By: Sabrina Huda Sanchez

With cold weather comes an increase in demand for soup and, it may be surprising to learn, many fast-casual restaurants actually have soups on their menu. Take out and delivery is still a large part of the eating out experience, but transporting soup may seem challenging because it is mostly hot liquid.

When planning on how to serve soup at fast-casual restaurants on the go, consider these soup to go containers as secure and appropriate options:
• Paper Food Containers
• Injection Molding Bowls
• Injection Molded Round Deli Containers
• Hot Paper Coffee Cups

What is fast-casual?

The concept of fast-casual is a combination of fast food with a high level of dining. According to Statista, some of the leading fast-casual restaurants include Panera Bread, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Panda Express, Boston Market, and Corner Bakery. These types of restaurants typically boast better quality food and have casual comfortable indoor dining but a much faster serving time than fine dining restaurants. Fast-casual restaurants are found for all types of cuisine such as American soups and sandwiches, Mexican, Chinese, Mediterranean, and Chinese. Each offers a delicious quick meal that the U.S. can’t get enough of.

Fast-casual restaurants sell quality soups in disposable-to-go containers.

Why Offer Soup at fast-casual restaurants?

Although fast casual may be best associated with food like burgers and greasy comfort foods, some chains offer soup. Soup is arguably the most comforting food because it is commonly associated with being taken care of. Soup can take tremendous time and effort to prepare. Fast-casual restaurants solve that by preparing warm hearty cups for consumers that want that warm feeling of comfort quickly and without hassle, however, at the same time, the food must not only be convenient but it must also taste good. For those restaurants that add soup items to their menu, you can draw a lot of attention if you do it right.

Paper Food Containers

Most major fast-casual restaurant chains use paper food containers to pack their soups for take-out. These to go containers are popular for several reasons:

1. Custom print- Paper food containers can be custom printed with your branding. Chili’s, Panera Bread, Boston Market, Wendy’s, El Pollo Loco, and other chain restaurants that sell soup serve it in to go containers that are printed with their colors and logo. Custom print restaurant supplies allow customers to quickly identify where their food is from and act as advertising when others see customers eating from these printed containers.

2. Grease resistant- Paper food containers are double poly-lined. In other words, the inside is coated with a plastic material that prevents hot liquid content from seeping through the paper structure. Soups cannot be absorbed because the slick lining makes the soups just slide right off.

3. Microwaveable- Soup in take-out containers can be reheated in the microwave. Other types of to go containers are made of Styrofoam or PET plastics and these materials are not safe to microwave.

4. Secure with lid- Paper food containers always have a matching lid available to create a tight and secure seal that is perfect for transport. Be sure to find the correct lid size for your container cup.

5. Eco-Friendly Options- Typical paper food containers are made from renewable resources, however, they are lined with plastic which means they cannot be recycled or composted. Luckily there are eco-friendly to go containers that are lined with PLA, a plant-based material, and after use, this entire take-out container is compostable in a commercial facility.

6. Insert Available- Keep broth separate from add-ins such as noodles or veggies with the use of a plastic insert. Container inserts help keep ingredients fresh avoid getting soggy, which makes for a better eating experience.

Injection Molding Bowls

Injection molding bowls are plastic bowls made from food-safe materials. These bowls have many similar benefits as paper to go containers including, grease resistance, safe in the microwave, and compatible secure lid. Restaurants will want to stock these plastic bowls when serving larger portions since they are sold in 22 oz, 36 oz and 48 oz sizes. Injection molding bowls are perfect to go containers for soups like ramen or pho.

Karat Injection Molded Deli Containers and Lids withstand much higher heat levels and retain their shape better than regular deli containers.

Hot Paper Coffee Cup

Hot paper cups are a uniquely unconventional solution to soup on the go. Campbell’s created the Sipping Soup to go packaging to allow consumers to enjoy soup whilst on the road or at events where a conventional bowl and spoon are not an option. This is an excellent choice for bisques like tomato bisque. Fast-casual restaurants that aim to accommodate the needs of busy customers may try out a soup menu item and then serve it in a hot paper coffee cup. These cups can also be custom printed to give your business that extra brand advertising as people walk and drink your soup.

Verdict

The real question may not be how to serve soup at fast-casual restaurants but rather which fast causal chain has the best soups? While that may be up for debate, restaurants can be sure that the best soup to go containers can be found at this trusted restaurant supplier.