Party shopper serving crisps themselves
You’re putting out bowls and want bags with enough crisps to fill them. Check the net weight per bag and how many bags you plan to open for the party table.
Who are the different pack formats useful for?
Host who wants to hand out portions
You want to lay out individual packs in advance or hand them out, rather than serving crisps from a shared bowl. The number of packs and the amount in each one will help you decide whether a multipack suits your plans.
Party shopper who wants to check labels
You want to know which ingredients and allergens are listed for particular guests, or compare the nutritional information for different crisps. Check the packaging for each flavour separately.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you’ll serve crisps in bowls or hand them out in individual packs. Then choose the flavours and check the information that matters to your guests for each product.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Amount for shared bowls | Check the net weight per bag and how many bags you want to open. | If I’m putting crisps in bowls, I want to know how much is in each bag. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the amount available for shared bowls when making this choice. |
| Handing out portions | Check the number of individual packs and the amount in each one; for example, Jumbo lists a sharing bag with 15 packs of 25 g. | I want to lay out packs so guests can help themselves to a portion. For around 21% of consumers, handing out portions is the main priority. |
| Flavour and shape | Check which flavours and crisp shapes are actually included in the pack. | If guests have different preferences, I want to offer more than one flavour or shape. This is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Label and nutritional information | For each product, read the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information per 100 g or per portion on the packaging. | For guests with a food allergy, I want to check the ingredients for every flavour. Around 14% of consumers prioritise checking labels and nutritional information. |
Common mistakes
-
Confusing the number of packs with the total amount
A multipack makes handing out crisps easy, but the number of packs doesn’t tell you how much you’ll have in total. For example, Jumbo lists a sharing bag with 15 packs of 25 g.
Check both the number of packs and the amount in each one, then decide whether that works for your party.
-
Assuming one product represents an entire brand
Ingredients and allergens can vary by flavour. Pringles lists wheat flour and the possible presence of milk and soya for Original; this isn’t an ingredients list for every Pringles product.
If someone has a food allergy, read the current label for the exact flavour and pack you plan to serve.
-
Using one nutritional detail as a complete comparison
A statement about fat alone tells you nothing about the salt content or nutritional value of another product.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, and check the portion size if you want to know what’s in an individual pack.
Brands to compare
Compare specific products rather than treating a whole brand as one type of crisp: packaging, ingredients and flavours can vary across a range.
Albert Heijn
The own-label range includes AH Natural Crisps in a 250 g bag, an option if you want to serve crisps in bowls.
- For this specific product, Albert Heijn lists potato, sunflower oil and salt as ingredients.
- Albert Heijn says product information may change. Check the current label and don’t assume the ingredients are the same for other AH crisps.
Jumbo
The own-label range includes larger bags of ready salted, paprika and ridged crisps, as well as a sharing bag with individual portions.
- Jumbo lists a sharing bag with 15 packs of 25 g, ideal if you want to lay out portions in advance.
- A large bag means providing bowls and serving the crisps yourself; if you choose a sharing bag, check which flavours it contains.
Lidl / Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl’s snack brand, with different crisp flavours to explore product by product.
- Lidl lists ready salted, paprika, bolognese and cheese-onion among the Snack Day range.
- Check the pack size and ingredients for each product you choose; a flavour overview is not a label for every variety.
Lay's
Lay's offers a variety of potato crisps and product ranges if you want to serve a particular flavour or texture.
- The range includes Naturel, MAX and Oven Baked.
- A feature of Oven Baked doesn’t automatically apply to other Lay's products. Compare the nutritional information on each pack.
Pringles
Pringles offers crisps with a uniform, stackable shape in a tube; product information for Original lists 40 g, 70 g and 165 g sizes.
- The tube and the shape of the crisps offer a different way to serve them from loose potato crisps in a bag.
- For Original, Pringles lists wheat flour and the possible presence of milk and soya. Check the label for the flavour you choose.
Smiths
Smiths Sticks are shaped crisps for anyone who wants to serve something different alongside regular crisps.
- Jumbo lists Smiths Sticks in paprika and barbecue flavours, both in 100 g packs.
- Check the ingredients for each flavour if you’re adding Sticks to a party table for guests who need to watch out for allergens.
Party-table crisps at Joybuy
This selection includes individual bags and multipacks. Choose according to the pack size and how you plan to serve or hand out the crisps. If any guests have food allergies, always check the labels of the products you choose.
Image unavailable
Croky Sharing Mix 180 g
A mix to serve alongside other crisps on the party table. The pack states 180 g; check the label to see which varieties are included and which allergens are listed.
Image unavailable
Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, multipack of 20
A multipack for laying out a selection of snacks individually. The product name states 20 packs; check the assortment, the amount in each pack and the individual labels before planning portions.
Image unavailable
Lay's Sensations Thai Sweet Chili, 10 x 40 g
For anyone who wants to hand out individual portions with a distinctive flavour. The product name states ten 40 g bags; check the label for ingredients and allergens for this variety.
Image unavailable
Pringles Texas BBQ Sauce, 12 x 40 g
For anyone who wants to lay out individual portions of barbecue crisps. The product name states twelve 40 g packs; read the current label for this flavour rather than relying on the ingredients for Pringles Original.
Image unavailable
Lay's Paprika Crisps 300 g
A bag of paprika crisps to serve in bowls. The product name states 300 g; decide how you’ll serve this amount, and check the label if ingredients or allergens are important to your guests.
Frequently asked questions
When are individual packs more convenient than a large bag?
Individual packs are more convenient if you want to prepare portions in advance or hand them out. Check the number of packs and the amount in each one; if you’re serving crisps in shared bowls, you can portion them out from a large bag yourself.
Do I need to check the allergens in every crisp flavour?
Yes. If someone has a food allergy, check the current label for every flavour you choose. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on food labels; ingredients and warnings can vary between products.
Can I use the nutritional information for ready salted crisps for other flavours?
Don’t use general figures as nutritional information for a different product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 216 kcal, 13.4 g of fat and 0.45 g of salt for a 40 g bowl of ready salted crisps; check the nutritional information on the packaging of the crisps you buy.
How should I store an opened bag of crisps?
Seal the pack tightly after use and store the crisps in a cool, dry place away from light. Check the packaging of your chosen product for any additional storage instructions.