CyanSunWholesale
Wholesale Paper Cups & Private Label
For distributors, importers and multi-site brands, the cup is one part of a supply programme. The real questions are MOQ, replenishment, compliance documents, carton planning and landed cost.
Who We Supply
- Coffee roasters, cafés and drive-through chains.
- Ice-cream, gelato and dessert brands.
- Food-service distributors and cash-and-carry importers.
- Private-label brands and retail own-label programmes.
- Packaging distributors serving multiple food brands.
MOQ and Tiers
Digital printing typically starts around 5,000 cups per design; flexo becomes economical from about 30,000. The exact minimum depends on size, wall, coating and colours. For a distributor, we can quote a tiered table and a quarterly or annual volume instead of a one-off small run.
| Route | Typical starting point | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Digital | 5,000 cups per design | New SKUs, tests, multiple designs |
| Flexo | 30,000 cups per design | Repeat orders, lower unit cost |
| Mixed SKUs | Depends on board and coating | Distributors and multi-site brands |
| Annual programme | Forecast + call-off | Stable pricing and capacity |
Private Label
- Your brand on the cup, sleeve or lid.
- Custom carton marks and barcodes for your warehouse.
- Retail-ready packs or bulk cartons.
- Multi-address shipping to your 3PL or regional warehouses.
- Artwork control so every reprint matches the approved version.
Product Range
Single-wall hot cups, double-wall and ripple cups, cold cups, ice-cream cups, soup containers and kraft cups. Lids in PS, PP, PLA and paper; printed or plain sleeves; straws and napkins can be consolidated. If you need a size or wall that is not standard, we will confirm the tooling and MOQ before quoting.
Compliance Documents
- FDA food-contact declaration for the US.
- EU 1935/2004 declaration and 10/2011 for plastic layers.
- Migration test reports for the intended use.
- PFAS-free / TOF statement where required.
- FSC or PEFC chain-of-custody on request.
- Compostability certificate only if the finished cup is certified.
Export Packing and Freight
Cups are nested to save space. We confirm cups per sleeve, sleeves per carton, carton dimensions and pallet pattern before production, because these numbers decide the container load and the landed cost. We can quote FOB, CIF or DDP, and split cartons across multiple addresses.
- Carton marks and barcodes to your warehouse spec.
- Pallet or floor-loaded container options.
- Sea freight for full orders; air freight only for samples or urgent top-ups.
- DDP available for many markets; send the delivery postcode.
Quality Control
- Incoming board and coating check.
- Print colour against the approved proof.
- Cup forming, rim and bottom leak check.
- Lid fit and sleeve count check.
- AQL inspection before packing.
- Carton count, weight and marks check before shipment.
How Onboarding Works
Send your spec sheet, target quantities and destination. We confirm the cup family, dieline, coating and lid, then quote. After artwork approval we make a sample, approve it in writing, produce, inspect and ship. For a distributor, we can set up a repeat-order spec so future POs do not reopen every detail.
Quote Checklist for Distributors
- Cup sizes and annual or quarterly volumes.
- Hot, cold, ice cream or soup; single, double or ripple wall.
- Coating and any PFAS-free / compostable requirement.
- Lid and sleeve specification.
- Artwork status and number of designs.
- Destination, warehouse addresses and Incoterm.
- Required documents and carton marking.
Reorder Planning for Distributors
Distributors run out of cups at the worst possible moment, because the reorder is placed when stock is already low and production takes three to five weeks. Plan backwards from the delivery date rather than forwards from the order date.
| Stage | Typical time | What you control |
|---|---|---|
| Quote and specification | 1-3 working days | Complete spec, coating, lid code |
| Artwork and dieline check | 2-5 working days | A print-ready file, not a screenshot |
| Sampling | 5-7 working days plus courier | One approval, in writing |
| Production | 15-25 working days | Quantity and delivery window |
| Sea freight | 25-40 days door to door | Booking before production ends |
A distributor holding six weeks of cover is rarely caught out. Three weeks is enough only if the factory already has the plates, the board and the capacity reserved for you.
Reordering also means reusing what already exists: the same die, the same plates, the same carton artwork and the same approved sample. A repeat order that changes nothing except the quantity is the cheapest and fastest order a distributor can place, which is why the specification should be written down before the first run rather than reconstructed before the second.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer private label?
Yes. Your brand can go on the cup, sleeve or lid, with your carton marks and barcodes.
What is the MOQ for distributors?
Digital starts around 5,000 cups per design; flexo around 30,000. Mixed SKUs and annual programmes can be quoted separately.
Can you mix sizes in one container?
Often yes, if the board, coating and print route are compatible. Send the mix and we will confirm the carton plan.
Do you provide FSC/FDA documents?
We can provide the current documents for the exact material on request. FSC depends on the paper source for that order.
Can you ship DDP?
Yes for many markets. Send the delivery postcode and we will quote the landed cost.
What are the payment terms?
Typically a deposit with the balance before shipment. Repeat customers can discuss a programme with a rolling forecast.
Can you hold stock?
For repeat programmes we can discuss a call-off plan, but we do not hold unbranded stock without a commitment.