A Thai takeaway owner in Footscray has been doing some calculations lately.
Her store uses four-piece cutlery sets—spoon, fork, knife, and napkin—and goes through one box roughly every ten days. The supplier recently adjusted prices slightly, so she's considering switching to three-piece sets or trying a different supplier.
"I'm not sure if the four-piece set is the best fit for us," she says. "Customers ordering Green Curry don't really need a knife, but I can't be bothered sorting it out for each order."
If you run a takeaway store, you might have similar questions: which set should you choose? How do you calculate usage? When should you restock?
Common Types of Wooden Cutlery Sets
The wooden cutlery sets most takeaway stores use come in a few standard combinations:
Two-piece sets: Fork with napkin, or spoon with napkin
The simplest option. If your menu is fairly straightforward, this is the most economical choice.
Pasta shops and noodle bars suit fork-and-napkin sets; rice bowl and curry places suit spoon-and-napkin sets. No waste, and it gets the job done.
Three-piece sets: Fork, knife, and napkin
Perfect for menus featuring foods that need cutting—fried chicken, roast meats, pizza, and the like.
Customers get everything they need in one go. Check out our fork-knife-napkin sets for this option.
Four-piece sets: Spoon, fork, knife, and napkin
Most mixed-menu stores go with this option. It covers all bases and handles any situation.
While it's the priciest per unit, it saves you the hassle of thinking "what cutlery does this order need?"
That Thai takeaway owner runs a typical mixed menu: pad thai, curries, and spring rolls. "I tried three-piece sets once. Customers ordering curry had no spoon and I had to add one separately. Forget it—four-piece sets are just easier."
If you're unsure which set suits your operation, it's worth having a chat with your supplier. We've worked with plenty of takeaway owners who initially picked the wrong type, then found their ideal match after adjusting. If you're not sure, feel free to reach out—this kind of consultation is free, and we can help you work out the most economical approach.
How Much Does Your Store Use Per Month?
This is the most practical question.
Cutlery sets typically come by the box, with several hundred sets per box. Let's work it out:
Small takeaway stores (around 30-50 orders daily):
- Roughly 50 orders a day
- About 1,300 sets per month
- Requires a few boxes
Medium takeaway stores (close to 100 orders daily):
- Around 100 orders a day
- About 2,600 sets per month
- Requires more boxes
Busy takeaway stores (over 150 orders daily):
- 150+ orders a day
- Nearly 4,000 sets per month
- Requires around ten boxes
Work out your volume so you know what you need when ordering. Don't just buy one box and run out in a week, leaving you chasing your supplier for more.
Quick tip: Many owners aren't sure how many boxes to order at first—worried about ordering too many and taking up space, or too few and running short. If this sounds familiar, just share your daily order volume with us and we'll calculate a sensible purchasing quantity for you—free consultation, no worries.
Why Have Sets Become the Go-To Choice?
In theory, matching cutlery individually is more flexible—give forks to pasta orders, spoons to curry orders.
But in practice, you'll find:
Peak hours leave no time for sorting
Between six and eight in the evening, orders flood in. You're watching the kitchen, packing meals, dealing with delivery drivers. Who has time to stop and think "does this order need a fork or spoon?"
With sets, you just grab one, toss it in the bag—done.
Training new staff is easier
"Put one set in every bag"—that's all you need to say.
No teaching them which dishes get which cutlery, no worrying they'll forget napkins. Error rate drops to near zero.
Fewer customer complaints
Customers eating takeaway at their office or in their car can't come back if the cutlery's wrong or napkins are missing—they can only leave a bad review.
Sets have everything covered. No complaints.
The Thai store owner says, "I worked it out—the time saved each month not dealing with 'cutlery issues' pays for the difference in cost ages ago."
Tips for Managing Stock
Using sets has another advantage: simpler stock management.
If you used to match cutlery individually, you'd often find "forks are gone but there's still heaps of spoons," making it hard to judge when to reorder.
With sets, it's straightforward: check box count and you know how long you've got left.
Say your store uses three boxes a week and you've got five boxes left—that's less than two weeks remaining. Time to reorder.
Keep at least two weeks' safety stock. If your supplier's delivery gets delayed, you won't run out.
We've met quite a few owners whose stock management was all over the place initially, often running short at the worst times. After we helped them sort out their restocking rhythm, they now have automatic reorders at fixed intervals—much less stress. If you'd like to streamline your inventory management, reach out anytime—we're happy to share these practical insights, completely free.
What to Look for in a Supplier
Let's be honest—wooden cutlery is available everywhere. But suppliers vary quite a bit.
Is stock reliable?
Running out is the worst thing for a takeaway business. Check the supplier's stock situation and whether they can guarantee steady supply.
We keep our warehouse well-stocked precisely to ensure customers never face "can't get what I need" situations. This really matters for takeaway operations.
Is delivery fast?
Some suppliers say "three to five days" then take a week or more. Find one who keeps their word.
We meet the delivery times we promise because we know takeaway stores can't afford to wait—being out of stock for even one day means real losses. Check our shipping policy for details.
Do prices fluctuate randomly?
Some suppliers quote one price today and another next month. Look for transparent, stable pricing.
Our pricing stays transparent and stable—we won't suddenly hike prices and catch customers off guard. For long-term customers, we proactively offer better pricing arrangements. Learn more about our wholesale information.
Is packaging intact?
Sets come pre-assembled. If packaging is damaged or napkins are dirty, you might as well use loose cutlery. Check when deliveries arrive.
We inspect packaging quality before dispatch, but if damage does occur during transport, just contact us and we'll sort it out immediately—customer satisfaction is what we care about most.
Final Thoughts
Running a takeaway store means juggling enough already: food quality, service speed, platform ratings, on-time delivery...
Get the cutlery sorted properly and you won't need to think about it again.
Work out your usage, choose sets that suit your menu, find a reliable supplier—sorted.
The Thai store owner has her rhythm down now: "I restock at a set time each month, order enough boxes, the supplier delivers on time, and I don't even need to check stock."
Save that time and put it into improving your food, streamlining operations, boosting ratings—that's what actually matters.
By the way, if you've got any questions about choosing cutlery sets—not sure which type to pick, uncertain about quantities, want to optimize inventory management—reach out anytime. These consultations are completely free, and we're happy to help you find the best solution for your operation. After all, we've been in this business a while and have seen all sorts of takeaway setups—usually a quick chat is all it takes to give you some useful advice.
Don't puzzle over it alone—if you've got questions, just ask. We're here.
You can also browse our full wooden cutlery range or check out our complete catalogue for more options.
The scenarios and purchasing advice mentioned in this article are based on general experience sharing. Specific product specifications and figures may vary. For the most current product information and accurate data, please visit Pakio's official website or contact our team directly for consultation.
