Cheapest Ways to Brand Food Packaging UK

You don't need to custom print every piece of packaging to make your food business look branded.

For cafés, takeaways, restaurants, bakeries, street-food businesses and start-ups, a few carefully chosen branded packaging items can create a professional look while keeping costs under control.

This guide looks at some of the most cost-effective ways to add your logo or branding to food and drink packaging.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Brand Food Packaging?

One of the simplest approaches is to keep some of your main packaging plain and add branding through selected printed items such as greaseproof paper, stickers, napkins or cups.

This can give customers a clearly branded experience without requiring every box, bag, wrapper and container to be custom printed.

1. Use Custom Printed Greaseproof Paper

Printed greaseproof paper is a versatile way to introduce branding across several food products.

The same branded sheet can potentially be used with burgers, sandwiches, wraps, bakery products, trays, baskets and other suitable food packaging, depending on the size and application.

That versatility can make greaseproof paper useful for businesses that want one branded packaging element that works across different menu items.

Read our Printed Greaseproof Paper UK guide for more information.

2. Add Custom Printed Stickers to Plain Packaging

Branded stickers can be applied to suitable plain boxes, bags and other packaging to add a logo, message or campaign design.

This approach can be particularly useful for businesses with several different packaging formats because the same branding element may be usable across more than one type of pack.

3. Use Branded Napkins

Custom printed napkins can add branding to a customer order without requiring the main food container to be custom printed.

They can work particularly well for cafés, restaurants, bars, takeaways, events, catering and hospitality businesses.

Selected printed napkins may also be available with fast production options when timing is important.

4. Brand the Coffee Cup

If drinks are an important part of your business, a printed coffee cup can be one of the most visible places to put your branding.

Rather than branding every piece of takeaway packaging immediately, some cafés may choose to prioritise the cup customers carry with them.

Explore our Coffee Cup Branding collection for standard and express printed cup options.

5. Choose Packaging That Can Be Used Across Several Products

Packaging becomes less flexible when it is designed for only one very specific product.

Where practical, choosing packaging that can work across several menu items can make stock easier to manage and may reduce the number of different branded packaging lines you need to order.

6. Start With One or Two Branded Packaging Items

A new food business does not necessarily need a fully custom printed packaging range from day one.

You could begin with one or two highly visible branded items and expand the range as order volumes grow.

For example, a takeaway might combine a plain food box with branded greaseproof paper and a printed sticker rather than custom printing every component immediately.

7. Consider Low MOQ Custom Packaging

Buying a very large quantity can sometimes reduce the unit cost, but it also means committing more money to stock.

Lower minimum order quantities can allow smaller businesses to introduce custom packaging without holding unnecessarily large quantities.

Read our Low MOQ Custom Packaging UK guide to learn more about shorter production runs.

8. Avoid Ordering More Packaging Than You Can Use

The cheapest unit price does not always mean the lowest overall cost.

If branding, menus, contact details or products change, unused packaging may become obsolete. Ordering a realistic quantity can therefore be more economical than buying excessive stock simply to achieve a lower unit price.

9. Keep Packaging Designs Versatile

A design containing only your core branding can often be used for longer than packaging containing temporary offers, prices or seasonal information.

Keeping permanent branding separate from information that changes regularly can reduce the risk of packaging becoming outdated.

10. Plan Ahead Where Possible

If you know when packaging will be needed, ordering with enough time can give you more production options.

Express production is extremely useful for urgent requirements, but it should not automatically be the default if there is plenty of time before the packaging is needed.

Is Plain Packaging With a Branded Sticker a Good Option?

It can be. Stickers provide a flexible way to add branding to suitable plain packaging and can be particularly useful for smaller businesses, temporary campaigns and changing product ranges.

The best approach depends on the packaging, order volume and the experience you want to create for customers.

Is Printed Greaseproof Paper a Cost-Effective Branding Option?

Printed greaseproof paper can be particularly useful because one branded format may work with several different foods and serving styles.

For businesses selling burgers, sandwiches, wraps, baked goods or other suitable food products, it can provide a large visible area for branding without requiring every outer container to carry a custom print.

Should I Brand My Food Box or the Paper Inside It?

There is no single answer. A custom printed box can create a strong presentation, while branded greaseproof paper inside a plain box can provide a more flexible alternative.

Some businesses use both, while others prioritise the packaging element customers see most frequently.

What Packaging Should a New Takeaway Brand First?

Start with the items customers interact with most and those that can work across the largest number of orders.

Depending on the business, that might be greaseproof paper, napkins, stickers, cups or another frequently used packaging format.

Our Custom Packaging for Takeaways & Restaurants UK guide covers more options for food businesses.

What's the Cheapest Packaging for a Coffee Shop to Brand?

The best-value option depends on what the café sells and how customers receive their orders.

Coffee cups can provide high visibility for takeaway drinks, while greaseproof paper, napkins and stickers can add branding to food orders. A café does not necessarily need to introduce all of them at once.

See our Custom Packaging for Coffee Shops UK guide for more café-specific ideas.

How Can I Keep Event Packaging Costs Down?

For a temporary event, exhibition or campaign, avoid ordering substantially more event-specific packaging than you expect to use.

Versatile branded items and shorter production runs can be useful when artwork is only relevant to one event or campaign.

Read our Custom Packaging for Events & Exhibitions UK guide for more information.

Is Cheap Packaging Always Better Value?

No. Packaging still needs to be appropriate for the product and perform the job it is intended to do.

The aim should be to find a cost-effective combination of suitable packaging, useful branding and a realistic order quantity rather than simply choosing the lowest headline price.

How Much Does Custom Packaging Cost?

Prices vary according to the product, material, size, quantity, printing requirements and production speed.

For a more detailed explanation, read our Custom Packaging Prices UK 2026 Cost Guide .

Need Help Finding a Cost-Effective Packaging Option?

Tell us what you sell, the quantity you need, your artwork requirements and your deadline. Our team can help you identify suitable packaging options for your business.

Email: help@packgenie.co.uk
Phone: 0203 488 2200