Conference tea-break organisers
Plan how many biscuits to put out for the expected attendance, using the chosen pack’s piece or serving count rather than weight alone. A twin pack also lets you decide when to open each packet.
Who is this for?
Caterers handling dietary requests
Check ingredients and precautionary allergen statements for each delegate’s requirements. Keep an appropriate alternative identifiable and consider how biscuits will be handled and served.
What matters when ordering?
Start with the number and size of biscuits you intend to serve, then check the pack format, dietary information and storage instructions.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Biscuit count | Tesco Groceries lists approximately 72 biscuits in the McVitie’s 2 × 300 g twin pack. ASDA suggests 39 servings for its 300 g packet; Waitrose lists approximately 50 fingers in 250 g. A serving and a finger are not necessarily the same size. | I need to work out how many pieces to offer at the break, using the count for the exact product I order. |
| Pack format | Compare two 300 g packets within a twin pack with individually purchased 300 g packets or a 250 g finger packet. Decide how many packets need opening at once. | If biscuits will be brought out in stages, I want packet sizes that fit each service period. |
| Dietary requirements | Read current ingredients and precautionary statements for each product. Standard Rich Tea listings identify wheat and barley; ASDA’s Schär gluten-free portion packs contain milk and eggs and may contain lupin and soya. | I need an option that fits each delegate’s stated requirements, with clear allergen information when the biscuits are served. |
| After opening | Check storage directions on the purchased pack. Waitrose advises an airtight container for opened fingers and consumption within seven days for best quality. | For a break spread across several sessions, I want to know when to open packets and how to store any biscuits left over. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming one dietary label covers every request
Ocado’s M&S Rich Tea listing describes a vegan recipe but says the biscuits are unsuitable for people with milk, nut or peanut allergies. ASDA’s Schär gluten-free portion packs contain milk and eggs.
Check the purchased pack against the specific request, then plan how the alternative will be identified and served.
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Treating fingers and standard biscuits as identical pieces
Waitrose lists approximately 50 Rich Tea fingers in a 250 g packet, while Tesco Groceries lists approximately 72 biscuits in the 600 g McVitie’s twin pack. The formats differ, so weight alone will not give you the planned piece count.
Calculate the order from the stated count for each product and the number of pieces you intend to offer.
Pack and brand references
These listings illustrate different packet and biscuit formats; check the current packaging before choosing for a particular event.
McVitie’s
Tesco Groceries lists the classic Rich Tea twin pack as 2 × 300 g, with approximately 72 biscuits.
- Two packets can be opened at different points in the break.
- The listing identifies wheat and barley, with possible soya.
Tesco
Its own-label Rich Tea comes in an individual 300 g packet.
- The listing identifies the biscuit as suitable for vegans.
- It lists wheat and barley and warns that it may contain peanuts and nuts.
ASDA
Its own-label 300 g Rich Tea packet has a retailer-suggested 39 servings.
- A stated serving count can help with ordering for the break.
- It contains wheat and barley, with precautionary statements for milk, soya, rye and oats.
Sainsbury’s
Its own-label Rich Tea is listed in a smaller 200 g packet, with approximately 25 servings.
- The listing identifies the biscuits as suitable for vegans.
- Check whether this packet size provides enough servings for the planned break.
M&S
Ocado lists its 300 g Rich Tea packet with approximately 31 servings.
- The listing describes the biscuits as made to a vegan recipe.
- It also says they are unsuitable for people with milk, nut or peanut allergies.
Waitrose
Its 250 g Rich Tea fingers are a smaller-biscuit format, listed at approximately 50 pieces.
- A piece count helps when planning to serve fingers rather than standard biscuits.
- The fingers contain wheat and barley; Waitrose advises consuming them within seven days of opening for best quality.
Schär
ASDA lists Schär gluten-free Rich Tea as three portion packs, rather than a family-size packet.
- The portion-pack format provides a distinct option to assess for a delegate requesting gluten-free biscuits.
- It contains milk and eggs and may contain lupin and soya.
Rich Tea packs on Joybuy
This McVitie’s twin pack is an option for a conference break planned around standard Rich Tea biscuits and opening two packets in stages.
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McVitie’s Rich Tea Twin Pack 2 × 300 g
The two 300 g packets can be opened in stages for a conference tea break. Check the purchased pack’s ingredients and allergen statements against delegates’ requirements.
Frequently asked questions
How many Rich Tea packets should I order?
Start with attendance and the number of pieces you plan to offer, then use the count for each chosen product. Tesco Groceries lists approximately 72 biscuits for the McVitie’s twin pack; ASDA suggests 39 servings for its 300 g packet, while Waitrose lists approximately 50 fingers in 250 g. These are product-specific figures, not a recommended allowance per person.
Can a caterer put the biscuits out loose?
Yes, but a food business serving loose biscuits must provide the required allergen information. Food Standards Agency guidance states this duty for non-prepacked food in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Food Standards Scotland states the duty for Scotland. Keep the information for each biscuit available when it is served.
Does a vegan-labelled biscuit cover a milk or nut allergy?
No: a vegan description does not establish suitability for those allergies. Ocado’s M&S Rich Tea listing says its vegan-recipe biscuits are unsuitable for people with milk, nut or peanut allergies, and Tesco’s vegan-listed Rich Tea may contain peanuts and nuts. Check the purchased pack and the delegate’s specific requirements.
How should opened Rich Tea packets be stored?
Follow the instructions on the packet you purchase. The Tesco, ASDA and Waitrose listings advise using an airtight container after opening; Waitrose recommends consuming its Rich Tea fingers within seven days for best quality.