Whether it’s a grocery store or a business operating in the hospitality industry, a commercial freezer is a must-have asset. Investing in freezers ensures food safety and contributes to extending the lifespan of perishable goods.
However, to understand if one should invest in this market or not, it’s crucial to know the potential of the market. This guide offers retailers an overview of this market and offers tips to pick the right commercial freezers to sell in 2025.
Table of Contents
The market for commercial freezers
What to look for when sourcing commercial freezers
1. Types & sizes of freezer
2. Energy efficiency
3. Cooling systems & temperature control
4. Frost management
5. Power source
6. Durability & materials in freezers
How to select commercial freezers for different end customers
Restaurant & food service business
Grocery & convenience stores
Hospitality business
High volume storage facilities
Final thoughts
The market for commercial freezers
Commercial freezers are helpful for businesses to ensure they comply with the food safety regulation. This makes it important to find a suitable freezer that enhances the operational efficacy of bulk storage and frozen goods.
As per the Global Commercial Refrigerator Equipment market, the estimate suggests that there will be a hike of USD 14.85 billion from 2024 to 2028.
Moreover, according to the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), the demand for frozen food is increasing by 21%, rising from USD 65.1 billion in 2020. As a result, this leads to more requirements for commercial freezers.
Sellers can consider several reasons to enter this market, including:
- the growing demand for both frozen foods and related appliances
- expansion in the food industry
- increased adoption of food safety standards across the food service sector
What to look for when sourcing commercial freezers
Selecting the right commercial freezer depends on various factors, including the intended application—that is, whether it’s for commercial or for supermermarket freezers. Besides this, here are a few more basic pointers to look for.
1. Types & sizes of freezer
It is crucial to understand the types and sizes of commercial freezers.This includes the following:
Upright or vertical freezers
Upright or vertical freezers are popular options when it comes to businesses with limited space, like small restaurants and grocery stores. They also have a smaller footprint that requires multiple shelves.
Chest freezers
Chest freezers are known for providing bulk storage and temperature retention. Sellers can consider this for customers looking for affordability and energy efficiency.
Walk in freezers
The walk-in freezer offers extensive space, providing the business with customizable requirements to fit its specific requirements. In a nutshell, this type of commercial freezer is ideally suitable for operations that are large-scale.
2. Energy efficiency
Another crucial aspect to look for is energy efficacy in commercial freezers. This is because many businesses are prioritizing appliances that prioritize energy efficiency to save on operating costs and support environmental impact.
Hence, sellers are required to look for the following:
Energy Star certification
Energy Star-certified commercial freezers come with their specific energy-saving guidelines. For instance, energy-certified freezers tend to consume less than 9 – 15% as compared to standard options. As a result, this helps save on costs in the long term.
Compressor technology
Sellers should look for inverter compressors that are standard in modern commercial freezers. The technology allows for cooling at the temperature needed, leading to a reduction in energy consumption.
3. Cooling systems & temperature control
Temperature control is important when it comes to energy efficiency, food quality, and safety. Consistent cooling ensures that frozen goods are maintained to retain their nutrient value and texture.
A commercial freezer with a fan cooling system provides an even distribution of the cold air, maintaining its uniform temperature and reducing hotspot risks.
Whereas having an adjustable thermostat or digital controls in a commercial freezer allows the precision in temperature adjustment.
Advanced models also come with alarm systems in commercial freezers to notify the operators in case of any change in temperature.
4. Frost management
Frost buildup does not just reduce the space for storage, but it also increases the energy consumption in commercial freezers.
The sellers are required to look for automatic defrost in the freezer, which comes with an automatic defrost function. This helps melt the buildup period to reduce manual intervention.
Besides this, self-cleaning condensers in freezers help present dust and frost accumulation. With such technology, the commercial freezer works much more efficiently and has a longer lifespan.
5. Power source
The seller is required to look for a commercial freezer that aligns with business requirements. Electric-powered freezers are powered by single or three-phase options.
Where single style commercial freezers are common and suitable for smaller units, considering a three-phase power is ideal for large walk-in or industrial commercial freezers.
Another aspect to look for is a solar-powered freezer that is suitable for limited accessibility or sustainable options.
6. Durability & materials in freezers
Besides having power efficiency, understanding the quality in terms of durability or material used is essential for sellers.
Stainless freezers should be resistant to corrosion and easy to clean. Along with this, scratch-resistant finish and heavy-duty shelving support the handling of large loads and minimize the overall maintenance costs.
How to select commercial freezers for different end customers
When choosing a commercial freezer, it is important to understand the unique requirements of storage, capacity, and budget. This includes:
Restaurant & food service business
These types of customers already own commercial kitchen equipment and typically require a freezer that offers a bulk storage solution for various ingredients and dishes.
Depending on the size of the kitchen, they might look for a walk-in or chest freezer. Also, such customers look to have easy and quick access with multiple shelves.
Look for restaurant commercial freezers that offer energy efficiency to reduce the cost of operation.
Grocery & convenience stores
Grocery and convenience stores, like customers, prioritize more visibility and accessibility, similar to glass door commercial freezers.
Also, such end customers are considered to have energy efficiency and strong frost management that can run for longer periods while minimizing the maintenance.
Hospitality business
Customers related to hospitality look for a presentation that offers more functionality so that they can view the products better.
Hotels or retail stores need to have LED lighting, low-vibration compressors, and energy efficiency that can boost the experience of customers.
High volume storage facilities
Large storage facilities or customers related to industrial facilities require walk-ins that can be customizable shelving to handle long-term and high-volume storage.
Besides withstanding the continuous operation, such end customers are required to have an industrial-grade material to offer longevity and reduce maintenance costs.
Final thoughts
Choosing the right commercial freezer shouldn’t be a daunting process, especially when one pays attention to energy efficiency, temperature control, and overall capacity. With this in mind, sellers can start their journey, ensuring they adapt based on what’s trending and position themselves in the market to get the most out of the lucrative business in 2025 and beyond!
