Packaging
Brown Paper Bags
Sturdy kraft bags for takeaway, retail, and everything in between — stocked in depth so you're not caught short on a Friday night.
Brown paper bags are a staple for a reason. They're strong, they look decent on the counter, and customers expect them. We stock a solid range of kraft paper bags — flat bags for wrapping, SOS stand-up bags for groceries and takeaway, and twisted-handle carry bags for retail and gifting.
All available in wholesale quantities. No minimum on most stocked lines. Order before 4pm on a business day and we dispatch same day.
Which Brown Paper Bag Do You Actually Need?
Not all brown bags paper does the same job. Here's the quick breakdown:
- Flat brown paper bags — thin-walled, no gusset. Good for wrapping sandwiches, pastries, or lining baskets. Not great for heavy loads.
- SOS (self-opening style) bags — square bottom, stands up on its own. Standard for grocery, fish and chips, fried chicken, bakery. Handles weight well.
- Twisted-handle carry bags — the sturdier retail option. Kraft with a paper twist handle. Works for dessert boxes, bottle shops, boutique takeaway.
- Flat-bottom gusset bags — wider base than a flat bag, no handle. Good for loose items or secondary packaging inside a box.
If you're doing high-volume fish and chips or fried chicken, SOS bags are your workhorse. If you're running a cafe with cabinet food, flat bags cover most of it.
Sizes We Stock
We carry brown paper bags across a range of sizes to cover most hospitality use cases:
- Small flat bags — suit a single pastry or roll
- Medium flat bags — two to three items, or a filled sandwich wrap
- SOS bags, small to large — from a snack portion up to a full family takeaway order
- Twisted-handle carry bags — small (boutique retail) through to large (multi-item meal orders)
Check individual product listings for exact dimensions in millimetres. If you need a size that's not listed, get in touch and we'll tell you straight whether we can source it.
Kraft vs White: What's the Difference for Your Operation?
Brown kraft bags and white paper bags are made from the same base material — they just look different and signal something different to your customer.
Brown kraft reads as natural, low-waste, unpretentious. It suits fish and chip shops, burger joints, bakeries, food trucks. It's also usually cheaper.
White paper bags are bleached or coated. They suit patisseries, dessert bars, or anyone whose brand is clean and minimal. They do cost a bit more.
For most high-volume hospo operations, brown kraft is the right call. It's tougher, it hides grease marks better, and you're not paying a premium for a colour that doesn't move the needle on your product.
Bulk Pricing and Custom Print
We sell brown paper bags by the carton. The more you buy, the less you pay per bag — straightforward volume pricing, no mystery tiers.
Custom printed brown bags are available on larger runs. If you want your logo on the bag, talk to us about minimum quantities and lead times before you need them. Custom print is not a same-day product. Allow production lead time.
For plain stocked bags, order before 4pm on a NZ business day and we dispatch that day.
Sustainability: What You Should Actually Know
Brown kraft paper bags are made from wood pulp. Most are recyclable through standard paper recycling in NZ. Some are compostable depending on any coatings or liners — check the spec sheet on the individual product if that matters to your council's waste programme.
We're not going to oversell the environmental story. Paper bags use more water and energy to make than plastic. They're also recyclable and they break down. For most hospo operators, they're a pragmatic choice that works with NZ's recycling infrastructure. That's a reasonable position to take.
Frequently asked
What's the minimum order for brown paper bags?+
No enforced minimum on most stocked lines. You can order a single carton. Bulk pricing kicks in at higher quantities — the product page will show the price breaks.
Do you do same-day dispatch?+
Yes, on stocked lines. Order before 4pm on a NZ business day and your order goes out that day. Non-stocked or custom items have a longer lead time.
Can I get brown paper bags printed with my logo?+
Yes. Custom print is available on larger runs. It's not a same-day or even same-week product — there's a production lead time involved. Contact us with your artwork and quantity before you're in a rush.
Are your brown paper bags grease-resistant?+
Standard kraft bags are not grease-lined. For oily food like fried chicken or chips, SOS bags handle it better than flat bags, but if you need genuine grease resistance you should look at our greaseproof-lined options. Check the individual product spec.
Are these bags recyclable or compostable?+
Plain brown kraft bags are recyclable through standard NZ paper recycling. Compostability depends on coatings and liners — check the product page spec. When in doubt, ask us and we'll give you a straight answer.
What sizes do SOS brown paper bags come in?+
We stock SOS bags from small snack size up to large family-meal size. Exact dimensions in millimetres are listed on each product page. If you're not sure which size fits your portion, order a sample carton before committing to a full pallet.
Keep reading
Same-day dispatch
Order before 4pm. Out the door same day.
Full range, customer-specific pricing, stocked in NZ.