Custom Ice Cream Labels

Where Labels Go on an Ice Cream Tub

Most tubs carry two labels: a lid label that shows the flavour and brand from above, which is how shoppers see tubs in a chest freezer, and a side or wrap-around label that carries ingredients, allergens, weight and storage instructions. Some producers combine everything into a single wrap-around label and use a simple branded lid.

Round lid labels are usually sized a few millimetres smaller than the lid's flat area so they sit neatly without overlapping the rim. Side labels need to avoid the curve near the base and the lip at the top, and wrap-around labels should leave a small gap or overlap that does not hide important information. Measure your tubs carefully, or send us a sample, and we will size the labels to fit.

A tamper seal is worth considering for tubs sold in shops. A narrow label running from the lid down onto the side shows at a glance whether a tub has been opened, and it can carry your logo so it doubles as branding. Shoppers tend to appreciate this on pre-packed frozen desserts. Our guide on how to measure the lid's flat area explains why a label must stop short of the rim.

Managing Many Flavours Without Many Print Runs

Ice cream makers often have a long and changing flavour list, and printing a separate label for every flavour can quickly get expensive. There are a few ways around this. One is a shared brand label with a blank flavour panel, which can be written on or overprinted with a small thermal printer. Another is a brand lid label combined with smaller flavour stickers in different colours.

Digital printing makes short runs of many different designs affordable, so producers can print several flavours together in one order without big minimums for each. Colour-coding flavours, such as pink for strawberry and green for pistachio, helps shoppers and staff find the right tub quickly.

Think ahead about new flavours too. If you trial a flavour of the month, a set of blank coloured flavour stickers that you can write on by hand keeps things moving without a new print run each time. Once a flavour earns a permanent place on your list, it can join the next printed batch with its own designed label. A shared brand label plus a flavour sticker follows the same approach as our product labels for a full range.

Information Your Label Needs to Carry

Pre-packed ice cream sold to the public needs certain details on the label, including the name of the food, ingredients with allergens emphasised, net quantity, a best before date, storage instructions and the name and address of the business. It is your responsibility to check the exact requirements for your products, and we will lay out whatever information you supply clearly on the proof.

Allergens such as milk, eggs and nuts should be emphasised in bold or a different colour in the ingredients list. Leave a clear space for the best before date and batch code, which are usually added at packing time with a stamp, printer or handwriting. You receive a free proof at actual size so the allergen text can be checked for legibility.

Who Orders Ice Cream Labels

Artisan ice cream and gelato makers are the main buyers, selling tubs in farm shops, delis and their own parlours. Dairy farms that make ice cream from their own milk use labels to tell their story on the tub. Cafés and restaurants that sell take-home tubs, frozen dessert brands and makers of vegan and dairy-free ice cream all need labels that cope with the freezer.

Ice lolly makers, frozen yoghurt brands and makers of sorbets and frozen cocktails use the same freezer-grade materials for their own packs.

Event caterers and wedding suppliers who make small batches of frozen desserts for a single occasion often order a short run of labels too, printed with the couple's names or the event name for a personal touch. Parlours serving scoops to go match the labels to ice cream cups for scoops in the same colours.

Send a Tub and Lid, and List Every Flavour You Sell

Ice cream labels are sized to the tub, so post us an empty tub with its lid or send the lid diameter, the flat area on the side and the tub height. Then list every flavour, because the number of designs decides whether digital printing of several flavours in one run makes sense, or whether a shared brand label with a flavour sticker is the better route. Choose a white or clear polypropylene film with a freezer-grade adhesive, and leave a clear panel for the best-before date and batch code. Tell us whether labels go on by hand or by machine so rolls are wound to suit. Makers moving into tubs for the first time often order the labels with printed ice cream tubs so lid and tub arrive together.

Send the tub sizes, flavour list, material and artwork, and a custom quote comes by email within one working day. The free proof shows each label at actual size with the cut line and the information panel. Printing takes 4 to 7 working days after approval, rolls arrive by tracked courier to UK mainland addresses, and misprinted or damaged labels reported within 10 days are reprinted or refunded.