For meal-prep and takeaway businesses, the design of the packaging tray isn’t just a detail—it matters for cost, operations, branding and customer experience. One of the key decisions is the number of compartments: should you go for a 2-compartment tray or a 3-compartment tray? Both have strong use-cases, so the smarter choice depends on your menu and operating model.
Here’s a breakdown to help you choose, along with a look at how our range of sustainable compartment trays at Carewell Group can support your decision.
What Each Format Offers
2-Compartment Trays
- Ideal for simpler meals: one large compartment for main, one smaller for a side or salad.
- More cost-efficient: fewer compartments mean less tooling complexity, slightly lower material use, and often lower cost.
- Faster fill lines: less complexity in portioning.
- Great for takeaway offerings where minimal separation is needed (e.g., sandwich + chips, rice + curry).
- Less versatility for meals with multiple sides or sauces.
3-Compartment Trays
- Provides extra separation: ideal for a main, vegetable/side, and sauce or salad. The extra compartment offers more flexibility in meal design. lrpacking.com
- Enhanced presentation: customers see distinct elements of the meal, adding perceived value.
- Better for nutrition-focused meal offerings: allows staple + two sides/veg combinations. packagingbag5.com
- Slightly more cost per piece (because of added division), and may increase fill-line complexity.
How to Pick Based on Your Business Model
- Menu complexity: If you’re offering simple combos (main + side), a 2-compartment tray may suffice. If your meal-prep service includes mains + two sides or sauces, a 3-compartment model makes more sense.
- Portion control & nutrition: If you emphasise balanced meals (protein, carb, veg), the third compartment supports that structure.
- Cost & throughput: If your production is high-volume and cost-sensitive, 2-compartment might reduce tooling, fill time and material cost.
- Brand positioning: A 3-compartment tray gives a premium feel and can support higher price points or premium brand messaging.
- Logistics & transport: More compartments mean more walls and internal structure—so check how it stacks, seals and ships.
Operational Impacts
- Fill line layout: 3-compartment trays may need a third feeder or divider; 2-compartment faster.
- Sealing and lid alignment: More compartments mean more lid interface; make sure the sealing performance is strong.
- Waste and leftover space: If one compartment stays mostly empty, you’re paying for unused space—so optimise size.
- Material sustainability: Both tray types need to align with your eco-goals. As you evaluate compartments count, also evaluate material choice (recyclable, compostable) and ensure you’re using the right substrate for your brand.
Why Sustainability Matters in Tray Choice
As Australian packaging regulation tightens, the material you select becomes as important as how many compartments you include. At Carewell Group, our sustainable compartment trays are designed to match your compartment format while using compliant, eco-friendly materials. You shouldn’t have to compromise on sustainability just because you need a more complex tray.
Choosing the right compartment count and the right tray material helps you hit three goals simultaneously: operational efficiency, customer appeal, and environmental compliance.
Decision Table: 2 vs 3 Compartments
| Aspect | 2-Compartment Tray | 3-Compartment Tray |
|---|---|---|
| Meal simplicity | Suitable for straightforward combos | More flexible for mains + two sides |
| Fill line speed | Faster, simpler | Slightly more complex |
| Material cost | Lower per unit | Slightly higher |
| Presentation / premium | Good | Stronger visual segmentation |
| Versatility | Less flexible | More adaptable to varied menus |
| Sustainability options | Works well | Also works—material matters more than compartment count |
