Every food business needs refrigeration, but the right mix depends on what you sell and how you serve it. A café needs very different fridges from a bar, a takeaway or a corner store. This guide sets out what each type of small business usually needs, plus general tips on budget, space and running costs.
Cafés
- An underbench fridge at the coffee machine for milk, so baristas aren't walking across the shop. See underbench fridges.
- A cake and sandwich display fridge at the counter. It's often the biggest seller of add-on sales.
- A glass door drinks fridge for bottled drinks customers grab themselves.
- A sandwich or salad prep fridge if you make food to order.
- An upright storage fridge and a freezer out the back. A dual temp fridge freezer saves space in a small café.
Restaurants
- Solid door upright fridges for main storage, with raw and ready-to-eat food kept apart.
- Underbench fridges or chef drawers on the line, so cooks have ingredients within reach.
- Prep fridges for salads, garnishes or pizza toppings.
- Upright or underbench freezers for frozen stock.
- A blast chiller if you cook in batches. It cools food fast enough to meet the cooling rule and frees up your storage fridges.
Bars and pubs
- Glass door bar fridges under the back bar for bottles and cans. Choose one, two or three doors to suit the bar length.
- An ice machine, because a busy bar goes through a lot of ice.
- A wine fridge to keep wine at serving temperature.
- An underbench or bar freezer for frozen garnishes and fruit.
- A storage fridge or coolroom for kegs and backup stock.
Takeaways and fish and chip shops
- A chest freezer or upright freezer for chips, seafood and frozen stock in bulk.
- An upright storage fridge for fresh ingredients and sauces.
- A glass door drinks fridge by the counter. Drinks are high margin, so make them easy to see.
- A prep fridge for salads and burger toppings.
Convenience stores and grocers
- Multideck display fridges for drinks, dairy and grab-and-go food. Glass door models cost far less to run than open fronts.
- Display freezers for ice cream and frozen meals.
- Upright glass door drinks fridges near the counter.
- Ice boxes if you sell bagged ice.
Bakeries and patisseries
- A cake display fridge for cakes, slices and tarts, with curved or square glass.
- Bakery fridges and bakery freezers with tray runners, so dough and pastry go straight in on the tray.
- Underbench fridges beside the bench for butter, cream and fillings.
Gelato bars and dessert shops
- A gelato display freezer sized for the number of flavours you'll run.
- A storage freezer for backup pans, colder than the display.
- A countertop display for desserts or drinks if counter space allows.
Butchers and delis
- Upright fridges and freezers for storage, or a coolroom for larger volumes.
- A meat ageing cabinet if you dry age.
- Display fridges for cut meat, smallgoods and cheese.
Florists
Florists need fridges built for buckets and higher humidity. See our flower display fridge buying guide.
Tips for small businesses
Buy for your busiest day
Size fridges for Friday night or the week before Christmas, not a quiet Tuesday. Overpacked fridges can't keep food cold.
Match glass and solid doors to the job
Glass doors sell product but cost more to run. Use them where customers see the fridge, and solid doors out the back.
Check the room temperature rating
Small kitchens and shops get hot. Choose fridges rated for the hottest your space gets. See where to put a commercial fridge.
Count the running costs
A fridge runs every hour of the year. Compare models with our running cost calculator before you decide.
Spread the cost if you need to
If buying outright would stretch your cash flow, SilverChef finance lets you spread the cost of new equipment over time.
Remember food safety
Whatever you buy, chilled food must be kept at 5°C or colder, and you need a thermometer to check it. Our guide to storing food safely covers the basics.
FAQs
What refrigeration does a small café need?
Usually a milk fridge at the coffee machine, a cake or sandwich display, a drinks fridge, and an upright fridge and freezer out the back. A dual temp fridge freezer can cover storage if space is tight.
Should a small business buy one big fridge or several smaller ones?
Often several smaller ones, placed where they're used: a fridge at each workstation saves walking and door openings. Keep one larger fridge for main storage.
Can you help me plan what I need?
Yes. Tell us what you sell, how busy you get and the space you have, and we'll help you put together the right mix.
