Meeting refreshment organisers
If biscuits will be shared during a break, compare packet size with the number of attendees. A large packet does not necessarily contain individually wrapped servings.
Who is buying for the meeting?
Organisers packing individual snacks
For take-away servings or lunchboxes, check the number of inner portion packs and what each contains, rather than relying on the total weight.
Organisers accommodating dietary needs
Keep the exact pack’s ingredients and precautionary allergen statements available. Vegetarian or vegan wording does not establish whether a biscuit meets someone’s allergy requirements.
What should you check?
Decide whether people will share biscuits at the table or need separate packs; then check quantity, ingredients and storage for the format you choose.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Serving format | Count the inner portion packs and biscuits per pack. Distinguish portion packs from a single shared packet or a case of separate packets. | I need servings people can take away, so a large shared packet would not serve the same purpose. |
| Meeting quantity | Check total weight alongside any stated serving or biscuit count. Schär’s listed 125g format has five portion packs of two biscuits; Tesco and Asda each list a 400g shared packet. | For a table of attendees, I want to work out how many packets to put out without treating pack weight as a count of separate servings. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the purchased pack’s ingredients and precautionary statements. Tesco’s and Asda’s ordinary custard creams list wheat and milk; their precautionary statements differ. | Someone attending needs ingredient information, so I must check the exact biscuits being served rather than rely on a brand name or vegan label. |
| Storage after opening | Follow the packet’s storage instructions. Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s direct buyers to use an airtight container once their listed packets are opened. | If biscuits will be served across several meetings, I want a format that fits how I will store the remaining biscuits. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming ‘multipack’ means individual portions
Five portion packs, one 400g packet and a case of twelve 150g packets provide different ways to serve a group. A case of packets is not necessarily a box of single-serving wrappers.
Check the number of inner packs and what each contains before ordering for take-away refreshments.
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Using vegetarian or vegan wording as an allergy check
Ordinary Tesco and Asda custard creams list wheat and milk. The Food Standards Agency says vegan labelling alone is not a substitute for checking allergen and cross-contact information.
Read the full ingredients and precautionary statements on the pack you will serve against each attendee’s requirements.
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Applying an older taste test to a different packet
The Good Housekeeping Institute’s 2020 custard-cream test assessed its products at that time. It does not establish how a differently described M&S Extra Cream packet will compare, or whether its packaging suits a meeting.
Use the current packet’s identity, quantity and ingredients to make the meeting purchase decision.
Brand and product-line references
These named products illustrate different packet sizes and recipes; check the particular listing and pack before choosing one for a meeting.
Tesco
Tesco lists ordinary custard creams in a 400g shared packet.
- The packet size gives organisers a stated quantity for shared serving.
- The listed ingredients include wheat and milk, with a precautionary statement for sesame. The 400g listing does not establish separate inner portions.
Asda
Asda lists ordinary custard creams in a 400g shared packet and a separate 125g free-from product.
- The two listings allow the recipes to be considered separately.
- The ordinary 400g product lists wheat and milk and has precautionary allergen information. Do not assume the free-from product has the same recipe or format.
M&S
M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams are described by Ocado as a 165g packet of 12 biscuits.
- The biscuit count can help with meeting quantity planning.
- The listed ingredients include wheat, milk and soya. An older test of an M&S custard cream does not establish the result for this Extra Cream product.
McVitie's
A UK office supplier lists McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams as a case of 12 × 150g packets.
- Separate packets could be allocated across meetings.
- The case description does not establish individually wrapped biscuits or the contents of each packet. Check the case listing and exact packs before relying on this format.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a 200g packet of ordinary custard creams with approximately 16 servings.
- The stated approximate serving count offers another way to plan a shared break.
- The listed ingredients include wheat and milk; the packet instructions call for an airtight container after opening.
Crawford's
A UK retailer lists Crawford's Custard Creams as a 300g packet.
- The stated weight identifies the packet size for planning.
- Check the purchased pack for its ingredient and allergen information before serving it.
Joybuy product options
These options include portioned custard creams and custard-flavoured pies and pastries. If attendees expect custard cream biscuits, distinguish the alternatives before choosing a pack.
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Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
For separate meeting servings or lunchboxes, this 125g format contains five portion packs of two biscuits. Check the purchased pack’s full ingredients and allergen statements against attendees’ requirements.
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Orion Custard Pie 138g, six small packs
The six small packs provide separate custard-flavoured refreshments. These are pies rather than custard cream biscuits, so check that this is the type of snack attendees expect and read the pack’s allergen information.
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MarineGold Bungeoppang Custard Family Pack 1kg
This 1kg family pack is a custard-filled pastry option for a shared table, not a packet of custard cream biscuits. Check its serving format, ingredients and allergen statements before planning quantities for the meeting.
Questions about serving custard creams
Do custard creams need preparation for a meeting?
The listed custard creams are ready-to-eat biscuits. Decide whether to put out a shared packet or keep portion packs separate, and retain the packaging so attendees can check ingredient information.
How should opened packets be stored?
Follow the purchased packet’s instructions. Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's direct buyers to store their listed custard creams in a cool, dry place and use an airtight container after opening.