PLATEAUX ATLAS

The Atlas Format for Caterers, Buffets and Cocktails

You are setting up a buffet for eighty guests. Three 1/1 trays in the centre, 2/3 and 1/2 trays along the edges, and a 1/4 tray for sweet treats. Nothing extends beyond the table, and there are no gaps between two trays.

That is the whole point of the format. The different sizes, 1/1, 2/3, 1/2 and 1/4, allow you to arrange your presentation according to the available space and the number of pieces to be served. You can plan your table layout in advance, on paper, instead of figuring it out on the day. The same applies when loading the truck: the trays follow the same format logic, making it easier to organise stacks during transport.

Atlas is a presentation format, not an equipment format. If your oven or display cabinet requires specific dimensions, take a look at gastronorm trays instead. Many supports do not follow any standardised format either: they can be found in trays and display stands.

Colours and Finishes

Your customer photographs the tray before touching it. The photo might as well look good.

Caterlux is made from cardboard and is available in black, white or kraft. Its satin-finish surface is treated to resist scratches.

Textura is available in black or white, with a matt slate-effect finish on the base and edges.

Cubik has a frosted surface and flared edges that can be used as handles. It is available in black, crystal and water green.

Mika is made from bamboo, while Timmera is made from natural wood. Both allow the natural grain of the material to show through.

Black makes light-coloured food and colourful appetisers stand out. Wood works particularly well with cheese, charcuterie and rustic-style sweet treats. These two materials also have their own dedicated pages: wooden trays and bamboo trays. To add height and dimension to the table, move on to display stands.

Transporting a Fully Prepared Tray

The truck takes a roundabout a little too quickly. On an uncovered tray, all the verrines slide in the same direction.

There are four solutions, and they can be combined:

• the transparent lid, which keeps the presentation visible while protecting it in the display cabinet;
• the black or kraft cardboard lid, supplied flat and taller to accommodate larger pieces;
• the kraft retaining ring, which holds the tray and lid together and prevents them from opening;
• the tray with a non-slip coating, flexible enough to slide into a transport case.

The kraft divider is placed on the tray before arranging the food. The tray comes back clean and can be used again. For the rest of your logistics needs, feel free to visit our bags and transport category.

Disposable or Washable Trays

The day after an event, washable trays come back dirty in the crates and go through the dishwasher. Disposable trays, on the other hand, stay with the customer.

It all depends on what you recover after the event. Textura and Stone are made from rigid plastic, can be washed at 60 °C and are designed for repeated use. Mika, made from bamboo, can also be reused. At a wedding or seminar, however, equipment does not always come back: in that case, single-use cardboard means you do not have to chase after your trays.

If the tray needs to withstand cold or heat, Natural, made from kraft cardboard, features a PET coating that makes it grease-resistant and suitable for use in the oven, microwave and freezer. Other cardboard models can be found on the cardboard trays page, while reusable models are available in the reusable range.

Storage in Your Stockroom

On a Friday evening, you open the stockroom and find that the trays are taking up an entire shelf for just two events. It is the kind of calculation you never make when placing the order.

Hopla, made from wood sourced from French forests, arrives flat-packed and is assembled by clipping its four corners together, like a puzzle. Cubik is stackable and eco-designed, using less material and reduced packaging. In both cases, you free up shelf space, and restocking is no longer limited by available storage space.

Comatec, Atlas Tray Supplier

Comatec has been designing and distributing food packaging since 1994, from Carcassonne. The country of manufacture, France or Europe, is indicated on each product page, and lids and accessories are referenced according to each format.

Part of the range can be customised with your branding: choose customisation if the tray will be seen by your end customer. Request free samples: a tray's finish should be judged under the lighting of your buffet, not on a screen. Delivery is free for orders over €350 excl. VAT.