Who is this for?

Party planner on a budget

You want to buy enough bread for a group, so you’re looking at the size of a whole loaf and the terms of any offers. That way, a temporary offer won’t dictate your regular shopping plans.

Host serving bread with dips

You’re looking for bread that’s easy to serve in slices or pieces alongside dips and toppings. A rustic loaf or flatbread offers a different way to serve bread than a sliced whole loaf. For each option, check that its description meets your wholemeal requirements.

Shopper who checks labels and plans for leftovers

You want to know what you’re serving your guests and how much bread you can keep. Read the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen details for your chosen variety, and consider how much will be left after your get-together.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide how much bread you want to serve and how you want to serve it. Then check the packaging to make sure your chosen variety meets your wholemeal requirements and your guests’ needs.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Budget and quantity of bread Check whether you’re buying a whole or half loaf, and read the terms and validity period of any offers. When I’m topping slices for a group, I want to buy enough bread without losing sight of my budget. Around 40% of consumers put this consideration first.
How to serve it and preparation Choose between slices, pieces of rustic loaf and bake-at-home bread. If you choose bake-at-home bread, check that you have the necessary equipment and preparation time. For bread to go with dips, I want to be able to share pieces or serve something warm just before the drinks begin. For around 30% of consumers, the way it’s served is the deciding factor.
Label and leftovers Read the wholemeal description, allergens and nutritional information for the exact variety, and consider what you can freeze straight away. When guests are joining me, I want to be able to check the ingredients and keep any leftover bread. For around 30% of consumers, these are their top priorities.

Common mistakes

  • Judging by the colour

    Dark or brown bread isn’t automatically wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that brown bread can be made from a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour.

    If wholemeal is a requirement, look for the description ‘wholemeal’ on the bread rather than judging by its colour.

  • Planning around a special offer

    An offer may only be available on certain days or during a particular shop visit. The same bread might not fit your plans at another time.

    Check the offer period, loaf size and any terms before finalising your shopping for the get-together.

  • Assuming all loaves are the same size

    Two whole loaves don’t have to weigh the same. So the description ‘whole’ doesn’t tell you how much bread you’re getting compared with another variety.

    Check the weight on the packaging and estimate how many slices or pieces you’ll need for your guests.

  • Checking allergens and leftovers only after buying

    Ingredients and possible traces vary between bread varieties. A whole loaf may also be more than you’ll use during the get-together.

    If necessary, ask guests about their allergens in advance, check the label on your chosen bread and freeze any portions you want to keep as soon as you get home.

Brands to compare

These brands offer a range of bread shapes and shopping options. Compare the exact variety you want to buy; a shop’s name won’t tell you what ingredients or allergens a loaf contains.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn sells, among other options, a whole tiger-patterned wholemeal loaf. It’s an option if you’re looking for sliced bread when shopping in store or placing an online order.

  • A whole loaf is practical when you want plenty of slices to top.
  • If there’s an offer, check its validity period and the size of the variety you’ve chosen.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s range includes Boeren Tijger Wholemeal, among other options.

  • The product information for this variety lists its ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
  • The tiger-patterned topping also contains ingredients other than wholemeal wheat flour. If you’re serving it to guests, read the label for the exact variety.

Lidl

Lidl lists a whole tiger-patterned wholemeal rustic loaf, which you can serve in slices or pieces with drinks.

  • A rustic loaf offers an alternative to standard sliced bread.
  • The advertised offer was for a limited time and, according to Lidl, was only available in store.

ALDI

ALDI lists both sliced Fine Wholemeal bread and a separate variety called Extra High-Fibre Wholemeal Bread.

  • Fine Wholemeal is a whole, sliced loaf for anyone who wants to serve slices quickly.
  • Don’t assume information about the extra high-fibre variety also applies to ALDI Fine Wholemeal. Compare the nutritional information for each product.

PLUS

PLUS offers bake-at-home baguettes made with wholemeal wheat flour and several grains, among other options.

  • Bake-at-home bread is a good choice if you want to prepare it just before serving.
  • Baking it requires equipment and time. If you’re specifically looking for bread made from 100% wholemeal flour, check the ingredients.

Dirk

Dirk lists both a whole Wholemeal Rustic Loaf and a whole Bakker van der Akker Farmhouse Wholemeal Loaf.

  • The rustic loaf is an option if you want to serve slices or pieces at the table.
  • Dirk says it doesn’t offer a delivery service, so bear in mind that you’ll need to visit a shop if you want to buy bread there.

Bread for dips on Joybuy

This wholemeal flatbread is designed to be broken into pieces and served with dips. If you want to stick to your drinks budget, compare the pack size with the number of guests. It’s a different way to serve bread from offering a whole sliced loaf.

Souq Lebanese wholemeal flatbread, pack of 6

Souq Lebanese wholemeal flatbread, 6 pieces

You can break this flatbread into pieces to serve with dips.

  • The pack contains 6 pieces.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging before serving it to guests.
View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is dark or brown bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour, while brown bread may also contain white flour. If wholemeal is a requirement for your get-together, look for the description ‘wholemeal’ on the bread.

Should I choose a whole loaf or bake-at-home bread for my get-together?

A whole loaf is a good choice if you want plenty of slices to top straight away; bake-at-home bread is a good choice if you want to serve warm bread. If you choose bake-at-home bread, check the ingredients and preparation instructions, as the ingredients and equipment needed vary by product.

What should I do with leftover wholemeal bread?

Ideally, freeze any bread you want to keep in portions as soon as you get home. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1–3 months in the freezer.

Does all wholemeal bread in the Netherlands contain iodine?

Don’t assume this is the case for every loaf. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that bread in the Netherlands can provide iodine through baker’s salt with added iodine. If you want to know what type of salt has been used, check the ingredients for your chosen variety.

How do I check for allergens when guests are joining me?

Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact bread variety before serving it. This information varies by product, so ask your guests in advance what they need to avoid and don’t rely on the bread’s name alone.