A plastic fruit bowl sits at the intersection of kitchenware retail and food safety: a moulded bowl judged daily by how it drains washed fruit, how it survives a dishwasher and whether its resin is genuinely food grade. Buyers sourcing fruit bowls for supermarket, homeware and promotional channels need a manufacturer who can hold wall thickness across a 25 cm diameter, keep the drain holes free of flash and deliver a consistent surface finish at low unit cost. This guide covers what to confirm before tooling is cut.
What a Plastic Fruit Bowl Manufacturer Should Confirm
Fruit bowl programmes are won or lost on resin selection, drainage geometry and the balance between stiffness and weight. Confirm the grade certificate, the drop and dishwasher test results and the tooling plan before approving samples.
- Material: virgin food-grade PP, BPA-free, is the default; it tolerates -20 to +120 °C, is dishwasher safe and does not craze under citrus or vinegar contact.
- Drainage: a two tier fruit bowl pairs a perforated inner colander with a solid outer tray, so fruit stays out of meltwater and the halves separate for rinsing or serving dry goods.
- Geometry: round bowls run 21-29 cm in diameter; oval models around 33 x 23 x 11.5 cm; unit weight lands between 120 g and 360 g depending on size.
- Finish: gloss or matte surfaces, Pantone-matched colours and pad printing, heat transfer or IML decoration for branded retail lines.
Drainage Design and Sizing
A fruit bowl with drain holes is the mainstream export design, and the hole pattern decides whether it works. Holes of 2-4 mm in the colander floor drain within seconds while retaining berries and grapes; the gap between colander and tray must exceed the fruit height so produce never sits in water. Buyers should fix the usable volume, typically 0.6-2.5 L, and the closed stacking height, because nesting bowls that stack 8-12 high cut freight cost per unit sharply.
Food Contact Compliance
Food grade PP claims should be backed by documentation, not adjectives. Ask for the resin supplier's food contact declaration and migration test data covering the intended market, plus confirmation that colour masterbatches are also compliant. For retail packaging, check that printed decoration sits outside the food contact zone or uses inks cleared for the target regulations.
Tooling, MOQ and Lead Times
Production tools run P20 or 718H steel with 4-8 cavities, taking 15-25 days; first samples follow in 7-10 days and volume orders in 25-40 days. MOQ starts at 500-5,000 pieces depending on size and decoration. Unit prices start near US$0.45 for plain stock bowls and rise for two-tier, decorated or custom shapes. Confirm what the quote covers, since OPP bags, colour boxes and palletisation often sit on separate lines.
Browse the household plastic products hub, read the food grade PP guide and the injection molding process overview, or compare suppliers in the verified manufacturer directory.
Related product categories
The materials and part types discussed above are grouped in our sourcing directory:
