Running a takeaway restaurant requires more than preparing great food. Behind every order is a range of everyday supplies used to store ingredients, prepare food, pack customer orders, manage waste and process transactions.
Choosing the right packaging supplies can help takeaway businesses keep their operations organised and ensure essential products are available during busy service periods.
From freezer bags and roll bags in the kitchen to carry bags for customer orders and thermal paper at the point of sale, different packaging products serve different purposes.
In this guide, we cover some of the essential packaging supplies takeaway restaurants in Australia should consider when planning their everyday stock.
What Packaging Supplies Does a Takeaway Restaurant Need?
Every takeaway business operates differently, so there is no single packaging list that works for everyone.
A small café offering takeaway sandwiches will have different requirements from a busy restaurant processing hundreds of takeaway orders each day.
However, commonly used supplies can include:
- Freezer Bags
- Carry Bags
- Roll Bags
- Liner Bags
- Meat Film Wrap
- Garbage Bags
- Thermal Paper Rolls
The right combination depends on your menu, kitchen setup, order volume and how ingredients are stored and prepared.
1. Freezer Bags for Food Storage
Freezer bags are an important supply for many commercial kitchens.
Takeaway restaurants can use them to separate, organise and store ingredients before they are required for service.
They may be useful for:
- Meat
- Seafood
- Vegetables
- Prepared ingredients
- Portion-controlled ingredients
- Frozen products
- General food storage
Using different bag sizes can also make food storage more practical.
Smaller freezer bags may be suitable for individual portions and smaller ingredients, while larger bags provide additional capacity for bulk food storage.
What to Consider When Choosing Freezer Bags
Before purchasing freezer bags, check:
- Bag dimensions
- Quantity per pack
- Packs per carton
- Total quantity per carton
- Intended use
For takeaway businesses with consistent usage, purchasing freezer bags in bulk cartons can reduce how frequently stock needs to be reordered.
2. Carry Bags for Takeaway Orders
Carry bags are one of the most relevant packaging supplies for businesses serving takeaway customers.
They make it easier for customers to carry their orders and can help staff organise multiple items before an order leaves the restaurant.
Carry bags may be suitable for:
- Individual takeaway orders
- Multiple food items
- Grocery purchases
- Retail products
- Larger customer orders
Choosing the Right Carry Bag Size
Not every order requires the same size bag.
A small order may only need a compact carry bag, while larger orders require additional capacity.
Businesses with varied order sizes may therefore benefit from keeping several carry bag sizes available.
When selecting carry bags, consider the typical size and quantity of items included in your customer orders.
3. Roll Bags for Food Preparation
Roll bags can provide convenient access to individual bags in busy food preparation environments.
Because staff can remove bags from the roll as required, they can be useful for frequently performed kitchen tasks.
Roll bags can be suitable for:
- Food preparation areas
- Ingredient handling
- Produce
- General kitchen organisation
- Grocery and food retail environments
They can be particularly useful for takeaway restaurants where ingredients are continuously prepared throughout the day.
When purchasing roll bags, consider their dimensions, quantity and where the roll will be positioned in your workspace.
4. Liner Bags for Commercial Kitchens
Liner bags can support food handling, preparation and storage in commercial environments.
Depending on their size and application, they can be used for lining trays, containers or other suitable equipment.
Before purchasing liner bags, check the dimensions carefully.
Commercial kitchens often use specific tray and container sizes, so choosing a suitable liner can help avoid unnecessary excess material or products that are too small for the intended application.
5. Meat Film Wrap for Food Preparation
Takeaway restaurants that regularly prepare meat or other suitable food products may also require commercial wrapping film.
Meat film wrap can be useful in food preparation and storage environments, including:
- Restaurants
- Takeaway kitchens
- Butchers
- Delicatessens
- Supermarkets
- Catering operations
When selecting meat film wrap, consider:
- Film width
- Roll length
- Film thickness
- Expected daily usage
For businesses using wrapping film frequently, commercial-length rolls can reduce how often rolls need to be replaced.
6. Garbage Bags for Kitchen Waste
Waste management is an essential part of running a takeaway restaurant.
Commercial kitchens can generate significant amounts of waste from food preparation, packaging and everyday operations.
Garbage bags may be used for:
- Food preparation waste
- General kitchen waste
- Packaging waste
- Front-of-house waste
- Cleaning activities
How to Choose Commercial Garbage Bags
Start by checking your bin capacity and dimensions.
A garbage bag that is too small may not fit the bin correctly, while an unnecessarily large bag may use more material than required.
You should also consider how quickly bins fill during normal and busy service periods.
Businesses with predictable usage can maintain bulk cartons of garbage bags as part of their regular inventory.
7. Thermal Paper Rolls for Receipts and POS Systems
Thermal paper may not be food packaging, but it is an important consumable for many takeaway restaurants.
Thermal paper rolls are commonly used with compatible:
- Receipt printers
- POS systems
- EFTPOS equipment
- Cash registers
- Order printers
Common thermal paper sizes include:
- 57 × 38mm
- 57 × 57mm
- 80 × 80mm
Always check the specifications of your equipment before purchasing thermal paper.
A roll that has the wrong width or diameter may not be compatible with your printer.
For busy takeaway restaurants processing a high number of transactions, keeping additional thermal paper rolls in stock can prevent unnecessary interruptions.
How to Choose the Right Packaging for Your Takeaway Business
Rather than simply purchasing every available packaging product, start by reviewing how your restaurant operates.
Consider these factors before ordering.
Your Menu
The type of food you prepare affects your packaging requirements.
A business preparing large quantities of meat may have different storage and wrapping requirements from a café preparing sandwiches, pastries and drinks.
Your Daily Order Volume
A takeaway restaurant processing hundreds of orders per day will consume packaging much faster than a smaller operation.
Monitor your average usage before deciding how much packaging to purchase.
Available Storage Space
Bulk cartons require storage.
Before placing large orders, make sure your restaurant has enough clean and appropriate storage space for the products.
Product Dimensions
Always check packaging dimensions rather than relying only on product names such as small, medium or large.
Measurements provide a more reliable way to determine whether a product will suit your intended application.
Carton Quantity
Check how many bags, packs or rolls are supplied in each carton.
Knowing the carton quantity helps you estimate how long your stock is likely to last.
Buying Takeaway Packaging in Bulk
For frequently used products, purchasing packaging in bulk can be practical for takeaway restaurants.
Bulk purchasing may help businesses:
- Reduce frequent reordering
- Maintain consistent stock
- Prepare for busy periods
- Simplify purchasing
- Standardise commonly used packaging
However, buying the largest quantity available is not always necessary.
The better approach is to understand your usage and purchase quantities that suit your business.
Calculate Your Packaging Usage
A simple way to improve inventory planning is to record how much packaging your restaurant actually uses.
For example, track your packaging consumption for four weeks.
Record the usage of:
- Freezer bags
- Carry bags
- Roll bags
- Liner bags
- Garbage bags
- Meat film wrap
- Thermal paper
You can then calculate your approximate weekly usage.
For example:
Average weekly usage × number of weeks between orders + safety stock
If your takeaway business normally uses three cartons of carry bags each week and orders supplies every four weeks, regular consumption would be approximately 12 cartons over that period.
You can then determine an appropriate additional quantity to keep as safety stock.
Create a Takeaway Packaging Checklist
Creating a standard checklist can make regular ordering easier.
A simple takeaway restaurant checklist could look like this:
Food Storage
- Freezer Bags
- Liner Bags
Food Preparation
- Roll Bags
- Meat Film Wrap
Customer Orders
- Carry Bags
Waste Management
- Garbage Bags
Point of Sale
- Thermal Paper Rolls
Add the preferred size and minimum stock level beside each product.
Staff can then review the checklist before placing the next supply order.
Keep Extra Stock for Busy Periods
Takeaway restaurants can experience significant changes in order volume.
Weekends, public holidays, local events and seasonal periods may result in higher packaging consumption than usual.
Running out of a frequently used product during a busy service can create unnecessary operational problems.
For essential supplies, consider maintaining a reasonable safety stock based on previous usage.
This is particularly useful for products such as carry bags, freezer bags, garbage bags and thermal paper that may be used throughout the day.
Standardise Frequently Used Packaging
Once your restaurant identifies packaging products that work well, consider standardising them across everyday operations.
For example, rather than stocking several nearly identical freezer bag sizes, determine which sizes cover most of your kitchen's requirements.
Standardisation can make it easier to:
- Monitor inventory
- Train staff
- Organise storage
- Identify low stock
- Place repeat orders
The objective is to maintain enough variety for your operational requirements without making inventory unnecessarily complicated.
What to Look for in a Takeaway Packaging Supplier
When comparing packaging suppliers in Australia, consider more than price.
Relevant Product Range
Look for products that match your everyday operational requirements.
Being able to purchase several frequently used supplies from the same range can simplify procurement.
Clear Specifications
Product listings should provide enough information to help you select the appropriate option.
Check dimensions, pack quantities, carton quantities, roll sizes and other relevant specifications.
Bulk Supply
If your business regularly uses the same products, check whether they are available in commercial carton quantities.
Delivery
Review the supplier's delivery information and make sure your business location is serviced before placing an order.
Packaging Supplies for Australian Takeaway Restaurants
MRA Packaging supplies a range of commercial packaging products for restaurants, cafés, takeaway shops, catering businesses, supermarkets and other commercial operations.
The range includes:
- Freezer Bags
- Carry Bags
- Garbage Bags
- Liner Bags
- Roll Bags
- Meat Film Wrap
- Thermal Paper Rolls
Products are available in multiple sizes and bulk carton quantities, allowing businesses to select supplies based on their operational requirements.
Whether you're opening a new takeaway restaurant or reviewing the supplies used by an existing business, selecting suitable packaging and maintaining appropriate stock levels can make everyday operations easier to manage.
Explore the MRA Packaging range to find wholesale packaging supplies for your takeaway business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What packaging supplies does a takeaway restaurant need?
Requirements vary, but commonly used supplies can include freezer bags, carry bags, roll bags, liner bags, garbage bags, food wrapping film and thermal paper rolls.
What are the most important packaging supplies for a takeaway business?
It depends on the operation. Carry bags can be important for customer orders, while freezer bags, roll bags and wrapping film may support kitchen preparation and storage. Garbage bags and thermal paper are also common everyday consumables.
Should takeaway restaurants buy packaging in bulk?
Bulk purchasing can be practical for products that are used consistently. Before ordering, consider your average usage, available storage space and the quantity supplied per carton.
How do I choose the right carry bag size for takeaway orders?
Consider the dimensions and quantity of items in a typical customer order. Businesses handling different order sizes may benefit from stocking multiple carry bag sizes.
How much takeaway packaging should I keep in stock?
Monitor your average weekly usage and establish a minimum stock level for each essential product. Maintaining additional safety stock can also help during periods of higher-than-normal demand.
Where can I buy takeaway packaging supplies in Australia?
MRA Packaging supplies bulk packaging products for takeaway shops, restaurants, cafés and other commercial businesses. Review individual product specifications and delivery information when choosing products for your operation.