Every food business depends on one essential component: reliable cold storage. Whether you're managing a café, bakery, commercial kitchen or food retail store, the freezer you choose can influence everything from stock management to food safety and energy use.
At Honar, we supply commercial freezers built specifically for the New Zealand food industry. Our range includes vertical freezers, chest freezers, horizontal fridge freezers, and blast chillers for rapid cooling. Here's how to choose the model that best supports your workflow, product range, and space.
Match the Freezer Type to Your Operational Needs
Start by considering how you store, access, and rotate stock throughout the day. A model that works well for a production kitchen may not be right for a small front-of-house café.
Vertical Freezers
Vertical freezers (also known as upright freezers) make excellent use of vertical space and offer easy access to frequently-used items. If you're short on floor area but need good visibility and quick access, one of these standing freezer options is ideal.
Chest Freezers
Chest freezers are better suited for bulk storage. They’re energy-efficient and ideal for long-term stock that doesn’t require daily access. A chest freezer is perfect for butchers, caterers, and bakeries managing volume.
Horizontal Fridge Freezers
Horizontal fridge freezers give you more width and visibility, which is helpful when working with larger trays or bulkier packaging. These suit mid- to high-volume kitchens needing flexible refrigeration zones.
Blast Chillers
Blast chillers rapidly lower food temperatures to safe storage levels. A top-quality blast chiller is essential for meeting food safety standards, especially if you're preparing food in advance or cooking in batches.
Freezer Rooms
For larger-scale operations, a Freezer Room could be a smart long-term investment. These walk-in solutions offer significantly more capacity than standalone units, making them ideal for storing bulk stock, large quantities of ingredients, or pre-prepared meals.
Which Commercial Freezer Matches Your Industry?
Different industries have different cold storage needs. Here’s a practical guide to help you match the right freezer type to your business:
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Supermarkets and Grocery Stores: We recommend open display freezers, chest freezers, or vertical freezers. Display models let customers browse with ease, while chest and upright units are ideal for stock storage in back rooms or prep areas.
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Bars and Pubs: Instead of a freezer, we recommend a back bar cabinet. These compact underbench units are ideal for keeping wine, beer and other beverages chilled and ready to serve while maintaining a tidy, professional appearance.
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Restaurants and Catering Kitchens: Blast chillers, chest freezers, and freezer rooms are all strong options. Rapid chilling is essential for food safety, and large-capacity storage helps keep up with high turnover and prep-heavy menus.
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Cafés and Bakeries: Vertical freezers or horizontal fridge freezer units are a great match here. They offer easy access without taking up too much space, making them ideal for pastries, frozen dough, or portioned meals.
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Butchers and Delis: Chest freezers and blast chillers are highly recommended. They provide reliable bulk storage for meat and prepared items, with precise temperature control to ensure product quality and safety.
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Hotels and Resorts: A combination of vertical and chest freezers often works best. For larger operations, a custom freezer room can help manage high-volume storage across multiple food outlets.
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Food Manufacturers and Large-Scale Producers: Blast chillers and freezer rooms are the most efficient choice. These businesses need to cool products quickly and store them in large quantities, all while maintaining strict food safety standards.
Planning Your Space: Don't Let Your Freezer Become the Obstacle
It’s easy to focus on internal storage capacity and completely overlook what’s happening around the outside of the unit. But space planning is just as important as the freezer itself, especially in busy environments where every square metre counts.
Start by measuring more than just the footprint. Account for door swing (especially with upright or chest freezers), airflow clearance, and access paths. Some units need rear ventilation, others require space to open drawers or lids fully. Don’t forget to consider how delivery drivers, staff, or customers move around the area.
Also, think vertically. A tall vertical freezer makes good use of height, but make sure your staff can reach the top shelves without risking injury. In smaller setups like food trucks or bars, under-counter models or slim vertical units might be a smarter, safer fit.
And then there's the long-term view: will this freezer still work if you rearrange the space, expand your operation, or add new menu items? Choosing a unit that suits today’s workflow but can flex with tomorrow’s needs can save you thousands in replacements or retrofitting.
Ready to Choose the Right Freezer? Talk to the Experts
Choosing the right commercial freezer isn’t just a matter of picking the biggest unit or the one with the most bells and whistles. It’s about matching your freezer to your space, your menu, your team, and your long-term goals.
At Honar, we work with cafés, supermarkets, restaurants, and food producers across New Zealand to find solutions that actually fit. Whether you're scaling up, reworking your layout, or just tired of unreliable cold storage, we can help you find a freezer that works smarter for your operation.
Explore our full range of freezers and chillers today, or get in touch with our team for tailored advice and expert recommendations.
Commercial Freezer FAQs
Does Honar only sell freezers?
No, we also supply commercial fridges, food display cabinets, blast chillers, ice machines, and full cold room setups.
Do Honar’s freezers meet NZ food safety standards?
Yes, all our equipment is selected to meet New Zealand compliance standards for commercial food storage and handling.
How much energy do commercial freezers use?
It varies by model, but we stock energy-efficient units with features like eco modes, LED lighting, and high-performance insulation to help reduce running costs.
What’s the difference between a blast chiller and a standard freezer?
A blast chiller rapidly reduces food temperature to safe levels for storage, while a standard freezer maintains low temperatures for longer-term storage. They serve different roles in food safety and prep.