Choosing the right food packaging is an important part of running a restaurant, café, takeaway shop or catering business. Packaging is used throughout daily operations, from storing and preparing ingredients to handling takeaway orders, managing waste and keeping essential supplies organised.
With different sizes, materials and packaging types available, it can be difficult to know which products are best suited to your business.
This guide explains what to consider when choosing food packaging for your restaurant or takeaway and covers some of the essential packaging supplies commonly used by Australian food businesses.
Why Choosing the Right Food Packaging Matters
Food packaging is more than something used at the end of an order. In a commercial food business, packaging products can be used throughout preparation, storage, service and cleaning.
Choosing suitable packaging can help your business:
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Keep ingredients organised
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Make food preparation more efficient
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Maintain suitable storage practices
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Prepare takeaway and customer orders
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Manage kitchen waste
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Reduce unnecessary packaging usage
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Maintain consistent stock levels
The right products will depend on what your business sells, how much packaging you use and how your kitchen operates.
Start With Your Business Type
Different food businesses have different packaging requirements. Before ordering packaging, consider how products will actually be used in your daily operation.
Restaurants
Restaurants may require a combination of freezer bags, food wrapping film, liner bags, garbage bags and thermal paper rolls.
Businesses offering takeaway or delivery may also need carry bags for customer orders.
Cafés
Cafés typically require packaging products for food preparation, storage, takeaway orders and general waste management.
Depending on the menu and service model, useful supplies can include freezer bags, roll bags, carry bags, garbage bags and thermal receipt paper.
Takeaway Shops
Takeaway businesses can have particularly high packaging usage because many orders leave the premises.
Carry bags are therefore important, but takeaway businesses may also require freezer bags, roll bags, food wrapping products and garbage bags for everyday kitchen operations.
Catering Businesses
Catering businesses often prepare larger quantities of food and may operate across multiple locations.
Bulk food storage bags, liner bags, wrapping film and garbage bags can help support food preparation and event operations.
Supermarkets and Food Retailers
Supermarkets, grocery stores and other food retailers may use roll bags, carry bags, meat film wrap, freezer bags and thermal paper rolls.
Identifying where packaging is used throughout your operation makes it easier to determine which products and quantities you actually need.
Consider How the Packaging Will Be Used
Before choosing a product, ask a simple question:
What do we need this packaging to do?
A bag used for storing ingredients has different requirements from a bag used for customer purchases.
You can divide your packaging requirements into several categories.
Food Storage
For storing and organising ingredients, freezer bags can be a practical option.
They are commonly used for:
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Meat
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Seafood
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Vegetables
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Prepared ingredients
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Portion-controlled ingredients
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Frozen food
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General kitchen storage
The appropriate size will depend on the quantity and dimensions of the food being stored.
Food Preparation
Roll bags and liner bags can be useful in food preparation environments where staff need convenient access to bags throughout the day.
Because roll bags can be removed individually as required, they are suitable for busy preparation areas and food retail environments.
Food Wrapping
Restaurants, butchers, supermarkets and other food businesses may require commercial food wrapping products.
Meat film wrap, for example, can be used where food products need to be wrapped during preparation, storage or display.
When choosing wrapping film, consider the roll width, roll length and film thickness.
Takeaway and Customer Orders
If customers regularly take food or other products away from your premises, carry bags should be part of your packaging inventory.
Keeping multiple sizes can be useful because not every order requires the same bag.
A small order may only require a smaller carry bag, while larger takeaway or retail orders need additional capacity.
Waste Management
Commercial kitchens generate waste throughout the day, making garbage bags another essential supply.
When selecting garbage bags, consider:
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Bin capacity
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Bag dimensions
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Typical waste volume
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Frequency of disposal
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Expected daily usage
Using an appropriately sized bag helps avoid using an unnecessarily large bag for a small bin or a bag that is too small for the intended application.
Choose the Right Packaging Size
Size is one of the most important considerations when purchasing commercial packaging.
Using packaging that is significantly larger than necessary can increase material usage, while products that are too small may not be suitable for the intended task.
Choosing Freezer Bag Sizes
Think about the ingredients normally stored in each bag.
Smaller freezer bags can be useful for individual portions, prepared ingredients and smaller food items.
Larger bags provide additional capacity for bulk ingredients or larger portions.
If your restaurant handles different quantities of food, keeping several freezer bag sizes available can provide greater flexibility.
Choosing Carry Bag Sizes
Consider the typical size of customer orders.
Businesses handling both small and large orders may benefit from keeping multiple carry bag sizes rather than relying on a single option.
This allows staff to select a suitable bag based on each order.
Choosing Liner Bags
Check the dimensions of the tray, container or equipment the liner will be used with.
Bag dimensions should be reviewed before ordering, particularly when purchasing commercial quantities.
Check Product Specifications
Product specifications are especially important when buying packaging online.
Before ordering, check information such as:
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Width and length
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Material or film thickness
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Number of pieces per pack
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Number of packs per carton
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Total pieces per carton
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Roll dimensions
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Number of rolls per carton
This information helps you compare products accurately and estimate how much stock your business needs.
For example, two cartons of freezer bags may appear similar but contain significantly different quantities.
Always compare the complete carton specifications rather than looking only at the external dimensions of the product.
Don't Forget Thermal Paper
Although thermal paper is not food packaging, it is another consumable restaurants and takeaway businesses frequently need to reorder.
Thermal paper rolls are commonly used in:
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POS systems
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Receipt printers
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EFTPOS equipment
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Cash registers
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Order printing systems
Common sizes include:
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57 × 38mm
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57 × 57mm
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80 × 80mm
Before purchasing thermal paper, check the specifications of your printer or POS equipment.
Roll width and diameter can vary between machines, so selecting the correct size is important.
Consider Your Daily and Weekly Usage
Once you know which packaging products you need, estimate how quickly your business uses them.
For example, if your business regularly uses freezer bags, carry bags and garbage bags, record how many packs or cartons are consumed over several weeks.
This gives you a clearer idea of your average usage.
You can then establish a minimum stock level for each important product.
When inventory reaches that level, place another order before existing stock is exhausted.
When Does Buying Packaging in Bulk Make Sense?
Restaurants and takeaway businesses frequently use the same packaging products every day, making bulk purchasing a practical option for many operations.
Buying packaging by the carton may be suitable when:
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The product is used regularly
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You have sufficient storage space
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Usage is reasonably predictable
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The packaging size is already suitable for your operation
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You want to reduce frequent reordering
Before purchasing a large quantity of a new product, however, make sure its dimensions and specifications meet your requirements.
Create a Core Packaging Checklist
A simple packaging checklist can make purchasing easier.
For a restaurant or takeaway business, your core list might include:
Food Storage
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Freezer bags
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Liner bags
Food Preparation
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Roll bags
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Food wrapping film
Takeaway Orders
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Carry bags
Waste Management
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Garbage bags
Point of Sale
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Thermal paper rolls
Your exact requirements will depend on your menu and operating model, but maintaining a standard list can help prevent important products from being forgotten when placing an order.
Avoid Overcomplicating Your Packaging Inventory
Having too many similar packaging products can make inventory management unnecessarily complicated.
For example, if staff use five slightly different bag sizes for essentially the same purpose, consider whether all five are necessary.
Standardising commonly used sizes can make it easier to:
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Train staff
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Organise storage
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Monitor inventory
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Place repeat orders
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Identify low stock
The goal is not necessarily to have the largest packaging range possible, but to have the right products for the tasks your business performs regularly.
Choosing a Food Packaging Supplier
When selecting a packaging supplier for your restaurant or takeaway business, consider more than individual product prices.
Look at the overall range available and whether the supplier carries products your business regularly needs.
Useful factors to consider include:
Product Range
A broad range can make it easier to source several everyday supplies from the same supplier.
Product Specifications
Clear dimensions, quantities and carton information help businesses make informed purchasing decisions.
Bulk Availability
For frequently used products, bulk carton quantities can reduce the need for repeated small orders.
Delivery
Check whether delivery is available to your business location and review applicable shipping conditions before ordering.
Food Packaging Supplies for Australian Businesses
MRA Packaging supplies commercial packaging products for restaurants, cafés, takeaway shops, catering businesses, supermarkets and other food and hospitality operations.
The range includes:
Products are available in various sizes and bulk carton quantities, allowing businesses to select packaging based on their operational requirements.
Whether you're restocking an established restaurant or organising supplies for a new takeaway business, choosing the right sizes and maintaining appropriate stock levels can make everyday packaging management much simpler.
Explore the MRA Packaging range to find wholesale packaging supplies for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What packaging does a restaurant need?
The exact requirements depend on the restaurant, but commonly used supplies can include freezer bags, liner bags, roll bags, food wrapping film, carry bags, garbage bags and thermal paper rolls.
How do I choose the right food packaging size?
Start with the intended application and the size or quantity of the food or product being packaged. Check the dimensions and product specifications before ordering, particularly when purchasing packaging in bulk.
Is buying food packaging in bulk better for restaurants?
Bulk purchasing can be practical for products that are used consistently. It can reduce the frequency of reordering and make it easier to maintain stock, provided the business has adequate storage space.
What packaging should a takeaway business keep in stock?
Takeaway businesses may need carry bags, freezer bags, roll bags, food wrapping products and garbage bags. Thermal paper may also be required for POS systems and receipt printers.
Where can restaurants buy wholesale food packaging in Australia?
MRA Packaging supplies a range of bulk packaging products for restaurants, cafés, takeaway shops, catering businesses and other commercial operations. Check individual product specifications and delivery information when selecting products for your business.