Which businesses need a refrigerated van or truck? More than you might think rely on temperature-controlled transport to run.
Some on this list are obvious, others less so. Next time you pass a refrigerated truck on the road, here’s what it might be carrying.
We’ve supplied refrigerated vans since 1976, to butchers, fishmongers, bakeries, farm shops, wholesalers, caterers, florists and pharmaceutical couriers among others. With reliable temperature-controlled transport, a business can reach more customers and new markets.
20 businesses that need a refrigerated van
1. Food distribution companies
The food supply chain relies on chiller and freezer trucks to move food and drink items while keeping them at a safe and consistent temperature. Chilled and frozen products arrive at shops, restaurants and supermarkets in chiller and freezer vehicles, which keeps them safe and extends their shelf life. See our food wholesale vans.
2. Fresh produce suppliers
Delivering fresh produce from local growers to restaurants, shops and homes is a business in its own right. Fresh produce suppliers need to keep their produce at a consistent temperature so it doesn’t spoil in transit. You could be supplying local restaurants or even individual customers who are looking to purchase fresh produce from local growers. By keeping the produce cool, you’ll extend its shelf life and waste less. See our farm shop and produce vans.
3. Meat processing plants
The meat industry relies on refrigerated vans to help keep their businesses compliant with food hygiene regulations. Meat is at high risk of bacteria growth, so it needs to be stored and transported at a consistent temperature. A bulkhead splits the load space into two compartments, so suppliers can keep products apart or at different temperatures.
A meat processor moves large quantities of product every day, and its reputation rests on delivering meat that has been kept at the correct temperature. Any failure to do so could lead to reputational damage and even legal action. This is why meat businesses need refrigerated vans they can rely on.
4. Dairy farms
Dairy farmers rely on refrigeration in the logistics chain to help bring their products to market. If you decide to move beyond selling in your own on-site farm shop, you’ll need a refrigerated truck to help transport the produce. This could include milk, cheese and cream going to shops or straight to restaurants. See our grocery and dairy delivery vans.
5. Seafood distributors
Fresh fish and seafood spoil quickly if they get warm, so they travel in a chiller van, while frozen seafood must be kept at -18°C or colder, so it needs deep freeze. With the right van, seafood can travel long distances inland and arrive safe and ready to prepare. Fish juices are corrosive, so ask for door lips and a drain hole. See our fish and seafood vans.
6. Frozen food manufacturers
Someone has to get frozen food from the manufacturer to the freezer aisle. Freezer vans are commonly used to help prevent food from defrosting in transit. This will ensure it arrives in supermarkets or other shops frozen and ready to be purchased.
7. Ice cream manufacturers and distributors
Small and independent ice cream makers use freezer vans to get their products into shops and restaurants. Ice cream needs deep freeze, down to -25°C, to stay hard-frozen. See our ice cream vans. Without this essential part of the supply chain, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy an ice cream at the end of a delicious meal, or in the park on a sunny day.
8. Bakeries
Companies that sell baked goods rely on refrigerated trucks to get their ingredients into the bakery and then to get their finished products to their chosen distributors. Baked goods often require large quantities of butter, cream and milk. To keep these items fresh, refrigerated vans are recommended. These can then be used to keep items stable and fresh when they are delivered to shops, restaurants or directly to customers. A great example would be a wedding cake supplier, as the temperature control will help to keep the cake fresh and cool, even when driving long distances in hot weather. See our bakery and cake vans.
9. Floral wholesalers
Once a flower has been cut, it’s a race against time to get it to the end customer. It might need to pass through many processes before it’s ready to be purchased and displayed. And this is where temperature controlled trucks come in handy. Keeping flowers cold, at 2 to 5°C, helps to prevent them from wilting, which gives florists more time to put them into arrangements and sell them on.
10. Pharmaceutical companies
Transporting materials for pharmaceutical companies is a delicate task that will often require strict temperature control. Vaccines and many other medicines must be kept between +2°C and +8°C, and can be damaged by getting too cold as well as too warm. See our pharmaceutical vans and tips for transporting pharmaceuticals. This is a highly complex and regulated field, and reliable transport is essential to help support the medical supply chain.
11. Beverage distributors
As a beverage distributor, you could be supplying restaurants, bars, cafes and shops with refreshments. And these will need to be delivered in a temperature controlled van or truck to ensure they are ready to be served. This is particularly important if you’re delivering items like beer kegs. A chiller van lets you deliver drinks further from the source, ready to serve, even in hot weather. Drinks are heavy, so check the payload. See our beverage delivery vans.
12. Catering companies
Running a catering company will allow you to be creative with food while also putting your organisational skills to the test. Food intended for parties and events will be prepared in a catering kitchen and then transported in a refrigerated van. Many have a bulkhead, giving a chilled compartment and an ambient one. This will ensure food arrives at the event ready to serve or ready to be reheated.
13. Cheese producers and distributors
Different cheeses need to be stored in different temperature ranges and different conditions. As a cheese specialist, you might be supplying restaurants and cafes with your unique and rare cheese products. To achieve this, you’ll need to be able to transport your cheese in a temperature controlled environment. Without this essential step, you would have to limit the distance you could travel with the cheese and then you would also risk ruining your supply in hot weather.
14. Poultry farms and processors
Running a smallholding of poultry will allow you to raise free range chickens that could then be served in local restaurants looking for local produce. Poultry is one of the products that is at a high risk of carrying salmonella bacteria, which is why storing it correctly is so essential. You wouldn’t want to eat chicken that has been sitting out on the counter on a hot day, so you also wouldn’t want to eat it if it has been transported in a non-temperature controlled vehicle.
15. Specialty food retailers
Running a deli or other specialist food retailer will allow you to indulge your passion for food and customer service. But you’ll need a temperature controlled vehicle if you want to be able to collect and deliver food. You’ll need to collect from specialist suppliers and then deliver to customers. You might prepare specialist platters for party catering, or you might work with local restaurants to diversify their offering.
16. Chemical manufacturers
Chemical manufacturing is a specialist sector for transport. When transporting components for chemical manufacturing, many of them will need to be kept at specific temperatures to keep them stable. This is why refrigerated vans and trucks are so essential. It will keep components stable and reduce the risk of chemical reactions occurring during transport.
17. Biotech companies
Like chemical manufacturers, biotechnology companies need specialist transport. Biotech firms often deal with sensitive research materials and samples that require temperature-controlled transportation to preserve their viability.
18. Frozen food retailers
Some supermarkets deal specifically with frozen goods, and they need temperature controlled trucks to help them stock their chests and keep their customers happy. Frozen food must be kept at -18°C or colder, and a deep freeze van keeps it there from the depot to the shop, so nothing defrosts on the way.
19. Pet food manufacturers and distributors
It’s not only humans that need their food to be delivered in a temperature controlled van. Raw pet food is the obvious example: some pet food needs to be kept in the fridge or freezer until it is ready to be consumed, and this means it needs to be transported in temperature controlled vehicles like refrigerated vans or trucks. If you’re thinking about going into the pet food manufacturing or distributing sector, you’ll need to consider how to keep your products chilled while transporting it.
20. Florists
Florists will often sell bouquets for special occasions like birthdays and Valentine’s Day and they will also create flowers and floral arrangements for weddings, parties and funerals.
Like a flower wholesaler, florists also need to be able to transport flowers and floral arrangements before they wilt. A chiller van keeps flowers at 2 to 5°C, so they arrive looking as good as when they left the shop, even in hot weather. Read fridge vans for florists and see our flower delivery vans.
When choosing the right van for your business, consider if you will need to keep things at refrigerated temperatures or in a deep freeze. A bulkhead can split your van into two compartments, such as chilled and ambient.
You’ll also need to consider any regulations you need to follow, such as food hygiene standards. Don’t forget the van’s payload: the conversion adds weight, and the van must stay within its legal maximum weight when it’s loaded.
See our fridge vans and freezer vans, or our vans by trade, and call us on 01444 245555 to talk about yours. For more ideas, read 40 profitable mobile business ideas.
