By state · IL
Custom food packaging for Illinois restaurants, cafés and bakeries
In 2025, Illinois had 459,555 private-sector jobs in food services and drinking places across 26,604 establishments, 8.8% of all private jobs in the state (5th of 47 by jobs).
Compared with the US as a whole, Illinois has a higher share of jobs in chocolate, candy and confectionery manufacturing (2.86x), commercial bakeries (2.32x), confectionery and nut retailers (1.77x) and drinking places (1.68x). So this page puts packaging for dessert and sweet shops first, then bakeries, then caterers and contract food service.
Shipping to Illinois is a flat rate by order value: $9.99 for orders under $100, $19.99 for $100 to $299.99 and $29.99 for $300 and up. Production is fast once you approve your proof. No shop or office in Illinois: quotes, free digital designs and digital proofs are by email.
Packaging ranked for Illinois
- Custom Macaron BoxesDessert and sweet shops · $5.59 for 1 piece
- Custom Dessert BoxesDessert and sweet shops · $5.59 for 1 piece
- Custom Bakery BoxesBakeries · $5.59 for 1 piece
- Custom Cake BoxesBakeries · $5.59 for 1 piece
- Custom Takeout Food BoxesCaterers and contract food service · $5.59 for 1 piece
- Custom Sandwich BoxesCaterers and contract food service · $5.59 for 1 piece
- Custom Paper Food TraysBars and taverns · $5.59 for 1 piece
- Custom Popcorn BoxesBars and taverns · $5.59 for 1 piece
Why this order
Food businesses that stand out in Illinois
Dessert and sweet shops
In Illinois, dessert, candy, donut and ice cream shops box treats that are often bought as gifts.
Confectionery and nut retailers: 1,466 private-sector jobs, 1.77x the national share, 2nd of 45 by jobs
Bakeries
In Illinois, bakeries box cakes, pies, pastries and donuts for the counter and for pre-orders.
Retail bakeries: 5,480 private-sector jobs, 1.31x the national share, 5th of 31 by jobs
Caterers and contract food service
In Illinois, caterers pack boxed lunches, platters and snack boxes for offices and events.
Caterers: 8,456 private-sector jobs, 1.27x the national share, 4th of 44 by jobs
Bars and taverns
In Illinois, bars and taverns serve bar food in paper trays and snack boxes and send drinks out in carriers.
Drinking places (bars and taverns): 26,710 private-sector jobs, 1.68x the national share, 4th of 42 by jobs
Takeout and fast casual
In Illinois, counter-service and takeout kitchens go through clamshells, fry cartons and wrap papers every shift.
Limited-service restaurants (counter service, fast food, takeout): 169,089 private-sector jobs, 0.94x the national share, 8th of 51 by jobs
The numbers
Illinois food-service sectors, 2025
| Sector (NAICS) | Establishments | Jobs | vs US share | Rank by jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food services and drinking places 722 | 26,604 | 459,555 | 0.97x | 5 of 47 |
| Chocolate, candy and confectionery manufacturing 3113 | 117 | 9,206 | 2.86x | 2 of 39 |
| Commercial bakeries 311812 | 209 | 13,578 | 2.32x | 2 of 40 |
| Confectionery and nut retailers 445292 | 158 | 1,466 | 1.77x | 2 of 45 |
| Drinking places (bars and taverns) 7224 | 3,106 | 26,710 | 1.68x | 4 of 42 |
| Food service contractors 722310 | 784 | 29,452 | 1.32x | 6 of 51 |
| Retail bakeries 311811 | 506 | 5,480 | 1.31x | 5 of 31 |
| Caterers 722320 | 622 | 8,456 | 1.27x | 4 of 44 |
| Limited-service restaurants (counter service, fast food, takeout) 722513 | 9,356 | 169,089 | 0.94x | 8 of 51 |
| Full-service restaurants 722511 | 9,938 | 192,050 | 0.92x | 5 of 51 |
| Coffee and tea manufacturing (roasters) 31192 | 96 | 1,028 | 0.91x | 7 of 39 |
| Baked goods retailers 445291 | 86 | 758 | 0.89x | 9 of 44 |
| Grocery and convenience retailers 4451 | 3,492 | 97,452 | 0.88x | 7 of 51 |
| Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars (coffee shops, juice bars, donut and ice cream shops) 722515 | 2,416 | 31,286 | 0.81x | 8 of 51 |
| Meat retailers (butcher shops) 445240 | 170 | 2,051 | 0.81x | 8 of 47 |
| Mobile food services (food trucks and carts) 722330 | 258 | 1,083 | 0.59x | 14 of 41 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages, private ownership, Illinois file, fetched 2026-10-31. "vs US share" is the location quotient: 1.00x means the sector's share of Illinois's private jobs equals its national share. 15 of 15 tracked sectors are published for Illinois; the rest are withheld by BLS for confidentiality and left out. Rankings are rules applied to these numbers; they are not orders, customers or reviews.
FAQ
Food packaging in Illinois: questions
Other states led by dessert and sweet shops:
Do you ship custom food packaging to Illinois?
Yes. Bitefold ships to businesses in every US state. Shipping to Illinois is a flat rate by order value: $9.99 for orders under $100, $19.99 for $100 to $299.99 and $29.99 for $300 and up. Production is fast once you approve your proof.
Which packaging fits food businesses in Illinois?
Based on 2025 BLS job data, the food-service sectors that stand out in Illinois point to packaging for dessert and sweet shops, bakeries and caterers and contract food service. Every item is available in every state.
Does Bitefold have a shop or office in Illinois?
No. Bitefold works online: quotes, mockups and digital proofs are handled by email, and your order ships to your address in Illinois.
Where do the numbers on this page come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages, private ownership, fetched 2026-10-31. The location quotient compares a sector's share of the state's private jobs with its national share.
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