Small conference groups with uncertain attendance
If you don’t know how many people will be eating, half loaves let you open fewer loaves of each type at a time. Decide in advance what you can store or freeze if you have any bread left over.
Who are half loaves useful for?
Caterers looking to offer wholemeal bread
If dietary fibre is a consideration for your lunch, you could choose a half loaf of wholemeal bread as your base option. Check that the variety you choose is genuinely wholemeal and work out how many portions you need.
Organisers responsible for providing allergen information
If you’re providing bread for people with different dietary requirements, you’ll need information about each product you choose. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must also be available for non-prepacked catering food.
What should you consider when buying?
First, work out how many times you’ll be serving bread and how many people you expect. Then choose the types of bread and check that you can get the quantities you need in time.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and leftover bread | Compare half and whole loaves based on the number of portions you need. Check whether unopened or leftover bread can be stored. | If attendance varies, I don’t want to open a whole loaf of every type of bread. An estimated 40% of consumers prioritise reducing leftover bread. |
| Wholemeal as a base option | Check the product name, ingredients and nutritional information for the variety you choose. | If I want to serve a lunch that takes dietary fibre into account, I need to know whether the bread is genuinely wholemeal. An estimated 30% of consumers put this choice first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Ask for up-to-date information about each type of bread and decide how guests can access it when bread is served unpackaged. | If guests have allergies, I want to be able to say which allergens are in each type of bread on offer. An estimated 20% of consumers prioritise this information. |
| Availability and planning | Confirm the quantities, the shop you’ve chosen and the collection or delivery time. | With a set lunch break, the bread needs to be there on time and in the right quantities. An estimated 10% of consumers give this their highest priority. |
Common planning mistakes
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Buying half loaves without estimating portions
You can still end up with leftovers if you open too many types at once. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread among the types of food Dutch consumers waste most often.
Plan portions for each type of bread and keep spare loaves separate. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it if you plan to use it later.
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Treating brown, multigrain and wholemeal bread as the same
A dark colour or a name that mentions grains doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether a loaf is wholemeal. That distinction matters if dietary fibre is one of your selection criteria.
Check the product name, ingredients and nutritional information for the exact variety you plan to serve.
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Waiting until serving time to gather allergen information
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must be available to consumers for non-prepacked catering food. A general description of a type of bread is no substitute for information about each product.
Before lunch, record up-to-date allergen information for every type of bread you’ve chosen and make sure guests can access it when they’re choosing.
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Assuming every loaf contains iodised baker’s salt
The rules on iodine compounds in baker’s salt don’t prove that this salt has been used in every individual loaf.
Check the ingredients list or ask the baker which salt they use if this matters for your menu planning.
Brands and shops to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists various half loaves online, including wholemeal varieties.
- You can compare several types and sizes of bread side by side.
- Check the latest product information and availability just before you buy.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists whole and half loaves in its online bread range.
- Delivery and collection are listed as ordering options.
- Check with your chosen shop that the bread and quantities you need are available.
Lidl
Lidl lists a 400 g half loaf of extra wholemeal bread.
- The half-loaf size is clearly specified for this variety.
- Lidl says this variety is only available in store; check with your local shop about the quantities you need.
ALDI
ALDI lists various half loaves on its fresh daily bread page.
- There are several half-loaf varieties to compare.
- Check with the shop in advance to confirm which varieties and quantities are available.
PLUS
PLUS lists products including Boeren volkoren half, with product information and storage instructions.
- For this variety, you can check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
- Check the current packaging and availability at your chosen shop.
Dirk
Dirk lists half and whole loaves in various types.
- You can choose the type and size of bread to suit your planned lunch.
- Dirk doesn’t offer delivery, so you’ll need to arrange how the bread gets to the conference venue.
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Frequently asked questions
When should I choose half loaves instead of whole loaves?
Half loaves are practical if your group is small, attendance is uncertain or you want to offer small quantities of several types. First, work out how many portions you need of each type. A whole loaf may also be suitable if you’ll use it all or can store any unused portions.
Which bread can I use as a base for the conference lunch?
Wholemeal bread is an option if dietary fibre matters: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains the dietary fibre content of wholemeal bread. Also check the ingredients, allergens and portion size for each product you choose.
What should I do with bread I don’t need straight away?
Freeze any bread you plan to use later in portions as soon as you buy it, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, and take out only what you need. Bread can become drier if it’s frozen for a long time, so follow the storage instructions on the packaging too.
What allergen information do I need for unpackaged bread?
Make sure guests can find out which allergens are in each type of bread on offer before they choose. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that for non-prepacked food, including catering, providers must give consumers this information in a way other than on packaging.
Does every loaf of Dutch bread contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, don’t assume this without checking. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread because baker’s salt containing up to 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt has been added. This doesn’t tell you which salt was used in a particular loaf. Check the ingredients or ask the baker if needed.