Who is this choice for?

The host serving a shared meal

With dips, salads, stews or several small dishes, you’ll want bread that suits the way you’re serving: slices to share or pieces to tear off.

Shoppers comparing wholemeal options and nutritional values

You don’t want to rely on colour or a rustic-sounding name alone. Check the wholemeal description and compare fibre and salt per 100 g.

The group planner

You’ll want to match the quantity to the number of guests, and check allergens, availability and whether the bread needs to go in the oven before you buy it.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide how you’ll serve the bread, then check the packaging for the wholemeal description, nutritional information and ingredients. Finally, make sure the size and preparation fit your meal plans.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Shape and serving Choose a sliceable hearth loaf for slices, or flatbread to tear and serve with dips. Check whether the loaf needs baking before serving. I want to share bread without serving it interrupting the rest of the meal. For around 29% of consumers, bread that suits a shared table is the top priority.
Wholemeal content and nutritional value Check the wholemeal description and compare fibre and salt per 100 g for similar breads. If I choose wholemeal bread, I want to be able to tell from the description and compare its nutritional values. Around 36% of consumers make this their top check.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, including for breads with seeds or several grains. When I’m buying for guests with an allergy, I need to know which ingredients and potential cross-contamination risks are listed on the packaging. This check is the top priority for around 14% of consumers.
Quantity and preparation Compare half a loaf with a whole one, and check local availability and baking instructions. I want enough bread for the group without buying too much or running short of oven space just before the meal. Around 21% of consumers put this practical planning first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal

    Colour, seeds and an artisan-style name don’t prove that a loaf is made entirely with wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made with 100% wholemeal flour.

    Look for the wholemeal description on the packaging and check the ingredients list when comparing loaves.

  • Choosing seeded or sourdough bread without checking allergens

    As well as cereals containing gluten, individual breads may list other ingredients or potential cross-contamination risks. This varies from product to product.

    If you’re buying for guests with an allergy, check the current allergen information on the packaging, not just the product name.

  • Assuming every loaf contains iodised salt

    According to the Dutch baking industry, using iodine-enriched baker’s salt isn’t a legal requirement. Its use is encouraged through an agreement, and the type of salt can vary from loaf to loaf.

    If the type of salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients list of the loaf you’re buying.

  • Leaving the baking instructions until just before the meal

    Some hearth loaves need to be baked before serving, and a particular loaf may not be available at every branch.

    Before you finalise the menu, check the packaging, size and availability at your shop.

    Baking takes time and oven space that you may need for other dishes, too.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn

Worth considering if you want to serve half a wholemeal hearth loaf alongside other types of bread.

  • For Onze Trots Vloerbrood Volkoren half, Albert Heijn lists a weight of 400 g, 8 g of fibre and 1.18 g of salt per 100 g.
  • According to Albert Heijn, this particular loaf is only available in store. Check the current label there, including the ingredients and allergen information.

Jumbo

A brand to consider if you want to compare the nutritional values of a standard packaged wholemeal loaf.

  • Jumbo lists 7.6 g of fibre and 1.0 g of salt per 100 g for Fijn Volkorenbrood.
  • Check the size and current ingredients for each loaf you’re considering; a dark or rustic appearance says nothing about its ingredients.

PLUS

The Korenlanders range includes hearth loaves, sourdough and seeded varieties to suit different ways of serving.

  • PLUS describes its Korenlanders sourdough as slowly risen and baked on a stone oven floor.
  • According to PLUS, Korenlanders Rustiek Vloerbrood Volkoren needs 10 minutes in the oven at 200 °C after defrosting. Check local availability and the allergens in the variety you choose.

Dirk

An option to consider if you’re looking for a wholemeal hearth loaf for a larger bread basket.

  • Dirk stocks a whole wholemeal hearth loaf in its bread range.
  • When you buy, compare the packaging and ingredients of the loaf actually available in store.

Lidl

Worth considering if you want to compare packaged bread or are looking at bread from a branch’s bake-off range.

  • Lidl includes a fibre rating on its packaged loaves.
  • The specific bake-off range varies by branch. For the bread you choose, check the packaging and allergen information too.

ALDI

A brand to compare for standard and extra-high-fibre wholemeal loaves alongside other packaged options.

  • ALDI says its wholemeal loaves are made with 100% wholemeal flour.
  • Compare the nutritional information, ingredients and size of the specific variety you’re buying.

Wholemeal flatbread on Joybuy

This flatbread is a good match for a table of dips or mezze, where guests can tear off pieces. If you’re looking for large slices to serve with a main course, a wholemeal hearth loaf may be a better choice.

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, six pieces

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces

This wholemeal flatbread is made for tearing and serving with dips.

The product information lists 6 g of fibre and 0.48 g of salt per 100 g. The bread contains wheat and gluten and may contain soya and milk; if you have an allergy, check the current packaging.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is dark bread, multigrain bread or sourdough automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made with 100% wholemeal flour; colour, seeds and the word ‘sourdough’ don’t prove this on their own. Check the bread’s wholemeal description and ingredients list.

How do I compare the fibre and salt in two loaves?

Compare similar types of bread per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends this as portion sizes can vary; check the nutritional information on the packaging for fibre and salt.

What should I check if a guest has a food allergy?

Check the current ingredients list and allergen information for each loaf you choose. Look out for warnings about the possible presence of other allergens, too; don’t rely on the bread’s name or a product page you viewed previously.

Is iodised baker’s salt compulsory in Dutch bread?

No. According to the Dutch baking industry, its use isn’t a legal requirement; the Dutch government encourages it through an agreement for bread made for the Dutch market. If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the ingredients list.

Can I buy a rustic hearth loaf ahead of the meal?

Yes, but check how the loaf you choose should be stored and prepared before you buy it. For example, PLUS says its Korenlanders Rustiek Vloerbrood Volkoren needs 10 minutes in the oven at 200 °C after defrosting; make sure you have room in the oven if you’re serving this variety.