Your Guide to Choosing the Right Commercial Fridge

April 2026

When running a venue, café, restaurant, bar, or food truck, your commercial refrigerators are some of the most essential and hard‑working tools in your kitchen. Whether they’re tucked under prep benches, positioned at the back of the cookline, or displayed front‑of‑house for customer access, these units keep your ingredients fresh, your workflow smooth, and your food safety standards compliant.

Southern Hospitality is one of New Zealand’s leading hospitality suppliers that stocks a wide range of upright fridges, underbench models, prep fridges, and display units designed specifically for busy hospitality environments.

As with any commercial kitchen equipment, choosing the right refrigerator requires careful comparison. With so many excellent features and performance levels available, it’s important to select a unit that suits your space, menu, and operational demands.

What to Consider When Choosing a Commercial Fridge

Operational Requirements

Clarify your product types, volume, and workflow to match the fridge to your daily processes.

Location and Space Planning

Allow for door swing, ventilation, and efficient staff movement.

Energy Efficiency

Models such as the SKOPE ActiveCore and Reflex series are designed for reduced energy consumption.

Compliance and Food Safety

Refrigeration must consistently maintain safe temperatures to align with NZ food safety standards.

Long‑Term Value

Commercial reliability, servicing options, and energy usage all influence total cost of ownership.

Energy Minimum Standards for Fridges & Freezers

Energy Minimum Standards (under GEMS) are rules that make sure commercial fridges and freezers use energy efficiently. These rules apply to many products sold in Australia and New Zealand, not just refrigeration.

How GEMS Helps

GEMS tracks how much energy commercial fridges and freezers use. This matters because inefficient refrigeration can raise electricity bills for any business, big or small.
The GEMS database provides helpful info like:

Cabinet Classification - how well the fridge works in different conditions

TEC (Total Energy Consumption) - how much power the fridge uses in a day

These help businesses compare models easily.

What Is Total Energy Consumption (TEC)?

TEC shows how much electricity a fridge or freezer uses in 24 hours, written as kWh/24h.
It helps buyers compare energy use and estimate running costs. You’ll find it on the product’s spec sheet.

What Is Cabinet Classification?

Cabinet Classification tells you how suitable a fridge or freezer is for storing or displaying food and drinks. It’s based on two things:

Climate Class - the environment it’s designed for

M Pack Temperature - how well it keeps products at the right temperature

Here is a clear, easy‑to‑follow guide to the main fridge types, featuring reliable models available from us.

southern hospitality commercial fridges

Cool Rooms: Heavy‑Duty Storage for High‑Volume Operations

Cool rooms are essential when storing large quantities of ingredients or prepared food. Southern Hospitality offers custom cool rooms, designed to maintain consistent temperatures and meet strict food safety requirements. These walk‑in solutions are perfect for businesses that need more capacity than standard fridges can provide.

Ideal for:

Restaurants handling bulk ingredients
Catering operations
Large food production environments

Countertop Fridges: Compact, Visible, and Sales‑Friendly

Countertop fridges are perfect when you want to encourage impulse buys. These small, accessible units sit neatly on counters and are great for drinks, desserts, or grab‑and‑go items.

A great example from Southern Hospitality is the Pro.equip Benchtop Curved Display Cabinet, offering excellent visibility in a compact footprint.

Ideal for:

Cafés and bakeries
Convenience stores
Retail counters displaying chilled snacks or beverages

Undercounter Fridges: Smart Storage for Tight Workspaces

Undercounter fridges give you easy access to chilled ingredients without sacrificing valuable workspace. They fit neatly beneath prep benches, making them essential in busy kitchens and bar areas.

Reliable undercounter options from Southern Hospitality include:

EuroChill 1 Door Undercounter Chiller — A dependable and efficient unit perfect for smaller prep stations.
Pro.Equip Undercounter Chiller — A cost‑effective choice for businesses needing reliable performance.
Pro.Equip Stainless Steel Multi‑Door Undercounter Chillers — Durable and built for high‑demand commercial environments.

Ideal for:

Restaurants and commercial kitchens
Behind-the-bar beverage storage
Food trucks and compact kitchens

Upright Fridges: Vertical Capacity and Easy Access

Upright fridges are a popular option for foodservice environments that need a balance of high storage capacity and minimal floor space use. They are available in glass door and solid door designs.

Glass Door Upright Fridges: High Visibility for Fast Sales

Glass door fridges make it easy for customers and staff to see what's inside, making them perfect for merchandising drinks or displaying grab‑and‑go items.

Top options include:

Pro.Equip Upright 1 Glass Door Beverage Chiller (400L) — Offers excellent visibility with double‑glazed glass, fan‑assisted cooling, and user‑friendly features.
Larger 660L and 1000L versions of the Pro.Equip Upright Glass Door Beverage Chillers for higher‑volume businesses.

Ideal for:

Bars and cafés
Grocery and retail stores
Beverage merchandising areas

Solid Door Upright Fridges: Reliable Cooling with Maximum Insulation

Solid-door fridges offer superior insulation, making them excellent for environments where maintaining stable temperatures is essential. They are typically used in back‑of‑house areas where visibility isn’t needed.

Highlighted products include:

Pro.Equip Upright Stainless 1 Door Fridge — A durable stainless-steel unit built for demanding kitchen environments.
Pro.Equip Upright Stainless 2 Door Fridge — Offers even more capacity while maintaining energy‑efficient performance.

Ideal for:

Commercial kitchens
Back‑of‑house storage
High‑volume environments needing durable, efficient cooling

Choosing the Right Fridge for Your Business

Here’s a simple guide to help you match the right fridge with your operational needs:

Fridge Type	Best Use Case
Cool Rooms	Bulk food storage and high‑volume operations
Countertop Fridges	Front‑of‑house displays and impulse purchases
Undercounter Fridges	Space‑limited prep zones and bar areas
Upright Glass Door Fridges	Retail displays and beverage merchandising
Upright Solid Door Fridges	Back‑of‑house storage requiring temperature stability

Finance Options for Buying a Commercial Fridge

Upgrading or expanding your commercial kitchen doesn’t have to put stress on your end. We have our trusted financier who can help you spread the cost of your new commercial fridge over its useful life, making your next equipment purchase simple, flexible, and budget‑friendly.

Select from lease/rental or business loan options to suit your requirements and enjoy fast pre-approval and seamless transaction processing.

SilverChef: Flexible Rental & Lease Options for Hospitality Businesses

SilverChef is New Zealand’s leading commercial kitchen equipment finance provider, offering solutions designed specifically for both new and established businesses.

Change, upgrade, or buy equipment at any time*
100% tax-deductible payments*
Affordable weekly payments
Unique Rent‑Try‑Buy model with purchase rebates

SilverChef’s Rent‑Try‑Buy offering allows you to rent equipment with low weekly costs while maintaining full flexibility. If you decide the equipment is right for your business, you can buy it later and receive a rebate on a portion of your rental payments.

CFI Finance: Tailored Business Loans for SME Growth

CFI Finance is a trusted SME finance specialist across New Zealand and Australia, helping business owners secure the funding they need to start, grow, or upgrade their operations.

Own your equipment from day one
Claim GST upfront and access depreciation benefits*
Finance available for equipment, fit-outs, refurbishments, vehicles, acquisitions, and more

CFI Finance also specialises in franchise funding, with accreditation across many major franchise brands making it a strong choice for structured and strategic business financing.

You can explore these finance options here.

Check out our range of fridges, and reach out if you need our help or advice about finance solutions we have available so you can get on with business while we take care of the rest.