Paper Food Trays

Board and Coatings for Hot and Greasy Food

Chips, fried chicken and toppings carry oil and moisture, which can soak plain board in minutes. Trays are therefore made from board with a grease-resistant coating on the food side, which keeps the tray firm and stops oil showing through the printed outside. Food-contact grade board is available on request; tell us the food you serve so we can match the board and coating.

Thicker board holds its shape better when loaded with heavier dishes like pulled pork fries. Lighter board is fine for snacks and small portions. White board gives bright print; kraft board gives a natural look that suits burger and barbecue traders.

For dishes with lots of sauce, such as curry and chips or loaded nachos, ask about a deeper tray with folded corners that hold liquid better than glued seams. Heavier loaded portions sometimes call for double wall trays with stiffer sides.

Designing a Tray That Shows Up in Photos

Keep the design bold and simple. A logo on each side wall and a pattern on the base works well, because the base is often covered with food. Many traders print their social media name on one side so customers can tag them. Bright colours and strong contrasts read clearly against food; very fine detail is lost once the tray is full.

If you sell at several events, avoid printing dates or locations on the tray, so one design works all season long. A simple line like your website or a short slogan keeps the tray useful for longer.

Kraft trays printed in black or one bold colour often look more appetising in photos than heavily printed white trays, because the food shows up against the plain board.

Ask for your logo to be printed facing outwards on the long side, so it faces the camera when a customer holds the tray up. Upload the logo through the free proof request and we will place it on the long wall.

Trays for Different Kinds of Venue

Festival traders need trays that are quick to fill and sturdy enough for food eaten standing in a crowd. A thicker board and a deeper tray help here, especially for heavy dishes with toppings. School fairs and village fetes often want smaller, cheaper trays for snacks and hot dogs, where speed and price matter most.

Cinemas and sports clubs often serve the same few items again and again, so a single tray size printed with the venue branding keeps things simple. Takeaways that offer dine-in seating can use printed trays on tables to make simple food feel more like a meal.

Caterers at weddings and corporate events sometimes use trays for late evening snacks, such as fish and chips or bacon rolls, and like a printed tray that matches the event style. A simple design in the event colours turns a casual snack into part of the evening. Bags and napkins for the same counter sit under food and takeaway packaging.

Sizing by Portion

Think about your actual portions rather than tray measurements. A regular chip portion fits a medium boat tray; a hot dog needs a tray slightly longer than the bun; a loaded fries portion needs a deeper tray so toppings and sauce stay in. If you can, test a few unprinted sample trays with your real portions before ordering.

Check the trays fit any holders or carriers you use at the stall, and that they stack neatly for storage in your van.

Weigh up the size of sauces too. A tray with space for a small sauce pot or a sauce corner saves extra containers and keeps dips with the food. Our guide to sizing packaging by portion works through the sample method.

Fill Three Sample Trays During a Real Service

Tray sizes are decided by portions, not by a chart, so ask for plain samples in two or three sizes and fill them with real portions during a busy service. You will see straight away if the chip scoop overflows the medium boat, if the hot dog tray clears the bun, and if loaded fries need the deeper tray with folded corners. Say which dishes are saucy, because those get the heavier coating.

Keep dates off the print so one design lasts the season. Send the shapes, sizes, the food you serve, the quantity and artwork, and a custom quote comes back by email within one working day, with trays from £0.25 and low minimums quoted per job. The free proof shows the print on the folded tray. Production takes 4–7 working days after approval and tracked delivery to UK mainland addresses is free, taking 2–3 working days. Misprinted or damaged trays reported within 10 days are reprinted or refunded. Traders who sell chips alone often pair the tray with printed fries boxes for takeaway orders.