If you’re serving bread at the table
For brunch, soup or a meal to share, the crust, texture, shape and serving time all matter. Check whether the description of the specific loaf suits the way you want to serve it.
Who is this choice relevant to?
If you compare food labels
You’ll want to check the product description, fibre and salt, as well as the ingredients and allergens. Sourdough and multigrain do not, by themselves, mean wholemeal.
If you order online and want to avoid leftovers
Match the loaf size, delivery or collection time, and any freezing or bake-at-home instructions to the meal and number of people you’re serving.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide how and when you want to serve the bread. Then compare the description and nutritional information for the exact product, and check whether you can order it in time.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation and texture | Check the shape, weight and product description for the crust and texture; see whether it needs to be baked at home. | For a meal to share, I want to choose bread that’s right for serving at the table. This is the top priority for around 38% of consumers. |
| Product description and label | Check that it’s described as wholemeal, and compare fibre and salt per 100 g, ingredients and allergens. | If the ingredients determine my choice, I want to compare specific products on a like-for-like basis. Around 31% of consumers give checking the label top priority. |
| Ordering and planning | Check delivery or collection for your address and preferred time, as well as the size and storage or bake-at-home instructions. | I want the bread to be available in time and don’t want to be left with an inconveniently large amount. This is the main buying concern for around 31% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark, sourdough or multigrain means wholemeal
The colour, seeds and baking method don’t tell you on their own whether a loaf is wholemeal. Brood.net explains that a bread described as wholemeal contains the starchy endosperm, germ and bran of the grain in their natural proportions.
Start with the product description, then choose based on qualities such as crust, size and flavour.
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Assuming all wholemeal sourdough loaves are the same
Recipes and nutritional information vary from loaf to loaf. Even products with similar names can differ in fibre, salt and allergens.
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g for the exact products and read the latest allergen information on the packaging.
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Assuming a product page guarantees delivery
A loaf listed online isn’t automatically available for your address and chosen time. For example, Albert Heijn asks you to enter a delivery address; one of its wholemeal sourdough loaves was listed on the product page as available in-store only.
Check the product status and delivery or collection time before planning your meal around that loaf.
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Choosing a large loaf without a plan for leftovers
A size that works well for a group could leave you with leftovers if you’re serving fewer people.
Choose a weight that suits the meal and, if you want to freeze it, follow the instructions for that specific loaf.
Relevant brands and shopping options
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers a range that includes wholemeal sourdough loaves and asks for a delivery address when you order online.
- For AH OerDesem volkoren Allinson, Albert Heijn lists a weight of 800 g, a 56-hour proving process and advises freezing it on the day of purchase.
- Check the exact product: AH Liefde & Passie Nederlands desem volkoren was listed on the product page as available in-store only.
Jumbo
Jumbo has an online wholemeal bread category and lets you choose a delivery or collection time when you order.
- The category includes different loaf shapes and recipes for you to compare.
- Check the latest product status: Jumbo Dubbel Donker Desem Volkorenbrood was marked on its product page as no longer part of the online range.
PLUS
PLUS offers Korenlanders wholemeal breads for different occasions, including a smaller sourdough loaf and a baguette.
- For specific products, PLUS lists details such as weight, nutritional information, ingredients and allergens.
- Check the preparation instructions, delivery or collection options, and availability for your order for each product.
Dirk
Dirk offers a range of wholemeal breads to buy in-store.
- You can compare different types of loaf, including farmhouse, round and hearth-baked.
- Dirk doesn’t offer delivery, so this isn’t the right option if you need your shopping delivered to your home.
Lidl
Lidl includes fresh-from-the-oven bread in its in-store range.
- Shopping in-store is a good option if you can collect your bread yourself.
- Lidl Netherlands says it doesn’t sell groceries through its website or app and doesn’t offer a grocery delivery service.
ALDI
ALDI Netherlands lists bread and bakery products as a product category.
- The app and shopping list can help you get ready for a visit to the shop.
- If delivery is essential, first check which ordering and delivery options are available in your area.
Bread for different meals at Joybuy
These breads come in different shapes and suit a meal to share: a round loaf and Lebanese bread, for example, to serve with dips. Before choosing them as wholemeal bread for your meal, check the Dutch product description, ingredients, preparation instructions and availability on the specific packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread 550 g
The round shape makes this a good choice for serving at the table as part of a meal to share.
Weight: 550 g. Check the Dutch product description and follow the latest defrosting and baking instructions on the packaging.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P
This Lebanese bread is an alternative to a large round loaf for a meal with dips.
The product name specifies 6 P. Check the latest packaging for the Dutch product description and full ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Does wholemeal mean the same as dark or multigrain?
No. According to Brood.net, the term wholemeal refers to bread that contains the starchy endosperm, germ and bran of the grain in their natural proportions. So check the product description rather than relying on the colour or visible seeds.
Is wholemeal sourdough automatically a better choice?
No. Sourdough describes how the bread is made, but doesn’t by itself tell you whether it’s right for your meal or label preferences. Compare the shape and preparation method, and check the fibre and salt content per 100 g for specific products.
Can I freeze bread ahead of a meal?
You can, if the instructions for that particular loaf allow it. Albert Heijn advises freezing AH OerDesem volkoren Allinson on the day of purchase and using it within one month. Follow the latest storage and defrosting instructions on the packaging.
Which shops are suitable if I want my groceries delivered?
Albert Heijn lets you check delivery to your address, while Jumbo and PLUS offer delivery or collection options. Lidl Netherlands says it doesn’t provide a grocery delivery service, and Dirk doesn’t list a delivery service. Always check what’s available for your address and preferred order time with the shop and for the bread you’ve chosen.
What does baker’s salt tell you about iodine in bread?
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that iodine compounds may be present in bread and other bakery products through the use of baker’s salt containing no more than 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. This doesn’t tell you how much iodine is in a specific loaf; check its packaging for the ingredients used.