Container for storing and serving scoopable frozen confectionery

Abstract

A thermally insulated container for storing a scoopable frozen confectionery and serving a scoop thereof to a consumer, and suitable for mounting within a service cart, the container comprising: a thermally insulated housing having at least one openable portion to allow access to an enclosed insulated chamber; a product storage assembly mounted within the enclosed insulated chamber and defining an internal product storage chamber that is accessible via the openable portion of the thermally insulated housing, the outer surface of the product storage assembly being substantially parallel to but spaced away from substantially all of the inner surface of the thermally insulated housing, the average spacing being from 1 to 10 mm; at least one reservoir of phase change material located in the enclosed insulated chamber; at least one scoopable frozen confectionery container support positioned in the internal product storage chamber, the frozen confectionery container support being withdrawable from the internal product storage chamber via the openable portion of the thermally insulated housing; and wherein at least one frozen confectionery container is supported on the at least one frozen confectionery container support, the frozen confectionery container comprising a removable lid and containing a source of scoopable frozen confectionery; the arrangement being such that, in use, the openable portion can be opened to permit the withdrawal of the frozen confectionery container support and the frozen confectionery container from the internal product storage chamber, the lid of the frozen confectionery container being removable to expose the scoopable frozen confectionery, for enabling a scooped serving of the frozen confectionery to be removed from the source of scoopable frozen confectionery and serving to a consumer.