Blue roll... An item as synonymous with the hospitality industry as the pint glass. From wiping kitchen spillages to getting a streak-free mirror polish, this humble blue cylinder is essential for pubs, bars, kitchens, restaurants and anywhere else that appreciates proper absorbency.

It’s a product that any professional hospitality or catering venue shouldn’t go without, but with frequent paper price increases in the current market, we know you want to get bang for your buck.   
 
With some things in life, cheaper is better. When it comes to wholesale blue roll buying however, cheaper rolls aren't all they're cracked up to be. In the long run an inferior product will cost more as you’ll end up using more of it, even for simple jobs.

'Shrinkflation' is a bit of a buzzword in the current economic climate, but its effects are very real. From chocolate bars to toothpaste tubes nothing is safe, and blue roll is the latest victim.

Many companies are now using deceitful tactics: such as purposely not printing measurements on the packaging or stocking rolls manufactured with shorter sheets.   
 
If you want to ensure you’re using a cost-effective product, and not being scammed by shady shrinkflation tactics, you need to start asking yourself questions like: “How long is my blue roll?” and "What is the width of each sheet?"

Both blue rolls feature the CHSA logo on the packaging, which guarantees the paper is suitable for use in a professional setting. However, only Stephensons 120m Blue Roll features the length of each roll on the actual packaging. Buzz Catering chooses not to print this information.

Any guesses as to why that is?

If you said, "because Buzz Catering doesn't want to reveal how short it actually is" pat yourself on the back. Despite the online listing stating 120 metres, this isn't actually the case.

This inability to notify customers of how shrinkflation has affected a product is rife in the industry and something all discerning buyers should be keeping an eye out for. 

As it happens, Buzz Catering is actually only 72m. Want to know if your blue roll is all it's cracked up to be? Try our Blue Roll Calculator below.

Blue Roll Buying Checklist:

1. How Long is your Blue Roll? 
Bulk blue roll is sold in many different lengths. From 150 metres all the way down to 100 metres and less. The problem is you don’t always know what you’re going to get. That’s because — and there’s no way to sugar-coat this — lots of less scrupulous suppliers are simply lying about the blue roll length.

2. Is it CHSA Approved?
CHSA stands for The Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association and their auditing process has been reassuring customers that what’s on the box, is in the box since 1996. However, look out for what it doesn't say on the box, some will purposefully not print the length to mislead buyers! 

3. What's the Quality of Paper? 
Almost all blue roll is made from recycled paper. Thing is, not all recyclate is alike.

Some blue rolls are made from bad recyclate or have gone through multiple recycling stages — sometimes as many as seven or eight! Each time virgin paper is recycled the fibres shorten, which in turn affects their bonding strength and ability to remain intact when wet or put under heavy use. Better quality paper also results in less abrasive, softer sheets.   

4. Does it have a Bonding Agent?
‘What’s a ‘bonding agent’ you ask? Well, think of it as the secret ingredient that gives the paper wet strength. This also falls under the heading of ‘How strong is it?’.  
 
Any seasoned barista or bartender will know the pain of mopping up a spill, only to have the sheet tear apart during the job… Sticky hands and bits of wet paper pasted on the bar can be immediate shift-ruiner.
 
However, a roll with a quality bonding agent will keep your paper from perishing under pressure. It’ll also prevent streaking on mirrors or windows and ensure that no residue will be left behind — even after a good scrub.

5. What's the width?

Now, this is where things get a little interesting… There’s actually quite a few deceptive tactics when it comes to blue roll.
 
Would you believe that some blue rolls on the market are about the same width as a domestic toilet roll. Lookout for ‘width cheats’ such as embossment or widening. While these manufacturing methods give the appearance of a wider sheet, both severely affect the quality of the product as the fibres are weakened in the process.