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Disposable food containers sometimes get a bad rap from the press. It’s been said that disposable lunch boxes, disposable soup bowls and other food service containers that get thrown away after just one use are wasteful and bad for the environment. While there are certainly some food service products that will just spend years in a landfill, there are also plenty of companies that use biodegradable materials for their containers. These can be safely thrown away or recycled, effectively eliminating one of the biggest complaints about disposable food products.

Considering that any disposable food containers you use are made from recycled or biodegradable materials, they will offer plenty of advantages for your company. Here are just a few to remember.

Sanitation

One advantage of disposable food containers that many people may not consider is that they are often more sanitary than reusable plates and lunch boxes. A plate or piece of silverware can certainly be washed and reused, but that won’t eliminate all the bacteria that might be left over. Meanwhile, a disposable food container is thrown away after just one use, lessening the chances of food-borne illness and contamination.

Saving Water and Energy

It takes a lot of water and energy to constantly wash reusable dishes. An industrial-sized dishwasher that might be used by a major restaurant uses seven to eight gallons of water per minute. This water can reach temperatures of up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, disposable food containers require no washing; they are merely thrown away.

Convenience

The reason why so many restaurants and their patrons would want to use disposable food containers is because of the convenience factor. Not only is there no need to wash things like disposable soup bowls and plates, but there isn’t even any reason for customers to keep them in a restaurant. Diners can take their food with them if they are in a hurry and want to eat later, which in a way is convenient for everyone involved.

Keeping Food from Spoiling

Disposable food containers are obviously great for restaurants that offer delivery or takeout food, but not because they can be cast aside when they are no longer needed. Many disposable lunch boxes are designed to keep food hot while it is in transit. This means that it will be fresh and ready to eat even after a lengthy trip. This still isn’t as ideal as simply eating a meal as soon as it is prepared and served, but it cuts down on the amount of food that has to be thrown out due to spoilage and improper storage.

Keep in mind that while disposable food containers do offer plenty of advantages to restaurants and individuals, you should be sticking to recyclable or biodegradable containers whenever possible. Styrofoam does make for an effective takeout container, but it also doesn’t break down when it’s thrown in a landfill. Stick to “green” biodegradable containers made from paper or cardboard instead if you can. It’s much better for the environment.

If you own or manage a food service business, having disposable takeout containers is a must! Make sure you are shopping the largest in-stock selection around by visiting MrTakeOutBags.com! At MrTakeOutBags.com, we provide our customers with the guaranteed lowest prices around and same day shipping! Take advantage of working with the best food service packaging provider in the business and visit MrTakeOutBags.com today!

Custom takeout containers and food storage containers may be convenient for both employees and customers, but have you ever thought about how they can help you advertise and build your brand? When customers take their to-go containers home or see your food storage containers, they will think of your brand and be more likely to revisit your restaurant. Their coworkers, friends and family members may also see these containers and become interested in visiting your restaurant. With so much marketing potential, you can’t afford for your to-go containers to be boring and plain. You need to liven them up in a way that will make your food service more attractive and appealing.

Colors

What catches your eye first, a plain white or clear container or one that is bright and colorful? Are you more likely to remember the name of the one restaurant that gave out the colorful containers, or one of the many restaurants that gave out the same boring white one? Color can make a big difference in how your food service packaging gets noticed, and if you can find a way to add color to your to-go containers, you may just get the attention of more customers.

Logo

The best way to advertise your restaurant or food service company is with your logo. You can add your logo to a variety of merchandise, so why not add it to your food storage containers as well? People who notice someone eating food from a carryout container may be hesitant to ask where the food is from, but if you logo is already on the container, they will instantly know where to go to try the food they want to taste.

Stickers

When you were a kid, you used stickers to liven up your papers, folders and walls. Why not use them to make your food containers more attractive? You can create custom stickers with the name of your company or a logo, or you can just use any random sticker to make the packaging more fun and memorable. This is a particularly good idea if your food service business has a lot of young customers or parents who want to get their children excited about trying different foods.

Notes and Messages

Nothing makes a customer remember a place more than being treated well and appreciated. Making your customers feel special or significant is a great way to earn repeat visitors. When you pack up your customers’ food, consider writing a nice or funny message on the to-go container. Not only will it make it a  more memorable experience for the customer, but it will make them more likely to talk about your restaurant with friends and family members too.

By making some simple changes to your custom food packaging and to-go containers, you can make your food service company or restaurant much more memorable for customers. When customers remember your brand or think of your company, they are likely to talk about it and give you free advertisement. Why settle for dull, boring food storage when you can liven it up with just a little effort?

Marketing a restaurant or some other kind of small food service business can be challenging. If you’re just starting out, you have to convince people somehow to go with your services instead of more established businesses. Of course, there are plenty of great ideas for attracting business to a new restaurant. You can market your services on social media, air television and radio spots or circulate flyers. All of these are great ideas and have been very successful in the past, but one idea that you should never overlook is to use custom food packaging and takeout containers to advertise your business.

Take out food containers and other kinds of food packaging can be pretty simple; all they really have to do is keep a customer’s food fresh until they can get it home. However, they also provide some great opportunities for you to market your restaurant to others. Here are just a few ways that disposable food containers can be a great opportunity to advertise your business.

Showcasing a Unique Logo

The most obvious thing that you can do for your takeout food containers is to showcase your business’s logo. Creating a great logo is an art in itself, but once you have a logo for your restaurant you should display it as often as you can, including on your custom food packaging. It should also have a consistent appearance and color scheme since the idea is to create brand recognition across all advertising platforms.

Including a Menu

Depending on what kind of takeout food containers you have, this may not be an option. It obviously takes a lot of space to include a menu on a to-go box, but if you have that space you should by all means take advantage of it. Not only is it convenient for your customers who will want to order food in the future, it may also attract new customers and let them know what your restaurant has to offer.

Being Convenient and Functional

As important as it may be for your packaging to have a unique logo and a menu, the most important aspect is that it is functional. Takeout containers need to be able to hold a customer’s food, after all. When you’re designing your custom food packaging, don’t get so caught up with being aesthetically pleasing and unique that you end up making your containers impractical. Customers will remember a useful container much more than they will a pretty and unique one.

With over 50,000 satisfied customers and counting, you cannot go wrong by taking your food service packing needs to the to-go container experts at MrTakeOutBags.com. From customized to go containers and bags to baked goods packaging and cupcake boxes, MrTakeOutBags.com is your one-stop-shop for all your food packaging needs. Our expansive selection of containers and to go bags is sure to meet any of your packaging needs, and all of our products are available at some of the lowest prices around with same day shipping guaranteed! Make the most out of your company’s food packaging this year, shop at MrTakeOutBags.com today!

If you own or run a food delivery business, food packaging and containers likely comprise a major percentage of your inventory. When you package food and beverage products efficiently, your customers will be more satisfied and you will grow your bottom line. If you’re starting a food delivery business or wish to improve the efficiency of your packaging and container system, you might consider adding the following items to your regular inventory of to-go containers.

  1. Hinged Containers for Ease of Use 

Your top priorities in relation to take out containers will include ease of use for both your employees and your customers. Hinged containers are generally easy to keep closed, which is crucial when prepared food is being transported. Regardless of the type of material you choose for such food boxes, the fact that they are hinged will help you save money. They will aid your workers in preventing spills, which will prevent the need to replace orders. Additionally, customers who must deal with messes are not apt to become return customers, so hinged containers can help you to avoid losing customers unnecessarily.

  1. Transparent Containers for Efficiency

Transparent containers can help you to improve the efficiency of your food delivery business. When employees are able to instantly view the contents of to go boxes, bowls, and cups, they can save time by not being forced to open them. This can be especially useful when large or bulk orders are being prepared for delivery.

Clear containers also allow customers to see food, and this can produce a positive effect (on multiple levels) in regard to how they feel about the items they’ve ordered. Once an order is delivered, a customer can see that the right food has arrived. Viewing the food through its container is also the equivalent of seeing it as it’s delivered to a table in a restaurant. This instant visual opportunity may enhance the entire dining experience.

  1. Microwaveable Containers for Convenience

Another way to offer convenience to your customers (and thus, to increase your value to them) is to package their food orders in microwaveable containers. No matter how hot an order is when it leaves your restaurant, it can still cool down somewhat by the time it reaches the customer’s location. Additionally, countless people store their restaurant leftovers in their takeout containers. Such individuals are apt to appreciate having the ability to reheat their food without placing it in different containers.

  1. Eco-Friendly Packaging for the Environment

An option that many customers may prefer is delivering food packaged in containers that are environmentally friendly. Not all cities are equipped to recycle Styrofoam, and not all plastic containers are recyclable. The solution to these issues is a container made from material that is more likely to be recycled, such as cardboard. This kind of packaging can be designed to be leak-resistant, and it can even be made to go in the microwave safely.

  1. Customized Packaging for Additional Advertising

In a market that is always highly competitive, you can’t ever really advertise too much. Any opportunity to plant the name of your business in the minds of customers should be utilized. By customizing all of your to go containers to include your restaurant’s name, logo, and contact information, you will be advertising your business to every customer who orders from you. This can help to increase your percentage of repeat business. Customized packaging may also be seen by your customers’ houseguests and coworkers, which can further maximize your advertising efforts and budget.

The main purpose of to go containers and packaging is to securely transport and store food and beverage orders. However, the kinds of packaging and containers you select may serve many additional purposes. No matter what your purpose may be, make MrTakeOutBags.com your one stop shop for all your packaging needs. With same day shipping and the largest selection of innovative food service packaging options, finding the perfect to go container for your needs is easier than ever. Shop today for our guaranteed low prices and discover how we can help your business grow its bottom line.

Custom labels are an excellent way to brand your business. Even if you do not sell a product, you can add your custom label to marketing materials or branded items that you give away as freebies. There are many factors to take into consideration when creating a custom label, such as the ones detailed below.

Includes Your Logo

Ensuring that your custom label includes your logo is a must, but you must also consider a few other factors above and beyond your standard logo. For example, your logo may not look as good when shrunk down to the smaller size required for your logo. Even if it looks good, the writing or graphics may be too small to be effective. This means you may opt to have a slightly different logo on your custom labels, or that you only utilize a few of your logos main elements—such as writing your business name in the same font, or designing the label in the same colors.

Contact Information

Aside from adding your logo to your custom label, also consider the type of contact information that is the most essential. In many cases, your website address or phone number will do, but depending on your needs, you may prefer a sales representative’s direct information. Depending on the size and layout of your label, you may also choose to have social media information or QR codes for labels linked to promotional products.

Size And Scale

Another thing you must consider is that your labels may not be a one-size-fits-all solution. You may need a variety of sizes to ensure appropriate scale for your individual products or marketing materials the label is being added to. Depending on how varied your label sizes are, you may also need to tweak the layout and graphics of the label. For example, your full logo may fit nicely on your larger labels, but not on your smaller labels.

Ability To Personalize

If you will be using your labels on products that will potentially be given as gifts, are placed on special orders, or will be sent out for delivery—you may want to consider leaving enough room for your clients to personalize their label. This could be something as simple as creating a gift tag layout that allows for a simple “To” and “From.” Also consider offering your labels in different colors, or with different borders and graphics to celebrate everything from birthdays to holidays. Keep in mind that you can have a standard label that you use for most of your products, and personalized labels available upon request.

Stand Out

Another factor you must consider, is if your label will stand out or pop on your packaging. If you are going to take the time to invest in custom labels, then they must not blend in so well that they go unnoticed. For this reason, you may print your labels in a variety of colors, so that you can also have an adequate level of contrast.

Along with all of the factors above, you want to ensure that your custom label accurately represents the look, feel, and message you want your brand to deliver. Whether you’re looking for your labels to be functional, fashionable, or even a little bit of both, look no further than the custom label design services from MrTakeOutBags.com. Contact us today to have a custom packaging consultant get in touch with you and get started creating your brand’s own custom packaging solution!

From takeout containers to transport trays, catering companies have to invest in lots of equipment just to function on a daily basis. These essential supplies make it easier for workers to prepare and cook food, serve it, transport it and package it all up. Check out these five essential catering supplies any catering company should have.

  1. Takeout Containers

 

Also referred to as to go containers, these items are absolutely essential if your clients want to take home what they didn’t finish at their event. Typically made of Styrofoam, these takeout containers are important ways to prevent food waste because all the extras can be boxed up and saved for later. Even if your client doesn’t want the leftovers, you can box them up and drop them at a local soup kitchen. Disposable food containers can be thrown out later as needed after they have served their purpose as great storage options for anything from olives and pickles to sandwiches and meatballs. Disposable boxes are large enough to hold several containers safely for transport.

 

  1. Transport Trays and Platters

 

A big part of being a catering company is being able to transport large amounts of food and drink to your guests. This is where transport trays and platters come in handy. Deli trays with clear tops are essential for serving finger foods, as are circular foil platters perfect for cookies or sandwiches. These are easy to store because they nest inside one another and can be stacked easily.

 

  1. Specialty Dishes and Cookware

 

Not all catering companies are created equal. Some serve full meals at functions while others specialize in cakes and cupcakes. If you serve a variety of food at parties, you’ll need lots and lots of serving dishes, but if you only sell custom cupcakes, you’ll need a lot of cake and cupcake molds, advises the Houston Chronicle.

 

  1. Equipment

 

A lot of the equipment you need can be rented, at least at first when you’re just starting out. You can even rent dishes! You will require the use of refrigerators and freezers for keeping food cool, along with commercial-grade mixers, ovens, pans, glasses, utensils and even decorations. Even if you rent a lot of the equipment, it’s always a good idea to have your own solid set of knives and cake decorating supplies that you can call your own. After all, this is how you can hone your craft when off the clock.

 

  1. Miscellaneous

 

There are many essential supplies you will need as a caterer that you may not immediately think of. These are all the accessories that offer added convenience for your guests. These items include napkins (in a variety of colors and themes), linens for serving tables, picks and skewers for appetizers, plastic dinnerware, serving utensils, and pitchers and carafes. You’ll also have to think of any specialty items you may need to stock a salad bar, for instance, or a communal fondue pot.

These five catering supply categories are just the tip of the iceberg. You will find you’ll need a lot of extra equipment and accessories to make a successful catering company, but if you have the basics you’re off to a great start.

Whether you’re just getting your catering company off the ground or are just always on the lookout for ways to better your business, look no further than MrTakeOutBags.com. Your one stop shop for all your food service packaging and supply needs, MrTakeOutBags.com is the most preferred supplier of everything from to-go containers to wet wipes and towels. Check out their massive in-stock selection today to take advantage of some of the lowest prices around.

There’s no one that doesn’t love a fluffy, frosting-topped cupcake and just thinking about it is enough to make your mouth watering.  When selling cupcakes, however, there’s more than just the taste to think about and bakeries will, of course, also want to come up with some creative cupcake packaging to make their delicious cupcakes stand out from the crowd.  It’s not just about throwing them in a box they way donuts come, cupcakes can be displayed in so many creative ways, utilizing everything from ribbon ties to designer cups, reversible wrappers, and even specially designed housing.  Here’s just some ideas for creative cupcake packaging that will have them flying off the shelf.

Customized Box Shapes & Designs

Probably the most creative and intense packaging to be done with cupcakes is completely customized packaging.  There are a myriad of creative designs on the internet for box shapes.  Cupcakes can be put in boxes that look like little houses, flower shops, bird houses, tiny cars, retro ovens, and many more.  These designs are widely available online as digitally downloadable printables.  After purchase, all you need to do is print, fold, drop in a cupcake insert to keep everything in place, and add the perfectly baked cupcake.

Logo Printed Boxes

For bakeries that already have a logo, coming up with a custom box label can be creative way to house cupcakes.  Getting creative with printed boxes is easy.  A bakery might choose to get a generic printed box they use for every cupcake or go niche and create packaging for a variety of occasions or change box designs depending on the season or special promotions.

Plastic Cup Treat Bags

An easy way to make a cute, creative, and inexpensive cupcake housing is inserting the cupcake into a clear plastic cup, covering it in clear or translucent colored plastic wrapping, and closing off with a ribbon.  Plastic cups can also be decorated a number of ways, using paint, glitter, colored paper, or any number of other crafting materials.

Reversible Wrappers

Reversible wrappers can be a great creative way to package cupcakes because it’s a two for one deal.  There are two beautiful patterns to display those specially baked goods.

Clear Boxes

If you’ve made a particularly beautiful cupcake, why hide it in a bunch of packaging? A great way to display the cream of the crop is in clear boxes or containers.  There’s plenty of clear containers available online, many that come with cupcake inserts included.  With a simple, clear container it’s also possible to add some very small touches to the box like a ribbon or sticker.

Ribbons & Minimalist Touches

One of the simplest ways to spruce up cupcake packaging is to add simple touches.  Ribbons can make great additions simply because there are so many different types of ribbons to choose from already.  They can add a splash of color to a very simple white box or further enhance and designer box.  You can choose a single ribbon, multiple ribbons, add bow-ties, and many other options.  Stickers can also work great, as they are easy to place and already come in many different designs and themes.

Mini Cupcake Packaging

A creative way to house mini cupcakes is to place them in the egg slots of old egg cartons.  These slots make a perfect, snug fit for mini cupcakes and can be further decorated in any number of ways you wish.  There’s also plenty of specialized mini cupcake packaging as well as mini cupcake inserts available online.

For all your cupcake packaging, baked good containers and food service to-go box needs, turn to the experts at MrTakeOutBags.com. Home of the largest in-stock selection of food service packaging items on the web, MrTakeOutBags.com is guaranteed to be your one-stop shop for all your company needs. Check out their selection today and get on your way to better packaging.

(license) photo credit: Brooklyn Blackout Mini via photopin (license)

Few things have the ability to ruin a wonderful bite of food like the hot summer sun does. Whether you have a hot meal, a cold meal, or a dessert, the sun and the heat can quickly have a negative impact on many takeout containers.  The sun and extreme humidity can not only raise the temperature of the food inside a takeout container, but can also create condensation in the container, which will quickly turn the food held within into a giant soggy mess.  Needless to say, this is not the kind of product that a food service company wants its customers to ultimately end up with.

As such, if your food service company is located in an area that gets hot and humid, it is extremely imperative that you take the right precautions when it comes to your takeout food, so that it can stay fresh and perfect even in wildly hot and humid air conditions.  If you follow a few simple tips for proper to-go containers and takeout bags, you’ll be able to accomplish fresh food despite the weather conditions, and you’ll makes sure that your customers always have a pristine product to enjoy eating.

Paper Before Plastic 

If there’s one thing to avoid when the weather is hot and humid, it’s plastic bags.  First off, plastic bags are extremely thin, so they don’t offer any protection from the heat of the sun; they are essentially inviting the hot weather into the bag. Second, they have no absorption, so any condensation that occurs inside the back will end up on the outside of the to-go container, which makes it even more difficult for that container to retain a cool temperature.

A paper bag, on the other hand, is thick enough to keep from turning into a greenhouse for your food service company’s takeout meals.  Since paper absorbs moisture, it will wick away any excess condensation, and keep it from ending up on the to-go container and harming the inside product.

Always Use Paper To-Go Boxes for Hotter Foods 

If your takeout meal is a hot entree, you absolutely need to put it in a paper box, not a plastic one.  Because the hot meal will automatically give off moisture, you need a paper box to absorb the excess liquid in the container.  A plastic to-go box will simply collect the moisture on the roof of the box, and drip it back onto the food in the form of water, creating a painfully soggy meal in the process.

Place Baked Goods on Small Napkins 

Baked goods contain lots of oils because of the amount of butter and fat that resides in them.  As a result, when they get hot, the oils begin to melt and excrete. Placing a paper napkin at the base of your baked goods ensure that as the oils are released from the dessert, they’ll be sopped up by your container, and you won’t end up with a dessert with a soggy base.

Follow these basic tips, and you’ll have happy customers, no matter how hot it is outside. With over 80,000 satisfied customers from all across the nation, you can be certain that MrTakeOutBags.com is the top supplier for all your foodservice packaging needs. At MrTakeOutBags.com, we feature the largest in-stock selection of carryout bags, to-go boxes, bakery boxes and so much more to meet your every packaging need. Keep your customer’s happy all summer long with help from MrTakeOutBags.com.

Gable boxes are perfect for just about any occasion. They’re easy to carry, they can hold almost anything that doesn’t require waterproof packaging containers, and they have a great appearance in and of themselves. That doesn’t mean that an up-and-coming food service business cannot do more with a plain gable box. Food service containers have always provided a great opportunity for restaurants to increase brand awareness and stand out in the minds of customers, and gable boxes are no different. Here are just a few things your takeout restaurant can turn the simple gable box into a marketing goldmine.

Attractive Prints

There are plenty of companies that allow you to order gable boxes wholesale, and most offer some very attractive stock prints for their containers. Stock prints may not seem that exciting if you want to give your packaging containers a unique look, but some vibrant color and a fun pattern can go a long way in keeping your business in the forefront of consumers’ minds. They are certainly better than a plain cardboard gable box, and you might even be able to save on printing costs if you find a stock print that matches the color scheme of your restaurant.

Stamping Your Logo onto Your Boxes

As attractive as a print on a gable box can be, there is something to be said for taking a plain brown box and stamping your business’s logo onto it. You may not have the flashiest packaging containers around if you go with this method, but that can have some charm in itself. A stamp on a plain box can give a feeling of authenticity and deliver the message that your restaurant is an independent small business. That is very attractive to certain consumers, and it could help drive business more than you might think.

Customizing Gable Boxes for Special Occasions

Since gable boxes are so simple and so easy to decorate and customize, they’re perfect for special occasions. Many businesses use gable boxes to send gifts to clients with some ribbon and a “Thank You” gift tag, and they can order special Christmas-themed boxes for the holidays. These kinds of boxes are much more effective than using the same boxes throughout the year; it shows customers that you care about them and that your business likes to celebrate special occasions. It’s also a great way to have fun with your packaging containers and get creative in a way that customers and even your business rivals can appreciate.

Your food service packaging should be treated as an extension of your brand, working to impress your customers in both quality and appearance. Give your to-go containers and gable boxes some extra pizazz with help from the food service packaging experts at MrTakeOutBags.com. With a huge in-stock selection and customizable packaging solutions, MrTakeOutBags.com is your one-stop-shop if you are looking to give your to-go packaging an extra edge over the competition. Browse our selection today and leave your customers with packaging that they’ll never forget!

photo credit: Bread, glorious bread! via photopin (license)

If you are a bakery owner who specializes in cakes, cupcakes, and other pastries that are often ordered to go—presentation and bakery packaging are of great importance. Your packaging is essential to ensure that your baked goods and pastries arrive at their destination looking and tasting as stunning as they did in the display case, but also plays a vital role in branding your business. Below are a few things to take into consideration when selecting your custom cake boxes.

The Perfect Shape and Size

When it comes to adequately securing decorative cakes and cupcakes, you must ensure that your packaging is the perfect shape and size. For example, a round cake box is likely to be a better solution for round cakes than a square or rectangular box that leaves too much excess room. Since modern cupcakes are topped with a variety of edible and decorative embellishments, you must consider cupcake packaging that ensures that their specialty décor is still stunning when it arrives at its destination.

Easy To Identify Before the Box Is Even Opened

When you hear the words “little blue box”, or when you see the distinctly colored blue box—you instantly think of Tiffany’s. By investing in custom cake boxes, you can build the same reputation for your brand amongst your local consumers—by adding signature features on your packaging. This could be something as simple as a signature color, signature graphics, or signature method of decorating the box—such as tying satin ribbons to all boxes.

The Feeling and Vibe You Want To Deliver

Consider what you want your clients to think and feel when your bakery comes to mind, or when they think of your signature baked goods. While you want to ensure that your bakery storefront has the vibe you desire, since most of your sweet treats are packaged to enjoy when outside of your bakery—it is your custom cupcake packaging, and custom cake boxes that will deliver the vibe you desire.

The Perfect Gift

Sweet treats are a popular choice as a hostess gift, birthday gift, holiday gift, or as a thoughtful gift anytime someone wants to let someone know they are thinking of them. This means that if your packaging is only ho-hum, you may not be the bakery of choice for gifts—even if your baked goods are superior to your competitors.

Whether you are in need of round cake boxes, custom cupcake packaging or new and improved packaging—consider how custom packaging  solutions from MrTakeOutBags.com can help you to make a lasting impression. At MrTakeOutBags.com, we are proud to offer unique, innovative and premium quality food service packaging products that not only keep your baked goods and foods fresh, but help to add value to your brand and your product. Contact MrTakeOutBags.com today and discover how our food service packaging solutions can help build turn your business into a brand.