Anyone who buys bread for lunch every day
If wholemeal bread is often on the lunch table, it’s not just the size of the loaf that matters, but how much is actually eaten. Choose whole or half loaves to suit how much your team gets through.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Small teams with changing lunch numbers
If the number of colleagues eating lunch varies from day to day, a half loaf or freezing portions may be more practical than opening a whole loaf each time.
Anyone checking labels for a team lunch
For a shared lunch, the wholemeal label, ingredients and allergens may vary from one loaf to another. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not all bread is made with baker’s salt, so check separately if this is relevant.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how much bread people usually eat at lunch and what sort of texture they prefer. Then check the packaging of your chosen loaf for ingredients and practical storage or preparation instructions.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and waste | Compare whole and half loaves by weight, and choose an amount to suit how much your team eats at lunch. Check whether you can freeze portions. | If there’s often bread left over after lunch, I don’t want to open a whole loaf every time. Around 33% of consumers put reducing waste first. |
| Label and ingredients | Check that the chosen pack is labelled wholemeal, review the allergen information and, if needed, check whether baker’s salt is listed. | When I’m arranging bread for colleagues with specific labelling needs, I need to know what’s in this exact product. For around 27% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
| Stock planning | Check which pack sizes are available and follow the storage and, where relevant, preparation instructions for that loaf. | When lunch days vary, I want to be able to store the bread and have it ready in time. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Bread texture | Choose, for example, between fine- and coarse-textured wholemeal bread, based on what people actually eat at lunch. | If my team leaves a coarser loaf uneaten, choosing it won’t help reduce waste. A further 20% of consumers prioritise the lunchers’ preference. |
Common mistakes
-
Buying a whole loaf without planning how much will be eaten
Some of the bread may be left over if the team isn’t the same size every day. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that bread is often wasted.
Choose an amount to suit the number of people having lunch, and check whether you can freeze unused portions in line with the pack instructions.
-
Assuming all Dutch bread contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The type of bread alone won’t tell you whether it has been added.
Check the label, or ask which salt has been used for unpackaged bread if this is relevant to your lunch planning.
-
Confusing wholemeal with allergen-free
The wholemeal label is no substitute for checking the ingredients and allergens. Ingredients and warnings can vary from one loaf to another.
When buying bread for a shared lunch, use the current allergen information on the packaging you’ve chosen.
Brands to compare
These supermarket brands offer different wholemeal options. Check the size, ingredients and information on the current packaging for each loaf you’re considering, rather than assuming that details about one product apply to the whole range.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers wholemeal options including standard loaves, tiger loaves and hearth loaves.
- A choice of loaf shapes caters for different lunch preferences.
- Check the weight and product information for the specific option before comparing loaves.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers a range of whole and half wholemeal loaves.
- The choice of whole or half loaves makes it easier to match the amount to your team’s needs.
- Loaf shape and weight vary by product, so the name of an option doesn’t tell you everything about its packaging.
PLUS
PLUS stocks standard wholemeal loaves and other wholemeal options, including sourdough.
- The product information for PLUS Grof volkoren heel includes details such as weight, ingredients and allergens.
- Use these details only for that particular option; check the label on any other loaf.
ALDI
ALDI offers options including fine wholemeal bread, farmhouse loaves and Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood.
- There are options with different textures.
- Any claims by ALDI about the ingredients of Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood apply to that specific product, not all ALDI loaves.
Lidl
Lidl lists Fijn volkoren as a shop product in an 800 g pack.
- The stated weight helps you plan how much bread to buy.
- Check availability at your chosen store.
Dirk
Dirk offers options including wholemeal batard loaves and wholemeal hearth loaves.
- The choice of loaf shapes gives you options for the lunch table.
- Check the pack weight and label information for the option you choose.
Wholemeal bread products on Joybuy
These products offer two ways to provide bread for a work lunch: individual flatbreads or round loaves that need to be baked before serving. Choose based on the number of people having lunch and the preparation space available. Always check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Image unavailable
Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces
Individual flatbreads may suit a lunch where you want to serve bread by the person. The pack contains 6 pieces; check the current label for allergen information and whether baker’s salt is listed.
Image unavailable
Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 2 × 550 g
A pack of two round loaves may suit a team that will use this amount and has space to store the bread. Each loaf weighs 550 g; remember to allow time to defrost and bake it in an oven before serving.
Image unavailable
Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g
This round loaf is an option if one loaf is a better fit for your lunch numbers than a pack of two. It weighs 550 g and needs to be defrosted and baked in an oven before serving.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose a whole or half wholemeal loaf for a work lunch?
Choose a whole loaf if your team will eat it in time, or if you can freeze unused portions in line with the packaging instructions. If fewer people are having lunch, or numbers vary, a half loaf can help reduce waste.
How can I tell wholemeal bread apart from other types of bread?
Check that the loaf you’ve chosen is labelled wholemeal. Descriptions of its shape or texture, such as fine, coarse or tiger, are no substitute for checking the ingredients and allergen information.
Does bread in the Netherlands always contain baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the label or, for unpackaged bread, ask whether it has been used.
Which allergens should I check in bread for a team lunch?
Check the ingredients and allergen statement for the exact loaf you’re serving. Products can vary: for example, the information for PLUS Grof volkoren heel lists wheat, barley and soya, as well as warnings about other possible allergens.
Can I freeze wholemeal bread for later working days?
Follow the instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen. PLUS recommends freezing its Grof volkoren heel on the day of purchase and using it within one month; don’t assume the same instructions apply to other loaves.