Delivering operational practicality alongside environmental performance

Grab and go operators are under more pressure than ever to serve high volumes of consumers at speed, while also meeting growing expectations around sustainability, product visibility, portability and food quality.

Across the UK and Europe, suppliers are responding with smarter packaging formats, fibre-based innovations and operational equipment that help sites move customers through quickly without compromising presentation or performance.

Sabert’s 2Go range: designed for speed, efficiency and presentation

One of the clearest areas of innovation has been in ready to eat and chilled food packaging, driven by increasing pressure on operators to serve high volumes of consumers quickly and efficiently. In response, Sabert has developed 2Go range, a cohesive portfolio of solution including Snap2Go, Tray2Go and the newly revamped Deli2Go. Designed to support speed, efficiency, and consistency in food-to-go environments, the range combines smart functionality with strong product presentation.

The updated Deli2Go range, for example, has attracted widespread industry attention following its relaunch across Europe for its improved stackability, enhanced visibility and portability. A key differentiator is the integration of the award-winning Tray2Go liner system, designed to support faster food prep and easier transport for consumers while maintaining strong product presentation standards.

Pulp Ultra®: next-generation fibre packaging for high-performance foodservice

Interest has also surged around Pulp Ultra®, Sabert’s next generation fibre packaging platform, which has been positioned as a “game-changer” for food packaging across European foodservice markets. Pulp Ultra® has gained traction because it directly addresses two major operator concerns simultaneously; operational efficiency and environmental compliance. The range delivers strong grease and moisture resistance

without intentionally added PFAS, while maintaining the rigidity and stackability required for high throughput grab and go operations. Key highlights include its barrier coating performance, heat sealing compatibility and suitability for chilled prepared foods.

Pulp Ultra® trays are suitable for freezers, ovens, microwaves, and high-speed ovens, while also delivering strong oil and grease resistance for hot-food applications. Sabert says the format outperforms many laminated alternatives while remaining suitable for single PET sealing and multi-welding applications.

From a material and compliance perspective, Pulp Ultra® solutions are made from more than 95% bagasse fibres with a specialist barrier spray coating comprising less than 5% of the pack. The packaging is recyclable under the UK Recycling Assessment Methodology, certified under TÜV OK Compost Home and Industrial, and contains no intentionally added PFAS.

Proof of concept: Carambola

Importantly, recent proof of concept projects demonstrate how Pulp Ultra® performs in demanding real-world foodservice environments. One standout example is Sabert Corporation Europe’s partnership with Irish school meals provider Carambola, which adopted Pulp Ultra® trays for its ready meal programme.

Carambola required a tray that was fully domestically compostable, aesthetically engaging for children and operationally versatile enough to withstand freezing, sealing, transportation, reheating and service. The Pulp Ultra® solution proved particularly effective because it could move seamlessly through the entire meal production chain.

The outcome has been transformative for the operator. Carambola describes Pulp Ultra® as the “first domestically compostable tray for childrens’ ready meals in Ireland”, helping the business exceed its sustainability goals while improving the end user experience for schools and pupils alike. Colm O’Brien, Carambola’s co-founder and co-managing director, said the packaging had completely changed both meal production and the child experience in schools, describing the final result as “worlds apart” from the company’s previous packaging formats.

This type of case study is increasingly important in the food to go market because operators are no longer looking for sustainability credentials alone. They need packaging capable of surviving high volume operational pressures without slowing down production, impacting food quality or compromising customer experience. Pulp Ultra® ’s success with Carambola demonstrates how fibre-based packaging can now deliver against demanding operational requirements while also meeting tightening regulatory and environmental expectations.

Integrated solutions for today’s food-to-go challenge

Alongside packaging innovation, suppliers are also helping operators improve throughput through better merchandising and hot holding capabilities. Across forecourts, convenience retail and travel hubs, operators are investing in heated display units and modular holding systems that maintain food quality while enabling faster self-service. The growth of hybrid hot and cold grab and go formats is driving demand for equipment that supports rapid replenishment, compact footprints and energy efficiency.

Ultimately, the latest generation of grab and go innovation is not just about packaging aesthetics. Operators increasingly require integrated solutions that reduce friction during busy service periods, extend shelf appeal, protect food quality and align with tightening sustainability regulations. Through innovations as the 2Go Range and Pulp Ultra® solution, Sabert is responding directly to these needs, combining operational practicality with environmental performance. The strong market interest around these solutions demonstrates how suppliers able to support both speed of service and compliance are gaining the greatest traction across Europe’s fast evolving food-to-go sector.