Produce Bag Cost Per Sale: Working Out Packaging Costs

To work out what a produce bag costs per sale, divide the carton price by the carton quantity to get the cost per bag, then multiply that by the number of bags, trays or pine boats a typical customer leaves with. Every Packery product page already shows the carton price and the price per item, so the first half of the sum is done for you.

Key takeaways

• Cost per item = carton price ÷ carton quantity. Packery lists both on each product page.
• Cost per sale = cost per item × the number of items a typical customer uses.
• Add up every packaging line in the sale (bag, tray, pine boat, carry bag), not just the produce bag.
• Run the method on your own counter numbers: your average items per customer will differ from the next shop's.
• Delivery is a separate line. Spread it across the cartons in the order before you add it to the per-item cost.

How do I work out the cost per produce bag?

Take the carton price and divide it by the number of bags in the carton. The Compostable Produce – Gusseted Bag (Carton of 2000) is $120.59 per carton for 2000 bags, which the product page shows as $0.06 each.

The same sum works for any line in the range. Packery sells by the carton, and each product page shows both the carton price and the price per item, so you can check your own maths against the listed figure. When comparing two products, compare the price per item, not the carton price, because carton quantities differ across the range.

How do I turn cost per item into cost per sale?

Multiply the cost per item by the number of items a typical customer uses in one transaction. A grocer's customer may take several produce bags, while a deli customer may take a tray and a carry bag.

Here is the method to run on your own numbers:

1. List every packaging item in a typical sale. Count produce bags, flat bags, SOS bags, trays, pine boats and carry bags separately.

2. Find the price per item for each. Use the figure on the product page, or divide carton price by carton quantity.

3. Multiply each price per item by how many of that item the customer uses.

4. Add the lines together. That total is your packaging cost per sale.

5. Check it against your average sale value. This tells you what share of each sale goes on packaging.

To find your own average items per customer, count bags and trays used across a normal trading day and divide by the number of transactions on your register. Repeat on a busy day and a quiet day.

What does each produce packaging option cost per item?

The table below lists produce bags, paper bags, trays and pine boats with their carton quantity, carton price and price per item. Use the "Price per item" column as the starting figure for step 2 above.

Should I count trays and pine boats in the same sum as bags?

Yes. If the customer leaves with it, it belongs in the cost per sale. A tray of berries that goes into a carry bag costs you the tray plus the bag, so both lines go into the total.

Trays and pine boats are usually tied to a specific product rather than to the customer, so it can be simpler to cost them per product line. Bags used per customer, such as a carry bag at the register, are easier to cost per transaction. Either approach works as long as nothing is counted twice or left out.

Where does delivery fit into the cost per item?

Delivery is charged per order, not per item, so spread it across the order. Delivery is Australia-wide.

Which one should I buy?

Start with the job each item has to do, then use the cost-per-sale method to compare the options that fit.

• Grocers and market stalls bagging loose fruit and vegetables: the Compostable Produce – Gusseted Bag (Carton of 2000) is a clear 250x100x450mm bag made from PBAT + PLA.
• Small loose items, such as mushrooms, nuts or a few pieces of fruit: the Kraft Bag – 2WB Flat (Carton of 500) is 200x200mm and the Kraft Bag – 2F Flat (Carton of 500) is 240x165mm. Both are brown paper and both can be custom printed.
• Larger mixed purchases at the counter: the No.16 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 250) is a 240x120x390mm virgin paper bag.
• Punnet-style displays of berries or cherry tomatoes: the Produce – Tray 14S 153x153x24mm (Carton of 500) is a square sugarcane tray, and the Produce – Tray 2S 200x140x15mm (Carton of 500) is a shallower rectangular option.
• Tastings, samples and small serves at markets: the Pine Boats – Extra Small 90x60mm Serving Tray (Carton of 2000) is a 90x60mm wooden boat.

You can see the full range of trays, bags and boats on the fresh produce packaging page. For packaging matched to specific produce types, read fresh produce packaging and labelling by produce type, and for material choices across delis and grocers, see eco friendly food packaging for delis, grocers and markets.

Ordering

There is no minimum order, so you can buy a single carton to test a bag or tray before committing to more. Delivery is a flat fee set by your postcode, and free once an order passes a set amount; checkout shows the exact cost, and today's rates are on the shipping page. Delivery takes 3–5 business days to capital cities and 4–6 business days regional. 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). If you already know what you need, use quick order to add cartons by product.

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