Who are you choosing bread for?

Anyone planning a generous bread board

A rustic sourdough or hearth-baked loaf can be the centrepiece of the table. Think about whether you want to slice it yourself, and check that your chosen variety is available in your shop.

Anyone serving wholemeal bread at breakfast

If choosing wholemeal bread and getting more fibre matter to you, look for the wholemeal label and check the nutritional information per 100 g. A dark colour or the word sourdough in the name doesn’t, on its own, mean that a loaf is wholemeal.

Anyone who wants guests to choose and serve themselves quickly

Sliced bread or individual rolls mean less slicing during your coffee morning. If you’re buying part-baked bread, check that you have the time and oven space to finish baking it before serving.

What should you look for when buying?

First, decide what role the bread will play at the table: a centrepiece, a wholemeal breakfast option or an easy-to-serve staple. Then check the details for your chosen variety, especially if any guests need to avoid certain ingredients.

What to consider What to check when buying Most relevant for
Presentation and flavour Check the shape of the loaf, whether it’s sliced and whether your chosen variety is available in your shop. If the bread will be on display, I want a shape and crust that suit my bread board. For around 31% of consumers, presentation and flavour come first.
Wholemeal and fibre Look for the wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g, if stated. If the bread is also for breakfast, I want to be able to choose a wholemeal option. Around 31% of consumers say that choosing wholemeal is a priority for them.
Ease of serving Check whether the bread is sliced or how many rolls are included; allow for baking time if it’s part-baked. When I’m serving several guests, I want to put out bread without having to do lots of slicing. Ease of serving is a priority for around 23% of consumers.
Ingredient information Read the label or ask about allergens for unwrapped bread. Check the ingredients for baker’s salt if the type of salt matters to your choice. If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in each loaf. For around 15% of consumers, clear ingredient information is their main concern.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming sourdough or hearth-baked bread is wholemeal

    Sourdough describes how the bread is made, while hearth-baked describes how it’s shaped and baked. Neither name confirms that the bread is wholemeal.

    If you want wholemeal bread, look for the wholemeal label. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g if fibre is important to your choice.

  • Assuming every branch stocks the same products

    Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves are only available in store. ALDI’s freshly baked range is available at shops with a bakery section.

    Before you shop, check the latest availability and opening hours for the branch you plan to visit.

  • Judging allergens by appearance

    Breads that look similar can contain different ingredients. For example, Jumbo lists sesame in its Dubbel Donker Desem Volkorenbrood.

    For packaged bread, read the label. For unwrapped bread, ask for the allergen information for that specific variety.

  • Assuming every loaf contains iodised baker’s salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So the type of salt used varies from loaf to loaf.

    If the type of salt matters to your purchase, check the ingredients list or ask the baker.

Brands and bread ranges to explore

Albert Heijn

The Liefde & Passie and OerDesem ranges are worth exploring if you’re looking for sourdough to serve on a bread board.

  • Albert Heijn offers varieties that include spelt and buckwheat.
  • Some varieties are listed as only available in store, so check your chosen loaf before you set off.

Jumbo

Jumbo stocks rustic sourdough loaves, as well as sourdough and wholemeal rolls, giving you a choice between a whole loaf and individual portions.

  • Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves are left to rise for more than 24 hours.
  • Jumbo says these rustic loaves are only available in store; its Dubbel Donker Desem Volkorenbrood contains sesame.

PLUS

The Korenlanders range includes sourdough and hearth-baked loaves that are well suited to a bread board.

  • PLUS offers hearth-baked loaves in half and full sizes.
  • Check the latest product information or packaging for the ingredients and allergens in your chosen variety.

Lidl

The oven-fresh range is an option if you’d like to pick up bread from the bakery section.

  • Lidl provides ingredient and allergen information for its oven-fresh bread range.
  • Check whether your branch has a bakery section and stocks the bread you want.

ALDI

Bakkersgoud Rustiek Wit is a light, rustic loaf for anyone who isn’t looking for a wholemeal option.

  • ALDI describes this as white bread with a golden-brown crust and soft centre.
  • The freshly baked range is available at shops with a bakery section, so check your branch.

Dirk

Dirk lists bread categories including sourdough, multigrain, spelt and hearth-baked loaves.

  • These categories are a useful starting point when looking for bread for your coffee morning.
  • Check the ingredients, wholemeal labelling and allergens for each loaf you’re considering.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Which bread makes a good centrepiece for a coffee morning?

A rustic sourdough or hearth-baked loaf works well if you want to serve a whole loaf on a bread board. Choose sliced bread or rolls if you want guests to help themselves without having to slice anything.

Is dark bread automatically wholemeal?

No. Don’t judge bread by its colour alone. Look for the wholemeal label if you specifically want wholemeal bread, and use the nutritional information per 100 g to compare varieties.

How can I check the allergens in unwrapped bread?

Ask for the allergen information for the specific loaf before you buy it. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must also be available to consumers for unwrapped foods.

Does every premium loaf contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. The name or appearance of the bread doesn’t tell you which salt has been used. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. If this matters to your choice, check the ingredients list or ask the baker.