A half wholemeal loaf suits a small household that won’t get through a whole loaf in a few days and would rather not freeze much. A whole loaf can also be practical if you can freeze it in portions after buying it. When ordering online, check that the bread is genuinely wholemeal, how much you’ll receive and whether it can be ordered to your address.
If you take a while to get through a loaf, a half loaf may be a better match for what you’ll eat in a few days. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread keeps in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days. Freezing is another option if you choose a whole loaf.
You want to add a half wholemeal loaf to your usual order. In that case, it’s not just the type of bread that matters. You’ll also need to check whether it’s available from your chosen shop and what delivery or collection slots are offered.
You want to check that the bread is labelled wholemeal, as well as review its ingredients, allergens and nutritional information. Check the current packaging before eating, as product details can change.
First, decide how much bread you want to keep or freeze before you next use it. Then check whether your chosen supermarket stocks the variety you want and whether the label meets your needs. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread keeps for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard and for 1 to 3 months in the freezer.
A good fit if: you eat little bread at a time or like to alternate between different types.
Things to consider: even a half loaf needs to be eaten or frozen in time. Also check that your chosen variety is available to order.
A good fit if: you can freeze the bread in portions after buying it and have room in your freezer.
Things to consider: you’ll need freezer space and a plan. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, quality may deteriorate if bread is frozen for longer.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size and storage | Check the pack size and storage advice, and whether you can freeze the bread in portions. | If a whole loaf is left uneaten, I don’t want to order more than I can use in time. Around 42% of consumers put portion size first. |
| Availability and delivery | Select your shop or enter your postcode, then check whether you can add the item to your basket and when delivery or collection is available. | I want my bread delivered with my other groceries, without having to plan a separate trip to the shop. For around 33% of consumers, the ordering process is the top priority. |
| Label and nutritional information | Read the wholemeal description, ingredients and allergens. Compare nutritional values per 100 g when looking at similar loaves. | When choosing between different types of bread, I want to know what ingredients they contain and whether the label meets my needs. This product information comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
Finding a half loaf online doesn’t necessarily mean you can still add it to your grocery basket. Product pages on Albert Heijn and Jumbo also showed items that were no longer part of their online range.
First select your shop or enter your postcode, then check whether that specific variety can be added to your basket.
Being able to view bread online doesn’t mean you can have it delivered to your address. Lidl states that it doesn’t sell groceries through its website or app and doesn’t offer a grocery delivery service.
Check the delivery or collection options for your address before putting together your shopping list.
If delivery isn’t available, you’ll need to factor in a trip to the shop or use another way to order.
Ingredients, allergens and nutritional values can vary between wholemeal loaves. An older product description may also differ from the packaging you receive.
Before eating, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. Compare nutritional values per 100 g if they’re important to your choice.
Worth considering if you want to add a half wholemeal loaf to an online grocery order.
Shows half wholemeal varieties in its online bread range, with delivery and collection options.
Provides online information about a half wholemeal loaf and grocery delivery or collection.
Shows both whole loaves and several half wholemeal varieties in its online bread range.
An option if you’re happy to collect your bread in person, rather than use a standard delivery service.
A supermarket to consider if you’re also happy to visit a physical shop.
No. A half loaf may suit you if you eat bread slowly, while a whole loaf is also an option if you freeze it in portions straight away. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread keeps for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard and for 1 to 3 months in the freezer. Its quality may deteriorate if it’s frozen for longer.
Check that the product page and packaging describe your chosen bread as wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour; brown bread doesn’t mean the same thing. Also read the current ingredients list.
Yes, especially if ingredients or allergens matter to your choice. Product details can change, so check the information on the packaging of the bread you receive before eating it.
You can’t tell from the pack size. The product page for an Albert Heijn half loaf lists iodised salt, but check the current ingredients list for the specific bread you buy.
No. According to PLUS, the available delivery days and times depend on the shop you choose and when you place your order. Check the options for your address before counting on a particular delivery slot.
