Who is this choice relevant to?

Offices that top up regularly

If you regularly replenish a shared snack supply, compare the pack size and price per kilo. Choose a supply you can store in a well-sealed container. Jumbo, ALDI and Dirk, among others, stock packs of raisins. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing raisins in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container.

Small or hybrid offices

If staffing levels or demand vary, a smaller pack can help you avoid opening more than you need at once. Check the storage instructions as well as the pack size. PLUS lists Sultana raisins in a 375 g stand-up pouch, while Albert Heijn offers a 250 g pack of raisins.

Colleagues who want to check ingredients

If you need to take personal dietary restrictions into account, read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. The AH apricots checked contain sulphites, among other ingredients; AH Raisins lists 0 g of added sugars per 100 g. Keep different products clearly identifiable when serving them together.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by considering expected demand and your storage options. Then compare the pack size, price per kilo and ingredients of the specific product.

What to consider What to look for Who this matters to
Value per kilo Compare the same type of fruit by weight in kilos, and factor in any delivery or transport costs. If you top up regularly, you’ll want to know whether the larger pack suits your actual usage. Around 36% of consumers prioritise value per kilo.
Stock and storage Choose a pack size that suits how often you replenish, and store raisins in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container. If staffing levels vary, you won’t want to open more than you can store properly. Around 29% of consumers particularly value having stock levels they can manage.
Ingredients and portions Check the label for added and total sugars, sulphites and other allergens, and take personal dietary restrictions into account. If you’re putting fruit out for colleagues, you’ll want to check what it contains and serve it in considered portions. Around 21% of consumers prioritise ingredients and portion sizes.
Serving and variety Check that the packaging works for serving, and keep the ingredients of different products clearly identifiable. If you want to offer another type of fruit alongside raisins, clear ingredient information and easy serving are important. Around 14% of consumers say ease of serving and variety are their main considerations.

Things to consider when buying and serving

  • Confusing ‘no added sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’

    AH Raisins lists 0 g of added sugars per 100 g, but also 59 g of total sugars per 100 g. These statements do not mean the same thing.

    Read both the ingredients list and the nutritional information, and decide in advance how much to serve.

  • Assuming every biscuit tin seals properly

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing raisins in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container. The shape or name of a tin doesn’t tell you whether it meets these storage requirements.

    Check that the tin seals properly. If it doesn’t, store the main supply separately.

    You may need a separate, well-sealed container that is suitable for food contact.

  • Mixing fruit and throwing away the original labels

    The AH apricots checked contain sulphites. ALDI’s cranberry range also includes a version with cashew nuts. Once products are mixed together, it’s less clear which ingredients belong to which product.

    Serve products with different ingredients separately and keep the original labels so colleagues can check the information.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

Examples from the range include AH Raisins and AH Soft Dried Apricots; these are separate products.

  • AH Raisins lists 0 g of added sugars per 100 g.
  • The apricots checked contain sulphur dioxide (sulphites), among other ingredients. These details apply to the products mentioned, not the entire range.

Jumbo

The range includes sun-dried Sultana raisins in 250, 500 and 750 g packs.

  • For the 750 g version, Jumbo lists raisins and cottonseed oil as ingredients.
  • The stated 15 g serving is used as the basis for the nutritional information; it does not indicate how much people will eat at the office.

ALDI

The range includes TRADER JOE’S Raisins, 500 g, as well as a separate line of cranberry products.

  • The cranberry range is described as coming in resealable 200 g packs.
  • The range includes different varieties, including one mixed with cashew nuts, so check the specific pack.

PLUS

PLUS Sultana raisins are listed in a 375 g stand-up pouch.

  • The ingredients list names raisins and sunflower oil.
  • A stand-up pouch is not necessarily resealable. The product information advises storing it in a cool, dry, dark place and notes that stems and stones may still be present despite checks.

Dirk

Dirk lists a 750 g pack of raisins.

  • It’s an option to compare with smaller bags if you’re looking for supplies for a shared office.
  • Choose a quantity that suits your usage and the space where you can store the supply in a well-sealed container.

Lidl

Lidl lists dried fruit as an in-store option.

  • The product page can help you check a specific product available in store.
  • This listing applies to selected stores; check the packaging and availability at the store you plan to visit.

Dried fruit at Joybuy

This selection of Joybuy products includes smaller packs of dried apricots and a mixed bundle of dried fruit and nuts.

Three Squirrels dried red apricots, 250 g

Three Squirrels Red Apricot Dried, 250 g

The 250 g pack is a good fit if you’d like to offer a smaller amount of apricots alongside raisins.

The ingredients list names apricot, sugar, malt syrup and sulphites. The product description says the pack is resealable.

View at Joybuy
Be&Cheery dried red apricots, 300 g

Be&Cheery Dried Red Apricots, 300 g

The 300 g pack offers dried apricots as a different option alongside regular raisins.

The product description says the apricots are ready to eat.

View at Joybuy
Full of fruit flavor bundle with nuts and dried fruit, 5-pack, 1.073 kg

Full of fruit flavor, nuts and dried fruit, 5-pack, 1.073 kg

This mixed bundle is worth considering if you’d like to offer several types of snack rather than only dried fruit.

The listed contents include plums, red dates, raisins, cranberries, banana chips and tree nuts. The California plums contain aspartame (E951). After opening, the product description advises refrigeration and consumption within one day.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How do I work out how much dried fruit I need for the office?

Base your estimate on the number of people in the office, the portion you plan to serve and how often people snack. For example, a 500 g bag provides 25 portions of 20 g; that doesn’t predict how much your colleagues will actually take. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day. Remember to take into account any dried fruit someone eats at other times, too.

Can I store the whole bag of raisins in a biscuit tin?

Only if the tin keeps them cool, dry and out of the light, and seals properly. These are the storage conditions recommended for raisins by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Follow the label as well. If the tin is opened frequently, it’s better to top it up with just the amount you want to serve.

Is every decorative tin suitable for food contact?

Don’t assume so. Check whether the tin is intended for direct contact with food and follow the conditions for use. The NVWA explains that articles intended to come into contact with food in the Netherlands must comply with the applicable regulations. If you’re unsure about direct contact, keep the main supply in its original packaging.

What should I look out for with allergens when sharing fruit with colleagues?

Keep the labels and make sure products with different ingredients remain easy to identify. The AH Soft Dried Apricots checked list sulphur dioxide (sulphites); check the label of the specific product you’re serving. The allergen information required also depends on how the food is provided.

Is the serving size on a label the same as dietary advice?

No. A serving size shown alongside nutritional values is not automatically a daily recommendation. The Jumbo raisins checked show nutritional values per 15 g, while the AH Raisins checked list a 50 g serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day. Read the information in the context of the specific product and the dietary advice.