Foil Containers Ireland: Sizes, Lids & Wholesale Buying Guide

Foil containers are everyday kit for Irish takeaways, Indian and Chinese restaurants, roast-dinner counters and caterers. The wrong size leaks margin on every order; the wrong lid setup leaves trays open in the bag or unused lids stacked in the storeroom.

This guide explains how to buy foil containers in Ireland as plain wholesale stock — which sizes suit which meals, when to order container-and-lid combos versus separate lids, how half-gastro trays fit catering, and how PrintNPack's foil containers range works with tiered case pricing and delivery from Ashbourne.

Why Irish kitchens still buy plain foil trays

Aluminium trays are heat-tolerant, stack neatly and close with board or foil lids for delivery apps and counter collection. They are plain stock — no artwork proof and no print minimum — so Dublin, Cork and Galway operators can restock by the case when Friday night volume spikes.

PrintNPack holds portion trays (4×5", 4×8"), larger 6×9" and 9×9" lines, flan dishes, half-gastro catering trays and matching lids. Orders ship nationwide; local buyers can collect from Ashbourne, Co. Meath. For compostable clamshells instead of foil, compare bagasse meal boxes and biobox containers.

Many Irish kitchens run a mixed pack: foil for wet, sauce-heavy dishes; cardboard biobox or bagasse for dry meals and eco-facing menus. That split is normal — buy foil where aluminium earns its keep, not as a default for every SKU on the pass.

Who this guide is for

This is a takeaway and catering buying guide, not a materials essay. It is written for:

• Indian, Chinese and multi-cuisine takeaways that portion curry, rice and noodles nightly
• Roast-dinner and carvery counters packing hot mains into sealed trays
• Hotels and caterers using half-gastro trays for batch cook-and-serve
• Bakeries needing round flan dishes alongside portion takeaway trays

Foil container sizes Ireland — match the tray to the meal

Start with portion size, not the cheapest case on the shelf. Oversized trays waste foil and look half-empty; undersized trays overflow sauces into the bag.

For most Irish takeaways, 4 × 8" (No.6a, 660ml) is the workhorse main and 4 × 5" (No.2, 450ml) covers sides. Step up to 6×9" or 9×9" for large meals and catering; keep half-gastro for hotels and prep kitchens that batch-cook.

Lid combos vs separate lids

Container & lid combos (for example 4×8, 4×5, 6×9 and 9×9 packed together) keep stock balanced when every portion leaves sealed. Tray-only and lid-only cases suit kitchens that sometimes run open trays on the counter, or that burn lids faster than bases.

• No.2 / 4×5" trays pair with standard 4×5 lids (1000s) or poly board lids where listed
• No.6 / 4×8" trays pair with standard 4×8 lids (500s)
• 6×9" and 9×9" trays have dedicated lid cases — do not mix sizes
• Half-gastro containers have matching half-gastro lids (300 per case)

If lids are running out mid-week while trays sit unused, switch that size to separate ordering. If both deplete together, stay on combos and simplify the purchase order.

Half-gastro and catering trays

1/2 foil gastro containers (300 per case, with lids also at 300) suit hotels, event caterers and central kitchens that need larger aluminium trays for oven-to- service work. Round 8" flan dishes and 6×6" trays cover bakery and dessert lines. Keep these SKUs separate from portion takeaway trays so front-of-house and catering teams do not raid each other's stock.

PrintNPack also stocks related foil lines such as foil chicken bags in portion, standard and large flat sizes under the Foil Bags category. Those are bags, not rigid trays — useful for roast chicken and similar carry-out, but they do not replace a lidded 4×8" meal container. Order bags only when your menu needs them; do not substitute them for portion trays.

Storage and kitchen workflow tips

Foil dents easily in a cramped dry store. Keep cases off wet floors, open one sleeve at a time on the pass, and store lids beside the matching tray size — mixing 4×5" and 4×8" lids is the fastest way to slow a Friday rush.

Train staff to grab the smallest tray that fits the portion. A curry that belongs in 4×5" should not go out in 9×9" just because the large case was opened first. Consistent sizing protects food presentation and keeps your case burn-rate predictable when you reorder.

Case packs, MOQ and how pricing works

Foil containers are sold by the case with four-tier volume pricing — the more cases you take, the lower the price per case. There is no custom-print MOQ because these are plain stock lines. Pack styles on the live catalogue include:

• No.2 4×5" trays: 10×100 per case
• No.6a 4×8" trays: 5×100; combo packs often 20×25
• 9×9" 1600ml trays: 2×100; other 9×9 lines in 200s or 10×25 combos
• Half-gastro trays and lids: 300 per case
• Dedicated lid cases for 4×5, 4×8, 6×9 and 9×9

Always check the live tier table on each product page in the Foil Containers category — we do not reprint one-off unit rates here because case tiering is how wholesale buyers save money.

Delivery across Ireland from Ashbourne

PrintNPack is based in Ashbourne, Co. Meath — convenient for Dublin and Meath collections, with nationwide dispatch for Cork, Galway, Limerick and every other county. Plain foil orders move quickly because they are warehouse stock, not made-to-print jobs.

Pair foil trays with other catering lines on one delivery — plain packaging, refuse sacks, and SOS grab bags — so kitchen and facilities stock arrive together.

How to order foil containers in Ireland

1. List your menu portions and pick 4×5", 4×8", 6×9" or 9×9" accordingly
2. Decide combo packs versus separate trays and lids for each size
3. Add half-gastro or flan trays only if catering or bakery needs them
4. Order by the case on the foil containers category — watch the volume tiers
5. Take nationwide delivery or collect from Ashbourne, Co. Meath

Frequently Asked Questions