Custom Printed Ice Cream Tubs for Scoops Served Over the Counter

What is an ice cream tub?

An ice cream tub, often called a scoop cup, is the small round cup that a scoop drops into at the counter. It tapers towards the base so the scoop sits low and does not roll out.

Unlike a take-home pint, it is made to be eaten from straight away. Most are served open with a spoon pushed into the scoop, and the cup is thrown away within minutes.

That short life is why print matters. The cup is in the customer's hand, in photos and on the street for the whole time they eat.

The same cup also works for frozen yoghurt, sorbet and dessert pots. Anything scooped and eaten with a spoon within a few minutes suits it.

What do our photos show?

Our photos show four printed scoop cups. Candy-striped cups hold scoops topped with broken biscuit.

Three short tubs in yellow, white and mint sit stacked on top of each other. Taller pastel cups carry a fine-line fruit illustration with a small logo.

Two lime green cups carry a simple badge on the side. All have a rolled rim and a plain white inside.

Between them they show the range of looks a scoop cup can take. Bold stripes suit a seaside kiosk, while soft pastels and line drawings suit a gelato shop.

Which cup size matches your scoop?

Size the cup from your scoop, not from the menu name. A large scoop from one parlour can be a medium in another.

Run this quick test with your own scoop and a measuring jug before you order.

Most parlours settle on three sizes. A small, a regular and a large cover nearly every order without crowding the shelf behind the counter.

1. Scoop a portion exactly as staff would on a busy day.
2. Drop it into a measuring jug and note the volume it reaches.
3. Add room for sauce, sprinkles or a wafer if you sell them.
4. Pick the cup size that holds the scoop below the rim.
5. Repeat for two and three scoops to set your menu sizes.

Who uses printed scoop cups?

Any business scooping to order can use them, from a single cart to a busy parlour.

Seasonal sellers tend to order before the warm weather starts. Year-round parlours often reorder in smaller runs as each size runs low.

• Ice cream parlours and gelato shops on the high street
• Seaside kiosks and beach cafés in the summer months
• Dessert vans and carts at fairs and markets
• Cafés and restaurants adding ice cream to a pudding menu
• Event caterers serving scoops at weddings and parties

Kraft or white board for cold desserts?

White board makes bright colours look their brightest, which suits stripes and fruit illustrations. Kraft board gives a natural brown look that works with one or two colour logos.

Cold scoops cause condensation on the outside of the cup, and melting ice cream wets the inside. A grease-resistant lining or coating inside the cup is available on request. Food-contact materials are also available on request and confirmed on your written quote.

If you serve warm sauces over cold scoops, mention it when you ask for a quote. Hot fudge poured onto ice cream puts more liquid against the wall than plain scoops.

How should you print an ice cream tub?

A scoop cup is printed as one band round the wall, so the design wraps and meets itself at a seam. Patterns such as stripes or a repeat illustration hide that seam best.

Place the logo twice, on opposite sides, so it faces the camera however the cup is held. Our guide on designing food packaging that prints well covers seams, bleed and safe areas.

Different colours for each size help staff grab the right cup in a rush. Keep the same logo and pattern so the range still looks like one family.

Serving tips for busy days

Keep cup stacks off the freezer lid. Cold board picks up damp from the air and then sticks together in the stack.

Pull cups from the top of the sleeve, not by squeezing the rim, so the shape stays round. On a hot day, serve straight from the scoop to the customer rather than lining up filled cups.

Have spoons and napkins at the hand-over point, not by the till. Customers then leave the queue quickly and the line keeps moving.

At events, keep a few stacks in a cool box away from the freezer itself. Dry cups separate cleanly, so staff can pull one with a single hand.

What goes wrong with scoop cup orders?

These are the issues parlours mention most when they reorder.

A quick look at the menu at the quote stage usually catches all five. Tell us how each serve is built, and we suggest the sizes to match.

• Ordering one size for every serve, so three scoops tower over the rim
• Choosing a tall narrow cup that tips over on outdoor tables
• Placing the logo across the seam of the wrap-round print
• Storing stacks next to the freezer so they turn damp
• Forgetting a smaller size for children and tasters

What goes with ice cream tubs on the counter?

Most parlours sell cones alongside cups, and some offer take-home tubs for the freezer. Matching print across all three makes the counter look planned.

Our lidded pint tubs for home freezers carry the same design onto a larger tub with a printed lid.

Cone sleeves and cone holders can carry the same pattern too. Customers then see one brand whether they choose a cup, a cone or a tub to take home.

How do I order printed ice cream tubs?

Send the cup sizes, rough quantities and artwork by email, on WhatsApp or through our ice cream tub quote form. Our designers offer free layout help if your design is still a sketch.

Scoop cups are quoted from £0.25 per unit, with the final figure set out on a written quote. A free proof shows the wrap-round print before anything runs. After approval, production takes 4–6 business days and free tracked UK delivery takes 2–3 business days.