Catering Disposables
Plates, bowls, cups and cutlery for buffets, canteens and working lunches, all plastic-free. A hot buffet costs about 26p per cover in disposables, a canteen lunch about 20p.
- 26phot buffet per cover
- 20pcanteen lunch per cover
- Freenext-day UK delivery
Disposables that look right on the pass and the buffet
Rigid enough for a full plate, smart enough for a client lunch.
Disposables cost per cover, by service
Online price uses our largest pack. Wholesale is our 50+ box price. All prices include VAT.
| Service | What each cover uses | Online | Wholesale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot buffet | 1.5 × 10 inch bagasse plate, 7 inch bagasse plate, wooden fork, wooden knife, wooden spoon, 2 × napkin | 26.1p | 21.9p |
| Canteen lunch | 5-compartment plate, wooden fork, wooden knife, napkin, 8oz paper cup | 19.6p | 16.5p |
| Soup and sandwich | 350ml bagasse bowl, 750ml hinged container, wooden spoon, napkin | 21.1p | 18.1p |
| Rice and curry | 3-compartment plate, 350ml bagasse bowl, wooden spoon, wooden fork, 2 × napkin | 20.9p | 17.3p |
| Coffee break | 2 × 8oz paper cup, 7 inch bagasse plate, napkin | 12.6p | 10.2p |
| Plated dinner | 10 inch square plate, 7 inch bagasse plate, 2 × wooden fork, wooden knife, wooden spoon, 2 × napkin | 26.2p | 22.3p |
On a £9 hot buffet, 26p of disposables is under 3% of the price per head.
What will disposables cost you each month?
Pick your service and your covers per week. We work out what to buy.
1. Your service
2. Covers per week
3. What to buy each month
| Item | Needed | Buy | Cost |
|---|
Match the plate to the menu
Pick by what is on the plate and how it is eaten, standing or seated.
Hot mains
Roasts, curries, pasta bakes. A 10 inch bagasse plate holds a full main with gravy without bending, and handles hot food straight from the pass.
Shop bagasse plates →
Soups and desserts
Soup, chilli, crumble, trifle. Deep 350ml bowls take a ladle of soup or a dessert portion. 240ml suits sides, 710ml and 950ml suit mains and salads.
Shop bagasse bowls →
Salads and sharing
Pasta salad, coleslaw, fruit. Large 950ml bowls work as serving bowls on a buffet line and as single-portion salad bowls for lunch.
Shop large bowls →
Hot drinks
Tea, coffee, soup to go. Plain white 8oz paper cups for tea and coffee stations. 7oz suits vending and water, 10oz suits larger coffees.
Shop paper cups →
Working lunches
Sandwiches, wraps, fruit pots. Clear hinged containers keep sandwiches fresh between kitchen and meeting room, and stack neatly on a trolley.
Shop hinged containers →
Cutlery for every cover
Knife, fork and spoon. Birch wood cutlery sets give each guest a knife, fork and spoon. Plastic cutlery cannot be supplied in England.
Shop wooden cutlery →Catering service checklist
Most problems at a catered event come from running short or from the wrong plate size. Check these before the day.
What the law allows in England: since 1 October 2023 you cannot supply single-use plastic plates, bowls, trays or cutlery to the public. Bagasse, paper and wooden alternatives are allowed. Scotland and Wales have similar rules.
- Plates: allow 1.5 plates per guest at a buffet, because people go back for seconds.
- Hot food: use bagasse, not paper, for anything with gravy or sauce. It stays rigid for longer.
- Cups: allow 2 cups per person for an all-day meeting, and 3 if water is not on the tables.
- Stock: keep two weeks of stock and reorder when you open the last box.
A contract caterer’s monthly order (about 300 canteen lunches a week)
| Item | Per month (about) | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Compartment Bagasse Plates | 1,300 | 1 × 100 + 1 × 200 + 2 × 500 (£174.96) |
| Wooden Forks 16cm | 1,300 | 1 × 500 + 1 × 1,000 (£28.48) |
| Wooden Knives 16cm | 1,300 | 1 × 500 + 1 × 1,000 (£28.48) |
| 1-Ply White Paper Napkins 30 x 30cm | 1,300 | 1 × 2,500 (£17.99) |
| 8oz | 1,300 | 1 × 500 + 1 × 1,000 (£48.98) |
Catering 50 boxes a month or more?
Wholesale takes a canteen lunch from 19.6p to 16.5p in disposables. Mix plates, bowls, cups, cutlery and napkins on one pallet, delivered free in 2–3 working days.
Catering disposables questions
Still unsure? Call 01234 867 727 or email info@askpackagingltd.com. We reply the same working day.
How much do catering disposables cost per cover?
From about 13p for a coffee break to around 26p for a plated dinner, including VAT, using our largest packs. Wholesale cuts this by 18–25%.
Are bagasse plates strong enough for hot food?
Yes. Bagasse plates and bowls handle hot, wet and oily food, including gravy and curry, without going soft. They are made from sugarcane fibre and are compostable.
Can caterers still use plastic plates in England?
No. Since October 2023, single-use plastic plates, bowls, trays and cutlery cannot be supplied to the public in England. Bagasse, paper and wooden products are allowed.
How many plates do I need for a buffet?
Plan 1.5 dinner plates and 1 dessert plate per guest, plus 2 to 3 napkins. The calculator above adds this up for your covers per week.
Can I get a VAT invoice for catering supplies?
Yes. Every order comes with a VAT invoice by email showing the VAT included in each line, so VAT-registered businesses can reclaim it. Prices on our site include VAT.