Who are multipacks suitable for?

Christmas market stallholders handing out treats

You want to be able to count in advance how many portions you have. Jumbo lists packs with fourteen or twelve individual portions.

Lunchbox packers

You’re looking for a measured amount for regular packed lunches. The Jumbo portions mentioned are 14 g each; this is a pack size, not personal dietary advice.

Shoppers who portion food themselves

You don’t mind weighing out portions yourself, so you’re also considering larger bags. The 375 g and 500 g bags listed are not individually portioned.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, work out how many individual portions you need. Then compare the portion size, pack quantity and product information with how you plan to use it.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Number of portions to hand out Count the individual boxes and check the number of grams in each one. If I’m getting portions ready for a stall, I want to know how many people one pack will serve. Around 25% of consumers put the number of portions to hand out first.
Lunchbox portions Check the amount in each portion and how many packed lunches you want to fill. For lunchboxes, I want to be able to take a measured amount for each packed lunch. Around 25% of consumers choose with lunchbox portioning in mind.
Pack quantity Check the net weight and distinguish between a large bag and individual portions. If I want to match the quantity to how I plan to use it, I look at both the total weight and the number of portions. Around 25% of consumers make this their priority.
Label and storage Read the current packaging, check the storage instructions and keep allergen information available when selling. When I hand out or sell portions, I want to be able to check the product information and provide suitable information about allergens. Around 25% of consumers make product information and storage a priority.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a large bag for a multipack

    A bag with a stated net weight, such as 375 g or 500 g, doesn’t tell you how many individual portions it contains.

    Choose a pack with individual portions if you want to hand them out straight away. Only choose a large bag if you’re happy to weigh out the portions yourself.

    Portioning it yourself takes extra time and requires suitable tubs or bags.

  • Throwing away the outer packaging before keeping the information

    Product information can change. If you sell food, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says you must inform customers about any allergens present.

    Read the current packaging and keep the relevant product information with the portions you offer.

  • Mistaking a small pack for dietary advice

    The Jumbo boxes contain 14 g per portion; two boxes make 28 g. The Voedingscentrum gives a general recommendation of no more than 20 g of dried fruit per day.

    Keep the portion size on the pack separate from the general recommendation; a box isn’t automatically a recommended amount.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Lists AH Hamsterchef Raisins and an option with raisins and pieces of apple.

  • The product names make it easier to distinguish between plain raisins and an option with pieces of fruit.
  • Check the current packaging to see whether the product contains the number of individual portions you need.

Jumbo

Lists regular raisin boxes in packs of 14 × 14 g and organic Woezel & Pip raisins in packs of 12 × 14 g.

  • The quantities and portion sizes make it possible to compare these two packs by portion. The organic option displays the European organic logo.
  • The organic option contains twelve portions, compared with fourteen in the regular pack. The logo alone says nothing about taste or whether the product is suitable for someone with an allergy.

Lidl

The listing for dried fruit mentions selected stores.

  • The listing makes dried fruit worth including in your search.
  • Check the exact product type, pack contents and portion sizes in store.

ALDI

Lists Trader Joe’s raisins in a 500 g bag.

  • The net weight gives you a clear starting point if you want to make up your own portions.
  • A 500 g bag isn’t a multipack with individual portions to hand out.

PLUS

Lists PLUS Sultana raisins in a stand-up pouch of 375 g.

  • The pack size is useful if you want to weigh out the amount for lunchboxes yourself.
  • The listing describes a stand-up pouch, not a pack with individual portions.

Dirk

Lists, among other products, 750 g raisins and 1 de Beste Sultana raisins in a 375 g pack.

  • The weights listed help you assess bags that you plan to portion yourself.
  • Check the current product packaging and distinguish between net weight and the number of individual portions.

Dried fruit on Joybuy

This Joybuy pick is a large pack of Medjool dates to share or portion yourself, not a multipack with individual portions.

Zohra Medjool dates (M), 908 g

Zohra Medjool Dates (M), 908 g

The 908 g pack is an option to share if you divide it into portions yourself; it doesn’t contain individual snack boxes.

The product information says the dates are pitted. Reseal well after opening and store in a cool, dry place.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How many multipacks do I need for handing out portions?

Divide the number of portions you plan to hand out by the number of portions per pack, then round up. Use 14 as the divisor for the regular Jumbo pack and 12 for the Woezel & Pip option; this is a planning method, not dietary advice.

How should I store the organic Jumbo raisins?

For Jumbo Woezel & Pip Biologische Snoep Rozijntjes 12 x 14g, Jumbo says to store them in a cool, dark place and notes that the best-before date is on the side. Follow the instructions on the pack you actually buy; they don’t automatically apply to other dried fruit.

Are two boxes the same as the general daily recommendation?

No. Two 14 g Jumbo boxes make 28 g, while the Voedingscentrum gives a general recommendation of no more than 20 g of dried fruit per day. A portion size shown on the pack isn’t the same as that recommendation.

As a seller, do I need to provide allergen information at a Dutch Christmas market?

Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that businesses must inform customers about any allergens present. This requirement also applies to non-prepacked food, so portioning it yourself doesn’t remove your duty to provide this information.

What should I consider when making up portions for sale?

Follow the relevant hygiene rules and keep the product information available. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority’s 2023 checklist for markets and events mentions, among other things, washing your hands with soap and water and drying them with clean towels or paper.