Two quotes for food containers at the same price are almost never worth the same. The gap does not show on the price line: it shows in food contact, heat resistance, actual pack size and availability. Four points you can check in ten minutes, and that save you from discovering the problem on a Friday night.
The four checks, in order
The order is not arbitrary: each point makes the next one pointless if it is not satisfied.
| Check | What to look at | What it avoids |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Food contact | The glass-and-fork symbol or the written statement, on the product or its data sheet | A container not intended for food — grounds for non-compliance at an inspection |
| 2. Heat resistance | Oven, microwave, or neither. Aluminium goes in the oven and never the microwave; PET warps | A customer who reheats and finds a melted container or arcing |
| 3. Actual pack size | The number of pieces per box, not the price of the box | Comparing a box of 200 with a box of 1,000 and thinking you found it cheaper |
| 4. Availability | Permanent stock or made to order, and the lead time quoted | A shortage on the one reference your whole menu uses |
Point 3 is the one that misleads most often. A container at €40 a box is not dearer than one at €25: you have to know what is inside. The only comparable figure is the cost per piece.
Bring everything back to cost per piece
Example on four real containers, catalogue prices as of 14 October 2026. Box prices run from €39 to €131 — and the order reverses completely per piece.
| Container | Box price | Pieces | Cost per piece |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST-D05 — aluminium tray 825 ml | €131.90 | 1000 | €0.132 |
| FLA-A29 — meal box, 2 compartments | €39.42 | 200 | €0.197 |
| FRI-C28 — clear PP tray | €40.56 | 1000 | €0.041 |
| FRI-C41 — Octaview + clear lid | €63.58 | 200 | €0.318 |
The aluminium tray is the dearest box on the list and the cheapest container per piece — because it holds a thousand. Anyone comparing box prices reaches exactly the opposite conclusion to reality.
The questions to ask before signing
Four short questions, which reveal more than a catalogue:
- « Does this container go in the oven or the microwave? » A supplier who hesitates does not know their product.
- « What is the minimum order? » Some distributors impose one, others do not. That changes everything when you are trialling a reference.
- « Is the reference in permanent stock? » A shortage on a menu's main container is not an incident, it is a stop in service.
- « From what amount is delivery free? » Free carriage shifts the real unit cost more than any discount.
Our terms are set out in the article on ordering wholesale, and the comparison of buying channels in restaurant packaging wholesaler. For the choice of material itself, see tray or caterer's container — aluminium, PP or card.
🍴 Food contact first
Glass-and-fork symbol or written statement. Without it the other three checks are pointless — the container is simply out of scope.
🔢 Compare per piece, never per box
A €131 box can hold the cheapest container on the list. Anyone comparing boxes reaches the opposite conclusion to reality.
📦 Permanent stock is not a detail
A shortage on a menu's main container is not a delivery incident, it is a stop in service.
Aluminium tray 825 ml (ST-D05)
The perfect example of the box-price trap: dearest on the list to buy, cheapest per piece. And the only common container that goes in a conventional oven.
- Box of 1000 pieces — €131.90
- €0.132 per piece
- Oven yes, microwave never
- Permanent stock
Octaview box 19 cm with clear lid (FRI-C41)
The container that shows itself: the customer sees the dish without opening it. PET lid, so neither oven nor heat lamp — worth knowing before offering it for a dish to reheat.
- Box of 200 pieces — €63.58
- €0.318 per piece
- 23 cm format available
- Clear lid: neither oven nor heat lamp
Frequently asked questions
How do you check a container is fit for food contact ?
The glass-and-fork symbol, or the words « for food contact », must appear on the product, its packaging or its documentation. That is the first check to make: without it the other criteria are pointless, and it is grounds for non-compliance at an inspection.
Why compare cost per piece rather than box price ?
Because pack sizes range from 200 to 1,000 pieces depending on the reference. An aluminium tray at €131.90 a box works out at €0.132 per piece, while a box at €63.58 comes to €0.318: the dearest box holds the cheapest container. Comparing boxes leads to exactly the opposite conclusion.
Which containers go in the oven and the microwave ?
Aluminium goes in a conventional oven and never in the microwave — the metal reflects microwaves and can cause arcing. PET, used for clear lids, warps under heat and goes in neither. XPS insulates but does not take the oven either.
Is there a minimum order with a container supplier ?
It depends on the supplier. Some traditional distributors impose one, others do not. It is a question to ask before trialling a new reference: a high minimum forces you to commit to a product you have not yet tested.
What changes the real cost of an order most ?
Free carriage, far more than discounts. Delivery charged on a small order can amount to several cents per piece, which no catalogue discount offsets. Grouping to reach the free threshold is almost always more profitable than negotiating the unit price.
Compare on the right criteria
Food containers in permanent stock, professional pack sizes, delivery to BE, LU, FR, NL and DE.
See the aluminium traysSee the Octaview boxes