The right take-out container keeps food hot or cold, stops leaks and presents your menu well. The wrong one costs you in complaints, spoiled orders and repeat purchases. This guide walks Canadian restaurants, caterers and food trucks through how to match a container to the food you actually sell.
1. Start with the food, not the container
Write down your top ten take-out items and note three things for each: is it hot or cold, is it wet or dry, and does it need to be reheated by the customer? The answers narrow your choices quickly.
- Hot, saucy or soupy food needs a leak-resistant container with a tight-fitting lid, such as a soup cup or a deep bowl with a secure lid.
- Fried or crisp food needs ventilation so steam does not turn it soggy. Look for vented lids or paper-based containers that breathe.
- Cold salads and desserts do well in clear containers that show the food and keep condensation out.
- Food your customer will reheat should be in a container rated as microwave safe by the manufacturer. Check the product page rather than assuming.
2. Compare the common materials
- Paper and paperboard: A popular choice for burgers, sandwiches, fries and dry foods. Paper-based take-out boxes and cups are widely accepted by customers and, depending on coating and your local program, may be easier to recycle or compost.
- Plastic (such as polypropylene and clear PET): Strong, leak resistant and often microwave safe in the case of polypropylene. Clear options let customers see the food.
- Compostable and plant-based fibre: Made from materials such as sugarcane fibre or other plant fibre. These suit businesses that want a lower-plastic option, but whether they can actually be composted depends on your local composting facility, so check what your municipality accepts.
- Aluminum: Good for oven reheating and catering trays. Not suitable for microwaves.
3. Check the rules before you reorder
Canada's single-use plastics rules changed what many restaurants can use for take-out. Foam containers are one of the items affected. If you are not sure whether your current containers are still allowed, read our guide to Canada's foam takeout ban before placing a large order.
4. Pick the right size
Oversized containers waste money and make portions look small. Undersized ones cause spills. Test your best-selling dishes in two or three candidate sizes before ordering by the case. Use the pack size in the product title, for example the number of containers per case, to compare the cost per container rather than the cost per case.
5. Think about the full order
Take-out is more than a box. Plan for lids, bags, cutlery, napkins, sauce cups and labels so each order goes out complete. See our paperware, disposable dinnerware and food packaging supplies.
6. Buy by the case and keep a small test stock
Wholesale case pricing lowers the per-container cost, but order one case first when you try a new style. Once you are happy with how it holds your food, reorder in larger quantities.
Shop take-out containers
Browse our full range of wholesale take-out containers and eco-friendly disposables, or see the wholesale ordering FAQ. Need help finding the right item for your menu? Contact us and tell us what you serve.