<p style=”text-align: center;”><strong>Which supermarket foam tray size and color should I buy?</strong></p>
I am Rose, the food packaging supply specialist. I’ve been in contact with butchers, produce, bakery and deli managers for over 15 years supplying them with food packaging supplies. My experience has taught me some real important information which are the ABCs when purchasing supply products to package your food. I will start by sharing some of my knowledge. Today I will discuss polyethylene supermarket foam trays – this is one of my favorite subjects because my knowledge is very broad in this topic.
Please remember that we all learn new things every day. If you have something to add, please leave your comments and share this with our community.
Supermarket foam trays are used to package meat, poultry, seafood, sandwiches, fruits and vegetables. The reason why foam trays are so common is because they are cheap compared to other packaging options and they are available in several colors and are the perfect solution to enhance the product display.
Although each manager prefers to use different colors and sizes of foam trays, there are some classic colors and common numbers which are most widely used which are as follows:
Pink and black foam trays are mainly used to packaged beef or pork. Yellow and white foam trays are mainly used to packaged poultry. The 2, 4, 10S, 12S, 16S, 17S, 8P, 9L and 13S are the main players in the meat room. The 2PP and the 4P are heavier compared the regular 2 or 4 foam tray. The 2S and 4S are shallow. The 25S and 1014 are used for family packs and the 809 and 8DP are both specially designed as a strong foam tray and are used by processors and in butcher departments as well to package family pack.
Green and black foam trays are mostly used to package produce. Again, the 4, 2, 42P, 1.5 and the 10 series are the most commonly used foam tray to package fruit and vegetables.
Blue and black foam trays are mostly used to package seafood and mushrooms. Mushroom trays are custom manufactured and mainly used only by mushroom packers such as the 24 blue tray or the 16 blue tray. The 4, 10S and 2 are most commonly used for fish trays.
Bakeries basically stick to white and black foam trays. There are not that many trays which bakeries utilize, some of the common ones are the #1 or 14 foam tray, the 1.5 foam tray, the 2S foam tray, and the 2 foam tray. Yet, I have seen bakeries also making use of the 10S foam tray to package dough or other baked goods.
The most common foam trays are the 2, 4, 10, 12, 16, 17, 8, 9L, 25 and 1014.
Although the foam trays which end in a P are considered Processor trays, If you are looking for heavy duty supermarket foam trays, the “P” trays are what you need, following are the numbers to consider, the 2PP, the 3P (which is slightly bigger than the 2PP), 8P, 10P, 15P, 8DP, 42P, 809P.
If shallow trays are your aim, the “S” series should be your goal, such as 2S, 5S, 10S, 4S, 12S, 16S, 17S, 8S, 9S, 13S, and 25S.
When looking for a family pack tray which is heavy, yet not too big, The 15P tray, the 9L tray and the 10P tray are the perfect medium. These three trays are mostly used by packer processors and department stores.
1216 is a bigger size tray used for family pack or as a hospital or serving tray.
There are many other applications for which supermarket foam trays are used for such as school trays and more. Do you know more, please share it. Leave a comment.
Below are the standard sizes which are stocked at <a href=”https://splyco.com”>SPLYCO</a>
Foam Tray size / Packed / Dimensions in inches
No.1-S 1000 5 1/4×5 1/4×1/2
No.1.5 1000 7 7/16×3 3/4×7/8
No.2 500 8 1/4×5 3/4×3/4
No.2-S 500 8 1/4×5 3/4×1/2
No. 16 400 7.4×5.7×2.3
No. 4P-R 500 9 1/4×7 1/4×1 1/4
No.7-H/7-S 250 14 3/4×5 3/4×5/8
No.8X 200 8 1/4×10 1/2×1
No. 8-K 500 4 1/4×6 1/4×2
No.10-K 250 10 3/8×5 5/8×2
No.10-S 500 10 3/4×5 3/4×1/2
No. 16sHD 250 11 3/4×7 1/2×5/8
No.12-S 250 11x9x1/2
No. 12-S HD 250 11x9x1/2
No. 12 400 7.4×4.4×2.0
No.14 500 6x6x3/4
No.16-S 250 11 3/4×7 1/2×5/8
No.17-S 1000 8 1/4×4 1/2×1/2
No.20-S 500 8 3/4×6 1/2×3/4
No. 24 600 5 3/4x5x2 1/4
No. 24-S 250 13 1/2x8x5/8
No.25-S 250 15x8x5/8
No. 4PHD 400 9 1/4×7 1/4×1 1/4
No.34/4-S 500 9 1/4×7 1/4×1/2
No.35/5-S 500 10 3/8×5 1/2×1/2
No.38/8-S 500 10x8x1/2
12 x 16 Tray 100 16x12x5/8
10 x 14 Tray 100 14x10x3/4
No.42-P 400 8 1/4×5 3/8×1 3/4
No.3PP 400 8 5/8×6 1/4×1
No.2PP 400 8 3/8×5 3/8×1
No.4P 400 9 1/4×7 1/4×1 1/4
No.8P 200 8 1/4×10 1/2×1
No. 10P 300 10 3/4x6x1 1/4
No. 10s HD 500 10 3/4×5 3/4×1/2
No.809-P 200 11×9 1/4×2
No.812-P 100 13×9 3/4×2 1/2
No.9-L 200 11 3/4×9 3/4×1/2
No.8DP 200 10 1/2×8 1/4×1 5/8
No. 4DM 400 9 1/4×7 1/4×2.0
No. 15P 200 15.0×7 3/4×1 1/4
No. 25-D 100 14.0×8 1/2×1 1/2
No. 24-D 200 13 1/2 x 8 x 1 1/2
No. 25sHD 200 15x8x5/8
3 ct. Pepper Tray 400 10 5/8 x4 1/2×1 1/4
Interestingly facts about supermarket foam trays:
*Foamed polystyrene supports US jobs
*Polystyrene uses less raw material
*Polystyrene uses less energy to be produced
*Polystyrene is safe and healthy throughout it’s life cycle
*Polystyrene is safe in food service