The Alliance Online Catering Equipment Blog

Cartonboard Sandwich Wedge Packaging

We supply a huge range of disposable products to caterers up and down the country and this has always been a big part of our business. I had a word with our resident expert, Emma, on the reasons for this…

Our website features nearly 20,000 products, and with a growing portfolio of product lines, we’re able to offer disposables to suit all budgets, needs and occasions.
This includes food containers, sandwich packaging, cups, plates, cutlery, and disposable glassware. Our products are available in a number of different materials – polystyrene foam, aluminium foil, microwavable plastic, as well as cardboard and film. Although the current economic climate is putting increasing pressure on caterers to consider more cost effective products, products with ‘green’ credentials remain key to procurement policies.

Catering Disposables – Buy Online

• Use a low to medium heat except when bringing water to the boil. You risk damaging non-stick surfaces if too much heat is used and burning the food.
• If there is any stubborn food left in the pan after cooking, leave them to soak in warm soapy water before trying to remove it.
• Never put hot pans in cold water or pour cold water into them. You risk warping the base of the pan. It is best to leave them to cool before washing and always use hot, soapy water.
• You may damage your pans if you place them on a hot burner or in an oven when they are empty. This is also a waste of energy.
• Always use plastic utensils in non-stick pans as metal ones can damage the non-stick later. Never use scouring pads, steel wool or abrasives when cleaning non-stick cookware.
• Carefully store pans ensuring non-stick cookware is not stacked and that the pans are completely dry before putting them away.
• Not all cookware is dishwasher safe. Refer to our product information online or contact us before you purchase to confirm any details.
• For optimum efficiency, ensure your pans are the same size or slightly larger than the heating area. A pan which is too small not only wastes heat but could become damaged around the sides/handle.

Cookware – Buy Online

A little later than usual, here we take a look back at the top selling catering equipment categories in August.

Tumblers

Glassware sales were high throughout August with two categories from this section occupying the top 5. The prices of our glasses have always been competitive and we expect our tumblers to continue to sell well this month with our current offer of 48 x Hi-Ball Glasses at just £14.48!

Catering Disposables

Could be the summer festivals pushing the sales of catering disposables up in August. I was at the Coldplay concert over the weekend and enjoyed a few beers from a disposable cup. Plates and food containers were popular choices amongst our customers as people took advantage of the occasional glimmers of sunshine and ventured outside. We shall see if this trend proves correct and sales drop in the winter months.

→ continue reading: Catering Equipment Countdown

• Durability – Will the crockery withstand plenty of washes and the rigours of continued use in the restaurant?
• Size – Something which often gets overlooked by caterers is where the crockery will be stored when it’s not in front of your customers. It may look great on the tables at the front of house, but does it fit in your cupboards in the back?
• Dishwasher Safe – Although not essential, this is a definite advantage when considering who/how you plan to keep the crockery clean. Do you have the staff to clean it, or is a dish washing machine a more practical solution?
• Versatility – Can the crockery range you select cope with the variety of dishes you plan to serve on it? Pizzas, desserts, mixed grills, cheese…all require different tableware. You may like the plates but do the bowls match your restaurants style?

Restaurant Crockery needs to last for service over and over. Please contact us to discuss your needs further and let us help you choose the right tableware for your business.