Desk-drawer snackers
A smaller packet can suit occasional tea breaks when you do not want a large opened pack at your desk. The M&S 165g and Sainsbury's 200g examples are both multi-biscuit packets, not single bars.
Who is buying for?
Shared office snack buyers
A 300g or 400g packet may suit a communal kitchen or meeting room if several colleagues will eat from it and the biscuits can be stored appropriately after opening.
Allergen-aware office buyers
Check the current label before putting biscuits out for colleagues. The classic products considered here list wheat and milk, and other ingredients or precautionary allergen statements differ between packets.
What should you check?
Start with the number of people sharing the biscuits and whether anyone needs a sealed portion. Then compare the labels of packets that fit that arrangement.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Compare packet weights and the likely number of eaters. Check the storage instructions for an opened pack. | I only want a few biscuits at my desk, or I am stocking a packet that several colleagues will share. |
| Sealed portions | Check whether each serving is individually wrapped; a small outer packet does not establish this. For an assortment, confirm which biscuits it contains. | Each colleague needs a separate sealed portion rather than biscuits taken from a shared packet. |
| Nutrition label | Compare values on the same basis, such as per biscuit or per 100g, and note the stated serving size. For example, Tesco Groceries lists 59 kcal, 3.4g sugars and 1.5g saturates per biscuit for its 400g custard creams. | I want to know what one biscuit contributes without treating a per-100g figure as a per-biscuit value. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients and precautionary allergen statement for the exact product. Check dietary claims separately from allergen information. | Colleagues have different dietary requirements, so I need to know what this packet says before serving it. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming a small packet contains single servings
The 165g to 400g standard packets considered here contain multiple biscuits. A shared opened packet does not provide a sealed portion for each person.
If individual portions matter, check the wrapping and exact contents of a mini-pack or assortment before ordering.
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Choosing a packet without considering who will finish it
A larger pack leaves more biscuits to store after opening if only one person eats them.
Match the pack weight to the likely number of eaters and follow its opened-pack storage instructions.
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Treating vegetarian labelling as allergen information
A vegetarian claim does not rule out milk, wheat or other ingredients relevant to colleagues with allergies.
Read the current physical packet's ingredients and precautionary allergen statement before sharing.
Brand and product-line references
McVitie's
The McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams listing describes a 300g cream sandwich biscuit for sharing.
- The Joybuy listing states that this product is suitable for vegetarians.
- It lists milk and wheat allergens and a possible sesame presence. The listing marked the product as no longer available.
Crawford's
Crawford's Custard Creams are listed by Tesco Groceries as a 300g packet.
- Tesco lists a typical count of 26 biscuits and 59 kcal per biscuit.
- This is a multi-biscuit packet, not an individually wrapped serving.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a 200g custard-cream packet, a smaller option for a desk or small team.
- Its listing gives approximately 16 servings and 59 kcal per biscuit.
- The biscuits are not individually wrapped; follow the packet's instructions for storage after opening.
Tesco
Tesco Custard Cream Biscuits come in a 400g packet that may suit a shared office cupboard.
- Tesco Groceries lists 59 kcal, 3.4g sugars and 1.5g saturates per biscuit.
- Consider how the opened packet will be stored if colleagues will not finish it promptly.
ASDA
ASDA lists a 400g custard-cream packet for a shared snack supply.
- The ASDA listing states 59 kcal per biscuit.
- It lists wheat and milk, with precautionary warnings for sesame, rye, barley and oats.
M&S
M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams come in a 165g multi-biscuit packet with the brand's stated extra vanilla-cream filling.
- M&S says the biscuits are made with real custard powder.
- The listing gives 40.2g sugars and 13.5g saturates per 100g; check the current ingredients, including wheat, milk and soya.
Packets ordered by pack size
This office-snack comparison orders the listed packets by weight, from 165g to 400g; equal-weight packets retain their original order. It is not a ranking of flavour, nutrition or overall suitability.
| Position | Product | Main specifications | Why it appears here | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams 165g | 165g multi-biscuit packet; extra vanilla-cream filling stated by M&S. | M&S lists the lightest packet in this comparison. Its smaller size does not make it an individually wrapped portion. | M&S |
| 2 | Sainsbury's Custard Creams 200g | 200g packet; approximately 16 servings according to Sainsbury's. | The next packet by weight may be easier to use for a small team than a larger shared pack. | Sainsbury's |
| 3 | McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams Biscuits 300g | 300g packet; contains milk and wheat. | This is a larger sharing format. The Joybuy listing marked this exact product as no longer available. | Joybuy |
| 4 | Crawford's Custard Creams 300g | 300g packet; typically 26 biscuits, according to Tesco Groceries. | It has the same listed pack weight as the preceding product and remains in the comparison's original order. | Tesco |
| 5 | Tesco Custard Cream Biscuits 400g | 400g packet; 59 kcal per biscuit according to Tesco Groceries. | This is the heaviest packet in the comparison, making the number of people sharing it an important consideration. | Tesco |
Joybuy product options
This Joybuy option is a 125g custard-cream packet for a compact office snack. Check the product packaging if individually sealed portions are essential.
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Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
The 125g packet is a compact option for a desk drawer. Its product name identifies it as gluten free; check the current packaging for ingredients, allergen statements and whether the biscuits are individually portioned.
Questions about office snacks
Is a standard custard-cream packet an individually wrapped snack?
The 165g, 200g, 300g and 400g standard packets considered here are multi-biscuit packs, not single bars. If each colleague needs a sealed portion, check an assortment or mini-pack's exact contents and packaging before ordering.
How should custard creams be stored at work?
Follow the storage directions on the packet. The retailer guidance considered here calls for a cool, dry place and an airtight container after opening, which matters when a shared pack will be used over several breaks.
Can I put custard creams out for colleagues with allergies?
Check the current label of the exact packet first rather than assuming all custard creams have the same ingredients. The classic products considered here list wheat and milk; M&S Extra Cream also lists soya, and precautionary allergen statements vary. The Food Standards Agency explains that such statements communicate possible unintended allergen presence.