts.
Are individual sharing bags more convenient than one large bag of crisps?
Individual bags are more convenient if you want to hand out or take sealed portions with you. If a small group would rather share from bowls, one large bag may suit you better; compare the net weight of both formats.
How do I compare the nutritional information for crisps multipacks?
For similar products, compare the nutritional values per 100 g and also check the amount in each bag. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using the per-100 g figures as a basis for comparison, because manufacturers set their own portion sizes.
Do I need to check every bag in a mixed box for allergens?
Yes. If you have an allergy, check the current allergen information for every variety. A mix may contain different types of snacks, so the ingredients may not be the same in every bag.
Can I rely on an online product page for the ingredients?
Use the product page to help you decide, but also read the packaging of the product you buy or serve. Albert Heijn points out that ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information can change.