Meeting lunch caterers
Looking for rustic bread for a lunch platter or filled baguettes? If the bread is unsliced, you’ll also need to allow time and space for slicing.
Which option is right for you?
Canteens serving bread every day
You need bread that’s easy to fill and portion. If nutritional value is a factor, look for the wholemeal or brown bread label rather than relying on a rustic appearance alone.
Those responsible for dietary information and serving
You need to know the current ingredients and allergens for each bread variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for non-prepacked products must be available before purchase.
What should you look for when buying?
First decide whether the bread is mainly for everyday filled sandwiches or a special lunch. Then consider the products alongside your preferred slice format, preparation needs and the information you’ll provide to guests.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and presentation | Choose a size that suits the lunch platter, the fillings and your available slicing capacity. | For a meeting lunch, I want to present bread without slicing holding up service. Around 31% of consumers put flavour and presentation first. |
| Wholemeal as a staple | Check the product label; multigrain and sourdough do not automatically mean wholemeal. | If I serve filled sandwiches every day, I want to know whether the bread I’ve chosen is wholemeal or brown. For around 31% of consumers, everyday bread is their main concern. |
| Ordering and serving | Confirm the slice format, collection or delivery time, and whether oven space is available at your chosen branch. | When lunch is served within a short time, the bread needs to be ready on time. Serving and availability are the biggest considerations for around 23% of consumers. |
| Allergen information | Check the latest information for each variety and make it available before purchase when serving non-prepacked bread. | If guests ask about allergens, I want to be able to give them information about the bread on offer before they buy. This is the main purchasing concern for around 15% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming sourdough means wholemeal
Sourdough describes how bread is made, not whether it is wholemeal. So sourdough is not automatically the wholemeal option for everyday sandwiches.
Check the product label separately, and choose sourdough for the flavour or presentation you’re looking for.
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Choosing rustic bread without a serving plan
Unsliced or bake-at-home bread needs preparation time, which can be a challenge during a short lunchtime rush. Availability also varies by range and branch.
Plan the number of loaves, slice format, staffing and oven space around your lunch service. Confirm how to order before adding the bread to a set menu.
Slicing and baking take staff time; prepare only the quantities you need for the planned service.
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Leaving allergen information with the supplier
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that information about allergens in non-prepacked products must be available to consumers before purchase.
Keep up-to-date information for each bread variety available at the serving point, for example on a menu or with a clearly signposted option to ask for it.
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Assuming all bread contains iodised salt
Rules on baker’s salt do not tell you which type of salt has been used in an individual loaf.
If it’s important to know whether the bread contains iodised salt, check the ingredients for the variety you’ve chosen.
Brands to consider
These ranges offer options for different types of lunch. Check your chosen variety and what’s available at your branch separately.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s bread range includes OerDesem, Liefde & Passie and wholemeal bread.
- You can consider a wholemeal option and a rustic loaf separately for everyday and special lunches.
- Check the ingredients, slice format and allergen information for each current variety; claims about proving time do not apply to the entire range.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers rustic sourdough loaves alongside other breads and rolls.
- The rustic range is worth considering for a lunch where the bread will be part of the presentation.
- Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves, freshly baked in store, are not available to order online.
Lidl
Lidl offers packaged bread and freshly baked bread as different options for serving at lunch.
- Lidl displays a fibre meter on packaged bread, which can help you compare the stated fibre information.
- For freshly baked bread, check the ingredients and allergens for each product, as well as availability at your chosen store.
Aldi
Aldi’s range includes wholemeal, spelt and rustic bread varieties, as well as freshly baked bread.
- The different types of bread let you choose between everyday sandwiches and a rustic lunch.
- Aldi says freshly baked bread is available in stores with a bakery section; check with your chosen branch.
Plus
Plus describes Korenlanders sourdough loaves that are baked in store, and offers options for ordering, delivery and collection.
- A canteen could consider a rustic loaf and arrange the order with a local store.
- Delivery times depend on the store and when you place your order; confirm what’s available for your planned lunch.
Dirk
Dirk offers bread categories ranging from wholemeal and multigrain to sourdough, as well as bake-at-home bread.
- These categories offer different types of bread to compare for a canteen lunch.
- Discuss the range you need, the quantity and collection arrangements with your chosen store.
Bread options for a special lunch
These Joybuy products are round loaves and baguettes for a lunch where there’s time for preparation and, for round loaves, slicing. If you mainly need ready-sliced bread for sandwiches, consider that requirement separately.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread 550 g
A round loaf to consider if both wholemeal bread and a rustic shape matter for your lunch.
The product name states 550 g. Allow time and oven space for defrosting, baking and cooling before slicing the loaf.
Check the latest allergen information before serving.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette 4 x 135 g
Four multigrain baguettes for a lunch where individual baguettes suit the presentation.
The product name states 4 x 135 g. Allow time to defrost and bake, and check the baking instructions on the packaging.
Multigrain does not automatically mean wholemeal. Check the latest allergen information too.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Natural Rustic Baguette 4 x 135 g
A rustic baguette option for a lunch where baguettes are served on site.
The product name states 4 x 135 g. Allow time and oven space to prepare the baguettes before serving.
Check the latest allergen information if the baguettes are served unpackaged.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round 550 g
A round multigrain loaf for a lunch where the bread can be sliced after preparation.
The product name states 550 g. Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling before slicing.
Don’t assume multigrain means wholemeal without checking the product label; check the latest allergen information too.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Natural Rustic Round Bread 550 g
A rustic round loaf for a lunch where slicing on site fits your serving plan.
The product name states 550 g. Allow time to defrost, bake and cool the loaf before slicing.
If wholemeal is a requirement, check the product label, and keep the latest allergen information available.
Frequently asked questions
Is sourdough automatically wholemeal?
No. Sourdough and wholemeal describe different characteristics of bread. Check the product label if wholemeal or brown bread is what you want as an everyday staple; consider sourdough separately for its flavour and presentation.
How should you provide allergen information for unpackaged bread in a canteen?
Make information about any allergens available before purchase. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority gives written information and verbal information as examples, provided guests are clearly told that they can ask for it. Keep details of the bread variety you’re serving to hand.
Does all bread in the Netherlands contain iodised salt?
The rules on baker’s salt don’t guarantee this. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out the conditions for iodine compounds that may be present in bread through baker’s salt. If this matters for your choice, check the ingredients for the specific loaf.
How long can you keep opened wholemeal sourdough bread?
For opened wholemeal sourdough bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends two to four days in a kitchen cupboard or one to three months in the freezer as a guide. For serving in a canteen, the condition of the bread and your own food safety procedures remain the deciding factors.
Can you always order rustic sourdough online?
No, ordering options vary by bread range and store. Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves, freshly baked in store, are not available to order online. With other retailers, check that the bread you want and your collection or delivery time fit your planned lunch.