Food Packaging Wholesale: Working Out Cost Per Serve

To work out your food packaging cost per serve from wholesale prices, divide each carton price by its carton quantity to get a per-item price, then add up every piece that goes out with one order: container, lid or cup, napkin, cutlery pouch and bag. That single per-serve figure is the number to build into your menu prices, and Packery shows both the carton price and the price per item on every product page, so most of the division is already done.

Key takeaways

• Per-item price = carton price ÷ carton quantity. Packery lists both on each product page.
• Cost per serve = the per-item prices of every piece that leaves with one order, added together.
• Count the small items too: napkins, stirrers, greaseproof sheets and bags all go out with the order.
• Use the live prices on the product pages when you do your sums, and redo them whenever you change a menu item or a packaging line.
• Delivery: a flat fee by postcode, free over a set order amount (see shipping). No minimum order.

How do I work out the price per item from a wholesale carton?

Divide the carton price by the number of pieces in the carton. For example, the Corrugated Takeaway Container – Brown Snack Box Large Plain (Carton of 200) is $40.66 per carton for 200 pieces, which the product page shows as $0.20 each.

Packery sells by the carton, and each product page shows the carton price and price per item. The one thing to watch is rounding: very cheap items such as the 140mm Wooden Cutlery – Coffee Stirrer (Carton of 10000) work out at $0.004 each, so keep the extra decimal place when you add items together.

What goes into the cost per serve?

Everything that physically leaves the counter with one order. A typical takeaway order includes a container (and a lid if it has a separate one), a napkin, a cutlery pouch if the dish needs cutlery, and a bag. Drinks add a cup and often a stirrer. Burgers and wraps may add a greaseproof sheet.

A simple way to build the list:

1. Primary pack – the container, bowl, clamshell or cup the food sits in.

2. Closure – a lid, if the container doesn't have a hinged one.

3. Wrap or liner – greaseproof paper under or around the food.

4. Table items – napkin, cutlery pouch, stirrer.

5. Carry – the bag the order goes home in.

Write down the per-item price for each line from the product page, then add them up. That total is your packaging cost per serve for that menu item. Do one list per menu item, because a burger order and a noodle order use different pieces.

What does a worked example look like using Packery's prices?

Here is the structure for a burger-and-chips takeaway order, using per-item prices from the catalogue at the time of writing, with alternative containers and a coffee cup listed underneath. Add the figures in the right-hand column to get your own per-serve number.

Swap rows in or out to match what you actually hand over. If the cutlery pouch already includes a napkin, you may not need a separate one, so leave that line out. If the clamshell replaces the snack box, use its per-item price instead. Because prices can change, check each product page before you finalise the menu.

Do the small items really matter?

Yes, because they go out with every order, not just some. A napkin at $0.05 each or a flat bag at $0.02 each looks trivial on its own, but it is part of the per-serve cost every time the order is made, so it belongs in the sum.

Listing each piece also helps you set a standard pack for each menu item. Lower-cost swaps sit in the same catalogue: the Kraft Napkins – Quilted Lunch GT Fold (Carton of 2000) are $0.03 each against $0.05 each for the white dinner napkin, so you can decide whether a lunch-size napkin suits the dish.

Which one should I buy?

Match the pack to the venue and the dish, then cost it with the method above.

• Burger and chip shops: the Corrugated Takeaway Container – Brown Snack Box Large Plain (Carton of 200) with Greaseproof Paper – Yellow Gingham (Carton of 200) as a liner. For larger wraps or sharing portions, the Greaseproof Paper – Yellow Gingham Large (Carton of 200) is 400x330mm.
• Hot meals and lunch packs: the 9x6x3 Sugarcane Takeaway Container – Unbleached Clamshell (Carton of 200) is a clamshell in sugarcane. For bigger portions, the PLA Takeaway Container – Coated Lunch Box Extra Large (Carton of 200) is 197x140x90mm.
• Noodle bars and Asian takeaway: the 8oz PLA Takeaway Container – Coated Noodle Box (Carton of 1000), paired with the Kraft Cutlery – White Pouch With Napkin (Carton of 1000) so cutlery and napkin are one line.
• Cafés: the 8oz Aqueous Coated Coffee Cups – Double Wall Art Print (Carton of 500) or the 12oz Kraft Coffee Cups – Lined SW Print 90mm (Carton of 1000), plus the 140mm Wooden Cutlery – Coffee Stirrer (Carton of 10000). Add a lid as its own line.
• Sides and sauces: the 2oz Sugarcane Serving Container – Cup Unbleached (Carton of 2000) at $0.04 each, or the 4oz PLA Takeaway Container – Coated Bowl (Carton of 1000) at $0.09 each for small sides.
• Bags: the Kraft Bag – 2WB Flat (Carton of 500) for single items, or the Kraft Bag – Brown Twisted Handle Takeaway Medium (Carton of 250) for multi-item orders.

To see every container in one place, browse the takeaway containers range. If you are buying containers in volume for the first time, the guide to takeaway containers in bulk covers carton planning, and small takeaway containers covers sides and portion pots.

Should I add delivery to the cost per serve?

Delivery is charged per order, not per item, so treat it separately from the packaging list. Delivery is Australia-wide.

Custom printing with your logo is available on selected products. See custom print for which lines can be printed.

Ordering

There is no minimum order, so you can buy one carton of each piece, cost your menu, and reorder what works. All orders are prepaid online. Delivery takes 3–5 business days to capital cities and 4–6 business days regional. Damaged or faulty items are replaced or refunded free; unopened stock cartons can be returned within 7 days of delivery (10% restocking fee, return delivery at your cost). When you have your list, use quick order to add every piece in one go.

Setting up or restocking your packaging?

Send us your list for a trade quote, or price it yourself in the cost calculator.

No minimum order · free delivery over $750 (metro) / $1000 (regional) · damaged items replaced free · Delivery details