Who is this choice relevant to?

Weekend shoppers on a tight grocery budget

You’re looking for wholemeal bread for breakfast and want to compare loaf sizes without treating a whole loaf and a half loaf as the same quantity.

Stock-up shoppers who want to freeze bread

You’re buying bread for several breakfasts and want to know whether the variety you’ve chosen can be frozen at home, and when to do it.

Breakfast shoppers who want to check the label

You check the types of flour used, fibre, salt and allergen information for the specific bread, rather than relying on its colour or name.

What should you look for when choosing?

First check that the bread meets your wholemeal requirements; then consider how much you need and how you’ll store any leftovers.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Quantity and use Check the net weight and whether it’s a whole or half loaf. When I buy bread for the weekend, I want the quantity to match the breakfasts I’m planning. For around 50% of consumers, getting this balance right is the top priority.
Storage and preparation Read the freezing instructions and check whether the bread needs to be prepared before breakfast. If you want to eat the same bread after the weekend, choosing the right way to store it is particularly important. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this convenience when stocking up.
Ingredients and nutrition Read the ingredients list and compare fibre and salt per 100 g of the variety you’ve chosen. I want to know which types of flour are in my bread and what the nutritional information says about fibre and salt. For around 20% of consumers, checking this is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Treating a whole loaf and a half loaf as the same quantity

    Loaf shapes and pack sizes vary, so the variety name alone tells you little about how many breakfasts you can plan for.

    Check the net weight and choose a size that suits your household and storage plans.

  • Assuming online availability is guaranteed

    Product information and availability can change or vary by store.

    Check the variety you’ve chosen and its current availability at the store where you shop.

  • Assuming a nutrition claim applies to every loaf from a brand

    A claim for one specific variety doesn’t automatically apply to other breads from the same supermarket. This also applies to claims about fibre or salt.

    Read the nutritional information per 100 g on the packaging of the exact bread you choose.

  • Assuming every loaf has the same ingredients

    Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH Volkoren heel; PLUS lists bakers’ salt in Boeren volkoren heel. This product information doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients in another loaf.

    Check the ingredients list on packaged bread, or ask about the ingredients of unpackaged bread if iodine is relevant to your diet.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn publishes ingredients and nutritional information for its own-brand breads.

  • The product information for AH Volkoren heel lists 6,9 g of fibre and 0,9 g of salt per 100 g, iodised salt and freezing instructions.
  • Check the details on the packaging of the variety you actually buy.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers a range of own-brand wholemeal breads, including fine, coarse, round and tiger varieties.

  • The varieties offer a choice of loaf shapes and styles.
  • Check the weight of each variety before treating different loaves as equivalent quantities.

Lidl

Lidl lists Fijn volkoren, weighing 800 g, in its fresh-from-the-oven range.

  • The net weight of this variety is stated.
  • Lidl says this product is available in store only.

ALDI

ALDI offers a variety called Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood, among others.

  • The product name makes it clear which specific variety to look for on the label.
  • Fibre and salt claims for this variety don’t necessarily apply to other ALDI breads.

PLUS

PLUS lists Boeren volkoren heel as an 800 g loaf.

  • The product information lists 6,7 g of fibre and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g, bakers’ salt, and says the loaf can be frozen at home on the day of purchase.
  • Check the current packaging and storage instructions for the variety you buy.

Dirk

Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Rond volkoren heel in its bread range.

  • The product name distinguishes this round, whole loaf from other bread shapes.
  • Check the net weight on the packaging if quantity is a deciding factor.

Bread options at Joybuy

These round loaves from Lekhaven Bakkerij are options for a breakfast when you have time to defrost and bake the bread. Check the ingredients if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread.

Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, two 550 g loaves

Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 2 × 550 g

An option for several breakfasts if you can defrost and bake the bread in advance.

The ingredients description lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, check the proportion of wholemeal flour on the packaging.

View on Joybuy
Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g

Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g

An option for a breakfast when you have time to defrost and bake the bread.

The ingredients description lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, check the proportion of wholemeal flour on the packaging.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How do I compare loaves in different shapes or sizes?

First compare the net weight and check whether you’re looking at a whole or half loaf. Then match the quantity to the breakfasts you plan to use it for.

Can I freeze wholemeal bread for several breakfasts?

You can freeze specific loaves where the retailer provides freezing instructions: Albert Heijn and PLUS say that AH Volkoren heel and PLUS Boeren volkoren heel respectively can be frozen on the day of purchase. Follow the storage and defrosting instructions for the bread you choose.

Does all bread in the Netherlands contain iodised bakers’ salt?

Don’t assume it does: check each loaf’s ingredients for iodised salt or bakers’ salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that iodine compounds may be present in bread through the use of bakers’ salt; this doesn’t tell you which type of salt was used in a specific loaf.

How can I identify wholemeal bread without relying on its colour?

Check the product description and ingredients list for the bread itself. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes wholemeal bread as bread made from the entire grain. Then check the information for your chosen variety for fibre, salt and allergens.