Refrigerated vans for mobile catering: what to look for

Mobile catering involves transporting perishables such as produce, meat, dairy, and beverages. When setting up at any event, you need confidence that your food is in excellent condition and ready to serve.

This is why refrigeration in mobile catering vans is so crucial. Proper refrigeration helps preserve your food, reducing losses from spoiled or wasted perishables. It also ensures compliance with storage regulations, prevents potential foodborne illnesses, and helps you avoid fines.

So, what should you look for when choosing a new refrigerated van? In this article, we’ll explore how the best refrigerated vans are designed and the key factors to consider when selecting one.

Explore our range of catering van refrigeration units to find the perfect fit for your mobile catering business. With over 30 years of experience, our team at Tranzfreeze offer a quality service you can’t find anywhere else.

Uncovering refrigeration on the road

Refrigerated vans are also known as chiller vans and fridge vans. They are created by fitting a refrigeration unit into a van’s chassis.

The system works by keeping the air inside the van cool. Likewise, the van also has a few upgrades to help it maintain its preferred temperature.

It uses insulation to keep the cold air inside and warm air outside. A compressor then condenses the refrigerant gas and pushes it through the evaporator, which absorbs the heat and expels it.

The refrigeration works by simply turning on your vehicle, so you’re ready to go as soon as your key is in the ignition.

Customising your van

With Tranzfreeze, you can tailor your refrigerated van to suit your needs. If you have a preferred system or specific requirements, it can be seamlessly integrated into your chosen van.

This ensures your mobile catering business is supported exactly the way it needs to be. It sets your business up for success and ensures you have what you need from the get-go.

Key qualities to look out for

1. Hygiene

Your van needs to be hygienic. An unhygienic catering van puts your food, service, and reputation at risk. This means every surface of your van needs to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitised before being used.

Likewise, you’ll need to regularly sanitise your van to maintain food safety standards. Check that your van is easy to maneuver in and keep clean. A stuffed or difficult-to-clean van could potentially harm your catering business.

2. Temperature zones

Your refrigerated van must meet and maintain specific temperature zones. This is in order to preserve the viability of your food and meet required health and safety standards.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand has outlined specific requirements for mobile food businesses. They require vans to keep food at 5°C or colder. This applies to any hazardous perishables such as meat, eggs, and dairy.

Along with a properly functioning refrigeration unit, your van’s insulation must be of high quality. Poor insulation can allow excessive heat to enter the refrigerated compartment, increasing the load on the refrigeration system and making it difficult to maintain the desired temperature. If the insulation is poorly sealed, it can also affect humidity levels, further compromising performance and the quality of your stored perishables.

If your refrigerated van struggles or fails to maintain the required minimum temperature, you risk having your goods rejected by the customer—or worse, facing fines or operational shutdowns.

3. Temperature checking

Your refrigerated van must display its temperature at all times. If you can’t easily check your refrigeration, you won’t know if you’re meeting the requirements.

Likewise, a microprocessor or temperature display can help you track whether your van needs a service. If it has struggled to maintain a stable temperature, there may be an issue with your unit.

4. Mobility needs

Your van should transport your temperature-sensitive goods efficiently, handle heavy loads, and run fuel-efficiently. Easy maintenance and readily available parts are essential; otherwise, downtime can hurt your profits and disrupt your business. If your refrigerated van struggles in these areas, it may not meet your operational needs.

Choose Tranzfreeze for quality vans and reliable support

With over three decades of experience in the refrigerated van industry, we know how to build vehicles that meet all your business needs. From maintaining precise temperatures to ensuring hygiene and mobility, our team has you covered.

We also offer low-maintenance units, competitive servicing costs, and dedicated after-sales support. With our Australia-wide repair network, your van is always ready to get to the next customer.

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