Packaging Advice
Clear answers for cafés, takeaways, restaurants and caterers, plus real custom packaging case studies showing how strong branding can remain practical and affordable.
52 guides
Sustainable Packaging
Bagasse Food Containers: Are Sugarcane Takeaway Boxes Right for Your Business?
Are bagasse food containers good for takeaways?
What bagasse is, how sugarcane fibre containers perform with hot and greasy food, and what documentation to ask for under new PFAS rules.
Food Containers
Sushi Trays for Takeaway: Choosing Kraft Trays for Sushi Bars and Delivery
What are the best sushi trays for takeaway and delivery?
How sushi restaurants and Asian takeaways choose sushi trays — sizes, windows, lids and presentation tips for delivery apps.
Seasonal Packaging
Christmas Takeaway and Party Catering Packaging: A Planning Guide
What packaging do I need for Christmas takeaway and party catering?
Plan your Christmas packaging now — containers for festive menus, catering boxes for office parties and how much stock to hold through December.
Buying Guides
Takeaway Containers Wholesale: How UK Food Businesses Cut Packaging Costs
How do I buy takeaway containers wholesale at a good price?
Practical ways to lower your cost per container — case buying, range rationalising, trade accounts and delivery planning — without compromising quality.
Food Containers
Microwavable Takeaway Containers: What Food Businesses Should Know
Which takeaway containers can be microwaved?
Which container materials are typically suitable for reheating, how to check a product's specification and what to tell customers about microwaving leftovers.
Custom Print
Custom Printed Christmas Coffee Cups: Lead Times, Minimums and Design Tips
When should I order custom printed Christmas coffee cups?
How cafés and coffee carts can get branded Christmas cups in time for the festive season — when to order, what to print and how to avoid leftover stock.
Seasonal Packaging
Bonfire Night Food Packaging: What Street Food Traders Need for 5 November
What packaging is best for bonfire night food stalls?
Soup cups, kraft bowls and hot dog trays for fireworks events — how traders can serve hot food fast, outdoors and in the cold on bonfire night.
Food Boxes
Kraft Food Boxes for Takeaways: Which Style Fits Your Menu?
Are kraft food boxes good for takeaway food?
Kraft takeaway boxes explained — fold-top boxes, trays and lidded containers — plus how to choose the right size for burgers, noodles, rice and fried food.
Catering
Catering Disposables Checklist: Everything You Need for Events and Office Lunches
What catering disposables do I need for an event or office lunch?
A complete checklist of catering disposables — containers, cutlery, napkins, cups and bags — so caterers never arrive at an event short of essentials.
Bags
Paper Bags with Handles for Takeaways: Sizes, Strength and Bulk Buying
Where can takeaways buy paper bags with handles in bulk?
How to choose kraft paper carrier bags with handles for takeaway and delivery orders — sizing, weight limits and when to switch to printed bags.
Cups & Drinks
Disposable Coffee Cups with Lids: A Wholesale Buying Guide for UK Cafés
Which disposable coffee cups with lids should a café buy?
Single wall or double wall, which sizes to stock and how to match lids — a practical guide to buying takeaway coffee cups in bulk for autumn and winter.
London Packaging
Affordable Food Packaging Suppliers in London: How to Pay Less Without Cutting Corners
Where can London restaurants find a cheap, reliable food packaging supplier?
How London restaurants, cafés and takeaways can lower their packaging cost per order with wholesale pricing, the right formats and a local supplier.
London Packaging
Next-Day Takeaway Packaging Delivery in London: How It Works and How to Never Run Out
Can I get takeaway packaging delivered next day in London?
Yes — London food businesses can get takeaway packaging the next working day. Here is how cut-offs work and how to plan reorders so you never run short mid-service.
London Packaging
Wholesale Takeaway Packaging for London Restaurants: What to Buy and How Much
What packaging should a London restaurant buy wholesale, and how much?
A practical wholesale packaging checklist for London restaurants and takeaways, with quantity planning and tips to keep cost per order low.
Seasonal Packaging
Halloween Food Packaging Ideas for Takeaways and Restaurants
What packaging do takeaways need for a Halloween menu?
Which containers, cups and bags work best for Halloween menus — from pumpkin soup to loaded fries — and how to order in time for the rush.
Custom Print
Halloween Custom Printed Packaging: Branded Bags, Boxes and Cups for the Season
Can I get Halloween-themed custom printed packaging for my food business?
How restaurants, cafés and street food traders can get Halloween-branded packaging printed — lead times, minimums and design tips that work beyond October.
Seasonal Packaging
Preparing Your Takeaway for the Halloween Rush: Packaging Stock Checklist
How do I prepare my takeaway for the Halloween order rush?
A practical checklist for London takeaways and restaurants to stock packaging for the Halloween weekend rush without over-ordering.
Compliance
UK EPR Packaging Fees Explained: What Takeaways and Cafés Need to Know
What are the new UK EPR packaging fees and do they affect my takeaway or café?
The UK's Extended Producer Responsibility regime now charges packaging producers based on recyclability ratings. Here is what it means for food businesses buying packaging.
Compliance
The BPA Ban and Food Packaging: What UK Food Businesses Should Do
What does the BPA ban mean for food packaging in the UK?
The EU's ban on Bisphenol A in food-contact materials is reshaping the packaging market. Here is what it means for UK cafés, takeaways and caterers.
Packaging Guides
Best Packaging for Hot Food Delivery: A Winter Menu Guide
What is the best packaging for hot food delivery and winter menus?
As menus turn to soups, curries and stews, the right hot-food packaging protects temperature, texture and presentation. Here is how to choose it.
Custom Print
Printed Food Packaging: A Practical Product-Selection Guide
How do I choose the right printed food packaging for my business?
Choose printed food packaging by matching the container to your food, service temperature, delivery journey, portion size and branding priorities.
Custom Print
Custom Printed Takeaway Packaging for Restaurants: How to Start
How do restaurants get custom printed takeaway packaging in the UK?
A practical route for UK restaurants to move from plain takeaway packaging to branded boxes, bowls, cups and bags without over-ordering.
Custom Print
Branded Packaging for Market Stalls and Street Food Traders
Can market stalls and street food traders get branded packaging in small quantities?
How street food traders and market stalls build a recognisable look with a small printed range, stock packaging and low-cost branding options.
Custom Print
Custom Printed Packaging for Small Food Businesses: Cafés, Bakeries and Home Kitchens
Is custom printed packaging worth it for a small food business?
When printed packaging pays off for a small café, bakery or delivery kitchen, and how to build a branded look one item at a time.
PPWR & Compliance
PPWR Packaging Rules for Food Businesses: 2026 Checklist
What does PPWR mean for takeaway and food packaging businesses in 2026?
A practical PPWR packaging checklist for restaurants, cafés, caterers and takeaway businesses, with the immediate focus on PFAS-free food packaging.
PPWR & Compliance
PFAS-Free Food Packaging After PPWR: Takeaway Boxes, Bowls and Greaseproof Paper
Why should takeaway businesses choose PFAS-free food packaging after PPWR?
PFAS-free food packaging is now a priority for takeaway boxes, greaseproof paper, bagasse clamshells, bowls, trays and wrappers under PPWR.
London Packaging Supply
BPA-Free and PFAS-Free Food Packaging Supplier in London: What to Ask Before You Buy
How do London food businesses choose BPA-free and PFAS-free packaging suppliers?
A London-focused guide to choosing BPA-free and PFAS-free takeaway packaging, with questions for suppliers and compliance documents to request.
Case Studies
Meals on Reels: Coordinated Custom Food Packaging
How can a food brand create coordinated custom packaging across boxes, bowls and cups?
How a bold film-inspired identity was carried across takeaway boxes, bowls and cups for a consistent customer experience.
Case Studies
Salt’s Smokehouse: Branded Fibre Takeaway Boxes
Can sustainable takeaway boxes still deliver strong restaurant branding?
A focused custom-print treatment turns practical fibre clamshells into unmistakable Salt’s Smokehouse packaging.
Case Studies
Kokodoo: Bold Custom Takeaway Boxes and Bags
How can a takeaway brand use custom boxes and bags to stand out?
Kokodoo uses red, white and black packaging to create a bright, consistent identity across folded boxes and paper bags.
Case Studies
Food Junkee: A Complete Branded Bowl, Cup and Bag Range
How do you build a complete branded packaging range for bowls, cups and bags?
A black, kraft and yellow identity creates a unified packaging family across bowls, cups and a handled paper bag.
Case Studies
Gav’s Kitchen: Custom Catering Packaging with Useful Information
What should custom catering packaging include beyond a logo?
Gav’s Kitchen combines a monochrome identity with allergen, dietary and contact details across catering boxes, bowls and cups.
Materials
Greaseproof Paper: Food Safety, Compostability and Which Type to Use
Is greaseproof paper compostable and safe for food contact?
Greaseproof, parchment and silicone-coated papers are not interchangeable. Choosing wrongly means either grease marks or a paper that will not compost.
Choosing Packaging
The Best Packaging for Delivery Platform Orders
What packaging works best for Deliveroo and Uber Eats orders?
Delivery packaging has to survive a bag, a bike and twenty minutes. Stackability, sealing and separation matter more than looks.
Cost & Margin
How to Cut Packaging Costs Without Cheapening Your Brand
How can I reduce packaging costs without making my brand look cheap?
Most packaging spend is wasted on too many lines, wrong sizes and over-specification — not on quality that customers notice.
Materials
rPET or PLA? Choosing Cold Drink Cups You Can Justify
What is the most eco-friendly cup for cold drinks — rPET or PLA?
Both look identical on the counter. They diverge completely at the bin — and that is where the decision should be made.
Recycling & Compliance
Allergen Labelling for Takeaway Food: What You Must Show
What are the allergen labelling rules for takeaway and pre-packed food?
Food packed before it is ordered needs a full ingredient list with allergens emphasised. Food packed to order does not — but the information still has to be available.
Materials
Can You Microwave Paper and Kraft Food Containers?
Can you microwave paper and kraft food containers?
Often yes — but it depends entirely on the lining and the lid, and a foil container is a firm no.
Getting Started
How Much Packaging Should a Restaurant Order at a Time?
How much packaging should a restaurant order at a time?
A simple method for setting order quantities using your own till data, so you stop running out of the important things.
Getting Started
How Buying Wholesale Packaging Works (and What a Trade Account Gives You)
How does buying wholesale packaging with a trade account work?
Trade buying is about price breaks, consistent supply and payment terms — not just bigger boxes.
Custom Print
How Long Does Custom Printed Packaging Take?
How long does custom printed packaging take to produce?
Artwork, proofing, printing and delivery each take time. Knowing the stages lets you plan a launch date you can actually hit.
Custom Print
How Much Does Custom Printed Packaging Cost?
How much does custom printed packaging cost and what is the minimum order?
Custom print pricing comes down to four things: quantity, number of colours, the item itself and the print method. Understanding them tells you where to spend and where to save.
Materials
PLA vs Water-Based Lined Paper Cups: Which Should You Buy?
What is the difference between PLA-lined and water-based lined paper cups?
Both remove conventional plastic film from the cup. They differ in how they perform, what they cost and which end-of-life route they need.
Choosing Packaging
8oz, 12oz or 16oz? Choosing Coffee Cup Sizes That Sell
What size coffee cup should I use — 8oz, 12oz or 16oz?
Cup size decides drink recipe, milk cost and how your menu reads. Here is how the three common sizes map onto real drinks.
Getting Started
The Packaging Checklist for Opening a Coffee Shop
What packaging do I need to open a coffee shop?
A complete opening list, in the order most independents actually need it — with the quantities that avoid both stockouts and a stockroom full of the wrong size.
Choosing Packaging
How to Stop Chips Going Soggy in Takeaway Packaging
How do I stop chips and fried food going soggy in takeaway packaging?
Soggy chips are a steam problem, not a chip problem. Ventilation, separation and a short cooling pause fix almost all of it.
Choosing Packaging
The Best Takeaway Containers for Hot Food (and How to Stop Leaks)
What are the best takeaway containers for hot food that don't leak?
Leaks are rarely the container's fault. They come from the wrong seal, the wrong fill level or the wrong material for the sauce.
Recycling & Compliance
Plastic Packaging Tax, Explained for Food Businesses
What is the Plastic Packaging Tax and does it affect my takeaway?
Most cafés and restaurants do not pay the tax directly — but they pay for it in the price of plastic packaging. Here is how it reaches your invoice.
Recycling & Compliance
The UK Single-Use Plastics Ban: What's Out, and What to Use Instead
Which single-use plastics are banned in the UK and what can I use instead?
England's restrictions cover single-use plastic plates, bowls, trays, cutlery, balloon sticks and polystyrene food and drink containers. Here are the practical swaps.
Recycling & Compliance
Biodegradable vs Compostable vs Recyclable: What the Words Actually Mean
What is the difference between biodegradable, compostable and recyclable packaging?
Three words used interchangeably on menus and websites, with three very different meanings. Getting them right protects your brand and keeps your claims defensible.
Materials
What Is Bagasse Packaging — and Is It Really Compostable?
What is bagasse packaging and is it compostable?
Bagasse is the fibre left over after sugarcane is pressed for juice. Pressed into trays and bowls it handles hot, oily and wet food — and it composts.
Recycling & Compliance
Are Paper Coffee Cups Recyclable in the UK?
Are paper coffee cups recyclable in the UK?
Most paper cups are recyclable, but only through specialist facilities that separate the waterproof lining from the board. Here is how it works in practice for a UK food business.