Quick answer
A par sheet is a one page list of every disposable you use, how many cases you want on hand (the par), and how many you have right now. Count once a week on the same day, order the difference, and set the par at about one and a half weeks of usage. It takes ten minutes and ends emergency supply runs.
Why disposables need a par
Food gets counted because it spoils. Disposables do not spoil, so they get ignored until the moment a cup size runs out mid rush. A par sheet treats cups, containers, bags, gloves and can liners like inventory, which is what they are: usually the second or third largest line on a takeout restaurant's purchase list.
Step 1: List everything, by case
Walk the storeroom and the line and write down every disposable SKU, with its case size. Be specific: "16 oz PET cold cup, 1000/case" not "cups." Most kitchens land between 25 and 45 items. Group them the way they are stored so the weekly count follows your feet.
Step 2: Set the par
Look at the last four weeks of invoices and work out weekly usage for each item. Set par at about one and a half times weekly usage if you get a weekly delivery, or two and a half times for biweekly. Round up to whole cases. Items with long lead times, like custom printed bags, get a higher par.
Step 3: Count on the same day every week
Pick the day before your delivery and the same person each time. Count in cases, counting an open case as a half. The order quantity is simply par minus on hand, rounded up. The whole count is ten to fifteen minutes once the sheet exists.
Step 4: Turn it into a standing order
After three or four weeks you will see that most items order the same quantity every time. Those become a standing order that arrives on your route day without anyone placing it. The count then only catches the items that moved, which is the point.
Signs the par is wrong
- You ran out: raise the par by one case.
- Cases are stacked in the hallway: lower it, or move that item to a pallet drop every other month.
- Seasonal swings: cold cups in summer, hot cups in winter. Adjust pars in May and October.
Want a starting template? Ask us when you request pricing and we will send a par sheet pre filled with the items you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What should the par level be for disposables?
About one and a half weeks of usage if you receive weekly deliveries, two and a half weeks if biweekly, rounded up to whole cases. Raise it for long lead items like custom printed bags.
How often should I count disposables?
Once a week, on the day before your delivery, by the same person. Counting in cases keeps it to about ten minutes.
Can MDD Supply set up a standing order from my par sheet?
Yes. Once your weekly quantities settle, we turn them into a standing order on your route day and you only adjust the items that change.
Want pricing on what you just read about?
Tell us what your kitchen goes through and we reply the same business day.