Save on bulk tableware for parties and events
A big birthday, an engagement party, a wedding, a school fete, a sports club function, a community fundraiser or an office end-of-year do all need the same thing: a lot of plates, cups and cutlery, on time, without blowing the budget. Buying disposable tableware in bulk is the easiest saving in the whole event, and it is simpler than most people think. Here is how to do it well.
Buy by the carton, not the packet
Plates, cutlery and cups cost less per piece in carton quantities than in retail packs, and a carton takes up less room than the same number of small packets. The categories most events run on:
- Plates and bowls.
- Cutlery, including plenty of teaspoons.
- Cups, hot and cold.
- Napkins and tablecloths.
- Foil trays and takeaway containers for the kitchen and for sending food home.
- Bin bags and cleaning supplies for halls and venues.
Browse our Bulk Carton Savings collection for carton quantities. If a full carton is more than you need, the regular packs in Plates & Bowls, Cutlery and Cups still scale well for 50 to 100 guests.
Count properly before you order
A simple way to size an order:
- Plates: 1 dinner plate and 1 side or dessert plate per guest per course, plus 10 percent spare.
- Cutlery: 1 set per guest per course. Teaspoons always run short, so add extra.
- Cups: 2 cold cups per guest for a sit-down meal, more for a long stand-up function, plus hot cups if tea and coffee are served.
- Napkins: 2 to 3 per guest.
- Tablecloths: measure the tables. Standard trestle tables take a rectangle cloth; round tables take a round cloth with drop on both sides.
Use the Quick Order page to enter all your quantities in one go rather than adding products one at a time.
Mix disposable and reusable
Not everything has to be single-use. Reusable plastic plates and silver-look cutlery give a sit-down dinner a proper table for a fraction of the cost of hiring, and they can be washed and used again at the next party. Many hosts combine reusable plates for the main course with disposables for nibbles and dessert.
Think about the kitchen as well as the table
The savings on the serving side are easy to forget. Foil trays, lids, foil, baking paper and bin bags bought by the carton cost less and mean the caterer or the volunteer crew never runs out mid-event. Our Foil Containers collection covers the range of sizes.
Open a wholesale account for regular events
Schools, sports clubs, caterers, hospitality venues, community organisations and businesses that order regularly can apply for a wholesale account. Send us your business details, we verify the account and set up your pricing, and from then on you order at your account rates online or in store. We supply plenty of community and religious events as well, so regular bulk orders are our bread and butter.
Pickup, local delivery and shipping
We are at 391 Inkerman Street, St Kilda VIC 3182, with on-site parking. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday 9:00am to 5:00pm, Friday 9:00am to 3:00pm in summer (daylight saving time) and 9:00am to 2:00pm in winter, Sunday 10:00am to 1:00pm, and we are closed on Saturday. Public holiday hours vary, so call (03) 9525 8512 or check our Google listing before you visit.
Order online and pick up in store, or choose local delivery within 10 km of the store, which is free on orders of $199 or more. Under that, a small delivery fee is added at checkout. We ship Australia-wide for most items via Australia Post. Super bulky items are pickup or local delivery only. Contact us for a custom quote on a big event order and we will have everything packed and ready for you.
Plan ahead
Big events cluster around the same dates, and the weeks before long weekends and the end of the school year get busy. Ordering two to three weeks ahead gives you the best choice of sizes and colours, and the cartons are packed and waiting when you arrive. Our range changes through the year, so call or visit for what is in store.