Many people dream of opening a restaurant so they can share their recipes with the world. However, it’s also important to keep in mind the many decisions and responsibilities restaurateurs handle on a daily basis. Not only must your food taste amazing, but you’ll also need excellent customer service, targeted branding, and a cohesive food packaging strategy if you want to stand out in the competitive restaurant business.
Fresh food packaging is an aspect of the food industry that all restaurant owners should consider if they want to take their business to the top. There are many good options for packaging to-go food on the market today.
Fresh Food Packaging: What Are the Options?
Plastic Deli Containers
These containers are made from frosted plastic and feature a sealing lid that’s safe for liquids. They are designed for soups, salsas, and other messy foods.
Divided Plastic Containers
If you serve an assortment of finger foods, you might consider divided containers. They work great for raw fruit and vegetable plates, assorted nuts, or mixed chocolates, but they can also be used to portion out hot meals.
Molded Clamshell
Molded clamshell containers are generally made from plastic, styrofoam, or paper materials. However, these days, some are biodegradable and made from compressed sugarcane fiber. These containers resemble the classic Styrofoam version but are much better for the environment. If you’d like your restaurant to build a green reputation, this is a good fresh food packaging option to choose. Not only do they keep food protected, but they make it easy for your customers to enjoy lunch at their desks.
Paper Take Out Box
There’s a reason that most Chinese restaurants have used paper take out boxes for decades. They are convenient, cost-effective, and they help keep food fresh. These boxes allow you to pack a great deal of food into a small space, helping you provide your customers with a lot of bang for their buck. They can also be microwaved, making it simple to heat up a quick meal later.
Form versus Function: What Packaging Is Right for You?
When choosing fresh food packaging, your first step is taking a look at your menu. Do you serve light fares, like sandwiches and salads? What about liquids, such as soups? Heavier foods, such as creamy pasta, beans, and sauces, will all require a certain type of packaging.
Go through your entire menu, one item at a time, and decide what packaging option is best for each item. From there, you’ll want to look at your projected sales to estimate how much of each item you’ll need. It’s always smart to overestimate. You’ll always make use of your packaging materials over time, but getting stuck having to explain to a new customer that you’re currently out of soup containers could reflect poorly on your business.
If you have further questions about choosing fresh food packaging for your restaurant’s items, please contact Paper Mart today.
See also: Plastic Jars: A Blank Canvas for You and Your Business
I like that you mentioned choosing fresh food packaging. This is a really useful tip when you are trying to make sure that you are storing food correctly. My cousin looking into confectionery suppliers would love knowing this.