If you’re shopping for several people
You want enough wholemeal bread for the meal and perhaps another occasion, without relying on the pack size alone.
Who is this for?
If you have a small household and want to avoid waste
You may only need a few slices with your Sunday roast, so it’s worth weighing up half a loaf against a whole loaf that you can use later or freeze.
If you check ingredients and allergens
You want to know whether the bread is labelled wholemeal, and to check the ingredients and allergen information for the product you choose.
What should you look for when buying?
Decide how much bread you’ll want with and after your Sunday roast. Then check whether the loaf size, storage instructions and label suit your needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount of bread | Check the weight and whether it’s a whole or half loaf. | If several people are eating, I want to know whether the pack contains enough bread for the occasions I have planned. Around 46% of consumers put this first. |
| Using leftovers | Choose a suitable size or check the freezing instructions for the specific loaf. | If I’ll only use a few slices with my Sunday roast, I want to avoid having the rest go to waste. This is the main concern for around 36% of consumers. |
| Label | Check the wholemeal description, ingredients and allergens; compare nutritional information on the same per-100g basis. | If a particular ingredient or allergen matters to me, I want to read the label for this specific loaf. Around 18% of consumers put this first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a whole and half loaf contain the same amount
A whole loaf, half a loaf and a farmhouse-style loaf can all have different weights. The packaging alone won’t tell you how much bread you’re getting.
Check the product weight and choose an amount that suits the meal and your plans for any leftovers.
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Mistaking brown or multigrain bread for wholemeal
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be labelled wholemeal if all its grain ingredients are wholemeal flour. The colour or presence of seeds doesn’t prove this.
Look for the wholemeal description on the packaging and check the ingredients list if you’re unsure.
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Buying a whole loaf without a plan for the rest
If bread is just a side dish, you may have a lot left over after your Sunday roast.
Think about how many slices you expect to use. If necessary, choose half a loaf or follow the freezing instructions for the whole loaf you’ve chosen.
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Checking allergens only on the front of the pack
The word wholemeal doesn’t tell you which types of grain or other allergens a particular loaf contains.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information. For unpackaged bread, ask for the information available for that loaf.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The online range includes several wholemeal breads, including whole and half loaves.
- You can browse different types of bread and pack sizes.
- Check the weight and ingredients on the page or packaging for the specific loaf.
Jumbo
Jumbo has a wholemeal bread category and a product page for Jumbo Grof Volkorenbrood Heel.
- The product page makes it easy to find a specific whole loaf.
- Check the weight and ingredients of the loaf you’ve chosen before deciding.
Lidl
The in-store range includes products such as Fijn volkoren.
- Lidl lists Fijn volkoren as weighing 800 g.
- This bread is listed as available in store only, so check the packaging in store.
ALDI
Alongside regular wholemeal bread, ALDI offers a specific extra-fibre variety.
- The extra-fibre variety gives you another option to compare on the label.
- Claims about this variety don’t automatically apply to other ALDI breads.
PLUS
The online range includes products such as Boeren volkoren heel and Volkoren tijger heel.
- The product pages list ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and storage instructions.
- Follow the information on the packaging of the bread you actually buy.
Dirk
Dirk’s online range includes products such as Vloerbrood volkoren heel.
- You can find a specific whole farmhouse-style loaf in the range.
- Check the weight and nutritional information for that loaf if they matter to your choice.
A bread option on Joybuy
If you’re looking for bread to serve as a side with your Sunday roast, this is a wholemeal Lebanese flatbread. It’s a different type of bread from a regular whole or half loaf, so check that it suits your meal.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P
An option if you’d like to serve flatbread with your Sunday roast instead of a regular whole or half loaf.
The product name includes Whole Wheat and the 6 P variant. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging if they matter to your choice.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if bread is wholemeal?
Check whether the bread is labelled wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this label can only be used if all the grain ingredients are wholemeal flour; a dark colour or the word multigrain isn’t enough.
Is wholemeal bread automatically gluten-free?
No. Wholemeal describes the grain ingredients used, not whether the bread is gluten-free. Check the types of grain, the allergen information and whether the specific product is labelled gluten-free.
Can I freeze wholemeal bread for later?
Check the instructions for the loaf you’ve chosen. PLUS says that Boeren volkoren heel can be frozen on the day of purchase and should be used within one month. Don’t apply these instructions to another loaf without checking.
When should I choose half a loaf for a Sunday roast?
Half a loaf is a good choice if you expect to use only a few slices and don’t have plans to use the leftovers from a whole loaf. If you have several occasions in mind, check the size and storage instructions for a whole loaf.