Bored with the same-old, same-old? We’ve got some ideas to spark up your food presentation skills in bakery and deli displays.
Got a selection of lush salads, cured meat, cheese, deli goods, and bakery items? You need to make them look so good, no-one can resist buying them. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to make yummy food look great, and most Kiwis are a sucker for some treats. Whether it’s some fancy cheese or a no-effort dinner of a rotisserie chicken, bread rolls, and some deli salads, you can make your deli and bakery display solutions inspiring and mouth-watering.
Be Decadent with Cake Stands
Cake stands can introduce height to displays, they can be used with cake covers, and they are not only for cakes. Almost anything will look lush when styled nicely on a cake stand, whether its cheese, dessert, or deli meats.
There are a few different ways to do this. Try:
- A melamine pedestal stand that provides the versatility of putting whatever platter you like on top
- A classic white cake stand for that timeless appeal
- A stylish black acrylic stand that looks ceramic to add style and an expensive vibe
- Stainless steel stands for a more functional, modern, or utilitarian look
And don’t forget the cake stand cover to protect against sneezes and to add a touch of elegance.
Add a Flourish of Green
To break up a display of things that are the same colour or texture, some fresh green plants can really liven up a display. Of course, real plants aren’t necessarily safe or hygienic, so you need some fronds you can throw in the dishwasher or wash with bleach.
From grapes to lettuce leaves, box hedges to the classic parsley sprigs, it can really elevate a display.
Use Height
Any designer, whether it’s for architecture or a website, knows that the use of height and space is vital to create a pleasing aesthetic. Sometimes, it’s great to have pastries piled up into some kind of lush mountain, other times, it’s great to have a regular and orderly look. Not only do height differences create visual appeal, but it’s also highly functional, so customers can easily see everything. It’s also simple economics; retail space is expensive, make the best use of it.
We have a selection of risers to choose from. From 40mm high, 80mm high, 120mm high, or in three-step sets.
Natural and Rustic Displays
While this doesn’t work for everyone, a beautiful natural affect can look really enticing- especially in a bakery department.
Our range of wicker baskets in NZ are food safe, super hygienic, and look fantastic.
Vary the Surface of the Chopping Board, Plate, or Tray
There are so many different options for displaying food on a plate or tray. It’s not just plain white plates and bowls (although they can be super effective in making the food the star of the show).
Timber, coloured, and different sized plates, bowls, and platters really spice up tired displays.
- Timber boards 380 x 270mm, 430 x 275mm, and 300mm round
- Melamine Asian platter 395 x 260mm in black and white
- Slate coloured melamine chopping boards and platters in 285 x 430mm, 285 x 350mm, 285 x 285mm, and 285mm round
- Rustic oak melamine trays in 176 x 325mm and 265 x 325mm
- Melamine ‘concrete’ platters in 256 x 162mm and 325 x 265mm
- Melamine ‘skillet’
Things to Think About When Displaying Food
You also need to meet various food compliance laws, and ensure that veg and non-veg are well separated; same for pork and non-pork items. As NZ becomes increasingly diverse, both in culture and how we eat, this needs to be recognised in the variety of food, and how it’s displayed.
For example, dropping a pork or beef item on a vegetarian dish renders it inedible for vegetarians, vegans, Muslims and Jews (no pork), and Hindus (no beef). A dairy-based sauce dripped on a dairy free item can spell havoc for the stomach of someone allergic to milk. Or, gluten-containing items snuggled up to, say, macarons, renders them inedible to someone with coeliac disease.
Managing these risks happens in a variety of ways. Think about:
- Not topping up salad bowls while in the serving area
- Having easy to clean bowls and plates with no crevices for food to get stuck into
- Having barriers between bowls or plates so items don’t mix
You can totally do this in a beautiful way and make your food displays look incredible.
Labelling Laws in NZ
A retail food item doesn’t need a label if it doesn’t have a package, is made on premises, and is packaged up in front of the customer. Essentially, this means most delis and bakeries in NZ. What you must do, however, is display any health and safety information, and make relevant product information available to the customer.
This information could include:
- Allergens
- Best before information
- Date it was baked/ created
- Advisories or warnings
- Religious or dietary choice information
This means that you need a way to display food information in an attractive way that doesn’t interfere with the display, or adds to the charm of the display. This could include:
- Table top card holders which sit flush with the surface
- Standard card displays with a variety of styles. Includes hinge blocks in black or white which clip to white or black extension rods, tray clips, white and black square bases, black and white round bases, and card holders
- Clip that is attached directly to circular products either in 45mm or 80mm
- Complete clear cardholder stands with round bases, either 150mm or 100mm high
- Metal hinged ticket clip
- T-piece ticket holder, either short or tall
- A blackboard and use a liquid chalk pen to avoid dust on products
- Spike tickets that can be pushed directly into cheeses or meats
- Menu/ table ring 50mm tall
- Harp table stand, 35mm or 50mm tall
The label holder must be appropriate for the item, for example a chalkboard isn’t appropriate in a refrigerator. It also must be easy to clean to meet commercial standards.
Create Deli and Bakery Displays with Swag
If you want to make an impact with your customers, you have to up your game. At Mills, we’ve got years of experience in the industry, combining technical skills and functionality with modern design trends and flair. Contact us for advice, ideas, and products that can turn your ho-hum displays into hype
