Custom Printed Butcher Paper Rolls for Butchers and Barbecue Joints

What is butcher paper?

Butcher paper is a sturdy kraft paper that comes on a roll rather than in sheets. Staff pull off the length they need, so one roll handles a single sausage or a whole leg of lamb.

Because it is torn to length, there is no fixed sheet size to plan around. You choose the roll width, and the counter decides the length each time.

It is also forgiving to use. A wrap that comes out short can simply be torn again, which is harder to do with a stack of pre-cut sheets.

Who uses printed butcher paper?

Most rolls go to businesses where meat is the main event, but bakers and caterers use them too.

For a butcher, printed paper is often the only branded item a customer carries home. The parcel sits in the fridge for days, so the name stays in view long after the shop visit.

• Independent butchers wrapping cuts at the counter
• Barbecue restaurants serving brisket and ribs on lined trays
• Farm shops wrapping meat, cheese and pies to order
• Street food traders lining boards at the hatch
• Caterers covering trestle tables and grazing boards

How does a printed repeat work on a roll?

On sheets, a pattern is planned around fixed edges. On a roll, the design repeats endlessly along the length, so every torn piece carries the brand.

The two rolls in our photos show this well. One mixes a grill illustration and large lettering, the other scatters words and icons across the whole width. Either way, a short tear still shows a full logo.

1. Pick your roll width to suit your counter or dispenser.
2. Choose a repeat: one logo, mixed icons, or bold lettering.
3. Our designers set the repeat length so a typical tear shows the full mark.
4. Approve the free proof, which shows a section of roll at actual width.

Which roll width should a butcher choose?

Match the roll to the dispenser or bench you already have. A roll that is too wide for the cutter bar is awkward, and one that is too narrow wastes time with double wraps.

Most counters choose 450 mm for daily cuts. Shops selling whole joints and racks often keep a 600 mm roll as well. Sizes are guidance, so measure your dispenser before ordering.

Think about the biggest item you wrap often, not the biggest you ever sell. A width that covers your everyday cuts with a single wrap saves the most paper over a month.

Can butcher paper handle raw and cooked meat?

Butcher paper is valued for being tough and tear resistant when damp. For very fatty or juicy cuts, a grease-resistant coating is available on request.

Food-contact butcher paper is available on request; tell us whether the roll wraps raw meat, cooked meat or both, and we confirm it on your quote. Our guide to paper coatings and linings covers when a coating is worth adding.

Butcher paper or greaseproof paper: which do I need?

Both have a place on most food counters. The table below shows where each fits best.

If you also need branded sheets for smaller items, see our printed greaseproof paper sheets, which can carry the same artwork.

How does it work on a barbecue serving board?

Many barbecue venues serve brisket, pulled pork and ribs on a tray or board lined with a torn piece of butcher paper. The printed paper frames the meat, catches the juices and lifts away at the end, leaving the board easy to wipe.

Tear the paper a little longer than the board so the ends curl over the edge. The logo then appears at both ends of the board, which is where phones point when customers photograph the meal.

For sharing platters, a full-width piece from a 600 mm roll covers a large board in one go. Smaller trays can take a 300 mm or 450 mm tear, folded under at the ends for a neat finish.

Print tips for kraft rolls

Kraft paper is brown or tinted, so lighter inks fade into it. Dark inks such as black, deep red or navy show best, as the charcoal print on the peach rolls in our photos shows.

One colour suits almost every butcher roll. It keeps the look traditional and the print crisp on the textured surface. Full colour CMYK is possible, though bright tones look duller on brown paper than on white.

Keep lettering bold and fairly large. The kraft surface has a slight texture, so very thin strokes can break up in places once printed.

Storing and handling rolls at the counter

Keep spare rolls upright or in their wrapping, off the floor and away from chiller condensation. Damp ends tear unevenly and waste paper.

Load the roll so the printed side faces down on the bench. When staff fold it over the meat, the print ends up on the outside, facing the customer.

Write the date on each roll as it goes into use. It shows how long a roll actually lasts, which makes the next reorder much easier to plan.

What mistakes happen with butcher paper orders?

• Ordering a roll wider than the counter dispenser can hold
• Using pale ink that disappears on brown kraft paper
• Setting a long repeat, so short tears show half a logo
• Loading the roll print side up, so the brand ends up inside the parcel
• Skipping the coating on rolls used for very fatty cuts

How do I order custom butcher paper?

Send your roll width, roll count and artwork through our online quote request form, by email or on WhatsApp. Butcher paper rolls are priced from £0.25 per unit, and every price is confirmed on a written quote.

A free design proof comes first. Printed rolls are made over 4–6 business days from the day you approve it. Free tracked UK delivery then brings them to your door in 2–3 business days.

If you are switching from plain rolls, order a smaller first run alongside your usual supply. It lets staff get used to loading the printed side the right way.