Walk In Cooler vs. Mobile Cold Storage
A walk in cooler is essential for many restaurants, grocery stores, caterers, hotels and other businesses that depend on refrigerated storage. It provides convenient cold-storage space that employees can enter, organize and access throughout the day.
However, a traditional walk in cooler isn't the only way to provide walk-in refrigerated storage.
A mobile walk in cooler can provide similar accessible cold-storage space without becoming a permanent part of the building. Instead, the refrigerated unit can be delivered to the location where additional cold storage is needed.
So, what's the difference between a traditional walk in cooler and mobile cold storage?
The answer largely depends on how the refrigerated space will be used.
What Is a Walk In Cooler?
A walk in cooler is a temperature-controlled refrigerated space large enough for employees to enter and retrieve stored products.
Restaurants commonly use walk in coolers for produce, dairy products, meats, beverages, prepared foods and other refrigerated inventory. Grocery stores, commercial kitchens, caterers and food distributors also rely on them.
Traditional walk in coolers are generally installed as permanent parts of a commercial facility.
For businesses that need the same refrigerated capacity every day, permanent cold storage makes sense.
However, refrigeration needs aren't always permanent.
What Is a Mobile Walk In Cooler?
A mobile cooler provides walk-in refrigerated storage that can be transported directly to a business, event or other location.
Phoenix Cold Storage uses refrigerated trailers for this purpose.
Employees can walk inside the refrigerated trailer, organize inventory and retrieve products as needed. Therefore, the unit provides many of the practical storage benefits associated with a traditional walk in cooler.
The major difference is mobility.
Instead of becoming part of the building, mobile cold storage can be delivered when needed and removed when the need ends.
When Your Walk In Cooler Goes Down
One of the biggest disadvantages of relying on a single walk in cooler becomes obvious when something goes wrong.
Commercial refrigeration equipment can fail. Furthermore, some repairs can't be completed immediately.
A refrigeration technician may need to order a compressor, motor, control board or another component. Meanwhile, the food and other refrigerated inventory still need to remain cold.
A mobile walk in unit can provide temporary refrigerated space while the existing equipment is repaired.
Employees can transfer products from the failing cooler into the refrigerated trailer rather than transporting inventory to another facility.
Once the permanent walk in unit is operating again, the mobile unit is no longer needed.
Adding Walk In Cooler Space
Sometimes nothing is wrong with your existing walk in unit. You simply run out of room.
This can happen because of:
- Seasonal demand
- Holiday inventory
- Large deliveries
- Catering orders
- Special events
- Business growth
- Temporary inventory increases
Adding another permanent walk in refrigeration unit may not make sense if the additional space is only needed occasionally.
A mobile walk in cooler provides another option.
Businesses can temporarily increase refrigerated capacity without permanently expanding their facility.
Walk In Cooler Space During Remodeling
Remodeling can also create temporary refrigeration problems.
A restaurant, commercial kitchen or grocery store may need to renovate an area containing its existing walk in unit. Construction may make the cooler inaccessible or require refrigeration equipment to be temporarily disconnected.
Mobile cold storage can remain outside the construction area while still giving employees access to refrigerated inventory.
Once remodeling is complete, the business can return to using its permanent walk in cooler.
Walk In Cooler Space for Restaurants
Restaurants are particularly dependent on reliable refrigeration.
A restaurant's portable cooler may contain produce, dairy products, beverages, prepared ingredients and other temperature-sensitive inventory.
Consequently, losing refrigeration can quickly interfere with normal operations.
A mobile refrigerated trailer can provide additional walk-in cold storage during equipment repairs, remodeling, unusually large deliveries or busy periods.
Additionally, restaurants can use mobile refrigeration when their existing cooler simply doesn't have enough capacity.
Mobile Walk In Coolers for Events
Traditional walk in coolers have one obvious limitation: they stay where they're installed.
Caterers and event companies frequently need refrigerated storage somewhere else.
Weddings, corporate functions, festivals, sporting events and other gatherings can require significant cold-storage capacity at locations without adequate permanent refrigeration.
A mobile walk in cooler brings refrigerated storage directly to the event.
Food and beverages remain near the catering operation, while employees can enter the unit and retrieve products as needed.
Permanent Walk In Cooler vs. Mobile Walk In Cooler
Both provide refrigerated storage, but they solve different problems.
A permanent walk in unit makes sense when a business requires the same refrigerated capacity every day.
A mobile walk in refrigeration unit makes sense when the need is temporary or the refrigeration needs to be somewhere else.
For example, mobile cold storage can help with:
- Equipment failures
- Refrigeration repairs
- Inventory overflow
- Remodeling
- Seasonal demand
- Special events
- Catering
- Temporary business locations
- Large deliveries
- Emergency cold storage
Therefore, a mobile unit doesn't necessarily replace a traditional walk in cooler. It can supplement it.
No Permanent Construction
Installing another walk in refrigeration unit may involve dedicated floor space, refrigeration equipment, electrical work and construction.
That investment may be worthwhile when a business permanently needs more refrigerated capacity.
However, temporary needs are different.
A mobile refrigerated trailer can provide additional cold-storage space without permanently modifying the building.
The unit arrives at the location, provides refrigerated storage for the required period and leaves when it's no longer needed.
Who Uses Mobile Coolers?
Many businesses depend on walk-in refrigeration.
Restaurants and grocery stores are obvious examples. However, caterers, hotels, resorts, food distributors, commercial kitchens, meat processors, bakeries, florists and event venues may also need additional refrigerated space.
The reason for needing that space can vary considerably.
One business may have a broken walk in unit. Another may be preparing for a large event. Meanwhile, another may simply have more inventory than its permanent refrigeration can accommodate.
Mobile cold storage provides an additional option in each situation.
If you need additional walk-in refrigerated space, learn more about our Walk In Cooler options or contact Phoenix Cold Storage to check availability.
Walk In Cooler FAQs
What Is a Walk In Cooler?
A walk in cooler is a refrigerated space large enough for employees to enter, organize and retrieve temperature-sensitive products. Restaurants, grocery stores and commercial kitchens commonly use them for everyday cold storage.
How Does Mobile Cold Storage Work?
Phoenix Cold Storage uses refrigerated trailers that can be delivered directly to a business, event or temporary location. Employees can enter the trailer to organize and retrieve refrigerated products as needed.
Is a Refrigerated Trailer the Same as a Permanent Cooler?
Not exactly. A traditional cooler is permanently installed as part of a building, while a refrigerated trailer is mobile.
However, the trailer provides similar accessible cold-storage space and can be removed when it is no longer needed.
What Happens if My Refrigeration System Fails?
If your walk in cooler stops maintaining the proper temperature, refrigerated inventory may need to be relocated while technicians diagnose and repair the equipment.
Mobile cold storage can provide temporary refrigerated space until repairs are completed.
Can I Add Refrigerated Space Temporarily?
Yes. A refrigerated trailer can provide additional cold-storage capacity without permanently expanding your refrigeration system.
This can be useful for seasonal inventory, large deliveries, remodeling, special events and temporary increases in demand.
Can Mobile Cold Storage Be Used for an Event?
Yes. A refrigerated trailer can be delivered directly to many event locations. This gives caterers and event operators convenient access to refrigerated products when permanent cold storage isn't available.
Need More Walk In Cooler Space?
Sometimes your existing walk in cooler simply doesn't provide enough capacity. In other situations, equipment failure, repairs or remodeling can temporarily leave your business without adequate refrigeration.
Phoenix Cold Storage provides mobile refrigerated trailers for temporary and emergency cold-storage needs throughout the Phoenix area.
Whether you need additional space for inventory, an event or an unexpected refrigeration problem, we can bring cold storage directly to your location.