Round white paper baking cup No. 4 by BP Cartotecnica: pleated food-grade white paper, base diameter 35 mm, height 20.5 mm, supplied in a carton of 2000 pieces. It is the Italian pastry-lab standard for pralines, chocolates, mignon pastries and petit fours, suitable both for oven baking and for hygienic presentation at the counter.
What Is a No. 4 Pleated Paper Cup
The pirottino is the classic pleated paper cup of Italian patisserie. The numbered sizing system identifies the base diameter: size No. 4, with a 35 mm base and a 20.5 mm pleated band, is one of the small formats used for single bites. The pleats give the cup structural rigidity, hold the shape of the product placed inside and absorb excess fat and moisture, keeping display trays clean.
The Producer: BP Cartotecnica, Tuscany
BP Cartotecnica Srl was founded in 1993 by Paolo Bonelli in Borgo a Buggiano, in the province of Pistoia (Tuscany). The company is specialised in paper and board converting for the food sector, from die-cutting to thermoforming, and counts patisserie trays and pleated cups among its historic core products. This product is made in Italy by a converter that works exclusively for food applications.
Format and Technical Details
Each cup measures 35 mm at the base with a height of 20.5 mm; the white paper is neutral in taste and odour and withstands normal oven baking temperatures for small pastry pieces. The carton contains 2000 pieces stacked in compact sleeves: a single box covers weeks of counter service in a typical pastry shop while taking minimal shelf space. Supplier item code: PIR4BIA.
Professional Uses
In the laboratory, size No. 4 is used for pralines and hand-dipped chocolates, candied fruit, marzipan bites, mini cannoli ends, friandises served with coffee, and oven-baked mignon items. It separates pieces inside gift boxes so chocolates do not touch, lifts single bites out of the tray without hand contact during counter service, and standardises the look of mixed mignon trays for banqueting and catering.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using a cup that is too large for the piece: the praline moves, rubs and loses its glaze in transport. Size No. 4 is matched to bites of roughly 30-35 mm.
- Serving greasy products without a cup: fat migrates onto the tray and the rest of the display absorbs it.
- Storing cartons in humid rooms: paper absorbs moisture and the pleats lose rigidity. Keep the box dry at room temperature.
Pairings and Complementary Supplies
Combine the cups with gold and black cake boards for presentation, bar napkins for counter service and baking paper for the oven. LAPA supplies the complete non-food range for pastry shops, from trays to disposable cutlery, in a single delivery.
Distribution and Logistics
B2B and B2C delivery from the LAPA warehouse in Embrach (Zurich). Direct distribution across Zurich, Winterthur, Kloten, Schaffhausen, St. Gallen, Aargau, Bern and Basel. For Ticino (Lugano, Mendrisio), French-speaking Switzerland (Geneva, Lausanne, Fribourg), Valais (Sion) and Graubuenden (Chur, Davos) shipping within 24-48 hours with partner couriers such as Swiss Post, Planzer and Galliker. No cold chain needed: this is an ambient product, ideal for stock orders on full cartons.
Who It Is For
Designed for pastry shops, chocolatiers, gelato parlours, bakeries, hotels with banqueting service, caterers, restaurants serving friandises with coffee, and private customers who bake at home. One carton of 2000 pieces fits both the daily production of a professional lab and long-lasting home use.
