Factory Direct 77.8oz/2300ml 12.4"x8.62" Large Aluminum Tray for Buffet Line & Holiday Turkey Side

Walk into any high volume catering kitchen the night before a big event, and you’ll see stacks of trays like this one. 12.4 inches long, 8.62 inches wide, and just under two inches deep. 2300ml capacity – that’s about 77 ounces, or roughly three bottles of wine worth of space. This isn’t for a single lunch. This is for feeding a crowd.

Think about a buffet line for 50 people. You need something that holds a full tray of green bean casserole or a massive portion of pulled pork without taking up half the steam table. The 49mm depth is shallow enough that food heats through quickly, but deep enough that sauce doesn’t spill when someone scoops. A wedding caterer we know uses these for their “action station” – mac and cheese bar, mashed potato bar, you name it. They fill the tray, set it over a low flame (yes, aluminum can go on a direct flame if you’re careful – but keep it low), and let guests serve themselves.

From a factory perspective, producing a tray this size requires a larger press bed. Most standard foil container presses max out around 300mm die width. This one pushes that limit. The aluminum coil – usually 8000 series alloy for food contact – feeds through a decoiler, gets lubricated, then hits a progressive die. First station punches the overall shape. Second station draws the depth. Third station trims the rim. Fourth station embosses any reinforcement ribs. Because the part is big, cycle time drops to maybe 30 pieces per minute. But the output is consistent: each tray weighs around 12*14 grams depending on gauge.

Why would a restaurant or central kitchen choose this size over a half size steam pan? Weight and cost. A stainless steel half pan costs $15*20 and needs washing. This aluminum tray costs pennies. After the event, you toss it in recycling. No labor, no detergent, no broken dishware. For a large caterer doing 50 events a year, the savings add up fast.

Customization is very possible at this scale. We can add your logo to the bottom of the tray using a simple embossing die. Or we can print on the lid – cardboard or plastic, your choice. For buyers ordering multiple pallets, we can even adjust the alloy temper to make the tray slightly stiffer for heavy foods like whole roasted birds.

One emerging trend: aluminum trays are replacing foil lined cardboard in the airline catering industry (though you mentioned not to focus on airline meals, so I’ll just note it in passing). More relevant to most buyers: the shift away from black plastic in prepared food sections. Several US states have enacted plastic container bans. Aluminum has no such restrictions and is accepted in most curbside recycling programs.

Packing for this model is 500 pieces per carton. The carton measures 62.5 x 33.5 x 45cm – that’s a sturdy box, easy to palletize. Lids available in cardboard or plastic. The plastic lid gives a tighter seal for wetter dishes, but cardboard is cheaper and compostable.

So if you’re running a buffet, a catering business, or a high volume takeout operation, this 2300ml tray deserves a spot in your supply closet. It’s big, it’s tough, and it goes straight from oven to buffet to recycling bin without a single wash.