Who is this choice relevant to?

Stock buyer comparing pack sizes

Looking for a classic biscuit for a simple snack selection, and checking the quantity per pack, shelf life and whether the same variety can be reordered.

Shopper comparing wholemeal and fibre content

Wants to see the amount of wholemeal ingredients and fibre in a variety on the label, and also checks the sugar content and serving size.

Buyer checking allergen information

Has a reason to avoid wheat, gluten or other allergens, so checks the ingredients and warnings for the exact variety.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide what role the digestive will play in your stock: a staple biscuit, a wholemeal variety, a particular flavour or a variety that requires careful allergen checks. Then compare the labels on the packs you actually plan to stock.

What to consider What to check Who it's important for
Pack size and restocking Check the net contents, shelf life and the supplier's terms for reordering. I want to know how many biscuits I'm stocking and whether I can reorder the same variety. Around 31% of consumers give pack size and ease of restocking top priority.
Wholemeal and fibre Compare the proportion of wholemeal ingredients and the fibre per 100 g; also check the sugar content and serving size. If ingredients are my main priority, I want to be able to see the difference between classic and wholemeal varieties on the label. For around 31% of consumers, wholemeal ingredients and fibre are the first consideration.
Flavour Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact plain or chocolate variety. I'm looking for a particular flavour for the snack shelf and don't want to assume that a chocolate variety has the same ingredients as a plain one. This choice of variety is a top priority for around 23% of consumers.
Gluten and allergens Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the physical pack; check for a gluten-free label if required. If I need to avoid an allergen, the exact pack must meet my requirements. Around 15% of consumers put this check ahead of the other selection criteria.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming the name ‘digestive’ tells you everything about its nutritional value

    A higher fibre content doesn't tell you what the rest of the nutritional profile looks like. Jumbo lists 5,8 g of fibre per 100 g for its Digestive Volkoren and 3,1 g per 100 g for its Krokante Digestive; both varieties also contain sugar and wheat.

    Compare fibre, sugar, saturated fat and salt on the same basis, and check the weight of one biscuit.

  • Assuming plain biscuits have the same nutritional values as chocolate ones

    According to Jumbo's product pages, the McVitie's white chocolate variety listed contains 27,0 g of sugar and 12,9 g of saturated fat per 100 g. For McVitie's Digestives Original, Jumbo lists 15,1 g of sugar per 100 g.

    Check the nutritional information on the exact pack for each flavour.

  • Confusing ‘gluten-free’ with free from all allergens

    The gluten-free digestive with milk chocolate described by Jumbo contains milk, oats and soya, and may contain nuts. A gluten-free label therefore doesn't mean the biscuit is suitable for every allergen restriction.

    Check the full ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you choose.

  • Treating a consumer product listing as a business supply agreement

    A product listing in a shop doesn't, by itself, tell you the pack size or delivery terms for a chemist's shop.

    Before adding a variety to your stock plan, ask your intended supplier about the EAN or GTIN, the number of packs per case, minimum order quantity, shelf life and delivery options.

Brands to consider

McVitie's

Digestives Original is a classic branded variety in a 400 g pack.

  • Jumbo lists 3,7 g of fibre and 15,1 g of sugar per 100 g for Original.
  • According to Jumbo, this variety contains wheat and may contain milk; check the label on the pack you choose.

Jumbo

The own-brand range includes a classic Krokante Digestive and a Digestive Volkoren, both in 400 g packs.

  • Jumbo lists 3,1 g of fibre per 100 g for Krokante Digestive and 5,8 g per 100 g for Digestive Volkoren; according to the product page, the wholemeal variety contains 37,3% wholemeal wheat flour.
  • The varieties described contain wheat and gluten. The higher fibre content of the wholemeal variety doesn't replace a comparison of the other nutritional values.

AH

AH Digestive is a classic own-brand variety in a 400 g pack.

  • Albert Heijn lists 3,2 g of fibre and 16 g of sugar per 100 g.
  • The product page describes the variety as vegan and lactose-free, but also lists wheat. Check the current label if you have dietary or allergen requirements.

Biscotto

ALDI describes Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as wheat biscuits in a 400 g pack.

  • According to ALDI, the pack contains around 27 biscuits, which can help when comparing pack sizes.
  • Read the nutritional information and allergen details on the pack you choose before comparing its ingredients with those of other digestives.

Sondey

Lidl lists Sondey Digestives in a 400 g pack.

  • The listed pack size makes it possible to compare pack quantities.
  • Compare nutritional values and allergens using the label for the specific variety.

Digestive biscuits on Joybuy

This classic Original variety is worth considering if you're looking for a staple biscuit for your snack stock. Before adding it to your business stock, check the delivery and pack details with your supplier.

McVitie's Digestives Original, 400 g

McVitie's Digestives Original 400 g

A classic digestive for anyone looking for a staple biscuit in a 400 g pack.

Joybuy's product information lists 3,7 g of fibre and 15,1 g of sugar per 100 g. According to Jumbo's product page, Original contains wheat and may contain milk; if you have allergen requirements, check the label on the pack.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘digestive’ tell you enough about the nutritional value?

No, the name is no substitute for the nutrition table. For the variety you choose, compare fibre, sugar, saturated fat and salt per 100 g, among other things, and check the serving size. Classic and wholemeal digestives can differ in these respects.

Is a standard digestive suitable for a gluten-free diet?

A standard digestive made with wheat isn't suitable for a gluten-free diet. The classic varieties described list wheat; for a gluten-free variety, check that the pack is explicitly labelled as such and read the other allergen information too.

What allergen information should I check on the packaging?

Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergens must be listed on the label of pre-packed foods. For digestives, check not only for wheat but also for any mention of milk, soya, oats or nuts.

How should I store an opened pack of digestive biscuits?

Seal the pack tightly after opening and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. The product information described for Jumbo and McVitie's recommends keeping the pack tightly closed or storing the biscuits in a tin.