Good food packaging keeps a pie crisp, a salad cold and a curry from leaking into a delivery bag, and it has to be safe to touch the food. Restaurants, bakeries, delis, spaza shops and small producers all buy from the same pool of South African wholesalers and converters, yet the right material for a hot burger is wrong for a wet salad. Send one request with what you pack, how hot or cold it is and how many you use a month, and suppliers in your area quote you directly. It is free and you owe nothing.
Food contact rules in plain terms
Anything that touches food must be made of material suitable for food. In South Africa this falls under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act and its regulation R.638 on hygiene, and in practice suppliers handle it by selling food-grade board, film and plastic. Ask each supplier for a food-grade or migration certificate for the exact item. A certificate for a plain tray does not cover a printed one, because inks and coatings count too.
This guide is not legal advice. If you sell packaged food under your own name, check the labelling and shelf life rules with your local environmental health practitioner.
Choosing material for the food
Match the packaging to what the food does inside it:
- Hot, oily food such as chips, pies and fried chicken needs grease resistant board or greaseproof paper, otherwise oil shows through in minutes.
- Wet or saucy food suits polypropylene (PP) tubs and trays that hold liquid and survive a microwave.
- Cold and fresh food such as salads and fruit cups does well in clear PET, which shows the colour and stays rigid in a fridge.
- Dry baked goods keep best in a paper bag or a window carton that lets steam escape.
For ready-to-eat meals, see our pages on takeaway containers and plastic containers.
Shelf life, sealing and labels
Packaging also decides how long food lasts. A tamper-evident lid or heat-sealed film keeps air out and shows the customer nobody opened it. Vacuum or modified atmosphere packs can extend shelf life of cooked meat and cheese from days to weeks, but need a sealing machine and a film with an oxygen barrier. Ask your supplier whether the film is rated for the temperature you fill at, as hot-filled soups can soften a thin tub.
Printed bags and boxes may carry your own details, but ingredient lists and dates are normally added with a separate adhesive sticker, which is cheaper than printing them on every pack. Keep a clear area on the pack for it.
Compostable and recycled options
Bagasse (sugar cane fibre), kraft board with a plant-based lining and PLA cups are sold as compostable. They only break down properly in industrial composting, and few South African municipalities collect them, so ask what happens to the pack after use. Recycled content and mono-material plastic are often the more practical choice. Producers and importers of plastic and paper packaging may also fall under extended producer responsibility (EPR) fees, so ask your supplier what they cover and what you must register yourself.
Compostable packs usually cost 20% to 60% more than plain plastic equivalents, so request a sample and a price for both.
What to include in your request
- What food goes in and how hot or cold
- Size or capacity per pack
- Quantity now and per month
- Microwave, freezer or oven needs
- Delivery address and the date needed
Food Packaging for different businesses
- Online shops and ecommerce: leakproof tubs, insulated bags and sealed trays for home delivered meals and meal prep
- Restaurants, takeaways and food producers: trays, tubs, wraps and greaseproof paper for daily service and counter sales
- Shops and retail stores: pre-packed trays, deli tubs and shrink wrapped portions for supermarket shelves and cold rooms
- Factories and manufacturers: food-grade film, trays and lidding sealed on a line for packed ready meals
- Warehouses, distributors and exporters: cold chain cartons, insulated liners and sealed trays for chilled food distribution
- Households and offices moving: clean containers and zip bags to pack pantry food before a move
- Farms, packhouses and nurseries: punnets, trays and sealed bags for fresh produce and farm stall goods
- Cosmetics, candles and health products: food-grade tubs and sachets for edible skincare, honey and herbal products
Frequently asked questions
How do I know packaging is food safe?
What is the smallest order of food packaging?
Can I get packaging that goes in the microwave and freezer?
Do I need a minimum quantity for delivery?
Food Packaging by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg