If your business deals with perishable goods or temperature-sensitive stock, you’ve probably faced the age-old storage dilemma: should you bring cold storage on-site, or rely on off-site facilities?
From florists to pharmaceuticals to event caterers, more and more businesses are choosing on-site cold storage as a flexible, efficient solution. But is it the right move for you?
Let’s break it down.
What Is On-Site Cold Storage?
On-site cold storage refers to refrigerated units that are installed directly at your business premises. These can be walk-in fridges, freezer pods, or portable refrigerated containers—available for short- or long-term hire.
Rather than transporting your stock to an external cold store, you keep it within arm’s reach. It’s reliable storage during seasonal surges, emergencies and when you generally want to expand your offerings.
Who Typically Uses On-Site Cold Storage?
On-site units are ideal for businesses that need:
Common users include:
Benefits of On-Site Cold Storage
1. Immediate Access
No need to travel or arrange deliveries—your stock is just steps away. This is especially useful for high-turnover products or fast-paced environments like catering or hospitality.
2. Reduced Risk of Spoilage
Transporting perishable goods to an off-site facility increases the risk of temperature fluctuations. With on-site storage, you maintain control over the entire cold chain.
3. Flexibility
Hiring a unit for a few days, weeks or months allows you to scale up or down without committing to expensive infrastructure.
4. Emergency Preparedness
If your existing fridge or freezer breaks down, an on-site hire can save your stock from going to waste. Many providers offer same-day delivery for emergency situations.
Things to Consider Before Hiring
While on-site cold storage has its perks, it’s not always the perfect fit for every business. Ask yourself:
Do You Have the Space?
On-site units need to be delivered and installed, often outdoors. You’ll need enough space for safe access, level ground, and adequate ventilation.
Is There Reliable Power Supply?
Cold storage units must run 24/7. Make sure your site can handle the electrical demand—and consider backup power if you're storing valuable or regulated items.
How Long Will You Need It?
Hiring makes sense for short-term or seasonal needs. If you need cold storage all year round, it might be worth comparing costs with purchasing.
Tips for Organising Cold Storage
Hiring cold storage means you have the opportunity to expand your products and keep a lot more items on-hand for customers. But, you can’t take this additional space for granted. In other words, don’t just throw things in and not have any system. Otherwise, you can end up wasting a lot of space and limiting yourself. Instead, you should organise the cold storage from the beginning. Here are some tips to help you do this.
Create Groups
First, choose what items you’re going to be storing together. This is not just about utilising space. This is also keeping a system that’s easy for your employees to work with. When they know there are groups of items, they immediately understand where to look for an item. For example, some groups could include meat, fruit and vegetables.
Label the Shelves
It can help if you label the shelves for your employees. This helps them to identify the groups quickly when customers are waiting. Freezer rooms and cold rooms often have shelves installed, which means that you just have to prepare the labels. You could also include additional information, such as expiry dates.
Older Items at the Front
It doesn’t matter what the temperature is; you want to use older items first. This means that everything is going to be as fresh as it can be and the best quality for customers. Therefore, make sure you’re stocking the shelves regularly and keeping older items at the front so they’re grabbed first.
Need Advice? Let’s Talk
Still unsure? Cold storage isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Speak to a provider that understands your industry and can walk you through the options.
From weekly hires to long-term setups, on-site cold storage might be exactly what your business needs to stay cool, compliant, and in control.
