MrTakeOutBags.com Foodservice Jesse Harster Blog

A cup may seem like an insignificant little thing, but if you’re in the business of selling coffee (or any beverage for that matter) then you know just how important the cup can be. Having the wrong cup can be a problem. Having a bad cup can be an even bigger one. Getting a good cup is only the first step in ensuring a company’s success. For the most bang for your buck, branded drink cups is the best solution.

Branding

The most obvious reason to “go custom” is to boost brand recognition. You’ve worked so hard on creating a business that has a certain look to it, right? Making sure your coffee cups reflect that aesthetic is a no-brainer for any café and most bakeries. Whether you sell hot coffee, boba tea, milkshakes, or fresh juice – if there are cups going out the door, they really should have your logo on them. Imagine each beverage that leaves your shop as a marketing opportunity. Just imagine the number of potential customers that will cross paths with that cup.

Quality

In addition to giving your marketing efforts more reach, you can also expect branded cups to be top quality. For anyone who has had a customer complain about a leaky cup, you know this is so important. Help improve your overall customer experience by stocking hot cups that won’t leak and cold cups that won’t warp.

Low Minimums

But you knew all of this, didn’t you? You’re a savvy business owner, so you were already aware of the benefits of branding. And you must have figured that we would use the best quality cups for printing. But here’s something you may not have known: the minimum required to brand your own cups is only 5,000 units. Did you also know that it’s super simple to get started? Call our Packaging Advisors today and you could have your own branded cups in just a matter of weeks.

Our Packaging Advisors are ready to help! You can reach them at 888-321-2248 – Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6p.m. EST.

Summer is officially here, which means some of our favorite eateries are adding barbecue-inspired dishes to their menu. Others are opening up their patios for outdoor dining. And of course, summer is the season for food trucks and festivals. With summer in full swing, it’s important for all of these restaurants, food trucks, and cafes to have the right disposable, fast casual type of packaging for their meals. Make sure you’ve got everything on your list.

Paper soup cups for side dishes

Whether you’re dishing up sides that are hot or cold, sweet or savory, a paper soup cup makes an ideal container. Luckily, there is a container for each type of business. For those who want something eco-friendly, reach for the compostable soup containers. Places with a rustic or American grill feel may want to use cups made from kraft paper. Of course, there is always classic white, too.

Paper food trays for handhelds

Few things scream “summer festival” more than eating cheese fries out of paper food boat. There’s a reason you see so many vendors using these. They’re inexpensive but durable, easy to dispose of, and make it a breeze for customers to hold in their hand and eat from. Convenience is king when it comes to food trays.

Custom printed basket and tray liners

Even though those paper food trays are durable, a messy order of nachos will always benefit from a sheet of waxed food tissue paper. Additionally, barbecue joints that are serving racks of ribs on metal food trays (with all the fixings on the side, of course) are using food tissue. For some restaurants it’s a necessity. It also happens to be one of the easiest, most affordable items to brand. Then every Instagram-worthy snapshot your customers take will automatically have your logo front and center.

When you’re ready to get serious about branding your takeout and food packaging, give us a call! Our Packaging Advisors are happy to go over all the details of your project with you to see how we can best assist.

Give us a call today at 888-321-2248.

What stops so many businesses from going green? Quite simply, it can be overwhelming. We’ve spoken with so many restaurant and café owners who say that making the switch to eco-friendly packaging can be a daunting task, and they often times don’t know where to start. They have this notion that if one piece of their takeout packaging is earth-friendly, then all pieces need to be. But that’s not the case. Making just one or two simple swaps will make a big difference on your carbon footprint, and your customers will notice.

Swap Plastic clamshells for Bio-Plus takeout boxes

Clear, plastic takeout boxes are one way to go. But if you’re looking to go green, opt for something that isn’t plastic, like the Bio-Plus EARTH carry out boxes, made of 100% recycled paperboard. Or try the Bio-Plus TERRA version, which is fully compostable. And if you want to have something eco-friendly while still being able to show off prepared meals, use the Bio-Pak VIEW takeout boxes. The top window provides a good look at what you have to offer.

Swap Styrofoam for compostable or double wall coffee cups

There are few things we hate more than Styrofoam. That’s why we don’t stock it and instead offer things like Planet Plus coffee cups.  They are 100% biodegradable and compostable and can be used for how or cold drinks. Another option is custom printed double wall hot cups. Because their insulation means there’s no need for a sleeve, your carbon footprint is reduced. Plus there is the added bonus of having your coffee cups printed with your logo.

From plastic bags to recycled paper ones

Perhaps this is one of the most noticeable changes a business can make. Customers often take note of what type of bag their delivery is made in, or what’s used to carry their leftovers out of a restaurant. Show off your commitment to being green with recycled natural kraft paper bags. Of course, if you want to stick with plastic, there are options. You can feel good about making the switch to biodegradable plastic takeout bags.

Remember that no matter what changes you make, big or small, they are all a step in the right direction. And if you need some guidance, or if you’re ready to put your company logo on one of those earth-friendly items, give our experts a call!

There’s a famous scene from the 1967 movie, The Graduate in which the young lead, Benjamin played by Dustin Hoffman is enlightened by his father’s friend, Mr. McGuire:

“I just want to say one word to you. Just one word.”

“Are you listening?”

“Plastics.”

“There’s a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?”

Plastics have been in the news quite a bit lately.

In the food packaging business, we think about plastics quite a bit. And the word plastic (sometimes called “poly”) can mean a lot of different things. It can be referenced with a lot of different names and haunted by a whole list of acronyms.

So let’s take a look at some of the most common plastic / poly acronyms and some of the products that are made out of those compounds.

High-Density PolyEthylene

High-Density PolyEthylene (HDPE) has a high strength-to-density ratio, HDPE is commonly recycled, and the products produced from HDPE are often reusable. It is also harder and more opaque and can withstand somewhat higher temperatures than LDPE, Low-Density PolyEthylene.

Some products that are made from HDPE include:

FBACOCT080614

White HDPE Poly CarryOut Bags with Die Cut Handle – 8.25 x 6 x 14″ #1A

FBACOCT120916

White HDPE Poly CarryOut Bags with Die Cut Handle – 12 x 9 x 16″ #1

FBACOCT141014

White HDPE Poly CarryOut Bags with Die Cut Handle – 14 x 10 x 14″ #2

FBACOCT191012

HDPE Side-by-Side Plastic Shopping Bags with Rigid Handle – 19 x 10 x 12″ #5

FBACOCT141015

HDPE Heavy Cake Plastic Shopping Bags with Rigid Handle – 14 x 10 x 14.75″ #3

FBACOCT181718

HDPE Round Tray Plastic Shopping Bags with Rigid Handle – 18 x 17 x 18″ #4

LDPE

LDPE is an acronym for Low-Density PolyEthylene. This type of plastic is weaker and has less tensile strength than HDPE. BUT — its resilience is higher, and its density is lower – so it can actually “stretch” and “flex” better than HDPE without cracking. LDPE is also more transparent than HDPE.

LLDPE

LLDPE is an acronym for Linear Low Density PolyEthylene. It is the most flexible of the plastic sheeting films. LLDPE is blended form of LDPE where the film has much more flexibility, is more pliable, and softer than HDPE. LLDPE is used for films that need a tremendous amount of strength to absorb impacts while not tearing or puncturing. In the event that a tear or puncture should occur, LLDPE is far less likely for the hole to run than tears or punctures in other polys. LLDPE bags provide extra strength and impact resistance that allows a lighter gauge bag to do the same job as a heavier gauge HDPE bag.

PETe

Polyethylene terephthalate is commonly abbreviated PET, PETE. It is the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family. PET is the number one recyclable plastic. It’s safe, non-toxic, strong and lightweight. PET is used to produce food trays that can be used for frozen dinners, since they withstand both freezing and (in some cases) moderate oven baking temperatures.

Some of the products that are made from PET include:

XFSDT-16CT

16 oz. Dart Conex Classic Clear Plastic Cups

XFSFN15024M-BLACK

Black Square Plastic Bowl – 24 oz.

XFSFN15024M-CLEAR

Clear Square Plastic Bowl – 24 oz.

XFSFN15032M-GREEN

Green Square Plastic Bowl – 32 oz.

XFSWNAPB48CL

48 oz. WNA Caterline Pack n’ Serve PET Bowls

XFSBEKHCP603

6 X 6 X 3-3/8 in. Clear Hinged PET Plastic Clamshell Container

PP

Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications. It’s also sometimes referred to as “cello”

Products made from Polypropylene include:

BBC175X4CAFESPOON

Coffee Spoon, Clear Poly Food Bags – 1-3/4 x 4″

FBAPPFL0304

Bite Size, Clear Poly Food Bags – 3 x 4″

BBC4X11LGPRETZEL

Large Pretzel Rod Clear Poly Food Bags – 4 X 11″

BBC4HVYSQUAREOPP

4 Lb., Heavy Duty Gusseted Clear Polypropylene Food Bags – 5-1/2 X 2-1/4 X 13″

BBC6HVYSQUAREOPP

6 Lb., Heavy Duty Gusseted Clear Polypropylene Food Bags – 5 X 3.25 X 14″

PLA

Poly(lactic acid) or polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA) is a biodegradable and bioactive thermoplastic aliphatic polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch (in the United States and Canada), cassava roots, chips or starch (mostly in Asia), or sugarcane (in the rest of the world).

Some of our products that are manufactured using PLA include:

PLA-9

9 oz Compostable PLA Clear Cold Cups

PLA-DL

Compostable PLA DOME LIDS with Hole Slot for 9 to 24 oz PLA Cold Drink Cups

PLA-S8W-C

Compostable PLA 8″ Jumbo STRAW – Individually Wrapped

PLA-DR16

16 oz. Round Compostable PLA Deli Containers

In most cases, you won’t need to know what all of the types of plastics and polys are. The Packaging Experts at MrTakeOutBags.com are always here to guide you toward the product that will best suit your needs. But, at least now, you’ll know what all of those acronyms stand for.

Have a question about plastic food packaging products? Let our Packaging Advisors guide you through the process of selecting the right solution for you. Give them a call at 888-321-2248 Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.