March 21, 2026
U.S. restaurant and foodservice sales surpassed $1 trillion for the first time in 2023 and were projected to reach $1.1 trillion in 2024, driving demand for an estimated $38.9 billion U.S. take-out container market that same year (National Restaurant Association, 2024; Market Research Future, 2024). No specialty state license is required to sell or distribute take-out containers in Tennessee; the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) regulated professions list does not include food packaging dealers. All Tennessee businesses must register through the Tennessee Secretary of State and obtain a business license for $15 per location through the Tennessee Taxpayer Access Point (TNTAP) portal at tntap.tn.gov. Under Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) § 67-6-329(a)(13), packaging materials that fully enclose products accompanying the customer at the point of retail sale, including boxes, bags, clamshells, and cups, are exempt from Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax; food service businesses may purchase qualifying take-out containers tax-free by presenting a completed Streamlined Certificate of Exemption to their supplier. Product materials must comply with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food contact regulations under 21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 174–186.
These figures contextualize the strong commercial activity Tennessee consumers experience locally. The Nashville metro area reached approximately 1,333,000 residents in 2024, growing 1.37% from the prior year (Tennessee State Data Center, 2025), making it one of the most active markets for restaurant expansion in the Southeast and generating concentrated demand for food packaging across quick-service, catering, and event foodservice operations. Knoxville, with a metro population of approximately 796,000 in 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2025), supports a stable restaurant sector driven by the University of Tennessee’s population of more than 30,000 students and a tourism corridor extending into the Smoky Mountains. The Chattanooga metro grew approximately 4.5% between 2020 and 2023 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023); THS Foodservice has served the southeast Tennessee, north Georgia, and north Alabama foodservice market from its Chattanooga base since 1958, supplying paper products and disposables within a 100-mile delivery radius.
Federal oversight extends to this market in Tennessee, adding nationally uniform requirements. No specialty Tennessee state license applies to distributors of food packaging; product compliance is governed federally by FDA under 21 CFR Parts 174–186, which require that materials used in food contact applications, including paperboard, polymers, and coatings, do not impart harm, off-taste, or odor to food content. Tennessee state law preempts local governments from enacting bans on specific packaging materials, including polystyrene foam containers, meaning no municipality in the state, including Nashville or Memphis, may independently restrict the sale of foam food packaging. The FDA revoked food contact substance notifications (FCNs) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in grease-resistant paper packaging in January 2025, and major manufacturers have voluntarily phased out PFAS-containing materials nationally; Tennessee has not enacted a separate state PFAS food packaging law as of March 2026. The Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) at fpi.org offers free affiliate membership for foodservice operators and distributors and publishes an annual compliance manual covering FDA, state, and sustainability requirements. The Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) at iopp.org offers the Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) designation, which requires six years of industry experience and a 150-question online exam, with recertification required every three years.
With the regulatory context now clear, practical purchasing advice takes center stage. FDA food-contact compliance, compostability certification, and per-unit cost at case volume are the three details Tennessee restaurant operators weigh most heavily when choosing a take-out container supplier. Each take-out container material carries its own FDA food contact standard, 21 CFR Part 176 for paper and paperboard, 21 CFR Part 177 for plastic polymers, and may request a Letter of Guaranty or supplier Declaration of Compliance as documentation. Sustainability claims such as “compostable” or “biodegradable” are best supported by specific certification, such as ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) D6400 or D6868 for compostability; the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s How2Recycle label at sustainablepackaging.org provides an independently verified recyclability designation that simplifies evaluation of supplier claims. Buyers who qualify under TCA § 67-6-329(a)(13) can present a completed Streamlined Certificate of Exemption to the supplier, who must then apply the tax exemption at the point of sale. The Better Business Bureau at bbb.org provides complaint histories and accreditation status for individual suppliers. Consumers who encounter product misrepresentation, including false FDA compliance claims or deceptive billing, may file a complaint under TCA § 47-18-104 through the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs at tn.gov/consumer. Documented FDA compliance substantiates any microwave-safe claims on take-out containers, BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) certification validates compostability designations, and per-unit pricing comparisons across case quantities help Tennessee restaurant operators identify the most cost-effective option for their volume.
Top Take-Out Containers Providers in Tennessee
Nashville Wraps
- Address: 242 Molly Walton Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075
- Phone: (615) 338-3200
- Website: https://www.nashvillewraps.com
- Description: Green Way line Operating a 160,000-square-foot wholesale packaging facility in Hendersonville since 1976, Nashville Wraps ships within 24 hours of order placement with approximately 85% of its catalog manufactured in the United States. The company offers an FDA-compliant, poly-lined, microwave-safe Bio-Plus Earth take-out box line made in the U.S., alongside conventional and sustainable packaging options for bakeries, caterers, and foodservice operators.
American Paper & Twine — Nashville
- Address: 7400 Cockrill Bend Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209
- Phone: (615) 350-9000
- Website: https://www.shopapt.com
- Description: Now a division of Imperial Dade, one of North America’s largest foodservice and facility supply distributors, American Paper & Twine traces its Nashville operations back to 1926 and continues to serve as a wholesale distributor of janitorial, packaging, and disposable foodservice products from its Cockrill Bend facility, one of the largest foodservice and facility supply distributors in North America. The Nashville location distributes packaging brands including Anchor Packaging, Dart Container, Genpak, Pactiv, and Solo, and serves foodservice operators across Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Memphis.
Singer H&R — Nashville
- Address: 2508 Perimeter Place Drive, Nashville, TN 37214
- Phone: (615) 882-0591
- Website: https://www.hnrsupply.com
- Description: Singer H&R (Hotel & Restaurant Supply) is a division of Singer Equipment Company, one of the five largest foodservice equipment and supply distributors in the United States, and has operated its Nashville location since 2005 from a 20,000-square-foot showroom and warehouse at Perimeter Place Drive. The Nashville location serves restaurant groups and single-unit operators across Middle Tennessee with both disposable packaging and full commercial kitchen equipment procurement and design services.
THS Foodservice, Inc.
- Address: 801 E. 12th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403
- Phone: (423) 267-3821
- Website: https://www.thsfs.com
- Description: Rooted in Chattanooga for more than 65 years under its original name Tennessee Hotel Supply, THS Foodservice remains a locally owned wholesale foodservice distributor serving the restaurant and hospitality industry across southeast Tennessee, north Georgia, and north Alabama. The company maintains a Will Call program open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with no minimum order and no account required for walk-in customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a business need a special license to sell take-out containers in Tennessee?
No specialty state license is required to sell or distribute take-out containers in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance regulated professions list does not include packaging dealers or distributors. Sellers must complete standard Tennessee business registration, including Secretary of State registration, a business license for $15 per location through TNTAP, and a Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Registration (free, obtained through TNTAP) before making taxable sales.
Are take-out containers exempt from Tennessee sales tax?
Under TCA § 67-6-329(a)(13), packaging materials that fully enclose tangible personal property accompanying the product to the customer at the point of retail sale are exempt from Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax and applicable local option taxes. This exemption applies to boxes, clamshells, bags, cups, and similar containers used to package food sold to customers, a direct application for restaurants and foodservice operators purchasing take-out packaging from Tennessee distributors. To claim the exemption, the buyer must provide the seller with a completed Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption, selecting the “other” exemption category and describing the qualifying use.
What FDA regulations govern take-out container materials?
The FDA regulates food contact materials under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and its implementing regulations at 21 CFR Parts 174–186. Paper and paperboard containers used for food packaging must comply with 21 CFR Part 176, which lists permitted substances and their conditions of use in paper-based food contact applications. Plastic containers, including polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene, are governed by 21 CFR Part 177.
Are foam (polystyrene) food containers banned in Tennessee?
No. Tennessee state law preempts local governments from enacting bans on specific packaging materials, including polystyrene foam containers. As a result, no Tennessee municipality, including Nashville or Memphis, may independently prohibit the sale or use of foam food containers.
How can buyers evaluate sustainability or compostability claims from packaging suppliers?
Buyers should require documentation supporting any “compostable,” “biodegradable,” or “recyclable” claim on take-out packaging. Compostable packaging should carry certification to ASTM D6400 (for plastics-based materials) or ASTM D6868 (for coated paper or packaging with plastic film), which verify that the product meets industrial composting performance standards. The Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s How2Recycle label program, accessible at sustainablepackaging.org, provides independently verified recyclability claims and is used by more than 800 member companies representing tens of thousands of product labels.
What recourse do buyers have if a packaging supplier engages in deceptive practices?
Tennessee foodservice buyers who encounter deceptive product claims, including false FDA compliance representations, misrepresented material certifications, or failure to honor agreed pricing or delivery terms, may file a complaint under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA § 47-18-104) through the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs at tn.gov/consumer. The Act prohibits misrepresentation of products and services and applies to all businesses operating in Tennessee. For misrepresentation of FDA food contact compliance specifically, a complaint may also be submitted to the FDA through its Safety Reporting Portal at fda.gov/safety.
What return policies apply to take-out containers purchased in Tennessee?
Unopened cases and packages of take-out containers in original packaging are generally returnable within 30 days at Tennessee restaurant supply and retail stores with a receipt. Opened packages of take-out containers are typically non-returnable because the count and hygiene of individual containers cannot be verified. Custom-printed take-out containers with a business logo or branding are non-returnable since they cannot be resold. Take-out containers do not carry manufacturer warranties, but containers that arrive damaged, malformed, or with lids that do not seal properly should be reported to the supplier for a replacement shipment. Tennessee food service businesses purchasing in bulk should inspect a sample from each case upon delivery and confirm the supplier’s defect replacement policy before ordering. Containers intended for hot food should be verified as microwave-safe and grease-resistant per the manufacturer’s specifications.