Who is this choice relevant to?

People planning a meal for several diners

You might be making sandwiches or toast for a group and want to work out in advance how much bread you’ll need. A whole loaf is most relevant if you’ll use all the slices.

Smaller households looking to limit leftovers

You’re organising a fakeaway night for one or two people. A half loaf of wholemeal bread may be a better fit for the amount you’re planning than a whole loaf.

Shoppers checking the label and allergens

You don’t want to rely on the colour or style of the bread, whether you’re buying for yourself or guests. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘wholemeal’ means something different from ‘brown’; also check the ingredients and allergens for the bread you choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
How much you need for the meal Count the diners and work out how many slices you need. Choose a whole loaf if you’ll use that amount. On a limited budget, I want to buy enough bread for several people without taking more than the meal calls for. For around 42% of consumers, the amount they need comes first.
Leftovers from a smaller meal See whether a half loaf will be enough, and read the storage instructions if you have any bread left over. If I’m making sandwiches for one or two people, I don’t want to be left with lots of unused bread. Limiting leftovers matters most to around 33% of consumers.
Wholemeal bread and ingredients Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and read the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the exact variety. When guests are joining me, I want to know whether the bread I’ve chosen is genuinely wholemeal and which allergens are listed. This is the main concern for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking brown or multigrain bread for wholemeal

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour, while brown bread is a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. So the colour or style of the bread alone doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal.

    Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label on the bread you choose.

  • Assuming a similar loaf has the same allergens

    Ingredients and allergens apply to a specific variety of bread. The information for one wholemeal loaf is no substitute for checking the label on another.

    Read the current packaging for the exact bread you’re buying for yourself or your guests.

Supermarkets with relevant wholemeal options

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists various types of bread online, including AH Tijger volkoren heel.

  • You can search specifically for an option with ‘volkoren’ in its name.
  • The wider bread range includes other types too, so check the label on the pack you choose.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists several own-brand wholemeal loaves, including Jumbo Boeren Tijger Volkoren and Jumbo Fijn Volkoren.

  • There are several wholemeal options to compare by bread style.
  • If you choose a whole loaf, consider whether you’ll need that amount for this meal or for later.

Lidl

Lidl lists a half loaf of extra wholemeal bread as an in-store product.

  • A half loaf is an option when you only need a few slices.
  • Check the packaging of the variety you’re buying in store.

PLUS

PLUS lists products including Boeren volkoren heel, 800 g, and Grof volkoren half.

  • The whole and half loaves let you choose based on how much you need.
  • PLUS notes that product information may change; check the label on the variety you choose before buying.

Dirk

Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren heel and Vloerbrood volkoren heel.

  • You can choose between two whole loaves labelled as wholemeal.
  • The words ‘boeren’ and ‘vloer’ don’t tell you on their own which slice thickness will work best with your toppings.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is brown bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour, while brown bread is a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. If you want to buy wholemeal bread, look specifically for the ‘wholemeal’ label.

How should I store bread left over after fakeaway night?

Follow the storage instructions for the bread you’ve bought. For PLUS Boeren volkoren heel, PLUS recommends storing it in a cool, dark place, freezing it at home on the day you buy it and using it within one month. Instructions may differ for other loaves.

How can I check allergens when guests are joining me?

Just before buying, read the ingredients and allergens on the packaging for the exact variety of bread. Don’t rely on information for a loaf with a similar name, as ingredients can vary between varieties.