What does a typical café order?
Opening or restocking a café means ordering a lot of small things that all have to match: a cup needs the right lid, a sandwich needs a box or a bag, and the counter needs napkins and cutlery. This is the list most cafés work from, grouped by what it is for. Quantities depend on how many covers you serve, so start with one or two cases of each and reorder what sells.
Hot and cold drinks
Cups, lids and sleeves are the heart of a café order, and they are bought in matching sizes: 4oz, 8oz and 12oz cups each take their own lid.
- Coffee cups, lids & sleeves: white single wall and black ripple cups in 4oz espresso, 8oz and 12oz, the lids to fit, and sleeves to keep hands comfortable
- Cup holders: for takeaway orders of two or four drinks
- Smoothie cups: clear cups and dome lids for cold drinks, smoothies and milkshakes
- Straws: paper and other straws for cold drinks, including wide ones for thick shakes
Food to eat in or take away
Sandwiches, cakes, salads and hot dishes each need something different. Most cafés hold a small range of boxes and bowls rather than one of everything.
- Bagasse boxes: sturdy plant-fibre hinged boxes for hot meals, wraps and sandwiches
- Kraft boxes: folding kraft food boxes for baked goods and light meals
- Salad containers: clear hinged containers for salads, fruit pots and cold lunches
- Deli bowls & lids: round bowls with lids for soups, porridge and pasta
- Sauce pots: for dressings and dips
- Paper & greaseproof bags: for pastries, cookies and sandwiches, and greaseproof bags for anything oily
At the counter
These are the things customers pick up themselves, so they are worth ordering in bulk: they run out fastest.
- Serviettes & hand towels: serviettes for the counter and tables
- Cutlery: wooden and other cutlery for eat-in and takeaway
- Paper carrier bags: brown kraft bags with handles for takeaway orders
- Till rolls: thermal rolls sized for your till and card machine
Kitchen and cleaning
Behind the counter the same short list repeats every week.
- Gloves: nitrile gloves for food handling
- Blue rolls: centrefeed rolls for wiping and cleaning
- Cling film & parchment: for covering and storing food and lining trays
- Bin bags: heavy-duty bin bags
Questions
Do coffee cup lids come with the cups?
No. Cups and lids are sold separately so you can choose the style. On each cup's page, the lids that fit are shown, and you can add them to your basket together.
Can we have our own logo on cups and bags?
Yes. Many of our cups, sleeves and bags can be printed with your logo, printed in house with low minimum orders. See our printing terms.
How do we get a better price on regular orders?
Ask us. Bulk and regular orders are priced individually: open a trade account or just ask for a price.
Buying in bulk
Regular or large orders get a custom price: open a trade account or just ask. We guarantee price matches: show us a competitor's price for the same product and we will match or beat it. Trade accounts, bulk orders and price match, or ask for a price.