Quick answer: A café's food packaging kit usually includes small and medium bakery bags, window boxes for multiples, sandwich wraps or bags, cookie sleeves and labels. Choose grease-resistant materials sized to your actual menu, confirm in writing that grease-resistant papers are PFAS-free, use certified products for any compostable claim, and brand with printed packaging or low-minimum stickers.
Key takeaways
- Size packaging to your actual pastries. Measure your best sellers.
- Grease resistance matters. Test with real product for 20 minutes.
- FDA says PFAS grease-proofers are no longer sold for U.S. food paper. Still get it in writing.
- Stickers turn stock packaging into branded packaging with no minimum.
Why pastry packaging deserves attention
Food can be a big share of a café's ticket, and to-go food is a moment of truth: the customer opens the bag at their desk and either finds a perfect scone or a crushed, greasy mess. Packaging protects the product, presents it, and carries your brand into offices and homes, just like your cups do.
The core pastry packaging kit
| Item | Use | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Small bakery bags | Single cookie, muffin, croissant | Grease resistance; a size that fits your largest single item |
| Medium and large bags | Multiples, bagels, scones | Gusseted bags hold shape |
| Window boxes | Half-dozen orders, gifts, cakes | Sturdy board; window shows off product |
| Clamshells and food containers | Salads, parfaits, wet items | Leak resistance; lid fit |
| Sandwich wraps and bags | Breakfast sandwiches, wraps | Heat and grease resistance |
| Cookie and bar sleeves | Grab-and-go display | Fits product snugly |
| Labels | Allergens, dates, item names | Removable vs. permanent adhesive |
| Carriers and handled bags | Large orders | Strength |
Grease resistance: the make-or-break feature
Butter-laminated pastries like croissants and danishes will spot ordinary paper bags within minutes. Options include:
- Glassine and grease-resistant papers, which resist oil without a plastic layer
- Lined or coated bags for heavier grease
- Windowed bags that show product while protecting it
The 20-minute test: put your greasiest pastry in the bag, close it, and wait 20 minutes. If you see spots, size up the grease resistance.
PFAS and food packaging: what changed
For years, some grease-resistant food papers used PFAS-based treatments. In February 2024, the FDA announced that grease-proofing substances containing PFAS were no longer being sold for food-contact use in the U.S., and in 2025 it determined that 35 related food contact notifications were no longer effective.
What to do: ask your supplier to confirm in writing that grease-resistant papers are free of intentionally added PFAS, particularly for imported packaging. Some states also have their own PFAS packaging laws, so check yours.
Sustainable options (and honest claims)
- Uncoated paper bags are generally the simplest to recycle or compost where accepted.
- Certified compostable packaging should carry third-party certification. BPI certification requires independent testing to ASTM D6400 or D6868.
- Windows on bags and boxes may be a different material from the paper, which affects disposal.
Any claim you make about packaging falls under the FTC's Green Guides. Our compostable vs. recyclable guide covers the wording rules in detail.
Sizing: measure before you order
- Measure your five best-selling pastries: length, width and height.
- Add a little room so items slide in without crushing.
- Choose the fewest sizes that cover your menu. Every size is another SKU to count.
- Order samples and test with real product, including multiples.
Branding your food packaging
| Option | Minimum | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fully printed bags and boxes | Higher | Established shops with steady volume |
| Custom stickers or seals | Low | Most independents; also seals bags closed |
| Custom stamps | One-time cost | Kraft bags; artisan feel |
| Printed belly bands or sleeves | Moderate | Boxes and gift packaging |
A sticker that seals a bakery bag does double duty: it brands the bag and tells the customer nobody opened it. For consistent branding across cups and food, see our custom printed coffee cups guide.
Labels: allergens and dates
Pre-packaged grab-and-go food may need labels with ingredients and allergen information, depending on your state and how the food is prepared and sold. Check with your local health department. At minimum, label items with name, date and major allergens to help customers and staff.
Reorders and storage
Pastry packaging is lighter than cups but bulky. Set par levels from daily food sales, count weekly, and include it in recurring orders. See our complete guide to wholesale coffee shop supplies for the par-level formula.
Package your pastries with Affogato Bean
Pastry boxes, bakery bags, stickers and wraps that match your cups: that's what we do, with design help included and samples credited toward your first order. See pastry packaging or request samples.
Frequently asked questions
What packaging does a coffee shop need for pastries?
Most cafés need small and medium bakery bags for single items, window boxes for multiples and gifts, sandwich wraps or bags for savory items, cookie or bar sleeves, and labels for allergen and date information.
Are bakery bags PFAS-free?
In 2024 the FDA announced that PFAS-containing grease-proofing agents were no longer being sold for food-contact paper packaging in the U.S. To be sure, ask your supplier to confirm in writing that their grease-resistant papers are PFAS-free, especially for imported products.
What's the best bag for greasy pastries like croissants?
Use a grease-resistant bag, often a glassine or grease-resistant coated paper, or a lined bag. Test with your actual pastries: place one in the bag for 20 minutes and check for grease spotting.
Can I put my logo on pastry packaging?
Yes. Printed bags and boxes, custom stickers, and stamps are all options. Stickers and stamps are low-minimum ways to brand stock packaging, while fully printed packaging requires minimum orders.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “FDA Announces PFAS Used in Grease-Proofing Agents for Food Packaging No Longer Being Sold in the U.S..”
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Authorized Uses of PFAS in Food Contact Applications.”
- Biodegradable Products Institute / NSF, “BPI Compostable Products Certification Program (white paper).”
- eCFR / Federal Trade Commission, “16 CFR Part 260 — Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims.”
Sources checked October 2026. Statistics are reported as published by each source.