Christmas catering puts the whole kitchen to work. Roast potatoes, vegetables, stuffing and main courses all need their place in the preparation and service plan. For contract caterers, event kitchens and foodservice buyers, choosing a tray starts with three practical questions: will it fit, will it hold the quantity required, and is it suitable for the way the food will be prepared and served?
Coppice’s aluminium Gastro tray range brings smoothwall and wrinklewall options together, with product dimensions, depths and capacities to compare.
Full, half and third: what do Gastro sizes mean?
Gastronorm, usually shortened to GN, describes a system of standard container footprints. The familiar full, half and third names refer to the space a container occupies when viewed from above. They do not tell you its depth or capacity.
| Format | Reference dimensions |
|---|---|
| Full — 1/1 GN | 530 × 325 mm |
| Half — 1/2 GN | 325 × 265 mm |
| Third — 1/3 GN | 325 × 176 mm |
These are standard GN reference dimensions. Coppice foil tray dimensions vary by product, so use the exact specification when checking equipment fit. A format name alone is not a guarantee that a tray will fit a particular oven, rack or serving unit.
The Gastro range page includes a simple visual guide showing how full, half and third footprints relate to one another.
Same footprint, different depth
Depth is a separate choice. Two trays can have the same outer length and width but hold different volumes.
For example, Coppice’s W.5200.037.PL and W.8500.080.PL both list top-out dimensions of 527 × 326 mm. The first is 37 mm deep with a listed capacity of 5.2 litres; the second is 80 mm deep with a listed capacity of 8.5 litres. That makes depth a useful part of the comparison when planning quantities for service.
Match the tray to your dish and your process. Consider the food’s depth, the space needed for a lid and how a filled tray will be supported and handled. Listed capacity is a product specification, not a recommended serving quantity.
Smoothwall or wrinklewall?
Both types are included in the Coppice Gastro collection. Smoothwall trays have smoother formed sides, while wrinklewall trays have the characteristic folded foil texture.
Compare the individual tray’s dimensions, rim and closure options alongside its wall style. Our team can help you narrow down the formats for your application and discuss samples to assess in your own operation.
Plan around your Christmas service
A roast dinner menu might call for different tray depths for potatoes, vegetables and dishes with sauce. Start with the quantities you prepare and replenish, then check the available space in your equipment.
Before ordering, confirm:
- Exact dimensions: compare the top-out measurements with your equipment, and check the usable space inside the tray.
- Depth and capacity: choose for the food and quantity you intend to prepare.
- Lids and handling: confirm the correct lid and how the filled tray will be supported.
- Process suitability: check the tray and any lid against your cooking, storage and service requirements.
Find the right trays for your kitchen
Explore Coppice’s aluminium Gastro tray range to compare product photographs, dimensions, depths and capacities, with filters for smoothwall and wrinklewall formats.
For samples and help choosing a format, contact our team or email sales@coppice.net. Tell us what you are preparing, the quantities involved and the equipment you use so we can discuss the relevant options.