Waxed Paper Sheets

The Traditional Wrapping for Cheese and Deli

Waxed paper has been the standard choice for cheese counters and delicatessens for generations. The wax coating provides moisture resistance, protecting products from drying out while giving customers the traditional wrapped presentation they expect from a quality cheese shop or deli.

We supply waxed kraft paper sheets cut to your specification - deli counter squares, cheese wrapping sheets, or custom dimensions to suit your operation. Food-grade wax coating, suitable for direct contact with cheese, cured meats, and deli products.

Waxed vs PE Coated vs Greaseproof

Different wrapping materials suit different applications:

Material	Barrier Type	Best Applications	Wrong Applications
Waxed paper	Moisture resistant	Cheese, cured meats, deli counter	Oven use (wax melts), very wet products
PE coated	Strong moisture barrier	Wet fish, bloody meat, freezer storage	Oven use (PE melts)
Greaseproof	Grease barrier, oven safe	Bakery, hot food, oven use	Wet products, freezer storage

For wet fish or bloody meat, PE coated paper provides a stronger barrier. For bakery products and hot food, greaseproof handles both grease and oven temperatures. Waxed paper sits between them - moisture resistant but not suitable for very wet products or oven use.

Where Waxed Paper Works

Cheese counters and cheese shops - The original application. Whether you’re wrapping a wedge of cheddar or a whole wheel of brie, waxed paper provides the right environment for cheese between your counter and the customer’s fridge.

Delicatessens - Cured meats, charcuterie, pâtés, and specialty foods. Products that benefit from some breathability and moisture protection without complete sealing.

Farm shops - Traditional presentation that suits the artisan positioning. Waxed paper says quality and authenticity in a way that plastic bags don’t.

Butchers - For products where breathability suits the application. Fresh meat for same-day use often does better in waxed paper than sealed plastic.

Food markets - Cheese vendors, deli stalls, and specialty food traders wrapping products for customers to take home.

Sandwich shops - Traditional sandwich wrapping that keeps contents fresh without making bread soggy.

Not for Hot Food

Wax melts. If you’re wrapping hot products - paninis, toasties, anything coming out of an oven or off a grill - the wax coating will soften and potentially transfer to the food. Use greaseproof paper instead, or foil-lined paper if you also need heat retention.

Waxed paper is for products at room temperature or chilled. Cheese straight from the counter, sliced meats from the fridge, sandwiches that aren’t toasted. Keep it away from heat and it works perfectly.

White or Brown Kraft

We supply waxed paper on both white and brown kraft base papers.

White gives clean, clinical presentation. It shows off cheese colours well and photographs nicely for social media. Many cheese counters prefer white for the contrast it provides.

Brown kraft has that natural, unbleached look that suits farm shops, artisan positioning, and businesses emphasising traditional methods. The earthy colour suggests authenticity and craftsmanship.

Both perform identically - the choice is purely about how you want your counter to look and what fits your brand.

Custom Printing

Printed waxed paper turns every wrap into brand presentation. Your logo on every wedge of cheese, your colours on every portion of charcuterie, your identity reinforced with every customer interaction.

For cheese shops and delicatessens, branded wrapping is part of the experience. Customers remember where they bought good cheese, and the wrapping is part of that memory. Printed paper also reduces the chance of customers forgetting to recommend you when they serve that cheese at a dinner party.

We print on waxed paper using food-safe inks. Lead times and minimum orders apply for printed work - get in touch with your artwork or brief.

The Sustainability Trade-off

Traditional waxed paper uses paraffin wax, which is petroleum-derived. This creates a complication: paraffin-coated paper can’t be composted and contaminates paper recycling streams because the wax interferes with pulping.

For businesses where sustainability positioning is critical, this matters. If your customers ask what happens to the wrapping at end-of-life, “it goes in general waste” might not be the answer you want to give.

Alternatives exist. Greaseproof paper is fully recyclable and compostable, though it doesn’t provide the same moisture barrier or breathability balance that cheese specifically needs. Plant-based wax coatings are available but less common and more expensive.

The honest answer is that for cheese specifically, traditional waxed paper remains the best functional choice despite the sustainability limitation. If you’re wrapping something where greaseproof would work adequately, that’s the more sustainable option. If breathability matters, waxed paper is still the right material.

Who Uses Waxed Paper

Cheese shops and counters - From farm shop cheese cabinets to specialist cheesemongers. The standard wrapping material for quality cheese retail.

Delicatessens - Cured meats, charcuterie, pâtés, and continental specialty foods.

Farm shops - Traditional presentation for locally produced cheese, meats, and specialty items.

Food markets and street food - Vendors serving cheese, cured meats, and deli products to take away.

Butchers - Traditional wrapping where breathability suits the product and presentation.

Hospitality suppliers - Hotels, restaurants, and caterers wrapping cheese and deli items for service.

Get in Touch

Tell us what you’re wrapping and we’ll confirm whether waxed paper suits your application. If you need complete moisture barrier, we’ll recommend PE coated instead. If you need grease resistance and heat tolerance, we’ll suggest greaseproof. Getting you the right material matters more than selling you any particular product.

Samples available so you can test before committing to volume.