Most people start by looking at vans. Start with your round instead.
Register first
Food businesses have to register with their local council at least 28 days before trading. It’s free.
The numbers that decide everything
- 8°C: the legal maximum for chilled food in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Most businesses run at 5°C or below, because 8 is a tolerance, not a target.
- Very little leeway: the law allows food on display or being served to go above 8°C once, for no more than four hours.
Here’s what catches people out: in an unrefrigerated van on a warm day, the load passes 8°C fast. A closed vehicle in the sun gets much hotter than the air outside within minutes, so by drop two on a summer afternoon your food may already be too warm.
Then size it
Small vans suit town work where parking is the real problem. Most people starting out buy bigger than they need. Buy for the round you’ve got, not the one you hope to have in three years. What size fridge van do you need?
Tell us what you’re planning and we’ll help you pick the right van. Call us on 01444 245555.
We first answered this on Instagram on 31 August 2026. See the post and follow @grv4_fridgevans for more.
