For filled sandwiches in the workplace canteen, choose wholemeal bread whose pre-sliced status you can check and whose slice suits the filling. Don’t assume that labels such as ‘fine’ or ‘sliced’ guarantee a medium-thick slice. Then compare the nutritional information, allergens and loaf size for each product against expected lunch demand.
When preparing lots of filled sandwiches in a row, it’s useful to assess the actual slice and loaf shape. ‘Fine’ and ‘sliced’ appear in the ranges of retailers including Jumbo, ALDI and PLUS, but they don’t necessarily describe the same slice thickness.
First check that the bread you choose is wholemeal. Then compare, for example, fibre and salt per 100 g and per actual serving, so a larger slice isn’t inadvertently counted as the same portion.
Choose half or whole loaves to match expected demand. Also check the latest allergen information and storage instructions for each variety before buying and serving the bread.
First decide whether the bread meets your wholemeal requirements, then check whether the slice works with the filling and how you plan to serve it. Use loaf size, nutritional information and allergen details to make your final choice for the canteen.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal status and nutritional information | Check the product name and ingredients; compare fibre and salt per 100 g and per actual slice. | When choosing bread for lunch, I want to be able to see whether it’s wholemeal and what a portion contains. Around 31% of consumers put this information first. |
| Slice and suitability for fillings | Check whether the bread is pre-sliced and try the actual slice with the intended filling. | When preparing lots of sandwiches, I want slices that are easy to fill and serve consistently. This is the main concern for around 31% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information for each bread variety, and plan how you serve it accordingly. | When guests need to avoid allergens, I want to know exactly what I’m serving in each bread variety. Around 23% of consumers put this check first. |
| Loaf size and demand | Compare half and whole loaves with expected demand, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. | When the number of lunch guests varies, I don’t want to buy a larger loaf than I can use in time. Around 15% of consumers prioritise this as their main requirement. |
‘Brown’ or ‘multigrain’ on its own doesn’t tell you whether the bread you’ve chosen is wholemeal.
Check the product name and ingredients on the packaging rather than judging by colour.
A larger slice is a different portion, so nutritional values per slice aren’t necessarily comparable between loaves.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, and also check the weight of an actual slice.
Shops use labels such as ‘fine’, ‘coarse’ and ‘sliced’, but these don’t guarantee a standard medium-thick slice for a canteen sandwich.
Ask about the slice thickness or the number of slices per loaf, and try the bread with the intended filling before making a regular choice.
A loaf name doesn’t replace the ingredients, allergen and storage information for the variety you’ve chosen.
Keep the latest product information and storage instructions for every product you buy, so the canteen team can refer to them.
These brands offer a range of wholemeal breads. Compare the specific variety and local availability; an overview of a range doesn’t tell you how thick each loaf is sliced.
Worth comparing whole and half wholemeal loaves with a variety specifically labelled as sliced.
Offers options for comparing fine and coarse wholemeal bread, as well as half loaves.
An option to consider if you need a half wholemeal loaf for lower lunch demand.
Worth considering if you’re looking for fine wholemeal bread described as sliced.
Offers, among other options, round fine wholemeal loaves in whole and half sizes.
Offers options for comparing different wholemeal loaf shapes and half loaves.
This rye bread bun is one product to consider alongside the sandwiches you want to serve in your canteen. Before choosing it, check whether its shape, wholemeal status and any slicing are right for filled sandwiches; the product name alone doesn’t confirm this.
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Worth considering as a rye bread bun for lunch; check whether its shape works for the filled sandwiches you want to serve.
Pack weight: 500 g. Check the latest product information for ingredients, allergens and any slicing details.
Check the product name and ingredients of the specific loaf; a dark colour or the label ‘multigrain’ isn’t proof on its own. Then use the nutritional information to compare, for example, fibre and salt between the varieties you’ve chosen.
Check the latest ingredients and allergen information for every variety you buy, and make sure the information provided when serving it is consistent. According to the Voedingscentrum, ingredients that commonly cause hypersensitivity reactions must be clearly shown on the label, so don’t rely on the loaf name alone.
Don’t assume that it does. If iodine is relevant to your choice, check the ingredients information or ask the baker or supplier about the specific loaf.
Choose a size to suit the expected number of lunch guests and the storage instructions for the bread you’ve selected. A half loaf may be a better fit for lower or fluctuating demand; the Voedingscentrum’s Storage Guide offers product-specific storage advice.
