If you’re in the commercial food industry, you need a reliable way to store and transport your products without damaging them. Food is an inherently sensitive item, especially if you’re distributing baked goods, fruits and vegetables and other pressure-sensitive goods. If you use the wrong type of storage container, you could easily damage an entire tray of goods, impacting your bottom line.
That’s why stackable totes can be such a great choice for commercial food distributors. Learn more about the different types of stackable totes and why they’re the best choice for your business.
Bakery Trays
Bakery trays were designed specifically for baked goods, including loaves of bread, cupcakes, pastries and other delicate, pressure-sensitive items. These trays tend to be wide, helping you make room for all your edible goods. They also fit easily onto a rolling cart and you can store hundreds of products in the same compact location without ruining your goods. Quickly slide out the tray to distribute your products in your store, at an event or to one of your clients.
You can use these storage containers for more than just baked goods. Consider using them for quiches, potpies and other individually portioned foods. Every tray comes with open slats so cool air can move through the entire rack. This helps you keep your baked goods the perfect temperature. You also won’t have to wait as long for your goods to cool down when they first come out of the oven.
Stack and Nest Totes
These are small plastic containers with slanted openings for easy access. They usually sit on a shelf and you and your employees can quickly grab a variety of items during the cooking or manufacturing process. Nesting containers stack on top of each other for more shelf and storage space. These containers tend to be smaller, which makes them great for storing smaller items like spices and garnishes.
Plastic Totes
Plastic totes are large plastic containers that easily stack on top of each other, helping you make the most of your storage space. They tend to feature deep, wide compartments that are perfect for holding large quantities of items like produce. Your goods will sit on top of each other, so it’s best not to use these kinds of containers for fragile items like baked goods.
These totes are also perfect for moving your food items along the assembly line. If you manufacture your products using a conveyor belt, use plastic totes to move them safely through your facility.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- Finding the Right Type of Container
Make sure you find totes and trays that are designed for food products. They should be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and feature the food-grade stamp of approval. Use the FDA’s food contact substance guidelines to learn more about safely packing and transporting your food products with these kinds of containers.
- How to Distribute Your Food Products
Consider how you plan on distributing your products when choosing a food-grade container. If you need to quickly distribute your goods one at a time, use smaller totes and trays so you’re not carrying around a massive container at an event. If you’re transporting your goods to a restaurant or store, larger containers will help you quickly transport large quantities of your goods. Just make sure they don’t get crushed along the way.
- Safe Storage Tips
All these containers tend to be made with plastic, so keep your storage and distribution supplies away from excessive heat or the plastic may melt after a while. It’s always best to store your goods in a dry, temperate location.
If you’re stacking these totes on top of each other, it’s always best to put the heaviest containers on the bottom so your stack doesn’t get too top-heavy. If you’re constantly reaching for individual items throughout the day, put the more popular items on top. That way, you don’t leave an empty container on the bottom. It’s best to put most of your weight at the bottom of the stack.
When attached to a cart with wheels, bakery trays are easy to move around, helping you safely move your baked goods to a new location. If you’re using plastic totes, close the tote before moving the container. You can also use hand trucks to move several containers at once. Again, put your heaviest containers on the bottom.
Plastic totes, nest totes and bakery trays are among the best containers for commercial food distributors. Use these tips to safely store and transport your food products.