PLATEAUX DE PRESENTATION

Atlas or Gastronorm: Which Format Should You Choose?

The first question to settle is not the material, but the format, because it determines whether the tray will fit your existing equipment.

Gastronorm has been the standard for professional kitchens since the 1960s. A GN 1/1, 1/2 or 1/4 tray fits into a trolley with runners, a refrigerated display case or a holding cabinet without any modification. If you load a truck with catering trolleys, this is the format you need. The Gastronorm trays in the range are available in Textura, Timmera and Komodo.

The Atlas format follows a different approach, focused on presentation. Its proportions are designed for catering presentation, and the range is much broader: four sizes, from 1/4 to 2/3, and around ten finishes. This is the format to choose when the tray will be seen by the end customer. Atlas trays make up the majority of the catalogue.

There is nothing to prevent you from combining both formats: GN for storage and transport, Atlas for the table.

Lids, Retaining Bands and Support Rails

A tray loaded with mini verrines that slides around in the truck means having to recreate the buffet on site. Three accessories address the problem, and they can be combined.

First, the lid: transparent rPET to keep the contents visible, or black or kraft cardboard when height is important. Cardboard lids are supplied flat: fold the four sides, insert them into the tray, and they provide enough height for more than just toast. Some Gastronorm lids can be used with both wooden and bagasse trays.

Next comes the kraft cardboard retaining band, which wraps around the tray and lid as a whole. It prevents the lid from opening during handling, which is particularly useful when carrying a tray by hand up or down stairs.

Finally, the removable kraft support rail is placed at the bottom of the tray before arranging the food. It takes any marks instead of the tray, leaving the tray clean and ready for its next use. With a reusable tray, this can make the difference between ten rotations and fifty.

Materials Available in the Comatec Range

Cardboard trays dominate the catalogue. The Caterlux range offers a premium finish, with satin surfaces treated to resist scratches, available in black, white or kraft, with sloping sides or straight edges. The Natural tray, made from kraft cardboard laminated with PET, is grease-resistant and suitable for use in the oven, microwave and freezer.

Hopla deserves special mention: made in France from wood sourced from French forests, it is assembled by clipping its four corners together like a puzzle piece and supplied flat. You can store the sheets and assemble them when needed for service.

The other wooden trays are divided according to their intended use. Madera, made from poplar laminated with greaseproof paper, is grease-resistant and suitable for both oven and microwave use. Timmera also withstands freezing. Popla, made from untreated poplar with raised edges, is designed for a more natural serving style.

The bamboo trays in the Karou and Mika ranges are moisture-resistant, can be cleaned with a cloth and reused. Among the plastic options, Textura imitates slate across its entire surface and can be washed at 60°C, Stone features textured edges, and Cubik is eco-designed using less material, with flared edges that also serve as handles.

Disposable or Reusable Tray?

Nearly four out of ten trays in this category are reusable, and the calculation is different from that of a food container. A tray does not leave with the customer: it comes back, or remains with you. Reuse therefore becomes the standard as soon as you have an efficient return logistics system in place.

Textura and Stone can be washed and reused. Bamboo can be wiped clean. Conversely, a single-use cardboard tray remains relevant when a buffet is delivered and left on site, or when cleaning costs more than the tray itself.

The PlanetScore© rating displayed on each product sheet, from A to E, makes it possible to compare two similar trays, while the Manufacturing, Recyclable and Reusable filters allow you to sort the category in one click. A significant part of the catalogue is made in France, and the reusable range includes products designed to meet reuse requirements for on-site service.

Comatec, Presentation Tray Supplier

A tray should be judged when it is loaded, not when it is empty: how well it holds once filled with verrines, how the lid fits over it, and how it behaves during transport. Request your free samples and test them with your own presentation before placing an order. Online quotations take over for larger volumes, and delivery is free on orders over €350 excluding VAT.

These trays can be combined with display stands to add height to the buffet, with verrines placed on them, as well as with the entire range of trays and display stands.