Plastic spoons are convenient because they're disposable and cheaper than stocking silverware. Whether you're stocking a restaurant, concession stand or an office cafeteria or break room, the right type of plastic spoon is important for customer safety and satisfaction.

Your food-based business determines the type of plastic spoons you should purchase from a plastic spoons provider. You can find plastic spoons made for soup or sampling. There are also colored spoons, teaspoons, plastic wrapped spoons, biodegradable spoons and dishwasher safe plastic spoons. When researching plastic spoons information, consider the following:

1. Stock up on colored spoons, if you want to stand out and give your customers something to remember. Colored plastic spoons aren't offered by many food businesses.

2. Look for spoons advertised as heavyweight spoons. This indicates that the spoon can withstand a certain amount of wear and tear before breaking. Thinner spoons pose a safety hazard to small children who might break them by banging them on tables or biting them.

3. Look into biodegradable spoons, if your business is environmentally conscious or services a large group of environmentally conscious clients.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a variety of colored plastic spoons online

Most plastic spoon providers offer clear or white plastic spoons. However, party supply stores specialize in color coordinating utensils and will have a large variety of colored plastic spoons. Buying colored spoons is a splurge, but it's worth the extra money if your customers like the change from normal white utensils.

I recommend: Browse over 30 color choices for plastic spoons at PrettyPartyPlace.com. The Mike Feinberg Company offers an array of colored tableware, with plastic spoon packages competitively priced.

Browse a plastic spoons directory for wholesale pricing

A directory that provides a plastic spoons list is helpful when trying to find wholesale pricing or leading plastic spoon manufacturers. Plastic spoon wholesalers stock retail outlets and restaurants.

I recommend: Find a huge selection of plastic spoons at wholesale prices through Concord Enterprises. Find plastic spoons or plastic utensil varieties at Bayview Wholesale.

Go green with biodegradable plastic spoons

The environment is a hot topic politically and socially. As more people become environmentally conscious, businesses that use an abundance of wasteful products will see a slow down in business. You can help keep business going, while at the same time helping the environment, by using biodegradable plastic spoons.

I recommend: Get plastic spoons made from corn that compost in no more than 60 days at Eco-Products. Order biodegradable plastic spoons that ship in biodegradable packaging from Eco-Wise.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check the return policy of any company you buy plastic spoons from. Some companies charge a restocking fee and won't cover return shipping charges. Keep looking for a supplier if the return policies of a company are too stringent.