When a dispenser runs dry while the lunch rush is in full swing, it is a minor inconvenience that is immediately apparent to the customer and is more noticeable than anything else on the table. It’s worse with cheap napkins: one-ply, thin napkins that shred after the first use or ones that don’t absorb anything are problems that will lead to complaints, and continually purchasing them from a foodservice distributor will drive up costs that no one asks about and that no one wants to see. Wholesale paper napkins are a one-stop solution to both of these problems, if the ply, size, and fold really do correspond to the way the napkin is utilized.

A Foodservice Napkin from a Retail Pack?

A bulk restaurant napkins isn’t the same item sold in a retail multipack. Ply count, GSM, and embossing are selected based on the napkin’s performance during hundreds of covers per day rather than on a single usage at home. 1-ply napkins are thin and inexpensive for high-volume counter service; 2-ply and 3-ply provide absorbency and a better hand-feel for table service, when the napkin is on a guest’s lap throughout the meal.

Why do bulk restaurant napkins pay for themselves?

One of the lowest-cost branding surfaces a company has is bulk restaurant napkins. A one- or two-color logo on every napkin will reach every table, every to-go order, and every catering drop-off, at a cost per impression that ad spend cannot compete with. The per-napkin purchase price savings are significant when ordering beyond a couple of cases each month, and these savings are multiplied for a multiple-unit operation when moving to purchase wholesale rather than by the case from a local distributor. For those operators who are promoting sustainability, the choices are out there: recycled and unbleached options that do not sacrifice absorbency. A napkin the right size for the service, bar, table, or counter, it's its own little cost-saving to guests who pull it out during each visit.

The specs that actually matter before you order catering napkins

The thickness of foodservice napkins can be 1-ply for counter service or 2-ply or 3-ply for table service, where greater absorbency and a nap-like feel is desired. The standard flat sizes are 10x10 inches for beverage napkins, to 17x17 inches for dinner napkins, which are then folded down to a 1/4 or 1/8 fold in the dispenser or place setting. Embossing provides texture and volume while the material costs are not significantly increased. Printing in one or two spot colors on virgin or recycled stock, custom printing allows for case packs to be ordered one-at-a-time or in bulk.

Other than restaurants, who else is buying it?

The highest volume is that of full-service restaurants or catering operations, but the details vary. Typically, catering napkins are of higher ply for tables, as the main concern is presentation and not speed. Quick-service and counter restaurants rely on the lower-cost option of 1-ply for high-turn restaurants. Bars use the most cocktail-size napkins, by far. For hotel banquet operations and foodservice distributors, they purchase the entire variety, from every size and ply, for the event that is booked that week.

The one buying mistake that costs kitchens twice

The common pitfall is that they order by the case and not the number of ply or sheets of custom food wrapping paper per case; thus, a case that appears cheaper is actually more expensive per usable napkin. Match ply to the style of the service, not just the budget: 1 ply for counters and for to-go, at least 2 ply for any table that a guest is sitting down at. The fold type must match the dispenser that has already been set up; otherwise, it jams just as often as it dispenses.

FAQs

Q: What is the smallest bulk a retailer can order paper napkins from?

A:Most accounts begin at 10–20 cases. It is common for custom-printed runs to have a higher minimum than plain stock.

Q: Which ply is suitable for a sit-down restaurant? 

A: 2-ply minimum for table service. 1-ply is suitable for counters and to-go orders where speed is more important than feel.

Conclusion 

In addition to the range of wax paper, parchment, and other custom food wrapping paper lines, the Deli Paper offers napkins, allowing a restaurant to keep all of these SKUs on one purchase order instead of going through several different vendors. 

Ask for a no-cost estimate on wholesale paper napkins sized and plied to your business needs. For more information on mixing plain and custom printed stock on one order, please call 832-900-9245 or email sales@thedelipaper.com.