What are the best commercial ice cream freezers for storing and displaying ice cream?

Understanding the difference between storage vs display

In general, you can separate commercial ice cream freezers into two categories: storage and display.

Storage freezers are great for maximising how much stock you hold behind the scenes. In other words, they’re an excellent choice for keeping large quantities of ice cream in bulk, especially when you don’t need customers to see the products. Storage freezers could be chest freezers or upright models, and they’ll typically have an opaque door and no clear way to see your stock without opening them. They’re the most space-saving and energy-efficient models, but of course, they don’t have much emphasis on marketing or quick customer service.

On the other hand, ice cream display freezers are used to show off your ice cream to customers. You’ll find display cases with clear (often curved) glass panels and subtle lighting to make the product visible and easily accessible. Display freezers are the way to go when you have a storefront directly selling ice cream to customers. You might also include scoop-style ice cream freezers (ventilated or static) in this category.

Businesses like restaurants, takeaways and certain cafes (where the food is prepared away from the customer) are more likely to benefit from storage freezers. Whereas customer-facing shops such as ice cream parlours, delis or sandwich bars, would benefit more from an ice cream display freezer. You might even require both – storage for bulk items and ice cream display freezers to channel your stock into sales.

The practicalities of storage and display freezers

Now, it’s time to chip away at understanding the logistics of selling ice cream effectively. With the following criteria in mind, you’ll have a much easier time narrowing down your ice cream freezer options, to make the right purchase:

Footprint and dimensions

Your ice cream freezer needs to fit in your shop without crowding customers or getting in the way from a footfall point of view. This is a more critical consideration than you might think. Measure the space carefully before you buy. Also, remember that freezer capacity varies, with some models offering adjustable shelving or removable.

Capacity

If you’re a high-volume retailer, you’ll need a larger ice cream display freezer. However, a smaller business might do just fine with a more compact unit. While your ice cream freezer must be large enough, having something too big leads to wasted stock, energy and money. That said, when you purchase your unit, keep your business objectives in mind – do you want to expand, reduce or maintain your current ice cream sales volume?

Visibility  

A freezer with large glass doors or display windows lets customers see your ice cream options clearly. This can boost impulse sales, especially if you have brightly coloured flavours or unique offerings. Make sure the display freezer is well-lit to showcase the colours and textures of your ice cream.

Store Aesthetics 

Consider how the ice cream display freezer integrates with the rest of your shop. A clean, well-organised display improves the shopping experience and makes your store look professional. Plus, you can explore custom branding options to keep everything aligned from a design point of view, as well as enticing more customers towards your showcased products.

 

Key features for the best ice cream preservation

Have you decided what type (or types) of ice cream freezer you need? If not, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’ll be happy to assist in any way we can.

Once you know your general requirements, it’s time to narrow down your options further by examining these key features:

·         Serving temperature can make or break a good ice cream. It should be kept at a constant temperature of -18 °C or lower. Look for ice cream freezers with reliable thermostat controls that can maintain that temperature, even if the environment around it fluctuates.

·         Frost-free technology prevents ice build-up by circulating air and running automatic defrost cycles. (In contrast, traditional freezers often require manual defrosting; frost-free models prevent ice build-up through a variety of methods for example hot gas, electric and off cycle forced air circulation.

·         Look for freezers with good energy ratings to keep electricity bills down. The greenest models have energy-efficient compressors and insulation and come with excellent seals.

·         Plus, don’t forget to think about accessibility. For example, the door on a storage freezer should be easy for your staff to open, especially during busy hours. Customers should have no problem accessing ice cream in a display freezer.

Invest in the right freezer for long-term success

Is your organisation in need of a new commercial ice cream freezer? In that case, check out our display ice cream freezers online or get in touch. TEFCOLD UK has you covered whether you need a display or storage unit. We hold various models in stock, each designed to meet the needs of companies like yours. With excellent warranties and speedy delivery, we’re confident our market-leading ice cream freezers hold something for you. Browse our selection online today and get in touch for expert advice on choosing the best model for your needs.