At NRA Show 2023 in Chicago, many foodservice packaging conversations started with a simple but important question: what happens after the food leaves the counter?
For restaurants, catering suppliers, distributors and takeout-focused foodservice brands, packaging is no longer only a container. It has to protect food during pickup, delivery, stacking, handling and the trip home. That is why Grizzlies attended NRA Show 2023: to meet U.S. buyers face to face and discuss packaging that works in real restaurant conditions.
Why This Show Mattered for U.S. Foodservice Packaging Buyers
The National Restaurant Association Show 2023 took place from May 20 to May 23, 2023 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The show brought together foodservice professionals from restaurants, hospitality, distribution, food brands and supply businesses. Source: National Restaurant Association Show 2023 event page
The official 2023 final report recorded nearly 55,000 professionals at the show. For packaging suppliers like Grizzlies, this made NRA Show 2023 an important place to understand how U.S. restaurant buyers were thinking about takeout packaging, disposable food containers, paper food packaging and custom foodservice packaging after several years of off-premise dining growth. Source: National Restaurant Association Show 2023 Final Report
The Buyer Question Was Not “Is It Eco-Friendly?” First
Sustainability was important, but many U.S. buyers did not begin with broad environmental claims. They began with practical restaurant questions:
- Will this container hold hot food without losing structure?
- Can it handle fried food, sauces and oily meals?
- Will it stack well for takeout and catering orders?
- Does the material support food contact requirements?
- Can we move toward PFAS-free packaging without losing grease resistance?
- Can this product be customized for our restaurant brand or distributor program?
These are the questions that matter to buyers who sell packaging into real foodservice operations. A takeout box may look fine on a product page, but the real test happens when it carries hot meals, oily food, salads, sauces or catering portions across a busy restaurant workflow.
Packaging Has to Survive Heat, Grease and Movement
U.S. restaurant buyers often need packaging for fast casual restaurants, takeout counters, catering trays, delivery orders, prepared food and grab-and-go meals. In these applications, the packaging has to deal with heat, grease, moisture, stacking pressure and movement during transport.
At the booth, Grizzlies discussed paper food containers, takeaway boxes, disposable bowls, paper trays, paper cups, paper tableware and custom printed foodservice packaging according to food type and use scenario. Instead of recommending one material for every order, our team focused on matching packaging structure and performance to the buyer’s actual menu and sales channel.
Grease Resistance Became a Safety and Performance Conversation
For many restaurant applications, grease resistance is not optional. Fried chicken, burgers, fries, sauced meals, breakfast items and oily prepared food all require packaging that can resist staining, softening or leakage.
But by 2023, grease resistance was also becoming a chemical-safety conversation. More buyers were asking about PFAS-free packaging and fluorine-free barrier directions, especially for paper-based food packaging used with oily food.
BPI’s fluorinated chemicals policy requires certified items to have no intentionally added fluorinated chemicals and test results showing a maximum of 100 ppm total organic fluorine. Source: BPI Fluorinated Chemicals Policy
In February 2024, the FDA later announced that grease-proofing substances containing PFAS were no longer being sold for food contact use in the U.S. market. Although that announcement came after NRA Show 2023, it reflects why many buyers were already paying closer attention to PFAS-free food packaging directions. Source: FDA PFAS food packaging announcement
Food Contact Questions Had to Be Answered Clearly
For U.S. foodservice packaging buyers, food contact safety is part of responsible sourcing. Buyers wanted to understand whether packaging materials, coatings and printing options were suitable for food applications.
The FDA explains that food packaging and other materials that come into contact with food may be considered food contact substances, including substances used in paper and paperboard packaging to prevent grease from leaking through. Source: FDA food packaging and food contact substances
At NRA Show 2023, this meant buyers were not only asking for product photos. They wanted to discuss materials, intended food use, food contact expectations, documentation, printing safety and whether the packaging could support restaurant operations without unnecessary sourcing risk.
Takeout Packaging Is Part of the Customer Experience
For restaurants, packaging affects more than logistics. It affects how customers experience the food after it leaves the restaurant. A weak container can affect temperature, presentation, leakage, portion control and brand impression.
This is why takeout packaging, delivery packaging and catering packaging need to be selected based on the menu. A salad bowl, a hot meal container, a snack tray and a paper cup do not face the same performance requirements. Each product should be matched to the food type, hold time, transport method and customer expectation.
During the show, Grizzlies discussed packaging options for restaurants, foodservice distributors, catering suppliers, supermarkets and private label packaging customers who needed practical solutions for takeout, delivery, catering and prepared food programs.
Custom Packaging Was About Brand Control, Not Decoration
Many U.S. buyers also asked about custom printed foodservice packaging. But for professional buyers, customization is not only about adding a logo. It is about creating packaging that supports a brand’s menu, service model, customer experience and supply plan.
At the booth, Grizzlies discussed OEM ODM packaging, private label packaging, logo printing, brand colors, carton marks, product size selection, material options and sample development. These details help restaurant supply companies, distributors and foodservice brands build packaging programs that are easier to sell, store and repeat.
What U.S. Buyers Could Review with Grizzlies
A good packaging discussion at NRA Show 2023 was not only about asking for a price. It was about matching the packaging to the buyer’s actual foodservice operation.
- For restaurants: packaging for takeout meals, hot food, sides, snacks, beverages and catering orders.
- For distributors: paper food packaging ranges, carton packing, repeat supply and product consistency.
- For private label buyers: custom printed packaging, artwork review, brand colors, carton marks and sample development.
- For compliance-focused buyers: food contact expectations, PFAS-free packaging directions, BPI options and project documentation.
Why Grizzlies Attended NRA Show 2023
Grizzlies attended NRA Show 2023 because U.S. restaurant packaging buyers needed more than general sustainability claims. They needed to talk about food performance, customer experience, grease resistance, food contact safety, PFAS-free direction, customization and stable supply.
Meeting buyers face to face helped our team understand the real restaurant situations behind each sourcing request. It also allowed customers to compare product samples, ask application-specific questions and discuss how packaging could fit into their takeout, delivery, catering or distribution programs.
If you are sourcing foodservice packaging for the U.S. market, Grizzlies can support paper food containers, takeaway packaging, disposable tableware, paper cups, food trays, custom printed foodservice packaging and OEM ODM private label packaging programs.
Contact Grizzlies to discuss your foodservice packaging project, menu application, PFAS-free material direction, custom printing requirements or bulk supply plan.
