Ice cream parlours and scoop shops live and die on presentation. A scoop that looks generous, cold and well-served in a sturdy, branded cup sells itself before a customer has even tasted it — and gets photographed and shared far more often than the same scoop in a flimsy, unbranded tub. If you're running or opening a scoop shop in the UK, here's how to choose the right cups, lids and finishing touches for your menu.
Why Ice Cream Cup Choice Is a Sales Decision, Not Just a Packaging One
Unlike a sit-down dessert, ice cream is often an impulse purchase that's eaten while walking, sitting outside, or queuing for something else. The cup needs to hold up to being carried one-handed, resist melting liquid at the base, and look appealing enough that it photographs well for social media — a genuinely important source of free marketing for independent scoop shops.
Choosing the Right Cup Size and Style
Matching cup size to scoop count
Our ice cream cups are available from 100cc upwards, which comfortably suits a single generous scoop. Most scoop shops run at least two sizes — a smaller cup for a single scoop or kids' portion, and a larger size for double scoops, sundaes or takeaway tubs for sharing at home. Having a clear size tier also makes pricing simpler for your till staff and your customers.
Clear cups for sundaes, shakes and layered desserts
If you serve sundaes, milkshakes, affogato or any layered dessert where the look of the product matters, clear cups let the layers, sauces and toppings show through — often selling the product better than a printed cup would. Many scoop shops use printed cups for scooped ice cream and clear cups for sundaes and shakes side by side on the same menu.
Lids: Dome vs Flat, and Why It Matters
For sundaes piled high with cream, sauce and toppings, a dome lid gives the extra headroom needed so toppings aren't crushed in transit. For simpler scoops or milkshakes, a flat paper cup lid is more cost-effective and perfectly adequate. Getting this choice right at the point of ordering avoids the common mistake of buying one lid size and discovering it doesn't fit your best-selling sundae.
Branding That Makes Your Scoop Shop Instagrammable
Ice cream is one of the most photographed food categories on social media, which makes your cup design genuinely valuable marketing. A few things that work well in practice:
- Bright, bold colours photograph better in daylight than muted tones — ice cream shops can afford to be louder with their branding than most food businesses.
- A simple logo plus your shop name reads clearly even in a quick phone photo, where a busy, detailed design can get lost.
- Round stickers on takeaway tub lids are a low-cost way to brand sealed tubs for customers taking dessert home, without committing to a full custom tub print run.
Seasonal Demand and Ordering Ahead
Ice cream sales are highly seasonal, with demand peaking from late spring through summer. The smartest scoop shops place their main cup order in late winter or early spring, well before the first warm weekend drives a surge in footfall. With around 2 weeks' lead time after artwork approval on our cups and lids, it's easy to top up mid-season, but your main stock should always be ready before demand picks up — running out of cups on your busiest sunny weekend is a cost no scoop shop wants to pay.
Ready to Upgrade Your Scoop Shop's Packaging?
Whether you're serving single scoops, towering sundaes or takeaway tubs, browse ice cream cups, clear cups and lids to build a packaging range that matches the quality of what's inside the cup.