In particular, bulk rolls of aluminum foil are preferred in Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE for preparing food and serving hospitality.
In European countries however, they prefer smaller sized rolls of certified material being used for food preparation.
In North Africa, aluminum foil is affordable and flexible while in South America, grill-friendly aluminum foil is mostly used.
Understanding the various Household Aluminum Foil Sizes and Thicknesses becomes important for suppliers who want to meet specific needs of regions in terms of customer requirements and also ensure that they put products on the market that meet expectations when it comes to requirements for food preparation etc.
Therefore, this article focuses on five unique markets of Saudi Arabia/UAE, Morocco, Colombia, Switzerland, and Jordan and explains how different cultures influence aluminum foil usage all over the world.
Saudi Arabia & UAE
Popular Sizes: Extra-wide sizes (45-60 cm/18-24 inches) find usage as coverings for large roasting containers.
Class-size rolls of 30 cm (12 inches) are highly suitable for routine usage while jumbo-sized rolls (between 100-200 meters) are suited to large-scale catering requirements, as well as hospitality.
Thickness specifications: Standard thickness is between 12-14 microns; heavy duty has a thickness of 18-22 microns.
Customers prefer thicker, stronger foils that can withstand the demands of large family cooking and grilling on charcoal barbeque.
Applications: Wrapping of large cuts of meat, covering food platters at family gatherings, and also lining sheets used for baking desserts and other baked goods.
Features: Preferable size for barbecue cooking is heavy duty while large sized roles minimize the number of changes during cooking.
Morocco
Popular Sizes: The regular size of a roll is 30 cm, which has a length of 10m, 25m, and 50m respectively.
Pre-cut sheets have an increasing popularity due to the comfort of use.
Thickness Standards: Standard – 10-12 microns; heavy-duty – 15-18 microns.
The customer usually looks for a balance between price and performance.
Application: Covering products to preserve them; using it for a baking sheet; covering tagines; cooking fish and vegetables on grill; food storing and household needs.
Features: The main focus is on value and low prices; compact packaging for better sales; the presence of French and Arabic labels; various usage possibilities.
Colombia
Typical sizes: Go-to rolls are the standard 30 cm (12 inch) rolls, which come in lengths of 10 meters, 25 meters, 50 meters, and 100 meters.
The 45 cm (18 inch) rolls are becoming more famous for bigger cooking needs.
Thickness specifications: Standard thickness: 11–13 microns; Heavy-duty thickness: 16–20 microns.
Customers are concerned about sturdiness when grilling outdoors and cooking for big families.
Applications: Foil is used for food wrapping and storage; baking tray and grill lining; covering dishes while reheating; protecting food during delivery; leftovers preservation; barbecuing and cooking outdoors usage.
Characteristics: The key factors are efficiency and cost-efectiveness; roll sizes are designed for family usage.
Switzerland
Sizes Available: The standard variant is 30 cm (12 in) wide rolls having various lengths of 10, 20, 30 and 50 meters.
The compact and multiple-pack types are suitable for limited kitchen size and eco-friendly customers.
Getting pre-cut sheets has gained popularity for convenience.
Thickness Standards: The standard thickness is 11-13 microns and that of the heavy duty variant 16-18 microns.
Quality and environmental certifications are very much appreciated.
Applications: Food wrapping and packaging for everyday purposes, baking and roasting, freezer storage and food preparation, preparation of lunches and snacks and cooking food.
Special Features: A great emphasis is placed on environmental certifications (FSC and recycle content) and Swiss Quality labels.
Compact and space-saving packaging; accurate dispensing via built-in cutters; clear labels indicating required dimensions and material origin; high-quality positioning, preference for durable and quality items.
Jordan
Standard Sizes: 30cm (12 inches) and 45cm (18 inches) rolls are the most common with the length of 10, 25, 50, and 100 meters.
Rolls are preferred in their larger format in case they are commercially used or by families in their domestic use.
Thickness Specification: Standard Foil: 11-14 microns; Heavy-duty Foil: 17-20 microns.
Consumers trust thicker foil to wrap larger family gathering food.
Applications: Packing large pieces of meat; covering platters and baking trays for family meals; storing food from bulk cooking; grilling and cooking outside; keeping food for a long time; used in catering and hospitality.
Characteristics: To focus on price and durability; large rolls reduce the frequency of change; labels are in Arabic and English; heavy-duty foils for grilling; Foils are packed with a clear main feature; focus on reliability.
Household Aluminum Foil Sizes and Thicknesses are largely shaped by regional culinary customs, types of households, and consumer preferences.
Countries like Saudi Arabia and Jordan lean towards an industry-oriented approach.
In the Middle East, big families and catering businesses make the market demand thick and extra-wide rolls, while in Colombia, the concept of versatility is more widespread, and economic efficiency matters.
The Moroccan and Jordan markets are more focused on value. For the Swiss people, quality and eco-friendly aspects of the product are crucial.
The companies should take into account the specifics of the markets, and adjust its products accordingly in order to be able to succeed in the respective market.
In the Middle East, extra-wide heavy duty foil is a must and Halal certification adds extra value to the product whereas in Europe the demand is for smaller-size eco-friendly formats, but in Latin America and North Africa markets they appreciate value-oriented packages.
