Custom Nacho Trays

Board and Coatings

Nacho trays are made from food board with a grease-resistant coating, which stops cheese sauce and oil from soaking through. Thicker board keeps the tray rigid, which matters when the dip pocket is full of hot sauce. Food-contact grade board is available on request; tell us the food you serve so we can specify the right board and coating.

White board shows bright colours well; kraft board gives a natural look that suits street food stalls and Mexican-style restaurants.

The dip pocket takes the most heat and moisture, so its coating matters most. We make sure the pocket is formed from a single piece of board where possible, which helps stop leaks at the seams. The board and coating options page explains the grease-resistant layer in more detail.

Designing for Venues

Cinemas often want trays that match their snack branding, with the cinema logo and perhaps a film promotion. Stadiums print club colours and crests, and sometimes sponsor logos. Street food traders print their stall name and social media handle. Bars use trays printed with their name for food served with drinks.

Print the logo on the outer walls where it stays visible, as the inside will be covered by chips and sauce.

Film promotions on cinema trays work well because customers sit with the tray for a long time. A short message about upcoming releases or a loyalty scheme gets plenty of attention.

Stadiums sometimes use limited runs for derby matches or cup games, with the opponent and match on the tray as a keepsake.

Bowling alleys and leisure centres often prefer bright, fun designs that match their party packages, and trays can carry party booking details on the side.

Mexican-style restaurants offering takeaway can use trays with their own illustration or pattern, making takeaway orders as recognisable as dine-in plates. Upload the crest or logo through the free proof request and we will place it on the end wall.

Serving and Speed

At a busy cinema counter or a stadium kiosk at half-time, every second counts. Nacho trays should be quick to grab, fill and hand over. Trays that stack neatly and separate easily save time, and a pre-formed tray means staff only need to add chips and sauce.

Make sure the dip pocket holds the portion of sauce you serve; a pocket that is too small leads to overflow and messy hands.

Store trays in their packing cartons until needed, as loose trays can bend or collect dust behind a busy counter.

Some venues also fill trays in advance for peak times, such as the minutes before a film starts. In that case, trays that stack when filled, with a lid or a second tray placed on top, keep things moving.

Clear signs showing regular and large portions, matching the tray print, help customers choose faster at the counter. Bags and cup carriers for the same counter sit under food and takeaway packaging.

Sizing Your Nacho Trays

Nacho portions vary from small snack servings to large sharing trays. Measure your typical portion of chips and the volume of sauce you serve. If trays need to fit cup holders or counter holders, measure those too. We will suggest tray dimensions based on your portion sizes.

Many venues use two sizes, regular and large, with matching print.

If you sell nachos alongside other snacks, a matching paper food tray for fries or hot dogs keeps the counter looking consistent and simplifies ordering.

Allow a little extra depth if customers often add jalapeños or salsa on top, as a heaped portion needs more wall height to stay in the tray.

Test a few unprinted trays with your real portions before ordering a large run, ideally during a busy shift, to see how quickly staff can fill them.

Measure the Sauce Ladle, Not Just the Chips

Nacho trays are sized from two portions, and the one people forget is the sauce. Fill your ladle or pump with the cheese portion you actually serve and tell us the volume, because a dip pocket that holds 50 ml when you serve 70 ml overflows into the chips on the first order. Weigh a regular and a large portion of chips, and if trays must sit in cinema seat cup holders or counter holders, measure those openings too. Test a few plain trays during a busy shift before the printed run.

Send the tray shape, portion sizes, kraft or white board, artwork and a rough quantity, and a custom quote comes back by email within one working day, with trays from £0.25 and the minimum set per order. The free proof shows the tray flat so you can see where the logo lands once the walls fold up. Production takes 4–7 working days after approval and tracked delivery to UK mainland addresses is free, taking 2–3 working days. Crushed or misprinted trays reported within 10 days are reprinted or refunded. Venues that need a lid for pre-filled orders usually move to nacho boxes with a hinged lid for those runs.