The Popina Blog

Practical guides for NYC restaurants, supermarkets, delis, and cafes — packaging, compliance, wholesale supply chain, and daily operations.

Compliance · April 25, 2026

NYC Health Code: Foodservice Packaging Compliance Cheat Sheet (2026)

What the NYC Department of Health requires for foodservice packaging in 2026 — labels, materials, single-use rules, and the items every operator should keep documented.

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Operations · April 22, 2026

Wholesale vs. Retail Restaurant Supply: The Cost Math for NYC Operators

Buying takeout containers at Costco feels easy, until you do the math. Here's the typical per-unit difference between retail and wholesale for a 50-seat NYC restaurant doing $1.2M/year.

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Packaging · April 18, 2026

Best Takeout & Delivery Packaging for NYC Operators (2026)

What works on a 30-minute Manhattan UberEats run, what survives a Bronx-to-Brooklyn DoorDash, and what your customers will actually post on Instagram. A practical guide to NYC takeout packaging in 2026.

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Supermarket · April 14, 2026

Supermarket Supply Checklist: 30 Items Every NYC Bodega & Grocery Needs

From the meat counter to the cleaning closet, here's the full operating-supply list a typical NYC supermarket or bodega goes through monthly — with notes on what to buy in case quantities and what to keep on light reorder.

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Branding · April 10, 2026

Custom-Printed Paper Bags: Branding for NYC Cafes & Delis

A custom-printed bag is the cheapest piece of branded merchandise you'll ever order. Here's what NYC operators should know about minimums, lead times, ink choices, and which sizes drive the best brand recall.

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