Five tips for canteen kitchens, company canteens, canteens & Co.

From light salads to classic curry sausages and fruity salads – the food on offer in canteens and canteens is large. And not only that! Whether you want to give your visitors a snack, attractively showcase your products, or focus on sustainability: depending on the application, there are a variety of packaging solutions to choose from. We will tell you which one it is.

Barren rooms, loveless food and mass processing: the times when this image prevailed in canteens are long gone. On the contrary, today, they represent modern catering facilities with diverse menus. As for meeting places in companies, associations, schools, or universities provide spaces for conversation, recreation, and recharging energy. However, the demand for community restaurants has also increased: the food provided must be fresh and healthy, made from regional or organic food, but also quickly at hand and suitable for every hunger – whether large or small. With which packaging can you make your work easier?

Please take away

Snacks are booming: hardly any development has changed eating habits in such a way recently. Different from the classic breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks that are often consumed “to go” – determine daily life. As a contact point for the catering of a school, university or company, it is therefore important to comply with this wish, especially since the competition from supermarkets, bakers, etc., does not sleep. This kind of mainly light meal is also very suitable for warmer months because many dinners are too full and they want to sit outside. Safe transportation and convenient consumption are of utmost importance here, which means that packaging plays an important role.

The classic par excellence is, of course, the coffee to take away. Filled into a hot drink cup and closed with a matching lid, it is “transportable”. It is also best to have carrying aids for the cups in stock so that a round of coffee for the office can be taken comfortably. The juice bar with smoothies and milkshakes is also a good opportunity to further sales.

Ideal for this is the Clear Cup system with different lids – whether flat or dome lids, which have a slot or a hole for the drinking straw. The application possibilities of these transparent glasses are particularly diverse. You can also provide fruit salad, vegetable salad, yogurt, cereal, or vegetable sticks with sauce, thanks to various inserts. Takeaway salads are also very popular and can be packed in cups, cardboard boxes, or various plastic bowls. Also, consider the “overall package”. Silverware and napkins are needed for dining out, and it is best to pack them in sets. 

Present tasty

For this type of snack, there is a variety of packaging to best display your offer on the counter. Pre-packaged, the preparation is easier for you to plan, as you can pack the food when it fits best into your processes. Also, you can save this time when shipping to your guests. With them, you can score quickly because you can handle and take the food you need at any time. For example, for hot dishes, a practical snack bowl can be used. For odourless, vapour-free cold cuts, the packaging can also make you drool.

Transparent packaging is ideal for the showcase. They provide a complete view of the content and make your food stand out. Your packaging is very flexible, from pasta or couscous salad in gourmet bowls to mixed salad in salad boxes and pudding in dessert bowls. 

For sandwiches, a sandwich pack or foldable paper bags with visible strips are available. Therefore, even if the snack has been packaged, it is still visible.

Your range of counters will also become attractive if you set up the food. No special shelves are needed just suitable packaging. For wrapping paper, for example, for pouring, special cups that are also leak-proof or tortilla wrappers with a viewing window are suitable. The bagels or donuts found their “upright” position in the matching box, which attracted people’s attention due to their shape. The snack bag can also be set up and, thanks to the paper cover, is also ideal for a crumb- and fat-finger-free enjoyment. Eye-catching packaging also attracts attention: for muffins or cupcakes, for example, there are coloured tulips, for small cakes, decorative baking pans that also serve as packaging. 

Sustainable solutions to protect the environment

Although canteens were once known for their abundant food, more and more operators rely on fresh and healthy food, which is generally made with local food. If you rely on eco-friendly materials, this approach can also be reflected in the packaging. For example, if it is a hot drink cup or a collapsible paper bag, pay attention to whether the paper is PEFC ™ or FSC® certified. In this case, the wood used for this comes from guaranteed sustainable forestry. Recycled materials are also suitable for, for example, folding napkins used in corresponding dispensers. A corresponding logo is also printed on them, so your guests can also recognize your commitment to the environment.

In the case of takeaway, bagasse packaging is particularly cheap. These fires from sugar cane, actually waste from the sugar production process, are used to make burger boxes, salad bowls, soup cups and menu boxes. Therefore, the packaging is complete, suitable for a variety of dishes, whether it is hot or cold dishes.

The best way to go with this is cutlery made of wood or CPLA, a plastic made from renewable raw materials and, as a ” carrying aid”, a lunch bag made of kraft paper.

All-round care

Not just eating habits, but the world of work is changing too. You need more and more flexibility instead of normal working hours. Meet your guests at this point. If you haven’t been able to eat a large meal at noon between multiple appointments, then you’ll be happy to warm it up for the evening. Take advantage of this demand and offer your menu as a takeaway service. This offer also attracts those who don’t have time to sit in the cafeteria and want to have lunch at the desk. According to a recent survey, 92% of companies allow this, and half of the employees also take advantage of this opportunity.

There are various types of takeaway packaging. For safe transportation, the packaging must be sealed with a lid. Sealed trays provide the highest level of protection and can be sealed and leak-proof with suitable equipment.

In this way, food stays fresh longer and preparation is more efficient! When choosing the right packaging, you should also consider whether you will cook the meal as a menu and whether you need to separate the bowl or box for separate decoration. If your guests can heat packages with food directly in the microwave, you can also earn points through them. In this case, sealed trays and products made from bagasse are the best choices.

Celebrate in a stylish ambience

Not only do you serve guests during the day, but you also organize celebrations, such as corporate events? It may also be advantageous to use high-quality disposable tableware instead of reusable tableware in such special events. Especially in a standing reception, porcelain or glass plates are heavy in your hands. On the other hand, using lightweight plastic tableware, guests can enjoy a relaxing evening. Particularly refined in this case is the so-called party plate: At one corner of the plate, there is a sturdy glass holder. This leaves one hand free to eat, drink or shake hands.

The disposable version can also be more cost-effective, for example, if your “crockery reportoire” doesn’t have a small finger food bowl or cocktail glasses, and you only need to use it once. In addition, plastic tableware can convince you that no one has been harmed under any circumstances, even at a late hour.

Read our blog on How to save time and money with packaging