Start with custard creams explicitly labelled gluten-free, then choose a format that matches how many people you are serving. A.F. Blakemore Wholesale lists a 6 × 125g Schär case, while the Schär retail box contains five 25g portion packs; the trade case requires registration. Tesco Free From and Sainsbury’s Free From offer 125g packs labelled gluten-free and milk-free for shoppers adding several packs to a grocery order.
For a household that needs gluten-free biscuits, choose packs carrying an explicit gluten-free claim rather than relying on the name or apparent ingredients of a standard custard cream. Coeliac UK’s checklist distinguishes biscuits labelled gluten-free from biscuits made with wheat, rye or barley flour.
Schär’s 125g retail box has five 25g portion packs for serving separately. A.F. Blakemore Wholesale also lists a 6 × 125g case, though ordering through that route requires registration.
Tesco Free From and Sainsbury’s Free From list their 125g custard creams as gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans. Check the declaration on the exact pack when buying for someone with more than one dietary requirement.
Check the dietary declaration first, then work out whether retail packs, individual portions or an accessible trade case fit the number of people you will serve.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the exact pack. Read its current ingredients and allergen information; a familiar biscuit name does not establish suitability. | I need custard creams labelled gluten-free, not a conventional pack chosen by appearance. Sainsbury’s lists wheat ingredients in its standard Custard Creams, and M&S lists wheat flour in its Extra Cream Custard Creams. |
| Pack format | Compare the number and size of packs with the people you will serve. Schär’s retail box contains five 25g portion packs; A.F. Blakemore Wholesale lists a 6 × 125g case that requires registration. | For a group, I may want portions to hand out separately. If I am considering a case, I need to check that I can order it, use the packs before their best-before dates and compare the final delivered cost per 100g. |
| Other dietary needs | Check milk-free, lactose-free and vegan declarations separately on the current product. Tesco Free From and Sainsbury’s Free From list milk-free and vegan suitability; Schär’s listing says lactose-free and suitable for vegans. | Some people I am serving also avoid milk, so a gluten-free claim alone does not answer every dietary question. I should check the exact pack rather than treat milk-free and lactose-free as interchangeable. |
| Storage and ordering | Check storage instructions and printed best-before dates across the packs you receive. Tesco and Schär listings specify cool, dry storage; check basket quantities and delivery terms before placing a larger order. | I want a quantity I can store as directed and use in time, whether I add several 125g packs to a grocery order or arrange a trade purchase. |
Custard cream describes a biscuit style, not its gluten status. Standard Sainsbury’s Custard Creams list wheat flour and wheat starch, while M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams list wheat flour.
Choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the current pack’s ingredient and allergen information before buying several.
A.F. Blakemore Wholesale lists a 6 × 125g Schär case and requires registration, so that ordering route differs from adding retail packs to a grocery basket.
Check account access and the final delivered cost per 100g before comparing the case with supermarket packs.
Dietary declarations differ by product: Tesco Free From and Sainsbury’s Free From list milk-free and vegan suitability, while Schär’s listing says lactose-free and suitable for vegans.
Check each requirement against the exact current pack, particularly when serving people with different dietary needs.
A portion-packed retail option with a separately listed UK wholesale case.
A 125g supermarket pack that can be added in multiples to a grocery order.
A 125g own-label option for adding several packs to a grocery order.
The Joybuy option shown here is a Schär 125g retail pack with individual portions. It is not the separately listed wholesale case.
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The portion-packed retail format may suit a group serving biscuits separately. ASDA’s listing describes five 25g portion packs in the 125g box and lists the product as gluten-free, wheat-free, lactose-free and suitable for vegans. Check the current pack if other allergens matter; the wholesale case is a separate ordering route.
The Food Standards Agency states that food labelled gluten-free must contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food sold to the final consumer. Choose an exact product carrying that claim and check the current physical pack before serving it.
Do not assume ordinary custard creams are suitable. Sainsbury’s lists wheat flour and wheat starch in its standard Custard Creams, and M&S lists wheat flour in its Extra Cream Custard Creams. Choose a separately labelled gluten-free product instead.
Schär’s 125g retail box contains five 25g portion packs if separate portions are useful. For a larger starting quantity, A.F. Blakemore Wholesale lists a 6 × 125g case, but requires registration; check access and the delivered total before ordering.
Tesco and Schär listings specify cool, dry storage for their products. Follow the instructions on each physical pack and check its printed best-before date when planning how many to buy.