Organisers who can keep things cold
You’re planning to serve the ice cream at a set time and have a suitable way to transport and store it until then. Your choice of tub will depend just as much on your arrangements as on the flavour.
Who are these formats best suited to?
Groups planning how much to buy
You’d like to serve several people from a tub rather than hand out individual portions. Compare the quantity shown on each pack and work out how many tubs you’ll need.
Groups mindful of ingredients
Before serving a flavour to a group, you’ll need to check its ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements.
What should you check before choosing?
Tub to share
Choose this: if you can serve scoops at a planned time.
Plan for: keeping it cold until serving time, as well as having suitable utensils.
Individual ice lollies
Choose these: if each person needs a portion that’s already individually wrapped.
Plan for: keeping them cold, and bear in mind that portions can’t be adjusted as they can with a tub.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping it cold | Decide where the ice cream will be stored before serving. ANSES advises buying frozen food last, transporting it in an insulated bag and keeping the journey as short as possible. | If I’m serving the ice cream after travelling, I need to be able to keep it cold while we wait. Around 42% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Quantity to share | Check the net quantity and plan the portions you’d like to serve. Don’t assume that a tub labelled in grams is equivalent to a particular volume in litres. | To serve the whole group without buying more tubs than necessary, I want to know the quantity in each product. Around 33% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the label on the exact product, including any ‘may contain’ statements, and keep the packaging available while serving. | If guests have dietary requirements, I need to check the chosen flavour before serving it. Around 25% of consumers would make this a priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing a tub before planning how to store it
A tub for sharing needs to be transported properly and kept cold until it’s served. ANSES recommends keeping the journey time for frozen food to a minimum and using an insulated bag.
Check what storage options will be available at the venue before choosing a format, then buy the frozen food last.
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Confusing a small pot with a tub for sharing
A 310 g Magnum pot and a 1 L tub aren’t designed to be served in the same way. The flavour name alone won’t tell you how many portions you’ll get for a group.
Check the net quantity and product format before working out how many to buy.
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Working out the volume from the weight
Products may show a weight, a volume or both. These measurements aren’t interchangeable when you’re planning portions.
Check the unit and quantity on each pack rather than assuming grams and litres are equivalent.
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Relying on the flavour name alone
Ingredients and allergen information vary between individual products, even when they’re all vanilla ice cream.
Ask guests about any dietary requirements before buying, check the label on the tub you choose and keep it available while serving.
Brands to know for these formats
CARREFOUR EXTRA
Carrefour offers vanilla ice cream in a 500 g tub, equivalent to 1 L, giving you a useful size guide for serving a group.
- The product listing gives details of the ingredients and allergens for you to check before serving it to the group.
- Check the packaging of the product you actually buy: ingredients and ‘may contain’ statements can vary by flavour.
ESKISS
E.Leclerc offers ESKISS ice cream and sorbets in tubs, including a 1 L coffee ice cream.
- The range includes several flavours and formats, so you can compare different options for sharing.
- Check the quantity and ingredients of each product you choose rather than assuming they’re the same across the range.
MUCCI
ALDI offers MUCCI tubs in sizes including 468 g and 500 g.
- These quantities may suit a smaller gathering or work well if you’re offering several flavours.
- For a larger group, work out how many tubs you’ll need using the quantity shown on each product.
Magnum
The eight-pack of Magnum ice lollies featured by Auchan is an example of an individual-portion option, rather than a tub to serve with a scoop.
- Each ice lolly is individually wrapped and ready to hand out.
- Check the ingredients of the specific multipack; the one featured includes an almond variety.
Tubs to consider on Joybuy
These three tubs of frozen desserts are designed to be served with a scoop. Choose the quantity to suit your planned portions, once you’ve arranged how to keep them cold.
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CARTE D'OR, vanilla and pecan frozen dessert, 470 g
A tub to consider for serving modest portions with a scoop. The title states 470 g; check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging before serving it to the group.
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Carte D'Or, Madagascar vanilla ice cream, stated as 900 mL
A tub of vanilla ice cream for serving with a scoop. The title states 900 mL, but other details give a different volume. Check the pack size before planning portions, and check the allergen information too.
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Maison de la Glace, Madagascar vanilla ice cream in a tub, 380 g
The 380 g tub may suit a smaller gathering or be served alongside another flavour. Work out how many tubs you’ll need based on your planned portions and check the label for allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
How do you choose how much ice cream to buy for a group?
Start with the portions you’d like to serve, then check the net quantity of each tub. The formats shown give quantities in grams or litres, so don’t assume a fixed number of portions based on the format name alone.
How should you transport a tub of ice cream to a festival?
Buy frozen food last, transport it in an insulated bag and keep the journey as short as possible, as ANSES advises. You’ll also need a suitable way to keep the ice cream cold until it’s served.
Which allergens should you check before serving ice cream?
Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging of the exact product you’ve chosen. The Carrefour EXTRA vanilla listing includes milk and cream among its ingredients and notes possible traces of other allergens. Don’t assume the same information applies to another tub.
What should you look for on the packaging of a pre-packed tub?
Check the net quantity, ingredients list, allergens and nutritional information for the tub you’ve chosen. The DGCCRF says allergens present in ingredients must be highlighted on the labels of pre-packed foods.