People stocking a shared office tin
If colleagues dip into the tin regularly, pack weight helps you judge how much each purchase adds. Tesco and Asda both list 400g custard-cream packs.
Who is this for?
People accommodating dietary restrictions
A standard custard cream should not be treated as suitable for every colleague. Keep its allergen information accessible and provide a distinct option where a colleague needs gluten-free biscuits.
People who prefer a familiar brand
McVitie's and Crawford's have 300g custard-cream listings. Either is a smaller-pack alternative to the 400g own-brand options when brand preference matters more than pack weight.
What should you check?
Start with how the tin will be used, then check pack size and the information colleagues will need to choose a biscuit.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Compare net weights: Tesco and Asda list 400g packs, while the cited McVitie's and Crawford's packs are 300g. Consider how often the tin needs refilling. | I'm stocking a tin that several colleagues use regularly, so the amount in each pack matters. |
| Allergen information | Read the current packet before communal serving and keep it available beside the tin. Asda lists wheat and milk, with possible rye, barley, oats and sesame. | Colleagues need to be able to identify the biscuits and check whether the ingredients meet their own requirements. |
| A gluten-free option | Check the free-from product's current label and keep it identifiable. The Schär custard-cream listing is for a 125g gluten-free pack, not a 400g standard refill. | If a colleague needs gluten-free biscuits, I want a separate option rather than a mixed tin with unidentified biscuits. |
| Brand preference | Check the precise product and pack weight. Bestway Wholesale lists McVitie's at 300g; Lewis Food Wholesalers lists Crawford's at 300g and notes wheat, milk and possible sesame. | A familiar brand may matter to our office, but I still need to check the pack and its allergen statement. |
What could go wrong?
-
Putting a large pack into the tin without checking allergens
Pack size says nothing about dietary suitability. Asda's 400g custard creams list wheat and milk and may contain rye, barley, oats and sesame.
Keep the original packet with the tin, or otherwise make the current product name and allergen information available. Provide a separate option when a colleague has a confirmed dietary need.
-
Assuming every custard-cream pack is a substantial refill
The cited packs range from 125g to 400g. A smaller pack adds less to the tin even when the biscuit type sounds similar.
Check the net weight against how quickly colleagues use the tin; treat a small dietary-specific pack as a separate option rather than the main refill.
-
Relying on an old ingredient listing
Morrisons advises that product ingredients and allergen information can change, so a previous purchase or online description may not describe the pack in hand.
Check the label on each purchased or delivered pack before placing biscuits in a communal tin.
Relevant brand options
These pack listings illustrate different refill sizes and labelling details; a brand name alone does not establish dietary suitability.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists Tesco Custard Cream Biscuits in a 400g pack, a size to consider for a regularly used office tin.
- The listed pack contains 400g.
- Check the packet's current ingredients and allergen information before sharing.
Asda
Asda lists a 400g own-brand custard-cream pack.
- The pack weight matches Tesco's listed 400g option.
- Asda lists wheat and milk and possible rye, barley, oats and sesame; keep the current label accessible.
McVitie's
Bestway Wholesale lists McVitie's Custard Creams in a 300g pack.
- The listing describes this product as suitable for vegetarians.
- At 300g, the cited pack contains less than the listed 400g own-brand packs.
Crawford's
Lewis Food Wholesalers describes Crawford's 300g custard creams as vanilla-flavour-cream sandwich biscuits.
- The listing describes the product as suitable for vegetarians.
- It lists wheat and milk and says the biscuits may contain sesame.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a 200g own-brand custard-cream pack, a smaller top-up than the cited 300g and 400g options.
- The product listing states approximately 16 servings per pack.
- Check the current ingredients in bold on the pack for allergens, including cereals containing gluten.
M&S
M&S lists Extra Cream Custard Creams in a 165g pack and describes them as containing extra vanilla cream and custard powder.
- The 165g size may suit a smaller top-up or a second biscuit choice.
- It contains less by weight than the cited 300g and 400g packs, so check whether it meets the office's refill needs.
Joybuy product options
This 125g gluten-free custard-cream option is a separate choice for an office with a confirmed dietary need, rather than the main refill for a shared tin.
No image available
Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
A separately identifiable gluten-free biscuit option when a colleague needs one. The 125g pack is smaller than the cited 400g general-tin refills; check its current label for the intended colleague before serving.
Common questions
What pack size works for an office biscuit tin?
A 400g pack is a starting point when several colleagues use the tin regularly; Tesco and Asda list custard creams in that size. The cited McVitie's and Crawford's packs contain 300g, while smaller packs may suit a top-up or a separate dietary option. Choose according to how quickly your office uses the biscuits.
Can ordinary custard creams go into a shared tin?
Yes, but keep their identity and current allergen information available so colleagues can decide whether to take one. For example, Asda's 400g product lists wheat and milk and possible rye, barley, oats and sesame; do not assume other products have the same ingredients.
Can a gluten-free pack replace the main office refill?
The listed Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams come in a 125g pack, so they are a distinct option rather than a like-for-like refill for a 400g standard pack. Keep the product identifiable and check its current label against the intended colleague's requirements.
Should I check the label when buying the same biscuits again?
Yes. Morrisons advises that ingredients and allergen information can change. Check the actual pack each time before putting biscuits into a communal tin, particularly when a colleague relies on an allergen or free-from statement.