Housemates looking for big bags
For your first shared food shop, you’re looking for one bag to share with your housemates, without needing individual portions.
Who are these packs for?
Shoppers for a housewarming
You want to hand out crisps to your housemates or visitors, so you’re looking for individual bags or a pack with a selection of flavours.
Label-conscious shoppers
You take ingredients, allergens or dietary requirements into account and want to check your chosen flavour and pack carefully.
What should you look for when choosing?
Before your first food shop, decide whether you want to open one bag to share, hand out individual portions or check the ingredients in each flavour first.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack contents | Compare the net weight and check whether it’s one bag or several individual bags. | If I’m buying for a shared snack, I want to know how many crisps are in the pack. Around 42% of consumers prioritise pack contents. |
| Sharing and variety | Check how many individual bags there are and which flavours are included in the mix. | For a housewarming, I want to hand out bags without everyone having to choose the same flavour. Around 33% of consumers prioritise the convenience of sharing. |
| Ingredients and allergens | For a mix, read the ingredients and allergen information for every flavour or item. | If someone at the table needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check the exact pack. For around 25% of consumers, checking the label is their main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Counting the bags without checking their contents
A multipack with lots of bags doesn’t necessarily contain more crisps than a big bag. The weight of each bag also affects how much you can hand out.
Check both the number of bags and the net weight on the pack.
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Checking only one flavour in a mixed pack
Different items in a mix may contain different ingredients and allergens. The product information for Lay's Fun Mix Box 15-Pack lists milk and the possible presence of cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat.
Read the information for each flavour or item before sharing the mix with anyone who needs to be mindful of allergens.
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Relying on online product information as definitive
Ingredients and allergens can change. Albert Heijn therefore advises customers to read the packaging; Lidl Nederland also refers customers to the packaging for nutritional information about its food products.
Check the label on the pack you buy, especially if you have allergies, intolerances or dietary requirements.
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Opening a big bag without a plan for storing it
With one big bag, you may have crisps left over after sharing. How to store them depends on the instructions for the product you’ve chosen.
Follow the storage advice on the pack and seal an opened bag securely.
Brands to compare
Jumbo
Jumbo own-brand crisps are an option if you’re looking for a big bag to share.
- Jumbo lists crisp bags in sizes including 250 g and 335 g.
- Check the flavour, contents and current pack information for each variety.
Albert Heijn
AH Chips naturel is an example of a simple own-brand option in a 250 g bag.
- On its product page, Albert Heijn labels this specific plain variety as vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free.
- Don’t assume those labels apply to other AH flavours, and check the label on the bag you buy.
Lay's
The range reviewed includes Lay's in both big bags and boxes of individual bags.
- Jumbo lists Lay's bags and multipacks; individual bags are handy for sharing.
- For a selection of flavours, check the ingredients and allergens in each item separately.
Pringles
Pringles Original is worth considering if you want to hand out individual tubes or keep them sealed.
- Albert Heijn lists a Pringles Original 12-pack of 12 × 40 g.
- The product information for Pringles Original lists wheat and gluten, and the possible presence of milk and soya. Check the packaging of the variety you choose.
Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl Nederland’s own brand, covering crisps and other snacks.
- The range includes a variety of savoury snacks.
- Check the physical packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
Crisp packs on Joybuy
These packs are for anyone moving house who wants to hand out individual bags, mix up the flavours or choose individual tubes.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Crisps, 2 × 15 bags
A box of individual bags for sharing at snack time. The product name lists two packs of 15 bags each; check the ingredients in each item if you need to be mindful of allergens.
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Croky Sharing Mix 180 g
A mix to put out for everyone to share at snack time. The pack states 180 g; check the label for the ingredients in the mix you choose.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Crisps 15-Pack
Fifteen individual bags for housemates or visitors. Joybuy product information lists milk and the possible presence of cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat; if allergens are a concern, check the label on both the box and the individual bags.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box Multipack, 20 items
A multipack of individual snacks to hand out when not everyone wants the same thing. The product name lists 20 items; before sharing, check which products are in the box and read their labels.
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Pringles Original Crisps, 12 × 40 g
Twelve individual 40 g tubes for anyone who wants to hand out portions separately or keep them sealed. Joybuy product information lists wheat and gluten, and the possible presence of milk and soya; check the label before sharing the tubes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a big bag with a multipack?
Compare the net weight and consider whether you want to open one bag to share or need individual portions. With a multipack, the number of bags and the weight of each one help you work out how much you can actually hand out.
Are small bags handy for a housewarming?
Yes, if you want to hand out crisps easily or offer a choice of flavours. Check which flavours are in the box beforehand, especially if your guests need to avoid certain ingredients.
Is online allergen information enough?
No. Also read the label on the pack you buy, as product ingredients can change. For a mixed pack, check every relevant bag or item; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the allergen information on labels of prepacked foods.
Can I finish an opened bag of crisps later?
Follow the storage advice for the crisps you’ve chosen and seal the pack securely after opening. For AH Chips naturel, Albert Heijn recommends storing the bag somewhere dark and dry; don’t automatically assume the same advice applies to every other variety.