Organisers planning break snacks
If each attendee will take one sealed bag, the main decision is whether that bag is the break snack or one part of a wider catering offer.
Who is this for?
Organisers collecting dietary requirements
Gather requirements before ordering, then check ingredients, allergen statements and stated dietary suitability for each flavour you intend to serve.
Buyers choosing portion sizes
Compare the weight of the individual bags, not just the multipack count: the identified formats range from 15g and 22g snacks to 35g and 40g bags.
What should you check before ordering?
Start with the role crisps will play in the break, then check each proposed flavour and its individual pack before settling on quantities.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Check the weight of each bag, rather than the total multipack weight. Identified individual formats include 15g, 22g, 25g, 35g and 40g. | If crisps are the main break snack, I want to consider a 35–40g bag. Alongside lunch or other snacks, a smaller bag may fit the catering plan. |
| Dietary and allergen information | Read the exact flavour’s ingredients, declared allergens, precautionary statements and stated dietary suitability. A gluten-free or vegetarian description does not answer every allergy question. | I need to match the options to requirements collected before the event, without assuming that all products from one brand have the same ingredients. |
| Nutrition per bag | Compare nutrition for the bag an attendee will receive; use per-100g figures when comparing recipes on the same basis. Check the stated basis of any reduced-salt or reduced-fat claim. | When portion size or salt matters to our selection, I want figures for the exact packs being ordered, not a comparison based on bag size alone. |
| Flavour mix | Confirm the flavours in each multipack and check their labels separately. A mixed selection may require different dietary options to be identified at service. | I would like to offer a choice of flavours while making it clear which individual bags meet particular attendee requirements. |
| Serving method | Plan how original bags and their product information will remain available when snacks are handed out. University of Reading Hospitality’s delivered-catering guide notes that original packaging already carries ingredient and allergen information. | Attendees should be able to inspect the bag they receive, especially where several flavours or separately selected dietary options are offered. |
Common ordering mistakes
-
Calling every individual bag a grab bag
A 15g snack bag and a 40g one-serving bag play different roles in a conference break. Ordering by the phrase “grab bag” alone can leave the portion out of step with the rest of the food.
Decide whether crisps are the break snack, a lunch accompaniment or a small add-on, then check the weight of each bag.
-
Treating dietary descriptions as blanket allergy assurances
Seabrook Cream Cheese & Chive is described as gluten-free and vegetarian but contains milk. Tyrrells says its Lightly Sea Salted crisps may contain milk.
Collect attendee requirements before ordering and review the ingredients and allergen statements on each exact product and flavour.
-
Comparing nutrition on different bases
A per-bag figure changes with portion size. Walkers lists 0.17g salt per 25g pack of Lightly Salted crisps, while Tyrrells lists 0.26g per 40g pack of Lightly Sea Salted crisps; those figures describe different-sized servings.
Use per-pack values to assess what one attendee receives, and compare per-100g values when the question is about the products’ salt content on an equal-weight basis.
-
Ordering from a listing with mismatched product details
A retailer title and its description can refer to different products or flavours. That makes the description an unreliable basis for planning pack counts or dietary choices.
Before placing a conference order, confirm that the current title, image, flavour, individual weight and pack count agree, then check product characteristics against the manufacturer’s information and the pack.
Brand and product-line references
These examples show why a familiar brand name is only a starting point: portion size and dietary information still need checking for the chosen product.
Walkers
Its Ready Salted and Lightly Salted products provide 25g examples for planning individual portions.
- Walkers lists 130 kcal per 25g pack for Ready Salted and 0.17g salt per 25g pack for Lightly Salted.
- Walkers Lightly Salted carries precautionary statements for milk, wheat, gluten, barley, soya, celery and mustard; check the exact pack.
Tyrrells
Lightly Sea Salted is an example of a larger individual break-snack portion.
- Tyrrells lists its 40g Lightly Sea Salted pack as one serving, with 208 kcal per pack.
- The manufacturer says this product may contain milk.
KETTLE Chips
Its pack-level dietary and allergy information is relevant when planning separately checked options.
- KETTLE says each bag states applicable vegan, vegetarian, coeliac and kosher suitability and gives allergy advice.
- Check the chosen flavour and bag against each attendee’s requirements rather than treating a range-level statement as an allergy assurance.
Seabrook
Its identified products include a 25g crisp bag and a smaller 15g Bites bag.
- Seabrook states that its crisps and snacks are gluten-free and Coeliac UK accredited.
- Cream Cheese & Chive contains milk; the Cheese & Onion Bites product also needs its own allergen-label check.
McCoy's
A Ridge Cut multipack is an option when the plan calls for individually packed 25g bags.
- Joybuy identifies McCoy's Ridge Cut The Classic in a 6 x 25g format.
- McCoy's lists precautionary allergen statements for its Salted flavour; check the selected flavour rather than applying that list to every pack.
REAL Hand Cooked Crisps
Sea Salt & Black Pepper offers a 35g bag for a larger individual portion.
- REAL states that this flavour is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
- The stated dietary suitability applies to the identified flavour; inspect the exact bag for other requirements.
Individual-pack options on Joybuy
These multipacks offer individual bags of 22g, 24g or 25g for conference catering. They suit plans built around smaller portions rather than the 35–40g break-snack format.
No image available
Walkers 45% Less Salt Mild Cheese & Onion 6 x 25g
Six individual 25g bags suit a plan for smaller portions with a cheese-and-onion flavour. Check the exact pack’s ingredient and allergen information before assigning it to a dietary option.
No image available
Walkers Salt & Shake Crisps 6 x 24g
Six 24g bags provide individual portions close in size to a 25g pack. Check the current bag’s ingredients and allergen statements when planning who can receive it.
No image available
Walkers Ready Salted Crisps 6 x 25g
Six individual 25g Ready Salted bags suit a standard-sized portion alongside other catering. Walkers lists 130 kcal per 25g pack; check the current packaging for dietary and allergen information.
No image available
Walkers Oven Baked Variety Pack Crisps 6 x 22g
Six individual 22g bags fit a plan where crisps are a small part of the catering offer. Check the flavours in the current variety pack and review each flavour’s allergen information separately.
No image available
McCoy's Ridge Cut Cheddar & Onion 6 x 25g
Six individual 25g bags offer a Cheddar & Onion choice within a standard-sized portion plan. Check the exact flavour’s ingredients and allergen statements before including it as a dietary option.
Conference crisp questions
Should conference crisps stay in their original bags?
Yes, where you are serving individually packed crisps, keep the bags available for attendees to inspect. University of Reading Hospitality’s delivered-catering guide notes that original packaging already includes ingredient and allergen information; collect dietary requirements and select the options before the event.
Is a gluten-free crisp suitable for everyone with an allergy?
No. Gluten-free status does not address every allergen: Seabrook describes its crisps and snacks as gluten-free and Coeliac UK accredited, but its Cream Cheese & Chive crisps contain milk. Check the exact product’s ingredients and precautionary statements against the attendee’s requirements.
When should I choose a 40g bag instead of a 25g bag?
Consider a 40g bag when crisps are intended as a more substantial break snack; Tyrrells identifies its 40g Lightly Sea Salted pack as one serving. A 25g bag is a smaller individual portion to consider when other food is being served. Check the pack weight rather than relying on “grab bag” in a listing.
Does “less salt” mean a crisp is low in salt?
No: a comparison claim does not, by itself, describe the salt content of every product or portion. Walkers says its Lightly Salted crisps have 45% less salt than the average regular potato crisp value and lists 0.17g per 25g pack. Check the stated comparison and the nutrition panel for the exact product you plan to order.