Clear Tray 12" (C)

A: It is the surface the product actually sits on, above the ice pack in the bottom of the bowl. That separation is the point. The food rests on the tray, the cold comes from the pack underneath, and the two never touch. It is also the part that gets lifted out and washed most often, because it is the one in direct contact with the samples.

A: The 12-inch Sample Dome countertop, free-stand and floor-stand displays. Order by size rather than by model. If you run 16-inch units, they take the 16-inch tray and the two are not interchangeable.

A: Because a spare lets you change product without closing the display. Swap a loaded tray for a clean one, carry the first to the sink, and the display keeps running. With a single tray, every product change is downtime in front of customers. For any operator sampling more than one item a day, the second tray pays for itself in floor time.

A: Yes. The manufacturer specifically notes it can be used for serving or displaying any item. It is a clear acrylic round tray, so it works on a counter, in a case or on a buffet without the rest of the display around it. That makes it the one part in the range with a use beyond replacement, which is worth knowing when you are deciding how many to stock.

A: Clear acrylic. Clear matters here for the same reason it matters on the dome. A transparent tray keeps the customer's eye on the product rather than on the equipment.

A: Wipe and sanitise by hand between product changes. Acrylic scratches more readily than glass. Use a soft cloth, avoid abrasive pads, and do not use scouring powders, because a scratched food-contact surface cannot be sanitised reliably however hard it is scrubbed. Nothing in the source material states this part is dishwasher safe. Wash by hand.

A: When it is scratched or clouded enough that it no longer looks clean, or cannot be properly sanitised. That is a lower threshold than cracking. A tray that is structurally fine but visibly worn undermines the product sitting on it, which is the opposite of what a sampling display is for.

A: Yes. Without a pack beneath it the tray sits lower in the bowl. That is fine for ambient products such as breads and confectionery. For anything chilled, use the pack, and expect the tray to sit higher.

A: Two per active display is the working number, one in service and one clean. If you sample several products a day, three is not excessive. Trays are the cheapest way to buy uninterrupted floor time in the whole range.

A: No. The 16-inch displays take a 16-inch tray. Measure the tray you already have rather than the base if you are unsure which size you are running, because the base is always wider than the display area.