Who is this choice for?

If you’re looking for a sourdough flavour

You’re specifically looking for a sourdough-style croissant for lunch. Don’t choose one based on the butter label alone: check that the croissant itself is labelled as sourdough.

If you want a quick lunch to go

You want a croissant you can eat straight away. Check whether it’s fresh or a bake-at-home or frozen option; the latter two need to be prepared first.

If you’re comparing lunch options with fillings

You’re deciding between a croissant and a sourdough roll because portion size, nutritional value and room for fillings all matter to you. Compare the roll with the croissant you actually intend to buy, rather than just comparing product categories.

What should you consider when choosing?

Sourdough croissant

A good choice if: you specifically want a croissant clearly labelled as sourdough.

Consider: a regular butter croissant won’t meet this requirement; check the exact product before relying on it.

Regular croissant

A good choice if: you want to grab a croissant and sourdough isn’t a requirement.

Consider: choose a fresh one if you want lunch straight away; a bake-at-home or frozen croissant needs to be prepared first.

Sourdough roll

A good choice if: you’re looking for sourdough and want to make a roll with fillings.

Consider: a sourdough roll doesn’t have the flaky layers of a croissant. Its nutritional value depends on the roll, portion size and fillings.

For reference, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives the nutritional values of a 45 g croissant as 1.1 g of fibre and 5 g of saturated fat, and those of a 50 g slice of sourdough bread as 3 g of fibre and 0.2 g of saturated fat. These are different portion sizes, and the figures don’t apply to every shop-bought product or to a filled sourdough roll.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important to?
Sourdough in the croissant Check that the product name, packaging or shelf label clearly describes the croissant as sourdough. The word ‘butter’ doesn’t tell you how it was made. If I’m choosing it for the sourdough flavour, I don’t want to accidentally pick a regular croissant. Around 36% of consumers would put that sourdough identity first.
Ready to eat straight away Check whether it’s fresh, bake-at-home or frozen. If you’re planning to visit a shop, check what your chosen branch has in stock. During a short lunch break, I want something I can take with me without having to bake it first. Being ready to eat would be the main consideration for around 29% of consumers.
What your lunch includes Compare the portion size and nutritional information of the exact products, and decide what fillings you’d like to add. When I want to make a roll with fillings, I look beyond the flavour of the dough. For around 21% of consumers, what their lunch includes would be the most important factor.
Ingredients and allergens Read the label on packaged products. For an unpackaged product, ask for allergen information before buying. If I need to watch out for certain ingredients, I need to be able to check the information for that specific product. Around 14% of consumers are expected to make this their first purchase requirement.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming butter or a premium label means sourdough

    These labels don’t confirm that a croissant is made with sourdough. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS also list separate sourdough products alongside croissants, so the product type alone doesn’t tell you.

    If sourdough is your main reason for buying, choose a croissant only when it’s clearly labelled as sourdough.

  • Comparing a plain croissant with a complete lunch

    Nutritional values for a croissant don’t tell you what’s in a lunch with fillings. And the values for an average croissant won’t necessarily match the one in the shop.

    Compare the portion size and nutritional information for the exact product, and factor in any fillings when choosing between a croissant and a sourdough roll.

  • Overlooking allergen information for unpackaged croissants

    Ingredients vary from product to product. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for pre-packed foods appears on the label, while information for unpackaged foods must be made available in another way.

    Ask the bakery counter for information about the specific croissant before you buy it.

  • Assuming the online range reflects stock at your local branch

    A croissant or sourdough roll listed online isn’t a guarantee that it’ll be available when you visit your local shop.

    If you’re looking for a specific sourdough product or a fresh croissant, check what your chosen branch has in stock beforehand.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has an online croissant category and a separate sourdough bread category.

  • The croissant category includes fresh, bake-at-home and frozen options.
  • Check each croissant to see whether it’s labelled as sourdough, and whether it’s available at your local branch.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists several croissant options online, as well as sourdough rolls.

  • The croissants listed include butter, plant-based and frozen options.
  • A sourdough roll is a different product from a sourdough croissant; check the label on the croissant you choose.

PLUS

PLUS lists butter croissants in its bake-at-home bread range, as well as separate sourdough products.

  • You can compare a croissant and a sourdough product as two different lunch options.
  • Don’t assume the butter croissant is sourdough unless it’s clearly labelled as such.

Lidl

Lidl describes croissants to bake at home and provides ingredients and allergen information for its oven-fresh bread range.

  • The croissants described are clearly marked as bake-at-home.
  • A bake-at-home product is only suitable for lunch on the go if you can prepare it beforehand. Check the information for the exact product.

Aldi

Aldi describes a fresh butter croissant sold individually in store.

  • The option described is fresh and available individually.
  • Butter doesn’t confirm that it’s sourdough; also check availability at the shop you plan to visit.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a butter croissant also a sourdough croissant?

No, ‘butter’ doesn’t mean sourdough. If you specifically want a sourdough croissant, check that the croissant is clearly labelled as sourdough. A separate sourdough roll in the same range doesn’t change how the croissant is made.

Does a sourdough roll have the same nutritional value as a croissant?

No, you can’t work out the nutritional value of a sourdough roll from that of a croissant. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives the values for a 45 g croissant as 5 g of saturated fat and 1.1 g of fibre, compared with 0.2 g of saturated fat and 3 g of fibre per 50 g slice of sourdough bread. A particular roll may differ in size and recipe, so compare the actual portion and fillings.

Where can I find allergen information for a croissant from the bakery counter?

Before buying an unpackaged croissant, ask for allergen information for that specific product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this information must be made available for unpackaged foods in a way other than on a label; for pre-packed products, it appears on the label.

Does every croissant contain iodine because of baker’s salt?

No, you can’t tell from the word ‘croissant’ which salt was used in a particular product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that baker’s salt can be a source of iodine in bakery products. Check the ingredients if this matters to your choice.