Guide
Food Service Film: A Straight-Up Guide for NZ Hospo Operators
The wrong film wastes money, annoys your staff, and fails at the worst possible moment — here's how to pick the right one.
Food service film is one of those things you don't think about until you run out mid-service or the wrap tears every third pull. If you're covering raw protein in a prep fridge, wrapping cold sandwiches for a cabinet, or sealing prepped bowls overnight, the type of film you use actually matters.
This guide breaks down the main types of food service film stocked in NZ, when to use each one, and what to look for before you order. No filler — just the practical stuff.
What Is Food Service Film?
Food service film is a thin, flexible plastic film used in commercial kitchens to wrap, cover, and protect food. It clings to containers, trays, and food surfaces to keep things fresh, prevent cross-contamination, and meet basic food safety requirements.
It's not the same as household cling wrap. Commercial food service film is wider, longer, and designed to run on a dispenser box that holds up on a busy prep bench. Most rolls are 300mm or 450mm wide and run anywhere from 300 to 600 metres per roll, so you're not changing rolls every hour.
You'll find it used in nearly every type of hospo kitchen — pizza prep, sushi bars, burger joints, dessert kitchens, fish and chip shops. If raw ingredients sit in your fridge overnight, food service film is probably already in your workflow.
The Main Types: PVC Film, Cling Film, and Stretch Film
These terms get used interchangeably, but they're not all the same thing. Here's a plain comparison.
- PVC cling film (food grade): The most common type in NZ commercial kitchens. Clings well to itself and to bowls, trays, and gastronorm containers. Good for covering prepped food in the fridge. Not suitable for microwave use unless specifically rated for it.
- Polyethylene (PE) cling film: A softer, stretchier film. Often used where PVC is restricted or not preferred. Less aggressive cling than PVC but more puncture-resistant. Works well for wrapping irregular shapes like raw protein cuts.
- Stretch film / pallet wrap: A completely different product. Used for wrapping pallets and bulk goods for transport, not for direct food contact in the kitchen. Don't confuse it with food-grade wrap.
For most NZ hospo operators, you're choosing between PVC and PE cling film. The right pick depends on what you're covering and whether your local council or franchise has material restrictions.
Comparing Food Service Film Options Side by Side
Use this as a quick reference when you're deciding what to order.
- PVC cling film — strong cling, easy to cut cleanly, cost-effective, widely available in NZ. Best for covering gastronorms, mixing bowls, and prepped ingredients. Not for direct microwave use.
- PE cling film — softer, more flexible, better for wrapping raw meat or fish directly. Microwave-safe grades available. Slightly less clingy on hard container edges.
- Embossed/perforated film — less common, used where some airflow is needed, like wrapping certain produce. Rarely needed in standard hospo kitchens.
If your team wraps a mix of containers and raw product, some kitchens keep both PVC and PE rolls on hand and use each where it makes sense. Two rolls, two jobs, no compromise.
How to Choose the Right Roll Width and Length
Film comes in different widths and lengths. Getting this wrong means you're either fighting to cover a wide gastronorm or wasting film on a small bowl.
- 300mm wide: Suits smaller containers, deli trays, sandwich wrapping, and most standard prep bowls. Good for sushi prep and dessert kitchen work.
- 450mm wide: Better for full-size gastronorms, large mixing bowls, and covering whole trays. Common in pizza kitchens and high-volume prep environments.
- Roll length: Longer rolls (500m+) mean fewer changeovers. If your team wraps constantly through a service, the cost-per-metre on a long roll is lower and the interruptions are fewer.
Check what your dispenser box takes before you order. Most commercial dispensers handle either 300mm or 450mm rolls. Some handle both with a size adjustment. If you're ordering for the first time, measure your dispenser before you commit to a case.
Food Safety and Storage: What You Actually Need to Know
Food service film is part of your food safety setup, not just a convenience. A few basics worth knowing.
- Always use film labelled as food grade. Industrial stretch film is not a substitute.
- PVC film should not be used in direct microwave contact unless the packaging states it's microwave-safe.
- Store your film rolls away from heat and direct sunlight. A warm storeroom degrades the film over time and makes it harder to cut cleanly.
- Label and date everything you wrap if it's going into cold storage overnight. The film doesn't do that job for you.
Most NZ council food safety requirements don't specify the type of cling film you use, but they do require that raw proteins are covered and stored correctly. Food service film is the practical tool for meeting that standard.
What to Do Next
If you know what you need, head straight to our food service film product page and check current stock, roll sizes, and case quantities. We dispatch stocked lines on orders placed before 4pm on NZ business days.
Not sure yet? Our team can point you toward the right width and material for your kitchen. Either way, you're not stuck guessing. Browse food service film here or get in touch if you want a quick recommendation.
Frequently asked
What's the difference between PVC and PE food service film?+
PVC clings more aggressively and cuts cleanly, which makes it good for covering containers and gastronorms. PE film is softer and more flexible, better for wrapping raw meat or fish directly. Some kitchens use both depending on the job.
Can I use food service film in the microwave?+
Standard PVC cling film is not recommended for direct microwave use. If you need to reheat food covered in film, check the product spec — some PE-grade films are rated for microwave use. It'll say so on the roll or product listing.
What width should I order for covering gastronorm containers?+
For full-size gastronorms, 450mm wide film is the practical choice. For smaller containers, prep bowls, or sandwich wrapping, 300mm width is usually enough. Check your dispenser box size before ordering — most are built for one width or the other.
How long does a commercial roll of food service film last?+
That depends on how heavily your kitchen uses it. A 600-metre roll in a high-volume prep kitchen might last a few weeks. In a smaller operation, months. Buying by the case brings the per-roll cost down and keeps you from running out mid-service.
Is food service film recyclable or compostable?+
Standard PVC and PE cling films are not recyclable through kerbside collection in most NZ councils and are not compostable. If reducing plastic waste is a priority, look at alternatives like beeswax wraps for some applications, but these aren't practical for high-volume commercial use.
Do you stock dispensers as well as film rolls?+
Check our current product listings for dispenser availability. Film rolls are stocked in standard commercial sizes. If you're setting up a new prep station, it's worth ordering a dispenser and the right roll width at the same time.
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