Weddings, festivals, corporate days and markets all have one thing in common for the people supplying them: food, drink or flowers that have to arrive in perfect condition and stay that way all day. A refrigerated van does both jobs. It gets your stock there cold, and it gives you somewhere cold to keep it once you’ve arrived.
What is a refrigerated van?
A van with an insulated lining in the load space and a refrigeration unit that holds the temperature you set: 0 to 5°C for a chiller, -10°C for a freezer. The lining is smooth and easy to clean, which matters when you’re carrying food.
Why use one for events?
Food safety on the way
Chilled food must be kept at 8°C or below by law in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the Food Standards Agency recommends 5°C or below. The FSA’s guidance says a vehicle used to transport food must be able to keep it at the right temperature (GOV.UK), and on a summer day in traffic, a van without a fridge warms up fast.
Cold storage when you get there
Venues rarely have fridge space to spare. With a refrigerated van you don’t need any: your stock stays in the van until you’re ready to serve. If the van will be parked all day, electric standby lets the fridge run from a mains supply with the engine off. It has to be specified when the van is built. See do you need electric standby?
Drinks served cold
Drinks suppliers and mobile bars can arrive with stock ready to serve. Drinks are heavy, so check the payload left after conversion against a full load.
Flowers that last the day
Cut flowers travel best at 2 to 5°C, and wedding season is summer. A chiller gets arrangements to the venue looking as they did when they left the shop. See fridge vans for florists.
Several days, or an early start
For events that run over several days, or need food prepared well in advance, a refrigerated van is extra cold storage that goes where you go.
The right setup for events
- A bulkhead splits the load space into two compartments, for chilled and frozen, or chilled and ambient.
- Shelving, fixed or folding, so trays and boxes aren’t stacked on each other.
- Curtains across the doors, so the cold stays in while you’re in and out all day.
- A load temperature recorder that prints a record of the temperatures, if your customers ask for proof.
See them all on our accessories page.
Caterers should read how to choose a refrigerated van for catering and see our catering vans. Drinks suppliers, see our beverage delivery vans. Or browse every fridge van in stock and call us on 01444 245555.
