Top 10 Ice Cream Paper Cup Manufacturers in USA (2026)

The United States is the world’s second-largest ice cream market by consumption volume and the home market of some of the most technologically diverse ice cream cup manufacturers globally. Unlike other national markets where a few categories dominate ice cream cup manufacturing, the US market spans the full spectrum: foam cups for superior thermal insulation, paper pint cups for retail ice cream, paperboard cartons for multi-serve formats, clear PET containers for dessert presentation, and a growing range of recyclable and compostable options driven by state-level sustainability legislation across California, New York, and New England. The result is a manufacturing ecosystem that includes publicly listed packaging giants with tens of thousands of employees, nimble specialty manufacturers with decades of ice cream cup heritage, and innovative startups developing next-generation sustainable container technologies.

This article profiles the top 10 ice cream cup manufacturers in the USA, covering company backgrounds, key highlights, recommended products, and certifications — from the world’s largest foam cup maker to the inventor of the first fully recyclable paper ice cream pint. Whether you are sourcing ice cream cups wholesale for a QSR chain, a retail ice cream brand, a frozen yogurt franchise, or a dessert bar, this guide covers the key American manufacturers shaping the US ice cream cup market in 2026.

Top 10 Ice Cream Paper Cup Manufacturers in USA — Full Profiles

1. Dart Container Corporation (Solo Cup)

World’s Largest Foam & Paper Cup Manufacturer — Est. 1960, 13,000 Employees, 5B+ Units/Year

Headquarters: Mason, Michigan           Founded: 1937 / 1960         Website: dartcontainer.com

Dart Container Corporation is America’s most dominant disposable foodservice packaging manufacturer — the world’s largest producer of foam cups, and since its 2012 acquisition of Solo Cup Company, one of the most comprehensive paper and plastic cup suppliers in North America. Founded in 1937 as a machine shop and pivoting to foam cups in 1960, Dart now employs over 13,000 people across 30+ manufacturing facilities and produces more than 5 billion units annually. Its ice cream and frozen dessert cup range spans foam bowls and cups designed for superior temperature insulation — keeping ice cream cold longer than paper — alongside paper and polypropylene cups, containers, and lids. The 2012 Solo Cup acquisition brought the iconic red Solo cup into the Dart portfolio alongside Solo’s paper cup lines, including cups suitable for frozen desserts. Products are distributed to quick-service restaurants, convenience stores, hospitals, schools, and major retail chains across North America.

Key Highlights

• World’s largest foam cup manufacturer; 13,000 employees; 30+ US manufacturing facilities; 5B+ units/year; acquired Solo Cup Company in 2012 — the most comprehensive paper and foam foodservice cup operation in North America
• Ice cream cups and bowls in foam (superior insulation), paper, and polypropylene; 4,000+ product SKUs; supplies QSR chains, convenience stores, hospitals and retail nationwide; Eco-Forward® sustainable design approach

Recommended Products

Certifications: FDA | Eco-Forward® Design | BPI Certified Products | ISO | 30+ US Manufacturing Facilities

2. Huhtamaki North America

ICON™ First Recyclable Ice Cream Cup — Finnish Global Leader, US Manufacturing, LEED Certified

Headquarters: De Soto, Kansas         Founded: 1920 (Finland) / US ops         Website: huhtamaki.com/en-us/north-america

Huhtamaki is a Finnish-headquartered global packaging leader (Nasdaq Helsinki: HUH1V) with extensive North American manufacturing operations. Its most significant innovation in the US ice cream cup market is ICON™ — the world’s first paper ice cream pint cup technology that allows both the cup and lid to be recycled in communities with paper recycling programs. Unlike conventional polyethylene-coated ice cream cups that are not widely recyclable, ICON™ uses a water-based barrier coating that is re-pulpable, made from 95% renewable biobased materials, and verified by ASTM D6866. This breakthrough positions Huhtamaki as the sustainable innovation leader in the US ice cream packaging sector. Beyond ICON™, Huhtamaki produces paper-based ice cream containers (BULKAN® series), ice cream cups for over-the-counter service, food containers, paper cups, and molded fiber products including the Chinet® brand — one of America’s most recognised disposable tableware brands.

Key Highlights

• World’s first recyclable ice cream pint cup: ICON™ — water-based barrier coating, 95% renewable biobased materials, ASTM D6866 verified, recyclable with paper in communities with paper recycling programs
• BULKAN® ice cream containers for industrial pre-packed ice cream; Chinet® brand molded fiber tableware; LEED-certified manufacturing; Nasdaq Helsinki listed; global operations across North America, Europe, and Asia

Recommended Products

Certifications: ASTM D6866 (95% Biobased) | ICON™ Recyclable | LEED Manufacturing | FSC | BPI | Nasdaq Helsinki Listed

3. Pactiv Evergreen (Novolex Group)

53 US Manufacturing Plants — Foodservice Packaging Leader, Acquired by Novolex 2025

Headquarters: Lake Forest, Illinois         Founded: 2020 (IPO) / 2025 (Novolex)         Website: pactivevergreen.com

Pactiv Evergreen is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of food packaging and foodservice products in North America, operating 53 manufacturing plants and supplying restaurants, foodservice distributors, retailers, food processors, and consumer goods companies across the continent. The company was created in 2020 through the IPO of Reynolds Group Holdings and was acquired by Novolex for $6.7 billion in April 2025. Its product portfolio spans paper cold cups, hot cups, foam containers, rigid plastic containers, hinged containers, fresh beverage cartons, and wraps — with paper cold cups and coated containers directly applicable to the ice cream cup market. The company manufactures paper cups made in the USA from globally sourced materials with polyethylene coating for ice cream and cold beverage service, and operates the industry’s largest cupstock paper mills in North Carolina and Arkansas. For buyers seeking large-scale, nationally distributed ice cream cup supply with the deepest US manufacturing footprint of any company on this list, Pactiv Evergreen is the benchmark.

Key Highlights

• 53 US manufacturing plants — largest domestic manufacturing footprint for foodservice packaging in North America; Novolex Group since April 2025 ($6.7B acquisition); own cupstock paper mills in Arkansas & North Carolina
• Paper cold cups (ice cream & beverage service) made in USA; foam containers; rigid plastic containers; national distribution network; supplies restaurants, foodservice distributors, retailers & food processors across North America

Recommended Products

Certifications: FDA | NSF | Made in USA | 53 US Manufacturing Plants | Novolex Group

4. Graphic Packaging International

NYSE-Listed Paperboard Packaging Giant — Ice Cream Cartons, Est. 1888, 25,000 Employees Global

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia         Founded: 1888         Website: graphicpkg.com

Graphic Packaging International (NYSE: GPK) is one of the world’s largest paperboard packaging manufacturers — a publicly listed company with approximately 25,000 employees and operations across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. In the ice cream sector, Graphic Packaging is the go-to manufacturer for multi-serve paperboard ice cream cartons — the rectangular folding carton format used by virtually every major ice cream brand sold in US supermarkets, including pints, quarts, half-gallons, and novelty formats. While Dart dominates foam cups and Huhtamaki leads in paper pint technology, Graphic Packaging dominates the retail ice cream carton segment. Its CRB (Coated Recycled Board) and SBS (Solid Bleached Sulfate) paperboard cartons are produced with high-resolution printing and food-grade coatings that meet the demanding requirements of the frozen food aisle. The company’s global scale and listed company governance make it one of the most credible institutional supply chain partners in the US ice cream packaging market.

Key Highlights

• NYSE listed (GPK); one of the world’s largest paperboard packaging manufacturers; ice cream cartons in CRB and SBS formats; 25,000 employees globally; industry standard-setter for multi-serve retail ice cream carton packaging
• Multi-serve paperboard ice cream cartons (pints, quarts, half-gallons) for major US ice cream brands; high-resolution printing; food-grade coatings; global operations; publicly listed institutional supply chain governance

Recommended Products

Certifications: NYSE Listed (GPK) | FSC | SFI | ISO | SBS & CRB Food-Grade Paperboard | 25,000 Employees Global

5. Seda North America

Ice Cream & Dairy Packaging Specialist — Est. 1964 (Italy), Wisconsin Manufacturing, BPI Certified

Headquarters: Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin         Founded: 1964 (Italy) / 2010 (US)         Website: sedagroup.com

Seda International Packaging Group was founded in Italy in 1964 with a primary focus on paper cups and ice cream packaging — a specialisation that has remained at the core of its identity for over 60 years. Its US subsidiary, Seda North America, was established in 2010 in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, where it operates a 323,000 sq. ft. LEED-certified manufacturing facility that has since expanded further. Seda is one of the few manufacturers on this list whose ice cream cup operations are a primary product line rather than a secondary category. The company produces ice cream cups and lids across a wide range in round and non-round tub formats (200ml to 1.5L), using PEFC-certified paper with compostable biopolymer coating options and multiple stackable and non-stackable lid formats. Seda also produces compostable double-wall cold cups for foodservice. Its products are BPI certified, PEFC certified, and the Wisconsin facility is LEED certified — a rare combination of sustainability credentials among US ice cream cup manufacturers.

Key Highlights

• Ice cream and dairy packaging as a primary product specialisation since 1964; 323,000+ sq. ft. LEED-certified Wisconsin manufacturing facility; ice cream cups & lids from 200ml to 1.5L; 60+ year group heritage
• PEFC-certified paper; compostable biopolymer coating options; BPI certified products; multiple lid formats; also produces compostable double-wall cold cups; supplies major US food industry and QSR clients

Recommended Products

Certifications: BPI Certified | PEFC | LEED Manufacturing | Compostable Biopolymer Options | 60+ Year Ice Cream Packaging Heritage

6. Karat Packaging (Lollicup USA)

Foodservice Packaging Distributor & Manufacturer — NASDAQ Listed, Paper & PET Ice Cream Cups

Headquarters: Rockwall, Texas         Founded: 2000         Website: karatpackaging.com

Karat Packaging Inc. (NASDAQ: KRTX) was founded in 2000 as Lollicup USA and has grown into a publicly listed foodservice packaging company with a national reach across the US market. Operating the Karat brand for premium paper and plastic cups and the Karat Earth® brand for compostable alternatives, the company manufactures and distributes a comprehensive range of disposable cups, containers, lids, and straws including paper cold cups, PET clear cups, and ice cream-suitable containers. Its PET plastic cups — crystal-clear, odour-free, and engineered for cold applications — are particularly relevant for ice cream parlours, frozen yogurt chains, and dessert shops seeking premium presentation. The company offers custom printing on both paper and plastic cups, flexible order quantities, and broad product availability through its national distribution infrastructure, making it a relevant option for ice cream businesses at all scales from independent parlours to regional chains.

Key Highlights

• NASDAQ listed (KRTX); Karat® premium and Karat Earth® compostable cup brands; paper and PET cup manufacturing; national US distribution; custom printing; flexible MOQ for independent and chain operators
• PET crystal-clear cups for premium ice cream presentation; paper cold cups; compostable Karat Earth® alternatives; custom printing for branded programmes; serves ice cream parlours, frozen yogurt chains & dessert shops

Recommended Products

Certifications: NASDAQ Listed (KRTX) | BPI Certified (Karat Earth®) | FDA | PET Food-Grade | Custom Print

7. WinCup

Foam & Paper Cup Manufacturer — Sugar Hill GA, Est. 1962, phade® PHA Straw Parent Company

Headquarters: Sugar Hill, Georgia         Founded: 1962         Website: wincup.com

WinCup has been manufacturing disposable cups and containers in the United States since 1962, making it one of the longest-established American foodservice packaging manufacturers still operating as an independent company. The company produces foam cups and containers, paper cold cups, and has recently invested heavily in sustainable materials — most visibly through the phade® PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) marine-biodegradable straw, but also through biodegradable foam and paper cup innovation. WinCup’s foam cups are widely used for cold beverage and ice cream service in convenience stores, QSR chains, and vending applications, and its paper cold cup line covers the capacity range commonly used for ice cream and soft-serve service. The company operates manufacturing facilities in the US and serves a domestic market that values American-made production. For buyers specifically seeking US-manufactured foam cups for ice cream service, WinCup is one of the few remaining independent American foam cup producers of scale.

Key Highlights

• Est. 1962; one of the oldest independent American cup manufacturers still operating; foam cups widely used for ice cream and cold beverage service; phade® PHA marine-biodegradable straw innovation
• Foam cups for superior ice cream temperature retention; paper cold cups; US manufacturing; biodegradable foam development; serves convenience stores, QSR chains & vending applications

Recommended Products

Certifications: FDA | US Manufacturing | Biodegradable Foam Development | phade® PHA Innovation | Est. 1962

8. Genpak

Foodservice Packaging Manufacturer — Atlanta, PP & PET Containers, Broad QSR Cup Range

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia         Website: genpak.com

Genpak is a long-established US foodservice packaging manufacturer with a broad product portfolio covering plastic cups, foam cups, deli containers, hinged containers, and food packaging across polystyrene, polypropylene, and PET materials. Its plastic cup range — including clear PET cups and PP containers in a wide range of sizes — covers the capacity range used for ice cream, frozen yogurt, soft-serve, and dessert applications. As a manufacturer with deep QSR and foodservice distribution relationships built over decades, Genpak serves national restaurant chains, food distributors, and institutional buyers who need broad SKU coverage and reliable supply. The company has been expanding its paper and eco-forward offerings alongside its traditional plastic lines, making it a relevant option for buyers seeking to consolidate foam, plastic, and paper ice cream cup purchasing under one supplier relationship.

Key Highlights

• Long-established US foodservice packaging manufacturer; broad PP, PET and foam cup range covering ice cream and dessert service applications; deep QSR and foodservice distributor relationships
• Clear PET cups and PP containers for ice cream, frozen yogurt & soft-serve; foam cups; expanding eco-friendly paper lines; serves national restaurant chains & foodservice distributors; broad SKU coverage

Recommended Products

Certifications: FDA | NSF | PP & PET Food-Grade | US Manufacturing | Broad SKU QSR Coverage

9. Berry Global

NYSE-Listed Packaging Giant — Evansville IN, Est. 1967, Plastic Ice Cream Containers & Tubs

Headquarters: Evansville, Indiana         Founded: 1967         Website: amcor.com

Berry Global Group (NYSE: BERY) is one of the world’s largest plastic packaging manufacturers — a publicly listed company with approximately 40,000 employees and operations across more than 40 countries. In the ice cream packaging sector, Berry Global’s relevance comes primarily through its rigid plastic container product lines — including thermoformed and injection-moulded plastic tubs, round containers, and lids used by major US ice cream brands for retail pint, quart, and multi-serve packaging. The company’s scale, publicly listed governance, and breadth of plastic packaging technology makes it one of the most institutionally significant plastic ice cream container suppliers available to US ice cream manufacturers. Berry also produces a range of non-woven and flexible packaging materials relevant to ice cream bar wrappers and novelty formats.

Key Highlights

• NYSE listed (BERY); approximately 40,000 employees; 40+ countries; rigid plastic ice cream containers (thermoformed & injection-moulded tubs) for major US retail ice cream brands
• Plastic ice cream tubs, round containers and lids for retail pints, quarts and multi-serve formats; publicly listed institutional governance; global manufacturing scale; also produces flexible and non-woven packaging

Recommended Products

Certifications: NYSE Listed (BERY) | FDA | ISO | 40,000 Employees | 40+ Countries | Rigid Plastic Specialist

10. Inline Plastics

PET Container Specialist — Shelton CT, Est. 1968, Safe-T-Fresh® Technology, US-Made Clear Cups

Headquarters: Shelton, Connecticut         Founded: 1968         Website: inlineplastics.com

Inline Plastics is a Connecticut-based manufacturer of food-grade PET (polyethylene terephthalate) containers that has been producing clear rigid plastic packaging in the United States since 1968. Its core product line centres on thermoformed PET containers used for fresh food applications — including deli containers, bakery packaging, and dessert containers. In the ice cream and frozen dessert context, Inline’s clear PET cups and containers are particularly relevant for frozen dessert presentation applications: the crystal clarity of PET shows off ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, and dessert parfaits without the colour-washing that can occur in opaque or tinted containers. The company’s patented Safe-T-Fresh® tamper-evident technology adds security for retail and foodservice pre-packing applications. As a US-made, food-grade PET specialist with over 55 years of manufacturing history, Inline Plastics is a strong choice for ice cream and dessert brands prioritising domestic manufacturing, premium presentation, and tamper-evident packaging.

Key Highlights

• Est. 1968; 55+ years of US-made food-grade PET container manufacturing; Safe-T-Fresh® patented tamper-evident technology; crystal-clear PET for premium ice cream and frozen dessert visual presentation
• Clear PET cups and containers for frozen yogurt, gelato, and dessert parfait presentation; tamper-evident lid systems; US domestic manufacturing; food-grade PET certified; serves deli, bakery & frozen dessert markets

Recommended Products

Certifications: FDA | NSF | Food-Grade PET | Safe-T-Fresh® Tamper-Evident Patent | US Manufacturing | Est. 1968

Conclusion

The US ice cream cup manufacturing landscape in 2026 is defined by scale, technology diversity, and an accelerating shift toward sustainable packaging formats. Dart Container and Pactiv Evergreen represent the broadest domestic manufacturing footprints and deepest distribution networks. Graphic Packaging sets the standard for retail paperboard ice cream cartons. Huhtamaki’s ICON™ technology is the most significant ice cream packaging innovation of the past decade. Seda North America brings 60 years of dedicated ice cream cup specialisation to the Wisconsin facility. Karat Packaging serves the independent and chain operator market with NASDAQ-listed accountability. WinCup maintains the legacy of American foam cup manufacturing. Genpak provides broad SKU coverage for QSR and foodservice distribution. Berry Global anchors the rigid plastic container segment with NYSE-listed scale. And Inline Plastics delivers 55 years of US-made food-grade PET container expertise with its patented tamper-evident technology.

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