For your first food shop, start with the amount of bread you can realistically use: a half loaf keeps the immediate cost down, while a whole loaf makes sense if you’ll eat it or freeze it according to the product instructions. Also compare the weight or number of slices, and check the ingredients and allergen information; multigrain does not automatically mean wholegrain or gluten-free.
Want to keep the cost of your first food shop down without ending up with leftover bread? Compare a half and a whole loaf by weight or number of slices, and think about how much you’ll eat before your next shop.
If you’re buying bread for several breakfasts and lunches, a whole loaf could be a good fit. Check the storage instructions for the product you choose before freezing portions.
If you need to avoid certain ingredients, read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact loaf before buying. The name multigrain on its own does not mean a product is gluten-free.
First, choose an amount that suits when you’ll be eating it. Then check the product information that matters most for your needs.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Compare half and whole loaves; check the weight or number of slices too. | When I’m doing my first food shop, I want to spend as little as possible without needing to buy bread again too soon. This is the main consideration for around 36% of consumers. |
| Stocking up and avoiding waste | Check the storage advice and, if you want to freeze it, the instructions for the loaf you’ve chosen. | If I’m buying bread for several days, I want to know whether I can store what’s left. Around 29% of consumers give this top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information; compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients or keep an eye on fibre and salt, I need information about the exact product. This check matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Ready to eat or bake-at-home | Check whether the bread is ready to eat or needs to be prepared in a suitable appliance. | If I want to make sandwiches straight away, I don’t want to have to use the oven first; for stocking up, bake-at-home bread may be a better fit. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
A half loaf costs less upfront, but it also contains less bread. Without comparing the weight or number of slices, you can’t tell which pack suits your needs.
Choose a half loaf if you don’t need much; consider a whole loaf only if you can use it or store it according to the instructions.
An offer may have ended or may not be available at the shop where you’re buying your groceries.
Check the offer period and price at your local shop or in your basket just before you buy.
The term multigrain does not mean gluten-free. A multigrain product may contain grains that contain gluten.
Read the allergen information and, if you need to eat gluten-free, choose only a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free.
According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. The type of bread alone won’t tell you which salt has been used.
For packaged bread, look for baker’s salt or iodised salt in the ingredients list. For unpackaged bread, ask if this is relevant to your choice.
Albert Heijn provides product information for its own multigrain loaves.
Jumbo has its own multigrain loaves in a range of varieties.
Lidl’s range includes freshly baked bread.
ALDI lists fresh daily multigrain bread in half and whole sizes.
PLUS provides information about Korenlanders multigrain bread and bake-at-home products.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker multigrain bread in half and whole sizes.
These products include round multigrain loaves, bake-at-home baguettes and rolls. Choose based on how many times you’ll be eating them, and check whether the oven preparation needed for the bake-at-home products suits you.
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The pack of two loaves could be a good fit if you need bread for several meals. Allow time for defrosting and preparation in a fan oven; if you have an allergy, check the ingredients information for wheat and sesame.
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One 550 g loaf is a good fit if you don’t need a pack of two. Follow the instructions for defrosting and preparation in a fan oven and, if you have an allergy, check the ingredients information for wheat and sesame.
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Four individual baguettes are handy for smaller bread meals. The product instructions call for defrosting and baking; if you have an allergy, check the ingredients information for wheat and sesame.
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Four rolls could be a good fit if you’d rather buy individual portions than a whole loaf. Check the weight and storage instructions on the pack; if you have an allergy, check the information about cereals containing gluten and sesame.
No, multigrain and wholegrain don’t mean the same thing. If you’re looking for wholegrain bread, read the product description and ingredients list; using several grains doesn’t mean that all of them are wholegrains.
No, the name multigrain doesn’t confirm that bread is gluten-free. Check the ingredients and allergen information and, if you need to eat gluten-free, choose only a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. For packaged bread, look for baker’s salt or iodised salt in the ingredients list, and ask about it for unpackaged bread.
Follow the storage advice for the bread you buy. For example, AH Boeren donker meergranen heel listed freezing on the day of purchase; for another fresh loaf or bake-at-home product, check its own storage and preparation instructions.
