Choose a round farmhouse or sourdough loaf if you want the bread to stand out on a sharing board; choose explicitly wholemeal multigrain bread if wholemeal is your priority. If you want to serve warm slices, allow time to bake part-baked bread. For a guest who needs to eat gluten-free, only a product clearly labelled as gluten-free is suitable; check the ingredients and allergens for every loaf, too.
A whole, round loaf makes an attractive centrepiece and can be sliced at the table. Albert Heijn describes its multigrain farmhouse and sourdough loaves as having, among other things, a rustic shape and crisp crust. Check that the loaf you choose is easy to slice the way you want to serve it.
Multigrain in the name doesn’t mean the bread is wholemeal. Check the product name, ingredients and nutritional information if you want to compare the fibre and salt content of different loaves.
Choose a loaf that’s clearly labelled as gluten-free. Also check the other allergens on the label, and use clean, separate equipment for slicing and serving to avoid cross-contamination.
First decide whether you want the bread to be an eye-catching centrepiece, an easy-to-serve option or a specific dietary choice. Then compare the shape, preparation method and labels of the loaves you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and presentation | Look at the shape of the loaf, its crust and seeds, and whether you can slice it yourself. | If the bread is going in the middle of my sharing board, I want its shape and crust to suit the presentation. An estimated 33% of consumers put flavour and presentation first. |
| Toppings and serving time | Choose between a whole loaf, sliced bread and bread to bake at home; for part-baked bread, check the instructions and make sure you have enough oven space. | I want bread that I can slice and put out in time to go with a variety of toppings and dips. For around 25% of consumers, ease of serving is the main concern. |
| Wholemeal and labelling | Look for an explicit wholemeal claim; compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and check the ingredients for baker’s salt if that matters to you. | When choosing a celebratory loaf, I want to be able to tell whether it’s wholemeal, rather than relying on the word multigrain alone. An estimated 25% of consumers prioritise this type of labelling. |
| Gluten-free and allergens | If gluten-free is a requirement, check that the bread is labelled gluten-free, read the full allergen information and consider how it will be served. | If a guest needs to eat strictly gluten-free, I want to be able to prepare and serve a suitable loaf separately. Around 17% of consumers would put this dietary and allergen check first. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to bread made with at least three types of grain. That doesn’t, in itself, mean the bread is wholemeal.
If wholemeal is one of your selection criteria, choose a loaf that’s explicitly labelled as wholemeal, and check the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact product.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread doesn’t have to be made with iodised baker’s salt. So the type or colour of the bread won’t tell you whether it has been used.
Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt if that’s important to your choice.
The word multigrain doesn’t mean gluten-free. Gluten-free products can contain other allergens, too.
Choose bread that’s clearly labelled as gluten-free, read the full label, and avoid cross-contamination when slicing and serving.
You may need to defrost, bake or cool the bread between buying it and serving it. The range of freshly baked bread may also vary between Lidl stores.
Check the instructions for your chosen loaf in advance, and make sure it’s available at the store you plan to visit.
Albert Heijn describes its Vloerbrood Meergranen as having a crisp crust, and its Liefde & Passie Meergranen as a rustic sourdough loaf.
Jumbo’s bread range includes options such as hearty multigrain bread and wholemeal multigrain loaves.
Lidl’s freshly baked bread range includes both wholemeal and multigrain loaves.
Aldi lists products such as luxury multigrain farmhouse bread and farmhouse wholemeal multigrain bread separately.
Plus lists both multigrain sourdough bread and wholemeal multigrain baguettes to bake at home.
Dirk’s range includes several multigrain breads and a separate Schär product labelled as gluten-free.
This selection includes round multigrain loaves, multigrain baguettes to bake at home and individual rolls. Choose a shape to suit your sharing board and the time you have before serving; check the nutritional information and allergens for each product.
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A round loaf to slice and serve on a sharing board. The pack contains two 550 g loaves; allow time for defrosting and cooling before slicing.
Check the label for ingredients, allergens and any wholemeal claim.
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A 550 g round loaf for anyone who wants to serve a whole loaf at the table. Allow time for defrosting and cooling, and check the baking time on the packaging before turning on the oven.
For wholemeal choices and dietary requirements, read the ingredients and allergen information for this loaf.
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Four smaller 135 g baguettes to share around the board. They need to be prepared before baking, so check the defrosting and baking instructions on the packaging.
Check the label for allergens and any wholemeal claim.
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Four individual rolls if you’d rather serve separate portions than slice a whole loaf.
Check the ingredients and allergens on the label, especially if you’re catering for guests with dietary requirements.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means the bread contains at least three types of grain; it doesn’t mean it’s wholemeal. Look specifically for a wholemeal claim, and check the ingredients and nutritional information for the bread you want to buy.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients list if the use of iodised salt matters to your choice of bread.
Choose part-baked bread if you have the oven space and time to prepare it before serving. Plus gives baking instructions of 8–10 minutes at 220 °C for its wholemeal multigrain baguettes; for other breads, follow the instructions on the packaging.
No. Don’t assume that multigrain means gluten-free. Choose a product clearly labelled as gluten-free, check for other allergens, and slice and serve it separately to avoid cross-contamination.
