Dart Container

About Dart Container Corporation

Dart Container Corporation has been a defining name in disposable food service packaging for over six decades. Founded in 1937 by William F. Dart as a small machine shop in Mason, Michigan, the company made an industry-changing leap in the late 1950s when father and son perfected a way to mass-produce cups from expandable polystyrene (EPS). That original insulated foam cup — capable of keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold while remaining comfortable to hold — launched a brand that would grow into a global powerhouse.

The World's Largest Foam Cup Manufacturer

Today, Dart Container is widely recognized as the world's largest manufacturer of foam cups and containers, producing roughly as many as all of its competitors combined. Headquartered in Mason, Michigan, the privately held company operates over 40 manufacturing and distribution facilities across the United States, Canada, England, and Mexico, employing approximately 15,000 people worldwide.

A major milestone in Dart's growth came in 2012 with the acquisition of the Solo Cup Company, a move that nearly doubled the company's size and significantly expanded its product range — especially in paper-based goods. That acquisition brought beloved brands like Solo under the Dart umbrella and greatly broadened the diversity of materials and formats available to foodservice operators everywhere.

A Vast Product Portfolio for Every Setting

Dart manufactures more than 3,000 products designed for use in restaurants, cafés, hospitals, schools, breakrooms, and homes. The product lineup spans foam, paper, and rigid plastic formats and includes:

• Disposable foam, paper, and plastic cups in a wide range of sizes and styles for hot and cold beverages
• Cup lids and accessories, including the patented Optima reclosable lid — the first of its kind in the industry
• Hinged-lid food containers and clamshells for takeout, deli, and portion service
• Clear deli and portion containers such as the ClearPac SafeSeal line for tamper-evident packaging
• Dinnerware, including disposable bowls, plates, and platters in foam, paper, and plastic
• Cutlery and straws made from polypropylene and other durable materials

Vertical Integration and Quality Control

One of the cornerstones of Dart's reputation is its commitment to vertical integration. In many cases, the company produces its own raw materials, manufacturing equipment, ink, and packaging film — and even operates its own trucking and recycling operations. This end-to-end control gives Dart a level of quality consistency and cost management that few competitors can match.

Sustainability Initiatives

Dart has long been a leader in EPS recycling, accepting used foam at drop-off sites at its production facilities and pioneering subscription-based recycling programs for large commercial customers. The company's Bare® by Solo® brand was developed as the industry's first full line of foodservice products made using recycled, recyclable, compostable, or renewable materials — reflecting a genuine commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of single-use packaging.

Whether you're stocking a commercial kitchen, outfitting a breakroom, or sourcing packaging for institutional use, Dart Container offers a reliable, time-tested solution for virtually every disposable foodservice need.