Shopper catering for different snacking occasions
Wants to stock several flavours for a get-together, film night or snack break, with a familiar option alongside a few more unusual choices.
Who is this selection for?
Fan of varied flavours and textures
Wants to explore differences between flavours such as salt & vinegar, cheese & onion, barbecue and spicy, as well as ridged, tortilla or stackable crisps.
Label-conscious snack shopper
Wants to check ingredients and allergens before choosing, or compare the nutritional values and serving sizes of specific products.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide which flavours and textures you want in your chemist's snack selection. Then check the label of each individual variety to make sure it suits the people you're buying for.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it's important for |
|---|---|---|
| Familiar flavour | Start with a familiar flavour, such as paprika, before adding bolder options to your selection. | When I'm putting out crisps for different people, I want to start with a flavour they'll recognise. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this kind of familiar option. |
| Flavour and texture | Compare clearly different flavours and see whether a ridged, tortilla or stackable variety would add something. | For a get-together with plenty of choice, I'd look beyond paprika for another flavour or texture. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this kind of variety. |
| Label and nutritional information | Read the ingredients and allergens for the exact variety; compare nutritional values per 100 g and the stated serving size. | When I need to account for an allergy or my own dietary choices, the label comes before the flavour. Around 21% of consumers give these checks top priority. |
| Fat content | Check the claim and compare the fat content, salt and serving size with a specific alternative. | If I'm looking for a lower-fat flavour, I want to know what the product is being compared with. For around 14% of consumers, this comparison is the first thing they consider when choosing. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all paprika crisps are the same
The flavour name doesn't tell you which allergens a product contains: Jumbo lists milk as an allergen in its Paprika Chips.
Check the current ingredients list and allergen information for every variety you choose, even if you're already familiar with a similar flavour.
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Relying solely on a lower-fat claim
A comparison of fat content alone says nothing about the other nutritional values or how much you eat at a time.
Compare the nutritional information and serving size of the oven-baked variety with the regular product you would otherwise choose.
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Treating a range page as a complete product label
For Snack Day varieties, you need the information on the specific pack to assess ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
Check the pack before choosing a variety for anyone who needs to avoid a particular ingredient.
Brands to consider
Lay's
Lay's offers regular crisps, ridged MAX varieties and Oven Baked options. This gives you a few different ways to choose both flavour and crisp style.
- Lay's says MAX crisps have extra ridges. The brand also says its Oven Baked range contains 50% less fat than regular potato crisps.
- This fat claim doesn't automatically apply to other Lay's varieties; check the pack for the specific flavour.
Pringles
Pringles offers stackable crisps in flavours such as paprika, sour cream & onion, salt & vinegar and hot & spicy.
- The range makes it easy to explore both familiar and bolder flavours from one brand.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each flavour; the flavour name alone isn't enough.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn's crisps range includes flavours from different brands and own-label options, including robust truffle-flavoured crisps.
- The range lets you explore several flavours and crisp styles side by side.
- Check the product information for the item you've chosen rather than assuming that features of the entire range apply to one bag.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers its own-label paprika crisps, among other products; the product information for Jumbo Paprika Chips describes its ingredients and nutritional values.
- For Jumbo Paprika Chips, you can check the nutritional values per 100 g and the serving information for this specific product.
- Jumbo lists milk as an allergen in these paprika crisps. This doesn't tell you about the allergens in other Jumbo varieties.
Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl's crisps and snacks brand. Its options include ridged crisps if you're looking for a different texture.
- The range gives you another brand to explore when you're looking at different types of snacks for your selection.
- For a specific product, check the pack for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
Crisps and snacks for your selection
These Joybuy products offer different options for your snack selection: paprika crisps, an oven-baked paprika variety, and bolder flavours with a different crisp style or base.
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Lay's Oven Baked Paprika, 150 g
A paprika variety to consider if you also want to compare oven-baked crisps for your selection.
150 g pack. Check the nutritional information and allergens on the current packaging.
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Lay's MAX Cheddar & Onion, 185 g
A cheese and onion flavour for anyone wanting to add something different from paprika, along with ridged crisps.
185 g pack. Check the current packaging for milk and any other relevant allergens.
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Pringles Salt & Vinegar, 165 g
A salt and vinegar flavour for a selection that also includes a sharp, tangy option.
165 g pack. If you have allergies, read the current ingredients and allergen information.
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Lay's Paprika Crisps, 300 g
A paprika flavour for anyone wanting to add a familiar option to a shared snack selection.
300 g pack. Check the label for this specific variety before taking allergies or dietary preferences into account.
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TAKIS Fuego chilli and lime-flavoured corn snack, 100 g
A spicy chilli and lime flavour for anyone wanting to offer a corn snack alongside potato crisps.
100 g pack. Bear in mind that not everyone likes spicy snacks; check the current packaging for soya and other allergens.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose crisp flavours for different people?
Start with a familiar flavour, such as paprika, then add a few clearly different options if you'd like more variety. Salt & vinegar, cheese & onion, barbecue and spicy flavours all offer something different. Check the label for each variety before adding it to your selection.
Do I need to check the allergens again for every crisp flavour?
Yes, check the label of each individual variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be listed on the label; the flavour name is no substitute for this information. For example, Jumbo Paprika Chips lists milk as an allergen.
Are oven-baked crisps automatically suitable for my diet because of their fat claim?
No, a fat claim doesn't tell you everything about a product. Lay's says its Oven Baked range contains 50% less fat than regular potato crisps. You should also compare the ingredients, salt content and serving size of the specific varieties you're considering.
What label information helps when comparing crisps?
Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the specific pack. Compare nutritional values on a like-for-like basis, for example per 100 g, and also check the stated serving size if you want to estimate how much to put out for a snack break.
How should I store an opened bag of crisps?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack and seal an opened bag tightly. This can also help you choose pack sizes that don't need to be finished in one go when putting together a snack selection.