How to Cut Café Packaging Costs: Bulk Buying Checks

Delivery is Australia-wide. Each check uses the carton price and price per item shown on every Packery product page, so you can compare like with like.

Key takeaways

• Compare price per item, not price per carton. Every product page shows both.
• Bulk stirrers in cartons of 10000 cost less per item than individually wrapped stirrers. Keep wrapped ones only where hygiene calls for them.
• Lunch fold napkins cost less per item than dinner fold napkins. Match the fold to the food.
• Pick the catering box that fits the platter, not the biggest one on the shelf.
• Delivery: a flat fee by postcode, free over a set order amount (see shipping).

Is my café carrying too many packaging lines?

Probably, if you stock several versions of the same item for similar jobs. Fewer lines means fewer part-used cartons, simpler reorders and less money tied up in slow stock.

Run this check on your last few invoices:

• List every packaging item you bought and what it is used for.
• Mark any two items that do the same job (for example, two napkin types used at the same counter).
• Keep the one that suits most of your orders and drop the other when the carton runs out.

Cups are a common place to start. Many cafés can run their menu on a small set of cup sizes, such as the 8oz Aqueous Coated Coffee Cups – Double Wall Art Print (Carton of 500) for smaller drinks and the 12oz Kraft Coffee Cups – Lined SW Print 90mm (Carton of 1000) for larger ones. The 8oz cup is aqueous-coated paper (see the product page for the current price). For more on choosing cup sizes, see our guide to coffee cups wholesale, or browse the full coffee cups range.

Should I buy bulk or individually wrapped stirrers?

Buy bulk stirrers wherever staff hand them out or they sit in a covered dispenser, and keep individually wrapped stirrers for open self-serve stations where each stirrer should stay covered until it is used. The bulk cartons have the lower price per item.

The numbers from the catalogue:

• 140mm Wooden Cutlery – Coffee Stirrer (Carton of 10000): $35.36 per carton, $0.004 each, 140x6x1.3mm wood.
• 190mm Wooden Cutlery – Coffee Stirrers (Carton of 10000): $40.73 per carton, $0.004 each, 190x6x1.3mm wood.
• Wooden Cutlery – Coffee Stirrer Individually Wrapped (Carton of 5000): $42.65 per carton, $0.009 each, 140x15x2mm wood.

Check your bill: if you buy only wrapped stirrers but most go out over the counter, split your stock between the two formats. Also check length: if the 140mm stirrer suits your cups, there is no need to buy the 190mm one for every drink.

Am I using dinner napkins where lunch napkins would do?

If you hand a dinner napkin with every coffee and pastry, you are likely paying for more napkin than the job needs. Keep dinner fold napkins for plated meals and catering, and use lunch fold napkins at the counter.

• Napkins – White 2 ply Quilted Dinner 1/8 GT Fold (Carton of 1000): 400x400mm white paper, $31.50 per carton, $0.03 each.
• Napkins – White Quilted Lunch GT Fold (Carton of 2000): 300x300mm white paper, $51.68 per carton, $0.03 each.
• Kraft Napkins – Quilted Lunch GT Fold (Carton of 2000): 300x300mm kraft paper, $50.77 per carton, $0.03 each.

Choose white or kraft to match your other packaging, then stick with one.

Which catering box size should I order?

Order the smallest box that holds the platter without crushing the food. An oversized box costs more per item and leaves food sliding around in transit.

The three corrugated catering boxes share an 85mm height and differ in footprint:

• Plate – Corrugated Catering Box Small (Carton of 100): 240x169x85mm corrugated, $58.09 per carton, $0.58 each.
• Takeaway Container – Corrugated Catering Box Medium (Carton of 100): 320x250x85mm corrugated, $78.59 per carton, $0.79 each.
• Takeaway Container – Corrugated Catering Box Large (Carton of 100): 400x250x85mm corrugated, $86.95 per carton, $0.87 each.

Measure the platter you usually send out and compare it with these sizes. If most orders fit the medium box, keep the large box for big platters only.

How do the per-item prices compare?

All prices below come from the product pages.

Which one should I buy?

• Busy espresso bar with counter service: the 140mm Wooden Cutlery – Coffee Stirrer (Carton of 10000) and the Napkins – White Quilted Lunch GT Fold (Carton of 2000).
• Café with an open milk-and-sugar station: add the Wooden Cutlery – Coffee Stirrer Individually Wrapped (Carton of 5000) for that station only.
• Café with a kraft look: the Kraft Napkins – Quilted Lunch GT Fold (Carton of 2000) alongside the 12oz Kraft Coffee Cups – Lined SW Print 90mm (Carton of 1000).
• Café with a sit-down lunch menu: the Napkins – White 2 ply Quilted Dinner 1/8 GT Fold (Carton of 1000) for plated meals.
• Café that sends out small catering orders: the Plate – Corrugated Catering Box Small (Carton of 100), stepping up to the Takeaway Container – Corrugated Catering Box Medium (Carton of 100) for larger platters.

For a wider list by venue type, see our eco friendly packaging supplies checklist.

How do I reach free delivery?

Group your packaging into fewer, larger orders. There is no minimum order, so you can still top up a single carton when you need to.

Orders arrive in 3–5 business days to capital cities and 4–6 business days regional, so plan reorders with that lead time in mind. Everything is sold by the carton, all orders are prepaid online. 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 ready, use quick order to add every carton 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